From the ages of six through thirteen, I dreaded Back-to-School Night. Every year, my parents would meet the new teacher I had been assigned that fall and every year, that teacher would repeat the same phrase: "...an advanced and voracious reader, but fails to read diversely." Following those meetings, my parents would return home with a concerned frown on their faces, having been told their daughter was bright and apt in all subjects, but simply refused to pick up a novel outside the fantasy genre. In fact, it is thanks to those very same Back-to-School Nights that I've stockpiled on beautiful editions of the classics: everything from Little Women to Anne of Green Gables has made its way under my Christmas tree for years, to no avail. Eventually, I grew bold enough to venture into contemporary fiction, but to this day, it fails to bring me the same sense of grounding -- of lightness of being, if you will -- as fantasy does. I can't explain it, but there's something incredibly calming about losing yourself in an other world, forced to remember a multitude of names, cities, and countries which don't exist on our plane, but do in another. Mystic and Rider, after a long and hollow reading slump, has awakened my passion for both reading and writing after a too-fatigued era of empty novels. Inevitably, fantasy never fails to bring me around; I just don't know why it took me this long to remember. Shinn's introduction into her Twelve Houses Series is a bold and unforgettable story. I dare you to try to put this aside after finishing its first chapter -- it may as well be declared impossible. While many reviewers have claimed Mystic and Rider is slow to start, I found it riveting from beginning to end, unable to turn my eyes away from this tale of political turmoil and religious upheaval. Gillengaria, a country overseen by a king, twelve houses, and home to mystics, is in grave danger. Rumors that the king has been ensnared by a sorceress, his young new queen, have shaken the land and, secretly, the houses prepare for war. Senneth, a mystic in the king's favor, is dispatched with two of the King's Riders, Tayse and Justin, alongside Kirra, another mystic, to travel the kingdom and bring back news of the nation's unrest. From the surface, Mystic and Rider follows the most basic format known within the fantasy genre. Shinn's novels, as I've learned, though action-packed with plenty of intriguing plot action, are driven primarily by her characters. Senneth, our protagonist, is a powerful mystic, capable of controlling fire. Kirra, a shapeshifter, joins her journey with her bodyguard, Donnal, yet another shapeshifter. Lastly, Cammon, a young boy Senneth finds in captivity and frees, discovers that he, too, is a mystic, capable of sensing those nearby. Accompanied by two King's Riders, deadly bodyguards whose sworn loyalty to the king and weaponry skills are legendary, the six traveling companions are far from friends. Justin mistrusts mystics and aristocrats, Donnal mistrusts anyone who isn't Kirra, and Tayse is wary of Senneth for her secrets and, more importantly, for her lack of allegiances. With the exception of Senneth and Cammon, each of these travelers bears loyalty either for the king or for one of the twelve noble houses they belong to. With a multitude of warring loyalties, the inner politics of this group alone are sufficient to carry forward this story. But Shinn's world-building is beyond impressive. Mystics, or those who possess magical ability, burn when brought in direct contact with moonstones. As such, a religious sect devoted to the Pale Goddess of the Moon, is bent on eradicating the mystics from Gillengaria. Meanwhile, the twelve houses are torn, some determined to erase mystics while others merely seek to install a different king to the throne. Wherever Senneth and her group of companions travel, they lack no end of deception, intrigue, and danger at every corner. What makes Mystic and Rider a remarkable novel, despite its hefty length, is its sheer presence. Shinn allows her characters to creep under your skin, slowly but surely. Each of these six travelers, remarkably unique and starkly different in their own light, find a way to breach their differences and trust one another, quite unexpectedly, as the story wears on. In most novels, such situations can seem easily contrived but Shinn weaves these into the narrative, never deviating her focus from Senneth's task and the political upheaval of this nation. Yet, the emotional impact of this novel never suffers for that focus, only benefits from it. Moreover, though, the romance present within the pages of Mystic and Rider stole my breath away. Subtle and slow, wavering but kind, doubtful yet aware; it's a mature, entirely beautiful arc that unfolds carefully, rewarding the reader for their patience. Senneth, the protagonist and one of the main narrators of this tale alongside Tayse, is precisely the type of heroine I crave to read about. While she is powerful, she is no "Chosen One" for her successes are empty without the help of those around her. Yet, it is her strength of will that builds her into such a compelling protagonist. Shinn balances courage alongside vulnerability so well within each of her characters, rendering them incredibly realistic, and then she does it again, balancing their personalities and strong wills alongside a romantic interest in such a way that they complement one another, on perfect ground and equal footing despite the surface inequalities that may lie between them. I remain in awe of her skill, constantly, and can only be grateful for having discovered such characters; characters who not only understand one another, but who -- inexplicably -- understand me. It is hard to tell if I've enjoyed Mystic and Rider more or Troubled Waters, though I suspect it is the former, after all. Sharon Shinn's novels, even the one I have been disappointed by, always manage to strike a powerful cord within me, likely because of their quiet brilliance. While I heartily love the loud, voracious novels of fantasy, such as The Song of Fire and Ice Series, I find that I equally appreciate -- if not more -- the silent stories; just as strong, just as fiery, just as compelling.
Guys, guys, guys, I love this book!Where has Mystic and Rider been all my life? Where has Sharon Shinn been?With Troubled Waters, I expected adventure, so you can imagine my surprise when it was a rather “calm and tension-free” story, mostly about self-discovery, which wasn’t bad because the magic and fantasy setting were appealing.I definitely enjoy Mystic and Rider a great deal more and it’s a wonderful FANTASY book for me. The fact is I tend to follow an unpleasant pattern: enjoying the romance of a fantasy book more than the fantasy itself.Sometimes, I have to deal with petty romance and selfishness masked as love, and what’s worse is when I can’t stand the heroine or/and hero.With Mystic and Rider, the pattern is out of the question and I can’t begin to tell you how at home I felt with the characters.Senneth. Tayse. Justin. Cammon. Donnal. Kirra.Six travelers— two riders and four mystics— who put aside their differences and learn to trust and depend on one another as they work on a mission given by the King. With the exception of Cammon who just happens to get tangled with the original five. The story starts off confusing for me. Nonetheless, it’s a perfect beginning, demonstrating what readers are getting themselves into. Initially, we are deceived by the point of view of an unimportant character, who reflects on the identities of his tavern’s customers, including the major characters. Eventually, we quickly learn everyone is not what they seem when the tavern is thrown in confusion and disorder. From that moment on, the six travelers don’t fail to awestruck the people of wherever they journey (and the readers) with their sharp wits and skills— combat, tactical, magical and whatnot. Strength and loyalty are tested. Weaknesses are revealed. Friendship, trust, and a deeper bond of affection are formed.I would trust these people with my lives. I really would.Our heroine, Senneth, is mature and 34 years of age, which is quite refreshing to see a change in a character. Though I believe age has less to do with it. She’s not the overdramatic and oh-why-does-this-have-to-happen-to-me heroine I read about these days. She’s really kick-ass and awesome and I mean it without exaggeration. Her experiences— harsh and pleasant— have aged her beyond a lifetime, making her a rational, strong, levelheaded, and independent woman. She doesn’t seek approval and praise and is honest in everything she is, although she does hide her past identity. An identity which she disowned at seventeen when she started wandering around the world. Senneth is such a strong and remarkable person that when she undergoes moments of weakness, it’s like a bullet to the chest. Her vulnerability is nothing to bash at when it’s reasonable. Not once can her actions be condemned as selfish nor her acts of love. She’s somebody you can trust to have your back. Somebody, like Tayse, who you will freely follow into the battlefield. I respect her and that’s a lot coming from me. I can love a character, but it’s a whole other story for a character to earn my respect and gratitude.I swear, there is a common and frustrating point in a book, where the heroine and/or hero would throw a fit and play out a dramatic episode. (See Stolen Songbird and The Kiss of Deception.) Senneth doesn’t go stupid in the head or become blinded by love. She deals with it like an adult. (Okay. As if I know anything about dealing with situations like an “adult.”) Both Senneth and Tayse face love sensibly, even when the emotions are enough to overwhelm them into insanity and the what-ifs threaten to break them.“If I were to fashion a man I would want to see riding at my side, I would fashion him just like you. He would look like you, he would fight like you, he would be just as wary and hard to convince. He would be you. But he would learn, no matter how slowly, that he need not put love aside. He would come to understand that I am lonely, that I am frightened, that I am a woman building fires to ward off the dark.”I am confident the rest of the series won’t live up to the first book. I am confident in this.Mystic and Rider is worthy of five stars!Senneth is worthy of my admiration.I almost wish the rest of the series had continued with her viewpoint.-Mistress
What do You think about Mystic And Rider (2006)?
I'm giving this book a relatively low score because this first one struck me as a rather generic Sword and Sorcery. The backdrop is faux pseudo-European. The King's Riders reminded me of Lackey's Heralds (albeit without the magical trappings) and as for the dilemma of the mystics? I can't agree with the reviewer who wrote that fantasy don't commonly tackle social intolerance, particularly paired with religious fanaticism. Such themes are common, particularly when dealing with magic users. The history of persecution of witches isn't lost on fantasy writers or readers. One reviewer, for instance, brought up Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books, which personally I think deals with the themes with more subtlety and complexity. For that matter the whole driving force of the plot of the Harry Potter deals with intolerance.That said, I do find this a good "comfort read" that bears rereading. It has the kind of world, like Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover or McCaffrey's Pern that has me doodling its details and wanting to find out more about the 12 Houses. And it gets better. I actually started not with this book, but the fifth book, Fortune and Fate, whose description intrigued me when it came out in hardcover. I found out then that Shinn has that trait that makes me grab whatever books an author writes--she creates characters you care about and root for. Senneth, who is the protagonist of this book, among them, yes, but the other characters too. Good thing, given each book is centered around different characters. So while I wouldn't put these books in the first rank of books of high fantasy, I do recommend them as enjoyable reads. If you like this one, the others won't disappoint.
—Lisa (Harmonybites)
After reading two books by Sharon Shinn, I feel it is safe for me to say that she is a lover of the traditional fantasy. She takes old tropes and cliches and uses them to her advantage, breathing new life into them and twisting them into new directions. Shinn's prose, as always, is elegant in its moderation; never does it seem to wordy or too succinct. As with the other book that I read by her, Archangel, it is primarily her characterization that makes this story more enjoyable than your standard fantasy adventure. Following Senneth, Kirra, Justin, Tayse, Donnel and Cammon across the landscape of Gillengaria was enthralling and immersing. Senneth, who is one of two main leads whom our story's perspective is written from, is especially wonderful. She is the type of female protagonist seen so rarely in fantasy; strong, bold, but not solitary or aloof; Senneth shows emotions and femininity while still retaining her power and passion. Her strength comes through her womanhood; not in spite of it. Her personal struggles are not her own; rather, her purpose and her existence (contrary to her original designs) becomes validated and centered around the companions she grows to love. This sort of a character, whose unfolding realization is captivating in its gradual, steady portrayal, is something that immediately took hold of me, both as a reader and an amateur writer. Shinn really knows how to write good characters, and Senneth is a prime example of such a character, who's complexity is only matched by her subtlety. The book further delves into deeper social and philosophical constructs: racism, classism, and the ambiguity of one's own righteousness or conviction, for example, are all touched on throughout the novel. While it is only a brief spattering, I for one like a book that shows it's characters can and do think deeply. Overall, it was an engrossing romp and a novel filled with joy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Shinn's world; enough that I am setting off to find the second book in the series as we speak.
—William
I have a weak spot for shero fantasy fiction. Long post-liberation, we females have so much to fight. A still male-dominated system; women who try to succeed by acting like a man and hurting the rest of us, directly through management or indirectly through association; our bodies which are ever changing, ever coming up with new betrayals; raising children, keeping a job, dealing with a spouse or worse yet, dating. Then there are bills, fashion, car troubles, taxes, politics, global warming, world famine, sick family members, laptops that won't work and ovens that don't keep the right temperature. Pour on top of that mix the insults, put-downs, disrespect, and scorn that comes from friends and family who should be standing by you, and it's no wonder fantasizing about living off the earth and being fit enough to whack away at enemies that can be cut down and stepped over is so delightful. Good shero fiction gives me courage in some basic way. And, I wonder how these women would deal with a financial investment report. Sharon Shinn's series is a satisfying one. Good-intentioned versus the unjust and selfish power-hungry. Romance, but not as a solution to womanly problems. This first one is particularly good, although the cover art is not only poor, but incorrect. The main character has short white hair that makes her look like a tall candle. Don't the editors ever let the illustrators read the books first? Anyway, its a fun series for comfort reading.
—Diane
