J.P. Lee brings us an intriguing YA fantasy in Shift. In a world built on order and conformity, one of the branches of magic has been set aside due to its unpredictable behavior. Eastward Americana prides itself on its control, and the Shifts do not fit in. High in the Appalachian Mountains, Sybil lives with others of her kind. Shifts make their living in trading in lies and deception. Just shy of eighteen years old, Sybil will soon be able to go out on operations. However, when a new governing body is chosen, and she is selected for her first job, along with her older brother, Sybil realizes that he might be keeping secrets that could jeopardize their entire way of life.

Author J.P. Lee has woven an intricate tale filled with magic, political intrigue, and societal prejudice. It is a world that is both familiar and foreign at the same time. Weaving her own magic with words, Lee has created a strong female protagonist that you will absolutely love. With a main character so likable and relatable, readers cannot help but turn those pages one after the other. This book is so deep and so profound that it will leave you thinking about it long after you finish reading. Shift ticks all the right boxes with action, adventure, found family, and a little bit of romance. This is the first book in the Shiftwork Chronicles and is suitable for young adult readers. I eagerly anticipate the next book and joining Sybil on her continued adventure.

J.P. Lee’s Shift is a gritty take on a magical version of America. The world is divided between the "orderly" types—the mind-controlling Sages and the powerful Thanes—and the Shifts, who are shapeshifters forced to live in a run-down Appalachian camp. I really felt for Sybil, the seventeen-year-old lead. She lives in a cramped cabin with seventy other people, surviving on beans and training in everything from safecracking to full-body shifting. The whole system is pretty messed up; they have "Career Days" where elite employers hire Shifts out for crimes or impersonations. When Sybil finally gets her first real mission, she has to pose as a socialite named Roxana at a presidential gala. Watching her navigate that world—twisting her ankles in heels while spinning creepy stories for the President’s kids—was both tense and weirdly relatable.

J.P. Lee’s writing has great energy that mixes old-school Americana with some fantasy elements. The plot moves fast, jumping from fancy galas to brutal fights back at the cabins, and it never drags. The characters felt like real people, mostly because they weren't just "good" or "bad." Whether it was Sybil’s brother Art or the President, they all had complicated layers and secrets. It’s the kind of writing that makes a story actually stick with you—when you can't quite tell who to trust. Living in the middle of all the noise in Lahore, I actually found myself really connecting with Sybil’s sense of isolation in her mountain camp. Her drive to find a place where she belongs felt incredibly personal to me. Shift is a memorable read.