Questions and input on shapeshifter books

[Koda]

Hello all, I hope everyone is having a great week and some good reads! :) I was looking for some people's opinions on some questions, I do apologize if you are seeing this on more than one group you are in as I am trying to get various thoughts and opinions on this.

From what I have seen, most books that are about or even vaguely consisting of shapeshifters seem like there is only one or two types at a time. On top of that, they seem to typically consist of wolves, bears, lions, dragons, maybe the occasional tiger... Are there any books with all types of animal shifters or do they mainly focus on one type?

Is there any interest in an actual world of animal shapeshifters? Or do readers want more magical beings as well such as vampires, witches, and other mythical type beings and beasts?

Do readers tend to prefer a longer book or a series of shorter installments? I suppose the better question to ask would be Do readers feel more comfortable purchasing a book from a first time author if it is offered in shorter installments (therefore giving a cheaper price to "try" them out)? Or do readers prefer to just buy one larger book?

Thank you for your time and input. Any opinions you share are most appreciated!

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

This may not help because it's a TV show instead of a book. But in the 80s cartoon era (transformers, g.i. Joe, thundercats etc) there was an absolute gem of a show called Visionaries: Knight's of the Magical Light. It only last one season because the toys weren't selling, which is a shame because it was by far the best show. But in it each side (bad guys/good guys) were granted shapeshifting abilities that seemed to match their person.

It was fantastic and If yoy like that sort of thing I'd highly recommend it.

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

When I was younger I absolutely loved the Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate and that is about shapeshifting humans who turn into animals. Are you asking whether one person can turn into a variety of animals, or whether a book has a variety of animal shifting in it?

I think the bulk of your questions depend heavily on the audience of the book/series in question, e.g. as a youngish teen i loved the short Animorphs books and liked collecting lots of them. Also the definition of "shorter" and "longer" books could be different from person to person.

As an adult I probably would not invest in short books series like that (unless perhaps they were graphic novels - in which case I would probably buy from a new author) - but on the whole animal shapeshifting doesn't really appeal to me so much, where as I would definitely be more interested in mythical creatures.

[Koda]

@Lancer I've seen a lot of older cartoons but I've never heard of the one you mentioned. I did google it and it looks interesting. Sometimes despite older animation, they tell better stories though!

@Kirsty The Animorphs series are a classic. I think most people born around the 80's and early 90's read that series or at least watched part of them. I read them a long time ago but as a younger reader I definitely enjoyed them. In my question, I was specifically referring to whether there are books that have a variety of types of animal shifters opposed to one person who can shift into whatever they please. I agree, my questions are all opinion based and everyone will have a different response. Some people are very strongly against smaller books whereas some don't seem to want to even consider a new author unless they offer smaller samplings. Again, all personal preference and opinion. Just trying to see what other reader's views and opinions are. I also find mythical creatures fascinating. Some people want it all though, they aren't satisfied with just shapeshifters. They want magic and dragons or other creatures. Witches, shamans, etc. I just find it interesting getting a gauge on people's preferences and seeing if it gives me any more ideas.

@Raven Rebecca I feel like some of the things you said, I touched on in my response to Kirsty. I definitely feel that it is all opinion based which is why I am looking for a variety of responses. At the end of the day, I would not try to write what everyone wants because I think it'd end up being a mess of a story that some might enjoy and others won't be happy because it didn't go just-so for them. I think that's any book though. The same could be said for anything created. Some will love it or only like some parts and others will never be happy with it. I'm the one who has to be okay with what it is at the end of the day and hopefully others will enjoy the journey as well. If not, then I'm confident there's something else out there for their personal tastes.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and respond!

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

It was much lesser known than other ones because of o Ly being one season and toys not selling well, but overall as a show it is by and far better than the others. Much darker tones and in my opinion more watchable as an adult.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

I've read at least a couple of series that have more than one type of shape shifters in them. Off the top of my head there is the Kate Daniels series (Magic Bites) and the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series (Guilty Pleasures). The latter they don't come in until FAR in the series and the series decreases in quality the farther it goes. If you were to pick one to do research, I would go with the Kate Daniels series.

As for preference of paranormal creatures, that all depends on the reader. I don't think you should select one because you think certain people will read it. As long as you build a solid character, it won't really matter their species so much.

And, if you're asking these questions because you're working on a novel, my suggestion is to write what you are passionate about. I think that readers can tell when the author doesn't really 100% feel a character that they're writing. Chances are that if you're really into something, there are other people who are into it to and will come flocking to it.

[One]

Lancer, I remember the Knights of the Magical Light, they were awesome!

Koda, Have you read the books written by Hearne? Hexed Hounded Hammered etc.
Shifting happens a lot there, although it is not what the books are about.

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

The Anita Blake series, while VERY adult in nature and of remarkably uneven quality, have shifters of many different types- wolves, yes, but rats, swans, tigers and others.

Someone already mentioned the Kate Daniels books.

The Dresden Files have werewolves of different types (showcased in book 2, Fool Moon ) but there are others throughout the series, both actual shapeshifters and creatures that hide behind a fake appearance.

I'm sure I've run across others, but they're not coming to me

Hope that helps.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

I have read very few (I think) books about shifters and from what I have seen from reading blurbs it seems to be the 'usual' animals or mythical beings. It's dragons, wolves (werewolves), cats (big or small), bears etc. and sometimes the whole pack dynamic irritates me, because werewolf-types seem the go-to for many stories.

However many people have pointed out that there are some more unusual ones out there, so I am perhaps not the best one to say as I have a limited view !

Some stories I recall are the character Daine in Tamora Pierce's Immortals Quartet who has wild magic and can turn into any animal. There was also a book I had when I was little (and I can't remember the title or author) about a girl who had a kitten and she and the cat went to sleep and she woke up as a cat and didn't know how to change back. I suppose Philip Pullman could be seen as an unusual take on shifting in that it is more the person's 'soul' which can change shape until puberty and then it settles.

I think it would be great to see some really unusual animals used in shifting stories, or just ones not normally picked (e.g. fish, crab, marine animals I suppose, or something that isn't a bird of prey like a pigeon or chicken!). But the story would have to be really good to make these kind of animal characters work, and what would the motive be behind those characters. I mean a chicken is easy prey to so many things, what would make it a really useful shape to change into (unless it is meant to be silly and is a comedy/satire).

As always, I would love to see more good stories about folklore shifters like selkies and kelpies. I feel that if they are mentioned in books they are always on the sidelines.

What random creature would anyone else love to see in a shifter story? Do you have a reason why? Or just because? :D