What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I can't remember the author or title of the series but if I tell a little about it someone might know what I'm talking about. I read this story back in the early 80's. It's about a girl who had lived in with nuns (or something to that affect) and some other girls and each girl is supposed to have a "gift" her gift was the ability to talk and to understand animals? She has a shape shifter boyfriend. I think there was a tower being built and there was going to be a war? and at the end everybody lost their gift. Ugh...sorry I know this doesn't make sense but I know at the time I really liked this book. I know it's not much to go on but if it jars a memory...thanks! i'll try to remember anything else in the story.

Sounds a little like the Sookie Stackhouse novels upon which True Blood is based.

Yeah...it kinda does. I read this in the 80's and liked it that I wanted to find it again. Except the girl is not telepathic, she can talk to the animals.

It doesn't sound much like the SS novels at all really...It sounds like Wild Magic but that was published in '92. Do you remember what was on the cover at all?

:( No

was it YA? Any recollection of how long it was? I'm in class so I intend to keep looking for awhile :)

I want to say it was about 300 maybe 400 pages long?

I think this may be the 3 part 'Jinian' books by Sheri S.Tepper .
they are
Jinian Footseer
Dervish daughter
Jinian Stareye
They are part of the "True Game" series.

Sue...I think you just hit the nail on the head!!! Although it doesn't say anything about their gifts, the series really sounds familiar and I think these must be it! Thank you very much!!!!