The Shifter (Healing Wars #1)Janice Hardy
384 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: October 1st, 2009
Source: Author (Thanks Ms Hardy!!)
Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.
Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?
Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker - with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another persons body into her own. But unlike her younger sister Tali, and other Takers who become Healers, Nya's skill is flawed: she cant push that pain into Pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it to another person, a dangerous skill that must be kept hidden . If discovered she could be used as a human weapon.
But one day she pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. She refuses that is until Tali and other League Healers start disappearing mysteriously. Now Nya must decide: how far will she go to get Tali back alive.
I must say that at first this book seemed boring and I thought it would be "girly" since the main character is a girl. But to my ultimate surprise it was amazing and filled with tons action you don't usually see when there is a female author and a female main character. Janice Hardy however is a really great author for both boys and girls and it's great for ages 10 and up.
The first chapters got me completely hooked with the way Nya acts and all the hardships she has to go through. Even it was kind of slow in the middle it really picked up the pace towards the end. I'm so glad I had nothing else to read except for Shifter because if I hadn't I never would have picked because of the description on the back. I have the second book waiting to be read and I can't wait to start it, and I'm also looking for the third book too.
Great review! =) I read this book awhile back and had similar thoughts, I absolutely love the premise. I didn't know two was out yet, I'll have to look for it!
ReplyDeleteI have this one on my wishlist. It sounds excellent. Enjoyed reading your review.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that you've been convinced of female authors' (and female protagonists') capacity for action. According to www.sheroescentral.com, over 80% of childrens' books today feature male characters. Girls should have the spotlight more often! I hope that Janice Hardy's book has convinced you to read more books by and about females.
ReplyDeleteI read in another of your reviews (Calidude's, that is-- this comment is for him, as requested) that you enjoyed Brandon Mull's "Fablehaven" series. Did you find Kendra's character to be dull and girly?
The cover is really cool.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting cover. It sounds like a really adventurous read. I've love to dive into this story.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this one. I will defninitely have to check it out though. Sounds very interesting! Thanks!
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