Shifting Silver

Men of Myth #3.5

by Brandon Witt

The year is 1618, and Allakau is different from the other members of the Alaskan Yupik tribe. His people survive by hunting, but Allakau is unable to kill or eat flesh. As another season reaches its end and winter approaches, Allakau encounters a narwhal with silver eyes similar to his own. He saves the creature’s life but incurs his father’s wrath, and Allakau is given one last chance to prove himself a productive part of the tribe or be left behind to die. As he spends time alone in the woods, clues about his past and destiny begin to fall into place with the aid of another silver-eyed creature. His hunt might finally lead him to the truth about what sets him apart and where he belongs—if he can survive it.

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Short Stories, Historical, Shapeshifters, Romance

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

Brandon Witt's outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he's got plenty to write about....


Visit Brandon's webpage: http://www.brandonwitt.com/

Visit him on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.witt...

Enjoy episodes of The Witty Hour: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5c...

Reviews

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written story and my first experience with this author. "Shifting Silver' is set in 1610 Alaska during winter. Hunting and gathering are a critical part of survival only Allakau can't bring himself to kill a living being. Both his father and his brother find this infuriating and his father, determined to make Allakau into a man capable of surviving the Alaskan winters and supporting a family, gives Allakau and ultimatum-3 days to kill something and bring it home.

This is a fool's errand. Allakau is different and he and his mother have always known it. Nevertheless he goes out into the forest and meets his destiny.

The writing is lovely. There is a mystical quality about it but the tone was somber, or at least I found it to be. I loved the shifting, the nymphs were a creative touch and fated mates is always a win for me. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood or if it was the tone that turned me off, but it took me a long time to get into the flow of this one and my attention kept wandering. But, I will definitely read something else by this author in the future.



A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[♣ Irish Smurfétté ♣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet again, I wondered why the Raven had made me so. I’d been formed in some flawed manner. Though born into the Yupik tribe, I was other. Our very name meant real person.
I was not.
Not like any other I’d known. No matter how much I loved them, nor how much they loved me—or had previously loved me—I was different.

The real live concept of 'other', needlessly experienced every minute of every day by so many people.
This story brings it to life in a dreamlike yet clear cut vision.

There's also hope, in particular the hope that comes from love as expressed through acceptance, by way of refusing to take part in the use of 'other' at all.

I could almost hear him. He was telling me his name. I was certain. The sound was right there. So close. Whispering faintly in my ear, just out of reach.

As usual, Witt's prose is gorgeous, filled to the brim with expression and emotion. And this a cool, wonderful idea, a tantalizing possibility. I believe many animals feel and understand more than for what a lot of people give them credit. They understand. They interpret. They communicate.

The sometimes staccato rhythm of the prose, though, possibly a style choice for this type of story? A way to emphasize the imagery and its strength. Could be. It didn't feel 100% successful, a few times reading stiff.

Witt paints a metaphor and it must have been cathartic to write, maybe bittersweet, and hopeful for sure.
This is also about finding your tribe, and how empowering and fulfilling and soul-feeding it can be because you get to define and recognize when you find it.

The world is tangible. I could feel the frigid temperatures stealing into my bones, the ice cracking beneath my booted feet, the way falling snow dampens sound while somehow making things appear magical.

I love when an author tells a story unlike any they've shared before. It gives me new things to look for, to revel in, and to learn.

I mean, c'mon, mythical creatures and their worldly cousins. Ya can't go wrong. :D

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely tale of mysticism and wonder, Shifting Silver, by Brandon Witt, is a complete tale packaged in a short story that is bound to make you sigh and smile at its whimsy and beauty. Set long before the land known as Alaska came into being, the story follows members of the Yupic tribe, specifically a small family that has several daughters and two sons. One is like his father, a hunter and meat eater, the other, Allakau, walks to the beat of a different drum—one that worries and angers his father.

Allakau cannot bring himself to slay the seals, or any creature for that matter, or partake of their flesh. This sets him apart, makes him strange, and in order to continue as a member of the tribe, he must make his first kill. So after another disastrous hunting trip, his father delivers the ultimatum—Allakau will have three days in which to return with his first kill or be left behind, never to be with his family again. Now it is up to Allakau to either slay a creature or walk alone for the rest of his life—but fate has other plans for the young, peaceful man, and for the first time his soul will truly feel what it is like to be home.

Brandon Witt weaves a complete and fantastical tale, rich with spirituality and mysticism. From an outcast to one so strongly loved, we follow the brief journey of Allakau as he comes into his own, finds the love of his life and his soul mate. In between moments of danger and fear, Mr. Witt surrounds us with the beauty of nature and the depths of a magical love that transcends time. With his lush and descriptive prose, the forest comes to life; the bitter cold of winter pierces our minds, and the strength of a love spanning the centuries nestles into our hearts. Shifting Silver is a sweet story of love lost and found.

Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...

[Aղցela W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short quick historical read that was ok. Allakau is different from the other members of the Alaskan Yupik tribe. His people survive by hunting, but Allakau is unable to kill or eat flesh. As another season reaches its end and winter approaches, Allakau encounters a narwhal with silver eyes similar to his own. He saves the creature’s life but incurs his father’s wrath, and Allakau is given one last chance to prove himself a productive part of the tribe or be left behind to die. This was a story about following your heart. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm in the mood for fantasy, reading and rereading a few of them at the moment, and this little fantasy novella came along and knocked my socks off. Beautiful writing and themes. Wonderful characters. High emotion. Great depth for the word count. It's a part of DSP 2016 Daily Dose.

Full review at

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW @Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words


Allakau is different, he can’t hunt and he can’t eat the preys his father and brother kill to feed their family. Now he has three days until his family leaves the fishing camp for the village where the Yupik tribe is in the winter season. Three days to spend in the woods, kill an animal and finally become a man, otherwise he will be no more accepted by his father. What Allakau will find is his true nature and his eternal mate.

With just two books read, Brandon Witt has become one of my favorite authors, Under a Sky of Ash and Then the Stars Fall were simply beautiful. This novellas in the “A Walk on the Wild Side” anthology was another surprise.

Shifting Silver is a short gem, it’s powerful and mystical. The author did an amazing job with his talanted writing, the scenes were all evocative, the descriptions clear and the world building great. I felt myself into the book as rarely happens. All the characters were well defined, Lucien and Fidelis were almost ethereal, and Allakau’s mum was awesome, ready to leave her whole family to be beside her special son. I have no idea if the author is a natural or behind his writing there’s a deep research, but in this little story each word had its own meaning and was beautifully delivered, I was in awe through till the epilogue.

Shifting Silver is another recommended read by Brandon Witt. It conquered me. Give it a try.

The cover art by Catt Ford fits the story just right. I like it.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Shifting Silver’ is a story based on Inuit legends and mythology, set in Alaska in the early seventeenth century, and had my interest from the moment I read the blurb. Allakau is fundamentally different from the tribespeople he lives with, and that difference is too big to bridge once he grows up. Diversity is not something they value, and the consequences for Allakau are serious. I was curious to find out his secret, and following the slow unraveling of the truth was a joy. This story reads much like a fairy tale, and contains not just a fascinating personal history for Allakau, but also some wonderfully mysterious and magical creatures.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so unique and absolutely beautiful. The author was able to do some incredible world building and backstory in just a handful of pages. The setting was beautifully brutal and I was completely caught up in the story from the very beginning. This one is going to be a reread for me when I need a dose of a true fairy tale.

[Helena Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you stumble across something special, a little gem of a story that fills your heart, feeds your soul, and leaves you fulfilled. Shifting Silver is such a story for me. I can’t think of a single thing in this story I don’t adore. Allakau is a wonderful protagonist and even better narrator. His struggle between remaining true to himself and doing what his family expects of him was real without ever becoming over dramatic. I’m so grateful that there were no truly horrid characters in this story. Allakau’s father’s decision may seem harsh, but even with him the reader knows he does what he believes is best for his son and their tribe, and he had no way of knowing differently.

The ending to this story was perfect and left me with a huge smile on my face. All too often when I read a short story like this one I’m left somewhat unsatisfied. Not this time. The whole story is here, nothing is missing. While I wouldn’t have minded spending more time with Allakau & co, I’m not sure more story would have improved this fabulous tale.

This is a magical story set in a mythical past. It talks about enduring love and soul mates and shared the most wonderful message: Being ‘other’ does not mean being less. The descriptions of nature and creatures are breathtakingly beautiful and vivid. I could almost feel the cold, see the snow, and touch the animals. I’m so happy I read Shifting Silver; it was a wonderful reading experience.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author takes a wonderfully romantic fable (the virgin and a fantastic beast) and adapts it for an historical, multicultural, male/male romance setting. The work explores both modern concepts (vegetarian animal lover) and ancient myths in a distant and unique setting, allowing the story to ensconce conflicting values into the heart of the setting. The need in many societies to hunt for simple survival is contrasted with both modern ideas of what is truly humane along with traditional values regarding purity (and even Buddhist and similar philosophies regarding the importance of preventing animal suffering) .

As rich as these ingredients are baked into the general setting and initial struggles, the story continues on to explore more traditional romance themes, albeit with a nicely paranormal and mythical touch. The resolution of a main plot issue towards the end included additional interesting fantasy elements, but also wrapped up fairly quickly (as it is only a work of novella length). Overall, the set up was intriguing, the relationship issues nicely magical, mythical elements effectively interwoven, and the ultimate reunion a bit passionate.

I was absolutely thrilled with the initial recognition/reunion scene, and very much enjoyed the intercultural and mythical interplay in the setting and the story. I was disappointed in the physical part of the reunion, almost to the point where I think it might have been better if the sex was left out entirely. (more comments and full review)

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reads more like a quasi historical Inuit myth than a straight up paranormal story. Involving a silver eyed young man who won't hunt to or eat meat and whose family is on the point of disowning him being sent to prove himself and finding his 'mate' a sometimes unicorn, sometimes narwhal, sometimes human who has waited 300 years to find his reincarnated form after he was killed. really nicely written

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just really sweet story.

[Nell Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time last year, after I’d found and loved Teddy Bears by the same author and gone hunting for more books written by him. I liked it a lot…but not in the way that I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. But as time passed, I found I couldn’t let it go. I constantly thought about it, about how it had made me feel when I read it. So I re-read it. Twice. This year.

And MAN, was I wrong the first time. I DO love it in a scream-it-from-the-rooftops kind of way!

I love it so much I don’t really know how to put it into words.

Allakau is very different from his family and the rest of the tribe. He’s sensitive and feels a connection to animals in such a prominent way he can’t kill any living creature or eat their flesh. This causes him problems with his father and brother who are hunters (as the rest of the tribe) and want him to be a productive member of the tribe, something that requires him to hunt.

Once, when they’re out at sea, a narwhal breaks the surface and the encounter with the creature leaves Allakau rocked to his core. An accident related to the encounter makes Allakau’s father give him an ultimatum: he has three days to finally kill something, anything, or he will be left behind.

Allakau sets out into the forest, knowing he won’t be able to obey his father’s command. Knowing that in three days time, he will have to leave his family behind. But there, in the forest, he meets the narwhal again…just not in a way he’d ever expected.

This book is magic. It has a dreamy, fairytale-ish quality about it that leaves me breathless. I feel the images Brandon Witt paints with his words in my heart. There’s a scene where Allakau walks in the forest after he’s been injured, and wild animals start following him. They seem to understand him when he talks to them and as they encounter an injured caribou, Allakau offers her the only thing he’s got: his body heat and his life. I cry ugly, heart-wrenching tears every time I read this scene. I want to climb into the book and curl around the injured Allakau and take care of him. Defend him from his family that doesn’t understand him (with the exceptions of his mother) and make everything right for him.

It took me three reads to understand how great this book is. To make me realize that it’s among my all-time favorite reads. Buy it. Read it. And if you come across another book like it, with the same magical feeling as this one, tell me AT ONCE because I’ll want to read it.

Five glorious, magical stars.

[Molli B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 and rounding up because Brandon Witt’s various stuff has brought me great joy.

This is pretty short, which I didn’t realize when I started it. I finished it in about 45 minutes, so short story rather than novella. Maybe 12k? Anyway, not Brandon’s strongest story or writing, but it’s interesting and different and has NARWHALS and UNICORNS, so what am I complaining about???

Plus, the end is a real tearjerker, and anything that makes me cry kind of out of nowhere is a winner.

ETA: 15k according to Dreamspinner’s site. I usually estimate my reading pace at ~17k/hour, but I guess it was a bit faster here.

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting silver is a beautiful story of a man in the early Alaska times that new he was different. He refused to eat meat and stuck by his decisions though it was going to cost him his family.

It is a bittersweet story with a satisfying ending. I loved the unique surprise that awaited Allakau. I love mythology and this was fabulous!

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Shifting Silver’ is a story based on Inuit legends and mythology, set in Alaska in the early seventeenth century, and had my interest from the moment I read the blurb. Allakau is fundamentally different from the tribespeople he lives with, and that difference is too big to bridge once he grows up. Diversity is not something they value, and the consequences for Allakau are serious. I was curious to find out his secret, and following the slow unraveling of the truth was a joy. This story reads much like a fairy tale, and contains not just a fascinating personal history for Allakau, but also some wonderfully mysterious and magical creatures.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Robert Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. The drama with Allakau's family made perfect sense, and it was a relief that it wasn't about him being gay. The fantastical elements were engaging, particularly the mystery of why animals are drawn to the narrator and his accompanying guilt. Witt's writing was especially lovely when he was describing Allakau's first encounter with the unicorn (no spolier! It's on the cover), the snow storm, and the story of Fidelis. Sex is almost of the fade-to-black variety, and the angst is pretty low.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a short story, this was full on detail. I fell in love with Allakau right away. The 4 nymphs depicted brought me right back to Mr. Witt’s Men of Myth series. Fantasy is a definite strength for Mr. Witt. This was simply wonderful!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Brandon! Makes me believe in love and fates.
And holding on to your mate! Loved it!

[Tully Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely short story.

[Reflection · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I am swimming against the tide here, but good grief the whimsical nature of this story was just too much. Whilst there is much to be admired this short offering didn't work for me. Shudders.

A reluctant 3 stars awarded for quality when 2 stars is a more realistic reflection of my enjoyment.

More thoughts about 'Shifting Silver' on Sunday Funday, along with other Shifter Story reviews at Boy Meets Boy Reviews

A Walk on the Wild Side Anthology was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon Witt really nailed it with this short. I am generally very critical of short story attempts. I cut my short-story teeth on O. Henry and Somerset Maugham so I have very high expectations and usually find that characters are not well-developed and the story doesn’t feel complete with most shorts that I read. Not with this one. Brandon did a wonderful job delivering a magical story with a terrific array of characters and main characters with fantastic depth. I absolutely loved the writing style that he chose for this story.

[Brandilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title was originally reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®

Shifting Silver is Witt's contribution to Dreamspinner's annual Summer Daily Dose collection.  This year's theme was "Walk on the Wild Side". Shifting Silver is a fantasy involving unicorns, narwhals, humans, and of course shifters.

For complete Review see http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?p=5...

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are a wonder

Thank you Brandon for writing this story its beautiful.
To feel you don't fit in till you meet the other half of your soul, your puzzle piece.
You have such an amazing way with words

[Mary Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an awesome short story! Brandon, you really outdid yourself with this one.

[Tori Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special tale of a love that is eternal. There has been hurting in Allakau's life. But to find lost love is to make everything work.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting silver

This is a wonderful short story of believing in yourself and following your heart even when others don't believe in you.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written!

[Zeoanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although short, this story has good vibes, good impact, and lots of good feels. Easy to read and likable characters as well.
This is the way Mr. Witt always leaves me at the end of all the stories I've read of his. He's one I consider wonderful storyteller. Keep 'em coming, Brandon!