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Shifting Plains #1
Shifting Plains
Centuries before the time of the Sons of Destiny, a female shapeshifter became the leader of the people of the Shifting Plains... Tava Ell Var never really knew her mother, but she did know her tragic fate at the hands of a band of cruel shapeshifters--a history set down by Tava's father as a warning about life on the Shifting Plains. But after her father is murdered, Tava encounters a Shifterai warband fighting to rid the Plains of the terrorizing bandits. Shifterai leader Kodan Sin Siin is sympathetic to Tava's suffering, but he's determined to bring the wary young woman to the Plains. Because he knows her secret: She, like he and his men, is a shapeshifter. Once she joins them, he knows that she will see for herself the true fate that awaits her on the Plains, and most of all, lose her fear of his people. And, in time, he knows she will find her place is in their fight--and by his side.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2009
16 people are currently reading
626 people want to read
About the author
Jean Johnson
36 books820 followersBerkley/Jove Authors Bio
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author, science fiction author
Jean Johnson currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, has played in the SCA for 25 years, sings a lot, and argues with her cat about territorial rights to her office chair. She loves hearing from her readers, and has a distinct sense of humor. Right now she's living in a home with zone heating & decent plumbing, but hopes to some day put turrets and ramparts on it so that it looks like a castle.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author, science fiction author
Jean Johnson currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, has played in the SCA for 25 years, sings a lot, and argues with her cat about territorial rights to her office chair. She loves hearing from her readers, and has a distinct sense of humor. Right now she's living in a home with zone heating & decent plumbing, but hopes to some day put turrets and ramparts on it so that it looks like a castle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 6, 2013
I rarely* rate books I didn't finish, even if I gave it a decent effort and still hated what I read. Mainly because there could actually be some redemption at the end that I hadn't read and my rating would technically be higher had I finished. But what I read of this book was so bad, I felt it would be an injustice to other books if I didn't give it one star and negatively effect its rating. Chew on that a moment, if you will. ... Now you get it? It was that bad.
Why was it so bad? It is the epitome of an infodump. Just crap, piled onto crap, heaped onto more crap. Not that the writing is crap or the plot is crap. I just mean... it's useless info. It doesn't matter. It's not interesting in the least. It's a waste of page space.
I gave this book like 4 hours of my time. FOUR HOURS. That's really not a lot for a book. It is a lot for a book I didn't finish.
It was so tedious, I don't think I even made it halfway. And tedious really is the best word to describe it. The reader is so bogged down in descriptions of unimportant and arbitrary things, the plot is completely lost. Literally, we're given every single minute detail of how to set up this special tent. I get it, it's an interesting tent, but I do not need a physical description of all 50 pieces and how they fit together. This is supposed to be a romance, but all I'm getting from this is a "Man vs. Wild" feel... like how to survive if you get stuck in bumfuck Kansas for a while. And happen to have horses and wagons, I guess. I dunno. I basically just spent 4 hours reading a documentary about how settlers out West survived. What the fuck? This is not fucking Oregon Trail, dammit.
Pages and pages of info that can't possibly play a role in the story later on. It's world-building in the extreme. Maybe this is due to the fact that it's the debut of a series and the author has to launch not only the world (which IS unique), but the Shifterai race. Unfortunately, the author focuses on entirely mundane aspects of the world. This meandering along on the way from one place to another can only be part of the whole story. But instead of using it as a way to give us a lot of information quickly, the author gives us a lot of boring information very slowly - about as fast as the characters are traveling, it seems.
I really pushed myself to continue reading this and I'm mad at myself for continuing to do so, because I've wasted hours I could have spent on an entertaining book before going to bed.
I cannot in good conscious recommend this book to anyone that isn't a masochist.
* Thinking on this a little, I went and checked to see how often I actually rate my DNFs. I rate them a little more often than I had thought, but each one I rated was a DNF because the characters or plot were so terrible, they deserved a negative rating.
Why was it so bad? It is the epitome of an infodump. Just crap, piled onto crap, heaped onto more crap. Not that the writing is crap or the plot is crap. I just mean... it's useless info. It doesn't matter. It's not interesting in the least. It's a waste of page space.
I gave this book like 4 hours of my time. FOUR HOURS. That's really not a lot for a book. It is a lot for a book I didn't finish.
It was so tedious, I don't think I even made it halfway. And tedious really is the best word to describe it. The reader is so bogged down in descriptions of unimportant and arbitrary things, the plot is completely lost. Literally, we're given every single minute detail of how to set up this special tent. I get it, it's an interesting tent, but I do not need a physical description of all 50 pieces and how they fit together. This is supposed to be a romance, but all I'm getting from this is a "Man vs. Wild" feel... like how to survive if you get stuck in bumfuck Kansas for a while. And happen to have horses and wagons, I guess. I dunno. I basically just spent 4 hours reading a documentary about how settlers out West survived. What the fuck? This is not fucking Oregon Trail, dammit.
Pages and pages of info that can't possibly play a role in the story later on. It's world-building in the extreme. Maybe this is due to the fact that it's the debut of a series and the author has to launch not only the world (which IS unique), but the Shifterai race. Unfortunately, the author focuses on entirely mundane aspects of the world. This meandering along on the way from one place to another can only be part of the whole story. But instead of using it as a way to give us a lot of information quickly, the author gives us a lot of boring information very slowly - about as fast as the characters are traveling, it seems.
I really pushed myself to continue reading this and I'm mad at myself for continuing to do so, because I've wasted hours I could have spent on an entertaining book before going to bed.
I cannot in good conscious recommend this book to anyone that isn't a masochist.
* Thinking on this a little, I went and checked to see how often I actually rate my DNFs. I rate them a little more often than I had thought, but each one I rated was a DNF because the characters or plot were so terrible, they deserved a negative rating.
September 3, 2016
This can get confusing, as Jean Johnson does write some straight up sci fi that is NOT sci fi romance (Theirs Not to Reason Why. Quite good. Highly recommend). This however IS sci fi romance and pretty enjoyable sci fi romance at that! Quite impressed at Jean Johnson's versatility! I will be reading more of her books!
December 27, 2023
All in all, I was pretty disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed this author's science fiction series (i.e. 'A Soldier's Duty' and 'An Officer's Duty') so I had good hopes with regards to this one. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Good points: The world building was well done: the different peoples as well as their histories, traditions, ways of living, and interactions with one another were well drawn and explained. For example, there were several detailed recountings of the stories and mythology of the plains people (i.e. the shapeshifters). There were also many descriptions of the way these people lived, their traditions, and so on.
The two main characters were likeable: the main male character was a responsible leader to his people and tended to put others ahead of himself. He was devoted to his people and tried to do the right thing. The main female character was a determined and strong woman. She was uprooted from everything she had known but found a measure of freedom in her new home with the plains people (she had been raised among another people, who lived near a river). She also tried to do the right thing and had been very close to her adoptive father, apparently the only person to really care about her as she was growing up.
Bad points/constructive criticism: The biggest problem with this novel was the fact that the story dragged. And by dragging, I mean it *crawled*.
...Let me enlighten you.
In the first part of the book, the main female character met the main male character and eventually left with him and his companions to live with them for a time on the plains. They travel on the plains. She watches them build a tent to sleep in (insert detailed description of this process) and both characters spend time lusting after each other.
More traveling where nothing happens except descriptions of the countryside as well as more details about the way in which the plains people live, which is given in the form of various people droning on about these aspects to the main (female) character. Insert more lusting.
All and sundry arrive at the their people's encampment and our young lady is taught more of the people's history and traditions and so on by various characters including priestesses of the plains people, which involves several more passages where someone drones on about this. And more lusting follows.
A (very minor!) plotline develops whereby a jealous female who wanted to have our main male character to herself tries to become the leader of the tribe and 'steal' our main (female) character's man. More lusting between the two main characters.
The main character decides to stay with the tribe for good. The two main characters consummate their lust (Lust? Love? I wasn't too sure to be honest).
The end (i.e. after having essentially nothing happen during the entire novel!).
I am exaggerating a tiny bit here, but this was the main problem with this novel, to my mind. Great ideas and descriptions about the people's way of life. Likeable main characters. Good worldbuilding. Which was all ruined by the utter absence of a plot and/or engaging drama of any kind.
So yeah, I think I fell asleep several times while reading this one.
*snore* Er... sorry. Where was I, exactly?
The second problem I had with this novel regarded the notion, apparently accepted by all the characters in the novel, that men need regular sex in order to keep from being violent monsters/rapists/murderers. Apparently without this society would cease to be 'civilized' and the rule of law would collapse.
Er... WHAT???
Just, no.
For one thing, I have a truly *massive* problem with the notion that women are inherently less sexual than men. So, no. For another, men CAN live without sex. Humans in general can live without sex. This is not to say that there is something wrong with sex, or with anyone who has sex. But we DO NOT require it to live, and we do not require it not to be assholes. These are two *completely* unrelated concepts (i.e. read sex and assholery here). Sheesh.
(And any man who wishes to try to defend this notion should just learn to use their hands, if you catch my drift. Because honestly, people.)
So yeah. I was rather unhappy with this one, as you can see.
Good points: The world building was well done: the different peoples as well as their histories, traditions, ways of living, and interactions with one another were well drawn and explained. For example, there were several detailed recountings of the stories and mythology of the plains people (i.e. the shapeshifters). There were also many descriptions of the way these people lived, their traditions, and so on.
The two main characters were likeable: the main male character was a responsible leader to his people and tended to put others ahead of himself. He was devoted to his people and tried to do the right thing. The main female character was a determined and strong woman. She was uprooted from everything she had known but found a measure of freedom in her new home with the plains people (she had been raised among another people, who lived near a river). She also tried to do the right thing and had been very close to her adoptive father, apparently the only person to really care about her as she was growing up.
Bad points/constructive criticism: The biggest problem with this novel was the fact that the story dragged. And by dragging, I mean it *crawled*.
...Let me enlighten you.
In the first part of the book, the main female character met the main male character and eventually left with him and his companions to live with them for a time on the plains. They travel on the plains. She watches them build a tent to sleep in (insert detailed description of this process) and both characters spend time lusting after each other.
More traveling where nothing happens except descriptions of the countryside as well as more details about the way in which the plains people live, which is given in the form of various people droning on about these aspects to the main (female) character. Insert more lusting.
All and sundry arrive at the their people's encampment and our young lady is taught more of the people's history and traditions and so on by various characters including priestesses of the plains people, which involves several more passages where someone drones on about this. And more lusting follows.
A (very minor!) plotline develops whereby a jealous female who wanted to have our main male character to herself tries to become the leader of the tribe and 'steal' our main (female) character's man. More lusting between the two main characters.
The main character decides to stay with the tribe for good. The two main characters consummate their lust (Lust? Love? I wasn't too sure to be honest).
The end (i.e. after having essentially nothing happen during the entire novel!).
I am exaggerating a tiny bit here, but this was the main problem with this novel, to my mind. Great ideas and descriptions about the people's way of life. Likeable main characters. Good worldbuilding. Which was all ruined by the utter absence of a plot and/or engaging drama of any kind.
So yeah, I think I fell asleep several times while reading this one.
*snore* Er... sorry. Where was I, exactly?
The second problem I had with this novel regarded the notion, apparently accepted by all the characters in the novel, that men need regular sex in order to keep from being violent monsters/rapists/murderers. Apparently without this society would cease to be 'civilized' and the rule of law would collapse.
Er... WHAT???
Just, no.
For one thing, I have a truly *massive* problem with the notion that women are inherently less sexual than men. So, no. For another, men CAN live without sex. Humans in general can live without sex. This is not to say that there is something wrong with sex, or with anyone who has sex. But we DO NOT require it to live, and we do not require it not to be assholes. These are two *completely* unrelated concepts (i.e. read sex and assholery here). Sheesh.
(And any man who wishes to try to defend this notion should just learn to use their hands, if you catch my drift. Because honestly, people.)
So yeah. I was rather unhappy with this one, as you can see.
January 28, 2011
Good read - set in the world of the Sons of Destiny it is does not overlap. It is geographically and centuries distant from the brothers' island home [though two of the heroines in the books, Cat and Storm, do come from that culture.]
The heroine is rescued from the Valley where she grew up [and was about to be victimized by the village elders on the death of her father] for several reasons. The shifter leader recognized what kind of life she would have AND he knows [though the others do not] that she is a shifter. Everything she knows about men is bad and everything she has heard about Shifterai men is worse. Still the hero manages to get her to come along and she finds that the Shifterai embrace the very things that the men of her village were determined to beat out of her...
And ignore the cover, it's striking but has no bearing on the story.
The heroine is rescued from the Valley where she grew up [and was about to be victimized by the village elders on the death of her father] for several reasons. The shifter leader recognized what kind of life she would have AND he knows [though the others do not] that she is a shifter. Everything she knows about men is bad and everything she has heard about Shifterai men is worse. Still the hero manages to get her to come along and she finds that the Shifterai embrace the very things that the men of her village were determined to beat out of her...
And ignore the cover, it's striking but has no bearing on the story.
October 8, 2014
A paranormal romance with deep world-building. I enjoyed getting to know the Shifterai, their customs and folklore. I never expect to regret leaving a world at the end of this type of book, but I definitely did feel a sense of disappointment at having the story end. This was my first Jean Johnson read and I'll definitely give more of her writing a try.
A change of cover and emphasis on this book being fantasy over romance would not be amiss, though the romance is definitely integral and there are some pretty "racy" scenes.
A change of cover and emphasis on this book being fantasy over romance would not be amiss, though the romance is definitely integral and there are some pretty "racy" scenes.
January 4, 2010
Once I started this book I could not put it down! I absolutely loved The Sons of Destiny books and this book met all my high expectations. This books gives you a good look into some of the history of the shiftari (Amara's homeland in book 6 the cat) and their culture before the time of the brothers.
May 28, 2011
While it provided a detailed description of the culture and lifestyle of the shifteri (sp?) people, expanding the Brother's world, there really wasn't any plot. The only real source of potential conflict ended up being ignored. The world itself is interesting, but there needs to be story to go with it.
March 4, 2025
This book just gave too much useless information. It was like the time I accidentally dropped my ring in the trash. I had to wade through all the garbage just to get to the gem. This could have been a good book if it was not so overly descriptive on things that did not further the plot. It became very boring and I could not wait for it to end.
December 8, 2009
Amazing. Another winner. Love the detail and the world building. The exploration of the civilization and government structure is facsinating for a Civ fan like me. The story definitely left you wanting more.
October 17, 2012
Interesting, simple, but good. A bit dragged out, and other then at the beginning and very end, not much excitement. A lot of explaining/lessons/learning, which overall wasn't bad, just not necessary to cover a lack of plot. However, it does build the world.
April 18, 2010
If you want to write a Cultural Anthropology book then write one. Don't try to disguise it as a romance.
July 5, 2020
This was a pleasant surprise. I saw this, along with six other books by Johnson on sale at the thrift store. I had no idea if I would like any of them but the price was more than right, and I am always tempted when I see a group of books that might just pique my interest so I got them.
The starting line caught my attention first. Tava was thinking, really and truly thinking, about her situation and what she wanted to do as well as what she knew she could physically about it. From there the book just got better. I love female protagonists who are intelligent. I really like them when they are also realistically strong and independent without being anti everything else. Yes, she has hang ups (don't we all). But she has a great learning curve and she has just as many questions as any intelligent, well educated, strong willed, curious woman would have. And she also knows how and when to bend to get the best for herself and everyone around her.
Kodan is amusing. He is doing his best to be what he thinks is the best warleader for his people he can be. He is well trained. He is just as intelligent as Tava. He has more than enough common sense to act like a decent man. He's also self sacrificing as well as way too humble at times.
This is a straight up romance. It is also a great introduction to a very well developed world full of magic of all kinds. This particular book centers on a type of shapeshifter that is fairly unique in my reading experience. I liked the way the author explained the world and this specific groups' culture. It was done intelligently, without becoming boring or overly didactic. I really did not set this book down from the moment I picked it up until I finished the last page.
The starting line caught my attention first. Tava was thinking, really and truly thinking, about her situation and what she wanted to do as well as what she knew she could physically about it. From there the book just got better. I love female protagonists who are intelligent. I really like them when they are also realistically strong and independent without being anti everything else. Yes, she has hang ups (don't we all). But she has a great learning curve and she has just as many questions as any intelligent, well educated, strong willed, curious woman would have. And she also knows how and when to bend to get the best for herself and everyone around her.
Kodan is amusing. He is doing his best to be what he thinks is the best warleader for his people he can be. He is well trained. He is just as intelligent as Tava. He has more than enough common sense to act like a decent man. He's also self sacrificing as well as way too humble at times.
This is a straight up romance. It is also a great introduction to a very well developed world full of magic of all kinds. This particular book centers on a type of shapeshifter that is fairly unique in my reading experience. I liked the way the author explained the world and this specific groups' culture. It was done intelligently, without becoming boring or overly didactic. I really did not set this book down from the moment I picked it up until I finished the last page.
March 29, 2020
This was a highly enjoyable sci-fi genre shapeshifter romance. One of my favorite things about shapeshifter books is when it’s treated as a culture, and Shifting Plains delivers on that beautifully and goes one step further in that it actually builds a new world and lore from the ground up instead of the typical urban fantasy earth setting. Another thing that sets this book apart from most shifter romances is the complete lack of alpha-wolf pissing contests and consent issues. The Shifterai just build their tents and twist their grass and drink respect women juice all day and I think that’s wonderful.
March 6, 2022
Destiny is only a Shift away
Destiny+
One of several books set in the universe of the Sons of Destiny, this story opens the world of the Shifterai. The people who survived the Shattering of Aiar during the last Convocation of the Gods and the outpouring of magic from the shattered portals, gained the power to learn and shift into animals.
Specifically not wereshapes, but true, pure forms, useful to their nomadic lifestyle, their culture and government emphasizes humanity over shaping prowess.
Pure imagination, and great fun!
Destiny+
One of several books set in the universe of the Sons of Destiny, this story opens the world of the Shifterai. The people who survived the Shattering of Aiar during the last Convocation of the Gods and the outpouring of magic from the shattered portals, gained the power to learn and shift into animals.
Specifically not wereshapes, but true, pure forms, useful to their nomadic lifestyle, their culture and government emphasizes humanity over shaping prowess.
Pure imagination, and great fun!
March 2, 2025
It started good with an interesting world building that slowly degenerated into a boring descriptive anthropology content of anything from the tents to the carriages,dung uses ,the customs and religion and so on . The romance was odd and stilted ,no chemistry whatsoever. It was a shame and I lost interest in the book after 35 % so I had to skim the rest. I really liked the concept of multi shifter that you don’t find in general.
June 6, 2018
Good story
I enjoyed this world. This book Introduces the shifterie and their people and culture. It was very interesting. This is also the story young woman who lost her father and joined a new people and had a new life
I enjoyed this world. This book Introduces the shifterie and their people and culture. It was very interesting. This is also the story young woman who lost her father and joined a new people and had a new life
May 10, 2017
Good book, well written, intriguing story
February 20, 2020
Another exciting fantasy romance novel from the world of Sons of Destiny, this time set in the shifting plains. The protagonist has had a hard life but can she trust these strangers who offer her a chance to live in their world? Especially if she is more like them than she knows.
March 31, 2013
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I had the opportunity to read the second book before the first one and it is true that I was a bit lost in the second with all the traditions and customs. I think it is really easier to start this series with the first volume because it teaches us a lot of things for the story.
We discover Tava, a young woman seeking for revenge after the assassination of her father. Of course, normally, women are nothing for her people and they do not even have the right to speak. So she goes alone in search of the bandits but surprisingly, she won’t be the only one in this quest. And for her revenge she will be assisted by a shapeshifter she doesn’t know about. But as she ran away from them all her life, she doesn’t want to stay and meet him so she went directly to her home to announce the death of her father. She hopes to recover the money from her inheritance and leave this land where everyone hates and denigrates her continuously. But she did not expect that the villagers refuse her her rights and decide her fate without consulting her. But their plans are foiled when a group of shapeshifters comes in the village and their leader Kodan, after recognizing the young woman decides to bring her with them. She is reluctant, and even more than that, especially given what she has learned about the fate of her mother, kidnapped and raped by people like them. Kodan is determined to make her change her mind and show her what her life could be in the plains.
It was nice to discover this novel, and to see again the characters of book 2. It also allowed me to see the evolution of the story later. Tava allows us to discover the life of the shapeshifters, something very complex and original. We learn with her their lifestyle, it’s so different from what she has experienced so far. Jean Johnson had some very nice ideas about the myths and the world she has built in this novel. I was always more curious to learn more and discover the subtleties of this universe. Tava will change a lot in this novel, she tried to adapt herself despite her fiery temperament and she will finally be able to enjoy her freedom and leave with her feelings and opinions. She discovers a whole new world, far from what she had thought at first.
A series enjoyable to read, but you need to read them in order to be able to understand all the details of the John Johnson’s world.
My English review
I had the opportunity to read the second book before the first one and it is true that I was a bit lost in the second with all the traditions and customs. I think it is really easier to start this series with the first volume because it teaches us a lot of things for the story.
We discover Tava, a young woman seeking for revenge after the assassination of her father. Of course, normally, women are nothing for her people and they do not even have the right to speak. So she goes alone in search of the bandits but surprisingly, she won’t be the only one in this quest. And for her revenge she will be assisted by a shapeshifter she doesn’t know about. But as she ran away from them all her life, she doesn’t want to stay and meet him so she went directly to her home to announce the death of her father. She hopes to recover the money from her inheritance and leave this land where everyone hates and denigrates her continuously. But she did not expect that the villagers refuse her her rights and decide her fate without consulting her. But their plans are foiled when a group of shapeshifters comes in the village and their leader Kodan, after recognizing the young woman decides to bring her with them. She is reluctant, and even more than that, especially given what she has learned about the fate of her mother, kidnapped and raped by people like them. Kodan is determined to make her change her mind and show her what her life could be in the plains.
It was nice to discover this novel, and to see again the characters of book 2. It also allowed me to see the evolution of the story later. Tava allows us to discover the life of the shapeshifters, something very complex and original. We learn with her their lifestyle, it’s so different from what she has experienced so far. Jean Johnson had some very nice ideas about the myths and the world she has built in this novel. I was always more curious to learn more and discover the subtleties of this universe. Tava will change a lot in this novel, she tried to adapt herself despite her fiery temperament and she will finally be able to enjoy her freedom and leave with her feelings and opinions. She discovers a whole new world, far from what she had thought at first.
A series enjoyable to read, but you need to read them in order to be able to understand all the details of the John Johnson’s world.
July 1, 2013
I posted this review on my blog: http://ahellofawoman.blogspot.co.uk
Quite honestly, the first half of the book was such a long, hard slog that I was convinced it wasn't for me and I nearly gave up. Fortunately, with the arrival of Tava and Kodan and the rest of the warband at Family Tiger's camp, the story picked up a little and I started to warm to the characters a lot more.
I do think Jean Johnson has written a book which is very different to others in the Paranormal Romance genre. Usually, it goes like this: girl meets boy, they can't stand each other but are inexplicably attracted to each other, they have sex, there's a misunderstanding/are somehow torn apart, everything gets sorted out and they commit to a proper relationship with each other.
In the case of Shifting Plains, you need to think of it as a history book rather than fiction because what Jean is doing is building a picture of the Families, how they work and live, how they interact with each other, the rules that apply etc. This is much more about learning about the history of the Shifterai than it is about the relationship that develops between Tava and Kodan.
I did find some of the writing a bit awkward. The author includes passages in italics to represent a character's inner thoughts but the extra tidbits of information these provided quite often felt very forced, or repeated things we already know, and therefore didn't sound like how a character would normally think. For example:
"In fact, I'd be surprised if this Kodan doesn't plan to use this Truth Stone to reveal that fact to the Alders. After all, the terms of the contract are "...in exchange for the deaths of the bandits responsible for slaying Varamon Vel Tith of Five Springs village ..." and the odds are, this Truth Stone could be my father's Stone, liberated from the bandit's loot. So they could just go away for a short while, pretending to hunt and kill the bandits, then come back".
Although it's not my usual choice of book, I'm glad I persevered and read it through until the end. Tava and Kodan really grew on me and I found their relationship quite charming. But I'm not sure that I'd jump to read anymore set in the same World.
Quite honestly, the first half of the book was such a long, hard slog that I was convinced it wasn't for me and I nearly gave up. Fortunately, with the arrival of Tava and Kodan and the rest of the warband at Family Tiger's camp, the story picked up a little and I started to warm to the characters a lot more.
I do think Jean Johnson has written a book which is very different to others in the Paranormal Romance genre. Usually, it goes like this: girl meets boy, they can't stand each other but are inexplicably attracted to each other, they have sex, there's a misunderstanding/are somehow torn apart, everything gets sorted out and they commit to a proper relationship with each other.
In the case of Shifting Plains, you need to think of it as a history book rather than fiction because what Jean is doing is building a picture of the Families, how they work and live, how they interact with each other, the rules that apply etc. This is much more about learning about the history of the Shifterai than it is about the relationship that develops between Tava and Kodan.
I did find some of the writing a bit awkward. The author includes passages in italics to represent a character's inner thoughts but the extra tidbits of information these provided quite often felt very forced, or repeated things we already know, and therefore didn't sound like how a character would normally think. For example:
"In fact, I'd be surprised if this Kodan doesn't plan to use this Truth Stone to reveal that fact to the Alders. After all, the terms of the contract are "...in exchange for the deaths of the bandits responsible for slaying Varamon Vel Tith of Five Springs village ..." and the odds are, this Truth Stone could be my father's Stone, liberated from the bandit's loot. So they could just go away for a short while, pretending to hunt and kill the bandits, then come back".
Although it's not my usual choice of book, I'm glad I persevered and read it through until the end. Tava and Kodan really grew on me and I found their relationship quite charming. But I'm not sure that I'd jump to read anymore set in the same World.
September 4, 2010
I have enjoyed reading Jean Johnson's novels for awhile now, she wrote 'The Sons of Destiny', a series of eight books, set in the same world as 'Shifting Plains'. 'Shifting Plains' is actually a prequel set a long time before 'The Sons of Destiny'. Anyway...I love Jean Johnson's other work so I was super excited when I went to the book store to pick this book up. It didn't take me long to read it at all, it was pretty compelling from page one, I read about 150 pages into it before I realized it was lunch time...and for those who read my interviews...know that food is one of favorite things, just after books. I enjoyed the characters in this book...Kodan is a very compelling male and lead character, he grabs your attention and hold it, as does Tava. I would have liked to see a longer courtship for them though, a month seems like a short time to pick your life mate. They are both strong willed and pretty perfect for each other though so, who knows. The story itself was good, but to me seemed like just a story, I didn't really get a sense of urgency, like oh, the climax of is coming up, you know were you do the chair wiggle to get more compfy in order to keep reading longer. It seemed more like a story you would tell your friend about what you saw at the mall today. I am not however complaining about the quality of the story told, it was good, and it was very compelling, I had a hard time actually putting the book down...so its a story your friend tells you about the mall that involved an awesome shoe sale. I really enjoyed this book...looks like by the ending and the fact that there are numerous questions left unanswered, there will be another book after this one, oh darn!
P.S. There is an ample amount of steam in those pages, enough to need potholders while reading.
P.S. There is an ample amount of steam in those pages, enough to need potholders while reading.
July 31, 2011
Tava Ell Var never felt welcome with the Mornai people. Her mother was raped by a Shifterai man and her father adopted her at birth. The town reviled her for her different and sometimes strange behaviors. When her father is killed by a group of bandits, she follows them and gets revenge. However, she has unexpected help from a band of Shifterai also hunting the same bandits. When the band of Shifterai follow her home, they come upon a nightmare scene where the leaders of the Mornai people are subjugating her and stealing her livelihood. She reluctantly agrees to leave with them and thus begins her new and improved life with "her" people.
I liked the courting by Kodan Sin Siin. The rules of his people are very strict and offer little in the way of romance...at first. Of course there is a female of his clan who causes trouble and it's really cool who Tava circumvents her. A totally enjoyable story that references a few things from the Sons of Destiny series but definitely a stand-a-lone book. I must admit to hating the cover of this book which has absolutely nothing to do with the female lead. They do not dress slutty at all and are covered basically from head to toe. I guess this is in response to the blatantly nekkid males that grace the covers of most paranormal romance novels.
I liked the courting by Kodan Sin Siin. The rules of his people are very strict and offer little in the way of romance...at first. Of course there is a female of his clan who causes trouble and it's really cool who Tava circumvents her. A totally enjoyable story that references a few things from the Sons of Destiny series but definitely a stand-a-lone book. I must admit to hating the cover of this book which has absolutely nothing to do with the female lead. They do not dress slutty at all and are covered basically from head to toe. I guess this is in response to the blatantly nekkid males that grace the covers of most paranormal romance novels.
January 29, 2010
This book is set in the same world of her Son's of Destiny series which was great fun. This time around we are spending time with the Shifterai. Tava is actually a Shifterai, but the child of a mother who was held captive and brutalized escaping when her mother realizes she was pregnant. Tava's whole life has been colored by her mother's experience. So after her father dies and she encounters the Shifterai she can not help but to be terrified by them. By the actions of these men and the men in the village she finds herself trapped into accepting a bargain with the Shifterai to leave with them and spend time learning their way of live. During her journey to the camp and her 10 days education period she learns what happened to her mother is the exception. While learning the customs of her adopted family she realizes she has a big secret and wonders if she was told to hide it for personal gain or political maneuvering. As Tava learns more she is thrust into a situation where all her secrets come out and change her life.
January 2, 2012
First book of 2012! I didn't set out to re-read another Jean Johnson, but my library books were upstairs and most of my other keepers were blocked by Christmas stuff.
This is set in the universe of the Sons of Destiny series, but is completely separate and can be read on its own. Both of the main characters are Shifters and, if bestiality is a squick of yours, there is a sex scene (pg. 335-340) between the two that dances around this taboo. However, since the book ends on pg. 343, you could stop before that scene and not lose anything.
The writing in Shifter Plains is definitely stronger than the Sons of Destiny series. It has a very similar feel to Elizabeth Vaughn's Warprize, despite the differences in plot. If you simply want to try out Jean Johnson, I recommend this book, but if you're like me and you like to dive into an author's body of work, start with The Sword and save the stronger work for later.
This is set in the universe of the Sons of Destiny series, but is completely separate and can be read on its own. Both of the main characters are Shifters and, if bestiality is a squick of yours, there is a sex scene (pg. 335-340) between the two that dances around this taboo. However, since the book ends on pg. 343, you could stop before that scene and not lose anything.
The writing in Shifter Plains is definitely stronger than the Sons of Destiny series. It has a very similar feel to Elizabeth Vaughn's Warprize, despite the differences in plot. If you simply want to try out Jean Johnson, I recommend this book, but if you're like me and you like to dive into an author's body of work, start with The Sword and save the stronger work for later.
April 10, 2016
i really liked the story and loved the characters. the only thing i had a problem with was when the author described in detail how to build and erect the homes they lived in.... multiple times! i do not need to know how to build one of these much less multiple explainations.. it was nice to know the first time what it looked like and what everything did but it got a little excessive. i must have ended up skimming at least a chapters worth of filler on building instructions. sooo... i will probably read further books in this series but i will continue to skip the building instructions.
February 29, 2016
This was a quick read for me. Loved the Sons of Destiny series so I was interested in reading about more stories in that universe. While I enjoyed learning more about the Shifterai and their culture there was absolutely NO real plot line. Yes there is a small mystery towards the last third of the book but it's wrapped up pretty quickly and the ending was all of a sudden there. I would have liked to have seen more substance to the characters and plot line.
April 25, 2010
All Tava Ell Var has ever known about shapesifters is that they raped her mother and created her. Then Kodan Sin Siin and his group of shapeshifting mercenaries arrive in her village.
Everytime I started enjoying this book there was then a long description about the history and ways of life of the shifters which started off being interesting but became so long winded that the story suffered.
Everytime I started enjoying this book there was then a long description about the history and ways of life of the shifters which started off being interesting but became so long winded that the story suffered.
December 23, 2010
This book was awesome, i started reading it ib the bathtub and next thing I know my daughter comes in and tells me I've been in the tub for 2 hours! LOL. I loved the Sons of destiny and this book was every bit as good. Jean so vividly creates another world that I want to move in! And her Hero's and Heroines are always wonderful endearing characters.
March 18, 2013
I enjoyed this, with Tava finding a place she can be herself and find love.
Tava's father is killed by bandits, and while she's tracking the bandits for revenge, a Shifterai warband shows up. Leader Kodan knows she's one of his people, so he arranges for her to come home with them. He doesn't expect to fall in love.
Tava's father is killed by bandits, and while she's tracking the bandits for revenge, a Shifterai warband shows up. Leader Kodan knows she's one of his people, so he arranges for her to come home with them. He doesn't expect to fall in love.
January 8, 2011
This is a 3.75 for me. This is the same author of Sons of Destiny series. I thought it was an enjoyable quick read with a couple of racey parts. It will be interesting to see if J.J will have this be a stand alone book or if it will be a first in a series.
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