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Gateway
As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that “black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .
280 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2009
44 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Shinn
58 books2,274 followersI’ve been writing stories and poems since I was eight years old. My first poem was about Halloween: "What is tonight? What is tonight?/Try to guess and you’ll guess right." Perhaps this inauspicious beginning explains why it took me till I was in my thirties to sell a novel. It occurred to me early on that it might take some time and a lot of tries before I was able to publish any of my creative writing, so I pursued a degree in journalism at Northwestern University so I’d be able to support myself while I figured out how to write fiction.
I’ve spent most of my journalism career at three trade and association magazines—The Professional Photographer (which, as you might guess, went to studio and industrial photographers), DECOR (which went to frame shop and art gallery owners), and BizEd (which is directed at deans and professors at business schools). My longest stint, seventeen years, was at DECOR. Many people don’t know this, but I’m a CPF (Certified Picture Framer), having passed a very long, technical test to prove I understood the tenets of conservation framing. Now I write about management education and interview some really cool, really smart people from all over the world.
I mostly write my fiction in the evenings and on weekends. It requires a pretty obsessive-compulsive personality to be as prolific as I’ve been in the past ten years and hold down a full-time job. But I do manage to tear myself away from the computer now and then to do something fun. I read as often as I can, across all genres, though I’m most often holding a book that’s fantasy or romance, with the occasional western thrown in. I’m a fan of Cardinals baseball and try to be at the ballpark on opening day. If I had the time, I’d see a movie every day of my life. I love certain TV shows so much that knowing a new episode is going to air that night will make me happy all day. (I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, but in the past I’ve given my heart to shows all over the map in terms of quality: "Knight Rider," "Remington Steele," "Blake’s 7," "Moonlighting," "The Young Riders," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues," "X-Files," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica"...you can probably fill in the gaps. And let’s not forget my very first loves, "The Partridge Family," "Here Come the Brides" and "Alias Smith & Jones.")
I don’t have kids, I don’t want pets, and all my plants die, so I’m really only forced to provide ongoing care for my menagerie of stuffed animals. All my friends are animal lovers, though, and someone once theorized that I keep friends as pets. I’m still trying to decide if that’s true.
I’ve spent most of my journalism career at three trade and association magazines—The Professional Photographer (which, as you might guess, went to studio and industrial photographers), DECOR (which went to frame shop and art gallery owners), and BizEd (which is directed at deans and professors at business schools). My longest stint, seventeen years, was at DECOR. Many people don’t know this, but I’m a CPF (Certified Picture Framer), having passed a very long, technical test to prove I understood the tenets of conservation framing. Now I write about management education and interview some really cool, really smart people from all over the world.
I mostly write my fiction in the evenings and on weekends. It requires a pretty obsessive-compulsive personality to be as prolific as I’ve been in the past ten years and hold down a full-time job. But I do manage to tear myself away from the computer now and then to do something fun. I read as often as I can, across all genres, though I’m most often holding a book that’s fantasy or romance, with the occasional western thrown in. I’m a fan of Cardinals baseball and try to be at the ballpark on opening day. If I had the time, I’d see a movie every day of my life. I love certain TV shows so much that knowing a new episode is going to air that night will make me happy all day. (I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, but in the past I’ve given my heart to shows all over the map in terms of quality: "Knight Rider," "Remington Steele," "Blake’s 7," "Moonlighting," "The Young Riders," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues," "X-Files," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica"...you can probably fill in the gaps. And let’s not forget my very first loves, "The Partridge Family," "Here Come the Brides" and "Alias Smith & Jones.")
I don’t have kids, I don’t want pets, and all my plants die, so I’m really only forced to provide ongoing care for my menagerie of stuffed animals. All my friends are animal lovers, though, and someone once theorized that I keep friends as pets. I’m still trying to decide if that’s true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
September 1, 2012
Recently, I have read quite a number of books that I would call "readable". I only use this term to describe a book when I had a lot of problems with the story, but the problems do not stop me from finishing the book. However, this does not mean that I enjoyed it either.
Gateway would have been such an interesting novel. I mean, what a great concept. Daiyu is an adopted Chinese daughter of Caucasian parents. She buys a ring from a vendor and then is whisked away into an alternate universe (called 'iterations') where what we could call Chinese or what are known as Han populate North America.
Unfortunately, from the very first moment that Daiyu steps into this new world, I had problems with the story. She is saved by a good looking (but poor) young man called Kalen, who is Caucasian, and even though she is disoriented by the whole experience, she is not suspicious at all and instead trusts him blindly to lead her away. She finds out she is "chosen" for a specific task, predictably, to fight a villain, because of the way she looks like the upper class.
I know that 'Han' is not supposed to be Chinese at all, but maybe an alternate universe 'inspired' by Chinese influences, but honestly - pagodas? Yin and yang gardens? Colorful tops with black trousers? I found myself rolling my eyes at all of these details. And why is it that a Chinese girl living in a Caucasian city, being whisked away to a place where everybody looks Chinese, she has to be saved by AND fall in love with a CAUCASIAN GUY?
This just blows my mind.
I am ALL about interracial romances. I am in one myself. However, I hate the use of it in stories especially when the connotations that it brings are problematic. On one hand you have the poor, white, liberal thinking guy who is a labourer. While in the other hand, you have a rich, scholarly, Chinese type, who is conservative and admires the traditionalist prime minister. Yes, let's just continue to portray Asian men in this way, even though Asian men have been seen in the media as either small, lean and mean kung-fu martial artist Bruce Lee types, or they are evil, gangster villains who are conservative and who think of women as their lessers.
Writers, even if you want to casually mention race such as black, white, Asian in your stories to make it more diverse, the stereotypes that you are presenting are still important. You have to ask yourself, why am I choosing this particular skin color for this particular person? Is it because I have a preconception of this race? Would it have mattered at all if all of the people that Daiyu encountered were of Han descent? NO. She could have had the exact same story, but just made people of different castes or given her a birthmark / hair color / whatever that would be a signifier for nobility.
I know, I know, love triumphs over all, including cultural divides, but in this story it was so unnecessary. Really, the 'Han' elements didn't make the story original. At the heart of this, it's a story about a bland and plain girl who could have been white, going to a place where she looks like royalty, prepares for some sort of ball, and then has to save this world from the evil prince (or in this case, the prime minister). I feel like I've read this before in many past books, some done well (Shadows on the Moon), while others not so much (Throne of Glass, what I've heard of The Selection).
I am so sick of tired of these stories where girls have to be static mannequins where getting a new hairdo and some make-up and some dance lessons and underneath it all it is their beauty that will win the heart of the prince. They have to practice to be meek and docile. I mean, in this story, she is basically told to sit there and smile and not talk too much. And one of the men she fake an interest in basically refers to her as a "possession". And she is totally ok with that.
I want a story where the girl fights besides the prince, dammit. Where the girl gets down and dirty and is vicious, but she doesn't have to do this with her physical prowess, she can also do this with her wit and her intelligence. I want the prince to have his eyes opened and be like - hey, this girl is pretty kick-ass even with her hair all messed up and mud smeared on her face - she's so beautiful because she's my best friend and we've gotten to know each other these past few months and developed a genuine relationship based on TIME SPENT WITH EACH OTHER.
It takes all of a day in this strange new world for Daiyu to constantly think about Kalen and moon over him. Kalen is also the stumbling block constantly for Daiyu. I like that she questions her purpose, but it's only because "when can I see Kalen?" "Why can't we be together?" "What if we? What if that?" And because she's so focused on her stupid romance, she doesn't take the proper time to figure out WHY exactly she has this task to perform, and bumbles along believing everything the villain says. I also hate how her mentors are all vague and say things like "evil can be seductive". What does that even MEAN? Why can't you just explain to her "Hey, this person has done xyz in these other worlds. Let me show you what he is doing in this world." A few thrilling close calls later where they are almost discovered, HEY she can understand why!
I also despise the "eavesdropping to reveal secrets" scene that appears in bad movies where it's just another plot device that is awkward and could have been done so much better. I feel the romance only exists for Daiyu to make a fool of herself and reveal all of her secrets.
And the ENDING! Oh the ending. If you read it you will understand my frustration with it explained in the next paragraph.
Ok, I have read many books of Sharon Shinn's. I enjoyed many of her books greatly, but underneath it all, let's not pretend they are ground-breaking works of sci-fi or fantasy here. They are romance. Mostly excellent romances, light on the sci-fi or the fantasy world-building elements. I've read a few of her other YA books and they just do not work for me. Insta-love and bland heroines abound. She wrapped up this book with an ending that was more romance than realism, and I thought that my ebook was wrong and that I had missed a page or two where the story ACTUALLY wrapped up. But no. It ended at the particular point where nothing was ever resolved, but hey, the two of them are together and that's all that matters right? Let's tuck the actual story and purpose of the story away, never to be seen again.
Sharon Shinn explores ideas of race/class much better in 'Heart of Gold' and 'Jenna Starborn'. I give this book two stars because a) I managed to finish it, b) I wanted to write a review on all of the issues that I saw, because it means there was something worth talking about here and not something utterly dull and/or truly rage inducing.
Gateway would have been such an interesting novel. I mean, what a great concept. Daiyu is an adopted Chinese daughter of Caucasian parents. She buys a ring from a vendor and then is whisked away into an alternate universe (called 'iterations') where what we could call Chinese or what are known as Han populate North America.
Unfortunately, from the very first moment that Daiyu steps into this new world, I had problems with the story. She is saved by a good looking (but poor) young man called Kalen, who is Caucasian, and even though she is disoriented by the whole experience, she is not suspicious at all and instead trusts him blindly to lead her away. She finds out she is "chosen" for a specific task, predictably, to fight a villain, because of the way she looks like the upper class.
I know that 'Han' is not supposed to be Chinese at all, but maybe an alternate universe 'inspired' by Chinese influences, but honestly - pagodas? Yin and yang gardens? Colorful tops with black trousers? I found myself rolling my eyes at all of these details. And why is it that a Chinese girl living in a Caucasian city, being whisked away to a place where everybody looks Chinese, she has to be saved by AND fall in love with a CAUCASIAN GUY?
This just blows my mind.
I am ALL about interracial romances. I am in one myself. However, I hate the use of it in stories especially when the connotations that it brings are problematic. On one hand you have the poor, white, liberal thinking guy who is a labourer. While in the other hand, you have a rich, scholarly, Chinese type, who is conservative and admires the traditionalist prime minister. Yes, let's just continue to portray Asian men in this way, even though Asian men have been seen in the media as either small, lean and mean kung-fu martial artist Bruce Lee types, or they are evil, gangster villains who are conservative and who think of women as their lessers.
Writers, even if you want to casually mention race such as black, white, Asian in your stories to make it more diverse, the stereotypes that you are presenting are still important. You have to ask yourself, why am I choosing this particular skin color for this particular person? Is it because I have a preconception of this race? Would it have mattered at all if all of the people that Daiyu encountered were of Han descent? NO. She could have had the exact same story, but just made people of different castes or given her a birthmark / hair color / whatever that would be a signifier for nobility.
I know, I know, love triumphs over all, including cultural divides, but in this story it was so unnecessary. Really, the 'Han' elements didn't make the story original. At the heart of this, it's a story about a bland and plain girl who could have been white, going to a place where she looks like royalty, prepares for some sort of ball, and then has to save this world from the evil prince (or in this case, the prime minister). I feel like I've read this before in many past books, some done well (Shadows on the Moon), while others not so much (Throne of Glass, what I've heard of The Selection).
I am so sick of tired of these stories where girls have to be static mannequins where getting a new hairdo and some make-up and some dance lessons and underneath it all it is their beauty that will win the heart of the prince. They have to practice to be meek and docile. I mean, in this story, she is basically told to sit there and smile and not talk too much. And one of the men she fake an interest in basically refers to her as a "possession". And she is totally ok with that.
I want a story where the girl fights besides the prince, dammit. Where the girl gets down and dirty and is vicious, but she doesn't have to do this with her physical prowess, she can also do this with her wit and her intelligence. I want the prince to have his eyes opened and be like - hey, this girl is pretty kick-ass even with her hair all messed up and mud smeared on her face - she's so beautiful because she's my best friend and we've gotten to know each other these past few months and developed a genuine relationship based on TIME SPENT WITH EACH OTHER.
It takes all of a day in this strange new world for Daiyu to constantly think about Kalen and moon over him. Kalen is also the stumbling block constantly for Daiyu. I like that she questions her purpose, but it's only because "when can I see Kalen?" "Why can't we be together?" "What if we? What if that?" And because she's so focused on her stupid romance, she doesn't take the proper time to figure out WHY exactly she has this task to perform, and bumbles along believing everything the villain says. I also hate how her mentors are all vague and say things like "evil can be seductive". What does that even MEAN? Why can't you just explain to her "Hey, this person has done xyz in these other worlds. Let me show you what he is doing in this world." A few thrilling close calls later where they are almost discovered, HEY she can understand why!
I also despise the "eavesdropping to reveal secrets" scene that appears in bad movies where it's just another plot device that is awkward and could have been done so much better. I feel the romance only exists for Daiyu to make a fool of herself and reveal all of her secrets.
And the ENDING! Oh the ending. If you read it you will understand my frustration with it explained in the next paragraph.
Ok, I have read many books of Sharon Shinn's. I enjoyed many of her books greatly, but underneath it all, let's not pretend they are ground-breaking works of sci-fi or fantasy here. They are romance. Mostly excellent romances, light on the sci-fi or the fantasy world-building elements. I've read a few of her other YA books and they just do not work for me. Insta-love and bland heroines abound. She wrapped up this book with an ending that was more romance than realism, and I thought that my ebook was wrong and that I had missed a page or two where the story ACTUALLY wrapped up. But no. It ended at the particular point where nothing was ever resolved, but hey, the two of them are together and that's all that matters right? Let's tuck the actual story and purpose of the story away, never to be seen again.
Sharon Shinn explores ideas of race/class much better in 'Heart of Gold' and 'Jenna Starborn'. I give this book two stars because a) I managed to finish it, b) I wanted to write a review on all of the issues that I saw, because it means there was something worth talking about here and not something utterly dull and/or truly rage inducing.
February 22, 2010
Gateway by Sharon Shinn has a rather beautiful, colorful cover featuring two people hiding behind a red parasol. Frankly, that was the most striking thing about Gateway. It had all of the elements to be really awesome: parallel universes, cultural subversion, the fact that it's YA, and a romantical element. (Romantical is a word frequently used by Flava Flav). However, Gateway was one of those books which, well, I read it, and moved on to the next book without any sort of a second thought.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
March 10, 2017
I almost want to give it a fifth star because I enjoyed it so much, but there were a few flaws so in good conscience I have to give it 4. Shinn as usual creates a great alternative world, creating amazing scenes in my head. It took a while for me to get acquainted with the main character, and sometimes it went slightly slowly, but overall I had a great time with this one. And what a gorgeous cover, taken from a very nice scene in the story.
Never mind, I'm giving it 5 stars.
Never mind, I'm giving it 5 stars.
November 14, 2014
One of my favorite Shinn book! An amazing love story!
Re-read Nov. 14. I love this sweet story. Shinn has a great way to create a whole new world you believe in. I love the whole story line and I love the way it is written. I wish this book had a sequel about finally catching the bad guy. Most likely one I will let my girls read.
Re-read Nov. 14. I love this sweet story. Shinn has a great way to create a whole new world you believe in. I love the whole story line and I love the way it is written. I wish this book had a sequel about finally catching the bad guy. Most likely one I will let my girls read.
March 5, 2015
Gateway is a novel written by author Sharon Shinn. This story revolves around Daiyu, a teenage girl who was adopted from China as a young child. She finds herself in another universe after walking through some sort of gateway with a strange necklace. At first the plot of this book was kind of slow and I almost gave up on it. However once the story line started unfolding I started getting interested. I Have to say that the ending surprised me because it wasn't expected, but it was a good way to end the novel.
The characters I found, were a bit hard to connect with, but not unpleasant. Starting with Daiyu, she seems to me like a very independent and strait forward person. She is very quick witted and has her sights set tightly on her objectives. Evidence of this is shown with her bold speech. Her physical appearance as I imagined would be that she has raven black hair, brown eyes like fine wood, and a sort of short stature. She is described in the book with chin length hair and pierced ears. The author did a good job describing the characters.
Kalen is the next main character, and he is more gentle compared to Daiyu. He's always there to lend a helping hand and many details in the book showcase his generosity. He always says things to comfort others, especially when Daiyu is in times of panic or crisis. His physical features include being a tall, having brown curly hair and hazel eyes. I was absolutely charmed by Kalen's personality.
I enjoyed this novel, though not as much as I thought i would. The ideas and little details that Sharon Shinn put into not only the plot but also the characters made the book worth reading. It offered fresh thoughts
March 4, 2013
Oh "instalove"... how I hate you...
Let's start with the fact it is very clear where the author decided to actually take an interest with this book. We know absolutely nothing about Daiyu before she is thrown into another universe and told she has to get rid of this evil man. Her character is never truly developed. Most of the time, when something happens, I'm sitting thinking "umm, okay." I don't know if her actions are within her normal character because Shinn never told us what that is! The only time Shinn seems to want to give any details at all appears in the form of clothing. Really? Really.
I liked the character of Kalen. He was sweet... but like a puppy. But of course, "instalove"~! So while Daiyu is supposed to be on this secret mission, these two fall in love... eh. I did like Quan's character, but since the author doesn't like to develop anything, I don't feel like I truly met anyone in this book.
And the so-called bad guy? Highly disappointed. It was as if he was an afterthought.
Overall, if you don't mind reading a book clearly designed for someone around 10-12 (but that's a stretch), go ahead with this one. I feel like I mostly read a summary of a book instead of a clear, loved, and developed novel. Boo.
Let's start with the fact it is very clear where the author decided to actually take an interest with this book. We know absolutely nothing about Daiyu before she is thrown into another universe and told she has to get rid of this evil man. Her character is never truly developed. Most of the time, when something happens, I'm sitting thinking "umm, okay." I don't know if her actions are within her normal character because Shinn never told us what that is! The only time Shinn seems to want to give any details at all appears in the form of clothing. Really? Really.
I liked the character of Kalen. He was sweet... but like a puppy. But of course, "instalove"~! So while Daiyu is supposed to be on this secret mission, these two fall in love... eh. I did like Quan's character, but since the author doesn't like to develop anything, I don't feel like I truly met anyone in this book.
And the so-called bad guy? Highly disappointed. It was as if he was an afterthought.
Overall, if you don't mind reading a book clearly designed for someone around 10-12 (but that's a stretch), go ahead with this one. I feel like I mostly read a summary of a book instead of a clear, loved, and developed novel. Boo.
January 16, 2023
Really good book if want to explore another world.
August 13, 2012
This review first published on my blog: http://starrryeyeddreams.wordpress.co...
Gateway tells the story of Daiyu, a Chinese-American teenager living in St. Louis, who suddenly finds herself transported to an alternate world. In this world, Jia, as Daiyu quickly learns, it is the Han, a people very similar to the Chinese, who explored the new world, and Shengleng--the city Daiyu knew as St. Louis--is the most important city in the world. Because her Chinese heritage lets her pass as Han, Daiyu is recruited to infiltrate the upper tiers of Han society in order to eliminate the prime minister Chenglei. But as she proceeds in her mission, Daiyu has doubts. Is Chenglei really the evil man that her handlers, Ombri and Aurora claim? Can Ombri and Aurora be trusted at all? Complicating everything is Daiyu's budding romance with Kalen, a poor stonepicker boy. If Daiyu does decide to go through with her mission, can she bear to leave Kalen behind?
I have a kind of uneven history with Sharon Shinn's works, of which I haven't read as many as I probably should. I loved the world she created for The Safe-Keeper's Secret and its sequels, but General Winston's Daughter frustrated me on so many levels, not the least of which was the heavy-handed anti-imperialism message and the tacit approval for, essentially, a terrorist attack. When I picked up Gateway from my local library, I wondered which work it would resemble more.
As it turns out, Gateway is completely its own book, with a unique voice and style. While Shinn's richly detailed world-building is definitely present, as is her penchant for exploring the interactions of different cultures, Gateway didn't forcefully remind me of any of Shinn's previous books. Like General Winston's Daughter, it features a teenager girl entering another culture and becoming enthralled with it, but instead of trying to drive home a political message, Gateway simply seeks to be a romantic fantasy adventure.
Daiyu, the protagonist, almost represents what any savvy reader would hope to be like if they got swept into another world. She's open to the mysterious strangers, but she weighs her options before making decisions. She's eager to see this new world she's in, but she keeps an escape route handy. She uses people as she has to, but feels genuinely bad for any collateral damage, even just of the emotional variety, she leaves in her wake. She tries to avoid relationships that can only end painfully, but in the end her heart just can't help itself. Most importantly, she remains skeptical of everyone. I found this both interesting and frustrating. Intellectually, I approved of her reluctance to trust Aurora and Ombri. Emotionally, I longed for her to invest in one side or another. When she finally makes her decision and commits herself, the story rockets with intensity, but it's a little late in the story.
As a character, Daiyu is a little bland. She's a bit too much a placeholder, constantly responding to the actions of others, instead of shaping her own path. However, as placeholders go, at least she's an inoffensive one. Her voice is crisp and modern, in pleasant contrast to the ornate fantasy culture around her, but never jarring with slang or pop culture references. She quickly picks up on what's she's told, minimizing info dumps. Although she falls for Kalen pretty quickly, she doesn't spend pages drooling over him. Despite her initial irritating indecisiveness, when she does decide to act she handily proves herself no damsel in distress. Daiyu won't be joining the pantheon of most-beloved characters any time soon, but being inside her head for the space of a novel is a painless, mostly pleasant experience.
The plot, which mainly revolves around Daiyu insinuating herself into high society and trying to decide whether Prime Minister Chenglei is really a bad guy or not, meanders a little at times. Readers who are looking for fast-paced action will probably tire of Daiyu's detailed descriptions of the gorgeous outfits and intricate customs of the Han elite. Gateway chooses to focus on the world-building over the adventure aspects, probably to the book's benefit. It also places a lot of emphasis on the romantic subplot, which grows in importance until it's a little hard to tell whether this is a fantasy adventure with romantic elements or a romance with fantasy and adventure elements. Daiyu's relationship with Kalen, the poor cangbai (that 's Fantasy Chinese for "white") stonepicker, moves at a whirlwind speed. It could have benefited from a slightly slower pace and more development, however the interactions between the two always feel natural and the progression of the relationship, while rapid, doesn't come across as forced. Shinn keeps the romance as a thread entwining throughout the novel, never overwhelming the main plot, yet never wholly disconnected from it, either. There are some very sweet scenes between them that become very poignant by the end of the book. On my first reading, I "dinged" them some points for the cliched "I'd never met him before, but he seemed so familiar" routine, but the ending forced me to reevaluate as it brought some very teasing possibilities to my mind.
The real delight here, though, is the world that Shinn creates. Inspired by Chinese culture, yet not bound to it, Jia is a beautiful, exotic wonderland, yet with a palpable darkness to it as well. Shinn has an eye for "domestic" details, adding countless tiny customs, fashions, and other particulars that make her world feel real. Whether we're joining Daiyu for a formal tea with society's elite, or wading for precious qiji stones in the river with Kalen and the poorest of the poor, every layer and facet of the world resonates realistically. Because Shinn brings Jia to such vivid life, we are almost as enthralled with it as Daiyu is, which makes more powerful the poignancy of her inevitable departure.
Whatever gripes I had with the first three quarters of the novels, the last fourth is wonderful. The stakes ratchet up, Daiyu takes an active role, and the romance has fantastic emotional payoff. The very last chapter was both intensely enjoyable and frustrating. It made me completely re-evaluate the beginning of the book. I'm not sure if the possibilities it raises were intentional, but it would fit the rest of the book beautifully in a very poignant way.
Gateway tells the story of Daiyu, a Chinese-American teenager living in St. Louis, who suddenly finds herself transported to an alternate world. In this world, Jia, as Daiyu quickly learns, it is the Han, a people very similar to the Chinese, who explored the new world, and Shengleng--the city Daiyu knew as St. Louis--is the most important city in the world. Because her Chinese heritage lets her pass as Han, Daiyu is recruited to infiltrate the upper tiers of Han society in order to eliminate the prime minister Chenglei. But as she proceeds in her mission, Daiyu has doubts. Is Chenglei really the evil man that her handlers, Ombri and Aurora claim? Can Ombri and Aurora be trusted at all? Complicating everything is Daiyu's budding romance with Kalen, a poor stonepicker boy. If Daiyu does decide to go through with her mission, can she bear to leave Kalen behind?
I have a kind of uneven history with Sharon Shinn's works, of which I haven't read as many as I probably should. I loved the world she created for The Safe-Keeper's Secret and its sequels, but General Winston's Daughter frustrated me on so many levels, not the least of which was the heavy-handed anti-imperialism message and the tacit approval for, essentially, a terrorist attack. When I picked up Gateway from my local library, I wondered which work it would resemble more.
As it turns out, Gateway is completely its own book, with a unique voice and style. While Shinn's richly detailed world-building is definitely present, as is her penchant for exploring the interactions of different cultures, Gateway didn't forcefully remind me of any of Shinn's previous books. Like General Winston's Daughter, it features a teenager girl entering another culture and becoming enthralled with it, but instead of trying to drive home a political message, Gateway simply seeks to be a romantic fantasy adventure.
Daiyu, the protagonist, almost represents what any savvy reader would hope to be like if they got swept into another world. She's open to the mysterious strangers, but she weighs her options before making decisions. She's eager to see this new world she's in, but she keeps an escape route handy. She uses people as she has to, but feels genuinely bad for any collateral damage, even just of the emotional variety, she leaves in her wake. She tries to avoid relationships that can only end painfully, but in the end her heart just can't help itself. Most importantly, she remains skeptical of everyone. I found this both interesting and frustrating. Intellectually, I approved of her reluctance to trust Aurora and Ombri. Emotionally, I longed for her to invest in one side or another. When she finally makes her decision and commits herself, the story rockets with intensity, but it's a little late in the story.
As a character, Daiyu is a little bland. She's a bit too much a placeholder, constantly responding to the actions of others, instead of shaping her own path. However, as placeholders go, at least she's an inoffensive one. Her voice is crisp and modern, in pleasant contrast to the ornate fantasy culture around her, but never jarring with slang or pop culture references. She quickly picks up on what's she's told, minimizing info dumps. Although she falls for Kalen pretty quickly, she doesn't spend pages drooling over him. Despite her initial irritating indecisiveness, when she does decide to act she handily proves herself no damsel in distress. Daiyu won't be joining the pantheon of most-beloved characters any time soon, but being inside her head for the space of a novel is a painless, mostly pleasant experience.
The plot, which mainly revolves around Daiyu insinuating herself into high society and trying to decide whether Prime Minister Chenglei is really a bad guy or not, meanders a little at times. Readers who are looking for fast-paced action will probably tire of Daiyu's detailed descriptions of the gorgeous outfits and intricate customs of the Han elite. Gateway chooses to focus on the world-building over the adventure aspects, probably to the book's benefit. It also places a lot of emphasis on the romantic subplot, which grows in importance until it's a little hard to tell whether this is a fantasy adventure with romantic elements or a romance with fantasy and adventure elements. Daiyu's relationship with Kalen, the poor cangbai (that 's Fantasy Chinese for "white") stonepicker, moves at a whirlwind speed. It could have benefited from a slightly slower pace and more development, however the interactions between the two always feel natural and the progression of the relationship, while rapid, doesn't come across as forced. Shinn keeps the romance as a thread entwining throughout the novel, never overwhelming the main plot, yet never wholly disconnected from it, either. There are some very sweet scenes between them that become very poignant by the end of the book. On my first reading, I "dinged" them some points for the cliched "I'd never met him before, but he seemed so familiar" routine, but the ending forced me to reevaluate as it brought some very teasing possibilities to my mind.
The real delight here, though, is the world that Shinn creates. Inspired by Chinese culture, yet not bound to it, Jia is a beautiful, exotic wonderland, yet with a palpable darkness to it as well. Shinn has an eye for "domestic" details, adding countless tiny customs, fashions, and other particulars that make her world feel real. Whether we're joining Daiyu for a formal tea with society's elite, or wading for precious qiji stones in the river with Kalen and the poorest of the poor, every layer and facet of the world resonates realistically. Because Shinn brings Jia to such vivid life, we are almost as enthralled with it as Daiyu is, which makes more powerful the poignancy of her inevitable departure.
Whatever gripes I had with the first three quarters of the novels, the last fourth is wonderful. The stakes ratchet up, Daiyu takes an active role, and the romance has fantastic emotional payoff. The very last chapter was both intensely enjoyable and frustrating. It made me completely re-evaluate the beginning of the book. I'm not sure if the possibilities it raises were intentional, but it would fit the rest of the book beautifully in a very poignant way.
September 28, 2024
Re-reading my most favorite book.. 🥰
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ a beautiful love story
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ romance + fantasy
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ magic included !!
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ multi timeline
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ Kalen + Daiyu = best couple ever
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ Kalen is the dream book bf
THIS IS A MUST-READ !!!
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ a beautiful love story
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ romance + fantasy
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ magic included !!
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ multi timeline
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ Kalen + Daiyu = best couple ever
🎀𓂃 ࣪˖ Kalen is the dream book bf
THIS IS A MUST-READ !!!
March 4, 2025
꒰ 5 stars ꒱
ⓘ spoilers ahead ⓘ
‘sometimes the smallest choices open the biggest doors’
𓂃 characters 💫꒱
𓍢 daiyu ⊹ the dreamer—adopted, pragmatic, and never really felt like she fit. until she falls into a different world.
𓍢 kalen ⊹ the rebel—passionate, explosive, and with an instinctual connection to the land dai now inhabits. his loyalty is tested, but his heart is impenetrable.
𓍢 kiang ⊹ the exiled prince—charming, kind, and with the weight of an empire on his shoulders.
𓍢 chenglei ⊹ the antagonist—powerful, merciless, and the reason dai can't just go home.
𓍢 master tan ⊹ the mentor—wise, enigmatic, and maybe knows a little more than he's telling.
𓍢 ling-ling ⊹ the companion—kind, courageous, and the one person who makes dai feel at home.
𓍢 ma ming-han ⊹ the imposter—daiyu's doppelganger, whose disappearance set this whole scheme in motion.
𓍢 madame liu ⊹ the aristocrat—dangerous, plotting, and not one to be trifled with.
“sometimes belonging isn’t about *where* you are. it’s about *who* you choose to be.”
𓂃 plot 🌏꒱
one moment, daiyu is a normal girl window shopping at a street fair. the next, she's somewhere else—a parallel st. louis under the han empire's dominion.
it happens that she looks just like a lost girl who was fated to assist in deposing a ruling dictator. now she has to decide: play along and support a rebellion or find a path back to reality.
but the longer she remains, the worse things get—all knotted up—with kiang, the exiled prince whom she is meant to betray.
as dai becomes more rooted in this world, she is confronted with lies, peril, and unavoidable choices. does she fight for justice, even to lose all she has ever known? and if so. will she ever want to escape?
‘sometimes the hardest part of a journey is deciding to take the first step’
𓂃 my thoughts 🎠꒱
this book was magic. the alternate-history setting? stunning. the mix of chinese culture and steampunk elements? obsessed. dai’s journey from outsider to hero was so well done, and kiang?? the chemistry was off the charts.
i loved ling-ling and the way she was the first to be friendly to dai in a world she was completely lost in. master tan was completely giving me big wise mentor vibes, and madame liu? flat-out scaring.
the whole double life, secret identities, portal fantasy vibe had me under its spell. i adored the politics, the romance, the twists—everything. and that ending??? so perfect and so bittersweet.
if you like multiverse travel, historical fantasy, and a slow-burn romance with real depth, this book is the complete package. sharon shinn completely did not disappoint.
‘sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you never saw coming’
꒰ finished 3.3.25 ꒱
December 17, 2009
Sorry if I'm repetitive in my review but I have nothing else to say. :P
Gateway had a wonderful premise sounded somewhat original, so I was hoping that I would love it but it did not meet my standards. When I first read the summary, I expected Gateway to be fast-paced with lots of action going on as she was recruited a spy. But the entire book was slow for me and I felt some chapters could have been edited out.
There was a lot of background information provided which I felt that it gave the readers a clear insight of the world. It was well-detailed and readers had a better understanding of the people and the Chinese culture. But still, not all of it was necessary. In fact, the spy training only happened for the first half of the book... which was rather disappointing. The other half was spent preparing for meeting the bad guy and sightseeing.
Daiyu's character was ok, at first, but she quickly grew tiresome and frustrating. She had so many romantic interests that I was confused about her feelings and I felt that she herself had conflicting feelings about the person she truly loves. There was also a lack of character development which really annoyed me. To be honest, the story was boring and the characters were flat.
-MINOR SPOILER-
I was beyond pissed when there was a twist 3/4 way in the book... something around the lines of 'conflicting feelings'. It was unbelievable that Daiyu had a change of heart so quickly. Minus points for being unrealistic. I also hated the ending. It was unsatisfactory, I honestly felt as if I wasted my time reading this book because at the end, nothing big differed from the beginning.
-SPOILER ENDS-
The abrupt ending really killed the book. If the ending had been solid, the book probably would have gotten a higher rating. I am pretty sure this is a stand alone but correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry, but I think you should borrow this book from the library. Overall the writing was pretty good but there just wasn't enough of it to make up for the overall dissatisfaction.
Gateway had a wonderful premise sounded somewhat original, so I was hoping that I would love it but it did not meet my standards. When I first read the summary, I expected Gateway to be fast-paced with lots of action going on as she was recruited a spy. But the entire book was slow for me and I felt some chapters could have been edited out.
There was a lot of background information provided which I felt that it gave the readers a clear insight of the world. It was well-detailed and readers had a better understanding of the people and the Chinese culture. But still, not all of it was necessary. In fact, the spy training only happened for the first half of the book... which was rather disappointing. The other half was spent preparing for meeting the bad guy and sightseeing.
Daiyu's character was ok, at first, but she quickly grew tiresome and frustrating. She had so many romantic interests that I was confused about her feelings and I felt that she herself had conflicting feelings about the person she truly loves. There was also a lack of character development which really annoyed me. To be honest, the story was boring and the characters were flat.
-MINOR SPOILER-
I was beyond pissed when there was a twist 3/4 way in the book... something around the lines of 'conflicting feelings'. It was unbelievable that Daiyu had a change of heart so quickly. Minus points for being unrealistic. I also hated the ending. It was unsatisfactory, I honestly felt as if I wasted my time reading this book because at the end, nothing big differed from the beginning.
-SPOILER ENDS-
The abrupt ending really killed the book. If the ending had been solid, the book probably would have gotten a higher rating. I am pretty sure this is a stand alone but correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry, but I think you should borrow this book from the library. Overall the writing was pretty good but there just wasn't enough of it to make up for the overall dissatisfaction.
November 21, 2009
Daiyu, who was adopted from China when she was a baby, lives in St. Louis and is spending her summer as an intern at a headhunting firm. She spends her 4th of July beneath the St. Louis arch, and when a jewelry vendor shows her a ring of black jade, known in Chinese as "daiyu," she impulsively buys it. She soon after passes beneath the arch and is swept into a parallel universe where the ruling class is Chinese.
Alone and confused, Daiyu is rescued by a white (cangbai) boy who seems to be expecting her. It turns out that she has been brought to this world by a pair of world-hopping angel figures who want to send the world's leader back to his own world, or iteration. Daiyu's humanity makes her mind difficult to read in this new world, which makes her an ideal candidate to act as spy and send the purportedly evil man home. But Daiyu is increasingly skeptical about his true nature, and increasingly unsure that she will be willing to leave Kalen, the cangbai boy she has grown to love.
Sharon Shinn has written a very readable but fairly sophisticated world-hopping fantasy story, and while the characters are not always fully developed the story is intriguing enough to make the book worth reading. Daiyu faces a moral dilemma about whether or not she should send back this new world's charismatic leader, faces a few moments of intrigue and peril, and experiences a pleasant and heartwarming romance with Kalen. It is the romance, and the wrenching decision Daiyu faces between her home and her love, that many teenage girls will especially enjoy, but the suspense and new culture give the book a depth that makes it more than just another love story.
Alone and confused, Daiyu is rescued by a white (cangbai) boy who seems to be expecting her. It turns out that she has been brought to this world by a pair of world-hopping angel figures who want to send the world's leader back to his own world, or iteration. Daiyu's humanity makes her mind difficult to read in this new world, which makes her an ideal candidate to act as spy and send the purportedly evil man home. But Daiyu is increasingly skeptical about his true nature, and increasingly unsure that she will be willing to leave Kalen, the cangbai boy she has grown to love.
Sharon Shinn has written a very readable but fairly sophisticated world-hopping fantasy story, and while the characters are not always fully developed the story is intriguing enough to make the book worth reading. Daiyu faces a moral dilemma about whether or not she should send back this new world's charismatic leader, faces a few moments of intrigue and peril, and experiences a pleasant and heartwarming romance with Kalen. It is the romance, and the wrenching decision Daiyu faces between her home and her love, that many teenage girls will especially enjoy, but the suspense and new culture give the book a depth that makes it more than just another love story.
June 8, 2010
An intriguing little YA story about a girl who crosses into another world and is given a mission to bring down a tyrant there -- whom she's not entirely convinced really is one -- and her very human adventures along the way. Aside from the magic of the gates and the existence of multiple worlds (and some convenient translation-y business that's not entirely explained) there's no magic here - just a sweet little YA romance/adventure.
As with everything else by Shinn, it's well-written and the characters are compelling and deftly drawn. There's something unique in the structure of this novel's plot that had me flipping ahead to the end when I just couldn't take the suspense any more... and the wonky plot arc almost works. Almost. Despite the obvious ending that the characters should have seen coming sooner. (Arg.)
I love YA, and I adore Sharon Shinn's writing, but the combination of the two is often iffy for me.
As with everything else by Shinn, it's well-written and the characters are compelling and deftly drawn. There's something unique in the structure of this novel's plot that had me flipping ahead to the end when I just couldn't take the suspense any more... and the wonky plot arc almost works. Almost. Despite the obvious ending that the characters should have seen coming sooner. (Arg.)
I love YA, and I adore Sharon Shinn's writing, but the combination of the two is often iffy for me.
June 30, 2016
I had trouble really liking the main character. She travels to another world, but spends most of her time being used in a plot, which she doesn't completely support, and most of her role revolves around being pretty. She has some moments of being strong later in the book, but most of her thoughts center on a boy she meets just after arriving in the world, who she has apparently fallen in love with. There is also a scene where her boyfriend suggests she get naked with him/ expose her breasts to him. Somewhat in context, but most of the rest of the book is very tame, and appropriate for younger readers. This scene threw me off as well.
July 21, 2010
Yes, but no, but yes.
I enjoyed the story and characters, and the book was definitely worth reading, even though I put it off for weeks and weeks, but the ending was a lot less thoughtful and more dawww! than I prefer. I really liked the uniqueness of the perspective - an adopted Sino-American girl - and the alternate world the author built. But the ending was just a tad too predictable and pat.
I would still recommend it for people who like alternate worlds and Chinese stuff.
I enjoyed the story and characters, and the book was definitely worth reading, even though I put it off for weeks and weeks, but the ending was a lot less thoughtful and more dawww! than I prefer. I really liked the uniqueness of the perspective - an adopted Sino-American girl - and the alternate world the author built. But the ending was just a tad too predictable and pat.
I would still recommend it for people who like alternate worlds and Chinese stuff.
March 3, 2024
Daiyu who transported out of her normal daily life and put through a vortex of a sort of time warp engages an alternate world. Before long and after she finds out that she is no longer in the dream sleep of night, is told by her soul ushers there that she may return to her regular world, a world she may not return to until after she has confronted the things of that world. A daunting destiny for any teenager. "A quji can't form in the presence of certain minerals, so you can leave behind anything that's got streaks of black or red in it," he said picking out three or four stones, showing them to her and tossing them away. "But anything that's this shade of gray or rose-that could be a qiji. Save those." Even with Kalen as her guide, this could be a long day.
On this planet or other and unmapped by our world of Shenglang, Daiya is the niece of Xiang. Although she misses her parents of a more regular and known earth, and because it seems that challenges similar to earth exist on the grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side now place - such as relationship and money issues, she wonders during her journey here what it means to live a flowing, perfect life. Do her choices here on other earth form a causation which impacts a back reflection of what happens to her here on this new earth? One excerpt from the book describes some of the doings of other earth this way. "That hadn't even occurred to her, but naturally, if the river flowed by analog cities such as Memphis and New Orleans, the residents of those towns would also want to pull wealth from the water."
Daiya as an archetype for the Queen Esther of the Jewish Torah spends most of the book being prepared by the inhabitants of Shenglang for her presentation ball. Therefore, certain things such as the rose quartz stone which her pocket always holds, and a red silk pouch become important enough to know about. Shinn however lays a trail of subtle and other mysterious meanings behind places and objects that relate to this modern-day story of a young woman thinking about finding her place in life while being instructed to lower her eyes while being spoken too. This is not behavior taught or appropriate to her normal day of a more assertive life back at her original home on regular earth. And it seems so very strange and unordinary for any earth. She has all of the Cinderella trimmings. Yet one wonders, are ideals something of a human creation?
"Had she been doing this all over again, Daiyu thought, she would have spent more time practicing how to move in the ridiculously high heels that Xiang had commissioned to match the blue dress. She was surprised the shoes didn't actually hurt, for they made her rather large feet look slim and graceful. But they were so perfectly constructed that they were quite comfortable except for the fact that she was sure she would fall off of them." This book helps young adults to think about what they can do to make themselves more comfortable and more attuned to the social situations which they know would provide healthy and supportive involvement. A lot of us had gone through our young life too painfully shy to reach out and make friends, let alone even go to a social event. A lot of other young adults today already know about this present-day drought. It is a mostly secret and unspoken thing going on that a teenager won't tell you about. But I think most teenagers would agree that if you would only speak with them and ask them about some of this, they would open up and let you know how they feel.
And then there is that universal icebreaker known as food. Since we all have to eat to survive, we may as well make what we make as pleasant as possible. After all, food dominates areas, towns, countries and the world and even people in the other world of young Daiya and of course teenagers all over the globe. Asking them what they want to eat, or would they like to Shinn evokes the literary trope of young adult books everywhere. "Are you hungry?" Aurora asked. "There's food in the kitchen." "A little. I couldn't swallow anything this morning. And I didn't sleep at all last night." "Well, eat something and then take a nap. I'm going to look for Ombri. I'll be back as soon as I can." Then, the ultimate choice. Does Daiyu decide to stay in 'other world' or return home? The author of the book, an award-winning writer, the book has crafted a good fantasial read.
On this planet or other and unmapped by our world of Shenglang, Daiya is the niece of Xiang. Although she misses her parents of a more regular and known earth, and because it seems that challenges similar to earth exist on the grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side now place - such as relationship and money issues, she wonders during her journey here what it means to live a flowing, perfect life. Do her choices here on other earth form a causation which impacts a back reflection of what happens to her here on this new earth? One excerpt from the book describes some of the doings of other earth this way. "That hadn't even occurred to her, but naturally, if the river flowed by analog cities such as Memphis and New Orleans, the residents of those towns would also want to pull wealth from the water."
Daiya as an archetype for the Queen Esther of the Jewish Torah spends most of the book being prepared by the inhabitants of Shenglang for her presentation ball. Therefore, certain things such as the rose quartz stone which her pocket always holds, and a red silk pouch become important enough to know about. Shinn however lays a trail of subtle and other mysterious meanings behind places and objects that relate to this modern-day story of a young woman thinking about finding her place in life while being instructed to lower her eyes while being spoken too. This is not behavior taught or appropriate to her normal day of a more assertive life back at her original home on regular earth. And it seems so very strange and unordinary for any earth. She has all of the Cinderella trimmings. Yet one wonders, are ideals something of a human creation?
"Had she been doing this all over again, Daiyu thought, she would have spent more time practicing how to move in the ridiculously high heels that Xiang had commissioned to match the blue dress. She was surprised the shoes didn't actually hurt, for they made her rather large feet look slim and graceful. But they were so perfectly constructed that they were quite comfortable except for the fact that she was sure she would fall off of them." This book helps young adults to think about what they can do to make themselves more comfortable and more attuned to the social situations which they know would provide healthy and supportive involvement. A lot of us had gone through our young life too painfully shy to reach out and make friends, let alone even go to a social event. A lot of other young adults today already know about this present-day drought. It is a mostly secret and unspoken thing going on that a teenager won't tell you about. But I think most teenagers would agree that if you would only speak with them and ask them about some of this, they would open up and let you know how they feel.
And then there is that universal icebreaker known as food. Since we all have to eat to survive, we may as well make what we make as pleasant as possible. After all, food dominates areas, towns, countries and the world and even people in the other world of young Daiya and of course teenagers all over the globe. Asking them what they want to eat, or would they like to Shinn evokes the literary trope of young adult books everywhere. "Are you hungry?" Aurora asked. "There's food in the kitchen." "A little. I couldn't swallow anything this morning. And I didn't sleep at all last night." "Well, eat something and then take a nap. I'm going to look for Ombri. I'll be back as soon as I can." Then, the ultimate choice. Does Daiyu decide to stay in 'other world' or return home? The author of the book, an award-winning writer, the book has crafted a good fantasial read.
September 25, 2019
A charming, light fantasy with a gorgeous, evocative cover that perfectly captures elements of the story. Some of the major elements reminded me of Sharon Shinn's Elemental Blessings series (which starts with Troubled Waters), especially Zoe's stay on the river in the first book. And the scene with the tower and the final showdown strongly recalled Corene's story in Jeweled Fire.
Despite that, this is a quick, entertaining book that flows smoothly and is a lovely read! It is the perfect length for the story it tells but it isn't as complex as most of Shinn's work. I usually recommend readers new to Sharon Shinn start with either her standalone Summers at Castle Auburn or the Twelve Houses series (beginning with Mystic and Rider) but this story would also serve as a nice introduction to the author, with the caveat that it reads more like a novella.
Daiyu is working at an internship before her last year of high school. She is Chinese, having been adopted by Caucasian parents. She lives in St. Louis. Attending a fair one afternoon, a strange lady implores her to buy a black jade ring in the shape of a dragon. Calm, practical and unflappable, Daiyu refuses at first. But despite herself, she feels uncharacteristically drawn to the ring and when she returns to buy it, she walks under the St. Louis Arch wearing the ring - and winds up in an entirely different world.
She is greeted by Kalen, young man with whom she feels an immediate affinity, and told that she is a rare Sojourner - able to travel between "iterations" (parallel universes) with a talisman, which in her case is the jade dragon ring. The ring also acts as a translator, allowing her to speak, read and write the local language.
Kalen lives with two guardians, Aurora and Ombri, who maintain the balance between worlds. A charismatic man has become Prince Minister but poses a danger to his citizens and the guardians have deliberately brought Daiyu over as part of an elaborate ruse to send him to a sort of interdimensional jail. If Daiyu returns to her own world she will forget the adventure and her Sojourner talent, and if she refuses to help the guardians, she will leave their world in peril.
The magic is vague and the danger is secondary to the romance that develops between Daiyu and Kalen, which happens convincingly, if a little too fast. The Aviary full of red birds where they meet in secret - shown in the beautiful cover art (the parasol is shiny while the rest of the cover is matte - a really neat touch!) - is delightful. Daiyu is a little too passive, and I think she should have asked more questions, but this is a fast-moving, fun read. The ending is very cute and hopeful 🐦
Despite that, this is a quick, entertaining book that flows smoothly and is a lovely read! It is the perfect length for the story it tells but it isn't as complex as most of Shinn's work. I usually recommend readers new to Sharon Shinn start with either her standalone Summers at Castle Auburn or the Twelve Houses series (beginning with Mystic and Rider) but this story would also serve as a nice introduction to the author, with the caveat that it reads more like a novella.
Daiyu is working at an internship before her last year of high school. She is Chinese, having been adopted by Caucasian parents. She lives in St. Louis. Attending a fair one afternoon, a strange lady implores her to buy a black jade ring in the shape of a dragon. Calm, practical and unflappable, Daiyu refuses at first. But despite herself, she feels uncharacteristically drawn to the ring and when she returns to buy it, she walks under the St. Louis Arch wearing the ring - and winds up in an entirely different world.
She is greeted by Kalen, young man with whom she feels an immediate affinity, and told that she is a rare Sojourner - able to travel between "iterations" (parallel universes) with a talisman, which in her case is the jade dragon ring. The ring also acts as a translator, allowing her to speak, read and write the local language.
Kalen lives with two guardians, Aurora and Ombri, who maintain the balance between worlds. A charismatic man has become Prince Minister but poses a danger to his citizens and the guardians have deliberately brought Daiyu over as part of an elaborate ruse to send him to a sort of interdimensional jail. If Daiyu returns to her own world she will forget the adventure and her Sojourner talent, and if she refuses to help the guardians, she will leave their world in peril.
The magic is vague and the danger is secondary to the romance that develops between Daiyu and Kalen, which happens convincingly, if a little too fast. The Aviary full of red birds where they meet in secret - shown in the beautiful cover art (the parasol is shiny while the rest of the cover is matte - a really neat touch!) - is delightful. Daiyu is a little too passive, and I think she should have asked more questions, but this is a fast-moving, fun read. The ending is very cute and hopeful 🐦
September 12, 2022
Build Your Libary 2022: A portal fantasy (where the main character finds themselves in a new and strange world)
I generally enjoy Sharon Shinn and think this is one of her slighter books. I was casting about for something light to read and I know that Shinn is usually good for some romance and light shopping, some friendship and most often a happy ending. This did have a romance and some light shopping and I guess the end was intended to show that things would all turn out okay?
I love a good portal fantasy too. I'm used to the tropes of how the main character has to get used to the idea of being in another world and I like exploring that world with the character. While the author does get right down to it with switching worlds and I don't need to get hung up on the acclimatization, the quickness with which Daiyu accepted this transition felt too easy. Daiyu has been brought to an alternate St Louis which was colonized by China instead of the West and because she is of Chinese ancestry it's been decided that she's the Chosen One who needs to do the Thing to get the Bad Guy out of this dimension. Daiyu really never questions any of this and is so trusting that I was annoyed. Since this is a really simple book, there isn't any duplicity (or any room in the plot for duplicity because Daiyu needs face time with her love interest) but OMG.
It's tough to move a portal fantasy along and so the author just got right on with the plot, which involves Daiyu doing a My Fair Lady and learning enough about this new culture within a couple of weeks that she's got a shot at attracting the interest of her target, getting him alone and then magicking him away. She's also on a time limit and MUST get back to her home world. While learning manners, she gets to dance with her supportive guy, wow him with fancy clothes, and attend parties with delicious foods.
Daiyu is shown early on in the book as having been raised to be charitable. She gives money to those in need (generally those who beg in the St. Louis streets or a homeless person she runs across). I think the author did this so that Daiyu would not be shocked by poverty and would be open to meeting someone late in the book who had fallen on hard times.
I am assuming that the author wanted to showcase Chinese culture here, but I fear that she did not do a great job. It felt a bit like exoticizing the culture instead and I'm not sure the author gets the different Chinese tongues that are spoken depending on where a person originates in China. Maybe the world-changing lets you handwave this, but I'm honestly not sure this is a book that should have been written.
I generally enjoy Sharon Shinn and think this is one of her slighter books. I was casting about for something light to read and I know that Shinn is usually good for some romance and light shopping, some friendship and most often a happy ending. This did have a romance and some light shopping and I guess the end was intended to show that things would all turn out okay?
I love a good portal fantasy too. I'm used to the tropes of how the main character has to get used to the idea of being in another world and I like exploring that world with the character. While the author does get right down to it with switching worlds and I don't need to get hung up on the acclimatization, the quickness with which Daiyu accepted this transition felt too easy. Daiyu has been brought to an alternate St Louis which was colonized by China instead of the West and because she is of Chinese ancestry it's been decided that she's the Chosen One who needs to do the Thing to get the Bad Guy out of this dimension. Daiyu really never questions any of this and is so trusting that I was annoyed. Since this is a really simple book, there isn't any duplicity (or any room in the plot for duplicity because Daiyu needs face time with her love interest) but OMG.
It's tough to move a portal fantasy along and so the author just got right on with the plot, which involves Daiyu doing a My Fair Lady and learning enough about this new culture within a couple of weeks that she's got a shot at attracting the interest of her target, getting him alone and then magicking him away. She's also on a time limit and MUST get back to her home world. While learning manners, she gets to dance with her supportive guy, wow him with fancy clothes, and attend parties with delicious foods.
Daiyu is shown early on in the book as having been raised to be charitable. She gives money to those in need (generally those who beg in the St. Louis streets or a homeless person she runs across). I think the author did this so that Daiyu would not be shocked by poverty and would be open to meeting someone late in the book who had fallen on hard times.
I am assuming that the author wanted to showcase Chinese culture here, but I fear that she did not do a great job. It felt a bit like exoticizing the culture instead and I'm not sure the author gets the different Chinese tongues that are spoken depending on where a person originates in China. Maybe the world-changing lets you handwave this, but I'm honestly not sure this is a book that should have been written.
February 20, 2018
I was very disappointed by this book. It was clumsily written and pointless. Daiyu (American raised Chinese) is whisked away to a parallel universe where the Han Chinese are in the majority. She is met by a Cute Guy, who she trusts because he's cute, and taken to the Good Guys who can move between the parallel universes (called iterations). They tell her there is Bad Guy who can also move between iterations, and she must send him back to his own iteration. She will then be returned to her own iteration with no lost time and no memory of what happened.
Problems:
Summary
Problems:
Summary
March 22, 2017
I really love Sharon Shinns writing. I do! I love her world building and her stories and her depth of character... and I also loved Gateway.
But there was something lacking in the love story. I don't like instalove, and this felt too much like it to me. I would have liked them to spend more time together before he effortless love story happened. It just seemed too easy.
And she really What? That's basically what she says. I thought she would have more compassion.
Enjoyed the story though. Hope there will be a sequel.
But there was something lacking in the love story. I don't like instalove, and this felt too much like it to me. I would have liked them to spend more time together before he effortless love story happened. It just seemed too easy.
And she really What? That's basically what she says. I thought she would have more compassion.
Enjoyed the story though. Hope there will be a sequel.
May 20, 2017
This never quite clicked for me.
April 15, 2018
Interesting concept. I wish she'd done more with it, but it was intended to be a light ya book and for that it was very well done. Mint even use Daiyu as a new muse.
November 28, 2018
This one just didn't grab me, unlike just about everything else Shinn has written.
May 16, 2020
I think this is the first Sharon Shinn book I've read that I didn't love. It wasn't bad, just OK.
July 28, 2020
St. Louis references were fun.
plot and characters were okay
It looks like this is trying to be a series, but I'm not really excited about more of them.
plot and characters were okay
It looks like this is trying to be a series, but I'm not really excited about more of them.
Read
November 3, 2020This was a cute story, very imaginative and containing positive themes, but I definitely would have enjoyed it more if I'd read it when I first got it over a decade ago haha.
October 25, 2021
One of my favorite authors: an excellent story teller
February 16, 2023
This is not an intense book. It's just a simple, quick read book about love, loyalty and the idea of other dimensions that leaves you feeling good.
October 9, 2025
Sooo good! I was delighted to find one of Sharon Shinn's books I hadn't read yet, and wow! Definitely a page turner.
April 21, 2010
This review was originally posted on my review blog : http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com
Daiyu was adopted when she was very young by an American family, and being the only Chinese member of her family can sometimes be a little stressing. When she is shopping at the local fair in St. Louis she meets an elderly Asian woman, who happens to be selling jewelry. She tells Daiyu that "black jade" translates to "Daiyu", and this sparks a significant interest in her. She is drawn to the ring, and eventually ends up purchasing it. What she doesn't know, is that one simple ring can mean a world of difference, in a completely different world.
While Daiyu is in this new world, she meets a young man named Kalen, who helps her upon her initial "landing". She finds that she trusts him, and doesn't truly understand why, but doesn't really care because he is kind and handsome. He brings her to the people that have made it possible for her to travel to their world, and learns that she is to be a spy, and is to help them to remove a very unwanted person from their community. Daiyu doesn't understand it all, but she is willing to help, especially knowing that she will be able to stay in this world with her new found friend Kalen for just a while longer.
When given the opportunity to review this novel, I jumped at the chance. As soon as it arrived in my mailbox I began reading it, and despite the fact that I rather enjoyed this book, I was a little disappointed. I thought the story was a little slow at times, and dragged on just a little too much through the middle. I didn't really like Daiyu's character in the beginning of the book, but slowly she grew on me. I thought she was rather selfish for a person that claimed to help people all the time. I hoped that she would surprise me somewhere along the lines, and thankfully, she did.
I was probably three quarters through the book before I really started getting into it. The story was starting to shape itself more, and Daiyu was beginning to shape as well. We learned more about her past, and the things she enjoyed, as well as her feelings toward the people around her. She began to understand her quest, and why it was so important. I was rather curious as to how things would work out for her in the end.
The romance in this novel wasn't as prominent as I expected it to be. Kalen wasn't your typical "lover boy". He wasn't perfect by all means, but he was kind and did what he could to help others. He was personally my favorite character in the book, despite the fact that I didn't get to learn as much about him as I would have liked. I actually think it was Kalen's character that had the biggest tole on the transformations with Daiyu, and for all the better.
I will definitely read more books by Sharon Shinn in the future. The idea alone of this novel was something different and exciting, and that makes me wonder what other fascinating stories she has conjured up.
Daiyu was adopted when she was very young by an American family, and being the only Chinese member of her family can sometimes be a little stressing. When she is shopping at the local fair in St. Louis she meets an elderly Asian woman, who happens to be selling jewelry. She tells Daiyu that "black jade" translates to "Daiyu", and this sparks a significant interest in her. She is drawn to the ring, and eventually ends up purchasing it. What she doesn't know, is that one simple ring can mean a world of difference, in a completely different world.
While Daiyu is in this new world, she meets a young man named Kalen, who helps her upon her initial "landing". She finds that she trusts him, and doesn't truly understand why, but doesn't really care because he is kind and handsome. He brings her to the people that have made it possible for her to travel to their world, and learns that she is to be a spy, and is to help them to remove a very unwanted person from their community. Daiyu doesn't understand it all, but she is willing to help, especially knowing that she will be able to stay in this world with her new found friend Kalen for just a while longer.
When given the opportunity to review this novel, I jumped at the chance. As soon as it arrived in my mailbox I began reading it, and despite the fact that I rather enjoyed this book, I was a little disappointed. I thought the story was a little slow at times, and dragged on just a little too much through the middle. I didn't really like Daiyu's character in the beginning of the book, but slowly she grew on me. I thought she was rather selfish for a person that claimed to help people all the time. I hoped that she would surprise me somewhere along the lines, and thankfully, she did.
I was probably three quarters through the book before I really started getting into it. The story was starting to shape itself more, and Daiyu was beginning to shape as well. We learned more about her past, and the things she enjoyed, as well as her feelings toward the people around her. She began to understand her quest, and why it was so important. I was rather curious as to how things would work out for her in the end.
The romance in this novel wasn't as prominent as I expected it to be. Kalen wasn't your typical "lover boy". He wasn't perfect by all means, but he was kind and did what he could to help others. He was personally my favorite character in the book, despite the fact that I didn't get to learn as much about him as I would have liked. I actually think it was Kalen's character that had the biggest tole on the transformations with Daiyu, and for all the better.
I will definitely read more books by Sharon Shinn in the future. The idea alone of this novel was something different and exciting, and that makes me wonder what other fascinating stories she has conjured up.
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