[CKC]∎ [PDF] Mystic and Rider The Twelve Houses Book 1 Sharon Shinn 9780441013036 Books

Mystic and Rider The Twelve Houses Book 1 Sharon Shinn 9780441013036 Books

Download As PDF : Mystic and Rider The Twelve Houses Book 1 Sharon Shinn 9780441013036 Books

Mystic and Rider The Twelve Houses Book 1 Sharon Shinn 9780441013036 Books

...or to give a rough analogy, Sharon Shinn is to George R. R. Martin what Agatha Christie is to James Ellroy. It doesn't take a lot of effort for a reader to keep track of what's going on in this book. If you prefer fast-paced action and complex drama, look elsewhere.

The writing is good, flows well and is stylistically consistent. (no jarring bits of dialog or turns of phrase that feel slightly off)

Shinn paints her characters beautifully! Many authors wind up giving some of their characters a similar "flavor" especially if they've written a strong hero/heroine at some point, and that personality worked really, really well. Throughout the Twelve Houses series, not only are you not reminded of a main character when reading a secondary one, the minor characters are surprisingly distinct. It's not easy to give nameless bad guy no.1 in one book a different feel from nameless bad guys nos. 1, 2, AND 3, in another.

The first book I read by Sharon Shinn was the audiobook version of Mystic and Rider. I loved it so much I bought the print version and have re-read it along with the rest of the series nearly every year since. These days there are dozens of good sword & sorcery / epic fantasy authors who have books available in audiobook format. Unfortunately, authors who lucked out in the narrator department are thinner on the ground. (unless you count the vast number of well-narrated fantasy novels geared toward teens or that have a coming-of-age element)

If I set up an epic fantasy "style spectrum" using half a dozen authors with good audiobooks (I've listened to more books than I've read, so please allow the qualifier), the order would look something like this:

1. George R. R. Martin
(I actually think the print version of his stuff is better, but since Game of Thrones is such a widely recognizable example of highly complex fantasy writing, he's included)

2. Robert Jordan

3. L. E. Modesitt Jr.

4. Juliet Marillier

5. Lois McMaster Bujold

6. Sharon Shinn

The last three authors' books focus closely on the relationships of a smaller cast of characters. Out of all these authors, I think Shinn's books have the least edge and most warmth.


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Mystic and Rider The Twelve Houses Book 1 Sharon Shinn 9780441013036 Books Reviews

Wonderful world building with a series of great characters all of whom are layered and well worth spending hours of time with. This is quite simply one of the best fantasy, adventure books that also has a thread of romance in it that I have ever read.
Unlike some fantasy authors Ms. Shinn doesn't overwhelm the reader with hundreds of characters. Rather there are six main characters, each of which has a distinct personality and past.
There is enough intrigue regarding potential treason and a possible sort of holy war against the mystics of the book to keep the plot going and the reader very interested.
I love this story best of all her books. The incredibly powerful mystics' talents slowly revealed. Love and trust growing between companions-of-the-road. King and queen, warriors, peasants & mystics face treason & revolution. And love blooms among the thorns. Sharon's writing holds me captive throughout. The pace is just right; action, motives & background blended together. I read this book often.
I've read this several times; despite the reviews claiming everything is predictable, this is a wonderful book. The magic is in the people, not in the plot. Isn't that what it's all about? Well sketched characters, who make you CARE about them? Sharon Shinn does that. I have read all four of this series, and I keep hoping she'll write one more. Come on, Sharon, just one more!
Decent, likeable people who aren't sure they like each other at first, by the end of the book they are blood brothers and sisters. All different, each a dazzling Faberge's egg of personality...gradually they seduce you into being one of them on their peregrination.
I have long been an avid fan of Sharon Shinn's works. This series was my first introduction to her, and I have devoured it several times. It is as though Tamora Pierce and she had divided their magical worlds of strong women between stories of adults, and stories for younger readers and teens - although I also love the truth teller series written by Shinn.

Were I stranded on a desert island, I would only want water, a hammock, and all the books written by these two authors. I would be able to feed myself with lessons I learned from the books, and feel safe that Spirits and God were allowing their characters magic to seep into my own being, so that I could provide and protect myself.

The Twelve Houses series is wonderful. Any book with strong, kind, fierce women who trust themselves and are yet open to risk loving others is a book I will buy over and over, to give away to those who need to remember who they are.
...or to give a rough analogy, Sharon Shinn is to George R. R. Martin what Agatha Christie is to James Ellroy. It doesn't take a lot of effort for a reader to keep track of what's going on in this book. If you prefer fast-paced action and complex drama, look elsewhere.

The writing is good, flows well and is stylistically consistent. (no jarring bits of dialog or turns of phrase that feel slightly off)

Shinn paints her characters beautifully! Many authors wind up giving some of their characters a similar "flavor" especially if they've written a strong hero/heroine at some point, and that personality worked really, really well. Throughout the Twelve Houses series, not only are you not reminded of a main character when reading a secondary one, the minor characters are surprisingly distinct. It's not easy to give nameless bad guy no.1 in one book a different feel from nameless bad guys nos. 1, 2, AND 3, in another.

The first book I read by Sharon Shinn was the audiobook version of Mystic and Rider. I loved it so much I bought the print version and have re-read it along with the rest of the series nearly every year since. These days there are dozens of good sword & sorcery / epic fantasy authors who have books available in audiobook format. Unfortunately, authors who lucked out in the narrator department are thinner on the ground. (unless you count the vast number of well-narrated fantasy novels geared toward teens or that have a coming-of-age element)

If I set up an epic fantasy "style spectrum" using half a dozen authors with good audiobooks (I've listened to more books than I've read, so please allow the qualifier), the order would look something like this

1. George R. R. Martin
(I actually think the print version of his stuff is better, but since Game of Thrones is such a widely recognizable example of highly complex fantasy writing, he's included)

2. Robert Jordan

3. L. E. Modesitt Jr.

4. Juliet Marillier

5. Lois McMaster Bujold

6. Sharon Shinn

The last three authors' books focus closely on the relationships of a smaller cast of characters. Out of all these authors, I think Shinn's books have the least edge and most warmth.