I remember enjoying this book when I read it. I read a couple more, enjoying them less along the way. I ended up putting down the third/fourth book without finishing it, I don't do that often, but it started to get a bit bleh. ( )

Very interesting, couldn't put it down, good ending, EXCELLENT character development. ( )

Alix is a young lady just finding the joys of puppy love, when she and her crush as abducted by the Cheysuli - and outlawed and hunted race who are believed to be able to become animals. While under their control, they determine that she is one of them by birth and so with them she must remain. Her role in their culture is to repopulate their race. Obviously, this doesn't stick very well and she proceeds to fight her destiny and ends up fulfilling it despite her best intentions.

As much as I hate to say it, it was pretty obvious this book was written by a woman. Far more time is spent on feelings of helplessness, jealousy and love triangles than is spent on either playful banter or on heroic deeds and dastardly magics. The Cheysuli are branded barbarians and ruthless hunters and killers, but they are apparently noble craftsmen and people very much in tune with nature. Fortunately there is at least one decapitation and our heroine ends up killing an evil sorcerer - but she's still far too pacifistic for the role she's given.

This one is definitely setting us up for a much longer story. I'm curious to see who stays and who goes as the plotline develops. Unfortunately, I don't think I brought book 2 with me. I'm going to have to figure out what to do about that. ( )

( First of 8 : Chronicles of the Cheysuli series. Fantasy, high fantasy)

15-05-2011
This is one of my all-time favourite series, and re-reading this first book after a long time, I still find it magical. It is about Alix, who suddenly finds herself joining an outlawed race who are considered sorcerers in her homeland. In so doing, she discovers her history and destiny, and in her adventures, finds a side to her character that she had not realised existed.

This first book introduces us to the prophecy of the Firstborn, which determines the course of actions of the last remaining Cheysuli clan; their drive to fulfill the prophecy takes us through the rest of the series.

Gradually uncovering the mysteries of the Cheysuli with Alix kept me engaged (although, I vaguely remember, there are more revealed through the series), as did the fast-paced action, and I liked the interplay between some of the characters; though I've always found Alix more impetuous than me! But then I wouldn't accomplish half what she does through sheer momentum.

This book has recently been re-released, paired with the second in the series, as [Shapechanger's Song]

Re-read 7th May 2017

This is the first book in the dynastic saga of the Cheysuli race and their drive to fulfil a prophecy that will see them restored to their full blood rights including throne of Homana.

Alix, a crofter's daughter, and Carillon, prince of Homana and heir to the Mujhar, are captured by a Cheysuli warrior and his wolf. Carillon's uncle, Shaine the Mujhar, declared a qu'mahlin (purge) of the Cheysuli race twenty five years ago and they are now considered demons in Homana. The Cheysuli men are warriors and share a bond with an animal familiar (lir) which allows them to take the shape of an animal of the same type as their lir. As war between Homana and neighbouring Solinde and Atvia looms, Carillon is allowed to return home but Alix remains with the Cheysuli where she finds a new life and learns how her tahlmorra (or fate) is intertwined with theirs and their prophecy.

I read this when it first came out and absolutely loved it. When I re-read it recently, I found it not quite as magical. However, rereading it again now, without the expectations inherent in rereading an all-time favourite, I see why I was enchanted with it the first time around. Of course, that frisson of danger, not knowing what is coming next, is gone, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and looked forward to getting back to it whenever I took a break.

Having said that, though, despite the feisty heroine, I wasn't thoroughly comfortable with women's role in this society and I did think Alix, at about eighteen years of age, is a bit of an idiot at times. Quite a few times, actually, but she does get things done. I thought the sibling mock-rivalry was nicely done.

Family tree (there's a bit of a spoiler, but that's revealed in the first 1/8th of the book anyway, so not a big one)

                                ___l___
                                |          |
                          Shaine   Fergus
                                |          |
      Raissa   Hale   Lindir   Carillon
|____| |____| |____|
    |          |        |
Duncan   Finn   Alix
hawk     wolf
(Cai)    (Storr)

4.5 stars ( )

I remember reading these when they first came out, anxiously awaiting the next installment. Good books. ( )