Mistwood by Leah Cypress

Title: Mistwood
Author: Leah Cypress
Pages: 304
Published: April 27th, 2010
Rating:
Summary:
The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.
Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.


My Thoughts:
I'm not really sure how to write this review without spoilers because everything happens towards the beginning.
In fear of his kingdom's safety, Prince Rokan, travels to the Mistwood to find an ancient creature known to protect the Samornian royalty. She is called the Shifter. When he finds the Shifter, he binds her with magic to serve and protect him. The Shifter (Isabel) remembers nothing but starts to regain some random flashes of memory while she stays in Prince Rokan's castle. She soon finds out a devastating truth about the prince and of her own identity. But she can't help to shake the feeling that she needs to protect Rokan no matter what or who she might not be.

I must say, I was a little disapppointed after reading this book. I was expecting a book filled with action, suspence and romance. But sadly, I only got two out of three. I wish Leah Cypress would've focused a little more on the relationship between Rokan and Isabel. (I'm a sucker for romance!)I feel that there was something there, but the book didn't confirm it really. The book itself was a little confusing sometimes about the whole Shifter situation.
But with all that said, It didn't stop me from enjoying the book. The first chapter drew me in!
I really loved Mistwood's plot. And her character Isabel, whenever she wasn't confusing me, was my favorite. Isabel is fierce and strong-willed. When she starts to show human emotions, she can quickly shut them off. She says throughout the book that she "doesn't have a choice" when it comes to risking her own life to save the people she protects but I really feel that if she did, she wouldn't change the way she does things.
Over all, Mistwood was a good, short read. I really hope this is the first in the sequel, I want to know what happens with Isabel and Rokan!