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amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
4 short stories, one each set in the 4 main worlds she has written about in her full-length novels, with the thread of a love/romance binding them all together.
tyrshand's review against another edition
5.0
I had to pick this up right away, now that I have read books in each of the worlds represented in this book.
The Samaria story was interesting, especially as it had been so long since I'd read the novels that the world was almost new to me. It spurred me on to start rereading the series. Besides, how can you not like a story about how strong the love between a mother (even if adoptive) and child is?
The Heart of Gold story was extremely welcome. That was another great Shinn story, so it was interesting to explore another aspect of the world. My only gripe is that we still know so little about the Albino people. Perhaps one day she will write a story about them.
The Auburn story really had me excited since I'd just finished the novel. I was even more excited when I realized the story would explore the aliora... It was well written and interesting and I have no real complaints. I just wish we had been able to see more about what motivates the aliora to do what they do...
The last story was a Senneth story and it was okay. So far I'm not really a big fan of the Twelve Houses series. It's well enough, it just doesn't seem as special as the other Shinn novels.
I do hope Shinn does another book like this at some point. There is so much more to explore in her novels!
The Samaria story was interesting, especially as it had been so long since I'd read the novels that the world was almost new to me. It spurred me on to start rereading the series. Besides, how can you not like a story about how strong the love between a mother (even if adoptive) and child is?
The Heart of Gold story was extremely welcome. That was another great Shinn story, so it was interesting to explore another aspect of the world. My only gripe is that we still know so little about the Albino people. Perhaps one day she will write a story about them.
The Auburn story really had me excited since I'd just finished the novel. I was even more excited when I realized the story would explore the aliora... It was well written and interesting and I have no real complaints. I just wish we had been able to see more about what motivates the aliora to do what they do...
The last story was a Senneth story and it was okay. So far I'm not really a big fan of the Twelve Houses series. It's well enough, it just doesn't seem as special as the other Shinn novels.
I do hope Shinn does another book like this at some point. There is so much more to explore in her novels!
bookwyrmknits's review
adventurous
medium-paced
5.0
This is an enjoyable set of 4 novellas, each set in a different one of Sharon Shinn's universes. I enjoyed all of the stories a lot, though the entire reason I picked this book up was for the novella set in the Summers at Castle Auburn universe. I have wanted more stories in that world for ages, so I was thrilled to find out that one existed.
Honestly, I don't think there was a weak story in the lot. I've read the Twelve Houses series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Heart of Gold, so I knew three of the four settings going into this book. (It's been long enough since I've read them, though, that the only one I truly remember is Castle Auburn...) I was able to pick the worlds back up without getting confused by small things, and the Samaria story (whose world was new to me) was equally easy to get caught up in without getting lost. This is a very solid set of novellas, and I recommend it to any fan of Sharon Shinn's work.
Honestly, I don't think there was a weak story in the lot. I've read the Twelve Houses series, Summers at Castle Auburn, and Heart of Gold, so I knew three of the four settings going into this book. (It's been long enough since I've read them, though, that the only one I truly remember is Castle Auburn...) I was able to pick the worlds back up without getting confused by small things, and the Samaria story (whose world was new to me) was equally easy to get caught up in without getting lost. This is a very solid set of novellas, and I recommend it to any fan of Sharon Shinn's work.
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