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A review by aphelia88
Gateway by Sharon Shinn
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