Second Nature (Shape-Shifter, #1) in Mostly Sapphic

Jun 11, 2020 Netgyrl (Laura) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, _sapphic-romance, slow-burn, paranormal-romance, own, urban-fantasy, great-narrator, audible, paranormal-shapeshifters

3.5 stars - interesting take on shifters and how their society might work

It was a good read in that I wanted to know how the story line got wrapped up. There was some really good action and I cared what happened to everyone in the story.

I was not really feeling the romance. It was super duper slow burn which I am normally into, but it just never jelled for me.

I also had a hard time picturing a 400 lb woman in my head. I looked up 6 ft+ female bodybuilders to try and get something going in my br ...more

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Sep 30, 2013 Sandra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Jorie Price is a writer of fantasy books, working on her newest project - a book about shape shifters.

Griffin Westmore is a real life shape shifter, assigned to stop Jorie from publishing her novel since it comes very close to the reality of their world and might endanger her species. When she realises that there is more to her assignment than trying to stop Jorie from finishing her book, she starts an investigation into her own ministry - a decision that puts her, as well as Jorie's life into m Jorie Price is a writer of fantasy books, working on her newest project - a book about shape shifters.

Griffin Westmore is a real life shape shifter, assigned to stop Jorie from publishing her novel since it comes very close to the reality of their world and might endanger her species. When she realises that there is more to her assignment than trying to stop Jorie from finishing her book, she starts an investigation into her own ministry - a decision that puts her, as well as Jorie's life into mortal danger. But there is only one way to save them and that involves trusting a human with her greatest secret and at the same time trusting her own estranged family to support her decision.

Second Nature is not your typical lesbian romance novel. Having read several of Jae's previous books, I was curious if she'd be able to draw me into her fantasy world as well with her writing skills. She did. Developing not only interesting and three-dimensional protagonists and secondary characters, she also created a very complex and thought-out setting - a world where shape shifters exist in a parallel world to "regular" humans. She manages to make their worries to be found out believable and their struggles with their identity very convincing. After all, those are circumstances, a lot of minorities that have to hide in an unfriendly society have to face. So I wouldn't consider that a fantasy aspect.

But even though this part was not fantasy for me, the rest of the book most certainly is. The characters are not humans with an additional skill - like an additional sense or special powers like Spiderman or Harry Potter, who are first and foremost humans, no, they aren't human - at all! They are as much animal, if not more so, as they are human. So if you are not into the fantasy genre, this book is not for you. One of the protagonist's for example is a cat shifter. Which means, even in her human form she walks like a cat and only tries to disguise it and she sees colours like a cat does and not like a human.

If you are new to this genre - like I was - and you are willing to open your mind to this world then you'll find a novel full of suspense and action, of romance and fleshed-out cast of characters and a storyline that had me reading until late at night. And if you are already a fantasy fan then you'll love this book. ...more

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Mar 24, 2020 Katia M. Davis rated it really liked it

I loved the world building in this one and attention to detail. It was pretty clear from about a third of the way in who and what Jorie was going to be, but the ride getting there was exciting and emotional. If you want to immerse yourself in shifter cats, intrigue and conflict with a slow burn romance, this is the one for you.

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