I didn't know much of this lovely little novel, but upon receiving it as a Christmas gift, I promptly devoured it in a few days' time.  It had such a refreshing feel to the writing, the characters, & the story itself---I wholly enjoyed it!

Shara is the sweetest little cinnamon roll.  He lacks all kinds of self-confidence & is bullied for his deficiency of skill when it comes to shifting, though he manages to hold his own in serious situations.  But he runs away in shame when an innocent mistake causes severe injury to a peer.  Life gives him another chance in a new world & he learns to fit in by running away.  And the rest you'll have to discover for yourself.  *sly grin*  I will only add that his character arc was BEAUTIFUL, and the storyworld complex, but simple enough to understand.  In short, I loved this story!

None, other than the more original, slang words like, "hills," and "burrs."

Some drink a nearly black-colored wine, known as "Sailor's Blood."

A character's health is questionable due to some kind of immune or muscular disease---I don't recall it ever being said what he had exactly, but he suffered from fatigue, would be bed-ridden (unwillingly, but couldn't be helped), & used a cane as a last resort (pride thing).