Shapechangers

Chronicles of the Cheysuli, Book 1

De: Jennifer Roberson

Narrado por: Bronson Pinchot

Shapechangers.

They were the Cheysuli, a race of magical warriors gifted with the ability to assume animal shape at will. For centuries they had been allies to the King of Homana, treasured champions of the realm. Until a king’s daughter ran away with a Cheysuli liege man and caused a war of annihilation against the Cheysuli race. Twenty-five years later the Cheysuli were hunted exiles in their own land, feared for their sorcery, their shapechanging.

This is the story of Alix, the daughter of that ill-fated union between Homanan princess and Cheysuli warrior, and her struggle to master the call of magic in her blood, and accept her place in an ancient prophecy she cannot deny.The Song of Homana. For five long years the land of Homana had been strangling in the grasp of a usurper king - its people ravaged by strife, poverty and despair; its magical race, the Cheysuli, forced to flee or face extermination at the hands of their evil counterparts, the sorcerous Ilhini. The time had come for Prince Carillon, Homana's rightful ruler, to return from exile with his Cheysuli liege man, free his land from the evil domination of the tyrant Bellam and his villainous magicians, restore the Cheysuli to their rightful position of grace, and claim his birthright. To do this, he would not only have to raise an army, but overcome the fear and prejudice of an ignorant population and answer the call of a prophecy he never chose to serve!

©1984 Jennifer Roberson O'Green (P)2014 Audible Inc.

The World Building is Amazing

I read this when I was much younger and, thematically, I loved it. As a much older person I have a different perspective. If I never hear “by the gods” again it’ll be too soon.

The characters are all deeply stupid. They make bad choices every step of the way. They choose not to explain things that would might have ended pointless conflict. Then Prince Carillon can’t even give a modicum of respect toward someone who saved his life, choosing instead to fling slurs at him. I should make one amendment here. The lir of the Cheysuli, Storr and Kai, were excellent. The entire trajectory of the story would have been very different without them.

What did I like about this? The mythology. The world building was very interesting and the prophecies intriguing.

The narrator was mid at best. Some of the voices were excellent but others just bad. Given that the MC is female it’s an odd choice to use a male narrator and he didn’t do a good job with her.

World building is what gives it the 3 because the characters didn’t.

decent story with a dry narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend, Jennifer Roberson writes very colorful and unique worlds. Her characters are very well thought out and dynamic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Duncan, despite a very terrible event in his past, he is not bitter, though he has every right to be. He Understands that certain events happened and that to correct the mistakes will take a lifetime of work.

Finn Is also a favorite, though he first appears as a villain, he is actually very empathetic and is choking on the thought of being forced to a certain destiny..

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bronson Pinchot?

Stephen Bel Davies or Rene Chambliss

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

when she has to decide whom she wants to spend her life with. Duncan the man she is physically attracted to , Carillon her first love, or Finn the man she cannot stand to be around.

Any additional comments?

If story is told through the female perspective, the narrator should be female, or not as "stodgy" sounding. The narrator make the female sound like she is a dumb girl.

Ruined by Narrator

What did you like best about Shapechangers? What did you like least?

I have read the entire series and sooooo wanted to enjoy the audio version...so sad.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bronson Pinchot’s performances?

NO! Worst of all narrator's in my collection of books.

Love the book, not a fan of the narration

I've read this series before and love it but was not crazy about the narration. I read Alex as strong willed, brave, and independent but the narration made her sound whiny and annoying. As for the story, I love it!

I wish I was a shape changer

my mother in-law and husband read these books so they convinced me to read them. I thought it was a very interesting story and I can't wait to read more.