Shapeshifter

by Holly Bennett

A woman trapped in the body of a deer. A dark sorcerer in relentless pursuit. A mysterious child, found alone on the slopes of a great mountain.

This is the turbulent and heartbreaking story of Sive, a girl of the Otherworld who must flee her world of plenty to live as a hunted beast. Surviving hardship, danger and crushing loneliness, she finally finds refuge--and unexpected joy--with a mortal champion, Finn Mac Cumhail, the great hero of Irish legend. But Sive's ordeal is far from over. She has a gift the Dark Man craves, and the smallest misstep will give him his chance to snatch her away from all she holds dear.

Set in the wild, magical landscape of Iron Age Ireland, Shapeshifter is a tale of rapacious evil, quiet courage and the healing power of love.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Shapeshifters, Mythology, Magic, Fairy Tales

244 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

I was born and grew up in Montreal before moving with my family to Markham, Ontario as part of the “great Anglo exodus,” that strange era when head offices were moving out of Quebec in a panic to avoid having to do anything in French. I finished high school in Ontario and went on to study English and Native Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. I wasn’t done with Quebec though, going back for two summers in Quebec City to study and work in French.

After graduation I moved with my husband John to Toronto, where I worked as a researcher for a social research company and as school secretary at the Wandering Spirit Survival School, while completing my M.Ed in adult education at OISE.

Eventually we moved back to Peterborough in search of cheap housing, and I worked as a youth employment counsellor and on a number of aboriginal research projects before landing a junior editor job with Today’s Parent magazine. It was an instant, perfect “fit” and I was there for over 25 years, ending up as editor-in-chief of Special Editions. Now I work from home as a freelance writer and editor, including as editor of Education Canada magazine, and work on my fiction whenever I can find the time.

Along the way I’ve raised three boys and have read untold numbers of wonderful books with them. But I’m not sure what flipped the switch and turned me from a person who loves reading stories to a person who loves writing them. In any case, once I got started, I became instantly addicted. Now, if I'm not working on a story, I'm looking for one!

In my “non-writing” spare time I enjoy singing in choirs, gardening, birdwatching, reading in the bathtub, and hanging out at the cottage. I volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. And I’m a very good Scrabble player.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

****Spoiler alert!!****What?!! Of all the stupid, crummy, dumb, lousy, rotten ways to end a book! I would have given this book 4-ish stars, but about 3/4 the way through I could not believe all the rotten stuff the author started to pull! She gets taken from her hubby, never sees him again, bears their child, raises him till he's 6, then the bad guy seperates them, the son goes back to Daddy- forgets his Mother till he's a grown man and falls in weird love with another magic lady and goes to their "world," then the jerk remembers his mother and finds her in her deer form to help her remember she's a person. The Daddy is now old, and remarried, while Sive is still magically young and what are we supposed to think will happen to her now? Argh! I'm so angry with this book!

[N.T. Embeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've got to say, this book surprised me in the end. I was having a hard time of really getting into it at first--and maybe that's just me--but after a while things seemed to finally pick up when men from the human world began to be involved. Which is crazy, right? Normally you want anything but people from the normal world to get focused on in a story that's supposedly fantastic. But I think that's what made this book actually bearable for me at the end.

It's not that the story itself is lacking. The story is based off of the actual Irish tale of Sive--or at least one of its interpretations--and as far as the story goes, it's pretty entertaining, as most things that have stood the test of time usually are. I feel that where this book was lacking for me was in the execution department. The writing was not bad, and it wasn't hard to get used to the style that the author took either. You could pick up on it after a couple of pages without any confusion. But I feel that the pacing was awkward at some times, and the method of time-skipping was always a bit abrupt. Time skips happened within the same chapter multiple times. That's just how the book was written. Sometimes there were a few paragraphs of italicized text that were various bits of commentary from different characters in the book as they looked back on things that happened at that point in the story. It bridged sections and made some time skips easier to pass into; made them run more smoothly. But in many cases you didn't have those bridges there. Were you able to get used to it for the most part after a while? Yeah, you were. It wasn't hard, but it threw off the otherwise natural rhythm a story might have.

Now in terms of characters, I actually think that they were done well. The focus wasn't very in depth because the story skipped between characters much more than it ever focused solely on one--that goes for our main character and what the book is named after too. Actually, I really liked all the characters. It's one of those stories where the character development was played out very well, considering how the tale itself was formatted to play out. So I have a lot of respect for the characters there. In fact, I liked most of them! Even the villain was a fair villain--for his purposes. (Though I totally called him out on that one lackluster move he made with trying to marry Sive's half-sister. Definitely could have been done better on his part if he wanted to win. BUT ANYWAY~)

I must say that I like the research that the author put into this book, and I even enjoyed the parts at the end of the story where she had a bunch of the terminology and names used throughout the story there with definitions and pronunciations. MAN was I reading SOME of those words wrong if I didn't have that guide! It's really nice to have it to look back on, and really helps to bring out the culture that you can see clearly throughout the book. It made a very nice impression on me, as someone who likes to know these details. Plus, she even gave a quick summary of how the actual Legend of Sive went, which was a really nice thing to note. And while it showed where the author differed or added on to the story, for the most part I was pleasantly surprised with how accurate her book was to the legend itself. It's always nice to see an author expand on what already exists and keep characters and tales true to their origins! Major plus for Holly Bennett on that point!

On the shapeshifter point of research, it addressed a couple of things that were interesting to mull over, but weren't necessarily new to me. And the actual issues of being a shapeshifter weren't the focal point of the book at all. It was more a side noted ability, like magic is in most tales. There were perhaps a line or two of advice at the very beginning that I took to heart as something to definitely keep note of, but other than that, not much to comment on.

Overall, I thought it a pleasant read and a nice way to pass the time. It's one of those books that I would read once and say, "Oh, what a nice story!" but I wouldn't really invest my time into buying. I'd advise you to library this one if you can. If it ends up being more significant or loved by you, then by all means! Pursue buying it! But generally, it's a quaint book and a tale that's a pleasure to read, especially towards the latter half of the tale. If you feel curious, go for it. But don't feel like you need to rush out and get this one any time soon. It's a book to pass the time, as opposed to one that grips your heart for a long duration afterwards. While lovely, it is not lasting. Either way, I hope you enjoy it should you come by it!

[LeNore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read. It was short and quick and a stand alone book. The melancholy tone captured me early on. I liked the way the author moved through long periods of time. I cried a couple of times and gasped out loud a couple of times.

There were a couple of times that I felt a little lost, like maybe there was a back story or a companion book that I had missed. I mentioned this to someone else in my reading group and they said they thought those references were probably to Irish lore - which I freely admit I know nothing about. Once I realized that was probably the case (since that explanation fit with both instances I was thinking of) I was satisfied.

One thing I'd make as a suggestion though. There was a character who was not included in the wrap up. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I think some mention should have been made letting the reader know that he was contacted and that he was told how things all ended in the other world. I thought his character was honorable enough that he really deserved to know. I felt let down on that point. (I might have even let a little tear slip for him not getting any closure).

Otherwise, even the references I didn't understand didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable adaptation of an Irish fairy tale. It is the story of Sive who can shapeshift into a deer. Her voice has magical qualities that make the Dark Man, an evil sorcerer, want to use her to conquer the fairy world. To escape him she must stay in her deer form in the mortal world. [return][return]All too often I have read adaptations that are just dry and slow, but the writing style is light and enjoyable in this story. My one complaint is that periodically there are first person narratives where a character remembers an event. It didn't really work with the flow of the story. The ending was a little anticlimactic because we are told how matters with the Dark Man are resolved, instead of actually seeing what happened. [return][return]The writing conveyed the place very well. It felt very magical and, well, Irish. The names really helped convey Ireland, even though I had a hard time with them. Then I realized that the end of the book has a pronunciation guide. There is also a quick synopsis of the actual fairytale that I found interesting. Overall a nice fairytale adaptation.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, brave woman and men strong in heart and body, pitted against powerful Dark sorcerer. Clear rendering of Irish tale despite difficult spellings. Bennett is a fine storyteller, becoming a favorite.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to follow, but an enjoyable story!

[Vanessa Di Gregorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved mythology, legend, and folklore. They are always so full of different cultures and colourful characters; of epic adventures and hard-won victories; of loss and heartache and the capricious whim of gods and higher beings; of magic and mystery and might. Perhaps that is why I was so enchanted by Holly Bennett’s Shapeshifter, which tells the tale of a little known character in Irish folklore.

When I first cracked open its pages, I was completely unaware that this was based off of any legend. But as soon as I read the introduction to the book and found out that Bennett had added the actual folktale at the back, I was excited and intrigued. And once I started, I could not put this book down. I read it voraciously, and it only took me a single day to finish. And that cover! Absolutely gorgeous! It’s the reason why I first picked up the book; how can you not find that absolutely enchanting?

The Irish folklore itself that this book is based off actually centers around Finn Mac Cumhail, one of the great warriors and heroes of the Fianna. Sive is mentioned in his tales as his first wife, but not in great detail. Bennett has taken a character whose life is a mystery - both before her marriage to Finn and after her disappearance - and has written her an incredibly compelling story.

There are two worlds in this story: the mortal world, or Eire (Ireland), and the Otherworld, or Land of the Never-Aging. These two worlds lie parallel to one another, with doorways that connect them. Sive is of the Otherworld; and her journey takes her from her home in the Otherworld into the much harsher world of the mortal realm. And the first change that Bennett makes to the story is that she gives Sive the ability to choose to change into a deer in order to flee the Dark Man. And what an absolutely brilliant change it is. Sive is forced to give up her humanity in order to survive, and to save everyone from the thrall of the Dark Man.

The book is more of an emotional journey than anything. Though the action is minimal, the tension and suspense remains throughout; and I was never once bored. The connection to Sive, her parents, to Finn & Oisen, and even to Oran is strong. They are complex and utterly compelling. The story is truly about Sive and the people around her, as opposed to the action that myth and folklore often entail. But their characterization is much more compelling than any epic battle could be.

Holly Bennett’s prose is lyrical and wonderful. She stays true to the language and style of folklore, and never once did I feel jarred out of the story. Though written in third person, the voice was undeniably great. Sometimes this voice would stop viewing Sive to follow others, but it was never confusing. And every now and then, often at the end of a chapter, there would be sections in first person which would switch between Sive and Finn and Oisen; bits of passages where the characters themselves would remember what had happened and add their own voices to the story. I loved hearing the characters remembering the events; hearing them look back and discuss all the emotions and feelings that had been going though their heads at specific moments of the story.

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. There are so many beautiful moments in this story, and I think it is a brilliant addition of a story in Irish mythology that she was able to flesh out. There are often huge gaps in time, as they story spans across many long years; but that is what folklore does. Some might find the breaks in time to be disappointing, but I did not. Holly kept the feel of folklore alive in this way, by focusing on the important events involving Sive (for truly, the story is her own, and not Finn’s or Oisin’s). The roles they play in her life are the most important. Her story is the bridge between both the legend of Finn and the legend of Oisin.

I also know that some believe the ending to be anticlimactic; but as I said before, Bennett never strayed her focus from Sive, and the emotional journey that is her story under the terror of Far Droiche. It felt as though I were reading a legend itself, in the way that some details were left out. I loved the ending, and though there is some sadness in it, I closed the book feeling incredibly satisfied (and only wishing it had been longer!). And I am normally the type of reader who feels robbed if, at the climax, an epic battle that I expect doesn’t occur. But I was completely in love with this story from start to finish; I never once felt any disappointment.

I highly recommend this book to any fellow myth/legend/folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone who loves fantasy, great prose, and a wonderfully epic story. This book has been one of my favourite reads all year, and I promise that you’ll be just as enchanted by it as I was. Now, you’ll have to excuse me; I have all of her other books to read now!

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book through Librarything.com Early Reviewers Program. The premise sounded like something I would be very interested in. Overall is was a beautiful book, very lyrical and lush settings.

Sive is a young woman who can transform herself into a deer. As great as her shapeshifting powers are they are surpassed by the power of her voice. Sive's singing can weave powerful magic over those who listen. Sive has caught the eye of a Dark Mage and takes deer shape to flee him. Her flight will take her out of fairy into the mortal realms and back again, it will take her to the greatest heights of loves and the deepest depths of despair.

This was a beautifully written book, done in a very lyrical style. Not a ton of action, this book is written more in the style of classic Irish folklore. All of the book is very focused around Sive and her family and doesn't pay much attention to outside forces. Sive is an excellent heroine and you really feel for her. The story was fairly engaging and a quick read.

For the most part I enjoyed it. I enjoyed reading about Sive's struggles as a deer and about how she hid from the Dark Mage. I also enjoyed watching her fall in love. There were a couple things in this book that just broke my heart. Overall this is a dark story, with a decent ending.

Readers who are interested in Irish folklore, traditional fairy tales, or classic love stories will probably like this book. If you are looking for action and adventure I would look elsewhere.

There were a couple things I didn't like about this book. Bennett switches which character-viewpoint the story is told from quite often and she doesn't really let you know when she does this, you have to figure it out. That made things confusing. She also has little sections where she says "Sive remembers..." these sections are supposed to give you a glimpse into Sive's past but don't really make sense because Bennett talks about Sive's past in other sections of the book too...so, I didn't really understand the point of separating them out. Readers will also be disappointed in the way the Evil Mage is dealt with; in general it is pretty anti-climatic.

Still the book is worth a read if you like reading Irish folklore or classic fairy tales. It is beautifully written and an engaging story. The story can get a bit confused with the switch in viewpoints but it is not too bad. Although I enjoyed the story okay, it did not make me want to run out and read more of Bennett's stories in the future.

[Liviania · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not most familiar with Irish mythology, I do enjoy it quite a bit. (After all, I do consider myself Irish.) I loved seeing an author play around with a short episode in The Fenian Cycle, as opposed to the more popular Ulster Cycle. I also liked that the publisher included a translation of the original episode for comparison. (Do be careful about reading it first, if you aren't familiar with the story, since it will spoil things.) Readers will also enjoy the glossary, since Irish names often have tricky pronounciations. Holly Bennett makes the fortunate decision to use the romanization Sive for the protagonist instead of Sadhbh.

Sive was the first wife of Finn mac Cumhaill (whom you may know as Finn McCool), a Sidhe woman trapped in the body of a deer. Bennett explores how Sive first came to the attention of the evil druid Far Doirche and turned into a deer. In Bennett's telling, Sive was not turned into a deer by the druid but turned herself into one to escape his unwanted attentions. Sive's singing could charm anyone, and Far Doirche wants access to her power.

I thought Bennett fleshed the story out well, developing an interesting and original cast to accompany the epic figures. She did have little sections marked off by [Character] Remembers . . . that I thought were fairly useless. The book was in the past tense and slipped into people's heads anyway, so the those sections felt redundant and flabby. (Actually, almost all of Bennett's use of POV tricks could've been tightened up.)

The ending, focusing on Sive and Finn's son Oisin, moved a little too quickly for my taste. SHAPESHIFTER truly is Sive's story, but I would've liked to get to know Oisin as well as Sive. SHAPESHIFTER is fairly short, so it probably wouldn't have tasked readers attention spans.

SHAPESHIFTER contains adventure and romance, but will probably appeal most to people interested in mythology. If you aren't familiar with Irish mythology, SHAPESHIFTER is a good place to start. It doesn't ask you to come in familiar with the stories. SHAPESHIFTER is a little rough, but still good light entertainment. The language is easy enough for preteens, but there are oblique sexual references.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly Bennett is a fantasy writer who does her research into iron-age/medieval periods in which she bases her stories. Her magical worlds have the same feel as the old Britannic legends (and not just because she has a fascination with Ireland and the British Isles and bases some of her stories there), and her characters are all very in depth and extremely likeable. She is the only Author who has ever made me attach to a character who was an Elf - and believe me, that is a feat to accomplish.

Shapeshifter is just as good as her Bonemender Trilogy, if not better. She plays upon the legends of Finn mac Cumhail (or Finn MacCool, as most of know him) and Oisin in a very interesting and new way, making the stories feel fresh. Her writing style brings things to life in a way most fantasy writers can't because their personal style is tainted with "modern phraseology". She also does something very interesting with first-person narration. The majority of the book is written in third person, but at times she has certain characters "remember" - which is when they take time to recall events that occurred, giving their own personal opinion on what happened. At first, this seemed very odd and somewhat random, but after a time, I grew used to it and enjoyed those parts the most. Some of Holly Bennett's transitions are a little rough, but she manages to cover a span of years very smoothly.

The only complaint I really have is that the demise of Far Doirche isn't as satisfying as I was expecting it to be. And yet, once I had time to reflect on the story, I decided that I actually rather liked it. His ending isn't cliched, there is no big showdown between hero (or heroine) and the big baddie. Honestly, it fit, and I don't feel as disappointed about it as I initially did.

The content is, for the most part, nonexistant. It is mentioned that Sive beds with Finn mac Cumhail, but that's all that is said. No details of any sort; just a frank statement and that is that.

Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett was a resounding success, in my opinion, and I look forward to adding it to my collection.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

Sive is a powerful shapeshifter who can shift into the form of a deer and enslave anyone who hears her sing. Unfortunately, an evil druid named Far Doirche has taken an unhealthy interest in her. He wants to use her to enthrall others and create an unstoppable empire.

To evade his clutches, she escapes to the human world and takes on the shape of a deer. There, she discovers that love exists in both worlds and seeks out sanctuary with a man named Finn and his warriors within the forest. However, Far follows her and is not willing to give up on his wishes in regards to her.

Can Sive find a way to overcome the evil that is after her? Will love conquer all?

SHAPESHIFTER is an endearing tale that gives a unique spin on this classic Irish legend. The plot is hard to follow at times, with the time jumps and the different points of view, but it still does a great job of holding the reader's interest. The characters are extremely memorable, and those who like fairy tales, fantasy, adventure, and legends will be left wishing there were more books to read when they're finished.

[Nora Peevy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this book this morning. It's refreshing to read a shapeshifting story that doesn't involve the shifter feeling angst or overly-sexed and that isn't about a werewolf. This book is a really quick read, but well-done. Sive, the main character shifts into a deer, which is a lovely concept. I found it interesting that in deer form she saw in shades of brown. I'm not sure if deer actually do this, but it sounded really cool. I also felt Sive met the mark for a strong, independent role model for young women. Since this book is intended for young adults, bravo! The tone of the book is somber, so if you're looking for a picker-upper, this is NOT it. But if you're looking for a story about a woman who triumphs forced marriage, imprisonment, and torture, this is the book for you. Really, it's not as dark as it seems, just sad. The subject matter is dark, but Sive isn't whiny or overly dramatic. She's just very sensitive and connected with her surroundings and I think that's why the book doesn't appear as dark as it could.

Check back later for a link to my book review on my blog.

[Maya Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so lucky to have found this book! Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, book spirits for conveniently placing this book on a shelf in a library within my point of vision! This is a story based on Irish folklore, but about an obscure character, making her the main character in Shapeshifter. Sive lives in the beautiful otherworld of Tir na Nog, where you quickly learn that nobody ever grows old, the weather is always beautiful, the people are always kind...I'm very glad that the author went to great lengths to describe how beautiful and immortal this world is before the bad stuff happens: because for the rest of the book, Sive is rushing all over trying to escape the evil sorcerer Far Doirche, who wants to use her voice so he can (evilly) bring everyone to do his bidding. Once again, I am glad I found this book and I already borrowed it from the library a billion times so I think the checkout people are wondering, and I don't think I'm going to borrow it anymore. A great way to retell a folktale!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot to it, but also a couple crippling flaws. The first half of the book is astonishing; I absolutely loved every page as I followed Sive getting hunted down by the Dark Man. Their cat-and-mouse (or more accurately, wolf-and-deer) relationship is fascinating and thrilling and I couldn't wait to see how it turned out. However ... the second half of the book is less enthralling. With a disappointing, anticlimatic end to the Dark Man (who was an incredible character, one of my favorites in the entire book), the book then commences to deal with Sive's son, whose story isn't nearly as fascinating as his mother's. For a good third of the book we follow this boy, and it just isn't interesting enough. I literally skimmed through these pages, my eyes glazing over, and the ending was a bit ... I dunno, uncalled for and cliche. However, the first half is well worth the unsatisfactory second half and I highly recommend it.

[Tien · Rating 5 out of 5]

At her first performance & foray at the King's court, Sive was marked by the Dark Man. Years past and she bloomed into womanhood, forgetting the Dark Man, confident he has not remembered her but she was wrong.

To escape his thrall, she had to stay in her deer form and ran into the mortal world where she found sanctuary and love. By trickery and magic, the Dark Man lured her from safety and forced her obedience. As she was carrying a child, she negotiated the safety of her child for her future obedience.

Her son, Oisin, at age 6 was taken away from her and "sent" to his father. Whilst Oisin was safe in the mortal world with his father, Sive continued to be under the heels of the Dark Man. Love, however, transcends all time & pain.

[Ricki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love mythology and am always drawn to books that are based on folklore. I got really excited when I read the first fifty pages of this book because they were absolutely stunning. For some reason, the quality and beauty of the writing seemed to slowly weaken as the book continued. It was as if Bennett just wanted to finish the book and get it over with. I found the ending to be anticlimactic, and I was very disappointed with how the book turned out. I had such high hopes for this one, and I was disappointed. I wouldn't hesitate to read another novel by Bennett, though, as I was initially captivated by the beauty and flow of her writing.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected. I picked it up for the title, Celtic mythology theme, and pretty green/brown cover. Simple tale, but beautifully written. It was a pleasure to read!

The pronunciation guide should have been in the front, not the back. I didn't catch it in the Table of Contents, because I'm seldom interested in chapter titles before coming upon them in-story (it's spoilerish)... so my eyes skipped over it. Irish pronunciations are difficult, and I wondered almost every time if I was saying it right in my head.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on an Irish folktale.

Sive is a shapeshifter, able to take the form of a deer. However, when a powerful magician decides that he wants to "own" her, the only way she can escape is to take the form of the deer permanently. Until she discovers that he cannot find her in the safety of Finn mac Cumhail's lands. Taking refuge there, she is safe until the magician tricks her. Then she and her yet unborn babe are trapped, unless she can find a way out once again.

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was an exceptional novel. History rich, mythology rich, and jam packed with all that kind of stuff that teen readers like me lap up like Coca-Cola. I wouldn't recommend it for those who need easy-to-pronounce names, because this book has none. But I liked it. It was tragic, and dark, and deliciously thrilling. If you like a heavy, heavy dose of Irish mythology now and then, pick up Shapeshifter.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was facinating in terms of classical literature. The story itself is based on a traditional Irish myth that involves a young women who transforms into a deer in order to escape an evil druid. I really liked the setting of the story, but I was a little dissapointed with how quickly the story flew by. The whole book was rather abrupt.

[Andrea Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5.

I thought the whole idea was totally new fresh and awesome and that's why I picked this book in the first place. But, I found the writing a bit boring at parts and every now and then I wanted to scream about the impossible to pronounce Irish names. (Thank goodness there a pronunciation key in the back.)

Worth reading, but not my favourite.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shapeshifter was interesting. There were parts of the book that reminded me of something Juiet Marillier would write, with Tir na nOg, magic, shapshifting etc. For some reason, it just was not the same. I did not feel the same connection with the characters. But overall, it was an enjoyable read, if you like fantasy and imaginative re-tellings of legends.

[Monica Skeens · Rating 3 out of 5]

�Very interesting story based in Ireland, that is based off of folklore. Enjoyable read with alot of trials and tribulations to get through her life. I did enjoy this book even though it was slightly different than what I normally read

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good. The writing more than makes up for the simple plot. A touching story set in a beautifully described Celtic mythos.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a change from the everyday paranormal books that are on the shelf. Which is undoubtedly a good thing! And to top it off, what a wonderful happy ending.

[Christopher Roden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading to consider for literary award, so unable to rate at the present time.

This ended up being a strong finalist for the Sunburst. And well deserved.

[Jeanne]

Couldn't get into this one.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book--takes place in the Iron Age of Ireland. It's a fantasy story about the Fey (fairies), but from their point of view, not the 'humans' point of view. Grades 9+

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First 2/3 is excellent but drags at the end. Overall though loved it. Mythology of woman who can transform into a deer, evil magician, great love for husband and son.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. From Irish folklore a tale about a girl who can turn herself into a deer. Well written and kept me interested from beginning to end.