Title: Shapechangers
Author: Jennifer Roberson
Series: Chronicles of the Cheysuli
Sexual Content: suggested
Objectional Content: Violence
Synopsis (from Goodreads): The first book in the Chronicles of the Cheysuli spins a tale of magical warriors and shapeshifters as they battle the sorcerers that threaten their existence
They were the Cheysuli, a race of magical warriors gifted with the ability to assume animal shape at will. For centuries, they had been allies to the King of Homana, treasured champions of the realm. Until a king’s daughter ran away with a Cheysuli liege man and caused a war of annihilation against the Cheysuli race.
Twenty-five years later the Cheysuli were hunted exiles in their own land, feared for their sorcery, their shapeshifting.
This is the story of Alix, the daughter of that ill-fated union between Homanan princess and Cheysuli warrior, and her struggle to master the call of magic in her blood, and accept her place in an ancient prophecy she cannot deny.
*Note: I am reading the omnibus edition, Shapechanger’s Song, but I will be reviewing the books seperately as they were originally published.
I picked up Shapechanger’s Song on something of a whim. I’d been in a bit of a reading slump but wanted to read. I just didn’t know what. So, I looked at my book shelf and my eyes fell on Shapechanger’s Song. It has been on my shelf for quite some time so I decided it was now the time to read it.
In the omnibus edition, there is an introduction from the author, Jennifer Roberson, which I kind of wish I hadn’t read because I think it may have influenced my expectations a little. The gist of it is that Alix, the main character, is supposed to be a strong female character who changed some reader’s perspectives on women.
Now, this book was originally written in 1984 and people’s world views would be different than they are now.
I started this book, expecting a great female character, a woman that younger women reading this book could really look up to and aspire to. This isn’t quite what I got.
Alix is seventeen years old, a crofter’s daughter, who has lead fairly simple and sheltered life. She meets the prince of the land, Homana, quite by accident and the two of them form a relationship that isn’t quite romantic, but could potentially be. One day, when the two meet, they are abducted by a Cheysuli warrior and brought to the rest of the Cheysuli against their will.
This is the catalyst for the entire story. The warrior, Finn, who abducts the two, desires Alix. Because of the king’s purge of the Cheysuli race, their numbers are dwindling and some warriors have started taking Homanan women to bear children. It is soon discovered that Alix isn’t the simple crofter’s daughter she has always believed. In fact, she is the King’s granddaughter and Cheylusi.
Earlier in this review I said that Alix is supposed to be a strong female character, and while I wouldn’t say that she isn’t, there are very few other women in the story to actually compare her too. There are a couple of other women who appear, but their appearances are so brief as to be inconsequential.
There are things that Alix does and decisions that she makes that I can’t really agree with. In one case I was even disappointed in her choice. This book is very male dominated, and no less than three men are in love with Alix. Though she ultimately chooses who she will be with, she was never given the choice to not be with anyone. The misogyny was fairly irritating.
Despite it’s flaws, I did enjoy reading the book and have continued on to the second part, The Prince of Homana.
My rating for Shapechanger is 3 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to fans of older, classic fantasy.