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The Shifter (Healing Wars #1)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 2,407 ratings · 296 reviews

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 sh...more

Library Binding, 370 pages

Published October 1st 2009 by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen

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Jan 08, 2012 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-ve-reviewed, fantasy, ya

I really liked the sound of The Shifter's summary and it didn't take much encouragement to go off to amazon and download it. I have to say the cover was something that definitely drew me in, I loved the touch of fantasy to it.

The Shifter is the first book in The Healing Wars trilogy by Janice Hardy.

I was very taken in by the world building. I loved the way the world Hardy introduces us to. You've got a country that's been conquered in war, where its native people are subjected to prejudice and p...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Juju (Tales of Whimsy.com) rated it 5 of 5 stars

The story is gripping, genuine, different from everything else on the market, complex, and action-packed. The characters are multifaceted and presented with incredibly difficult circumstances with no clear right or wrong. It is impossible to read this story without asking your self, "What would I do in this circumstance? Would I do something I knew was ethically or morally wrong to save the life of my sister?

Review Copyright © of Tales of Whimsy.com

To read my review in full please visit: http://...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Paradoxical rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list, books-otherwise

It took a little bit to pinpoint what bothered me about this book. It had an interesting concept, but it fell flat for me throughout the entirety of the book, and even when I finished reading it I just sort of stared, shrugged, and felt kind of 'meh'.

What bugged me, I think, is that while I love action, I love racing from scene to scene and one crisis to another, there was little other than that. Plot is good. Lots of plot is good. But if you overwhelm the story with what you (the author) want...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Kaitlyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was fairly interesting. The world especially intrigued me: a place with a strange substance called pynvium, which can store and then release pain. Healers and Takers transfer the pain from the patient (hopefully healing the source as well), through themselves, and into pynvium. It is then enchanted and used in wars by the Duke. People now deal in pain, and an academy is there for potential Healers.
But I have to admit, the setting intrigued me more than the story itself. This is a typic...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, fantasy

I've been following Janice Hardy's blog (The Other Side of the Story) for writers for a long time, and finally got around to reading her book. I was expecting it to be good (otherwise why would I take her writing advice?), but was also kind of expecting it to be... I don't think "boring" is the right word. But it's MG fiction, right? It's designed for children. So I didn't expect to be overawed by the book.

Wow. Could I have been more wrong?

Yes, this is clearly a book that is approproate for midd...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

So if you looked at the title and thought, "Oh, its a shifter, I bet they are werepanthers or some other odd fantasy combo" think again. Shifters actually shift pain, ya you heard me. They take your pain/injuries away and put it in a giant stone, however, our heroin is a bit special and we quickly find out why. I don't want to give to much away but the book really gives a new idea, something hard to do anymore.

The overall concept was great but I found parts of the book slow going and much of th...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was transferred to our library about a month ago and as I was putting it into stock I found my eyes drawn to it. Book 2 was also there and the two covers together looked really good and I couldn't resist having a closer look. I read the synopsis and realised it sounded like something I would really enjoy, sort of like Maria V Snyder. (I'm not comparing the two here as they are of course very different authors)
I put it in my tray and forgot about it as I was in the middle of another boo...more This book was transferred to our library about a month ago and as I was putting it into stock I found my eyes drawn to it. Book 2 was also there and the two covers together looked really good and I couldn't resist having a closer look. I read the synopsis and realised it sounded like something I would really enjoy, sort of like Maria V Snyder. (I'm not comparing the two here as they are of course very different authors)
I put it in my tray and forgot about it as I was in the middle of another book, but yesterday at work I finished a book and I wanted a quick read to get me through the rest of the day so I pulled this one out and I'm glad I did. I immediately got absorbed into the story and couldn't stop reading.
Nya and Tali are sisters and orphans, Tali is doing well, she has been accepted into the League as a healer, has a room and food bye Nya is not so lucky, she finds work and food where she can, having not made it into the league she must try to fend for herself, but then Nya realises that she has a special power, one that could be dangerous if used by the wrong people. She tries to ignore it, but when she learns of a plot that could risk her sister's life, she has to make a choice.
Nya is instantly likeable, I found myself laughing at her misdeeds and wishing she would be ok in the hard times. Although her situation is quite bad she won't give up and she is willing to fight for things she wants, I like strong female characters like this, someone willing to do what has to be done to survive.
I liked the way the world was set up and it was well written, I could picture the halls of the League, and the streets of the city. Each character was like a real person and it was like I was following them around, i could see them all.
The pacing of the story is also good, I read it all in about 2 and a half hours total, not long at all, and I am now looking forward to book 2. I want to know what happens next.
It's easy to read and full of magic and mystery. Very enjoyable. It's not complex or too involved which some fantasy books can be, I wouldn't say it was the best one I had ever read, (it would have an awful lot to live up to) but it is definitely worth a read and I think fantasy fans would enjoy it, even people that aren't massively into fantasy would probably enjoy it too to be honest, (less)

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Feb 23, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

"The Shifter" is a young adult fantasy novel. It's the first book in a series, but it wrapped up nicely at the end while still leaving me interested in reading more. I found the characters engaging and interesting, and the world-building was excellent. A unique culture and setting were vividly described without being obvious about it or slowing the pacing.

The book was a quick read. The suspense was created by potential physical danger to the various characters and by the danger to Nya of being c...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Rayann rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I was excited to read this book. I hadn't read a story like this before, with healers drawing pain unto themselves (although I have heard of A Touch of Power).

It was a nice story and action-packed. I liked the protagonist, Nya, although I don't like her name. She's strong and independent, a good female heroine. She was also fiercely protective of her sister, and willing to do everything in order to protect her family. Definitely an admirable trait. The other characters were also fun and didn't j...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Cornerofmadness rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

The Shifter by Janice Hardy

This was a YA I had been wanting to read and a friend lent it to me. It opens in a place that reminds me of eighteenth century Europe right down to various dukes invading and conquering their neighbors. It opens in conquered Geveg centering on Nya, a young woman living hand to mouth after the death of her parents and grandmother during the war (that the Gevegians lost). Her sister Tali is a little luckier, having a magical ability to heal people by drawing out their pa...more The Shifter by Janice Hardy

This was a YA I had been wanting to read and a friend lent it to me. It opens in a place that reminds me of eighteenth century Europe right down to various dukes invading and conquering their neighbors. It opens in conquered Geveg centering on Nya, a young woman living hand to mouth after the death of her parents and grandmother during the war (that the Gevegians lost). Her sister Tali is a little luckier, having a magical ability to heal people by drawing out their pain and dumping it in a stone slab. She has entered the ranks of the League of Healers. Nya can heal as well but she has a rogue power. She can't get rid of the pain. She can only shift it to others. She knows never to do this.

Unfortunately for Nya, finding work is next to impossible and she's attracted the attention of someone who might be the Duke's men. There is a rumor the Duke would make people like her into assassins which she wants nothing to do with. Even more unfortunate, she shifts pain into a guard, Danello, trying to get to way and he later wants her help to save his father by having him and his brothers take the injuries that would kill their father. Soon afterward a ferry accident takes all the league of healers has to offer but when she checks on Tali, Nya realizes something is wrong at the League, that all the non-Baseeri (i.e. the conquerors) healers are disappearing.

Fearing for her sister's life, Nya makes a deal with the devil, to help a pain merchant, who will in turn help her help her sister. However, something is going wrong with the shifted pain. Worse, it looks like Tali and the other healers are being betrayed from within and if it gets out, war might ensue. Nya has to save her sister and her people.

It is a well told story and it had a strong female protagonist but, like I've said way too many times this year in YA, it's a good story but I didn't connect with the characters. I liked it but I didn't love it. It is book one in a series but thankfully it finished this arc by the end of book one. I hate that new trend where they just trundle to a non-ending and pick up in book two so that's a plus. It's a good book and I think YA fantasy readers will enjoy it.(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Shifter opens with Nya attempting to steal eggs from a farmer, getting caught, and revealing her gifts as a shifter of pain. The rest of the book is filled with difficult and sad decisions that Nya must make about who she will save, and how she will use her gift. There's just enough twists that they don't throw you off the storyline, but they definitely keep you reading.

Nya is a great female protagonist. She's strong, smart, quick-thinking, and likeable. Her relationship with her younger sis...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: star-reader-2011-2012

Nya is a taker. She can take pain, illness, and injury from those who are afflicted with a touch. Her father was an enchanter, one who prepared the rock to hold such misery, and her mother was a healer. Her grandmother held the highest office before their country was conquered by a power hungry, land grabbing duke. The world is a harsh place for those on the bottom rungs of the social order; the new regime is unfriendly to the native inhabitants. Only the healers still have a useful and much nee...more Nya is a taker. She can take pain, illness, and injury from those who are afflicted with a touch. Her father was an enchanter, one who prepared the rock to hold such misery, and her mother was a healer. Her grandmother held the highest office before their country was conquered by a power hungry, land grabbing duke. The world is a harsh place for those on the bottom rungs of the social order; the new regime is unfriendly to the native inhabitants. Only the healers still have a useful and much needed talent to offer. Orphaned during the political upheaval, Nya makes sure her younger sister, Tali, is accepted as an apprentice healer so she will always have a comfortable bed to sleep in and regular meal times. Nya cannot become a healer, or so she believes because she cannot shift that pain and illness to an inanimate, highly prized rock called pynium used by her people. She can, however, shift or transfer the pain to another person or hold onto it herself. Nya's talent is unique and Nya fears what would happen if anyone found out the true nature of her abilities. But of course circumstances conspire and her abilities are discovered by those who would use it for their own greed and corrupt plans. Nya is forced to make difficult decisions while lives hang in the balance.

Often my first comment about a fantasy novel is to encourage potential readers to hang in through the early chapters of world building. The action rarely starts in medias res. Often times patience and perseverance will reward you with rollicking action and adventure later with a cast of characters you feel familiar with and connected to. The Shifter, however, jumps right into the fray and drags the reader along. This was both unique and annoying. I really didn't feel like I understood (or cared much about) what was happening in the plot. Boiled down it's basically a spunky, feisty, teenaged, female protagonist fighting for daily survival in a hostile and unfriendly world who is suddenly thrust into the spotlight and unwanted battle to thwart corrupt, greedy colonial politicos AND discovers she has unique, amazing abilities that make her the odds on favorite for defeating all the bad guys. Supporting characters are plentiful but mostly undeveloped except for a few superficial traits which we have to accept form the basis for our warrior's inner circle. I would have actually preferred more world building and character building. This might have made the premise less ambiguous for me. As is, I will probably pass on the rest of the series. I think it is a passable fantasy but probably not the strongest entry in the genre. (less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Shazza Maddog rated it 4 of 5 stars

In a city still plagued by invasion, Nya is an orphan who used to be one of the upper class. Now, she's relegated to one step above starving. Her little sister, Tali, is training to be a healer, which will earn her respect and money once her training and apprenticeship is over, but Nya is struggling on the outside of those training grounds, with barely enough food to eat and barely enough money to survive.

The story opens with Nya trying to rob a chicken coop, only to be caught by the owner. It'...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Jesse Owen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the pain merchants, I mean I’ve never heard of the power to take pain away from someone and put it into a rock (pynvium) let alone shift it into another person. But boy was it good.

The book picks up on page one with an opening that grabbed my attention and then didn’t let go until the last page – the idea of shifting pain (or healing it for that matter) was new to me but I liked it.

The main character, Nya on more than one occasion is forced to make decisi...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Hafsah Faizal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review written by my 12 year old brother

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...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I've had a hard time finding a good fantasy book in the YA genre. Some are too long winded and stale, some are too full of angst and drama, and others are just plain boring. The Shifter is unique and full of action. For once I actually care about the different backgrounds of the characters and the different factions. There wasn't a single thing I wasn't interested in in this book. I wish this book was more talked about and suggested. I stumbled upon it by chance at the library and I wish I had h...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Bookyurt rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Shifter is a lovely change of pace from standard fantasy fare – no knights here, and no vampires, werewolves, or witches either. Instead I found a fascinating world, where Healers are a magic resource that can be used to fuel a war, where the politics of conquest cause poverty and helplessness, and where a war-made orphan is determined to do whatever is necessary to save her sister.

The loss of everything she ever had is the crucible that molded Nya, a desperate and determined girl. Her matte...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

Description from the book jacket: “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 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 f...more Description from the book jacket: “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 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?”

This description doesn’t accurately portray the plot of the book. First, the pain merchant is less a catalyst than a vaguely threatening side story and a source of occasional guilt for the heroine. Second, her sister is only missing for about 20 pages before Nya sneaks into the League headquarters and gets her out with relatively little trouble. It’s hardly what’s driving the action, and it’s certainly not the main predicament.

My biggest problem with this book was the non-existent character development. The entire plot was action driven: run away from this guy, run away from that guy, break into this place and then run away from a bunch of people, then break in again and run away from even more people. Hardy didn’t spend any time introducing the reader to the personalities or feelings of the secondary characters; heck, she didn’t really even do this with Nya. Nya is surrounded by at least five secondary characters, but none of them make an impact. The story is told in first-person from Nya’s point of view, so you don’t get their perspectives, and in many novels, that’s fine. But usually, in these instances, the narrator thinks critically and carefully about the people he/she is surrounded with, since the reader can only form opinions and get information based on the narrator’s impressions. Nya only occasionally stops to consider her own thoughts and actions and she spends most of her time worrying about getting caught, when she isn’t “getting knocked on her butt” which happened no less than five times, using that exact phrasing. Most of the time, I found her irritating because she was so one dimensional. The characters were all very flat. It was kind of like watching someone read a script while standing motionless, then getting to part of the script where they run and watching them bolt to the edge of the stage and then stand there motionless again. As far as I can tell, they don’t have feelings or opinions on much of anything.

I’m finding it hard to explain why this book has both irked and bored me. The premise was kind of cool, but the execution was sub-par and the writing was unremarkable. I got through it in about 2.5 hours and I was glad when it was over because that meant I didn’t have to keep reading. I got it from the library, so at least I didn’t waste any money.

2 stars for a book that did not impress.(less)

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Apr 23, 2010 Eva Mitnick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

The care with which Nya's culture - its religion, its customs, and so on - are described reminds me of Tamora Pierce's fantasies. Nya's country is under hostile occupation, and this comes through on almost every page, whether Nya is shopping in the market or trying to save her sister from a despicable collaborator. If details about the countries around Geveg are a little vague, it is perfectly clear how Gevegians feel about the invaders who have killed them, stolen their property, and taken over...more

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Mar 19, 2010 Debut Authors Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

With a society that deals in a currency of pain, ruled by a despotic Duke, and a people that are verging on revolution, Janice Hardy must have written her book, “The Shifter” just for me. I found the first page of this book on agent Kristin Nelson’s Blog and I was hooked immediately.

Fifteen year old Nya is having trouble getting by in her conquered and occupied island homeland of Geveg. She is also a taker, by touching someone she can heal their injuries and take their pain, at the cost of makin...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Arya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, adventure, very-intersting-ideas

I cannot stress enough how awesome this book was! Nya is a tortured character that not only possesses immense resolve and determination, but an honor and goodness that is refreshing, though throughout the book she is faced with the hardest choices I can immagine, still at the end of the story you love her despite her myriad flaws.

Nya is a fifteen year old orphan who has been landed with way too many responsibilites these range from her own saftey, work, food and board to being her sister's pr...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

From reading the dust jacket I already loved the magic system. By half-way through chapter 1 I was smiling along with the voice of the book, and by the end of the chapter I was impressed with the pacing of the story. The rest of the book was just as good.

One of the really great things about this book is that the characters are entirely self-consistent. Their actions may not always be expected, but to a point they make sense based on who the character is, including age, personality, and motivatio...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, fantasy

Ages 10+ (one "ass", violence, general complexity)

I'm not sure what to think about this one. It's hard to wrap my head around genuine world-built fantasy sometimes (although I have no problem with science fiction, huh). New vocabulary must be absorbed, passages demand re-reading in order to understand them. But the story of Nya, an orphan in an defeated and culturally oppressed country, is terribly intriguing.

See, Nya is from a family of Healers, folks with a magical bent who can absorb pain a...more

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Aug 05, 2009 A rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Healers lay hands on injured people they can absorb the injury and pain into their own bodies, and later move it from themselves into a stone called pynvium. At least they can in the medieval fantasy world created by Janice Hardy in her middle grade novel, The Shifter, due out in October.

The story centers around 15 year old Nya who is a Healer...but with a defect. She can only shift the pain and injury into other people, not pynvium. This little 'quirk' is something she and her younger sist...more When Healers lay hands on injured people they can absorb the injury and pain into their own bodies, and later move it from themselves into a stone called pynvium. At least they can in the medieval fantasy world created by Janice Hardy in her middle grade novel, The Shifter, due out in October.

The story centers around 15 year old Nya who is a Healer...but with a defect. She can only shift the pain and injury into other people, not pynvium. This little 'quirk' is something she and her younger sister, Talia, a normal healer, keep secret because they're not sure if the Duke would have Nya killed or use her as a weapon in his wars.

Talia lives at the League doing her regular healing stuff while Nya is left struggling on the streets, working when she can to keep from starving. Formally wealthy, the girls were orphaned and left penniless and alone when their parents were killed fighting during the last war. Talia helps her sister when she can but, for both their sakes, can't jeopardize her place in the league. The opening of the book finds Nya getting caught stealing eggs and I liked how the opening chase gets the story rolling with exciting action.

Soon Nya's secret is uncovered by a nefarious fellow and Talia is in eminent danger. Nya must use her gift in ways she dislikes in order to not only save her sister but other Healers in the league, and foil a political plot that could put the whole town in danger. In the process she also discovers abilities she never knew she had.

The Shifter starts out with a bang and, other than a few slow steps, keeps rolling quickly. Hardy covers a lot of ground. She touches on prejudice, moral choices, what should be given up for the greater good, family/friend loyalty, accepting yourself and others, personal sacrifice, and even throws in a pinch of romance between Nya and the young guard who chases her down in the first couple of pages. Every now and then the messages go to the brink of being too heavy handed but not too often and Hardy backs off just before becoming preachy.

Nya is likeable and believeable for the most part. She seemed to dither back and forth a lot. She'd have an epiphany but later rethink her position. That got mildly annoying about 3/4's into the book, but Nya and her little band of friends and family are characters you definitely care for and you're rooting for them to win in the end. Even the 'bad' guys had some depth and weren't simply two dimensional.

Hardy utilizes good description and some great lines. My favorite was when a ferry accident occurs during a storm and Nya can't get out into the water to help all the survivors. She says, "My heart reached farther than my hands ever could." How beautiful!

Good suspense, nasty political intrigue, a few surprises and a great twist on Nya's abilities. Overall The Shifter is a very enjoyable middle grade novel that is worth the read. (less)

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May 01, 2010 Cid Tyer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-books

I've read Janice Hardy's blog faithfully since.... November I believe. She's a fantastic blogger and I can't believe I've waited this long to read her book. That was my mistake. I should have read this months ago.

The Setting -- is an island nation called Geveg. In the recent history it's been invaded by a person called The Duke who remains a misty figure off screen for the duration of The Shifter. There are several islands linked together and the bulk of the story takes place either in what's ca...more I've read Janice Hardy's blog faithfully since.... November I believe. She's a fantastic blogger and I can't believe I've waited this long to read her book. That was my mistake. I should have read this months ago.

The Setting -- is an island nation called Geveg. In the recent history it's been invaded by a person called The Duke who remains a misty figure off screen for the duration of The Shifter. There are several islands linked together and the bulk of the story takes place either in what's called the Luminary or else between a few other locations, mostly homes or out on the island. The story started off with a really well set tropical theme, but I sort of forgot that bit as the book went on.

The Characters -- never confused me. I think because most of them were introduced separately and each had lots of individualistic things about them. It's usually really hard for me to remember names, but Janice did a miracle and I'm pretty sure I remembered all the characters and their names. I really liked Nya. Sometimes I forgot that she was supposed to be a teenager and tried to think of her as an adult, but the way she made decisions reinforced that. She didn't always make the best decision, she made what decision seemed right in the moment. I liked how Danello pointed out to her that she was silly for trying to do everything on her own; she had friends and she could have got help.

The Plot -- surprised me. I think I remember too well the books I read during my 'middle grade' years and how predictable the books were. I'm really pleased with the twists the plot took at the end, and it didn't feel as if it was rushed on me. The pacing was good. There were reveals done in the book that were interesting and kept me going. I like how Janice talks about the dark side of healing in her Afterward and about how the book came to be through that idea. I mean, what if healing had very messy consequences? Healthcare would be in a much more messy place.

I would suggest The Shifter for kids and adults. It's just a really enjoyable read.(less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Carol Ross rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: group

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Nov 27, 2012 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first saw this cover, I fell in love with it instantly. I know this happens to me a lot, and often leaves me disappointed with the story, but this time it was more than just a pretty cover. At first I was afraid that the complex story would be too much and too confusing, but it turned out to be a nice story about bravery, sisterhood and friendship.

Nya has for quite a long time known she was different from those of her kind. All she and her little sister has dreamt for, is to get a place w...more When I first saw this cover, I fell in love with it instantly. I know this happens to me a lot, and often leaves me disappointed with the story, but this time it was more than just a pretty cover. At first I was afraid that the complex story would be too much and too confusing, but it turned out to be a nice story about bravery, sisterhood and friendship.

Nya has for quite a long time known she was different from those of her kind. All she and her little sister has dreamt for, is to get a place with the healers of their city, but at the try out, it was made clear that only her little sister would be getting a place there. This was because Nya’s ability was not like everyone else’s. Instead of healing and then being able to put the pain and wounds of those healed into the Pynvium, like most of the other healers, Nya had to shift the pain into another person. Inflicting unharmed and innocent people with pain they certainly did not deserve. And as the pages of the book went by, we learn that the consequences of these healings are greater than Nya could’ve ever imagined. Nya swore that she would never again use her abilities to hurt others, but when the resources of Pynvium comes to an end, and all the healers are used to save the lives of victims from a ferry accident, she is forced to use them once again. To save her beloved sister.

When I started to read this book, I feared it would be yet another book about a selfish heroine that takes more credit than she deserves. I was and am tired of the stories of stupid girls who think they aren’t worth much, but end up with the hottest guy in school. Luckily, this is no such story. She does indeed meet a boy, but their relationship is believable, and doesn’t really give any hints of romance until the last 100 pages of the book or so.
The author writes in a way that makes you interested most of the time, but I must admit that I was slightly confused several times. All the names and places could be too much once in a while. Still I was drawn in, hoping for the happy end to come. Even though the book did come to an end at last, I am looking forward to reading the sequel, hoping I’ll get to read more about the different sorts of “Takers” and not only about Nya.

I am not entirely sure what to write about the different characters. New ones were introduced from time to time through the books and even though some authors fail to write decent main characters, Janice managed to do so. Some were better than others of course. As I’ve already said, Nya is not a person who takes credit for what she does not do. Instead she tries to fix the mistakes she does, even though some of them probably should’ve been left undone. Also her friends and little sister is pretty well written. Her best friend Aylin is an outcast from her own, after being desperate enough to work for their “enemies” and Nya’s “love interest” is as loyal to his family as his friends. Also the newest friend of the group, Soek, who’s also a different “taker” or healer, is shown to be a character that is believable. I am now looking forward to read more about them in the sequel.

The Shifter was a great book that I am happy I read. Though it’s not my favorite, it’s a series I’ll have to continue. I’d suggest it for you to read, but I will not guarantee that you will like it as much as I did. (less)

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Oct 19, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 11+

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, magic, young-adult

Lovely little gem I found in a charity shop. I'd give it a 3.75 (fussy, I know). It gets off to a slightly slow start and it takes you three or four chapters to understand fully the politics, the different nationalities, what pynvium actually is and the differences between the healing abiilities, however, once you get yout head around that you can enjoy the story. I could tell from this book that it was setting up the story for the following books, and that's the only impression I got at the sta...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Julianna Helms rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: starred-reviews

Original review is here: http://thereviewsnews.blogspot.com/20...

*STARRED REVIEW*

Janice Hardy crafts a tale both genuinely humorous and uncannily dark. I was hooked by both her premise and her first sentence, and the novel only gets better as it goes on.

Nya is a strong, witty protagonist. She can think on her feet, and has a way of looking at things that will make you burst out laughing despite your surroundings. The secondary characters were built very thoroughly as well, even the ones that mak...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, fantasy, series

Nya is an orphan and has been attempting to keep herself afloat while her sister apprentices at the League to become a full-fledged healer. Nya would have done the same, except, instead of being able to heal pain and place it in the substance the League uses ("pynvium"), she can only shift the pain from one person to another. Her situation is so rare that it must be kept a secret lest she be used as a weapon. She's been hiding her powers for as long as she can remember. Unfortunately, she gets c...more

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About Janice Hardy

I’m a voracious reader, which used to get me into a lot of trouble in
school. Eventually, I figured out writing stories in class made it look
like I was doing actual work, so my teachers left me alone. Since
then, writing has worked out way better than algebra ever did. I now
write young adult fiction and no one ever tells me to cut it out and
pay attention anymore. For my debut fantasy novel, The Shif...more

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Quotes from The Shifter

“Grannyma always said the Saints hide your fate in their pockets.” — 9 people liked it

“You take care of family first, friends second, and neighbors when you can.” — 6 people liked it

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The Shifter (Healing Wars #1)

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