Nocturnal Book Reviews

4.5/5
I truly think that Cassie Alexander grows significantly as an author with each book. Shapeshifted was an excellent read, full of twists, original ideas and a fresh outlook on some of the paranormal creepy-crawlies we think we know very well.

Thrown into a very normal life, shunned by all supernatural, Edie is bored and depressed working as a nurse in a sleep clinic. She feels like she lost direction and drive, and when she finds out that her mother has got cancer and only have few months left to live, she is determined to make a deal with the Shadows again to save her.

At the same time she starts working at a clinic in a very rough, forgotten area of town, ruled by Latino-American gangs and as usual ends up in a thick of a territorial battle with plenty of black sorcery.

Shapeshifted is very fast-paced, emotional and full of character. Edie herself acquires a wonderful sidekick, Olympio, a young boy who works for his grandfather - healer, a curandero. He helps her negotiate the dangerous places she ends up with. We also meet a few familiar faces (who? I can't say! to avoid spoilers) who you might say have an unfinished business with Edie.

This is an excellent urban fantasy series, heartfelt, driven and refreshing if you are tired of tough, kickass heroines who can do it all, and want to read about someone a little bit more human... Recommended.