Mistwood (review)

The shadowy depths of Mistwood have long been rumored to be home to the Shifter, a legendary creature born of mist and fog and bound to protect the king of Samorna when called. Isabel knows nothing of this history, only that she feels a deep connection to the prince who entered her forest asking for her help, and so returns with him to a kingdom on the verge of civil war or rebellion. As she learns more about the legend and her own powers, Isabel becomes convinced that she is indeed the Shifter but that something isn't quite right with her current incarnation. When she uncovers the prince's betrayal and realizes not only is she protecting an imposter but that she herself may not be what she believes, Isabel is forced to make a heartbreaking choice between her duty and her now all-too-human heart. In this impressive debut novel, the pacing here is superb, keeping the reader as much in the dark as Isabel and revealing tantalizingly little about Isabel's past until the key moment. Less successful, however, is the development of other characters, particularly Rokan, the prince, who comes off mostly as a spoiled child; however, readers will largely forgive such flaws and get sucked into the quick-moving story right up to the startling conclusion, finding themselves fascinated by Isabel's struggle to determine who or what she exactly is and whether her loyalties lie anywhere other than with herself.