Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses series Book 1)

...or to give a rough analogy, Sharon Shinn is to George R. R. Martin what Agatha Christie is to James Ellroy. It doesn't take a lot of effort for a reader to keep track of what's going on in this book. If you prefer fast-paced action and complex drama, look elsewhere.The writing is good, flows well and is stylistically consistent. (no jarring bits of dialog or turns of phrase that feel slightly off)Shinn paints her characters beautifully! Many authors wind up giving some of their characters a similar "flavor" especially if they've written a strong hero/heroine at some point, and that personality worked really, really well. Throughout the Twelve Houses series, not only are you not reminded of a main character when reading a secondary one, the minor characters are surprisingly distinct. It's not easy to give nameless bad guy no.1 in one book a different feel from nameless bad guys nos. 1, 2, AND 3, in another.The first book I read by Sharon Shinn was the audiobook version of Mystic and Rider. I loved it so much I bought the print version and have re-read it along with the rest of the series nearly every year since. These days there are dozens of good sword & sorcery / epic fantasy authors who have books available in audiobook format. Unfortunately, authors who lucked out in the narrator department are thinner on the ground. (unless you count the vast number of well-narrated fantasy novels geared toward teens or that have a coming-of-age element)If I set up an epic fantasy "style spectrum" using half a dozen authors with good audiobooks (I've listened to more books than I've read, so please allow the qualifier), the order would look something like this:1. George R. R. Martin(I actually think the print version of his stuff is better, but since Game of Thrones is such a widely recognizable example of highly complex fantasy writing, he's included)2. Robert Jordan3. L. E. Modesitt Jr.4. Juliet Marillier5. Lois McMaster Bujold6. Sharon ShinnThe last three authors' books focus closely on the relationships of a smaller cast of characters. Out of all these authors, I think Shinn's books have the least edge and most warmth.

I have long been an avid fan of Sharon Shinn's works. This series was my first introduction to her, and I have devoured it several times. It is as though Tamora Pierce and she had divided their magical worlds of strong women between stories of adults, and stories for younger readers and teens - although I also love the truth teller series written by Shinn.Were I stranded on a desert island, I would only want water, a hammock, and all the books written by these two authors. I would be able to feed myself with lessons I learned from the books, and feel safe that Spirits and God were allowing their characters magic to seep into my own being, so that I could provide and protect myself.The Twelve Houses series is wonderful. Any book with strong, kind, fierce women who trust themselves and are yet open to risk loving others is a book I will buy over and over, to give away to those who need to remember who they are.

I've read this several times; despite the reviews claiming everything is predictable, this is a wonderful book. The magic is in the people, not in the plot. Isn't that what it's all about? Well sketched characters, who make you CARE about them? Sharon Shinn does that. I have read all four of this series, and I keep hoping she'll write one more. Come on, Sharon, just one more!Decent, likeable people who aren't sure they like each other at first, by the end of the book they are blood brothers and sisters. All different, each a dazzling Faberge's egg of personality...gradually they seduce you into being one of them on their peregrination.

This is a so-so book, although Shinn's writing is fluid and easy to read. The characters are engaging, and I cared what happened to them. The backstory of the world was mildly interesting, although Shinn could have invested a bit more there.The magic system felt weak to me. It isn't clear (for example) what keeps "shiftlings" from simply transforming the enemies weapons into something harmless, or for that matter the "moonstones" into something harmless. (To be fair, I think a sympathetic reader can overlook things like these, but it would be nice to get some kind of explanation into the text.)The relationships between lords and their vassals seem highly idealized and not very plausible for an agrarian economy. Shinn has transported twentieth century ideas into a (nominally) medieval setting in a manner all-too-familiar in the fantasy genre.Nor is the story particularly interesting. We start out with a quest to find out the state of the southern provinces. We learn quickly that the state is "not good", and the rest of the book basically confirms that without adding much. The real story is the changing relationship between the characters. This is fairly well done, but the result is essentially a fantasy romance with a weak plot.Despite all that, I enjoyed it, but... there isn't much to think about when the book is done. I struggled with how many stars to give, because I enjoy Shinn's writing, but I don't think I can justify more than three.

Wonderful world building with a series of great characters all of whom are layered and well worth spending hours of time with. This is quite simply one of the best fantasy, adventure books that also has a thread of romance in it that I have ever read.Unlike some fantasy authors Ms. Shinn doesn't overwhelm the reader with hundreds of characters. Rather there are six main characters, each of which has a distinct personality and past.There is enough intrigue regarding potential treason and a possible sort of holy war against the mystics of the book to keep the plot going and the reader very interested.

This is the first of four linked books, all of which I really enjoyed. They combine fantasy, magic and a some romance into a most enjoyable blend.I liked these so much that I bought them for my grand-daughter.I have also read a number of other books by Sharon Shinn, all on similar themes, and enjoyed everyone of them,If you have a taste for that kind of fantasy I can pretty well guarantee you will enjoy any of her books.

I loved Summers at Auburn Castle which is why I got this one, but apart from having a strong female lead, they are very different books. I didn't like this one at all, as the plot was long winded and slow, and the prose and dialogs clumsy. So many obvious points were laboured over, just to make you sure didn't miss the point. The characters were interesting and vividly described, but trapped in a kind of wordy, self-indulgent writing style. I managed to limp through to the end but won't be reading another one from this series.

I love this book, I have read it several times. A party of five set out on a mission for the king, the characters develop beautifully. Some may find it rather slow

Plot,characters everything 1st class if u love Trudy canavan u will love this book,and all Sharon Shinns work fantastic read

I liked “Mystic and Rider” a great deal, which had a lot to do with the two main characters Senneth, the incredible powerful mystic [aka sorceress], and Tayse, the stoic guard and one of the “King's Riders”. The two are thrown in together on a mission for their king, doing reconnaissance in the realm's southern provinces. The king fears treachery from the lords and ladys there and Senneth and her small party are to determine the situation there. The more places they visit, the more disconcerting news they find, about plotting gentry and a growing fanaticism in the anti-mystic religion of the Pale Goddess.The book mostly tells the group's adventures during that journey, but they are sparse for about two thirds of the book: it's the last part of the plot that brings the twists and turns and the stunning revelations that show the greater picture, since “Mystic and Rider” is the overture of a classic fantasy story. This first book in the series gives the introduction to the world with its kingdom, its mostly forgotten gods and the various characters and where their allegiance lies. But although it's very character-driven and predominantly deals with the protagonists and their relationships, the story has its suspenseful moments and I always wanted to know what would await Senneth and her posse round the next corner. And I appreciated Sharon Shinn for her way of introducing world and people without any obvious info dump. There is a new member in their party and his questions and the need for each of the various members to get to know each other better, make for a good background to integrate knowledge about world and people.The two protagonists Senneth and Tayse I just loved, well Senneth a bit more, because she is this unbelievably powerful sorceress, unrivaled, but she bears scars of the worst kind on her soul and the more about her comes out, the more I adored her. And I appreciated that she neither rejects her power, nor is she without doubts, but she manages to keep her calm and always think before she acts. Yeah, she's pretty cool. As is Tayse, by the way, even if he is “just” the very versed swordsman and no sorcerer. But his personal development is just as huge.As I said, “Mystic and Rider” is a first in a series and the overall plot will continue in the next installment. But the story at hand is wrapped up well enough to not feel cliffhangerish.