Scaleshifter

Caleb never wanted to join the army. And he certainly didn't want to be turned into a dragon. But when he doesn't understand how his new body works and can barely make a move without being watched by the wizard who took his humanity, how is he supposed to escape before he can be turned into a weapon of war?

©2019 Shelby Law (P)2021 Shelby Law

100% awesome!

It was absolutely amazing and I hope to god that the Author makes a second one

The story is good for perspective

While the story and the book is pretty enjoyable, I had a hard time enjoying it with Audible. The Narrator always sounded like they had a persistent cold and a stuffy nose that was being avoided in the process. And while as an aspiring Voice Artist myself shows understanding for the struggles endured to one's voice, I am disappointed with the performance given for what was clearly a worthwhile book to spend better days upon.

A couple slaps against the mic, whispering voice, and generally lacking some inflection at times made connecting to the words or their impact difficult. The growling of a deep dragon's voice, the sneer of a grinning word... It lacked. And as the narrator's voice would struggle to grasp vocalization suitable to that, it fell flat and monotone elsewhere.

I'm sure that if this were re-recorded for the artist at a time she were not sick and needing to remain or unable to vocalize bright enough to avoid being several decibels quieter during dialogue, it would improve.

Though assuredly, the story has its unique flavor to transformation and the concept a young mind trying to avoid dying attributes. Instinct and compassion for life, but inordinate constructs on the psychology of "just surviving" and never really getting to the idea of living. It is a rebellious read instead of joyful. The main character's whole premise to existence is to fight off anything that isn't them, even when something is to their benefit. So the story struggles with this compromise to build a world where it will only want to fight them in return for their rebelliousness. There is little compassion, no understanding, not even comfort beyond the perception that "what one has become is what you should foster alone," instead of a growth beyond what one physically is.

Subject of dragon transformation is the appeal. The world beyond while it holds fascinations and interests isn't something to draw more notice to and we keep our focus firmly on the characters that the main character is a part of and peer to.

Great book

I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

An enjoyable story

I think my only really complaint that stopped me from giving the story 5 stars is the fact the main character keeps saying he is in and has been in "survival mode" but does everything I feel like is the exact opposite that someone who is trying to survive would do and think, and because of the that conflict it didn't feel genuine to me. But other than that I really did enjoy the story itself and can't wait for the next book to come out.

Lackluster and of poor quality.

The idea has some merit, someone conscripted and forced to be a dragon in an army.

But the author and writing just arent up to the task. I am halfway through the book and of the three characters none of them have more than one dimension.

The narrator is also just bad. Her microphone makes her voice sound harsh and its really difficult to make out what Caleb is saying most of the time because the narrator tries to make her voice deeper than it naturally is.

And Caleb as a protagonist just isnt interesting.
We dont know what he wants or why we should care. And his captors are turning him into a dragon because they like war.......

If you want a story about people changing into dragons I would recommend Bound In Scales by Steven De Luca.
The enviroments are much more vivid and while it is a story that initially is more bright than scaleshifter the characters feel fully realized.
They interact with one another in ways that feel natural and have conflicts with satisfying resolutions. Give Bound in Scales a try instead of this.