Romantic SF & Fantasy Novels

Book 3 of the Twelve House series

Rebellion is brewing in Gillengaria and King Baryn has a lot of questions. In DARK MOON DEFENDER, he sends his guard Justin to investigate the activities of the Lumanen convent and the collaboration between its Lestra, Coralinda Gisseltees, and her brother Halchon.

Justin is reluctant to work alone, without the support of his friends or his fellow Riders, but obeys orders and finds work as a stable hand in a small town near the convent, a convenient post for spying. One night he rescues Ellynor, a young novice, from a drunken attacker and they become friends.

Ellynor is a Lirren girl and has been sent to the Lumanen convent as a companion for her cousin, Rosurie, who has been temporarily exiled to the convent to remove her from an unsuitable romance. A Lirren girl can only marry outside her clan if her suitor fights and kills one of her relatives, usually her father or brother.

Ellynor, like all Lirrens, is a follower of the Dark Mother but sees no conflict between that and going through the rituals of the convent where the Pale Mother is worshipped. Ellynor is a healer but, believing that this ability comes from the Dark Mother, does not consider herself a mystic. Justin, however, realises what she is and urges her to leave the convent where she will be killed if they find out she is a mystic, but Ellynor is reluctant to leave her cousin. She is also reluctant to tell Justin she is a Lirren, in spite of their developing relationship.

I enjoyed Justin in the first two books. I liked the way his unthinking aversion to mystics changed to acceptance and appreciation as he got to know some. I liked his interaction with the other members of the group, particularly with Kirra, and the way they became his family.

Unfortunately, this book separates Justin from his friends, and he becomes, I regret to say, boring. Ellynor is also boring. And silly. Well, maybe not silly as such but certainly young, inexperienced and naïve, and I am not particularly interested in young, inexperienced and naïve heroines or the silly things they do. I am still baffled about why she didn’t tell Justin she was Lirren. And even more baffled about how a mystic could live in a convent where mystics are abominated without anyone noticing. For a whole year. She wore and handled moonstones, which burn mystics, and nobody noticed?

The romance between Justin and Ellynor is sweet but not very interesting. The main obstacle, that they can’t marry unless Justin kills one of Ellynor’s much-loved relatives, is unknown to Justin for most of the book and then just fades away once Senneth gets involved. This was maddening given that the custom was described in the first book as unavoidable.

Another problem was that the book didn’t really advance the series plot. The individual books cover the romances of the members of the group, but the series looks as though it is going to be about the rebellion and its suppression/defeat/success. MYSTIC AND RIDER revealed the major players and issues; THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE revealed some of the minor, but no less dangerous, players, and the beginning of King Baryn’s move against the rebels. DARK MOON DEFENDER doesn’t seem to advance the series at all, particularly as Justin discovers little new information.

The best parts of the book are those with the other members of the original group, particularly Senneth and Tayse. Kirra is bit irritating in that she seems completely unchanged and unaffected by the harrowing, for her, events of the previous book.

I was not impressed with this book. It’s probably OK if you like sweet romances, but it fails to deliver on the promise of the first book.–Margaret

***

• More on the first two books in the series here.

margaret, reviews, sharon shinn | 5 Comments »

THE KING OF ATTOLIA by Megan Whalen Turner

This is the third in the young adult series that started with THE THIEF.

Eugenides is now married to the Queen of Attolia and is despised and resented by his attendants, the court, the Queen’s Guard, and everyone else in Attolia. The reader, knowing Eugenides a lot better than these characters, waits eagerly for them to find out their mistake. This takes a while as Eugenides has a number of schemes on the go, most of which depend on his being underestimated. He is also extremely reluctant to become King in truth as well as in name, so avoids behaving in a kingly manner. When one of the guards, Costis, is provoked into hitting him, Eugenides, instead of condemning him to death, takes him into his personal service.

Most of the story is told from Costis’ POV, and the change in his view of Eugenides is very well done, although the reader can sympathise with him as he wonders how it is possible to dislike someone yet be so devoted to him at the same time. The glimpses of Eugenides’ often stormy relationship with his wife are brief but significant.

An excellent book. I do hope there are more in the series, which seems likely as a couple of minor plot points are left dangling, and there is still the threat of the Mede invasion.—Margaret

***

SWORDSPOINT by Ellen Kushner

I re-read SWORDSPOINT to refresh my memory before tackling the sequel, PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD.

I’d forgotten how much I love Kushner’s prose. SWORDSPOINT has one of the best opening scenes ever, beginning with fairytale delicacy (the snow, the single drop of blood) and then turning it around into—not gritty realism, exactly, but more bawdiness and cynicism than you usually get in a fantasy novel. I love Richard and even have a fondness for Alec, though I usually have a very low tolerance for interestingly “wounded” aristocratic woobie-types. (Hmm, that almost describes Felix too…)—Danielle

***

• See our previous thoughts on SWORDSPOINT here.

danielle, margaret, reviews | 2 Comments »

MYSTIC AND RIDER by Sharon Shinn

The king is getting old, his mysterious second wife has failed to produce any children, and his only heir is his 18-year-old daughter who nobody ever sees. Some of the powerful families (known as the 12 Houses) see this as their chance to grab the throne, and some of the less powerful families (known collectively as the thirteenth house) see this as their chance to become more powerful.

Senneth, a powerful mystic (magic user) has been sent out by the king to investigate feelings and activity among the southern Houses. She is accompanied by Tayse and Justin, who are Kings’ Riders (elite guard), Kirra Danalustrous, the mystic daughter of one of the 12 Lords of the kingdom, and Donnal, another mystic assigned by Kirra’s father to guard her. Early on they are joined by Cammon, a young and untrained mystic.

The book is episodic so mainly consists of travel and adventures as they discover worrying alliances and a determined hate campaign against mystics. The real story arc is not so much the plot as the developing relationships among the group. At the start the Riders dislike and distrust the mystics and are disliked in turn. Senneth is nominally in charge but Justin obeys Tayse, not her, and Donnal obeys Kirra. As they learn more about each other and are forced to rely on each other the dislike and distrust are reduced and they become a cohesive group. A closer relationship develops between Senneth and Tayse who find themselves attracted to each other. Tayse finds this more disturbing than Senneth does as he feels there is no hope of any future together; however, everyone else, particularly Senneth, is in favour.–Margaret

***

THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE by Sharon Shinn

Sequel to MYSTIC AND RIDER. To quell rumours that his daughter is unfit to be Queen, the King has sent her on a circuit of the 12 Houses. She is accompanied by her stepmother, Senneth, and a group of King’s Riders, including Tayse and Justin. Cammon goes along as well.

In the meantime, Kirra’s younger sister has been named as Heir to Danalustrous and should also go on a circuit of the houses but refuses to leave the land she loves. Their father suggests Kirra, a shapeshifter, impersonate her. She agrees and, accompanied by her sister’s maid and Donnal, sets out. Naturally they soon join up with the princess and Senneth and the group is together again.

The royal party is also joined by the princess’s uncle Romar who has been named as regent-to-be, if one is needed. Life becomes more complicated as the princess and Romar come under attack and, as if this isn’t enough, Kirra and Romar fall madly in lust and embark upon an adulterous affair to the irritation, disgust, and distress of Kirra’s companions. I don’t enjoy reading about adultery and thought less of Kirra for her thoughtlessness and selfishness but her actions are not condoned by her companions, and she eventually comes to see the price others are paying for her self-indulgence.

I enjoyed this book, too, but not as much as MYSTIC AND RIDER. I look forward to the next in the series.–Margaret

***

• See our previous thoughts on MYSTIC AND RIDER here.

margaret, reviews | 6 Comments »

I just finished THE VIRTU, Sarah Monette’s sequel to MELUSINE. The two books are very much a pair — if you enjoyed MELUSINE you’ll like THE VIRTU; if (like a few readers I know) the dual narrative voices or Felix’s general asshattedness put you off, then you won’t find enough difference in the second book to encourage you to try again.

Felix continues to be a hurtful idiot for most of the book, but he improves slightly in the end and I don’t mind unsympathetic characters so long as they’re interesting. Mildmay is fabulous, as always. The plot is episodic (travel, adventures, yada yada) until the two of them return to the city of Melusine, then the action picks up considerably.

Though I wouldn’t define THE VIRTU as SFR, romantic and sexual entanglements are crucial to the story, some of them outside the norm — and no, I’m not referring to same-sex relationships (which are also in the book). I can’t really say more without spoilage.–Danielle

danielle, nonsfr, reviews | 3 Comments »

TEMERAIRE by Naomi Novik (Published as HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON in the US.)

Excellent first book. It’s the Napoleonic wars with dragons. The author doesn’t interfere much with history—the same battle take place at the same time and place, as far as I can tell, and the same side wins, but dragons are also involved. Will Laurence is the Captain of an English ship that captures a French ship. The French ship is carrying a dragon’s egg, a great prize, which hatches before they reach shore. A dragon that is not harnessed before its first meal becomes feral so it is important for England’s war effort that the dragon be harnessed, although this means whoever harnesses the dragon will have to leave the Navy and join the Aerial Corps, an unwelcome fate. The dragon chooses Laurence, much to his dismay. Most of the book is about Laurence’s developing relationship with Temeraire, as he names the dragon, their training, and the Aerial Corps. There are a few battles but they don’t dominate. The author seems to have a good feel for the period which shows in the characters’ speech and behaviour.–Margaret

***

MELUSINE by Sarah Monette

Another first book that I enjoyed in spite of its faults. I could go on and on about the faults but this would be unfair to the book, which is well worth a read, and unfair to the author as I feel most of them are “first novel” faults.

The story is told in first person narrative, alternating between Felix Harrowgate, a wizard of the Mirador a member of the ruling council, and lover of the Lord Protector’s brother, and Mildmay, thief and paid killer of the Lower City.

Felix’s story starts when an enemy at court discloses part of the very murky past Felix has gone to a lot of trouble to conceal. This knocks Felix off balance and he seeks out Malkar, his old master who trained and abused him for many years. Malkar, who probably set this up, uses him to break the Virtu, a magical crystal that protects the city. Felix comes out of this mad and unable to say what happened, and is found guilty of the Virtu’s destruction. As Felix spends most of the book mad it is a pity that we didn’t get to see much of him before disaster struck.

Meanwhile, down in the Lower City, Mildmay has been hired to retrieve some jewellery that a pretty shop girl, the erstwhile mistress of a minor lord, thinks she is entitled to. A simple job, but it develops ramifications which result in Mildmay’s getting in the bad books of a very powerful and nasty person. Circumstances compel Felix and Mildmay to leave the city and they eventually meet. Felix has had dreams that lead him to believe that he will be cured if he can get to the Gardens of Nephele. When he gets free of his guards he sets off for them and Mildmay insists on accompanying him.

MELUSINE is the first half of a book, although this isn’t mentioned anywhere, which explains the weak ending and probably explains the disappearance of most of the characters. Monette is a bit weak in plotting and has a tendency to keep important information from the reader which make some people’s actions and motivations somewhat incomprehensible. All may be revealed in the sequel but that doesn’t help this book. She is, however, excellent at characters and relationships. Even minor characters seem solid and the changing relationships are fascinating. There are a few romances in this book but none end happily, and there is a potential one but with a high ick factor. There are some distressing scenes but anyone who enjoys Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel books should be OK.–Margaret

***

• See our previous thoughts on MELUSINE here and here.

margaret, nonsfr, reviews | 1 Comment »

Karin Lowachee’s Trilogy: WARCHILD, BURNDIVE, and CAGEBIRD

I haven’t read any science fiction romance (SFR) lately, but I did read Karin Lowachee’s series (WARCHILD, BURNDIVE and CAGEBIRD) and just loved them. They’re the best space opera I’ve come across in a long time, nicely layered and nuanced, with great emphasis on the characters and an interesting use of point-of-view in all three. Lowachee is a compelling writer. I tried to see if she is working on a new one in the same universe, but her website is not helpful. Anyone got the info?–Suzanne

***

I’ve read the first two. I really liked the first. Completely engrossing. The second wasn’t as easy to like because the main character is a spoiled rich kid. Part of you wants to tell him to just “get over it.” But it was very well written and it was very interesting to see part of the events of book one from another POV. These books were good enough that I bought new copies, doing my support-the-new-author thing.

I’ve enjoyed reading many Campbell Award nominees. On the whole, I find many of them more engrossing and appealing than Hugo winners and nominees.–Edith

***

I had a similar reaction to you after reading the first two. The third book, CAGEBIRD, I liked almost as well as WARCHILD. The POV character is totally angsty, but you’ll love him. And again, you get to see characters from the first two books through the eyes of a totally new character. That’s one of the keys to why this series intrigues me so much. Clever, clever writer.–Suzanne

edith, nonsfr, reviews, suzanne | 3 Comments »

KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn

While working as a DJ on the night shift Kitty gets involved in a discussion of the paranormal. Next thing she knows, she’s dispensing advice to werewolves, vampires, etc. Life gets complicated after the local master vampire insists that she stop the show, an assassin comes after her, rumours start that she is a werewolf, some mangled, probably by a wolf, bodies start turning up, and she finds herself defying her werewolf pack leader. I enjoyed the idea of an “advice for the undead” talkback show, and the assassin was great, but my interest began to wane when the obligatory master vampire showed up, diminished further when the killings started, and vanished entirely when Kitty started having problems with her pack. I’m sick of werewolves and their pack politics and their disputes with vampires.–Margaret

I put this down after a couple of chapters and have no wish whatsoever to pick it up again. With my aversion to werewolf plots I should never have bought it, but I do enjoy Briggs. However, even she couldn’t make me want to read about them. Did I mention I’m sick of werewolves? If I never meet another alpha werewolf again it will be too soon!! Also, I feel rather disappointed in what I see as Briggs taking up the “genre of the month,” though I’m sure I would have forgiven her if it was a genre I enjoyed. –Margaret

margaret, reviews | 9 Comments »

Here are comments on LKH’s latest Anita Blake book from those of us who haven’t yet abandoned the series. First up: Shelley.

I finished DANSE MACABRE by Laurell K. Hamilton. This is one of the books in the series that moves the story line foward but is an issues book. That is, it revolved around exploring Anita’s powers rather than Anita solving a crime. Otherwise, the story was wall-to-wall sex.I did get caught up in the book, and the politics were interesting, but I found myself thinking that once again the ending seemed rushed. I would really enjoy a book that has Anita solving crime and also has her focusing on her inner circle. I do not think the multiple men are going anywhere but would like to see her spend more time with Jean-Claude, Asher, Micah, et. al. That is, actually relationship building. Actual conversations would be nice . –Shelley

And here’s JW’s take: (more…)

jw, reviews, shelley | 8 Comments »