Being human is only an illusion.In the shadows outside Sugar and Spice café, my life changes forever.From the darkness, a mysterious stranger emerges. Coincidence? Not for him. Devyn St. Cyr reveals a startling truth about me—I’m a Kitsune. A what? My thought exactly. Turns out I’m a shape shifting fox with the ability to have extraordinary powers. Powers that make me a hot target for every … hot target for every ambitious otherworldly creature.
Thrust into the middle of a royal battle for a crown I wasn’t sure I wanted, I must do what no other Kitsune in a century has accomplished. Acquire nine tails and the power that comes with them. Or the fate of two worlds will crumble. No biggie.
Fans of Twilight, A Shade of Vampire, and Fallen will fall in love with First Shift, a short novel series.
Prepare for a unique spin on the shifters you love – and an adventure that is as thrilling as it is unexpected.
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This is a short novel series – each installment around 35k in length
Beware of spoilers in the reviews below that are without spoiler alerts
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First Shift is a fast paced grab you by the seat of your pants kind of story. The main characters Katrina and Devyn are awesome together the chemistry just buzzes around them. Katrina finds out she is a Kitsune and from another world. She is in a whirlwind of learning who and what she is by Devyn her protector all with in days of graduating high school. She learns that she has tasks she must do while the fate of two worlds lie in her hands. Will she do it in time, can Devyn save her if she fails, and will Katrina accept a crown that was meant for her in that new world?!
I enjoyed this story immensely. I can’t wait to read more by J.L. Weil!
4 & 1/2 stars
This was a unique story, that sucked me in. I enjoyed the different take of the Kitsune/Nine Tails, since I hadn’t read anything like it before. I was worried that a story about a female “fox” shifter might be a tad boring, but the whole thing really worked well, with the different things added to the story, it was far from boring. The instant sexual tension between Karina & Devyn was outrageous! I also felt there was some tension going on between Karina & Jesse as well (not near the level as Devyn though, more of a slow & long term simmer). So I wonder where that will go. The whole story is not going to be predictable from the way this ended & the uniqueness of the story. I predict a whole lot of plot twists coming… I did feel that parts of the story didn’t flow as smoothly & lost me in places, and there was some parts of the world building that were not filled in, though I suspect this will be a learn as you go along with Karina, since she’s in the dark about her heritage. Definitely worth reading.
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I’ve been a avid reader of JL Weil for Years but have only got around to starting the Nine Tails Series and I definitely wasn’t disappointed with book 1, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Karina finds out that she’s a Kitsune when she’s attacked and in comes Devyn her Shaman to protect her as that’s what he was born to do. They seem to forge a kind of love hate relationship right from the start as he makes her feel weird due to their mystical connection and they seem to like bickering with each other, or Karina just likes to question everything but who wouldn’t when you randomly shift into your fox form. I thought it was cool that Deyvn has some kicka*se swords as well as Wrath and Fury the snakes that are linked to him and his swords so they help send each creature that’s after Karina’s powers and therefore trying to k*ll her essence back to Otherworld. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series so I can see how Karina quest to obtain more tails so she can save Second World using her full Kitsune powers goes, Devyn will be there helping her along the way as well as keeping her safe. I’d recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
Good story. Great characters.
First Shift by J.L. Well is an amazingly well written enticing book. I could not put it down and have already down loaded the second book in the series Storm Shift. This is the story of a young teenager fox shifter experiencing her first shift and how her world turns upside down because of it. Karina had no idea of the supernatural world until she shifted and two creepy dudes tried to steal her soul. As Devyn comes to her aid she finds out she knows nothing about who and what she is and her mother as well. Character development and in depth story line are what make this book work. You know these characters and their motivations based on the back story. Imagine finding out that you are responsible for another world’s survival when you biggest problem was making it through high school graduation. This is a quick read and you will totally enjoy it.
I normally don’t read Young Adult romance books but I’m glad I read this one, the author knows how to bring a character and their word to life… I look forward to reading the rest in the series
Karina is a high school student trying to get through life. College applications, after-school job, and a sick mom. Suddenly a mysterious man, Devyn St. Cyr, appears with a secret. She’s not who she thinks she is. She’s a Kitsune, a fox shifter from another world called Second Moon. She must try to achieve nine tails.
Great first book. Loved it.
new author for me, interesting ya story. I usually stay away from ya stories cuz they seem immature to me and that does not keep my attention. This story was very well written for a ya and kept my attention thru the whole book. Can’t wait to get the next one and see what happens!
This does end in a cliffhanger, it is the first installment in a series and will continue in the other books.
This was a great story. Karina is almost done with high school when she gets attacked outside of her job. She shifts for the first time and is saved by Devyn. Devyn tells her who she is and what she is capable of. Together they have some things to work out, and now there are people after her and she’s no longer your average teenager worrying about everyday stuff.
I enjoyed this book and will definitely continue with the series to see how it progresses. I finished very quickly, couldn’t put it down.
4 out of 5 stars
This is a very interesting book , it isn’t your usual shifter book . We are talking Japanese anime here . I was really blown away with this book . Karina’s life changes one night behind the coffee shop she works at . When two things come after her and want her soul . Enter Devyn St Cyr .wielding swords with snakes attached as he sends the two back to the other world . Well that is when Karina’s life changes she shifts and finds out that she is a kitsune and with the help of Devyn who is sworn to protect her . She is thrown into a battle that she doesn’t know if she actually wants and a crown she doesn’t want to wear . Will she be able to collect the 9 tails and save both worlds from crumbling down around her.
This was an interesting book . The characters were well written . Karina at first struck me as really naïve . She needed to grow up just a little . She also seemed like a people pleaser she did everything for everyone else but nothing for herself . But as you read the book you really see her grow up and become a great heroine . Devyn is sexy and really kind of bossy sometimes . He knows his way around with swords and can kill almost anything . He is good for Karina and knows how to reign in her kitsune . They are good together
When I started reading this book , I will admit I thought it was a normal every day shifter book . I had to look up what a kitsune is . But when I got into the book I couldn’t put it down . There were just a couple of spots where the author could of done a little bit better editing . A couple of missed words and words that didn’t sound right . There is also a big cliff hanger at the end . I did really enjoy this book and loved the characters and the back stories . I can’t wait till I dive into book two and see where Devyn and Karina end up going . If you want a different type of shifter and some Japanese legend check it out . You won’t be disappointed .
Growing up is always complex.
Having suprises about yourself drop out of nowhere makes it much more so. Although, when we are very young we all dream of having some magical life appear. If one did would we really be ready for all that means?
New author for me and I typically do not read YA. I have before and they never grabbed me a lot of the time. Not many can write YA successfully without making the characters sound like 5th graders. So, I avoid it. However, I decided to give this a try. I was very impressed. Its a page turner and kept my attention. The world building and characters and story were very well done. We follow Karina on her journey when she discovers she’s a wee bit different. She refuses to believe such things even when they stare her in the face. She slowly starts to accept things and you cant forget about her “guardian” Devyn who was born to protect her.
I liked Karina very much. She’s definitely not TSTL and has some common sense even if she doenst know much about what she is. She’s smart and resourceful. Devyn is quite the character and you cant help but like his arrogant ways and smirks. They have major chemistry but its not really touched on a lot which isnt a big deal but of course you kinda root for them to do something with their relationship at some point. Admit feelings anyways. This is the first book. Now, I have to be honest and say I am not sure I’ll continue the series. I’m not a huge fan of series like this that go on and on into the next book. I’d like to read them one after the other because they end on cliffhangers so to speak and its not my favorite thing. Please dont let that stop anyone else from reading these. Once the series is finished I will definitely read them but right now I’ll put it on the back burner.
Overall rating: 4.8 (KU copy)
The first in a series, these characters wasted no time hooking me in! Shaman and kitsune…what better way to get a reader wondering. This is a novella, so the groundwork was set quickly and just the right amount of details have been disbursed to get my imagination flying as to what the next book will bring. To me, that equals book success! Fair warning, resolution has not been found yet so book two is a must!
I quickly got lost in this book. At first I was kind of upset that the main character didn’t speak to her mother about her “issue” (don’t want to give anything away lol), but I grew to understand why as I continued to read. And I do have to say, the book ended perfectly.. definitely made me instantly want to go buy the next one to figure out what happens! I think I might have a new fav series to read
What a great read!! I’ve never read anything by this author and now I’m hooked!! Loved the main characters, loved the uniqueness of the story, a Kitsune!! I definitely recommend this book Anne the series, can’t wait to read book 2!!
I’m loving Karina’s story! It’s full of suspense and danger while she learns about who she really is. While Devyn’s job is to keep her safe, I suspect there will be a little more than that. This is going to be a fun series.
A real action packed enjoyable book. I really enjoyed how the characters and their present and past come together. I would recommend this book to any reader that enjoys action and suspense.