Shift (Shifters Book 5)

Shift is the 5th book in Rachel Vincent's Shifters series and picks up a week or so after Prey. Faythe and her Pride are still deep in mourning for the loss of one of their own and busy plotting their revenge against Calvin Malone and his supporters for that death. But things take an unexpected and very dangerous turn when they are attacked out of the blue by Thunderbirds. Giant bird shifters with deadly hooked wings and talons, putting the werecats at a big disadvantage by their ablilty to fly. Faythe is determined to get to the truth behind the attacks, but can she do it and take care of teenage tabby Kaci? With her personal life in turmoil and Malone determined to have both tabbies for himself, it's going to be far from easy. But Faythe's never been one to back away from a fight.I loved this series from the first book, and it's grown on me with every book. The characters are vivid and flawed, but have grown a huge amount throughout the series learning from mistakes and the difficult decisions that have been made along the way. Shift sees Faythe trying to deal with the consequences of one of her biggest mistakes, sleeping with Jace, without hurting either him or Marc. Jace has grown and changed a whole lot since Ethan's death as well. He's not content with playful flirtation with Faythe anymore, or being a low-ranking enforcer. He's showing potential that shocks those closest to him and gives greater depth to his character.I couldn't help but feel for both Faythe and Jace as they worked together through this book, against the thunderbirds and Malone's cats. My heart ached for Marc and his place in the situation too, loving Faythe and wanting her to finally commit to him, unaware of her actions with Jace. And Kaci, a young werecat who knows little of their world and yet finds herself in the middle of a war, trusting in Faythe to keep her safe. Faythe is facing huge decisions, both personally and professionally, in the hunt to save those she loves and I felt every up and down, twist and turn along with her. I love how she's gone from a mouthy brat in Stray, to someone who has great potential to be a very good leader.The action started on page one and never really let up. The thunderbirds were well described bringing them to vivid life, and something that gave me chills. There were some really great twists and I was never sure what was going to happen until the end. The tension built through the book right to the intense ending, but there were a couple good lighter moments that made me laugh too. I think this has replaced Prey as my favourite book of the series, although it doesn't hold quite the level of shock Prey did, it was so well put together and created a real tension that made it impossible for me to put down. I really feel for all the characters and the troubles they're in, and Faythe in particular, as she makes some really tough decisions. Things are a long way from over for any of them, and I really can't guess what's going to be thrown at them next! The whole series has improved with each book, in every way, the writing, the characters, the way it's all brought to life. I'll be sad to see the series finish, but I also can't wait for the final book, Alpha, to come out so I can find out what happens to these characters I've really fallen for.

This is the 5th book in the Shifters series so it is very difficult to review without giving spoilers for previous books. If you're new to the series I strongly recommend you don't read this review as this series really should be read in order - why not check out the reviews for Stray instead. This is my favorite Urban Fantasy series though so I'd definitely recommend you check it out!This book continues the story just a couple of weeks after the ending of Prey - Faythe and the rest of her Pride are still devestated by the loss of an important Pride member and are preparing to go to war to get their revenge and stop Calvin Malone's attempt to take over the Pride Council. But attack comes in an unexpected form when they are set upon by the Thunderbirds - a Flight of bird shifters who are determined to destroy the Pride. The Pride have no idea why they are under attack and they are at a major disadvantage when their enemy can fly - they can't afford to lose more members if they are going to have a chance in the upcoming war. When the Thunderbirds manage to kidnap Kaci it falls to Faythe to discover what they want and to figure out a way to rescue her.I have been a massive fan of the Shifters series ever since I read Stray but with each book I've been amazed that it has managed to be better than the last. Shift didn't disappoint and I was drawn into Faythe's world from the very first page. I love the way Faythe's character has grown throughout the series - she still has flaws and makes mistakes but she is truely starting to show her full potential.Shift is action packed from the word go and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I really didn't know how the book was going to end and there were some great twists that I wasn't expecting. I have no idea how the relationship issues between Faythe, Marc & Jace will be resolved after the events of the last book. I feel for each of the characters and just can't see a way to give all three of them a happy ending.The style of Rachel Vincent's writing has created an absorbing world that hooks you from the moment you pick up the book. I don't think I've ever felt so emotionally invested in the outcome of a series before and for that reason I am both longing for and dreading the final book Alpha. I'm sure Rachel will manage to surpass my expectations but I really don't want my journey with Faythe, Marc & the Pride to come to an end. If you haven't tried this series yet then I really recommend you go out and get a copy of Stray today - I'm sure you'll be as hooked as I am.

I have read all of these books over the last month (yes they are that good!) but i have only given this 4 stars as felt this was slightly out of sinc with the previous ones.Don't get me wrong - still a great book and i love how Faythe has grown since Book one, but the whole 'Thunderbirds' bit was a bit too much for me - maybe because I loathe birds & could clearly imagine the creatures but i felt the story just finished way too quickly. Maybe thats the idea as i cannot wait for the next (& last) in the series - Alpha.If you haven't read this series - please please start - as the characters are so well written & the storylines well thought out (just maybe not this one)also - I'm Team Marc!!!!

Difficult to find locally. Thank you for having in store! Great price!

I'm afraid this review will contain spoilers for previous books. Let me start this review by saying, I am not always the biggest fan of the series heroine, Faythe. There have definitely been times when she's made bad choices, been stubborn to the point of stupidity (one of my personal pet peeves in a heroine), and taken a bad situation and almost willfully made it worse. However, that being said, I did not see that in this book. I find myself pretty surprised at the comments in a couple of other reviews, and am in fact writing this review because I could not stay silent after reading them.This had to be a difficult book for the author to write. Too many times in a series, especially it seems in the genre of urban fantasy, the story and heroine become stagnant and unchanging as the author writes book after book. Nothing changes, the main characters don't seem to learn anything or progress, and the series takes a slow dive into boring and mediocrity, no matter how strong it started out.That is not the case here. In the last book, the author made some brave choices. I read reviews and comments here, where people have called Faythe a "terrible girlfriend" and "unworthy" of either of the men in her life. One review even claims that each of these books follows an identical formula to the last. I do not agree. Sure, the books start in conflict, which inevitably worsens before the end. That's how it's supposed to work for all stories, actually. And I can agree that in previous installments, Faythe did some things that made that conflict worse. But I frankly don't see any of that here. It seems to me that, personal relationship issues aside, Faythe is really coming into her own. I fail to see how she made the central conflict in this book worse, and in fact, it seems to me she fought harder than anyone to resolve it, and succeeded. She made some difficult choices, and took on the position of leading more than she ever has before. She has grown and changed so much since the first book in the series, and that more than anything is what will keep me coming back for more. I no longer see the petulant, stubborn girl who wanted her own way in book 1. Faythe is still stubborn, but she sees beyond her own problems and desires, now. After everything that's happened, she has to.Let's talk about those personal relationship problems for a moment. I applaud Rachel Vincent, I really do. In Pride, the over-arcing conflict for this series really picked up speed as Malone used Faythe and her mistakes in his bid for power among the prides. I watched it unfold as I read the book, and it had that inexorable, unstoppable feel that actually makes me frustrated on behalf of the characters. I've been watching it build steam for the past two books, culminating in the death of a major character in the last book, Prey. I, like many, was totally shocked by this turn of events. It couldn't have been any easier for the author to kill the character in question. I shared in Faythe's grief, and personally, I think the events that followed were totally realistic. How many of us have made choices while in the grip of powerful emotion that we later regret? Did Faythe betray Marc? Well, yes. She did, in that moment. Was it out of character for her? I don't think so. Not for a character that's been well established as a leap-first-think-later personality in the past. Yes, she's been getting better about that recently, but when we're at our lowest, it's much harder to overcome something like that. What happened was totally realistic to me, and while I feel badly for Marc, as an outside observer, I completely "get" why it happened. If Marc had been there, it wouldn't have. If Faythe and Jace didn't feel something for each other, it wouldn't have. But he wasn't, and they do, and it happened. This book dealt with the consequences of that. With the consequences of the fact that Faythe loves two very different men, albeit in different ways.I feel bad for all three of them, frankly. Faythe is hardly the first heroine to find herself torn between more than one man she loves, but rarely have I see this sort of triangle handled in such a realistic fashion. Of course Faythe spent the entire book struggling with how and when to tell Marc. And Jace, changed by the death of his best friend, is no longer willing to stand quietly aside and not fight for the woman he loves. People have complained about how awful Faythe is for not choosing between them. What did you all expect, exactly? That she'd start the book off making a clear choice and that would be the end of it? Since when is life that simple? We all knew the truth would eventually come out, and personally, I'm happy with when and how it did. Vincent could have dragged this out for books, as other authors might have, but she didn't. In this book, Faythe struggled with what happened as a terrible, guilt ridden secret. Now that the truth is out, in the next book, Faythe will have to make a choice (unlike other series I could mention, where the heroine never does). How is all of this unrealistic, or how does it signify that Faythe is not growing and changing? The story and the characters are moving forward; their conflict is moving forward, and in a deeply emotional and very real fashion. The author did such a good job with the tension between all three characters, that I'm not entirely sure who to root for! Two books ago, I never would have hesitated. Of course Faythe should be with Marc.Now, I'm just as torn as Faythe. The sad thing about this situation is that someone has to lose, and everyone will be hurt in some way by it. But I can't wait to find out how it ends, how it gets resolved, and if that isn't great storytelling, I don't know what is!I also can't wait to see Calvin Malone finally get his comeuppance (I'm hoping!) in the next book. I'm also just as intrigued by the background stories involving Manx and Kaci.Kudos to the author for keeping a series fresh and exciting five books in. I hope it continues for many more, so long as the characters keep growing and changing.

Faythe ist zurück und das mit geladener Katzenpower! Es geht weiter mit Faythe und ihrem Marc. Er macht ihr wieder einen Heiratsantrag- der letzte, wie er selbst sagt- und das, während sie in der Falle sitzen, im eigenen Haus, tyrannisiert von Vögeln. Ja, die "Thunderbirds", die Formwandler, die sich in Vögel verwandeln, haben ihre Augen auf den "South Central Pride" geworfen. Faythe steht nicht nur zwischen Marc und Jace, sondern muss jetzt auch noch um ihren Uterus kämpfen, wie sie selbst meint. Calvin Malone, der ideale Bösewicht, hat es abgesehen auf ihren nicht-beringten Ringfinger und will sie so schnell als möglich in die Finger bekommen, damit sie ihm ganz viele Enkel schenken kann. ->Als einer von Calvins Leuten einen der "Thunderbirds" erledigte, kam es zu einem Gefecht der Superlative. Calvin konnte sich und seine Herde retten, doch jetzt sind die Menschen-Vögel hinter Faythe und ihrer Familie her. Denn wie erwartet, schiebt Calvon seine Missetat auf Faythes Vater. Noch dazu will er seine neuen "Freunde", die Vögel, dazu benutzen, Faythe und ihre anderen weiblichen Katzenfreunde zu entführen. Er will die drei jungen Ladys, Faythe, Manx und Kaci endlich für seine Söhne haben! Klar, dass Faythe sich das nicht gefallen lässt und zum Schlag gegen ihn ausholt. In 48 Stunden soll sie die Vögel davon überzeugen, dass sie und ihre Familie unschuldig sind. Ein Gefecht der etwas anderen Art beginnt...Was man von Rachel Vincent bis jetzt gewohnt ist, sind harte Kämpfe, Blut und große Liebe. Wen wird Faythe schlussendlich heiraten? Marc oder Jace? Und können die Katzen ihren Feind Calvin Malone endlich besiegen? Die Vögel, die "Thunderbirds", waren etwas unwirklich. Miss Vincent hatte vielleicht keine Idden mehr und nutzte daher andere Formwandler, um auch etwas Abwechslung in die Geschichte zu bringen. Ich muss zugeben, dass ich anfangs skeptisch war. Die Vögel und die Katzen- passt das? Da ich offen für Neues bin, habe ich zugegriffen und es hat mir gefallen. "Shift" ist zwar nicht mehr dasselbe wie "Stray" (So heißt das erste Buch dieser Serie), aber ohne Veränderungen kann eine Buchreihe schnell langweilig werden. Es geht nicht mehr ausschließlich um Katzen. Fazit: Die Vögel kommen gut an, aber zu viele Neuigkeiten sollte Vincent nicht einbringen. Sonst gibt es bald ein Wirrwarr und die schöne Stimmung, die durch die Katzen entsteht, wird zerstört. Schlussendlich geht es hier um... -Werkatzen, richtig.(5 Sterne für Faythe und ihre große Klappe, über die ich gerne lache; die Mutter, die endlich beweist, dass sie keine Putzfrau ist; den sauberen Marc, in den man sich leicht verliebt; den gefühlvollen Jace und die kleine, sture Kaci)

4.5 starsI have to admit that I feel in love with this series from page one and it has been a solid relationship between me and Faythe's world ever since.Fayther is a werecat and when we meet her in Stray, she has left her fiancé and her life in her Pride behind in pursuit of living a normal life as a college student and not have to deal with the pressure of being one of the few Tabbys {female werecat} in the United States and having to get married and have babies.See, the thing is, in Faythe's world a Pride is passed on from mother to daughter, but the Alpha is the man with whom the daughter marries. Because of the power that the job entails, there is a lot of political maneuvering and it is very rare for a Tabby to get married for love.Faythe's parents are one of the few exceptions and Faythe herself will not accept anything else. She does love Marc, the man she has chosen as her own at an early age, but she wants to escape the political and familial pressures of the Pride, so she runs off to try and get that "normal" life she has being vying for.A lot happens throughout the series and Faythe's world get turned upside down too many times to count.That emotional roller coaster is what makes this series so amazing though, and it's impossible to deny Rachel Vincent's talent when it comes to story telling and constructing a story and world such as the Shifters' one.I LOVE Faythe! Yes, she can be annoying, stubborn, hard to deal with, rude and infuriating at times, but her flaws are what makes her so lovable and believable in my eyes. She is also extremely strong, kick-ass, protective of those she loves, loyal and ready to fight for what she believes in no matter the consequences. All that more than balance out her annoying flaws, by far. She grows up and matures so much through these books that is a joy to follow her journey.There is a romance in the series and it's unavoidable to fall in love with Marc. He is the sweetest and most badass shifter, his love for Faythe is unparallel and if there is something that I really don't like in the series is Faythe's constant ambivalence towards their relationship. You just want to slap some sense into her sometimes and Marc's willingness to wait for her is borderline pushover. However, their love is utterly believable and you can't help but spend the whole series rooting for Faythe to get her act together, which becomes even more exasperating when Jace gets in the picture.All in all, Shifters is a great Urban Fantasy series that has it all. An unique world full of wonders and believability, an awesome kick-ass heroine, a couple smexy heroes and a LOT of action. What can you want more in a book series? If you haven't read this series yet, you seriously need to make up for lost time and get cracking!Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life {larissaslife DOT com}

My apologies for reviewing this book before I've read it. I've ordered it, but it won't be released for another 4 months.I'm just writing this to let you guys know this is #5 in the Faith Saunders series, rather than another teenage novel. The series is supposed to have 6 books, by the way, according to an interview with the author.You can see the cover image at [...] if amazon hasn't fixed their page by the time you read this. I'm giving it 5 stars in advance because the first 4 books in the series were all fantastic and I can't leave a review without stars anyway.