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doahdancer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
singsthewren's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this series was over after the world-changing events of the last book, and I was very unsure about whether or not I wanted another one set in the same universe. I was inclined to pick it up because it was new characters, and was sort of disappointed to find out that the main characters from the previous books made significant appearances, especially Senneth and Cammon.
But once I got into it, I was very pleasantly surprised. Wen is a really unique character, the kind we see a lot in fantasy novels as secondary or even tertiary characters, but who almost never gets to be the one the book is about. She's a little more mature in age than most protagonists, too, which I felt gave her the space to be more layered and believable. I really liked being inside her head, and the story was satisfying, if a little light plot-wise. There were a few times when the secondary story dragged, but I was always happy to be back in Wen's world, and was so glad I gave it a try.
Definitely one to read for the characters, and they elevated it from a 3 to a 4 star book for me. Shinn is so dependable, I feel like I am never disappointed by the journey she takes me on. Glad this was more proof positive!
But once I got into it, I was very pleasantly surprised. Wen is a really unique character, the kind we see a lot in fantasy novels as secondary or even tertiary characters, but who almost never gets to be the one the book is about. She's a little more mature in age than most protagonists, too, which I felt gave her the space to be more layered and believable. I really liked being inside her head, and the story was satisfying, if a little light plot-wise. There were a few times when the secondary story dragged, but I was always happy to be back in Wen's world, and was so glad I gave it a try.
Definitely one to read for the characters, and they elevated it from a 3 to a 4 star book for me. Shinn is so dependable, I feel like I am never disappointed by the journey she takes me on. Glad this was more proof positive!
nelsonseye's review against another edition
4.0
Technically the Twelve Houses series finished with [b:Reader and Raelynx|446946|Reader and Raelynx (Twelve Houses, #4)|Sharon Shinn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442876284s/446946.jpg|435639]. However, this book was a lovely epilogue or coda. There were loose ends to tie up, and I think this book did a great job. Perhaps there could have been less featuring of the original cast, but they had some loose ends too.
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
This book was like a spin off of the original series, with some favorite characters showing up to help but focusing on entirely new people.
I thought Wen was a fantastic character to expand upon and with the perfect mix of action and romance, as per usual, this is a great continuation of the series.
I thought Wen was a fantastic character to expand upon and with the perfect mix of action and romance, as per usual, this is a great continuation of the series.
kpbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
1.0
I've liked Shinn's books in the past, for the most part. Some more than others, of course. But this one felt like she just wasn't ready to let the world go. I can understand that. So often, fantasy stories end with the huge conflict. There is no sense of what comes later; the rebuild, reassembling of lives, fortunes and nations. This novel does do that a bit, which is interesting.
But. You can call me a prude (and you wouldn't be the first, and you won't be the last), this trend of increasing the amount of sex action and sex description is one that I can live without. Porn is just as damaging when it is descriptive in print as it is when it is visual images.
I'd have liked this book better if Shinn had kept things out of the bedroom (those things come with doors for good reason).
But. You can call me a prude (and you wouldn't be the first, and you won't be the last), this trend of increasing the amount of sex action and sex description is one that I can live without. Porn is just as damaging when it is descriptive in print as it is when it is visual images.
I'd have liked this book better if Shinn had kept things out of the bedroom (those things come with doors for good reason).
settingshadow's review against another edition
3.0
It's possible I got old between the other Twelve Houses books and this. I remember the Twelve Houses as charming old-school fantasy novels with great character growth and setting development. Fortune and Fate feels like a fanfic of that: Wen is a character who has been totally present all along, don't you remember she was Justin's BFF? And the Queen loves her so much she won't replace her even though she went missing? So, since she's totally a central character we know and love, here's her story, with ample name-dropping of the (actual) main characters and a side plot about the actual main characters that's completely unrelated. So, yeah, as a Gillengaria novel this fails -- and there are more loose threads than I could handle on that end: "there's so much more crime in the Southern lands than there has been, let's investigate." That ended up being completely dropped. "What if people aren't still loyal to the queen?" Oh well, everyone loves Cammon, so should be fine.
On the other hand, Wen's story was sweet, if predictable. There's room in my life for a cozy old-school fantasy about female warriors.
On the other hand, Wen's story was sweet, if predictable. There's room in my life for a cozy old-school fantasy about female warriors.
melindamoor's review against another edition
5.0
This Fifth Installment of the Twelve Houses series has turned out to be my favourite, though I loved Books 1-4 before.
This book, this book ....
It was the perfect read for me: I loved every page. I wanted to finish it in one reading and yet I kept stopping so that I didn't finish. :) It ended too soon anyway.
It was actually a makeover story and I am a sucker for makeover stories.
Former King's Rider Wen, leaving Ghosenhall after King Baryn's death and trying to deal with her demons (survivor's guilt & having failed) finds her way to Fortunault lands. She inadvertently saves young Karryn Fortunault, to-be-marlady of the land, and agrees to build a guard for her upon her guardian's request. Good thing too, as it seems, someone wants Karryn dead to seize power for themselves.
In the meantime, Cammon, consort to Queen Amalie, decides to tour the Southern houses to see how the land lies, in company of his closest friends.
First the 2 stories run in parallel, switching POVs, and toward the end they become intertwined.
It is good to learn what exactly happened after the war the Southern houses waged on the Crown (that was a kind of question mark for me at the end of [b:Reader and Raelynx|446946|Reader and Raelynx (Twelve Houses, #4)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442876284l/446946._SY75_.jpg|435639] ). It is lovely to meet the circle of friends again.
But surprisingly -for me- the most satisfactory storyline was Wen's: how she is building up the guard, how her relationship with the guardsmen/women, with Karryn, with Jasper (uncle/guardian to Karryn) is developing. How she finally learns to forgive herself and puts her demons to rest. How the world in general is put to rights again.
I found it so easy to relate to Wen as a character. I loved her loyalty, determination, bravery & her vulnerability.
I just did not want the story to end and would happily read a 6th/7th installment to this series any day.
This book, this book ....
It was the perfect read for me: I loved every page. I wanted to finish it in one reading and yet I kept stopping so that I didn't finish. :) It ended too soon anyway.
It was actually a makeover story and I am a sucker for makeover stories.
Former King's Rider Wen, leaving Ghosenhall after King Baryn's death and trying to deal with her demons (survivor's guilt & having failed) finds her way to Fortunault lands. She inadvertently saves young Karryn Fortunault, to-be-marlady of the land, and agrees to build a guard for her upon her guardian's request. Good thing too, as it seems, someone wants Karryn dead to seize power for themselves.
In the meantime, Cammon, consort to Queen Amalie, decides to tour the Southern houses to see how the land lies, in company of his closest friends.
First the 2 stories run in parallel, switching POVs, and toward the end they become intertwined.
It is good to learn what exactly happened after the war the Southern houses waged on the Crown (that was a kind of question mark for me at the end of [b:Reader and Raelynx|446946|Reader and Raelynx (Twelve Houses, #4)|Sharon Shinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442876284l/446946._SY75_.jpg|435639] ). It is lovely to meet the circle of friends again.
But surprisingly -for me- the most satisfactory storyline was Wen's: how she is building up the guard, how her relationship with the guardsmen/women, with Karryn, with Jasper (uncle/guardian to Karryn) is developing. How she finally learns to forgive herself and puts her demons to rest. How the world in general is put to rights again.
I found it so easy to relate to Wen as a character. I loved her loyalty, determination, bravery & her vulnerability.
I just did not want the story to end and would happily read a 6th/7th installment to this series any day.