06/03/10
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Posted In: Book Review
Mistwood
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Source: Book Fairy Heather
Interest: Debut Author
Challenge: 2010 Debut Author Challenge
The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.
Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty–because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can’t help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.
(summary from Amazon.com)
Mistwood was such a beautifully written novel. If there was one thing that really blew me away it was the writing. It was exquisite, it really was. That alone will keep me seeking out more novels by Cypress.
However, I found the other elements of the story lacking. The plot was one big mystery. Both the reader and Isabel are in the dark for almost all of the novel. If I had to describe the plot in one word, I’d say confusing. I found that when you start a novel that takes place in a different world, you have to get in a few chapters before you really ‘know’ what’s going on. Does that make sense? Well, that is what I was expecting to happen this time around, but I just found myself waiting for that moment of understanding or at least a smidgen of clarity…. I did finally get it, but it didn’t come until the last few pages of the novel. I think that made the plot seem a little slow for me as well, because I had a hard time becoming invested in the story.
The characters were all a little to flat and two dimensional for my tastes. The one character that I did start to enjoy, was killed off! So much for that….. Isabel, despite her flaws, was a very perplexing character, but by the time I really understood her, I didn’t care anymore. I wasn’t particularly impressed with any of the characters even though I wanted to be.
Somehow I knew that two of the characters were going to fall for each other, but I didn’t really see it happening, I just had this hankering. Um, yes, I did just say hankering. But once the proclamation of love is made…. it just seemed so insincere! Something was missing. Perhaps that was just me though. I do love reading a good love story and maybe that’s what I was wanting to see from those two characters and it’s completely possible that I just missed some of the foreshadowing on that…? Am I alone in that revelation?
The ending, while it was the one thing I think I enjoyed the most about the novel, just sort of ended. This huge bombshell is dropped on the reader and you don’t even have a chance to digest it, and neither do the characters. It’s just kind of put out there and then… the END.
I’m hoping possibly that this is part of a series…? I would be interested in reading more about this story and know that it could be something magnificent.
Overall, Miswood was beautifully written, but just lacked some of the qualities that I like to see in a great novel.
No related posts.
43 Comments
-
Great review! Many bloggers have reviewed this novel, and I'm so confused. Now I am decided that I want to read it, but I'll not buy it. Instead, I'll borrow it from a library. Thanks for sharing!
-
Thanks for the great review – I'm torn as to whether to read this one or not! The writing does sound great though so I think I will check it out. Thanks again
x -
Great review! Many bloggers have reviewed this novel, and I'm so confused. Now I am decided that I want to read it, but I'll not buy it. Instead, I'll borrow it from a library. Thanks for sharing!
-
The flaws you mentioned were also flaws I mentioned in my review. I loved the idea behind the story, but because characters are the flesh on the bones of a plot, if they are not strong then a story is not strong. Good review.
-
I mentioned in my review. I loved the idea behind the story, but because characters are the flesh on the bones of a plot.thnx for sharing.
-
I was pretty disappointed with this too. I felt like the love was forced and didn't buy into it at all. I was also disappointed with the main character and the revelation about her. The reason behind the death of the character you liked was not well explained. There were just too many flaws.
If there is a sequel I don't know that I'd read it.
-
Thanks for the great review – I'm torn as to whether to read this one or not! The writing does sound great though so I think I will check it out. Thanks again
x -
The flaws you mentioned were also flaws I mentioned in my review. I loved the idea behind the story, but because characters are the flesh on the bones of a plot, if they are not strong then a story is not strong. Good review.
-
I mentioned in my review. I loved the idea behind the story, but because characters are the flesh on the bones of a plot.thnx for sharing.
-
I felt exactly the same way about everything – especially the part about the characters you KNEW were going to fall in love, but when it happens, it doesn't seem like there was a reason for it. And the killing off of the one character I was starting to like. We have almost the exact same feelings about this book, Kristi!
I did read on another blog that there will be a "companion" novel to this one, set in the same world with different characters. I don't know how that will work since I didn't really get a feel for this world or the original characters!
-
I read another review of this that had a similar opinion. I think I'm going to pass on this one. But it DOES have a beautiful cover!
-
I was pretty disappointed with this too. I felt like the love was forced and didn't buy into it at all. I was also disappointed with the main character and the revelation about her. The reason behind the death of the character you liked was not well explained. There were just too many flaws.
If there is a sequel I don't know that I'd read it.
-
I left you an award. Check it out!
-
I loved Mistwood mainly because of the writing style – just beautiful. I do wish there was more about the "shifter" and what she was before. I think that would make a great story!
Even though I loved it – I think it's a really quiet sort of story that slowly unravels and may not be for everyone. I was almost hesitant to recommend it in my review because I know people will have different reactions to it.
Great review! -
I felt exactly the same way about everything – especially the part about the characters you KNEW were going to fall in love, but when it happens, it doesn't seem like there was a reason for it. And the killing off of the one character I was starting to like. We have almost the exact same feelings about this book, Kristi!
I did read on another blog that there will be a "companion" novel to this one, set in the same world with different characters. I don't know how that will work since I didn't really get a feel for this world or the original characters!
-
I read another review of this that had a similar opinion. I think I'm going to pass on this one. But it DOES have a beautiful cover!
-
I left you an award. Check it out!
-
I loved Mistwood mainly because of the writing style – just beautiful. I do wish there was more about the "shifter" and what she was before. I think that would make a great story!
Even though I loved it – I think it's a really quiet sort of story that slowly unravels and may not be for everyone. I was almost hesitant to recommend it in my review because I know people will have different reactions to it.
Great review! -
I've just read the book, and actually really liked it. I found the plot really interesting. I do admit, however, that the romance was a bit lacking. If I hadn't expected the 2 characters to fall in love, it really would have seemed to come out of nowhere.
-
I've just read the book, and actually really liked it. I found the plot really interesting. I do admit, however, that the romance was a bit lacking. If I hadn't expected the 2 characters to fall in love, it really would have seemed to come out of nowhere.
-
Hey! Just wanted to let you know that Leah Cypess confirmed that there is a second book coming set in the Mistwood world.
-
Great review – I think I'd want to read this based on what you said about the writing. Hopefully, if there's a second book for this, there'd be room for more development of the characters.
-
Hey! Just wanted to let you know that Leah Cypess confirmed that there is a second book coming set in the Mistwood world.
-
I totally agree, even though some parts of book was confusing, the writing was fave part of the novel
-
Great review – I think I'd want to read this based on what you said about the writing. Hopefully, if there's a second book for this, there'd be room for more development of the characters.
-
Wow, this book's all over the chart! Two stars, five stars, it's everywhere. I'd like to read Mistwood and see for myself.
-
I totally agree, even though some parts of book was confusing, the writing was fave part of the novel
-
Wow, this book's all over the chart! Two stars, five stars, it's everywhere. I'd like to read Mistwood and see for myself.
-
This is basically what I wrote in my review too. I really wanted to like this more than I did.
"Confusing" seems to be the word most often used when describing this book. I feel like the only way the ending makes sense, is if this is the beginning of a series :/
-
It's interesting reading your review and the comments. I've really wanted to read this from other things I've heard about it. Once I can get it from the library, I'll be interested to see what I think.
-
I have to say everyone seems to love or hate this book. It has been fun to read the reviews.
-
This is basically what I wrote in my review too. I really wanted to like this more than I did.
"Confusing" seems to be the word most often used when describing this book. I feel like the only way the ending makes sense, is if this is the beginning of a series :/
-
Great review!!! It seems to be getting mixed reviews….I need to read it for myself. Love your blog
-
It is too bad when a book has good writing going for it that it falls short in so many other areas. Hopefully in her next book she will work on correcting some of those problems.
-
It's interesting reading your review and the comments. I've really wanted to read this from other things I've heard about it. Once I can get it from the library, I'll be interested to see what I think.
-
I have to say everyone seems to love or hate this book. It has been fun to read the reviews.
-
Great review!!! It seems to be getting mixed reviews….I need to read it for myself. Love your blog
-
It is too bad when a book has good writing going for it that it falls short in so many other areas. Hopefully in her next book she will work on correcting some of those problems.
-
I've heard other bloggers say the same thing about the characters in their reviews — I still really want to read it though so I can understand a little better what the characters were like! It still sounds like a great story.
Great review! -
I've heard other bloggers say the same thing about the characters in their reviews — I still really want to read it though so I can understand a little better what the characters were like! It still sounds like a great story.
Great review! -
I loved this book! It was really confusing at times, but I really liked the ending, it was so different. I think I have come to appriciate the "confusing" plot because I can usually predict the ending of a "fairy tale(ish)" novel from the first chapter. It was so refreshing to not know the end until . . . well . . . the end. Though I did suspect that she wold end up with you-know-who from pretty much the first page. All in all I liked it – I REALLY HOPE it is a series!
-
I loved this book! It was really confusing at times, but I really liked the ending, it was so different. I think I have come to appriciate the "confusing" plot because I can usually predict the ending of a "fairy tale(ish)" novel from the first chapter. It was so refreshing to not know the end until . . . well . . . the end. Though I did suspect that she wold end up with you-know-who from pretty much the first page. All in all I liked it – I REALLY HOPE it is a series!
-
[...] Finder by Kimberly DertingThe Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy Claire de Lune by Christine JohnsonMistwood by Leah Cypess Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda [...]
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Currently Reading
Surrenderby Elana Johnson
The companion novel to the dystopian novel Possession. Get ready to meet Raine and Gunner!
Contests
comments