SOLVED. 80s (Ithink) sci fi novel about a changeling princess [s]

[Kimberly]

I am looking for the name and author of a novel that I think was written in the 80s, maybe early 90s, about a princess from a race of changelings on a terraformed planet that has two other races. She has difficulty shape shifting, unless she is helped by her brother, and ends up marrying a king (kind of, more like warchief) from another race, and ends up having to fight her brother.

I've been looking for this book for the last decade, please help

[Michele]

Was this a YA book or adult? Do you recall anything about the other two races? Anything about the cover? Was it a long book or a short one? Do you recall anything about the changelings -- like, could they turn into anything they wanted, or just one thing?

[Raz]

Kristine Kathryn Rusch has a series of books called collectively The Fey. There's a few similarities to what you've described.

[Kimberly]

They could shape shift into anything they wanted, including inanimate objects. The only thing about the cover that I remember is the princess standing in a white dress, looks vaguely asian, with long black hair, with her arms held parallel to the ground, palms up.

It wasn't a hugely long book, maybe 200ish pages, but I can't be sure.

She engaged in a shifting fight with her cousin, over the crown, and her brother helped her out. The changeling race is matrilineal.

Unfortunately, I can't remember anything about the other two races.

[Michele]

Do you recall how her brother helped her? Like, was it just moral support or did he have to find something or do something to help her? Would you consider it YA, or more aimed at adults? Do you recall anything that she changes into?

[Kimberly]

It isn't entirely clear on exactly how he helped her, but it basically seems like he shifts with her, so they are the same thing, a single item/creature or whatever it is, so they are esentially two people in a single thing.

As for genre, it's just a sci fi book. I don't think it was particularly aimed at any age range.

[Kimberly]

Just wanted to update. I finally found my book.

The name of the book is "The Garden of the Shaped" by Shiela Finch, published in 1987. It's the first book in the Shaper Exile series

[Kris]

Kimberly, congrats on finding your book! Thanks for letting us know. Here's the link - The Garden of the Shaped by Sheila Finch.