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Midway through the novel, we are introduced to Catrin's brother who can shapeshift into a wolf. Do you think this element of shapeshifting is properly tied into the story or does it detract from the overall novel? Does it support the aura of mysticism the author is trying to convey or does it make it too much like any other fantasy novel?

CommMayo wrote: ↑01 Sep 2018, 11:00 Midway through the novel, we are introduced to Catrin's brother who can shapeshift into a wolf. Do you think this element of shapeshifting is properly tied into the story or does it detract from the overall novel? Does it support the aura of mysticism the author is trying to convey or does it make it too much like any other fantasy novel?

I thought it was well done and properly tied into the story. It added to the aura of mysticism.

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The one thing that didn't added up was the ability of Marrock to change others. It was a bit too much.

It seems to be well done to me. I've always interpreted wolves as mystical creatures, so the ability to shape shift into a wolf doesn't detract from my reading experience. Plus, this book does have some fantastical elements to it, so it's not too much of a stretch to have that ability in this book.

Shapeshifting makes the novel to sound more of a fantasy. That does not happen in real society. It is possible fictions.

I have yet to read the book, please correct me if I am wrong. Is it written like magical realism?

I usually like stories about shapeshifting and also enjoyed it in this book. I thought it worked with the overall mysticism of the book. The book is historical fiction but clearly also a fantastical and magical story.

gen_g wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 03:40 I have yet to read the book, please correct me if I am wrong. Is it written like magical realism?

To me, it is written like "Oh, I know, I'll include someone who can shapeshift into a wolf." At the beginning, the book was like a historical fiction with some mysticism mixed in. It then got strange with the shapeshifting and then Catrin's ability to see the futures connected to individuals when she goes into another realm.

I think it slightly fits, right from the beginning Catrin can see through the eyes of her raven and I feel that has the same type of mystical properties as shapeshifting. I think maybe if there were more shapeshifters in the story, it may not stick out so much. I'm hoping there are more fantasy elements in the next book so this doesn't stand out like a sore thumb.

I have no problem with shapeshifting, really, but having a man turn into a wolf seems at this point to be almost as overdone a trope as having a vampire turn into a bat.

CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 09:58

gen_g wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 03:40 I have yet to read the book, please correct me if I am wrong. Is it written like magical realism?

To me, it is written like "Oh, I know, I'll include someone who can shapeshift into a wolf." At the beginning, the book was like a historical fiction with some mysticism mixed in. It then got strange with the shapeshifting and then Catrin's ability to see the futures connected to individuals when she goes into another realm.

I've only read the review but based on it and the comments I've read, I was wondering about this too. Thanks for clarifying. I dislike when elements are added to the plot that seem like an afterthought.

Cecilia_L wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 16:17

CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 09:58

gen_g wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 03:40 I have yet to read the book, please correct me if I am wrong. Is it written like magical realism?

To me, it is written like "Oh, I know, I'll include someone who can shapeshift into a wolf." At the beginning, the book was like a historical fiction with some mysticism mixed in. It then got strange with the shapeshifting and then Catrin's ability to see the futures connected to individuals when she goes into another realm.

I've only read the review but based on it and the comments I've read, I was wondering about this too. Thanks for clarifying. I dislike when elements are added to the plot that seem like an afterthought.

The wolf thing is kind of integral to the plot, but it just didn't seem like it fit in for me. I think I decided to suspend a certain amount of belief when I started the book and then the shapeshifting thing just took it too far out of the park for me. Based on the comments, I seem to be the only person who thinks that this wasn't worth the time to read.

I liked the shapeshifting. I mean, they are siblings so it would make sense for both of them to inherit the gift and I can imagine a battle between the two of them in the future using their shapeshifting skills.

I think the whole shape shifting makes it seem to "Twilight" like and too over the top for me. Maybe the half brother could just see with the wolves eyes instead of a total morph. And the sex scenes with the wolves is putting the story in another genre altogether

I think shapeshifting makes a book fun, but as some others have pointed out, using a wolf is overdone. It would be neat if another animal had been used. I am excited to read and see how the author introduces this aspect into the story.

CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 09:58

gen_g wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 03:40 I have yet to read the book, please correct me if I am wrong. Is it written like magical realism?

To me, it is written like "Oh, I know, I'll include someone who can shapeshift into a wolf." At the beginning, the book was like a historical fiction with some mysticism mixed in. It then got strange with the shapeshifting and then Catrin's ability to see the futures connected to individuals when she goes into another realm.

Oh my! It sounds like it's kind of messy... The premise is interesting from what I've seen so far, but perhaps the author got slightly carried away?