There are three kinds of magic in the world, and Corentine has the wrong one.Long ago, the Restless King forced Corentine’s people into hiding as he scoured their blood for the SoulShifter. When Corentine learns she possesses some of the forbidden Shifter magic, she must hide her power or risk the same death her twin suffered.Raised to trust no one, she rejects the General’s son Sy, until she … son Sy, until she realizes his family secrets might be the key to unlocking hers. When his brother turns against them, they are forced to fight family to save what’s left of their home, or accept banishment to find a new future.
If Coren and Sy can’t convince their people to accept the light of Shifter magic, the growing Shadow will ruin everyone’s chance of freedom.
Travel this richly imagined world with a diverse cast that readers have compared to fantasy favorites like Sarah J Maas and Leigh Bardugo.
Sulit Witch
Weshen Shifter
Umbren Shadow
When dark meets light, will all become Shadow?
Buy Shift of Shadow and Soul today to find out which magic will win!
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On an island, Coren lives with her grandmother and her two younger twin siblings. They get by but just barely. The time of the hunt as come, but Coren has no intention of being caught. This is her last summer to have to participate and she has managed to evade capture by one of the boys each time. All she wants is to be able to live and take care of those she loves. The pain of the loss of her mother and her twin brother haunt her, but she must focus on the here and now. Sy, the first son of the General, is expected to be like his brother and to capture a girl and father an heir. That isn’t what he wants though. There are even times that he wishes that he could pass on the mantle of, “First Son,” to his brother so that his father would have someone to be proud of. Both his life and Coren’s will be forever changed when they cross paths and a magic hidden deep within Coren makes itself known. Coren possessing shifter magic is a dangerous thing and one that got her twin killed. Now, she and Sy must work together to make the General see that the magic is a gift and not a curse or else she will be condemned to the same fate as he. Evil is coming, and if they hope to stand against it, against the Restless King who still searches, then they must come together and fight.
Shift of Shadow and Soul by Hilary Thompson is book one in her SoulShifter series. This is an engaging magic-filled fantasy YA novel. Corentine, Coren, is an engaging and strong young female character. She’s suffered a lot in her young life. Her father disappeared, her mother couldn’t handle the separation and her brother was banished for exhibiting magic…but the wrong kind. The kind feared by the Weshen people. Coren resents the ones who took him from her, so she trusts no one and does what she can to provide for her small family. With Coren, the author does a fantastic job making her relatable and a very real character. She feeds and harbors her resentments, but she does soften at times and we are allowed to see another side of who she is. Sy comes of as a character who is trying to find his way. Despite the fact that he is older you can see that his father isn’t pleased with him. Sy is the first son, but he comes off as wishing that he was anything but that. He wants to please his father, but not in the ways his father wants. There is a rivalry between Sy and Resh, his brother. Resh plays the hunt, beds the girls and does what is expected of him, but he wants more.
This story is engaging and the author reveals that there are secrets everywhere. When you think that you know one thing, the author shows you that the truth is something different. When I first started reading this book I was disappointed that the Restless King was more of a shadow than anything. I wanted to know more about, how he came to be, what exactly it is that he is after, and how the divide came to be between the people and more. While these questions remain unanswered in this book, it actually adds to the mystery and suspense of who the Restless King is. This also helps to elevate the story because it keeps you engaged. This story focuses mostly on Coren, but it still manages to be well rounded with the other characters the author gives us. There are twists, surprises, and danger. This is an exciting story for sure.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I’m pleased to say that this story is professionally edited and that there are little to no errors to be found. The characters are engaging, and there are plenty of surprises, twists and various elements to keep the reader engaged. There isn’t much romance in this story but through the natural flow of the storyline, the author introduces some in the right place. I am eager to read the next book in this series. If you are looking for a unique fantasy novel with engaging characters, magic, and a danger that threatens a people then this is the book for you!