Scan barcode
aphelia88's review against another edition
4.0
A charming, light fantasy with a gorgeous, evocative cover that perfectly captures elements of the story. Some of the major elements reminded me of Sharon Shinn's Elemental Blessings series (which starts with [b:Troubled Waters|7908762|Troubled Waters (Elemental Blessings, #1)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1270247367l/7908762._SY75_.jpg|11180191]), especially Zoe's stay on the river in the first book. And the scene with the tower and the final showdown strongly recalled Corene's story in [b:Jeweled Fire|21528313|Jeweled Fire (Elemental Blessings, #3)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492436106l/21528313._SY75_.jpg|40855274].
Despite that, this is a quick, entertaining book that flows smoothly and is a lovely read! It is the perfect length for the story it tells but it isn't as complex as most of Shinn's work. I usually recommend readers new to Sharon Shinn start with either her standalone [b:Summers at Castle Auburn|345660|Summers at Castle Auburn|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388592909l/345660._SY75_.jpg|335966] or the Twelve Houses series (beginning with [b:Mystic and Rider|97967|Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses, #1)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388338711l/97967._SY75_.jpg|94425]) but this story would also serve as a nice introduction to the author, with the caveat that it reads more like a novella.
Daiyu is working at an internship before her last year of high school. She is Chinese, having been adopted by Caucasian parents. She lives in St. Louis. Attending a fair one afternoon, a strange lady implores her to buy a black jade ring in the shape of a dragon. Calm, practical and unflappable, Daiyu refuses at first. But despite herself, she feels uncharacteristically drawn to the ring and when she returns to buy it, she walks under the St. Louis Arch wearing the ring - and winds up in an entirely different world.
She is greeted by Kalen, young man with whom she feels an immediate affinity, and told that she is a rare Sojourner - able to travel between "iterations" (parallel universes) with a talisman, which in her case is the jade dragon ring. The ring also acts as a translator, allowing her to speak, read and write the local language.
Kalen lives with two guardians, Aurora and Ombri, who maintain the balance between worlds. A charismatic man has become Prince Minister but poses a danger to his citizens and the guardians have deliberately brought Daiyu over as part of an elaborate ruse to send him to a sort of interdimensional jail. If Daiyu returns to her own world she will forget the adventure and her Sojourner talent, and if she refuses to help the guardians, she will leave their world in peril.
The magic is vague and the danger is secondary to the romance that develops between Daiyu and Kalen, which happens convincingly, if a little too fast. The Aviary full of red birds where they meet in secret - shown in the beautiful cover art (the parasol is shiny while the rest of the cover is matte - a really neat touch!) - is delightful. Daiyu is a little too passive, and I think she should have asked more questions, but this is a fast-moving, fun read. The ending is very cute and hopeful
Despite that, this is a quick, entertaining book that flows smoothly and is a lovely read! It is the perfect length for the story it tells but it isn't as complex as most of Shinn's work. I usually recommend readers new to Sharon Shinn start with either her standalone [b:Summers at Castle Auburn|345660|Summers at Castle Auburn|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388592909l/345660._SY75_.jpg|335966] or the Twelve Houses series (beginning with [b:Mystic and Rider|97967|Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses, #1)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388338711l/97967._SY75_.jpg|94425]) but this story would also serve as a nice introduction to the author, with the caveat that it reads more like a novella.
Daiyu is working at an internship before her last year of high school. She is Chinese, having been adopted by Caucasian parents. She lives in St. Louis. Attending a fair one afternoon, a strange lady implores her to buy a black jade ring in the shape of a dragon. Calm, practical and unflappable, Daiyu refuses at first. But despite herself, she feels uncharacteristically drawn to the ring and when she returns to buy it, she walks under the St. Louis Arch wearing the ring - and winds up in an entirely different world.
She is greeted by Kalen, young man with whom she feels an immediate affinity, and told that she is a rare Sojourner - able to travel between "iterations" (parallel universes) with a talisman, which in her case is the jade dragon ring. The ring also acts as a translator, allowing her to speak, read and write the local language.
Kalen lives with two guardians, Aurora and Ombri, who maintain the balance between worlds. A charismatic man has become Prince Minister but poses a danger to his citizens and the guardians have deliberately brought Daiyu over as part of an elaborate ruse to send him to a sort of interdimensional jail. If Daiyu returns to her own world she will forget the adventure and her Sojourner talent, and if she refuses to help the guardians, she will leave their world in peril.
The magic is vague and the danger is secondary to the romance that develops between Daiyu and Kalen, which happens convincingly, if a little too fast. The Aviary full of red birds where they meet in secret - shown in the beautiful cover art (the parasol is shiny while the rest of the cover is matte - a really neat touch!) - is delightful. Daiyu is a little too passive, and I think she should have asked more questions, but this is a fast-moving, fun read. The ending is very cute and hopeful
ecsun345's review against another edition
5.0
yay, they found each other there!!!!!
even though they don't remember who they were : )
even though they don't remember who they were : )
hollylynna's review against another edition
4.0
Great story about a girl thrown into an alternate universe. I really enjoyed this sweet story.
eupomene's review against another edition
4.0
The main attraction of this novel, for me, is that it is about a teenage girl who just happens to have been adopted from China. That she was has nothing at all to do with the story (except that she needs to look Chinese) and this is a rare and wonderful thing. I'll be saving it for my daughter so that there is at least a handful of books she can read like this -- one would think there will be more by the time she is a teen.
Beyond that -- I am a fan of Sharon Shinn, though her later works have not wowed me. Her Samaria series still is her best. GATEWAY is a light & lovely little fairy tale of a girl flung into another reality, a parallel world to ours, where she must solve a problem while learning who is telling the truth and who is not. While there, of course she falls in love. It is a classic daydream for many -- to find a new world and to save it - but it is not without heartache.
The beautiful cover doesn't hurt one bit, either.
Beyond that -- I am a fan of Sharon Shinn, though her later works have not wowed me. Her Samaria series still is her best. GATEWAY is a light & lovely little fairy tale of a girl flung into another reality, a parallel world to ours, where she must solve a problem while learning who is telling the truth and who is not. While there, of course she falls in love. It is a classic daydream for many -- to find a new world and to save it - but it is not without heartache.
The beautiful cover doesn't hurt one bit, either.
merrinish's review against another edition
4.0
A really fascinating job at world building, I liked the concept of this book. Also, I love the way Sharon Shinn writes characters. She's a keeper.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
Gateway by Sharon Shinn has a rather beautiful, colorful cover featuring two people hiding behind a red parasol. Frankly, that was the most striking thing about Gateway. It had all of the elements to be really awesome: parallel universes, cultural subversion, the fact that it's YA, and a romantical element. (Romantical is a word frequently used by Flava Flav). However, Gateway was one of those books which, well, I read it, and moved on to the next book without any sort of a second thought.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
sarastar43's review against another edition
Was a little wary of this one, because I don't always like Sharon Shinn's YA book (though her adult books are consistently excellent). This one was really good, though, well-developed and interesting characters, with an intriguing ethical dilemma for the main character. The upended racial hierarchy in the alternate world was a nice touch, as well.
alliesalazar's review against another edition
1.0
Had potential, but was horribly written. Glad it was a $1 from Goodwill.
gerry94's review against another edition
3.0
When I picked up this book to read, I expected a book about Chinese culture and such. I surprise to find out it was that and much more. If you are looking for a good fantasy read with a hint of romance, this book is for you.
librandian's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed this book, but only a little. I liked the concept of a physical gateway that leads into another world if you have the key. Even Jia, the other dimension was interesting. But what killed the book for me was the characters. Daiyu was so unbelievable. Here is a girl ruled by her emotions, an aspect of her we never see when she is in her own world. Just the fact that she was considering sacrificing her life at home for a boy she met a few months ago.
I liked the concept, but the characters fell flat in the end.
I liked the concept, but the characters fell flat in the end.