The Night Shifters By: Emily Devenport Star Rating: Sensuality Rating:

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Synopsis

The Night Shifters is a novel about a young woman who was always more invested in her dream life than her real life. She sleepwalks through her days at a job that does nothing more than pay the bills, biding her time until she can find solace in her extremely vivid dreams. Until one night, the dreams never cease, and her life becomes one waking, ongoing dream within a dream.

Hazel gets transported to the land of the Night Shifters, and she has to navigate herself through this world in which it's hard to tell friend from foe. She might find a secret destiny, and love along the way. And the power to make her real life more exciting than her dreams.

Review

The Night Shifters was a good book, and it was an enjoyable read. The story was a bit confusing at times, which bogged down the story. It was difficult to keep up with the narrative flow at times, as one scene tended to shift into another rapidly. Occasionally, I had to backtrack to catch up when I got lost. On the other hand, the bizarre, sometimes nonsensical occurrences felt a lot like dreams. Readers should be able to identify with the dreamlike quality of Hazel's adventures, with some of the elements feeling quite recognizable, such as the scenario when one misses class all semester and shows up just in time for the final exam. Yeah, I've been out of school a long time, and I still have those dreams.

I could also identify with Hazel's desire for her life to be more exciting than just a ho-hum job to pay the bills, for her life to have a deeper meaning. Her memories of a childhood of being picked on by the other kids and not fitting in made her a deeply sympathetic character, along with her down-to-earth and kind nature. I liked seeing her work through her emotional issues as she walks through the dream landscape of the Night Shifters' lands. The fantasy elements were interesting, with a distinctive storyline about the land of dreams and the power that some individuals have to shape this land. The cast of unusual characters ranged from a kindly older man who resembles the actor Sir John Gielgud, to sexy, fae gearheads to wild, warrior bikers to seductive vampires, and a masked man who Hazel shared a sizzling attraction with. The villainous characters will resonate with readers, since they mix the fantastical with the mundane of the real world. You know, the beautiful, popular girl who made your adolescent life excruciating, or the obnoxious boss who seems to enjoy singling you out for the worst task? Imagine encountering them in the dreamscape, with horrifically magnified abilities to make trouble for you. Not fun.

All these elements combine to make The Night Shifters pleasant reading. The story didn't inspire intense emotions in me, but I was glad I had the opportunity to read it. I would recommend it to readers who are looking for a quick fantasy read with an endearing heroine who is on the path to making all her dreams come true.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

*Reviewed by guest reviewer, Danielle Hill.

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