Evershade

The Shifter Chronicles #1

by Michelle Areaux

How well do you know yourself?

Sixteen-year-old Elle thinks she's got life in Shady Oaks all under control until new boy Asher comes to town. Elle can't explain it, but she can't deny the connection she feels to him. Things with Asher are going great until they're out one night and nearly attacked by a large wolf. Before she knows it, Elle's life is spiraling out of control: Maddox is in love with her, she and Asher are in danger…

...and she learns she's a shifter!

If that wasn't bad enough, she finds herself in the middle of an ages-old war between shifters and hunters.
What else can she do but join the cause?
Will Elle stay with Asher or break-up with him to be with Maddox? What does it mean to be a shifter? Who will emerge victorious in the battle?

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Fantasy, Werewolves, Romance, Paranormal Romance

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, and seventh grade Language Arts teacher.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Literacy from Asbury University.

Reviews

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did find it unnecessary to repeat details over and over again like the book did though- a lot. For example, we are informed about five times in a chapter that Asher is new to town, that he just moved at the end of the last school year, and that he is a new student- as well as what he looked like. Over and over again in many different ways. Don't worry, I understood the first time.

This was basically a love triangle drama. There was little to no real plot or character development, mainly just repeated information, angst, vague mystery and over the top manufactured drama. Also, I think the book needed an editor since wrong names were used on a regular basis and scenes did not match up.

Based on the really high reviews I see on Goodreads, it seems like a lot of people really liked this book so give it a whirl if you are a fan of werewolf/shifter stories and like drama

[Violet Stone · Rating 1 out of 5]

This needs some major editing. Characters get confused with others, shifters who were once one animal are now another. Scenes shift in an incoherent fashion. And these are just a start.

[Cecily Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible book from this author! This is an intriguing start to the Shifter Chronicles series, and features what seems to be a typical teenage girl, with a best friend who happens to be a guy, and a mysterious and mesmerizing new boy in town who is as attracted to her as she is to him. Elle has spent the summer with her great-aunt, and not by choice. For some strange reason, her parents sent her off without explanation, and now that she's home and school is starting, she is hoping to get back to life as usual with her best friend, Maddox. The two of them are so close that their friends expect them to be romantically involved, but Elle is sure that isn't what their relationship is about. Still, he, as well as her parents, are hiding something from her, and it makes her uneasy. Meanwhile, new boy Asher, gorgeous and intense, asks her out, and she can't say no. The two of them have an instant attraction, but Maddox is wary. No one knows anything about Asher, and Maddox doesn't quite trust him.

With her best friend and new boyfriend at odds, Elle has her hands full, but then Maddox and her parents tell her a bizarre and impossible truth about her and both of their families: they are shifters.

Can Elle embrace what she truly is, as well as deal with the drama within her relationships with Maddox and Asher?

This is perfect for fans of Twilight, and a compelling series starter.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/12/2020)! 🎁

[Angie ☯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never been one to complain about a free book, but this one needs some serious editing. Details are repeated a lot. Sometimes one right after another. EX: Ch11 "I was working an evening shift the next evening after the unmentionable attack. I was working an evening shift, sitting at the counter waiting for customers to enter...". There were some other editing issues like a cap T instead of an I, I found a random £ sign. this has some potential to be a cute story but it definitely needs an editor.

[Amanda Lindsey Bursting Bookshelf Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Elle's story! Her story revolves around her family, a secret, her best friend Maddox and her boyfriend Asher. I loved the connections between the character and the push and pull between her relationships. She finds a balance between the two and sometimes she's in the middle of the two choosing sides or defending them. I also like the turmoil that comes later. So much happens and turns Elle's world upside down. She seems to be a strong character who is able to figure everything out. You'll see after you read the book. Lol. Such a great ya shifter book. I loved the story from page 1 to end ♡

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really cool start to this series. I don't read many shifter/werewolf books but I'm really glad I checked this one out. I found myself constantly rooting for a different character which was great. Areaux did a fantastic job of creating characters you can't help but love. You can never pick a clear favorite. She also created an atmosphere that you want to be apart of. I want to move to Shady Oaks!

[Cassi Sanchez-Manning · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the last book by Michelle Areaux BUT this one was greatly disappointing. The editing was atrocious and made it very difficult to even read the little bit of this book I was able to make it through. The idea behind the book is a great one and I would love to try again if some editing is done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Matt Carlstrom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor editing

This book could use a good editor or a second draft. At times it isn’t even coherent. Repeat sentences, timeline errors, characters who were escorted out of a scene abruptly reappear are just the beginning. Shifters who the author forgets what they turn into is a cardinal sin! Totally not worth anyone’s time. I started twice and only made it to chapter 13!

[Jazzie Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing

This story has a lot of potential. At times it was very hard to follow along. The timeline is missed up and there are times when the characters get mixed up that make it difficult to understand what’s really going on.

[Tricia V · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: 0 stars

This is going to be a shorter than usual post for one reason and one reason alone: this is the first time in a long time I’ve DNF’d a book.

Even if a book isn’t the best thing in the world, I can usually see it through to the end. However, this story (or at least the eBook version I attempted to read) was riddled with spelling, spacing, and grammatical errors. I’m not saying I’m perfect and I’ve never made these kinds of mistakes myself. But I am saying that this story was so riddled with them I could not find it in me to get through the story.

Which is a shame because I was really looking forward to the story when I started it. The premise is along the lines of stories I’ve loved before. And who doesn’t enjoy a coming of age/coming into your powers kind of story?

This story truly felt like a rough draft. This is the first book in a long time that I’ve found myself DNFing. Yet I did make an attempt to read the book so I felt it deserves to be mentioned. I got to about the 40% mark before giving up. Not every book can be a personal winner, and this just didn’t happen to be a good read for me.

I was really excited by the premise of this story (my inner teenager still has a thing for coming of age shapeshifter stories) but the writing was too hard for me to get through. I was interested to see how Areaux was going to tackle the shapeshifting mythos, to see what twists she would put into her story. But, again, the spelling mistakes and random gaps in the writing were just too much for me to power through.

Full spoilery thoughts here: https://phantomofthelibrarycom.wordpr...

[Kellie Rohrer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Still Needs Reediting

*May Contain Spoilers*

This book says it’s been re-edited, but it must have fallen into a blender afterwards. So much is mixed up.

Asher becomes Maddox. Things are repeated over and over again as if we weren’t told in previous chapters about that exact piece of history of the characters, etc. The continuity of the story is all off.

How can you have a conversation at a party with someone, then the next time you see them you say it’s the first time you’ve talked? Or how the person knows what you are, but they would be horrified to know it? That a person was present for a conversation, but then the other character acts like they were never there for it?

Then the main heroine? So wish washy. How can you be furious at someone for lying you your whole life (her parents) or just years (her best friend) and forgive them in what amounts to an hour or so? Yeah. Not feeling so much fury. We’re not talking something trivial, but life altering information.

Honestly the world building theory of keeping it all a secret until someone changes is stupid. Young kids may not understand, but a person who will be going through a significant change can not be told ahead of time? To say nothing of the fact that if there is danger, shouldn’t they know to be aware and on guard?

I slogged through at least 40% before I gave up. Just not worth the time to try and untangle the storyline, etc.

[Sushmitha Shetty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't believe how badly written this is.. Free book or not, it shouldn't be a task to follow the plot. Bad editing.
The story is wildly haphazard- almost as if the writer wrote two parallel stories, then blended them together and forgot the chinks in the storyline!
Asher at points knows about elle- at other points she's avoiding him as she doesn't want him to know about her..
he's with her during the first revelation by her family, confesses that his family has been protecting shifters- similar but not same, he's there during her first transformation AND then at other points he doesn't know anything..??!
Seriously need to get this act together..

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle was a normal teen till one day she discovered that she was a shifter.

After meeting the newest guy Asher on the block, Elle's life takes off on full speed.

Between a new vampire hottie she can't resist, a new identity as a shifter, being caught up between the shifters, vampires and the hunters, will Elle's life ever come back to normal?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stacey Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming of age story following Elle discovers the family secret and begins to discover herself all over again whilst falling in love and being hunted. A book filled with revealed secrets, adventure, self discovery and new love, the story was well written and the characters diverse with good chemistry, bring on the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle has just found out her family and best friend Maddox have lied to her her whole life. They are shifters and are just now telling her because she’s about to have her first shift. Not only that, she likes a human boy named Asher. Asher is in love with Elle and only wants to protect her. The shifters are being killed by some hunters and Elle and Asher are the ones that know where they are. Good read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should not be published yet. It has not been proof read or edited. The character names are frequently mixed up, the story sequencing is occasionally out of order, there are sections completely mis-placed. If a publisher let this go to the print they should be ashamed. This is the worst example of editing I have ever seen.
The story is suitable for a teen read fantasy novel once the proper work of proof reading and editing has been done.

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new take on the world of shifters.

This was a great story that has the potential to be even better. There are a few areas in which I had gotten confused, and there were some areas that needed spelling checked. *eh-hm, editor😄* (I may have received a rough draft, though.😁) Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to reading more from Michelle Areaux.

[Cheryl Sedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has great characters and a great start to a new series that will pull you into a crazy ride. Like all her other books it's easy to see this is going to get bigger and better with each book.
Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Amber Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA fantasy

Are there two characters named Asher or he does keep popping into scenes he shouldn't be in? I keep getting confused, otherwise a fun and magical tale that kept me flipping through the pages.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Linda Owulette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a finished product. Events jump around.

Names and events were not consistant. Talking to one person then jumps to another person and place. Maybe after editing.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Elle, Asher and Madox and thier adventures. The way she learned of her families special abilities was unique. Thank you for keeping it clean and easy to read.

[Ita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story concept but there were so many spelling and grammar mistakes and I felt the author got the characters mixed up. Poor writing.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters and storyline. Certainly very well written and the storyline came to life

[Stephanie Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

It was a good book to read looking forward to read more from this author. She knows how to draw you into the story.

[Marsilda]

I cant even, worst writing i have ever read!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I was very intrigued northern disappoint me. I was expecting Asher to betray at the end,but that did not happen

[Sarah Bolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay. A quick read, but nothing on the caliber of Twilight. Definitely a young adult book. It was free on Amazon that day and entertaining.