Changeling Moon

Here on Goodreads I've found only positive reviews, so I suppose it's up to me to correct the misconception that this is a good book.

The story begins with a prologue containing some useless stuff written from the POV of the werewolf bad guy; in the first chapter, Zoey is attacked by said bad guy. In defending herself, she manifests some grit that's going to be drowned in tons of fluff and giggles in the rest of the book and will never come on the surface again. Connor, our hero, comes to save the damsel in distress, and the author makes a big production out of a little wound: the damsel swoons, passes out and suffers of hypothermia (all for a stupid dog bite on a calf, what a feat!). But our hero saves the day and in the meantime he show more realizes also that he's already halfway in love with this unconscious woman, with whom he has not even exchanged a word.

Here I was ready to throw the book away. I don't know why I didn't.

Nothing relevant happens between this episode and the final scenes.
There is no plot to speak about. Just a couple of uninteresting events that have been impossibly stretched to fill out pages: the introduction of Connor's friends and relatives, some interaction with the locals, the arrival in town of bad guy #2, some lore about werewolves here and there.
Boring, boring, boring.
Someone here said that “there's mystery in this book”: please, point it out to me, because I've found none.

Zoey is supposed to have psychic abilities, but they are lost in the emptiness of her cranium and don't play a foremost role in the story.
Her spoken pieces are mortifying in their stupidity. For the most part, they are along the lines of:
“What a cute puppy!”
“Oh, your house is gorgeous!”
“Let's pet some dog/cat/cow/moose/pig, they are so pretty!”
I have no further comments to make on this, it's too disheartening.

The author's habit of continuously referring to Connor as “the tall vet” is disturbing.
“The tall vet did this” or “the tall vet thought that”: is it just me or is this a truly horrific writing style?

Let's now get physical.
We have already established that Connor is tall (and he's a vet, a “tall vet”!), in case you've forgotten. Zoey has “russet hair”. Her hair is actually mentioned more times than her supposed psychic gifts. She has also “amber eyes”. You have to forgive me if I rant a bit about this, but I have a thing against authors that come up with absurd (but nonetheless trite) physical descriptions to make their characters appealing. So. This is amber:



It's yellow. Have you ever seen eyes this color? If so, please give me a call, because I never did.

Let's get more physical.
The sex scenes lack in credibility. Oh, scratch that, they are just crap. Here's an example chosen at random:

She did cry out as he kissed her right leg, above and below the bandages, but it certainly wasn’t from pain. Eventually he lapped up the little droplet of moisture on her inner thigh, and the ones that had followed it. Closer, closer.… His hot mouth kissed its way over her cheeks, adding soft gentle bites. She was shaking, she couldn’t help it, and she was on the verge of begging when his big hands suddenly parted her and his hot wet tongue slicked over her in one long stroke from clit to tailbone.
The orgasm slammed into her with all the force of a tsunami [...]

I'm sorry honey, but that's not how it works. Some leg fondling and a lick are not going to make it, no matter how skilled you think you are.
If you don't give me a solid plot, at least give me some good sex scenes!
I feel like I got nothing for the money I've spent.

Don't be fooled by the cover and if you ever feel the urge to buy this book, just bang your head on something hard a couple of times, you'll save yourself a lot of further pain.



EDIT 29/9/2011
Here's a graphic aid to help you understand my idiosyncrasy for weird eye colors:



(Am I not a badass graphic designer? :D ) show less

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

This is a wolfish series that I sincerely regret not having started earlier. Not only is Changeling Moon about werewolves (my fave!) but Dani Harper's writing is outstanding! The plot line unfurls seamlessly, the characters are endearing and the ending wraps things up so beautifully that I felt completely sated. Talk about the complete package! I know one thing for certain, Changeling Dream is not going to sit on my shelf for long. I will not make the same mistake twice!

Zoey and Connor are like, the cutest, most perfect for each other, couple. I felt instant chemistry between these two! Their relationship felt natural, believable. Zoey's emotional and quick-to-react while as Connor is steady and thoughtful. show more Together they make an awesome team! Oh, and did I mention? Dani likes her wolves a little bit naughty.

Harper's werewolves changelings are a welcome addition to the genre. I liked that lycanthropy is reversible. This was a first for me and it definitely changes the characters' attitude towards the "disease". On the flip side, I disliked how everyone's clothes stay intact when they regain their human form. The whole concept came off as more Sci-Fi than paranormal. I just think that there has to be one or two downsides to being a wolf otherwise everyone would do it!

All of the side characters (a.k.a the pack) are almost as delightful as Zoey and Connor. The only reason that they're not is because we don't know enough about them yet! I'm hoping that a few of the other (and equally as sexy) Macleod's will be front & center in future installments. One of the things that I like the most about werewolf fiction is the strong sense of family. Dani does an excellent job of making readers able to "feel the love" within the pack.

Changeling Moon is wild, warm and fuzzy; the key ingredients to werewolf fiction perfection! What a fab debut book by Canadian author turned Alaskan, Dani Harper, and a great start to a promising new series. I can't wait to drool over James Macleod in Changeling Dream! show less

Changeling Moon
3 Stars

The small town of Dunvegan, Canada is home to a werewolf pack living in harmony amongst unsuspecting humans. Unfortunately, a rogue puts their peaceful existence at risk when he attacks the new editor of the local paper, Zoey Tyler. Soon Zoey is involved in a relationship with her rescuer, Connor MacLeod, but there is more to the sexy vet than meets the eye and her life will never be the same again.

The setting, the romance and the werewolf lore all have potential, but each is missing a crucial element that would make this book something special.

While small towns are amongst my favorite settings, this one is decidedly lacking in atmosphere as none of the residents are fleshed out well. Each is a one-dimensional - show more the diner owner, the publisher, the mayor, the RCMP sergeant. None have any quirky or unique traits to make them more than a superficial stereotype.

Zoey and Connor's romance also falls flat as the fated-mates trope is unrealistic and their chemistry is virtually non-existent. They go through all of the motions, but the emotional attachment simply isn't there.

The plot revolving around a disgruntled rogue wolf attempting to out the pack starts out well as the villain is quite vile and his plans suitably nefarious. Unfortunately, the threads ultimately devolve as bad guy turns into a typical stalkerish creep and the climax and resolution are drawn out and unsatisfying.

In sum, Changeling Moon does not offer anything new to the vast number of wolf-shifter stories available and it is unlikely that I will continue with the series. show less

Recently read this book, and as a teenager I loved it. It was interesting and caught my attention from the very first page. I found the book hard to put down as it was enticing. There is a minor dull moment near the middle with a talk between a few characters, but the book certainly makes up for it with the enchanting mystery of Zoey (The main character) and her life. The book had no such fault in the language structure and was nice to read a book with some level of intellect that came across as comic at some parts. All over a brilliant book, that I would gladly read again.

Newspaper editor, Zoey Tyler, has been on the job in small town, Dunvegan, Canada, for almost a year when she is attacked one evening by a wolf and saved by the local vet, Connor Macleod. The wolf is a rogue killer changeling and Connor is part of the local pack. Zoey has a psychic talent she has never been able to bury and now she is faced with more paranormal issues. Connor must make her understand everything before she has to face the next full moon. The rogue werewolf is also after her and terrorizing the town. As the tension rises and the town is on the edge of wiping out all wolves, Zoey must learn to find her place and accept herself. Well developed tension and romance, my only quibble is with the final confrontation between show more Connor and the rogue, too quick after the build-up. show less

When I turned the last page of Changeling Moon I was so happy that it’s the first book in the series because I was desperate to know more about these characters. Anyone that knows me knows I love a good shifter romance read and that is just what Changeling Moon is.

Zoe has spent most of her adult life running from her paranormal past. She feels she has finally found a safe place for herself in a small Canadian town. This was all before Zoe was attacked and bitten by a wolf. Not just any wolf—a changeling after human blood. Thankfully for Zoe, Connor (the local vet) rescues her just as she is starting to lose the battle with the wolf. It doesn’t hurt that Conner is also a changeling. Of course Zoe doesn’t know that.

Zoe and Conner show more were so much fun to read about. I would catch myself smiling as I read their relationship grow. Conner was so high strung over Zoe that he could hardly get physical with her due to lack of control over his wolf. He would try to make a move on her then have to literally run off. And there was Zoe, frustrated and not understanding what was wrong with him. It was really quite funny.

Each author brings their own rules for their shifter world, or in this case changeling world. Harper does a wonderful job of opening Changeling Moon up and adding some unexpected twists that are all her own and I’m sure they will serve this series well. I am excited to see what will happen next in this changeling world.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca show less

In attempts to elude the fast life of Vancouver in wake of a tragic personal defeat, Zoey Tyler seeks refuge in the small, drama-free town of Dunvegan, which seems warm and inviting at first, but seems to have mysteries and secrets of its own. The whole "heroine escaping her horrible past" cliché in romance novels is overrated, but for once, I was glad to see the swirling crisis actually be revealed bit by bit, rather than culminating to a disappointing climax. Harper fluidly incorporates Zoey's past demons with those she finds in Dunvegan, making for a rich, complicated plot.

Changelings, which differ from werewolves due to their greater power, and their ability to change into human form whenever they please, are creatures you don't show more encounter often in paranormal romance, so I enjoyed this fascinating twist on the mythical beings in a contemporary world. Readers get both Connor's lupine and Zoey's human perspectives, which kind of did make the story drag on, but was overall highly revealing. When one enraged beast sabotages the Connor's pack by resurrecting old werewolf folklore which exposes real-life changelings, the entire public is terrorized, and the changelings of Dunvegan, in grave danger. Somehow, Zoey is connected to all of this... and it's Connor and Connor alone who can show her why.

As much as I liked the supernatural elements, the romance aspect is unconvincing—plenty of insta-love going around—but the love scenes, woooowhee! If you enjoy hot hot alpha male sex, you need to pick up this book now.

The characters are disappointing too. The secondary characters such as Jessie the pack leader and Connor's playful-yet-equally-sexy brothers are great—I loved them—but Zoey is extremely dislikable. She's supposed to be "strong" and "independent" but she's quite aloof, and rather stiff-necked. She says and does the rashest things that may give her the strapping young reporter vibe in a romance novel, but would literally get her nowhere in real life. Connor, too, isn't that great. He's huge and sexy and tough, yeah, but nothing about him really clicked for me. He's unnecessarily overprotective of Zoey—even though he knows nothing about her—and again, is an ideal, but pretty unrealistic hero.

Pros: Smoldering chemistry between Zoey and Connor // Secondary characters are great, especially the Macleod brothers! Mmmm! // Connor is a fantastic alpha hero // Refreshing take on changelings, as opposed to werewolves

Cons: Changelings seem to be the ideal species—there's basically nothing they can't do // Neither Zoey nor Connor are particularly likable // Physical attraction is well-portrayed, but actual romance and love storyline unrealistic

Verdict: Since I've never read a changeling romance before, I am glad I gave Changeling Moon a chance; Dani Harper introduces paranormal lovers to a world of werewolf folklore, bloodsucking predators, and sizzling romance. While this first book of the Changeling series isn't something I would necessarily recommend or read again, if you want to try your hand at changelings, you might want to consider this one.

Rating: 5 out of 10 hearts (3 stars): Doesn't particularly light any of my fires; I feel indifferent about this book.

Source: Complimentary copy provided by FSB Media in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Leyane!). show less