Review:Shifted Perspective by J. Bridger

Shifted Perspective (Tails of Change #1) by J. Bridger
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Caleb Byrne is a bright high school senior who has enough to deal with between college choices, taking care of his single dad, and dealing with his headstrong girlfriend Joanna and an eccentric set of cousins in California. He was managing to get by until the day he woke up a Cocker Spaniel. Even if it only happens monthly and is more embarrassing than painful, the so-called ability is something that he's anxious to be rid of.

He didn't realize his transformations would drag him into a hidden society of canine and lupine shape shifters as well as a family legacy he hates. To make matters worse, after moving to Los Angeles to learn more about his heritage from his Aunt Moira and his cousin Kalista, Caleb now struggles through life-and-death matters. He keeps angering the werewolves in charge of the shifter world, especially Kalista's boyfriend Peter, the Southern California alpha's son, who also happens to be grade-A sociopath. Worse, Caleb's floundering to keep his secret from Joanna.

While his family offers him some support, they may not be enough as Caleb realizes that the rules in shifter society---number one is supposed to be don't kill humans---are not so ironclad. Some werewolf out there is leaving a blood-soaked trail across the Midwest and it might just be with the alpha's blessing...

My Thoughts: I've come to realize that I have a very low tolerance for characters in books -- especially family members -- keeping information of the life-altering variety from our heroes. While part of me understands this from a storytelling point of view, the other part of me gets weirdly ragey and gives everyone the side eye. I did like that both Caleb and his father called his family on the information-hiding. I do understand that they kept the information from him because it was a sacred law that they were forced to uphold. But... not telling someone that they have the potential to turn furry once a month seems vastly irresponsible, especially when the person in question is beginning to show signs that they're on the verge of shifting.

My intense dislike for liars aside, I did enjoy this book. Caleb is struggling to find his place in this suddenly new world he finds himself in. He can't tell the truth of what he is to his girlfriend. His family expects him to simply embrace his animal side even though he's been raised as a human and had no idea that shapeshifters were real until very recently. He's torn between instinct and how he believes he should act as a human and it makes for one very confused young man.

The story itself really picks up once Caleb starts looking into the killings with Penny. Enlisting the aid of Caleb's brainy (now ex-)girlfriend while trying to keep his (and Penny's) abilities secret keeps everybody hopping. I liked the mysteries that were uncovered about various members of the shifter community and what that could mean for the future.

I did enjoy the book overall, I was just gritting my teeth over his family keeping a fundamental part of what he could be a secret. It does make sense in the context of the story, it's just something that tends to bug me to no end when it crops up. I have issues, I guess. Still, enjoyable and a nicely different take on your usual type of shifter.

Books in this series
1. Shifted Perspective - Kindle

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Shifted Perspective was provided for review.