Gerfalcon and Joris of the Rock, excellent novels both, were written many years before Shy Leopardess, the third volume in Barringer's Neustrian Cycle, and for my money his finest work. It maintains the earlier novels' tradition of impeccable writing, focusing on interaction and dialog for its characterization. And, like the previous books, this, while developing an uncommon complexity, still satisfies the reader as a fantasy-diversion. What separates this book from its predecessors, however, is that Shy Leopardess shows Barringer at the height of his powers; the protagonist, a teenage girl named Yolande, is developed with a depth and strength that stands out as exceptional, both for the period in which the novel was originally written, and even today's fantasy market. I plead with publishers who may happen to read this, please get these books back on the market. Readers everywhere, though they may not realize it, are waiting.
