Interlopers: A Shifters Novel/ Book Review
By Robert Jeffrey II February 16, 2012
A Shifters Novel - Interlopers
In today’s world there’s no shortage of fantasy novels which cater to young adults. Whether classic (“The Lord of The Rings”, the “The Dark is Rising”, or “The Chronicles of Narnia”) or more modern (“Harry Potter”, “The Hunger Games”, or “Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief”). The book market is replete with countless examples of books which hope to take teens on high stakes adventures to distant lands, while following the exploits of characters with which they can relate.
These books have found a large audience worldwide, often being found amongst the top of the NY Times bestselling book lists, and have even spawned a series of successful film franchises. With all of these grand fantasy epics, though, you often don’t see a wide assortment of characters of color. If they are there, they often are the sidekicks, relegated to only supporting the main character of the story.
Though these stories often are well written works of fiction, one wonders with the proliferation of such books, why not have a book or series which features a character of color leading the charge to save the day, or travel to worlds of wonder?
Author L. M Davis has answered just that with “A Shifters Novel: Interlopers”. The book tells the story of the Pantera’s, a seemingly normal family, with a big secret. The Pantera’s are a group of shape shifters: a group of were-panthers. With a set of abilities which include heightened senses, super strength, increased agility, and in the case of our main characters, the Pantera twins, telepathy, the family keeps their existence a secret from the outside world.
The book primarily focuses on Nate and Larissa as they live their typical lives as 13 year old teens, hanging with friends, going to middle school, while also fighting a daily struggle to hide their secret. Brought up to believe that they are the only shifters in the world according to their parents, the Pantera twins lives are turned upside down when they find out otherwise. This leads to the opening of a whole new world, filled with royal intrigue, danger, and an awakening of sorts for the twins.
What works well with this story is that, like a host of other great fantasy novels involving teens, Davis is able to get you to empathize with the Pantera twins, Nate in particular. The book even begins with an episode of Nate attempting to straddle the line of holding onto his family’s secret, while also staying in the good graces of peers. Throughout the book both twins attempt to maintain some sense of normalcy in their lives which becomes ever increasingly difficult as events play out.
With circumstances like these, Davis builds a connection to teen readers who might feel themselves connecting to the twin’s problems. Though not suggesting that teens who read the book are closeted were-creatures, the twin’s grappling of keeping their secret from the outside while world, while attempting to appear “normal” could be analogous with the host of issues which teen deal with on a daily basis: puberty, figuring out the opposite sex, being accepted by peers, etc.
The book maintains a good pace, beginning with a sinister setup which will leave readers ready for the story to come, while ending on a cliffhanger that sets things up well for future stories. The story maintains a healthy balance of action, intrigue, while also tossing in a bit of drama for good measure, as the Pantera twins delve further into the mysteries of their families’ legacy which is now under assault by a shadowy group of interlopers.
Davis is able to provide a fresh take on the familiar story of the teen hero, overcoming personal obstacles, to fulfill a bigger destiny. With the introduction of two intelligent and capable African American teens who are leading the fight, the inclusion of the were-panther Shifter mythos, and the far flung land of Panteria, readers are provided with a welcome breath of fresh air onto the teen fantasy novel market.
So for those teen, or even adult readers, who are looking for a different take on the teen fantasy front, definitely give “Interlopers” a shot.
Robert Jeffrey II is an award-winning Atlanta-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in such publications as Ja Dore magazine, The Atlanta Voice newspaper, and Urban Voices In Comics. When he’s not ranting and raving about comic books, he’s actually writing them. Check out http://www.terminusmedia.com/ for his comic book story, Daddy’s Little Girl, featured in the anthology, Terminus Tales Presents #1: Platypus vs. Monkey.” Robert can also be found at http://robertspageofwriting.blogspot.com/.
Milton
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
