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Samaria
Quatrain
Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses books have fascinated readers and critics alike with their irresistible blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure. Now in Quatrain, she weaves compelling stories in four of the worlds that readers love in Flight, Blood, Gold, and Flame.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2009
34 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Shinn
58 books2,287 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 143 reviews
February 5, 2015
Salome is a former Angel Seeker. Long since having sought peace and security far from Windy Point, what will she do when both her greatest enemy and her former love re-enter her life?
Kerk is a man both bound and rejected by the strictures of Gold Mountain. When his stepmother’s new husband takes his business into the city, Kerk will find a world wholly different from the one in which he grew up. A world with great promise, but does it hold forgiveness?
Princess Zara is a refugee, seeking safety from war within the magical realm of Alora. But Alora holds its own very real dangers. No one who enters its borders has ever chosen to leave, and Zara must. For her kingdom, her mother, and the young guardsman who serves as her escort.
Senneth, a fire mystic, has no intention of stopping for an extended visit at a Kianlever village. But when fires start sprouting unexpectedly, she finds herself with little choice--short of burning down everything in her path.
Once in a long while, I come across an unanticipated sequel to a much beloved series. Quatrain is exceptional because, within it, are the companion novels and sequels to three of my most beloved series and books!
Summers at Castle Auburn
Heart of Gold
and the Archangel series
(not to mention a prequel to Mystic and Rider)
Pure, unlimited ecstasy!
Kerk is a man both bound and rejected by the strictures of Gold Mountain. When his stepmother’s new husband takes his business into the city, Kerk will find a world wholly different from the one in which he grew up. A world with great promise, but does it hold forgiveness?
Princess Zara is a refugee, seeking safety from war within the magical realm of Alora. But Alora holds its own very real dangers. No one who enters its borders has ever chosen to leave, and Zara must. For her kingdom, her mother, and the young guardsman who serves as her escort.
Senneth, a fire mystic, has no intention of stopping for an extended visit at a Kianlever village. But when fires start sprouting unexpectedly, she finds herself with little choice--short of burning down everything in her path.
Once in a long while, I come across an unanticipated sequel to a much beloved series. Quatrain is exceptional because, within it, are the companion novels and sequels to three of my most beloved series and books!
Summers at Castle Auburn
Heart of Gold
and the Archangel series
(not to mention a prequel to Mystic and Rider)
Pure, unlimited ecstasy!
May 4, 2011
This was a deeply disappointing collection for me. It doesn't work for two reasons. The first reason is that, to borrow Jo Walton's phrasing, the initial volume in any of Shinn's series always blows me away, then each successive volume is only half as good as the one before. Two of the four novellas in this volume are set in the worlds of Shinn's two longest series, and those two novellas have reached only homeopathically good territory. The second reason is that I just don't think Shinn is capable of writing stories with the sort of thematic freight she attempted here -- the two non-series novellas are drawn from two of her more message-heavy novels, and the two series novellas attempt to address some of the seriously thorny issues inherent but not really addressed in her previous world-building.
Still, it's the sort of volume that if you are a Sharon Shinn completist, you simply have to read it. And since her prose is always pleasant and easy to read it goes very, very quickly.
Flight (set in Samaria, just before Archangel)
This was by far the worst story in the bunch. It features the return of Raphael as the Biggest of all Big Bads, doing evil just because he can; a really, really, really clunky and histrionic speech about the evils of a system where women are only valued because they can produce angel babies; and a completely forced romance. I rather wish I could erase my memory of it.
Blood (set in the world of Heart of Gold)
The novel this is based on is one of the few by Shinn that I have never re-read; though I don't remember disliking it nothing about it ever stood out enough in my memory that I wanted to revisit it. So this was the one case where I could not tell what information was new for the novella and what was a reference to the novel, which probably made it feel fresher than it would have otherwise. It too features some clunky speachifying on the evils of a patriarchal system, but there is a greater focus on the budding friendship between Kerk and Jalci, a very Hollywood but still somewhat heartwarming set of scenes at a sort of shelter for abused women and their children, and an actual honest-to-goodness moment of heartbreak and moral ambiguity. That moment gets completely ruined a moment later when Jalci recasts everything as black and white, but it made the story worthwhile for me. I think this was the best of the bunch.
Gold (set in the world of Summers at Castle Auburn)
I think this novella would actually work better for people who have not read the novel. If you have not read the novel, it's a fairly straightforward story about the dangers of living in fairyland -- not a particularly memorable entry into that canon of literature, but I happen to like those stories with their depictions of dangerous beauty. If you have read the novel, as I have (though not tremendously recently), something about the story just doesn't quite seem to match what came before -- I spent the whole time trying to figure out what on earth happened in the interim to twist the recurring characters' motivations to this result. The story also featured a tremendously whiny teenage girl protagonist, and again the romance seemed forced.
Flame (set in the Twelve Houses, just before Mystic and Rider)
Senneth is my second-favorite of all of Shinn's characters (right after Jovieve in Wrapt in Crystal) and Shinn went a fair way to ruining her for me in this story. Here she is wishy-washy and whiny or self-righteous by turns. Because of the difference in her character, I assumed that the story was set several years before Mystic and Rider; I would believe that this teenage Senneth would grow into the wonderful Senneth I so loved. Unfortunately, Shinn then made it explicit that Senneth went straight from the events of this story into the events of Mystic and Rider, so my interpretation was invalidated and I was left feeling merely annoyed. Plus the resolution was completely predictable (which is problematic because the story is set up as a pseudo-mystery rather than a romance) and again there were far too many soapbox moments. (It's bad to burn witches. I know this already.)
Still, it's the sort of volume that if you are a Sharon Shinn completist, you simply have to read it. And since her prose is always pleasant and easy to read it goes very, very quickly.
Flight (set in Samaria, just before Archangel)
This was by far the worst story in the bunch. It features the return of Raphael as the Biggest of all Big Bads, doing evil just because he can; a really, really, really clunky and histrionic speech about the evils of a system where women are only valued because they can produce angel babies; and a completely forced romance. I rather wish I could erase my memory of it.
Blood (set in the world of Heart of Gold)
The novel this is based on is one of the few by Shinn that I have never re-read; though I don't remember disliking it nothing about it ever stood out enough in my memory that I wanted to revisit it. So this was the one case where I could not tell what information was new for the novella and what was a reference to the novel, which probably made it feel fresher than it would have otherwise. It too features some clunky speachifying on the evils of a patriarchal system, but there is a greater focus on the budding friendship between Kerk and Jalci, a very Hollywood but still somewhat heartwarming set of scenes at a sort of shelter for abused women and their children, and an actual honest-to-goodness moment of heartbreak and moral ambiguity. That moment gets completely ruined a moment later when Jalci recasts everything as black and white, but it made the story worthwhile for me. I think this was the best of the bunch.
Gold (set in the world of Summers at Castle Auburn)
I think this novella would actually work better for people who have not read the novel. If you have not read the novel, it's a fairly straightforward story about the dangers of living in fairyland -- not a particularly memorable entry into that canon of literature, but I happen to like those stories with their depictions of dangerous beauty. If you have read the novel, as I have (though not tremendously recently), something about the story just doesn't quite seem to match what came before -- I spent the whole time trying to figure out what on earth happened in the interim to twist the recurring characters' motivations to this result. The story also featured a tremendously whiny teenage girl protagonist, and again the romance seemed forced.
Flame (set in the Twelve Houses, just before Mystic and Rider)
Senneth is my second-favorite of all of Shinn's characters (right after Jovieve in Wrapt in Crystal) and Shinn went a fair way to ruining her for me in this story. Here she is wishy-washy and whiny or self-righteous by turns. Because of the difference in her character, I assumed that the story was set several years before Mystic and Rider; I would believe that this teenage Senneth would grow into the wonderful Senneth I so loved. Unfortunately, Shinn then made it explicit that Senneth went straight from the events of this story into the events of Mystic and Rider, so my interpretation was invalidated and I was left feeling merely annoyed. Plus the resolution was completely predictable (which is problematic because the story is set up as a pseudo-mystery rather than a romance) and again there were far too many soapbox moments. (It's bad to burn witches. I know this already.)
January 21, 2011
Well I liked each story and at the end just wanted more! I wished she would have given us a little more in each story! Oh well that's what I get for reading short stories.I am a big Shinn fan so I am a little biased and was already familure with these places. But it can stand on it's own if your new to Shinn and want to try her on and see if she fits.
September 4, 2015
This book is a collection of four stories from four different Sharon Shinn worlds. I've read completely through three of the four worlds and thought I might as well finish off even the short stories.
1. Flight.
Set in Samaria where angels sing in glorious voices for rain, medicine, and life. We get a sneak peek at the backstory of one of the villains in another novel. I was not terribly impressed with the story, because it felt like there was not enough characterization given to the villain. He was evil just because, and that's not good enough. Regardless, I do like this world, so I'm glad she wrote the story.
2. Blood.
This is the world that I have not read. And I'm actually a little curious to pick up the novel now. It appears that the color of your skin does change everything. Your background, your "race", your culture. So when a gulden man and indigo woman intersect, sparks fly. I actually really enjoyed this story because it had a bit of a domestic feel to it that you don't get that often. It's a restful sort of story where it is more important to play a game with kids than go barreling into a fight scene. I love the community center scenes. The ending was not great because suddenly you are dumped with a lot of information that doesn't quite jive with what we've seen. All in all, a solid story.
3. Gold.
Not my favorite story at all. I absolutely love Summer at Castle Auburn, so this came as a disappointment. Not a fan of the characters, the depiction of the aliora, the continuation of the "story". Not a fan at all.
4. Flame
Set in the Mystic and the Rider's world, I could actually see this scene in the book. I mean, it basically is a prequel. I thought it was a good touch. There are a few minor weird moments where you just think that Senneth seems out of character. But overall, congruent with what I would expect from a short with Senneth.
Three stars because I liked most of the stories. Entertaining read if you know these worlds. Definitely would not recommend if you haven't already read her other works first. But not a bad one to pick up if you have, and liked them.
1. Flight.
Set in Samaria where angels sing in glorious voices for rain, medicine, and life. We get a sneak peek at the backstory of one of the villains in another novel. I was not terribly impressed with the story, because it felt like there was not enough characterization given to the villain. He was evil just because, and that's not good enough. Regardless, I do like this world, so I'm glad she wrote the story.
2. Blood.
This is the world that I have not read. And I'm actually a little curious to pick up the novel now. It appears that the color of your skin does change everything. Your background, your "race", your culture. So when a gulden man and indigo woman intersect, sparks fly. I actually really enjoyed this story because it had a bit of a domestic feel to it that you don't get that often. It's a restful sort of story where it is more important to play a game with kids than go barreling into a fight scene. I love the community center scenes. The ending was not great because suddenly you are dumped with a lot of information that doesn't quite jive with what we've seen. All in all, a solid story.
3. Gold.
Not my favorite story at all. I absolutely love Summer at Castle Auburn, so this came as a disappointment. Not a fan of the characters, the depiction of the aliora, the continuation of the "story". Not a fan at all.
4. Flame
Set in the Mystic and the Rider's world, I could actually see this scene in the book. I mean, it basically is a prequel. I thought it was a good touch. There are a few minor weird moments where you just think that Senneth seems out of character. But overall, congruent with what I would expect from a short with Senneth.
Three stars because I liked most of the stories. Entertaining read if you know these worlds. Definitely would not recommend if you haven't already read her other works first. But not a bad one to pick up if you have, and liked them.
November 11, 2009
Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite contemporary authors because her stories are compelling, her main characters feel like people you know or want to know, and the worlds she creates seem real.
In Quatrain, Shinn tells four stories set in four separate worlds. The first--"Flight"--fits into her Samaria series--just before Gabriel becomes Archangel. Salome has spent the past 17 years avoiding angels and raising her niece, Sheba, and now her past is about to find her again.
In "Blood", Kerk's search for his long-lost mother leads him to a new understanding of the gender-based power dynamics in gulden society and a new appreciation for one particular indigo woman. This novella fits into the world Shinn created for her novel Heart of Gold, and the only thing I didn't like about it was that it wasn't longer! I actually exclaimed aloud in protest as I turned the last page and realized I'd come to the end.
The third novella, "Gold," is set in a world I didn't recognize (although for all I know, it may be from one of the remaining Shinn novels I haven't yet read). A petulant seventeen-year-old crown princess is escorted to safety in the magical kingdom of Alora to wait out the impending war. The longer she stays, the less she remembers her home and family. I think it's the weakest of the four stories, but I give Shinn credit for her portrayal of the self-absorption of so many teenagers.
The fourth and final story was, of course, my favorite. "Flame" features Senneth and the world of Gillengaria and its Twelve Houses. This one takes place in the days leading up to the start of book 1 of the series, Mystic and Rider. Senneth burns down three plague-ridden cottages as a favor for a village and later saves a small child from the flames of a hearth fire. In the process, she's exposed as a mystic and faces prejudice from both strangers and acquaintances when mysterious fires start erupting all over town.
In Quatrain, Shinn tells four stories set in four separate worlds. The first--"Flight"--fits into her Samaria series--just before Gabriel becomes Archangel. Salome has spent the past 17 years avoiding angels and raising her niece, Sheba, and now her past is about to find her again.
In "Blood", Kerk's search for his long-lost mother leads him to a new understanding of the gender-based power dynamics in gulden society and a new appreciation for one particular indigo woman. This novella fits into the world Shinn created for her novel Heart of Gold, and the only thing I didn't like about it was that it wasn't longer! I actually exclaimed aloud in protest as I turned the last page and realized I'd come to the end.
The third novella, "Gold," is set in a world I didn't recognize (although for all I know, it may be from one of the remaining Shinn novels I haven't yet read). A petulant seventeen-year-old crown princess is escorted to safety in the magical kingdom of Alora to wait out the impending war. The longer she stays, the less she remembers her home and family. I think it's the weakest of the four stories, but I give Shinn credit for her portrayal of the self-absorption of so many teenagers.
The fourth and final story was, of course, my favorite. "Flame" features Senneth and the world of Gillengaria and its Twelve Houses. This one takes place in the days leading up to the start of book 1 of the series, Mystic and Rider. Senneth burns down three plague-ridden cottages as a favor for a village and later saves a small child from the flames of a hearth fire. In the process, she's exposed as a mystic and faces prejudice from both strangers and acquaintances when mysterious fires start erupting all over town.
November 6, 2021
I can almost say this book was amazing. I would actually like to give it 4.5 stars. The first two stories were so captivating. The fantasy and storytelling were great. The stories were creative and full of imagination. I don't usually read fantasy, so it was a nice treat and I was impressed - every time I picked up the book I was ready to transition into another realm. I loved the first two stories, and by then I was hooked and continued with the other two. The third story was almost like a historic romance, but with more creativity - it didn't interest me as much as the first two. The last story was very interesting and would make for a great book or television series, but I wasn't invested in all the characters and the plots. I actually felt that the ending could be the beginning of an interesting story.
December 18, 2020
This is an enjoyable set of 4 novellas, each set in a different one of Sharon Shinn's universes. I enjoyed all of the stories a lot, though the entire reason I picked this book up was for the novella set in the Summers at Castle Auburn universe. I have wanted more stories in that world for ages, so I was thrilled to find out that one existed.
Honestly, I don't think there was a weak story in the lot. I've read the Twelve Houses series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Heart of Gold, so I knew three of the four settings going into this book. (It's been long enough since I've read them, though, that the only one I truly remember is Castle Auburn...) I was able to pick the worlds back up without getting confused by small things, and the Samaria story (whose world was new to me) was equally easy to get caught up in without getting lost. This is a very solid set of novellas, and I recommend it to any fan of Sharon Shinn's work.
Honestly, I don't think there was a weak story in the lot. I've read the Twelve Houses series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Heart of Gold, so I knew three of the four settings going into this book. (It's been long enough since I've read them, though, that the only one I truly remember is Castle Auburn...) I was able to pick the worlds back up without getting confused by small things, and the Samaria story (whose world was new to me) was equally easy to get caught up in without getting lost. This is a very solid set of novellas, and I recommend it to any fan of Sharon Shinn's work.
Read
February 2, 2022I only read Gold from this collection, but I pledged to add every book I read in 2022 to GR, so here we are! It wasn't great and I would only recommend it to die-hard fans of Summers at Castle Auburn - 2 stars. But I'm not going to rate this entire collection (which I'm not going to read) so low just because of one mediocre story.
November 12, 2020
I only read the First and the Last Story. The first that takes place in the world of Samaria (Archangel) and the last which takes place in Gilengaria (Twelve Houses). I haven't read Heart of Gold or Summer at Castle Auburn yet, so will need to pick this back up in the future.
February 2, 2024
I realized after I bought this that it was written before her Elemental Blessings series, so the four stories in this book don't include anything set in that world. Instead, you get one set in her Samaria world, one from Castle Auburn, one from Heart of Gold, and one from the 12 Houses series. I enjoyed all but the Castle Auburn one (dnf'd that one because it was just too YA for me).
While I've read books in her Samaria & 12 Houses series, I have not read Heart of Gold. I didn't think the world-building was too much for someone unfamiliar with the series. These stories (like her other books) are character-driven, and each story leaned in on aspects of the world in which they were set (magic/tolerance factored heavily into the 12 Houses story, gender roles in the Heart of Gold story, and angel/mortal politics in the Samaria one). So they don't disappoint from that perspective. While the 12 Houses story does include MCs from the main series, they are written more as a side adventure as opposed to a nugget of character extrapolation. If you don't read these stories, you won't be missing anything, but they are entertaining whether you know the series/characters or not.
That said, I don't recommend this book to someone who hasn't already read her main novels. Not because the stories were difficult to understand without the benefit of the other books, but because the quality of these stories is nowhere near the quality of her full-length novels. If you are already a fan of Shinn's writing, these are a nice middle-of-the-night quick read. Not earth-shattering, but not a waste of your time/money. If you haven't read Sharon Shinn, I would start with one of her main series because she's an awesome writer & these stories don't reflect her full talent.
While I've read books in her Samaria & 12 Houses series, I have not read Heart of Gold. I didn't think the world-building was too much for someone unfamiliar with the series. These stories (like her other books) are character-driven, and each story leaned in on aspects of the world in which they were set (magic/tolerance factored heavily into the 12 Houses story, gender roles in the Heart of Gold story, and angel/mortal politics in the Samaria one). So they don't disappoint from that perspective. While the 12 Houses story does include MCs from the main series, they are written more as a side adventure as opposed to a nugget of character extrapolation. If you don't read these stories, you won't be missing anything, but they are entertaining whether you know the series/characters or not.
That said, I don't recommend this book to someone who hasn't already read her main novels. Not because the stories were difficult to understand without the benefit of the other books, but because the quality of these stories is nowhere near the quality of her full-length novels. If you are already a fan of Shinn's writing, these are a nice middle-of-the-night quick read. Not earth-shattering, but not a waste of your time/money. If you haven't read Sharon Shinn, I would start with one of her main series because she's an awesome writer & these stories don't reflect her full talent.
May 15, 2023
Uzun olsa güzel olabilecek hikayeler var ama malum kısa hikayelerden oluşuyor...
October 11, 2017
When rereading the Samaria books I discovered I didn't have all the short stories yet, so got my trotters on Quatrain which contains the Samaria story Flight.
I will confess: although this is a nice story, it's my least favorite of the shorter stories. This might have to do with the fact I do not like it when older siblings or family members try to interfere with the choices of the younger sibling/family member.
I liked discovering Salome's past and I liked how she got a second chance at something that went wrong so long ago, but I must say I could really understand why Sheba acts like she does. Salome is acting much too smothering.
All in all a nice story, but it won't be high on my reread list. I might give the other stories in this book a try and see if there's another series by Shinn I should give a try.
I will confess: although this is a nice story, it's my least favorite of the shorter stories. This might have to do with the fact I do not like it when older siblings or family members try to interfere with the choices of the younger sibling/family member.
I liked discovering Salome's past and I liked how she got a second chance at something that went wrong so long ago, but I must say I could really understand why Sheba acts like she does. Salome is acting much too smothering.
All in all a nice story, but it won't be high on my reread list. I might give the other stories in this book a try and see if there's another series by Shinn I should give a try.
June 20, 2022
Enjoyable stories, whether you've read the connecting series or not. Though I liked the last two most for having context.
June 2, 2010
Quatrain is a set of four novellas each taking place in a different setting/world that the author has previously written about. So, for readers already familiar with the author, this book is a good chance to dive back into the worlds of good stories. For those who are new, it is a wonderful chance to sample the creativity of Sharon Shinn, as well as sample both her writing strengths and weaknesses.
The first story, Flight is a tale set in the world of Samaria (from her books Archangel, Jovah's Angel, Angelica, Angel-Seeker and The Alleluia Files). We follow an older woman, Elizabeth as she sets out to make sure her niece doesn't make the same youthful mistakes she did, and instead Elizabeth is forced to confront her past. I love this world and these new characters are nice additions who tie into the series in a surprising way. I also like that this story is not about falling in love for the first time, nor about young people falling in love. The characters are older and more experienced, bringing something different than Shinn's usual fare.
The second story, Blood was my personal favorite and was set in the world of her novel Heart of Gold. To be honest, the novel Heart of Gold is not one of her stronger works, with shaky world-building once you start to look at the details. However, this short story fills in some of those gaps and shows us many rich details lacking in the longer novel. It is the story of a young man finding his place in the world, and gives an interesting (and much more nuanced than the longer novel) look at gender and race inequities.
The third, entitled Gold takes us back to the world of the novel Summers at Auburn Castle. I actually read the short story before the novel and let's just say the short story set the bar low, so that when I did read the novel I was blown away at how much better it was. Still, Gold is a good read. Its in first person and gives reads a look at the magical beings only glimpsed at in the longer novel.
The last story takes place in the world of the Thirteenth House series, and is set just before the first novel. Unlike the other stories, this one is not in any way a romance. Though Shinn does romance to a T, it is a nice change of pace, showing off her adventure-writing ablitites.
The first story, Flight is a tale set in the world of Samaria (from her books Archangel, Jovah's Angel, Angelica, Angel-Seeker and The Alleluia Files). We follow an older woman, Elizabeth as she sets out to make sure her niece doesn't make the same youthful mistakes she did, and instead Elizabeth is forced to confront her past. I love this world and these new characters are nice additions who tie into the series in a surprising way. I also like that this story is not about falling in love for the first time, nor about young people falling in love. The characters are older and more experienced, bringing something different than Shinn's usual fare.
The second story, Blood was my personal favorite and was set in the world of her novel Heart of Gold. To be honest, the novel Heart of Gold is not one of her stronger works, with shaky world-building once you start to look at the details. However, this short story fills in some of those gaps and shows us many rich details lacking in the longer novel. It is the story of a young man finding his place in the world, and gives an interesting (and much more nuanced than the longer novel) look at gender and race inequities.
The third, entitled Gold takes us back to the world of the novel Summers at Auburn Castle. I actually read the short story before the novel and let's just say the short story set the bar low, so that when I did read the novel I was blown away at how much better it was. Still, Gold is a good read. Its in first person and gives reads a look at the magical beings only glimpsed at in the longer novel.
The last story takes place in the world of the Thirteenth House series, and is set just before the first novel. Unlike the other stories, this one is not in any way a romance. Though Shinn does romance to a T, it is a nice change of pace, showing off her adventure-writing ablitites.
November 5, 2010
This review ONLY deals with the novella, Flight.
So, this past weekend I found I had some time to kill in a Borders in Chicago, so I decided to pick up Quatrain by Sharon Shinn and read the Samaria novella. Quatrain consists of four novellas, each taking place in one of Shinn's worlds. I am a hug fan of the Samaria series, so was anxious to read this particular tale, but I didn't want to have to purchase the whole book for this one story (honestly, I haven't read any other of Shinn's series, so the other stories in this particular volume didn't really interest me), so I grabbed it off the shelf and bought a coffee and found a comfy corner to settle myself into for an hour or two of reading.
The story in "Flight" deals directly with one of the previous Samaria books, but unfortunately it has been too long since I read any of the series for me to remember which book this story tied directly to. Needless to say, I still enjoyed the story as it thoroughly transported me back to the world of Samaria, a world populated by mortals and angels, overseen by the Jovah-appointed Archangel; a world filled with music and emotion.
Spoilerific Pause
This story deals with Salome who is trying to protect her niece from the Archangel Raphael, who has had a dark past with Salome. This is a quick tale, and one that allows the characters to have a nice resolution to the immediate story; Salome discovers that the unrequited love she has longed for most of her life actually returns her feelings, Raphael's excesses as Archangel may be exposed, and Salome's niece comes to her senses.
I don't know that this is a necessary read in the world of Samaria, but if you are looking for a nice return to Samaria, like me, because it's been too long of a break, this is a nice taste of that world.
So, this past weekend I found I had some time to kill in a Borders in Chicago, so I decided to pick up Quatrain by Sharon Shinn and read the Samaria novella. Quatrain consists of four novellas, each taking place in one of Shinn's worlds. I am a hug fan of the Samaria series, so was anxious to read this particular tale, but I didn't want to have to purchase the whole book for this one story (honestly, I haven't read any other of Shinn's series, so the other stories in this particular volume didn't really interest me), so I grabbed it off the shelf and bought a coffee and found a comfy corner to settle myself into for an hour or two of reading.
The story in "Flight" deals directly with one of the previous Samaria books, but unfortunately it has been too long since I read any of the series for me to remember which book this story tied directly to. Needless to say, I still enjoyed the story as it thoroughly transported me back to the world of Samaria, a world populated by mortals and angels, overseen by the Jovah-appointed Archangel; a world filled with music and emotion.
Spoilerific Pause
This story deals with Salome who is trying to protect her niece from the Archangel Raphael, who has had a dark past with Salome. This is a quick tale, and one that allows the characters to have a nice resolution to the immediate story; Salome discovers that the unrequited love she has longed for most of her life actually returns her feelings, Raphael's excesses as Archangel may be exposed, and Salome's niece comes to her senses.
I don't know that this is a necessary read in the world of Samaria, but if you are looking for a nice return to Samaria, like me, because it's been too long of a break, this is a nice taste of that world.
August 1, 2011
I got this book because i read that it was going to contain a story set in the same world as Summers at Castle Auburn. I can safely say that this book was an excellent read minus "Gold" which was said story. The story is the story of Princess Zara the daughter of Coriel and Kent from SACA. I was extremely disappointed with the character and plot. Zara came off as annoying, bratty, and air headed with no redeeming features. In order to keep reading i actually had to rearrange so things in my mind. Something i often loath to do since it's Sharon Shinn's world and not mine, but i seriously could not get through the story if i didn't. In a way, i prefer to separate this story from Summers at Castle Auburn which is one of my favorite books of all time.
I would highly recommend people to read this book for the other three stories though. They were all beautifully written and drew you in.
edited to add somethings i commented on in a reply...
Gold is going to be more well liked if the person hadn't read the original story. SACA is one of my favorite books of all time and i found myself loathing Zara. So many things didn't match up with the original story. (Males become kings and not females) and such. Plus i refused to believe Kent and Coriel would raise such a air headed, self absorbed, whiny brat. Zara was more of Bryan's child than theirs. In a way i had to do in the words of mythbusters "reject Sharon's reality and substitute it with mine" in order to keep myself liking the original still. In my mind Zara marries Orlain and goes away, another non-mentioned son becomes king, marries a strong and smart princess, and things go on happily ever after. Plus i give Matthew a long lost returned love. ^
I would highly recommend people to read this book for the other three stories though. They were all beautifully written and drew you in.
edited to add somethings i commented on in a reply...
Gold is going to be more well liked if the person hadn't read the original story. SACA is one of my favorite books of all time and i found myself loathing Zara. So many things didn't match up with the original story. (Males become kings and not females) and such. Plus i refused to believe Kent and Coriel would raise such a air headed, self absorbed, whiny brat. Zara was more of Bryan's child than theirs. In a way i had to do in the words of mythbusters "reject Sharon's reality and substitute it with mine" in order to keep myself liking the original still. In my mind Zara marries Orlain and goes away, another non-mentioned son becomes king, marries a strong and smart princess, and things go on happily ever after. Plus i give Matthew a long lost returned love. ^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2009
There were four novellas here, of which I read three:
Flight (1 star): Boy am I glad I read this rather than slogging through the Angels of Samaria books. I'd rather discover in 90 pages that I really hate a fictional world than get sucked into a series of five books. "Angels" in this world are people with power (generally corrupted) who sleep around whenever they feel like it, sing really well, and just happen to have wings. They bear no resemblance to creatures of light.
Blood: Didn't read this one because I'd already read a book set in this world and didn't like it.
Gold (4.5 stars): Set in the world of Castle Auburn. I really enjoyed this one as an interesting view of Alora and its seductions. If you read and liked Summers at Castle Auburn, you would probably enjoy this one.
Flame (4 stars): About Senneth, a prequel to Mystic and Rider. A nice read that explains a couple things about Senneth's quirks.
Overall, I still think Sharon Shinn is hit-and-miss, not for her writing but for her characters'/worlds' morality.
Rating: PG-13 for Flight; PG for Gold and Flame
Flight (1 star): Boy am I glad I read this rather than slogging through the Angels of Samaria books. I'd rather discover in 90 pages that I really hate a fictional world than get sucked into a series of five books. "Angels" in this world are people with power (generally corrupted) who sleep around whenever they feel like it, sing really well, and just happen to have wings. They bear no resemblance to creatures of light.
Blood: Didn't read this one because I'd already read a book set in this world and didn't like it.
Gold (4.5 stars): Set in the world of Castle Auburn. I really enjoyed this one as an interesting view of Alora and its seductions. If you read and liked Summers at Castle Auburn, you would probably enjoy this one.
Flame (4 stars): About Senneth, a prequel to Mystic and Rider. A nice read that explains a couple things about Senneth's quirks.
Overall, I still think Sharon Shinn is hit-and-miss, not for her writing but for her characters'/worlds' morality.
Rating: PG-13 for Flight; PG for Gold and Flame
April 24, 2011
It's hard to rate a collection of four stories--each is so different. And I read the book a little while ago and turned it in, so I'm having trouble remembering the names of the four stories. But here's what I can remember:
* The evil angels in the Samaria one are too creepy for me. I did really enjoy the aunt/niece relationship, though.
* I liked the indigo/gulden story a lot. Let's hear it for men standing up for morality, for healthy families and for the mentoring of young men. I appreciated the main character's discovery of healthy family relationships after a dysfunctional upbringing. The romance was good, realistic I thought--sure, the race issue was obvious, but I enjoyed it anyway.
* I liked the Mystic/Rider prequel because I liked Mystic and Rider.
* I reacted to the Summers at Castle Auburn story similarly to Troubled Waters: I liked the strong male lead a whole lot more than the female protagonist. Irresponsible women are irritating. But the faithful guard makes up for it.
* The evil angels in the Samaria one are too creepy for me. I did really enjoy the aunt/niece relationship, though.
* I liked the indigo/gulden story a lot. Let's hear it for men standing up for morality, for healthy families and for the mentoring of young men. I appreciated the main character's discovery of healthy family relationships after a dysfunctional upbringing. The romance was good, realistic I thought--sure, the race issue was obvious, but I enjoyed it anyway.
* I liked the Mystic/Rider prequel because I liked Mystic and Rider.
* I reacted to the Summers at Castle Auburn story similarly to Troubled Waters: I liked the strong male lead a whole lot more than the female protagonist. Irresponsible women are irritating. But the faithful guard makes up for it.
September 8, 2010
If you liked the worlds that Sharon Shinn created, you will enjoy a novella's worth of time revisiting each of them.
'Flight' set in Samaria (Archangel)
'Blood' set in the world of Heart of Gold (how I wish she'd write more set here!)
'Gold' set in the world of Summers at Castle Auburn
'Fire' set in the world of the Twelve Houses (Mystic and Rider)
I enjoyed them all, but my favorite story was 'Blood'.
'Flight' set in Samaria (Archangel)
'Blood' set in the world of Heart of Gold (how I wish she'd write more set here!)
'Gold' set in the world of Summers at Castle Auburn
'Fire' set in the world of the Twelve Houses (Mystic and Rider)
I enjoyed them all, but my favorite story was 'Blood'.
August 30, 2015
This review only pertains to the novella "Blood."
"Blood" is a sequel to Shinn's Summers at Castle Auburn. I loved it when I read it, but it's possible I may love "Blood" even more. I just wish it was a full novel and not just a short novella. I keep wanting to reread this story, but it's so hard to remember which book had it. And various Google searches came up dry. So after finally finding it I'm adding this to my GoodReads so I'll be able to find it in the future even though I haven't read 3 of the stories contained in this book.
At the time I read "Blood" I had not yet read Shinn's other novels which correspond to the other stories included in this colection. Although I've now read The Twelve Houses series, so I should go back and read that one.
"Blood" is a sequel to Shinn's Summers at Castle Auburn. I loved it when I read it, but it's possible I may love "Blood" even more. I just wish it was a full novel and not just a short novella. I keep wanting to reread this story, but it's so hard to remember which book had it. And various Google searches came up dry. So after finally finding it I'm adding this to my GoodReads so I'll be able to find it in the future even though I haven't read 3 of the stories contained in this book.
At the time I read "Blood" I had not yet read Shinn's other novels which correspond to the other stories included in this colection. Although I've now read The Twelve Houses series, so I should go back and read that one.
February 24, 2012
I gave this book 5 stars because of the story "Blood." It was poignant, heart wrenching, and beautifully written. I didn't want it to end, and I kept rereading it. I enjoyed the other two stories, "Gold," and "Flame," because too they are set in the worlds of other Sharon Shinn books that I loved, and I give them both 4 stars.
June 2, 2016
More great stories from Sharon Shinn. Her Prequels and new stories from her well known lands continue to carry on her great story-telling. They were all good, but I Loved “Flame” with the beloved Senneth, and the great intro made me want to re-read the awesome Twelve Houses Series.
December 30, 2011
Although I can only give one, averaged, rating for the entire book, I still have to review them separately here, because they are like night and day. I’ve read some of the other reviews which referred to Sharon Shinn’s writing as “hit or miss” and I guess I never really understood that until I read this collection. Prior to this, the only thing I have read is her Twelve Houses series, which I love and strongly recommend. Because of that, I was pretty surprised when I read the first three stories in this collection and had issues with all three of them...and then read the fourth, which is a story of the Twelve Houses and fits in seamlessly with that series—and absolutely loved it. So “hit or miss” seems to be very accurate. Here we go:
Flight - 1 star
To be honest, I really struggled with this one. The world that this story is set in is an interesting one (one where angels walk the earth among humans, with some quasi-Biblical references thrown in) but the angels themselves were, on the whole, completely unlikeable. Arrogant, fickle, flawlessly beautiful and, for the most part, disdainful of humans. It feels almost stereotypical, when you think about it.
Salome and her niece Sheba are farmhands--Salome is seen as quiet, stern, and reserved, yet from the beginning she hints at her own wild past. Salome goes through life protecting the virtues of seventeen year-old Sheba, trying to keep her away from the angels' attention. As Sheba is beautiful and vibrantly full of life, she ends up snaring the attention of the archangel himself (not a big surprise) and Salome must get her back.
The beginning of the story is very mundane, describing the life as hired workers on a farm in the countryside. It isn't a glamorous life, by any means, and to Salome, that's the point. But to me, it was not really all that enjoyable to read about. I realize that it was on purpose that their life lacked substance, adventure, whatever you want to call it, but I personally don't enjoy reading stories about life as a servant on a farm. They tend to be very formulaic: the humdrum boring life goes on with no change in sight until suddenly--boom!--everything is in an uproar, something unexpected happens, and life will never be the same again.
Yeah.
Salome was a decent character, who definitely had a rich history, and by the end I really did feel for her, but there was still something...missing. Maybe I'm biased because I prefer novel-length works over short stories, but I think I would have liked Salome more had there been more to read about her.
Sheba...now Sheba, I did like, because she was the character who broke the stereotype. She was extremely beautiful, flirtatious, not easily tamed, and a bit mischievous. The surprising part was that she was a hard worker, earnest, and intelligent (except when it came to angels.) I liked her, though the revelations that came to her by the end of the story seemed very rushed, in my opinion. Again, the short story vs novel argument.
Raphael was very stereotypical...there are hundreds of characters just like him. I didn't like him, but that was the point. I really didn't like any of the angels, for their haughty attitudes and their indifference when it came to their human lovers.
Stephen was the exception, of course, and I liked that he really valued love and monogamy when the rest of his fellow angels couldn't care less, but for some reason I found myself never fully being able to trust him, because I was afraid he'd have ulterior motives or that he'd betray Salome at some point.
I have no fault with the writing itself; the fault I have is with the content. The combination of menial chores in the beginning, and doom and gloom throughout (not to mention callousness and promiscuity--though the latter is not directly depicted, merely hinted at) made this dull and almost depressing.
Blood – 3 stars
It’s impossible to sum up the plot synopsis in just a few sentences, but I’ll do my best. Kerk Socast and his adopted family leave Gold Mountain and move to a vast city where there is a mix of several races whose cultures are completely different. The gulden race have golden-colored skin and live in a very rigid, patriarchal (read: misogynistic and abusive) society where women are property and have no rights, though this is disguised by explaining that the men "provide for the women so they don’t have to provide for themselves." This turned me off from the start, obviously, with its oppressive tone. The opening scene pretty much summed it up: Kerk and his adoptive family got off the train, and while it was his stepmother Tess who knew the way across the train station, she couldn’t take the lead and show them but instead had to defer to Kerk, who knew nothing of the layout.
Then there is the indigo race, which was slightly less well-described, since the point of view of the story was that of Kerk’s, a gulden who knew little of indigo ways. Indigo society seems to be matriarchal, with the women inheriting wealth and running the businesses of the world--but it also seems they handled at least some of the domestic duties as well (as Jalci made a reference to a family recipe that her grandmother would share "only if she got married").
The indigos, and their language, are more direct and abrupt, while the gulden and their language is much more vague and circuitous. So naturally, when Kerk, a gulden man, meets Jalci, an indigo woman, there are all sorts of misunderstandings due to differing cultures.
At first, as I said, I was very turned off by the oppressive society of the gulden men, as it was described by Kerk. His father was a monster (seldom have I wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I wanted to hit his father) and it seemed that the rest of the gulden men were all going to be the same. But therein lies a lesson, for things are never as black-and-white as they seem (or in this case, blue-and-golden).
It was very satisfying to see Kerk slowly realize that his sheltered way of life was not the only way to live. Yet again, I empathized with the story of two people who develop feelings for each other, but whom society would frown upon as a couple. There were some passages that brought to mind the prejudice that interracial couples would have felt, particularly in the 1960s and 70s, and at the same time they brought to mind similar situations that same-sex couples face today. But overall, the tone of the story reminded me of 1960’s science fiction. It was set in what was supposed to be an advanced city, yet what we today think of as modern technology (computers, smart phones or even cell phones of any sort for that matter) were not present at all. Cars were for public use and there was a reference of "upper" and "lower" lanes, implying either flight or some other, more advanced type of transportation than we use today, but with the absence of phones (to get in touch with each other they had to send "notes" to each other, which, though never fully explained, sounded more like paper letters than e-mails) made the story seem a bit...dated.
But dated or not, emotionally this packs a punch. I make the same short story vs. novel argument here...the emotion and character development were really, really good...I just wish there had been a lot more of it.
The relationships explored here are fascinating and compelling...not only that of a man and a woman of two different races who started developing feelings for each other, but also the relationship of a bunch of fatherless boys to a young man in his prime who has no father or children of his own, who is seen as a role model when he considers himself to be anything but; the incredibly strong bond of love between a person and a mother who is not biologically his mother, but is still his mother in every way that counts; the comparatively nonexistent bond between the same person and his biological mother; the happy reunion of the man with the sister who he had never met, but whom instantly adored him (and vice versa); the man’s relationship with his stepmother’s new husband (one that strains blood relationships quite a bit…yet in this case, the story is a happy one).
All through the story, I was waiting for a slap in the face that never came (well, for the most part, anyway, with one exception, but somehow that wasn’t surprising, either) and while I did enjoy reading this--and will re-read it again--the aura of oppression was so rife that it was almost too much for me.
Gold – 3 stars
This story starts out in knee-deep in clichés: fickle, spoiled, and immature Princess Zara is to be taken away from her family’s castle, for her protection, as a power-hungry rebel lord prepares to storm her father’s castle and take the throne for himself. She is led through the woods, complaining all the way about having to leave behind her comfortable bed and fancy dresses, to go the land of Alora, which is replete with every elf/fairy stereotype in the known world: the people are otherworldly and ethereal, with an aversion to metal and the politics of humans and a bias against humans in general, living in a magical land where, once you have entered, you become enchanted and never want to leave...sound familiar? It does to me, as I’ve read a thousand stories just like it, and had to stifle an inner groan upon reading the first few chapters.
Zara is extremely annoying at first, as I’m sure was intended, but there really isn’t an originality in her character at all and therefore I can’t make myself feel the slightest bit of sympathy for her. Orlain is the typical “prince charming who isn’t a prince” character—noble by action but not by birth, handsome, patient, and loyal. Due to those traits, it’s impossible for me not to like him at least a little bit, but he too is so stereotypical that it’s hard to feel a lot of affection for him.
The fact that they love each other failed to really pull my heartstrings, either. His affection for her endeared him to me the slightest bit (though I wondered what exactly he saw in her) but her love for him left me baffled and annoyed. This, too, is stereotypical, and yet it also mimics real life—as all stereotypes are based on real life, or else they wouldn’t have become stereotypes—but she likes him, so instead of treating him nicely, she treats him like dirt! In fiction, in the last decade or two, there seems to have been a shift away from that whole paradigm (at least in the fiction that I have read). I can’t help but think that of the “spoiled bratty girl who likes the steadfast, honest, loyal guy but treats him badly because she doesn’t know how to show how she cares” bit as very dated, almost old-fashioned. Female characters in fiction today are usually given a bit more wit, and they act like adults instead of elementary school-aged children. Yes, Zara is only supposed to be seventeen, but still. It was too over the top for me.
In the first few chapters of the story, it’s very easy to guess what will happen next. Zara begins to show some arguably redeeming qualities (which is also formulaic and to be expected). The way that the Alora charm her, while nothing new or out of the ordinary, is very skillfully written, and in this I have to tip my hat to Sharon Shinn. Even in a tired old premise of “spoiled princess goes to the magical fey land and its alluring inhabitants beguile her and make her want to stay forever” it is still interesting to read, and had I been in her place (especially with a guide like Royven) I probably wouldn't have wanted to go home, either.
The storytelling aspect was great--I was enthralled by the descriptions and the unfolding events, as unoriginal as they were. And the love angle between Zara and Orlain was a endearing in the end (but pretty far-fetched, in my opinion). About the only original thing in this story was the fact that Zara's mother, the queen, was also a bit of an apothecary and hedge witch in her own right...and even that wasn't pristinely original.
It was entertaining enough for a short story, but this is one where I'll say that I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was. A short story is enough; I wouldn't want to read an entire novel like this.
Flame - 5 stars
And then, in great contrast, we come to the last story. It is part of the Twelve Houses canon, and in fact details the events leading up to the beginning of the first book, Mystic and Rider. I love all of the characters--Senneth, Kirra, Donnal, Tayse--and it was a delight to see them all here again, and gain a bit more insight into their lives prior to the events of the main series.
Even though there's something edgy and "lone wolfish" about Senneth, that only endears me to her more. She's the sort of level-headed, dependable person I'd want as a friend (ironic, considering her penchant for blazing fires!) Kirra is so much fun, like the mischievous, witty friend that is always fun to have along on advantures. And Donnal is the calm, quiet type who would make you feel at ease right away.
One of the "big" social issues in the world of the Twelve Houses is the ostracization of mystics (magic users), and it is explored here just as it is in a larger scale in the main series itself. Sorry to keep using the same analogy, but I use it because it's one I'm familiar with: growing up a mystic in the world of the Twelve Houses is a lot like growing up gay in our world. People who publicly flaunt it risk being disowned by their families, or worse at the hands of fanatics who claim they are an abomination; parents are usually dismayed or in denial when they find out one of their children is a mystic. People form preconceived notions before bothering to get to know them as people, and they constantly have to hide the fact that they're a mystic when they meet new people, lest the people think badly of them before they even get to know them at all...I like the Twelve Houses series because it is full of adventure, intrigue, mystery, and even some humor, but I also empathize with how the mystics are treated, for obvious reasons.
Sharon Shinn has a knack for making even the most minor characters in this world shine brightly, and each one us unforgettable. Reading this, despite the overtone of oppression, was a welcome return to a world I remember fondly.
In this story, Senneth takes a brief rest at her friend Evelyn's estate, and is introduced to some of Evelyn's friends, who inevitably discover she is a mystic--with various reactions and results. If you've read the Twelve Houses series, it's very much more of the same, but it serves to fill in a few details: how Senneth learned to endure the touch of moonstones (which normally burn a mystic's skin) and how she first met Tayse, and how they all came to be traveling together at the beginning of Mystic and Rider.
This was a good read...and one I will come back to read again, when I re-read the Twelve Houses series.
Flight - 1 star
To be honest, I really struggled with this one. The world that this story is set in is an interesting one (one where angels walk the earth among humans, with some quasi-Biblical references thrown in) but the angels themselves were, on the whole, completely unlikeable. Arrogant, fickle, flawlessly beautiful and, for the most part, disdainful of humans. It feels almost stereotypical, when you think about it.
Salome and her niece Sheba are farmhands--Salome is seen as quiet, stern, and reserved, yet from the beginning she hints at her own wild past. Salome goes through life protecting the virtues of seventeen year-old Sheba, trying to keep her away from the angels' attention. As Sheba is beautiful and vibrantly full of life, she ends up snaring the attention of the archangel himself (not a big surprise) and Salome must get her back.
The beginning of the story is very mundane, describing the life as hired workers on a farm in the countryside. It isn't a glamorous life, by any means, and to Salome, that's the point. But to me, it was not really all that enjoyable to read about. I realize that it was on purpose that their life lacked substance, adventure, whatever you want to call it, but I personally don't enjoy reading stories about life as a servant on a farm. They tend to be very formulaic: the humdrum boring life goes on with no change in sight until suddenly--boom!--everything is in an uproar, something unexpected happens, and life will never be the same again.
Yeah.
Salome was a decent character, who definitely had a rich history, and by the end I really did feel for her, but there was still something...missing. Maybe I'm biased because I prefer novel-length works over short stories, but I think I would have liked Salome more had there been more to read about her.
Sheba...now Sheba, I did like, because she was the character who broke the stereotype. She was extremely beautiful, flirtatious, not easily tamed, and a bit mischievous. The surprising part was that she was a hard worker, earnest, and intelligent (except when it came to angels.) I liked her, though the revelations that came to her by the end of the story seemed very rushed, in my opinion. Again, the short story vs novel argument.
Raphael was very stereotypical...there are hundreds of characters just like him. I didn't like him, but that was the point. I really didn't like any of the angels, for their haughty attitudes and their indifference when it came to their human lovers.
Stephen was the exception, of course, and I liked that he really valued love and monogamy when the rest of his fellow angels couldn't care less, but for some reason I found myself never fully being able to trust him, because I was afraid he'd have ulterior motives or that he'd betray Salome at some point.
I have no fault with the writing itself; the fault I have is with the content. The combination of menial chores in the beginning, and doom and gloom throughout (not to mention callousness and promiscuity--though the latter is not directly depicted, merely hinted at) made this dull and almost depressing.
Blood – 3 stars
It’s impossible to sum up the plot synopsis in just a few sentences, but I’ll do my best. Kerk Socast and his adopted family leave Gold Mountain and move to a vast city where there is a mix of several races whose cultures are completely different. The gulden race have golden-colored skin and live in a very rigid, patriarchal (read: misogynistic and abusive) society where women are property and have no rights, though this is disguised by explaining that the men "provide for the women so they don’t have to provide for themselves." This turned me off from the start, obviously, with its oppressive tone. The opening scene pretty much summed it up: Kerk and his adoptive family got off the train, and while it was his stepmother Tess who knew the way across the train station, she couldn’t take the lead and show them but instead had to defer to Kerk, who knew nothing of the layout.
Then there is the indigo race, which was slightly less well-described, since the point of view of the story was that of Kerk’s, a gulden who knew little of indigo ways. Indigo society seems to be matriarchal, with the women inheriting wealth and running the businesses of the world--but it also seems they handled at least some of the domestic duties as well (as Jalci made a reference to a family recipe that her grandmother would share "only if she got married").
The indigos, and their language, are more direct and abrupt, while the gulden and their language is much more vague and circuitous. So naturally, when Kerk, a gulden man, meets Jalci, an indigo woman, there are all sorts of misunderstandings due to differing cultures.
At first, as I said, I was very turned off by the oppressive society of the gulden men, as it was described by Kerk. His father was a monster (seldom have I wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I wanted to hit his father) and it seemed that the rest of the gulden men were all going to be the same. But therein lies a lesson, for things are never as black-and-white as they seem (or in this case, blue-and-golden).
It was very satisfying to see Kerk slowly realize that his sheltered way of life was not the only way to live. Yet again, I empathized with the story of two people who develop feelings for each other, but whom society would frown upon as a couple. There were some passages that brought to mind the prejudice that interracial couples would have felt, particularly in the 1960s and 70s, and at the same time they brought to mind similar situations that same-sex couples face today. But overall, the tone of the story reminded me of 1960’s science fiction. It was set in what was supposed to be an advanced city, yet what we today think of as modern technology (computers, smart phones or even cell phones of any sort for that matter) were not present at all. Cars were for public use and there was a reference of "upper" and "lower" lanes, implying either flight or some other, more advanced type of transportation than we use today, but with the absence of phones (to get in touch with each other they had to send "notes" to each other, which, though never fully explained, sounded more like paper letters than e-mails) made the story seem a bit...dated.
But dated or not, emotionally this packs a punch. I make the same short story vs. novel argument here...the emotion and character development were really, really good...I just wish there had been a lot more of it.
The relationships explored here are fascinating and compelling...not only that of a man and a woman of two different races who started developing feelings for each other, but also the relationship of a bunch of fatherless boys to a young man in his prime who has no father or children of his own, who is seen as a role model when he considers himself to be anything but; the incredibly strong bond of love between a person and a mother who is not biologically his mother, but is still his mother in every way that counts; the comparatively nonexistent bond between the same person and his biological mother; the happy reunion of the man with the sister who he had never met, but whom instantly adored him (and vice versa); the man’s relationship with his stepmother’s new husband (one that strains blood relationships quite a bit…yet in this case, the story is a happy one).
All through the story, I was waiting for a slap in the face that never came (well, for the most part, anyway, with one exception, but somehow that wasn’t surprising, either) and while I did enjoy reading this--and will re-read it again--the aura of oppression was so rife that it was almost too much for me.
Gold – 3 stars
This story starts out in knee-deep in clichés: fickle, spoiled, and immature Princess Zara is to be taken away from her family’s castle, for her protection, as a power-hungry rebel lord prepares to storm her father’s castle and take the throne for himself. She is led through the woods, complaining all the way about having to leave behind her comfortable bed and fancy dresses, to go the land of Alora, which is replete with every elf/fairy stereotype in the known world: the people are otherworldly and ethereal, with an aversion to metal and the politics of humans and a bias against humans in general, living in a magical land where, once you have entered, you become enchanted and never want to leave...sound familiar? It does to me, as I’ve read a thousand stories just like it, and had to stifle an inner groan upon reading the first few chapters.
Zara is extremely annoying at first, as I’m sure was intended, but there really isn’t an originality in her character at all and therefore I can’t make myself feel the slightest bit of sympathy for her. Orlain is the typical “prince charming who isn’t a prince” character—noble by action but not by birth, handsome, patient, and loyal. Due to those traits, it’s impossible for me not to like him at least a little bit, but he too is so stereotypical that it’s hard to feel a lot of affection for him.
The fact that they love each other failed to really pull my heartstrings, either. His affection for her endeared him to me the slightest bit (though I wondered what exactly he saw in her) but her love for him left me baffled and annoyed. This, too, is stereotypical, and yet it also mimics real life—as all stereotypes are based on real life, or else they wouldn’t have become stereotypes—but she likes him, so instead of treating him nicely, she treats him like dirt! In fiction, in the last decade or two, there seems to have been a shift away from that whole paradigm (at least in the fiction that I have read). I can’t help but think that of the “spoiled bratty girl who likes the steadfast, honest, loyal guy but treats him badly because she doesn’t know how to show how she cares” bit as very dated, almost old-fashioned. Female characters in fiction today are usually given a bit more wit, and they act like adults instead of elementary school-aged children. Yes, Zara is only supposed to be seventeen, but still. It was too over the top for me.
In the first few chapters of the story, it’s very easy to guess what will happen next. Zara begins to show some arguably redeeming qualities (which is also formulaic and to be expected). The way that the Alora charm her, while nothing new or out of the ordinary, is very skillfully written, and in this I have to tip my hat to Sharon Shinn. Even in a tired old premise of “spoiled princess goes to the magical fey land and its alluring inhabitants beguile her and make her want to stay forever” it is still interesting to read, and had I been in her place (especially with a guide like Royven) I probably wouldn't have wanted to go home, either.
The storytelling aspect was great--I was enthralled by the descriptions and the unfolding events, as unoriginal as they were. And the love angle between Zara and Orlain was a endearing in the end (but pretty far-fetched, in my opinion). About the only original thing in this story was the fact that Zara's mother, the queen, was also a bit of an apothecary and hedge witch in her own right...and even that wasn't pristinely original.
It was entertaining enough for a short story, but this is one where I'll say that I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was. A short story is enough; I wouldn't want to read an entire novel like this.
Flame - 5 stars
And then, in great contrast, we come to the last story. It is part of the Twelve Houses canon, and in fact details the events leading up to the beginning of the first book, Mystic and Rider. I love all of the characters--Senneth, Kirra, Donnal, Tayse--and it was a delight to see them all here again, and gain a bit more insight into their lives prior to the events of the main series.
Even though there's something edgy and "lone wolfish" about Senneth, that only endears me to her more. She's the sort of level-headed, dependable person I'd want as a friend (ironic, considering her penchant for blazing fires!) Kirra is so much fun, like the mischievous, witty friend that is always fun to have along on advantures. And Donnal is the calm, quiet type who would make you feel at ease right away.
One of the "big" social issues in the world of the Twelve Houses is the ostracization of mystics (magic users), and it is explored here just as it is in a larger scale in the main series itself. Sorry to keep using the same analogy, but I use it because it's one I'm familiar with: growing up a mystic in the world of the Twelve Houses is a lot like growing up gay in our world. People who publicly flaunt it risk being disowned by their families, or worse at the hands of fanatics who claim they are an abomination; parents are usually dismayed or in denial when they find out one of their children is a mystic. People form preconceived notions before bothering to get to know them as people, and they constantly have to hide the fact that they're a mystic when they meet new people, lest the people think badly of them before they even get to know them at all...I like the Twelve Houses series because it is full of adventure, intrigue, mystery, and even some humor, but I also empathize with how the mystics are treated, for obvious reasons.
Sharon Shinn has a knack for making even the most minor characters in this world shine brightly, and each one us unforgettable. Reading this, despite the overtone of oppression, was a welcome return to a world I remember fondly.
In this story, Senneth takes a brief rest at her friend Evelyn's estate, and is introduced to some of Evelyn's friends, who inevitably discover she is a mystic--with various reactions and results. If you've read the Twelve Houses series, it's very much more of the same, but it serves to fill in a few details: how Senneth learned to endure the touch of moonstones (which normally burn a mystic's skin) and how she first met Tayse, and how they all came to be traveling together at the beginning of Mystic and Rider.
This was a good read...and one I will come back to read again, when I re-read the Twelve Houses series.
October 17, 2012
I'm not normally much into anthologies, often feeling a little bit ripped off by having to pay for stories I have no interest in, just to read the one I want. Quatrain, with all four of the stories being written by Shinn, didn't have that issue. It also turned out that the standard of the stories was really good. I loved one of them, really liked two, and found the fourth not too bad.
Each of these stories is set in a universe Shinn's already explored in another book or series. Loved the idea, as it allowed Shinn to concentrate on the story, and not have to spend precious pages explaining her setting. I do think there's enough there for new readers not to get lost, but I expect those of us who've read other books will have had a much richer experience.
The first story, Flight is set in Samaria, a land ruled by angels. These are beings who might be winged and have a special relationship with the god, but who are very human in their needs and desires. In this world, nothing is more cherished than an angel child. Since most of the angels are male, this means that as far as many human women are concerned, catching the attention of an angel and bearing his angel child is the easiest way to change their lives into ones of ease and comfort. Some of them are quite forthright in putting themselves forward, and these "angel-seekers" are derided by many. So, a bit like aspiring WAGs, really.
The books in this series are set at different times (which means that previous characters are not even alive any longer in some of the other entries). This short story is set shortly before the events of Archangel and Angel-Seeker. The archangel Rafael is still in power, and he and a couple of other angels arrive at the farm where our heroine, Salome, lives with her niece, Sheba. Salome, who is in her 40s, has had some very painful experiences with angels in her past, and is determined to keep her beautiful niece from making the same mistakes she made. She will, especially, need to protect her from the evil and corrupt archangel, who would like nothing better than to torment Salome.
There is a lot here about the dark side of life as an angel-seeker, things the young girls, eager to romanticise what they're doing, willfully ignore, and which Salome is determined to make them understand. She's a really interesting character: a strong woman, unashamed of her past and content with her current, unexciting life. But at the same time, it's clear there is still something in her that's open to love. There's quite a bit of unfinished business between her and a particular angel, and the romance between them was nice, if undeveloped. There was some fascinating history there, and while I liked how Shinn dealt with, I kind of felt the events in the past would make for a much more interesting story than the current ones.
MY GRADE: A B.
The second story, Blood, is related to the first Shinn I ever read, Heart of Gold. It's set in a world in which three races coexist: the Indigos, the Gulden and the Albinos. We don't know much about the latter, but the first two are pretty much polar opposites. The Indigos, blue-skinned and dark-haired, are a matriarchal society, mostly urban and increasingly liberal. The Gulden, golden-skinned and light-haired, are very much patriarchal and clannish, and quite conservative.
Our main character, Kerk, is a young gulden man who's just moved to an Indigo city with his adopted family. He didn't have an easy time growing up: his father was a cruel, abusive man, and his mother left him when Kerk was very young, taking his little sister with her. In gulden society, a woman belongs first to her family and then to her husband, and they can do anything they want with her. This means that a woman married to a bad man is trapped in the marriage. She can't just leave him and set up a new home; her only option, and one unimaginable to many, is to run away altogether. This is what Kerk's mother did, and he hasn't seen her since. His father died just a few years later, and Kerk was lucky enough that his new stepmother was kind and took him with her into her next marriage, and that the new husband was a good man, who informally adopted Kerk. However, it was not easy growing up without a real family in Geldritch.
Now that he's is in the city, which is the only place his mother could have ran to, Kerk is determined to find her. His first step is to visit the Lost City, a very poor neighbourhood where a kind of refuge for gulden women has been set up, and it is there he is confronted by Jalci Candachi. Jalci is a forthright Indigo heiress who volunteers helping out at the Lost City. Once she's assured herself that Kerk's intentions are good, she offers her help, and before long, Kerk is not only helping out at the Lost City himself, mentoring a group of gulden teenage boys, he's also becoming friends with Jalci.
This was my favourite story, and by a country mile, too. Kerk is a fascinating character. He both demonstrates the best of gulden manhood, and is a product of his society, with its prejudices and its willful blindness to what happens when things don't work as they theoretically should. Kerk's saving grace is that actually, he sees the problems, even if at first he feels acknowledging them is a betrayal, and much of the growth he undergoes in this short story involves him finding a way to accept the flaws in gulden society, while still feeling pride in his own culture.
For a story so short, there are plenty of really great moments: his mentoring of the kids, which allow us to see his sense of honour and his basic decency; his surprising conversation with his step-father, who is really an older version of Kerk, further along in his journey; and finally, the outcome of his search for his mother, which is both sad and satisfying at the same time.
The romance was good, but not the best element. Kerk's feelings for Jalci morph a little bit too abruptly from indifference and willingness to tolerate her only for the help she can bring him, to love. Surprisingly, since the whole story is narrated from Kerk's POV, Jalci's feelings feel better developed.
Still, a minor flaw. It's a fantastic story, and I'm amazed at how much Shinn was able to pack in, without it feeling cramped at all.
MY GRADE: An A-.
Straight after my favourite came my least favourite, Gold. This is set some years after Summers At Castle Auburn, with our heroine, Zara, being the daughter of the main characters from that book.
Seventeen-year-old Zara has been sent away from the castle by her parents, the king and queen, while they quell a rebellion. For her own protection, she's being taken to Alora, the kingdom inhabited by fae-like magical creatures called the aliora. Her uncle Jaxon is married to the aliora queen, Rowena, and they will keep her well hidden. But there's danger in Alora as well, as humans who enter that kingdom become enchanted by it, and inevitably want to stay there forever.
Zara's mother, who is a shrewd woman, tries as hard as she can to minimise that danger. Zara arrives at Alora dripping with gold jewelry and strict instructions never to take it off. The touch of the aliora increases the strength of the enchantment, you see, but they can't bear to touch metal, especially gold. Zara also brings with her a potion prepared by her mother, which is designed to keep her memories of home alive, and which she's supposed to drink every night. But the magic of Alora is strong, and though Zara is initially resistant to the charms of lolling around all day, she's soon forgetting her promises and in danger of losing herself completely. She's even forgetting Orlain, the young guardsman who escorted her to Alora, and who periodically brings her news, with whom she's supposed to be madly in love.
This was just ok, and mostly because of the whimsical, imaginative setting. The story itself was very meh. YA is not really my thing, I tend to find myself feeling irritated with teenage characters and can't really relate to their issues. This was the case with Summers At Castle Auburn, and it was also the case with Zara. Also, it's just so obvious what's going to happen here, that it's not at all interesting. It's not even much of a struggle, and Zara loses completely. She has to be rescued by Orlain and Cressida, one of the aliora. The aliora magic has completely defeated any inner strength she might have had. Even when she was holding out, at the beginning, it was just thanks to the protections her mother had built in. I wasn't impressed with her.
Orlain was a much more interesting character, but there just wasn't enough of him, and honestly, I've no idea what he saw in Zara.
MY GRADE: A C+.
Finally, Flame takes us back to the Twelve Houses series, right before the events of the first book, Mystic and Rider. Senneth is a powerful mystic, a woman with magical powers in a world where such things are often seen with mistrust, if not outright fear and hostility. Senneth's strongest power is that of controlling fire, and while visiting a distant relative, she's forced to make use of it in front of other guests, in order to save their little girl from accidentally burning to death.
The other guests are shocked, but ultimately accepting of Senneth, and she decides to accept the invitation to visit them that had been extended before the incident. But while she's staying at their house, strange fires keep popping up in town. Putting out the first one exposes Senneth's powers to the villagers, and soon she's suspected of not just putting them out, but lighting them as well.
Flame is slightly different from the previous stories in that it's not self-contained and about new characters, but a prequel. It's basically all about getting a glimpse of Senneth before the first book in the series, where she's the main character, and spending some time with her. For those of us who've read the series, there are some fun moments, of the "Ah, so that was when Senneth...", but I think there's plenty there for new readers as well, mostly an introduction to a wonderful character.
I guess, strictly speaking, this was a little bit episodic. There's the new acquaintances reacting to Senneth's secret, there's the visit to the Lirrenlands, there's the angry villagers and the mysterious mystic responsible for the fires. Each gets resolved before the next starts. I didn't care. I love Senneth, and had fun visiting with her, and I liked how the story set up her state of mind at the start of the first book.
MY GRADE: A B+.
So, a really good anthology. My only complaint was that I was left wishing Gold had been set in a different world altogether, maybe the one of Wrapt in Crystal. Now, that was an interesting place, and I seem to remember reading somewhere that Shinn had actually written some more stories set there early on. Here's hoping they'll see the light of day at some point.
MY OVERALL GRADE: A B.
Each of these stories is set in a universe Shinn's already explored in another book or series. Loved the idea, as it allowed Shinn to concentrate on the story, and not have to spend precious pages explaining her setting. I do think there's enough there for new readers not to get lost, but I expect those of us who've read other books will have had a much richer experience.
The first story, Flight is set in Samaria, a land ruled by angels. These are beings who might be winged and have a special relationship with the god, but who are very human in their needs and desires. In this world, nothing is more cherished than an angel child. Since most of the angels are male, this means that as far as many human women are concerned, catching the attention of an angel and bearing his angel child is the easiest way to change their lives into ones of ease and comfort. Some of them are quite forthright in putting themselves forward, and these "angel-seekers" are derided by many. So, a bit like aspiring WAGs, really.
The books in this series are set at different times (which means that previous characters are not even alive any longer in some of the other entries). This short story is set shortly before the events of Archangel and Angel-Seeker. The archangel Rafael is still in power, and he and a couple of other angels arrive at the farm where our heroine, Salome, lives with her niece, Sheba. Salome, who is in her 40s, has had some very painful experiences with angels in her past, and is determined to keep her beautiful niece from making the same mistakes she made. She will, especially, need to protect her from the evil and corrupt archangel, who would like nothing better than to torment Salome.
There is a lot here about the dark side of life as an angel-seeker, things the young girls, eager to romanticise what they're doing, willfully ignore, and which Salome is determined to make them understand. She's a really interesting character: a strong woman, unashamed of her past and content with her current, unexciting life. But at the same time, it's clear there is still something in her that's open to love. There's quite a bit of unfinished business between her and a particular angel, and the romance between them was nice, if undeveloped. There was some fascinating history there, and while I liked how Shinn dealt with, I kind of felt the events in the past would make for a much more interesting story than the current ones.
MY GRADE: A B.
The second story, Blood, is related to the first Shinn I ever read, Heart of Gold. It's set in a world in which three races coexist: the Indigos, the Gulden and the Albinos. We don't know much about the latter, but the first two are pretty much polar opposites. The Indigos, blue-skinned and dark-haired, are a matriarchal society, mostly urban and increasingly liberal. The Gulden, golden-skinned and light-haired, are very much patriarchal and clannish, and quite conservative.
Our main character, Kerk, is a young gulden man who's just moved to an Indigo city with his adopted family. He didn't have an easy time growing up: his father was a cruel, abusive man, and his mother left him when Kerk was very young, taking his little sister with her. In gulden society, a woman belongs first to her family and then to her husband, and they can do anything they want with her. This means that a woman married to a bad man is trapped in the marriage. She can't just leave him and set up a new home; her only option, and one unimaginable to many, is to run away altogether. This is what Kerk's mother did, and he hasn't seen her since. His father died just a few years later, and Kerk was lucky enough that his new stepmother was kind and took him with her into her next marriage, and that the new husband was a good man, who informally adopted Kerk. However, it was not easy growing up without a real family in Geldritch.
Now that he's is in the city, which is the only place his mother could have ran to, Kerk is determined to find her. His first step is to visit the Lost City, a very poor neighbourhood where a kind of refuge for gulden women has been set up, and it is there he is confronted by Jalci Candachi. Jalci is a forthright Indigo heiress who volunteers helping out at the Lost City. Once she's assured herself that Kerk's intentions are good, she offers her help, and before long, Kerk is not only helping out at the Lost City himself, mentoring a group of gulden teenage boys, he's also becoming friends with Jalci.
This was my favourite story, and by a country mile, too. Kerk is a fascinating character. He both demonstrates the best of gulden manhood, and is a product of his society, with its prejudices and its willful blindness to what happens when things don't work as they theoretically should. Kerk's saving grace is that actually, he sees the problems, even if at first he feels acknowledging them is a betrayal, and much of the growth he undergoes in this short story involves him finding a way to accept the flaws in gulden society, while still feeling pride in his own culture.
For a story so short, there are plenty of really great moments: his mentoring of the kids, which allow us to see his sense of honour and his basic decency; his surprising conversation with his step-father, who is really an older version of Kerk, further along in his journey; and finally, the outcome of his search for his mother, which is both sad and satisfying at the same time.
The romance was good, but not the best element. Kerk's feelings for Jalci morph a little bit too abruptly from indifference and willingness to tolerate her only for the help she can bring him, to love. Surprisingly, since the whole story is narrated from Kerk's POV, Jalci's feelings feel better developed.
Still, a minor flaw. It's a fantastic story, and I'm amazed at how much Shinn was able to pack in, without it feeling cramped at all.
MY GRADE: An A-.
Straight after my favourite came my least favourite, Gold. This is set some years after Summers At Castle Auburn, with our heroine, Zara, being the daughter of the main characters from that book.
Seventeen-year-old Zara has been sent away from the castle by her parents, the king and queen, while they quell a rebellion. For her own protection, she's being taken to Alora, the kingdom inhabited by fae-like magical creatures called the aliora. Her uncle Jaxon is married to the aliora queen, Rowena, and they will keep her well hidden. But there's danger in Alora as well, as humans who enter that kingdom become enchanted by it, and inevitably want to stay there forever.
Zara's mother, who is a shrewd woman, tries as hard as she can to minimise that danger. Zara arrives at Alora dripping with gold jewelry and strict instructions never to take it off. The touch of the aliora increases the strength of the enchantment, you see, but they can't bear to touch metal, especially gold. Zara also brings with her a potion prepared by her mother, which is designed to keep her memories of home alive, and which she's supposed to drink every night. But the magic of Alora is strong, and though Zara is initially resistant to the charms of lolling around all day, she's soon forgetting her promises and in danger of losing herself completely. She's even forgetting Orlain, the young guardsman who escorted her to Alora, and who periodically brings her news, with whom she's supposed to be madly in love.
This was just ok, and mostly because of the whimsical, imaginative setting. The story itself was very meh. YA is not really my thing, I tend to find myself feeling irritated with teenage characters and can't really relate to their issues. This was the case with Summers At Castle Auburn, and it was also the case with Zara. Also, it's just so obvious what's going to happen here, that it's not at all interesting. It's not even much of a struggle, and Zara loses completely. She has to be rescued by Orlain and Cressida, one of the aliora. The aliora magic has completely defeated any inner strength she might have had. Even when she was holding out, at the beginning, it was just thanks to the protections her mother had built in. I wasn't impressed with her.
Orlain was a much more interesting character, but there just wasn't enough of him, and honestly, I've no idea what he saw in Zara.
MY GRADE: A C+.
Finally, Flame takes us back to the Twelve Houses series, right before the events of the first book, Mystic and Rider. Senneth is a powerful mystic, a woman with magical powers in a world where such things are often seen with mistrust, if not outright fear and hostility. Senneth's strongest power is that of controlling fire, and while visiting a distant relative, she's forced to make use of it in front of other guests, in order to save their little girl from accidentally burning to death.
The other guests are shocked, but ultimately accepting of Senneth, and she decides to accept the invitation to visit them that had been extended before the incident. But while she's staying at their house, strange fires keep popping up in town. Putting out the first one exposes Senneth's powers to the villagers, and soon she's suspected of not just putting them out, but lighting them as well.
Flame is slightly different from the previous stories in that it's not self-contained and about new characters, but a prequel. It's basically all about getting a glimpse of Senneth before the first book in the series, where she's the main character, and spending some time with her. For those of us who've read the series, there are some fun moments, of the "Ah, so that was when Senneth...", but I think there's plenty there for new readers as well, mostly an introduction to a wonderful character.
I guess, strictly speaking, this was a little bit episodic. There's the new acquaintances reacting to Senneth's secret, there's the visit to the Lirrenlands, there's the angry villagers and the mysterious mystic responsible for the fires. Each gets resolved before the next starts. I didn't care. I love Senneth, and had fun visiting with her, and I liked how the story set up her state of mind at the start of the first book.
MY GRADE: A B+.
So, a really good anthology. My only complaint was that I was left wishing Gold had been set in a different world altogether, maybe the one of Wrapt in Crystal. Now, that was an interesting place, and I seem to remember reading somewhere that Shinn had actually written some more stories set there early on. Here's hoping they'll see the light of day at some point.
MY OVERALL GRADE: A B.
March 29, 2013
I'm kind of a Sharon Shinn psycho.
February 23, 2022
This was a great anthology - I liked every story! So much so, that I want to read the books that most of them were based on.
Shinn is a new author for me and I found her writing to be so well done. The stories were good and the characters so interesting.
The first story, "Flight," is about angels! Wow - this brought back memories of the only other book I've ever read with the premise that angels are real: Daughter of Smoke & Bone . I loved that series, and even though this take on angels was totally different (a lot more biblical for starters) it was no less engaging. This was my favorite of the four stories.
"Blood" is probably the one that I liked the least, yet I still liked it. It was harder to relate to the male protagonist in this story, but it is a fascinating and sometimes shocking story about prejudice and racism in a strange alien society. It does have a very good ending, though.
All the stories end well, by the way, and that always counts for a lot with me.
"Gold" is a more traditional fantasy about a princess and a kingdom. There is a strange group of people that have magic so strong, that most humans that visit their realm never want to leave. Princess Zara must take refuge there, though, because her kingdom is on the brink of war. She thinks she will not be taken in the by the magic of Alora - but the longer she stays - the more she begins to forget why she ever wanted to leave. This is a very unique kind of psychological drama.
Finally, "Flame" is about a mystic who has the ability to control fire. Senneth is used to being a loner due to the fact that most people are suspicious of those who have magic. Yet, while staying a few days with her relative, Evelyn, she gets involved with a group of people and things get out of hand very quickly. This one also deals with themes of hatred and ignorance. I got the feeling that it ends right were the book "Mystic and Rider" picks up.
I got this book several years ago at a bargain books store and all this time had no idea what a true bargain it really was - I highly recommend it to fantasy fans!
Shinn is a new author for me and I found her writing to be so well done. The stories were good and the characters so interesting.
The first story, "Flight," is about angels! Wow - this brought back memories of the only other book I've ever read with the premise that angels are real: Daughter of Smoke & Bone . I loved that series, and even though this take on angels was totally different (a lot more biblical for starters) it was no less engaging. This was my favorite of the four stories.
"Blood" is probably the one that I liked the least, yet I still liked it. It was harder to relate to the male protagonist in this story, but it is a fascinating and sometimes shocking story about prejudice and racism in a strange alien society. It does have a very good ending, though.
All the stories end well, by the way, and that always counts for a lot with me.
"Gold" is a more traditional fantasy about a princess and a kingdom. There is a strange group of people that have magic so strong, that most humans that visit their realm never want to leave. Princess Zara must take refuge there, though, because her kingdom is on the brink of war. She thinks she will not be taken in the by the magic of Alora - but the longer she stays - the more she begins to forget why she ever wanted to leave. This is a very unique kind of psychological drama.
Finally, "Flame" is about a mystic who has the ability to control fire. Senneth is used to being a loner due to the fact that most people are suspicious of those who have magic. Yet, while staying a few days with her relative, Evelyn, she gets involved with a group of people and things get out of hand very quickly. This one also deals with themes of hatred and ignorance. I got the feeling that it ends right were the book "Mystic and Rider" picks up.
I got this book several years ago at a bargain books store and all this time had no idea what a true bargain it really was - I highly recommend it to fantasy fans!
February 18, 2021
I discovered a collection of four novellas by Sharon Shinn, each set in the world of ones of her novel series - it's called Quatrain and I just finished listening to the audiobook. It took me a little while to get used to the narrator's voice - I can't put my finger on why - but after half an hour or so I settled in and really enjoyed her reading of the four stories.
Flight brought me back to the world of angels and the archangel Raphael, who is in charge at the start of the first Samaria book. It's a dark tale that reveals more about his depredations but I liked the protagonist a lot and enjoyed seeing her get the best of him.
Blood was set in the world of Heart of Gold, which I wasn't sure I'd read, though my reviews catalogue tells me I did, back in 2007. This short story does a good job of portraying the ins and outs of the society in a very short space and I enjoyed seeing the journey of the protagonist in the search for his birth mother. There are a lot of layers that build a complex picture of one person's life, which is impressively done.
Gold revisits Summers at Castle Auburn, which I also read in 2007 but don't really remember. What's interesting about this story is that very little actual happens and the princess spends her whole time hiding from the ostensive threat, but the tone gives a sense of potential danger underlying the apparently lovely realm of Alora really effectively.
Flame was my favourite because it gave me Senneth, the main character from Mystic and Rider, and I'm always happy for a chance to spend time with her. She didn't disappoint, giving me a great companion for a fun and satisfying adventure.
So, all in all, a highly enjoyable romp through Shinn's worlds. I can't wait for her to come out with something new!
Flight brought me back to the world of angels and the archangel Raphael, who is in charge at the start of the first Samaria book. It's a dark tale that reveals more about his depredations but I liked the protagonist a lot and enjoyed seeing her get the best of him.
Blood was set in the world of Heart of Gold, which I wasn't sure I'd read, though my reviews catalogue tells me I did, back in 2007. This short story does a good job of portraying the ins and outs of the society in a very short space and I enjoyed seeing the journey of the protagonist in the search for his birth mother. There are a lot of layers that build a complex picture of one person's life, which is impressively done.
Gold revisits Summers at Castle Auburn, which I also read in 2007 but don't really remember. What's interesting about this story is that very little actual happens and the princess spends her whole time hiding from the ostensive threat, but the tone gives a sense of potential danger underlying the apparently lovely realm of Alora really effectively.
Flame was my favourite because it gave me Senneth, the main character from Mystic and Rider, and I'm always happy for a chance to spend time with her. She didn't disappoint, giving me a great companion for a fun and satisfying adventure.
So, all in all, a highly enjoyable romp through Shinn's worlds. I can't wait for her to come out with something new!
January 8, 2018
Originally, I decided to read this book as an experiment of sorts. I like the concept of a few novellas put together sharing some kind of central theme. That might even be how I would like to publish a book someday. Anyway, what I got was basically a sampling of the author's four worlds that she likes to write in and it never got to that shared theme (which I'll take the blame for perhaps not reading the cover closely enough).
But outside of one story (Blood), it really never got there for me. The romance angle is not forced in any of the first three stories (the fourth has no romance to speak of) thankfully. Flight was the toughest to get through for me since it dealt with angels and produced the most eye rolling moments of the four novellas. Gold and Flame are both decent but never rise to the level that Blood enjoys. I do like the fantasy worlds Ms. Shinn has presented here (except Flight perhaps) but it wasn't quite what I was looking for.
But outside of one story (Blood), it really never got there for me. The romance angle is not forced in any of the first three stories (the fourth has no romance to speak of) thankfully. Flight was the toughest to get through for me since it dealt with angels and produced the most eye rolling moments of the four novellas. Gold and Flame are both decent but never rise to the level that Blood enjoys. I do like the fantasy worlds Ms. Shinn has presented here (except Flight perhaps) but it wasn't quite what I was looking for.
September 15, 2017
I loved it! Four great short stories with all of the world building and relatable characters I have grown to love from Shinn.
The first story is about an angel chaser trying to care for her niece. I haven't read any of the angel world books by Shinn before, but now I am looking forward to more of the series. The second story is about a gulden man trying to find his mother and ends up befriending an indigo woman. I really liked this story, I liked how the characters world view opened up. The third story is about a princess being seduced by the magic of aliora. I really liked Summers at Castle Auburn, so I really looked forward to returning to this world. The last story takes place in the Twelves Houses world, it is about Senneth. I was really intrigued by Senneth after reading Fortune and Fate, this is a good story about her. Definitely recommend!
The first story is about an angel chaser trying to care for her niece. I haven't read any of the angel world books by Shinn before, but now I am looking forward to more of the series. The second story is about a gulden man trying to find his mother and ends up befriending an indigo woman. I really liked this story, I liked how the characters world view opened up. The third story is about a princess being seduced by the magic of aliora. I really liked Summers at Castle Auburn, so I really looked forward to returning to this world. The last story takes place in the Twelves Houses world, it is about Senneth. I was really intrigued by Senneth after reading Fortune and Fate, this is a good story about her. Definitely recommend!
September 27, 2020
This is a tough one to review. It's four stories in four different Sharon Shinn worlds. The book blurb I read made it sound like it was only related to the Twelve Houses, so that was confusing. I haven't read Heart of Gold, so I ended up just skimming that story.
It has been a long time since I read the Archangel series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Mystic and Rider, and I found myself frequently wondering if I was missing some references to the original books. Nothing about any of the stories really stood out as great. They were all just "fine."
Audiobook narrator Eva Wilhelm does a respectable job with each story. However, it was a little tough to switch gears with the same narrator reading all four, very different, stories.
It has been a long time since I read the Archangel series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Mystic and Rider, and I found myself frequently wondering if I was missing some references to the original books. Nothing about any of the stories really stood out as great. They were all just "fine."
Audiobook narrator Eva Wilhelm does a respectable job with each story. However, it was a little tough to switch gears with the same narrator reading all four, very different, stories.
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