Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
128th out of 1,564 books
—
10,516 voters
Shapechangers (Chronicles of the Cheysuli #1)
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 Cheyuli race.
Twenty-five years later the Cheysuli were hunted exiles in
...morePaperback, 224 pages
Published
February 7th 1984
by DAW
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,394)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I first read this trilogy as a teenager. I had just discovered fantasy novels and was looking for books with female protagonists. I remember loving the world of this book. People who could take animal form, special animal companions called Lir, princes, horses and lost princesses...I was hooked.
I was a little worried to reread this. What if I hated it now? What if it wasn't as good as I remembered? I'm happy to report that, although it's not quite as good as I remembered, it's still a pretty go...more
I was a little worried to reread this. What if I hated it now? What if it wasn't as good as I remembered? I'm happy to report that, although it's not quite as good as I remembered, it's still a pretty go...more
This is a re-read of the first book in a series I absolutely love. Unfortunately, I do not like this book. I'm not sure if this is Roberson's first book (and subject to the First Novel uneven-ness that can happen) or if I'm just reading it again with older eyes. After all, this book was first published in 1984. I've read many, MANY books since 1984 so I have more to compare it to. A lot of life has been lived between 1984 and now too, so a person's entire frame of reference can switch focus. It...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
plowed through this in a day - all the standard ingredients of a fantasy novel seem to be here. roberson overuses certain adjectives (although i think she does less of this in more recent books), i mean, really, "numbly" appeared as a description of the heroine three times in the first three chapters (and these are not long chapters). but despite this editorial nit-picking on my part, the pacing is good, the characters are not cardboard cutouts, and the heroine refuses to just sit at home and be...more
view 1 comment
I honestly don’t know how young I was when I first picked up this series - but it was quite a long time ago! It used to sit in my coveted over the bed shelf - reserved only for those titles that I could read and then immediately read all over again. But at least ten (maybe even more!) years have passed since I last picked up this series, and so I decided to re-read it for the umpteenth time.
First, I was struck by just how rough this first novel really is. I honestly don’t think though, that I ev...more
First, I was struck by just how rough this first novel really is. I honestly don’t think though, that I ev...more
After Tolkien, Jennifer Roberson's Chronicles of the Cheysuli is my favorite SciFi/Fantasy series. I was 17 when the first book was released and was hooked immediately. Alix is a strong, likable heroine. Her struggle to find her way resonated with me. The racial conflict between the magical bloodlines of Homana was integral to the plot and allowed the intelligent reader the opportunity to examine their own prejudice. Ms. Roberson created a richly detailed world, with multi dimensional characters...more
I started this book at least three times, and finally gave it up. I felt the writing was awkward, uncertain, and the characters rather unpleasant. Because of this I didn't finish any of the Cheysuli books, though I have them all. What a waste. Sadly, I enjoyed Roberson's Tiger and Del series so much. I have since learned that the Cheysuli books were her first, or at least the first of her books to gain her some prominence. I have a first book; we all do. But I just couldn't find any life in this...more
I think I've read this before, but if I did it was so long ago I didn't remember. A very satisfying story for a light read. I really enjoyed it. The character interaction infrequently felt a bit off, but not enough to ruin the good story. The plot runs swiftly and confidently throughout, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Shapeshifters, magic, inter-species war, a strong female protagonist (when she's not being silly and acting impulsively, but that's some part of her charm), human...more
Shapeshifters, magic, inter-species war, a strong female protagonist (when she's not being silly and acting impulsively, but that's some part of her charm), human...more
I wanted to like this book but I have to admit it: it was pretty bad. The prose in particular. However, I liked the setting and its potential, so I kept reading it mindless of the bad writing. I really really really felt the main female character had all that a strong female lead needs to kick some real ass, but...it just...dissolved. The three males, who all wanted her and all three kept patronising her and repeatedly threatening her with rape (the verb "force" must appear over 20 times) were u...more
Nov 29, 2008
Christine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teens and older
Recommended to Christine by:
saw it in a bookstore
Shelves:
have-read
This is about a race of people who can change shape to one animal form each. They support the throne, in fact, back in history they brought the king to power and supported him. They still do, but now they are feared and hunted because of their otherness. They are slaughtered indiscriminantly and must hide their nature or die. I have always been facinated by those who can change their shape and found this series very interesting. The setting is something like mideival Europe, but in a fantasy wor...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The first fantasy series I ever read. I loved them!
Looking back, I see how crudely they were written, Jennifer Roberson has definitely refined her writing style since then; but, all in all, it's a great series!
It's been 15 years since I first read the series... I still remember it fondly.
PG-13 : Overall Rating
PG-13 : Violence
PG-13 : Language
PG-13 : Sexual Content **
** Other potential parental warnings:
- There is premarital sex involved (but not in young teens; in adults)
Looking back, I see how crudely they were written, Jennifer Roberson has definitely refined her writing style since then; but, all in all, it's a great series!
It's been 15 years since I first read the series... I still remember it fondly.
PG-13 : Overall Rating
PG-13 : Violence
PG-13 : Language
PG-13 : Sexual Content **
** Other potential parental warnings:
- There is premarital sex involved (but not in young teens; in adults)
I was asked to recommend a few really good fantasy series that dealt with someone coming into power (royally or magically). I read the Cheysuli chronicles somewhere around 1993 when it first came out. That was 17 years ago. In describing the series I began to remember how much I loved this series and decided that it was time to revisit Homana and the magical warriors "The Cheysuli". If you like epic fantasy involving the struggle of good versus evil, shape shifters, magical warriors and ancient...more
I do have a nerdy side that just loves fantasy books. This book was actually recommended to me by someone in high school and I thought I wouldn't like it. Now I own the whole series and read them all about once a year. If you ever heard of Animorphs this would be the equivalent for adults. The main character sucks you in right away. The first book is short so if you end up not liking it you didn't waste a lot of time. :)
I really am enjoying this series!! I found books 3 and 4 at a library 50 cent shelf and searched for a year for books 1 and 2. finally buying them new online. I wanted to get into another series with a rich colorfull world--something kin to the world i loved sooo much in Lord of the Rings!! I am not disappointed!!
This is the first book of one of my favorite series. I started reading it as a teen, and I've gone back to the books about every 10 years or so since. I'm now in my 40's, so it's time to return to these books. I still love them. They probably aren't as wonderful as I originally thought, but they still take me to a wonderful world of dynastic fantasy with a magical race that can take animal form. Plus they represent a comfort read to me. Love them!
I just read this...it was really good. I was kind of surprised at the library to find it and then open it and find that it was something I really wanted, and needed, to read. The imagery and emotions were amazing and vivid and there was so much to the story. Really, a beautiful book.
This book is pretty much terrible. I thought about giving it 2 stars for a brief moment in the middle, then changed my mind. It involves a lot of gender fail and the plot is not good. I can only hope that it's attempting to set up better plot for the later books.
Such a great book. I read it when I was a teen in the 90's and looked for great books to compare to the imagination of this author, but never could. I read it again in my 30's and wow!! Still as fantastic! The author makes you love the Cheysuli people.
Good beginning and intriguing middle with exceptionally realistic dialouge that contributed to great character development. The end was a bit far- fetched that Finn becomes Carillon's liege man when the two are at odds the whole book.
Objectively, this is pretty terrible - the cliches of a schlocky fantasy novel wed to the cliches of a schlocky period romance novel. Bad dialog! Rape normalized and eroticized! Prophecies! Plot holes!
Whatever. It's a quick read.
Whatever. It's a quick read.
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.
One of my favorite fantasy series. I loved the complexity here, and the multi-generational story that was so immersive. There are some rough bits here and there, but it really is a satisfying story in many ways.
I thought the books were well thought out, and I enjoyed the first few books. I didn't find enough in follow up books to keep me interested, so I never made it to book 7.
The concept of separate peoples torn apart by conflict in a fantasy world is nothing new, nor is the inclusion of a prophesy that demands the mingling of all races into one for the sake of the world. Roberson has taken this formula and shined it up nicely, though. Shapechangers! is a quick read and not overly taxing in terms of complexity or language, but it is thoroughly enjoyable and promises better to come in successive additions to the series. Her characters are not extremely deep, but they...more
That some books of series are very long, and best read after the author has written the last book! Nevertheless, I was entranced by this series. It was a great read.
Old school fantasy but I really liked it! Probably more adult than ya but nothing too graphic or anything. We will see how the rest of the series goes . . .
Alix has been raised as an ordinary country girl, but after she coincidentally becomes friends with a prince she is kidnapped by exiled shapeshifters and drawn into their struggle against oppression.
I enjoyed the adventure/magic aspects of the story but had some serious problems with the attitudes toward women and sexuality presented in Roberson's world-building. I couldn't feel too indignant on behalf of the shapechangers expulsion from the kingdom since they themselves were kidnapping women a...more
I enjoyed the adventure/magic aspects of the story but had some serious problems with the attitudes toward women and sexuality presented in Roberson's world-building. I couldn't feel too indignant on behalf of the shapechangers expulsion from the kingdom since they themselves were kidnapping women a...more
I am rereading this after many years. Ms Roberson said this was one of the weaker books in the series. I can see in re-reading it that she was a young writer. That does not take away from the delightful romance, great characters, and STRONG women!! I happen to adore strong women characters. Plus honestly, don't you want to change your shape and have a lir!! Duh - who wouldn't. So pick it up for the first time or again. You won't be sorry. Fun and entertaining. Even my partner, and for those of y...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Jennifer Mitchell Roberson O'Green is an author of fantasy and historical literature. Roberson has lived in Arizona since 1957. She grew up in Phoenix, but in 1999 relocated to Flagstaff. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northern Arizona University. Roberson had spent her final semester in England at the University of London. This enabled her to do indepth research at castles...more
More about Jennifer Roberson...
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
