The Women of Fantasy

Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors. I started with her Samaria novels, picking up Archangel on a long Greyhound bus ride, definently not expecting much from the Gas station selection. Archangel really surprised me, with a strong female heroine and moving storyline. I thought, however, it to be a standalone novel and did not run into another Shinn read for a few more years - but later discovered the rest of the Samaria books.

The strong romantic tension of elite arrogant Angels and the "common people" can be repetitive - but I couldn't really blame Shinn for doing the same 'ol thing a few times more - this type of book just really works for her.

I turned from the Samaria series to her standalone novels, highly enjoying Summers at Castle Auburn and Heart of Gold, both featuring (like the Samaria novels) ponderings of race, humanity, and class distinctions. Unlike many other authors, Shinn doesn't turn to the cut and dry "serf's and landowners" type of synerio, nor does she accept the oft typical royalty and commoner background. Each book I've ever written by her has made me question the world around me and come out enriched.

Her latest series, the 12 houses, has also been thought provoking, and though quite a bit different than the Samaria novels, shows Shinn's growth as a writer.

Check her out at http://www.sharonshinn.net/ .

Posted by Jen at Sunday, August 19, 2007