Shifty

by Fanny Valentine Darling

Exchanged at birth, Shifty and Evangeline — one human, one sheehairn — have been raised in the opposite’s realm. Thus the stage is set for a dark and ancient ritual which would give the wraiths of the Shadow Realm a power they have long been denied, and for good reason.

In our modern day world, Shifty’s magic is becoming more powerful and her glamour is beginning to fade. She believes she’s having visions and seeks out psychiatric help. When the people closest to her finally reveal the truth of her ancestry, she also learns that she’s in danger and must learn to protect herself. But are her lifelong friends truly looking out for her, or are they in league with the creatures from her birth realm, set to groom her for her return?

Evangeline has always known she was a human in a realm of fae. She is the daughter of one of the realm’s most powerful family, and has been promised in marriage to a well-positioned young man. When she begins to suspect there may be nefarious motives for her match, she recruits her friends to help her solve the mystery before the wedding. But is their loyalty to her, or the realm?

When the Siofra twins finally meet, they must work together to stop the dark ritual — before it can end both their worlds.

Genres: Fantasy

332 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2016

Reviews

[Christine PNW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure - this book was written by one of my best friends, and I am over the moon that it is ready for publication.

So, why should you listen to me about the book, when Fanny Darling is one of the people I admire the most? Because Shifty is well-written and a lot of fun. The world-building is unique and interesting.

Shifty doesn't get sidetracked into annoying love triangles, and it doesn't bog down with creepy relationships masquerading as romances. One of Fanny's strengths is in writing about friends and friendships - those incredibly important non-romantic-relationships that form the backbone of a young adult's world. There's romance here, but not to the exclusion of friendship, which is refreshing and engaging.

The writing is clear and enjoyable. There are moments of humor and moments of drama, and both are equally well-written. My favorite character is Evangeline - and her story is both heartbreaking and empowering! I can't wait to read the published version!

[Juliana Haught · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in a long book drought while diving deep into certain new projects in my life, but I snapped up this book as soon as it was available, and saved it for summer travel. When I bought this book I originally thought it was a Young Adult book (not sure why), but I'd say it's more for older teens and up. Some of the main characters are barely out of teen years, but the intensity, intimacy, and depth of the characters' emotional lives are gripping and engaging enough for adults. It could also be read as a coming-of-age story. This book is a fantastic and modern telling of a classic tale of the fairies (they are not called this - the author creates a new lexicon and a new array of specific beings, drawing on Celtic themes) and the changelings, but brought to life in that believable way that makes you think the author has actual first-hand knowledge of a real and secret world, and is merely writing it as fiction so as not to reveal the actual otherworldly beings walking amongst us. I loved the book, could barely put it down (I blew through the first eleven chapters on a 2-hour plane ride, it was that absorbing!), and handed it over to my older teen daughter once I finished. My only, very slight criticism is that there were some typos not caught by a copyeditor, but these did not detract from the readability. I will definitely be reading any future works written by Darling.

[Recipe Fairy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- this was a really awesome book! With a completely intriguing new storyline, complex well-built characters and fascinating detail- I was completely hooked on this book and devoured it as quick as I could! Fast-paced and with quite a few twists thrown in, the intrigue and mystery of revealing Shifty's hidden heritage and building on her counterpart, Evangeline as well. Beautifully written with intricate details, the story draws you in from the very beginning and just sinks it's claws into you deeper and deeper with each page! As soon as I thought I had it figured out- a new twist would be thrown in that takes the story on a whole new turn! The emotions were palpable and I felt a real connection with the characters and the trials they go through, This was a completely new take on the classic changeling story and I absolutely enjoyed it! I was left thinking about this story for days after finishing it! I highly recommend this book for anybody who likes YA adventure, fantasy, or even just a light-hearted read! Definitely on my top ten list of best books!

[Elliott Dunstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard about 'Shifty' at CanCon 2015, told to me by an excited author in the middle of writing it, I was already hooked by the central concept. When I finally had the opportunity to read the book, it was everything I expected and more. A blend of Irish lore with the modern world, 'Shifty' is at equal points scary, funny, and heartwarming - and takes a certain amount of joy in jerking the carpet out from under your feet whenever you get too comfortable in knowing what's going to happen next.