Dark Moon Defender
Dec. 15th, 2006 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snugglekittyThis is the third novel in Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses series. Overall, they represent a new level of maturity for her as a writer. They deal with more complex issues than the simple black-and-white rescue-the-girl stuff in her Samaria books.
My least favorite thing about the book is a plot development towards the end. It goes kinda like this. "If we stay together, one of two terrible outcomes must result. Oh no! Whatever shall we do?" Helpful friend: "Oh, don't you know about the magic whistle? You just need to find the magic whistle. Then the situation will resolve itself so neither bad thing will happen." "Yay! We're so glad we found out about the magic whistle! Now everything's okay!" Small detail - no one ever finds the damned magic whistle. This isn't what actually happens, it's just a metaphor. But it really seems like Shinn wrote herself into a corner, and then, rather than writing herself out of it, just did a Custom Ex Machina that made it all okay, without even really following through. It annoyed me.
But, I like the way she writes lovestories, and the Twelve Houses ones are especially good. It seems like the next one will be the last one, or second-to-last - everybody in the circle of friends is now paired off, except for one, plus the overarching plot seems to be coming to a head. Three stars, and I went back and re-read the lovey bits. I recommend the series, if you haven't tried it. High fantasy enthusiasts will like it, as well as Shinn fans.
My least favorite thing about the book is a plot development towards the end. It goes kinda like this. "If we stay together, one of two terrible outcomes must result. Oh no! Whatever shall we do?" Helpful friend: "Oh, don't you know about the magic whistle? You just need to find the magic whistle. Then the situation will resolve itself so neither bad thing will happen." "Yay! We're so glad we found out about the magic whistle! Now everything's okay!" Small detail - no one ever finds the damned magic whistle. This isn't what actually happens, it's just a metaphor. But it really seems like Shinn wrote herself into a corner, and then, rather than writing herself out of it, just did a Custom Ex Machina that made it all okay, without even really following through. It annoyed me.
But, I like the way she writes lovestories, and the Twelve Houses ones are especially good. It seems like the next one will be the last one, or second-to-last - everybody in the circle of friends is now paired off, except for one, plus the overarching plot seems to be coming to a head. Three stars, and I went back and re-read the lovey bits. I recommend the series, if you haven't tried it. High fantasy enthusiasts will like it, as well as Shinn fans.