What do You think about The Truth-Teller's Tale (2007)?
Charming and (mostly) sweet-hearted YA fantasy, somewhat light on the fantasy and a little heavy on the romance. It's a coming-of-age tale about sisters who are "mirror twins": one left-handed and the other right-handed; one with a blue left eye and green right eye, the other opposite. One, Adele, is a Safe-Keeper, charged with keeping secrets anyone may tell her; the other, Eleda, is a Truth-Teller, who cannot tell a lie. The nature and obligations of Safe-Keepers and Truth-Tellers underlie most of the plot of this book. It's an interesting concept, although I was never quite convinced that Safe-Keepers and Truth-Tellers would be as popular and useful to society as they seem to be in this world. But I was able to roll with it. Sharon Shinn writes very well, and this novel does have some interesting things to say about the nature of truth and secrets and deception. At times the plot takes a step in a deeper, darker direction: there's a character who's a user (alert: minor rape subplot; not graphic). There's also a father who physically threatens his daughter with a knife and semi-strangulation, and she blows it off afterwards with a comment along the lines of "I know he wouldn't really do anything to me," which was frustrating to me. But ultimately this book turns in a very romance-oriented direction, juggling three different relationships, which is fine if a little light fantasy romance is what you're looking for, but don't expect anything really deep. The girls are 17 years old and the romances are kisses only, although there are references to what happens behind closed doors in two or three spots.Overall I thought this was a fun, light YA read. Now I'm backtracking to read the first book in the series.
—Tadiana ✩ Night Owl☽
Actual rating: 4 1/2 starsImagine never being able to tell a lie or repeat a secret. This is the life of identical twin sisters--one keeps others' secrets while the other can only tell the truth. As young teenagers, Adele and Eleda help their parents run a busy inn and are sought after by those searching for the truth and others who desperately want it hidden. They also find themselves with their own adventures and in situations they'd rather remain undisclosed. Occasionally they even discover something that must be kept hidden or another thing that must be shared in order to protect the other twin. Decisions get a bit tricky for both of them in many instances, especially when they are mistaken for the other. The Truth-Teller's Tale is a sequel to The Safe-Keeper's Secret, both of which take place in the same setting, but few characters are the same and the time is set several years later. As with the first, the second book is such a fun and compelling story. Shinn once again makes you fall in love with the characters she's created and gives you the surprise ending you didn't know you wanted.For full content review go to http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...
—Trimble
This is a well written book in an interesting world with (nearly) great characters. I just... I wanted to like it more than I actually did.I didn't entirely enjoy it for two reasons. One is that it's obvious. I mean, there's a one thing that I didn't expect because I wasn't looking for it but I can't say it surprised me. Everything else, (and I mean everything else) I knew the instant it was introduced. And I've been thinking that's kind of an odd grievance. I reread books all the time and obviously the second and third and 12th time I enjoy the story even though I know what's going to happen. Why does it bother me the first time? I haven't found the answer to that yet.Secondly, Eleda kind of bothered me. 80% of the time she's a decent character and being a Truth-Teller is interesting and her dynamic with her sister is engaging. But the rest of the time she's one of my least favorite characters - the one who overreacts in a negative manner. It's so annoying when they're talking to someone they know and trust and that person says one thing they don't understand and they're response is, "How can you ruin us!! I never thought you'd betray us!! How could you!!" And I'm like - come on. You know this person well enough to know that's not who they are and so you're just being dumb and it's really, really annoying.I liked Adele a lot and the story wouldn't have been the same told her from her point of view, but she's a much better character. And everyone else in the story is a well developed, interesting character. Eleda is too, I just didn't like her very much some of the time.The romantic elements are very subtle, but there's a sweetness to Gregory that I enjoyed. I really liked him.And really the world of Truth-Tellers and Safe-Keepers is really interesting. It elicits ideas and perspectives around truth and honesty and secrets and how people react to those things that are fun and engaging. If I'd enjoyed Eleda more I'd probably go back and read this a second time, eventually, just to see if I could enjoy the story better when I'm ok with knowing how it's going to play out.
—Lady
