Quatrain

Publishers Weekly

The four enchanting novellas within Shinn's shimmering collection make delightful introductions to her romantic science fantasy worlds and thrill fans eager for a return visit. In “Flight” (the Samaria series), Aunt Salome tries to protect her niece from Raphael, an archangel with a dark past. In “Blood” (Heart of Gold), 17-year-old Kerk Socast moves from Gold Mountain to a distant city, where women's activist Jalciana Candachi helps him search for his runaway mother and find peace. In “Gold,” (Summers at Castle Auburn), war endangers the life of Princess Zara, who enjoys refuge in magically alluring Alora so much she doesn't want to go home. “Flame” (the Twelve Houses series) explores the fiery dangers of an untutored young Mystic and provides a whimsical conclusion to a satisfying collection that affirms Shinn's skill with the shorter form. (Oct.)

VOYA - Brenna Shanks

These stories revisit four of Sharon Shinn's fantasy/science fiction worlds. Flight takes place on Samaria, a world ruled by genetically engineered angels. In this tale, middle-aged Salome encounters the angel lover she abandoned long ago. When another angel's schemes endanger her young niece, Salome risks everything, including her second chance with Stephan, to rescue the girl. Blood revisits the deeply divided world of Heart of Gold (Ace Books, 2000/VOYA August 2000) where the patriarchal gulden and matriarchal indigos live in constant conflict. Young gulden Kerk, searching for his lost mother and sister, visits an indigo city and meets an independent indigo woman who changes his ideas about race, gender, and relationships. In Gold, Shinn returns to the world from Summers at Castle Auburn (2007/VOYA August 2001). Crown Princess Zara, fleeing an imminent war, tries to resist the temptations of the fae kingdom, Alora. If she fails, she will forget her former life completely, including the man she loves. In Flame, a prequel to Mystic and Rider (2005/VOYA October 2005), Senneth is blamed for the unnatural fires plaguing a village and must discover the real culprit. Romance, intrigue, imaginative settings, and strong characters are hallmarks of Shinn's works. These stories are no exception. Long-time fans will enjoy returning to favorite worlds, and new readers might find reasons to seek out the companion novels. Because these tales are from Shinn's adult novels and not her teen books, they are best for older teens. Reviewer: Brenna Shanks

Library Journal

Four new novellas, each set in one of Shinn's original world backgrounds, make up this volume by one of fantasy's most prolific and versatile writers. "Flight" returns to the world of Shinn's Samaria novels, where "angels" dwell among mortals and one woman faces her greatest betrayal. The novels Heart of Gold and Summers at Castle Auburn provide the settings for "Blood" and "Gold," respectively, while "Flame" tells the tale of one of the Twelve Houses series' most intriguing characters. VERDICT The author's large following should enjoy these reminders of Shinn's storytelling skill and her ability to create real people in imaginary worlds.