I initially had this marked as YA, probably based on the cover and the description of the heroes and heroine as ‘young.’ As a result I drug my feet about reading it. I just didn’t know if I could take another angsty teenage drama. I’m beginning to think I might have to admit that I’ve finally outgrown them.

To my delight it isn’t YA at all. In fact, it includes some fairly explicit sexual innuendo. Luckily the story doesn’t fall victim to the painfully common sexy, simpering slave-girl trope. What Mrs. Zambito does is far more varied and insidious, and therefore realistic. I’m not complaining. I like it. I don’t mean that I got any sort of sadist joy out of it, but it is unrealistic to think that truly evil people would just happen to be evil in every realm except for the interpersonal. It also allows for an interesting foray into different types of power. I’m probably making more of it than I need to. It is a very small part of the book after all. But it was so unexpected that I can’t help but mention it.

The book’s strengths are definitely in the world building and love the main characters both carry for each other and garner from those around them. Despite the heavy task before them the book has a definite ‘feel-good’ quality to it. It feels down right sappy at times, in a good way. I did have a little trouble with the lack of contractions. Now, I’ll grant you there isn’t really any reason that people from another world would talk just like us, but it gave everything a formal feel that didn’t seem natural to me. Despite that, Island Shifters is an enjoyable example of the indomitable power of the human (or elven or dwarfian) spirit to persevere and of good triumphing over evil. I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to read it. ( )

I only remember reading books similar to this genre, when I was much younger, and though they were not as detailed and deep as this book, they were still, "pretty cool" and I especially loved the books that gave the reader the option at the end of the page, "If you want to do this, turn to page....." or "If you want to do this, turn to page...". Remember those? They were so cool, and fun because you could turn the book into whatever you wanted! Well, this book is nothing like that, lol, I was just remembering how much I enjoyed those, and how the fantasy books were never a genre I really read as often as I apparently should have.
This specific book has definitely enlightened me, and now I am anxious to catch up on other books, just so I can read Book #2!
The whole story, the characters, the writing, the action, the mystery, the location, so imaginative and so well described and detailed that I could see the Island Shifters and everything, battles and all, along their journey! (This is my favorite part of books, any that allow you to escape for a while, and this is one of the best!)
Not to many adjectives, so many that is bores you and confuses you, but just the proper and perfect amount! What a fascinating imagination, Valerie Zambito, has and I appreciate her taking the time to share it and write this book! (Very few books in my 38 years of life, have ever led me to want to shake the hand of the author and say, "Thank you for sharing a piece of your imagination!")
Magical places,magic,forests, and the Island Shifters, transforming into animals, dwarfs, elves, all that fun stuff that you may have enjoyed reading about as a kid, comes at you in a whole new way! yes, adults can get lost in Fantasy worlds too;)
This was a fun book, I especially thought the way the words were written in the book itself, was the perfect addition! The cover is very interesting in itself, and will be enough to want to start reading, and it was filled with so much action, and had a real genuine story behind it. the characters were simply divine, and you certainly feel as if you know them well.
I recommend this book for any age, (my almost 9 year old son is actually enjoying this story right as we speak, with a little help from mom;)

** We received a copy of this book in return for our honest review ** ( )