Skinshifter (Sylvan Cycle, #1)

by Alycia Christine

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Skinshifter by Alycia Christine fits comfortably in the epic fantasy world. In this first book of the Sylvan Cycle series, Ms. Christine paints a beautiful world inhabited by humans, elves and other mythical creatures like griffins and sphinxes. This world is also haunted by several paranormal undead creatures like vampires and ghouls. It’s a fully fleshed out world with its own religions, cultural norms and prejudices.

There is a lot happening in Skinshifter, but I was most impressed the diversity of the characters and their distinct personalities. The strong females, Katja (werecat), Lauraisha (human) and Zahra (dryad), who are all excellent fighters and philosophers. The respectful males, Felan (werewolf) and Dayalan (not telling!), are not afraid to acknowledge that the women in their party are sometimes stronger fighters and just as wise. Faced with seemingly impossible odds, the pack encounters numerous paranormal creatures like vampires and ghouls that are invading their lands and threatening their lives.

I was a bit overwhelmed by the different terminology and background of the World at the start. I felt a bit like Lauraisha and through her, the reader learns the history and the beliefs of the different species that live on the Sylvan continent. I longed for easier access to the Pronunciation Guide and Glossary and a map of the area.

There is always a new level of learning that takes place when one dives into epic fantasy and sometimes it is overwhelming and frustrating. In the end, beyond the strange cultures and words, the characters pull you through. Their triumphs become your triumphs and their losses, your losses. I certainly felt Katja’s pain and frustration and eventual understanding of the changing world around her. Like all of us, sometimes it just takes a bit of time to understand that our personal differences, that others may despise and fear, are what the world needs, and Skinshifter is certainly a book that can help the reader on that journey of self discovery.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews