Dun Ladys Jess

Apart from the Harry Potter books, Ive read few fantasy novels. My one exception: the books of my friend Doranna Durgin. Of course, as shes been my friend for over 20 years, you cant expect me to be wholly objective in a review. So Ill just tell you what I like about her very first published book, Dun Ladys Jess, which has been reissued in a beautiful new edition by Canadian publisher Red Deer Press. Beautiful dun mare Lady, and her rider, Cary, are running for their lives when Cary invokes a spell that sends them hurtling to an alternate reality--a reality that does not include magic. Not only that, but Lady has been transformed into a human woman. Shes found by Eric, a kind-hearted environmentalist, and his friend Dayna. They quickly realize that Lady is in a state of mental confusion. Wary about turning her into the authorities, they take her to Daynas home to try to figure out what to do next. They meet up with their friends Jaime, who owns a horse training facility, and her brother Mark. And when Carey shows up--thats when the fun begins. This book has everything I look for in great storytelling: endearing friendships, action, adventure; suspense, thrills and fun. Im not kidding when I say itll make you laugh and cry. Theres a reason this book won the Compton Crook Award, and its hard to believe this could be someones first book because Doranna got everything right. The characterization, the action, and most importantly, the mindset of Dun Ladys Jess--a horse changed by magic into a woman. Read it. Youll love it, too.

I LOVED this book. It is the best shape-shifting story I have ever read. I grew up with horses and Ms. Durgin has captured the essence of horse so well with Jess. I am on my second book of the series and it is proving every bit as good. Im in for the long haul!

Good read

This was a truly unique story, told from a different perspective. The lead character is a horse in one world, who is changed into a woman in modern day Ohio. Her senses, her expectations of the world, and her growth into an amazing and brave person, are narrated in a believable manner. The author paints a picture of a horse as a being with personality and value, and yet, does not diminish the idea of being human. The actual plot, which involves a courier and his horse escaping their world to protect a magic spell, enlisting the help of humans from our world to return and right the wrongs committed by the spell, is fast paced and well thought out. A unusual story, well executed.

I thought the idea of a horse consciousness in a human body was a fascinating concept. It is well written, there were some good words that I had never read before and had to look up, and the dialogue between characters is well done. It is an adventure while overcoming language/psychological barriers.

Very interesting. A different twist on a story of wizard a and magic. This story had love, suspense and mystery. I really enjoyed reading this book. I will get the next one.

Really enjoyed it. Lovely.

I liked this book so well, I have purchased the 2nd in this series of Changespell Saga and it is proving to be just as spell binding. Doranna Durgin has a wonderful imagination and what a way with word. You feel yourself being in both World, our normal earth and the world of Magic. I had to rate this one 5 stars!

This book is totally different from anything else I have read. The title character is a horse who becomes a woman when she is magically transported from her own world to ours. The author knows horses extremely well and writes a completely believable horse-in-a-womans-body. I couldnt wait to find out what happens next. Will she find her rider? What will their relationship become if she is human? Will she be a horse again if she goes home? They MUST go back to their own world...but WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? I highly recommend this excellent book!

This is not the normal type of story I choose. I was influenced to curiosity by the reviews. Im really glad I gave it a try. It was an unusual approach to the body swapping/turned into an animal tropes, and I felt that it was handled very well, and in a unique manner. The pace was a little slow for me, but it worked well for the story. I dont want to give anything away, but I encourage readers to give this unusual story a try. A man on a mission and his horse are thrust into our world, and the horse is unexpectedly turned into a woman in passage. She manages to retain her sanity with the help of experienced horse people, new friends, and her loving rider, but shes still a horse on the inside. She learns more than anyone ever expected she could, and develops opinions, ideas, and goals of her own, but remains deeply committed to her rider, their mission, and to getting home. There are many questions about what will happen to her when they figure out how to get home, and questions about whether or not home will still be safe since their mission has been delayed. Even more questions arise when they are just as unexpectedly transported back to their own world--along with their new friends from this one. Its really pretty well done. I liked it, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, despite it being very different from my regular reads.