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kpbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
purple_rose_kat93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
louisevtjones's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
mercysmusings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
The first time I read this, I loved it. This second time, while I still enjoyed it, I was able to read it more critically.
I don't love the relationship between Justin and Ellynor. She's always curled up on his lap, being protected by him. It's nice to see Justin grow and develop as a person, and to see that he and Kirra have an evolving relationship not based exclusively on class antagonism. But this book is basically about Justin's personal development and getting himself a gal.
The reality is that in the total Twelve Houses story arc, not much happens in this book. The bad guys still are the same, just as bad as before. There's a new alliance, which ties up loose ends from book 2. We find out the Queen is from the Lirrenlands, and we get a hint as to whom she would have married back home. And Tayse and Sennth, and Justin and Ellynor, get married.
It's like the line from William Goldman's The Princess Bride. What with one thing and another, 6 months pass.
I don't love the relationship between Justin and Ellynor. She's always curled up on his lap, being protected by him. It's nice to see Justin grow and develop as a person, and to see that he and Kirra have an evolving relationship not based exclusively on class antagonism. But this book is basically about Justin's personal development and getting himself a gal.
The reality is that in the total Twelve Houses story arc, not much happens in this book. The bad guys still are the same, just as bad as before. There's a new alliance, which ties up loose ends from book 2. We find out the Queen is from the Lirrenlands, and we get a hint as to whom she would have married back home. And Tayse and Sennth, and Justin and Ellynor, get married.
It's like the line from William Goldman's The Princess Bride. What with one thing and another, 6 months pass.
marymary91's review
5.0
Did I spend my Valentine’s Day finishing this book? Yes! Did I buy this whole series as a valentines gift to myself? Yes! I love, love! This series makes my heart all warm and fuzzy! Gosh, I was squealing as I closed this book! I don’t want this series to end
melindamoor's review
4.0
Highly recommended to fans of the sword & sorcery / romantic fantasy genres.
Well, Sharon Shinn is the effing uncrowned Queen of Political Intrigue in the romantic fantasy genre, and no mistake.
I read the kindle format & kind of missing Jennifer van Dyck’s excellent reading it aloud to me – but the audiobook series switched to a male narrator whom I did not particularly like after having been offered a sample.
I did not like the book as much as the first 2 installments of the series, but it was a very enjoyable read anyway & earns a solid four stars from me.
It is Justin’s story, and as he is on a „lonely” assignment to spy on Coralinda Gisseltess & her Lumanen Convent, we do not get as many circle-of-friends-moments as I would have liked. Whenever all the 6 friends (Senneth, Tayse, Justin, Cammon, Kirra & Donnal) are together, those are always the most powerful-joyful parts of all the books of the Twelve Houses series for me. However scarce, when we they occur in Dark Moon Defender, they are always full of excitement & moving moments.
As other reviewers pointed out, the story in general does not move forward a great deal. The Twelve Houses are still plotting for or against King Baryn or try to stay neutral. Everybody is still assessing the odds of war or peace though it is becoming more pronounced who allies with whom. Yet, you can feel a kind of eye of the storm calmness that will most probably culimnate in the fourth book, Reader & Raelynx.
Nevertheless, the individual storylines picked up from Books 1 & 2 are developing absolutely to my liking and also enough happens with the friends and Justin & Ellynor that I never found the overall pacing dragging.
We are shown life - seemingly pious and innocent- in the Lumanen Convent & but at the same time we get the overall workings of dangerous and alluring fundamentalism through the worshiping of the moon goddess, the Pale Mother. This goddess is used by a blindly fanatic, ambitious Coralinda & her followers to further their own vicious causes in killing others who are mostly harmless, only different than they are. We are shown that not all followers are that devoted or vicious, yet how much harm they cause by standing by mutely or unaware of what is committed on behalf of deity.
What I liked:
- Senneth & Tayse’s overall storyline. I was so happy for them.
- Cammon being able to „feel” Justin’s distress & need for help over hundreds of miles
- Finally we are introduced to House Brassenthwaite & Senneth’s brothers in person. I love what happened there. :)
- The pairing of Casserah Danalastrous & Will Brassenthwaite
- Sabina’s storyline, how she ends up being helped both by Ellynor, Justin and the Senneth.
- The Friendship Bond
- The way Ellynor heals Justin
- Senneth’s gift to Justin. That had me almost in tears.
- The rescue scene at the end is spectacular & one in the eye for sanctimonious, revolting Coralinda
- More intrigue around Queen Valri – I hope we get to know about her in the next book, why she left her homeland and married the King.
What I didn’t like:
- Ellynor’s character was quite ambiguous for me. I started out liking her, but as the story developed her willful obtuseness even though clearly a plot device, started grating on my nerves, because she kept endangering herself and thus Justin and his friends.
Well, Sharon Shinn is the effing uncrowned Queen of Political Intrigue in the romantic fantasy genre, and no mistake.
I read the kindle format & kind of missing Jennifer van Dyck’s excellent reading it aloud to me – but the audiobook series switched to a male narrator whom I did not particularly like after having been offered a sample.
I did not like the book as much as the first 2 installments of the series, but it was a very enjoyable read anyway & earns a solid four stars from me.
It is Justin’s story, and as he is on a „lonely” assignment to spy on Coralinda Gisseltess & her Lumanen Convent, we do not get as many circle-of-friends-moments as I would have liked. Whenever all the 6 friends (Senneth, Tayse, Justin, Cammon, Kirra & Donnal) are together, those are always the most powerful-joyful parts of all the books of the Twelve Houses series for me. However scarce, when we they occur in Dark Moon Defender, they are always full of excitement & moving moments.
As other reviewers pointed out, the story in general does not move forward a great deal. The Twelve Houses are still plotting for or against King Baryn or try to stay neutral. Everybody is still assessing the odds of war or peace though it is becoming more pronounced who allies with whom. Yet, you can feel a kind of eye of the storm calmness that will most probably culimnate in the fourth book, Reader & Raelynx.
Nevertheless, the individual storylines picked up from Books 1 & 2 are developing absolutely to my liking and also enough happens with the friends and Justin & Ellynor that I never found the overall pacing dragging.
We are shown life - seemingly pious and innocent- in the Lumanen Convent & but at the same time we get the overall workings of dangerous and alluring fundamentalism through the worshiping of the moon goddess, the Pale Mother. This goddess is used by a blindly fanatic, ambitious Coralinda & her followers to further their own vicious causes in killing others who are mostly harmless, only different than they are. We are shown that not all followers are that devoted or vicious, yet how much harm they cause by standing by mutely or unaware of what is committed on behalf of deity.
What I liked:
- Senneth & Tayse’s overall storyline. I was so happy for them.
- Cammon being able to „feel” Justin’s distress & need for help over hundreds of miles
- Finally we are introduced to House Brassenthwaite & Senneth’s brothers in person. I love what happened there. :)
- The pairing of Casserah Danalastrous & Will Brassenthwaite
- Sabina’s storyline, how she ends up being helped both by Ellynor, Justin and the Senneth.
- The Friendship Bond
Spoiler
and Wedding Ceremony- The way Ellynor heals Justin
- Senneth’s gift to Justin. That had me almost in tears.
- The rescue scene at the end is spectacular & one in the eye for sanctimonious, revolting Coralinda
- More intrigue around Queen Valri – I hope we get to know about her in the next book, why she left her homeland and married the King.
What I didn’t like:
- Ellynor’s character was quite ambiguous for me. I started out liking her, but as the story developed her willful obtuseness
Spoiler
oh, I don’t know that I am a mystic just because moonstones burn my skin; oh no, I won’t tell Justin who I am and where I am from even if this might end up killing him; oh, of course I will go to the house of the "enemy", I can take care of myselfalbernikolauras's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The third book in the Mystic and Rider series, this time following Justin on a solo mission. This book did a good job setting up the finale in the series as well as giving Justin a heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry