The Shape-Changer's Wife by Sharon Shinn

I am a huge fan of Sharon Shinn. Summers in Castle Auburn is one of my favorite books and I loved her concept with the Archangel series. I even enjoyed the Thirteen Houses books up to a certain point in the series. Therefore, I was excited to finally read her first published work.

This is a small book with a central ethical question of whether one person has the right to impose his will on other beings whether human, animal, or vegetation.

Aubrey travels to apprentice with a great shapechanger. While learning how to change shape, he also learns about the shapechanger, his household and his wife. He discovers that the servants in the castle were originally animals and after falling in love with her, discovers that the shapechanger's wife was originally a willow tree in the King's grove. These discoveries shake and appall him, but do not inspire him to act. Then, the shapechanger brings home a new "niece" who used to be a fawn and now shares a room with the wizard. Still, Aubrey fails to act. It is only when the shapechanger returns from a trip with a dog who used to be a young noble of the court that Aubrey decides that he has reached his limit. He kills the shapechanger and restores all of the changed people, animals, and vegetation back to the original forms, including his beloved.

Interesting that it was only the violation of the rights of a human being that was untenable.

The story was simple, sweet and evocative. I'll remember this story for quite awhile, but I doubt that I will rush to reread it. Not a favorite book, but a good first effort by a fave author.