- Hardcover: 369 pages
- Publisher: Ace Books (6 Oct 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0441017584
- ISBN-13: 978-0441017584
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.1 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 664,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fantasy and science fiction writer Sharon Shinn here provides a collection of four novellas.
All run a little over eighty pages, and are divided into shorter chapters so they're not one long narrative.
All take place in settings that have appeared in earlier works from the writer. But whilst they do on occasion reference those earlier works, they are all completely self contained and those who haven't read the earlier books will have no trouble getting into them.
The first story is called flight. This takes place on Samaria, a world of remote towns and farms and the occasional angel stronghold. The latter are winged humanoids who rule the planet. And to get into a relationship with one is the dream of many a young lady.
Salome lives on a remote farm, along with her niece whom she is bringing up. Salome isn't as pleased as everyone else when angels come to visit the farm because she has a history with them. And as a result she'd rather her niece didn't get involved with them.
But nobody can ever get what they want....
A tale of how grown ups are desperate to prevent the young from making the same mistakes that they did, even if the young won't listen to their advice. Also about past regrets and possible second chances.
The second story is called blood. This takes place on a world where two different types of humans live in and around a large city. Some have gold skin. Some have blue. The former lord it over the latter. Kerk is a young man who has come to the city to work, but also to find his mother, who left him many years ago. His search takes him into the blue areas of the city, and into close contact with one blue lady in particular.
A story about how you can get obsessed with trying to find something, and when you find it may not be what you expect. But other things can result....
The third story is called gold and takes place in the magical realm of Auburn. The land is beset by war as a pretender tries to claim the throne, and young princess Zara has been sent to nearby kingdom Alora for safe keeping. A guard who is very good at his job and whom she has a love hate relationship with has been sent to take her there. Alora is a magical place and offers a great place to live. Will Zara want to go home?
A story about finding new places and new loves, but never forgetting what you have.
The fourth story is called Flame, and takes place in Gillengharia. A realm ruled by twelve noble houses, where certain people have magical powers. They are called mystics, and tend to be objects of fear and distrust for everyone else. Senneth is a mystic who can control fire. She roams the realm on her own helping people and occasionally doing a service or two for the king. She likes her solitary existence. But when she visits a town and meets a man who might like to get to know her better, outbreaks of strange magic leave her under threat.
A story about accepting difference and the value of trust and friendship.
As regular readers of Sharon Shinn's book will now, her strength as a writer lies in characterisation and setting. Thus all these stories produce believable and appealing characters in interesting realms, and they become a delight to read as a result. Especially as they always feature a touch of romance.
Four pleasant reads from an excellent writer make for a very entertaing read for fans of her work, and a good jumping on point for new readers.
If you're not familiar with her other books then:
For more of Samaria start with Archangel
For more of the golden and the blue read Heart of Gold
For more of auburn read Summers at Castle Auburn
And the Gillengharia stories start with Mystic and Rider (Ace Fantasy Book)
Regular readers of the series will probably wish to know that Fire takes place before Mystic and Rider.
All run a little over eighty pages, and are divided into shorter chapters so they're not one long narrative.
All take place in settings that have appeared in earlier works from the writer. But whilst they do on occasion reference those earlier works, they are all completely self contained and those who haven't read the earlier books will have no trouble getting into them.
The first story is called flight. This takes place on Samaria, a world of remote towns and farms and the occasional angel stronghold. The latter are winged humanoids who rule the planet. And to get into a relationship with one is the dream of many a young lady.
Salome lives on a remote farm, along with her niece whom she is bringing up. Salome isn't as pleased as everyone else when angels come to visit the farm because she has a history with them. And as a result she'd rather her niece didn't get involved with them.
But nobody can ever get what they want....
A tale of how grown ups are desperate to prevent the young from making the same mistakes that they did, even if the young won't listen to their advice. Also about past regrets and possible second chances.
The second story is called blood. This takes place on a world where two different types of humans live in and around a large city. Some have gold skin. Some have blue. The former lord it over the latter. Kerk is a young man who has come to the city to work, but also to find his mother, who left him many years ago. His search takes him into the blue areas of the city, and into close contact with one blue lady in particular.
A story about how you can get obsessed with trying to find something, and when you find it may not be what you expect. But other things can result....
The third story is called gold and takes place in the magical realm of Auburn. The land is beset by war as a pretender tries to claim the throne, and young princess Zara has been sent to nearby kingdom Alora for safe keeping. A guard who is very good at his job and whom she has a love hate relationship with has been sent to take her there. Alora is a magical place and offers a great place to live. Will Zara want to go home?
A story about finding new places and new loves, but never forgetting what you have.
The fourth story is called Flame, and takes place in Gillengharia. A realm ruled by twelve noble houses, where certain people have magical powers. They are called mystics, and tend to be objects of fear and distrust for everyone else. Senneth is a mystic who can control fire. She roams the realm on her own helping people and occasionally doing a service or two for the king. She likes her solitary existence. But when she visits a town and meets a man who might like to get to know her better, outbreaks of strange magic leave her under threat.
A story about accepting difference and the value of trust and friendship.
As regular readers of Sharon Shinn's book will now, her strength as a writer lies in characterisation and setting. Thus all these stories produce believable and appealing characters in interesting realms, and they become a delight to read as a result. Especially as they always feature a touch of romance.
Four pleasant reads from an excellent writer make for a very entertaing read for fans of her work, and a good jumping on point for new readers.
If you're not familiar with her other books then:
For more of Samaria start with Archangel
For more of the golden and the blue read Heart of Gold
For more of auburn read Summers at Castle Auburn
And the Gillengharia stories start with Mystic and Rider (Ace Fantasy Book)
Regular readers of the series will probably wish to know that Fire takes place before Mystic and Rider.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
20 reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Beautifully written collection of novellas
8 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover
Quatrain is a collection of four novellas, each one set in a different one of Sharon Shinn's worlds. Ranging from fantasy to science fiction, the stories take place in radically different societies, but each novella is a different look at a person trying to find their own place in a world that is not to their liking. Each main character ends up examining their own priorities and their desire to find love and happiness in less than ideal situations. The varied responses to those dilemmas are as different as the characters and the worlds they are set in.
In Quatrain, Sharon Shinn deals sensitively with topics of religion, abuse, intolerance and ethnicity while never letting the issues overwhelm the stories. Shinn is a master wordsmith, evoking lush full-blown characters and fantastical landscapes with a spare prose that is breathtaking in its simplicity. The only story that falters is Gold, a fairly standard fairy tale which falls flat. While beautifully written, the story lacks originality and the characters are two-dimensional. It failed to elicit any emotional connection, instead feeling like a retread of every damsel in distress Disney fairy tale I've ever read. It was insipid, rather than inspired.
However, the other stories all sing with life. I was particularly intrigued by the varied worlds in the other novellas. Flight is set in the world of Sharon Shinn's Samaria novels, populated and ruled by very non-angelic angels that can intercede with deity to protect the people they rule over. However, when very powerful beings with unnaturally high charisma and amazing singing voices need human girls to reproduce, the help with deity comes at a cost. Blood is set in the same world as her novel Heart of Gold, a world that is starting to be racked by cultural conflicts between two very different societies, one matriarchal and one patriarchal. Shinn avoids the overdone themes of gender stereotypes and the evils of patriarchy, and instead delicately explores the differences of the people within a culture, as well as the differences between cultures. The final story in the volume is Flame, a tale of a mystical firestarter who is ostracized by her people even as they call on her for aid. Set in the same world as Shinn's Twelve Houses novels, it is a well-imagined tale of loneliness and belonging.
I highly recommend Quatrain to all young adult and adult readers who like sensitive, beautiful writing with a touch of romance. I know that I will be seeking out more of Sharon Shinn's novels, especially Heart of Gold and those set in her Samaria world after being introduced to them here in such a beautiful manner.
In Quatrain, Sharon Shinn deals sensitively with topics of religion, abuse, intolerance and ethnicity while never letting the issues overwhelm the stories. Shinn is a master wordsmith, evoking lush full-blown characters and fantastical landscapes with a spare prose that is breathtaking in its simplicity. The only story that falters is Gold, a fairly standard fairy tale which falls flat. While beautifully written, the story lacks originality and the characters are two-dimensional. It failed to elicit any emotional connection, instead feeling like a retread of every damsel in distress Disney fairy tale I've ever read. It was insipid, rather than inspired.
However, the other stories all sing with life. I was particularly intrigued by the varied worlds in the other novellas. Flight is set in the world of Sharon Shinn's Samaria novels, populated and ruled by very non-angelic angels that can intercede with deity to protect the people they rule over. However, when very powerful beings with unnaturally high charisma and amazing singing voices need human girls to reproduce, the help with deity comes at a cost. Blood is set in the same world as her novel Heart of Gold, a world that is starting to be racked by cultural conflicts between two very different societies, one matriarchal and one patriarchal. Shinn avoids the overdone themes of gender stereotypes and the evils of patriarchy, and instead delicately explores the differences of the people within a culture, as well as the differences between cultures. The final story in the volume is Flame, a tale of a mystical firestarter who is ostracized by her people even as they call on her for aid. Set in the same world as Shinn's Twelve Houses novels, it is a well-imagined tale of loneliness and belonging.
I highly recommend Quatrain to all young adult and adult readers who like sensitive, beautiful writing with a touch of romance. I know that I will be seeking out more of Sharon Shinn's novels, especially Heart of Gold and those set in her Samaria world after being introduced to them here in such a beautiful manner.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Four unforgettable chances to revisit old favorites
10 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sharon Shinn has written four delightful stories set in her own wonderful worlds. They give us a chance to go back to the settings of our favorite books.
From Castle Autumn we get to visit Alora, and finally learn why it is so wonderful to those who are lucky enough to find it.
We also visit Gillengaria where we have a visit with Senneth. The Twelve Houses are a delight and I enjoyed another chance to visit.
We have a story of the Gulden, the Indigo and the Albino. A gulden boy searches for his mother. One of the women who escaped the marriage that held her to an abuser.
The archangels have not changed and we have a short story of Raphel's excesses being exposed. The story is short and sweet, of love lost and found.
Four stories and four wonderful adventures in our favorite worlds. Very good, I read it at one sitting, and was sorry when it ended.
From Castle Autumn we get to visit Alora, and finally learn why it is so wonderful to those who are lucky enough to find it.
We also visit Gillengaria where we have a visit with Senneth. The Twelve Houses are a delight and I enjoyed another chance to visit.
We have a story of the Gulden, the Indigo and the Albino. A gulden boy searches for his mother. One of the women who escaped the marriage that held her to an abuser.
The archangels have not changed and we have a short story of Raphel's excesses being exposed. The story is short and sweet, of love lost and found.
Four stories and four wonderful adventures in our favorite worlds. Very good, I read it at one sitting, and was sorry when it ended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A mixed bag of goodies
29 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover
First, I should mention that I'm not exactly an unbiased reviewer. I have read every book by Sharon Shinn and loved most all of them. With that said, I was delighted to hear that four new stories, each set in one of her amazing worlds, were to be released. It was an absolute pleasure to be immersed in her writing again, but not all four stories were on par with her novels.
1. FLIGHT is set in her Samarian universe. A tale of betrayal and long-lost romance. Believable characters and a twist ending will leave every reader satisfied.
2. BLOOD (from the Heart of Gold world) was my favorite short story, even though I didn't much like the corresponding novel itself. Kerk, a young man from a patriarchal society, arrives at a foreign city in search of a mother who abandoned him as a child.
3. GOLD (Summers at Castle Auburn) surprisingly disappointed. This story was bland and unoriginal. The characters had all the originality of cardboard cut-outs. Princess Zara is the stereotypical lovely, headstrong princess with an impossible low-class love. Yawn.
4. FLAME (from the Gillengaria series) was merely pleasant. An entertaining read about the mishaps of the fire-mystic Senneth.
Overall, this collection is well worth your money if you're a dedicated Sharon Shinn fan. If not, I'd recommend her novels instead of these short stories. These stories can stand alone, but without the rich context provided by her novels, they could be hard to understand, let alone appreciate.
1. FLIGHT is set in her Samarian universe. A tale of betrayal and long-lost romance. Believable characters and a twist ending will leave every reader satisfied.
2. BLOOD (from the Heart of Gold world) was my favorite short story, even though I didn't much like the corresponding novel itself. Kerk, a young man from a patriarchal society, arrives at a foreign city in search of a mother who abandoned him as a child.
3. GOLD (Summers at Castle Auburn) surprisingly disappointed. This story was bland and unoriginal. The characters had all the originality of cardboard cut-outs. Princess Zara is the stereotypical lovely, headstrong princess with an impossible low-class love. Yawn.
4. FLAME (from the Gillengaria series) was merely pleasant. An entertaining read about the mishaps of the fire-mystic Senneth.
Overall, this collection is well worth your money if you're a dedicated Sharon Shinn fan. If not, I'd recommend her novels instead of these short stories. These stories can stand alone, but without the rich context provided by her novels, they could be hard to understand, let alone appreciate.
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