Review: Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Young Adult Fantasy
Greenwillow Books (April 27, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0061956997
320 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

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 Mistwood. 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.

After hearing the comparisons between Mistwood and the likes of Graceling (which I absolutely loved!), I had to check it out for myself. Along with being young adult fantasy novels, the two books share that rare compelling quality. You know, the one that urges you to keep reading and forget everything else until it's finished.

The tale begins quickly and keeps up with the intrigue and action all the way through. There's never a dull moment with this bunch of scheming and mysterious characters that Cypess has created. Isabel is a strong heroine, both mentally and physically. She's incredibly adept at outwitting and/or out-fighting her enemies and she has to be, with the maneuvering that her foes are capable of. The secondary characters that Cypess has created are just as intriguing. One of the best things about the story is that Isabel's opponents are numerous and often mysterious. Even the most seemingly genuine characters at times appear as if they have something to hide. Loyalties seem to shift endlessly, including Isabel's. Her legendary powers and history make her formidable but, we find, she is not infallible. Her struggle to stay ahead of the game is fascinating.

If I have one complaint about the book, it's in regard to the romance between Rokan and Isabel. Throughout the novel it develops slowly but surely, however, in the end they both have made decisions that damages it and, should, stunt its growth. Despite this, the book wraps up with a declaration from Rokan that just seemed a bit too sudden for me, especially considering what he endures at the hands of others (including Isabel) during the course of the novel.

In all, I greatly enjoyed Mistwood. Considering the revelations about Isabel in the latter chapters of the story, I hope that there will be a sequel to expound upon what we learn about in Mistwood. It's a very engaging world and I would be happy to return there.

Grade: B+
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