Sorry I’m a bit late getting this out this week. I got some crazy virus that put me out of commission just a few hours after I got back in town from visiting family over the weekend. Hopefully now I can get back to the schedule. Please read to the end and answer my question. :)
I wanted to start my Countdown to Halloween talking about shapeshifters or weres. They can be the same thing or a bit different depending on the author and their world. Either way, they have become my second favorite paranormal being. My first is no secret obviously (look at my blog name if you’re still unsure). ;)
In mythology, legends and folklore, shapeshifters cover a wide variety of beings. You’re talking about any type of creature or being that can change it’s form, whether it be animal, human, or other. It could be a god, some type of were, or even a vampire that’s able to change into a bat or a wolf or heck even mist. Are you beginning to see why this category’s so freaking big?
Though I do love all the mythology on the Greeks, Romans, and Celtics, what I want to focus on now are the different weres. These are also known as therianthropes, or human-animal shifters. This includes your lyncanthropes (werewolves), skin-walkers (turns into any animal when wearing it’s pelt), etc. Name an animal, and you can probably find some culture somewhere that has it in a legend somewhere around the world. What have I read or watched something about so far? Werewolves of course. Skin-walkers (the full on pelt wearing ones, and the coyote awesomeness that is Mercedes Thompson). Lions. Jaguars. Panthers. Eagles. Bears. Rats. Swans. Snakes. Getting the picture, I’ve read about a few. Lol. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few too, just wish I could remember them all.
- Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
- They Call Me Death by Missy Jane
- Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn
- Shifter series by Rachel Vincent
- Nightworld series by L.J. Smith
Now here’s a video from The Shapeshifters! he he
So, what makes a good shapeshifter to you? Do you like it when authors stick to stereotypes? Should they follow the full moon, silver bullet lore? Is there a difference between shapeshifters and weres to you? Am I confusing some of you? Lol!
The most important question I need you to answer in this and every following creature feature is your very favorite book concerning that paranormal being. Trust me you wanna do it! So, what’s your favorite shifter or were book, series, and/or author?
