Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Raised among humans, Ori Jones only discovered he was an avian shifter six months ago. Unable to complete a full shift until he reaches his avian maturity, he still can’t be sure of his exact species.

But with species comes rank, and rank is everything to the avians. When a partial shift allows the elders to announce that they believe Ori to be a rather ugly little duckling, he drops straight to the bottom rung of their hierarchy.

Life isn’t easy for Ori until he comes to the attention of a high ranking hawk shifter. Then the only question is, is Ori really a duck—and what will his new master think when the truth eventually comes out?

 

 

NOTE: This novel was previously released by Resplendence Publishing in August 2010.

Book Review

This is one of the most amazing stories I have read in a long time, and it was wonderful to read it again, now that it has been rereleased. The novel takes the well-known tale of the Ugly Duckling and not only conveys its original meaning in a modern-day setting, but also adds another layer of interpretation in a domination/submission context.

Where do I even start? The world-building is excellent, with an avian shifter culture that is fresh, believable, and utterly fascinating. The plot, even though the same as in the well known fairy tale, is put into a new perspective with a fascinating twist at the end that takes its message beyond the original. The language and descriptions are vivid and enjoyable; words and expressions an avian culture might use are integral to the way the characters think and speak. The domination/submission aspects are handled with care and sensitivity.

As for the characters? They held me spellbound. Ori, the duckling shifter, is so lost and lovable in his search for what species exactly he might be when he grows up, you just have to love him. He has all the traits I think of when I hear "duck", except he is a human struggling with his role in life. Raynard, the hawk shifter, is the quintessential strong and responsible Dom, who sees the world in terms of hunter and prey, but has a lot of potential for caring inside him that he isn't even aware of. Both of them have to learn a lot as they teach each other what it is they each need in a relationship, and ultimately, what their roles are in life and in the avian shifter community.

I think this is a stunning read, even more so now that I have read it again. If you like imaginative worlds that seem very far removed form reality, yet are much the same where it counts, if you’re looking for a different shifter experience, and if you want a read that is as unusual as it is touching and hot, then you will probably like this novel. I adore it!

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 224 pages/75000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	12-August-2015
Price	$4.99 ebook, $9.99 paperback
Buy Link	http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Avian-Shifters-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0137QJRCU