What do You think about Dark Moon Defender (2006)?
Dark Moon Defender is the third of the Twelve Houses series by SHaron Shinn.In the earlier two books we meet and get really involved with the adventures of Senneth, Tayse, Justin, Kirra, Donnal and Cammon as they traveled around the land of Gillengaria at the behest of their King. There is much unrest in the Kingdom. One powerful Lord is trying to foment rebellion and usurp the throne. The minor vassals of the Twelve ruling houses of the land are trying to use the unrest as a way to gain their own prominence. And the Leader of a Convent dedicated to the Goddess of the Moon is hunting and killing Mystics. Needing proof that Coralinda, the Lestra of the Luminen convent is really killing mystics, the King sends Justin on an undercover mission to the small town of Neft near the convent to gather information.While there, Justin meets and falls in love one of the novices of the convent, Ellynor. Unbeknownst to him, Ellynor is a girl from beyond the Lireth Mountains, a Lirren. Lirrens have a very close knit and complexly intertwined social structure that discourages outsiders from marrying into the clans. If an outsider wants to marry a Lirren girl they must meet in combat a close male member, a father or brother, to the death. But this is the least of their problems. Ellynor is a mystic and doesn't realize it. Things become increasingly dangerous as she realizes her "gift" of healing is really a mystic art and the Lestra has taken notice of Ellynor.Just as the first book of the series was centered on Senneth (and Tayse), and the second book was Kirra's (and to a lesser extent Donnal's), this book centers on Justin. While most of the narrative is on his undercover activities, we still get a good dose of the other five members we've come to know and enjoy in the previous books. In fact, there are some really great scenes of Senneth and Tayes at her family's home. Cammon's skill as a reader comes in mighty handy when Justin gets into trouble and the rest of them come to his rescue. And Kirra's skill as shapeshifter becomes critical at a very crucial moment. And there is a very wonderful scene when the six of them gather together at the very humble home of the town's magistrate to celebrate a very special occasion.I just love this series and this is certainly a wonderful addition to it. I can't wait to read the next one.
—Tina
My wife said that she didn't enjoy this third book as well as she did the first two. I disagree,I thoroughly enjoyed this third book.It was very interesting to see things from Justin and Ellynor’s perspective. The majority of the story takes place in Neft, where Justin is working undercover trying to determine what exactly Coralinda and the Convent Guards are up to. He comes to the rescue of a young Ellynor on the streets of Neft and the two quickly become captivated with one another. Up to this book, I didn't have a clear image of Justin,except as he interacted with Tayse, his father figure and his other friends to one degree or another.However,this is the first time he is completely on his own, apart from Tayse and his extended family, and he doesn’t like it much. That may be one reason why he bonds so quickly with Ellynor. It also gives him a chance to really become independent from Tayse and build his confidence and make his own decisions. I thought Ellynor was a welcome character to the story, she is a bit naive and inexperienced, but has a strength, savvy and kindness about her that makes her very likable."She is also a Mystic" and I remember Justins option of Mystics in the first book. I was happiest when all six characters were together again,his own Sabahta-Ris as the Lirrenfolk called it.I loved how they interacted with one another and it's probably one ot the things in the story I like best, how they have all come to love and respect one another. I can’t wait to read book four.
—Jack Murphy
Reading this book during Hurricane Sandy yesterday was the perfect distraction. I didn't have any idea what Ms. Shinn would do with Justin's story so I let her lead while I followed.This one is more of a love story and didn't really move the series forward for me so I took a star off for that and the ending. I don't like the fill-in the details endings even if I can see it clearly.This series has characters that hold me in a sweet thrall. Justin, like Tayse, is a man of honor and purpose. I wondered what the woman would be like to capture his heart. As it turns out, she was everything he needed and many things he didn't. They both started out hiding secrets. I believe the mysteries they held allowed them to fall in love. Neither understood what was truly at stake.The heroine, Ellynor, is from the mysterious Lirrenlands on the other side of the mountain from Gillengaria. Ellynor is a novice in the convent run by the wholly evil zealot Corlinda Gisseltess. The story gave a comprehensive view of life inside the convent. As expected, the Daughters of the Pale Mother are doing very bad things to Mystics. Ellynor came to the convent to support her cousin who was basically weak minded moving towards crazy. While on an outing, Ellynor is attacked and needed a hero. In came Justin. The two began to bond almost immediately. I felt they were an excellent fit and I like the fact that Ms. Shinn doesn't rush through the process of falling in love. Justin is working alone on his assignment to spy on the convent so he doesn't have his friends by his side at first. Of course, they are there when he needs them. Senneth and Tayse move their relationship to the next level in this one and made me nearly cry. I love Kirra and Donnal but their relationship is strange and doesn't work for me beyond friendship. I would like more to come of it but they would need their own book. Cammon is his usual sweet self. Although the story did not move enough of the conflict forward, there was still movement of major threads. I liked everything that came to light and the new bonds that were formed in support of the main characters.My libray didn't have book 4 on the shelves so I am gonna have to wait on that one. Whoa is me.
—jD
