Many years ago humans left Earth and landed on another planet. This planet allowed them to shift into animal form and three types of Kindred emerged. The Claw Kindred were able to shift into various forms of great cats, the Fang Kindred were able to become wolves, and the Antler Kindred took the forms of deer. The three Kindred do not intermingle and share an uneasy truce with rogue Fang and Claw elements attacking Antlers from time to time.
Hart, an Antler prince, comes across a badly injured Claw in the forest and cannot leave her to die. He brings her to their keep and she heals while becoming their prisoner. Hart's father, the Monarch, has decided that while their people are not at war, neither are they at peace. He will use her survival as a bargaining tool to keep his people safe from random attacks.
Katara cannot fathom being kept inside and forced to remain human the rest of her days. The Antler Kindred are weak and spineless leaf-eaters, what do they know about being free and true to themselves? She refuses to lie down and accept her fate, at every chance she attempts to escape. While in their hold, she begins to realize that the 'truths' she'd been raised with are not correct. Instead of being weak and without honor, they are merely different. Especially Hart.
Both Hart and Katara find themselves attracted to the other and fight it as hard as they are able. Until the night that they are forced to stay in a hiding spot and Antler and Claw become man and woman.
I was very intrigued by the story that Ellen Fisher told. There were times that the language was stiff and formal, but the underlying story was fascinating. Two people who despise each other because of suppositions and myths becoming allies against a common enemy. I enjoyed the rich descriptions in this book and 'saw' the world come to life as I read. I do wish that the plot could have been more evolved, but the core of this book was very well done. The characters were well-crafted and the hierarchy was well-developed. I hope that there will be more books set in this world and give Kindred: The Shadows of the Night 3 out of 5 fangs.
Serena Polheber, reviewer, gottawritenetwork.com
April 23, 2006
copyright SP & GWN
