Angel-Seeker - Book Review

Angel-Seeker (Samaria Published Order #5/chronological #3)
by Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
The award-winning author returns to Samaria in this richly romantic tale that begins where Archangel left off. In that time, the women who craved the attention of angels were known as angel-seekers, a term used with awe by some--and scorn by others.

What did I think of it:
Of the Samaria books this one is most easily read as a standalone as the action and romance mostly isn't connected to the larger worldbuilding that is going on in this series.

This tells the story of two very different women: Elizabeth - a young woman who dreams of nothing more than finding an angel-lover and carrying his angelic offspring. And Rebekah - a young Jansai woman, who has her life planned out for her by the males in her family and grudgingly accepts this. Until she finds a wounded angel that is...

I will confess that although Elizabeth's journey to love and happiness is really well written, I just never clicked with her, even on rereads. She's too shallow at first and her change seems to go too smoothly. Still it's a nice story that shows that dreams don't always come true the way you want.

I love Rebekah's story. I know: the Jansai are once again all painted as scum, with Rebekah's younger brother as the one exception. Still I love the romance between her and Obediah. I love how she is so attracted to the angel that she can't stay away from him, but still refuses to leave her confined, but certain life behind for him and an uncertain life of freedom.

It's this love story that makes me reread this book and grumblingly accept the black and white worldbuilding. For fans of the series there are also cameos of characters from Archangel, and it gives a view of how people move on from events in that book as well.

All in all a very enjoyable read that I'm sure to revisit again in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable SFF Romance read.


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Flight - Book Review

Flight (Samaria #1.5 chronological order)
by Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
The anthology Quatrain contains 4 stories, but I'm only reviewing one of them at the moment:

Flight
To be chosen as the lover of an angel is the highest honor in Samaria, but narrator Salome knows the hidden dangers of such a life and tries to warn her niece Sheba.

What did I think of it:
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.

Why should you read it:
This one is for fans of the series. Don't use it as a start.


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Angelica - Book Review

Angelica (Samaria #4)
by Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
Two hundred years ago, the god Jovah created a legion of land dwelling angels, led by an appointed Archangel. Now, Jovah has a new appointee: Archangel Gaaron.

For his life-mate, his Angelica, Jovah has chosen a woman named Susannah. Slowly, an unspoken affection develops between the two. But there is a terrible threat besetting the land-and the true hearts of Archangel and Angelica may never be known.

What did I think of it:
This was a reread, but I never reviewed the book before so it's high time I did.

This is chronologically the first story set in Samaria, but it's book #4 in the series. And to new readers I can advice to start with either book #1 (Archangel), or better yet book #2 (Jovah's Angel), because my copy of Archangel pretty much ruins the suspense of Jovah's Angel in the cover blurb. But then again I started reading this series with Jovah's Angel, so I might be prejudiced.

Anyway, I think this book is best enjoyed after reading the first three books and knowing a bit more about the world of Samaria.

I really love this world and this story is very enjoyable although of all the books it's my least favorite. I think that is because the romance between Gaaron and Susannah is too understated. True: it's a realistic romance in that it's no instalove or even instalust, but two people getting to know each other and respect each other. Still I think there's not enough actual interaction between the two to believe they get to know each other enough to fall in love.

Next to their story is the story of Gaaron's willful sister Miriam and this part of the book is my favorite part. Miriam is a handful and the things she does would drive most people crazy. It was fun to see her struggle to find her place in the world and when she does she shines.

The world building in this series is mostly based on biblical and middle eastern culture. And here we find the one thing that bugs me about this series: The Jansai.

The Jansai are half nomadic people who keep their women veiled and mostly hidden from other people. I think it's easy to see where the inspiration for the Jansai comes from, therefor I'm disappointed by the one sided nature of the Jansai. Basically all male Jansai are painted as sneaky, untrustworthy & abusive. I would have liked a bit more diversity there, and no: that one exception in Angel Seeker (which I'll be rereading and reviewing soon) doesn't count imo.

All in all this is an enjoyable read, and I liked revisiting it, although of the books in this series it's the one I've reread the least.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable Biblical Fantasy read.


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To Weave a Web of Magic - Book Review

To Weave a Web of Magic by Claire Delacroix, Lynn Kurland, Patricia A. McKillip and Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
A romantic fantasy anthology with four novellas from renowned authors of romance and fantasy...

USA Today best-selling author Claire Delacroix gives readers a revisionist version of the medieval legend of Melusine.
USA Today best-selling author Lynn Kurland's trademark style shines in this tale of the magic and medieval romance between two lovers.
World Fantasy Award-winner Patricia A. McKillip tells of an artist's model and the transforming power of beauty and inspiration.
National best-selling author Sharon Shinn offers a compelling romance set in a strange new off-world of angels and revolving around the pursuit of love.

What did I think of it:
As this is an anthology I will tell what I thought of each of the four stories.

The Gorgon in the Cupboard by Patricia A. McKillip
I love this story. It's beautiful, powerful and original.

The Tale of the Two Swords by Lynn Kurland
Not my kind of story and writing. I felt myself skipping parts to get to the end of this one.

Fallen Angel by Sharon Shinn
The reason I bought this book! I love Shinn's Samaria books and this novella is a worthy addition to the series.

An Elegy for Melusine by Claire Delacroix
Cetainly not a bad story, but I've read better and more original versions of this legend.

So all in all two stories I absolutely loved and two I didn't much care about. The two I loved more than made up for the other two though.

Why should you read it:
A must read for Shinn fans and for people who love romantic fantasy.

Jovah's Angel - Book Review

Jovah's Angel by Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
This is a standalone sequel to Archangel, set 150 years later in proverbially interesting times. Samaria is industrialized; the Manadavvi and Jansai are wealthier; the Edori are marginalized, their roaming lifestyle disrupted; and Jovah seems to be turning a deaf ear to his angels' prayers for abatement of increasingly destructive storms. In the midst of all this, Archangel Delilah is incapacitated and replaced by shy, unworldly Alleluia. Alleya must pacify the tribes, calm the weather, make Jovah hear her, forge a reconciliation with Delilah, and find her angelico in order to get married--there's a Gloria due in four months. Unfortunately, the tribes don't want to be pacified, the weather is uncooperative, Jovah is remote, crippled Delilah wants nothing to do with angels, and Alleya's mate is identified only as a "son of Jeremiah".

What did I think of it:
After yesterday's Jenna Starborn I though I'd tell about what I think is Shinn's best book. Jovah's Angel has it all: a well written, thought provoking story, a believable, intriguing setting and great characters. Although this is the second book in a trilogy, I would recommend reading this one first as the cover blurb of the first book 'Archangel' spoils a lot of the fun of this book. Although the above story focuses on Alleluia/Alleya, one of the other lead characters is Caleb, a cynical inventor and he was my hero I must confess! The story switches viewpoints between these two characters, following a couple of storylines which eventually come together and while I usually don't like this as I often find one of the viewpoints not as interesting as the other, Shinn actually succeeds in making all storylines equally interesting and compelling. After finishing this book I immediately ran out to order the other books set in Samaria!

Why should you read it:
This is a great, well written fantasy story set in a world with a biblical feel.

All the books by Shinn set in Samaria:
Archangel
Jovah's Angel
The Alleluia files
Angelica
Angel-Seeker
*Fallen Angel
*(this story can be found in the anthology 'To Weave a Web of Magic')

Jenna Starborn - Book Review

An oldie today:

Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
Conceived in the gen-tanks on the planet Baldus and rejected by the woman who commissioned her birth, Jenna Starborn finds a career as a nuclear generator technician on the inhospitable planet Fieldstar. At the estate of Thorrastone Park, Jenna finds solace and friendship in the household's staff; she also succumbs to a forbidden attraction to the mysterious master of the house, Everett Ravenbeck, and finds her life changed forever.

What did I think of it:
This is a Scifi retelling of Jane Eyre, with Jane pushed to the background to give the centerstage to Jenna. I myself really liked it, even though it felt like a lovesick teenager wrote herself into her favourite romance, which I think is odd as Shinn is a very talented writer and doesn't need to stoop to writing fanfiction. It has all the things that make Jane Eyre a good story and adds cyborgs, spaceships and other scifi stuff to it. This story isn't a mash-up like 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'. Shinn wrote the whole book herself, not using text from the original story and therefor it's a much better book than any of the recent mash-ups which often turn out awkward in my opinion.

Why should you read it:
If you like Jane Eyre and you like Scifi this might be your book.