Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses)
Read Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses) Online
Authors: Sharon Shinn
Table of Contents
“Engaging . . . An enjoyable yarn with characters who leave you wanting more.”—
Locus
Locus
“Shinn’s novels are always surprising . . . [She] breathes life into the old tropes and spins off in new directions . . . Shinn is an engaging storyteller who moves believable characters through a fascinating landscape and interesting adventures [and] manages to do it with deep insights that make us reach into our own souls and wonder: If we were placed in the world of these characters, what would we do, and what would we believe in?”
—
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“
Mystic and Rider
. . . is that rarity, the opening book of a series that stands solidly as a read-alone novel. The resolution is strong enough that the reader is satisfied, and yet the potential for more will leave me looking forward to the next volume. Well-developed and engaging characters, an intriguing plot, plenty of action, and unforeseen twists make
Mystic and Rider
a great book.”
Mystic and Rider
. . . is that rarity, the opening book of a series that stands solidly as a read-alone novel. The resolution is strong enough that the reader is satisfied, and yet the potential for more will leave me looking forward to the next volume. Well-developed and engaging characters, an intriguing plot, plenty of action, and unforeseen twists make
Mystic and Rider
a great book.”
—Robin Hobb, author of
Fool’s Fate
Fool’s Fate
“Strong, charismatic male and female protagonists make this an excellent choice for most fantasy collections.”—
Library Journal
Library Journal
“Clean, elegant prose . . . Shinn gives us an easy, absorbing, high-quality read.”—
Booklist
Booklist
“Tailor-made for the growing audience of fantasy fans who like a good juicy romance . . . Spellbinding characterizations . . . A rich beginning.”—
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
“Shinn’s most successful book.”—
SFRevu
SFRevu
“Shinn excels at strong characterization and enthralling stories, and this first in a new series is no exception. Primary and secondary characters alike jump off the page, and the standard quest fantasy is transformed into a journey of personal discovery.” —
Romantic Times
Romantic Times
More praise for Sharon Shinn and her novels
“Shinn demonstrates her amazing writing talent . . . in a great new fantasy series. The world of Gillengaria is so realistically portrayed, readers will be convinced that this world actually exists.”—
The Best Reviews
The Best Reviews
“The most promising and original writer of fantasy to come along since Robin McKinley.”—Peter S. Beagle
“Taut, inventive, often mesmerizing.”—
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
“It doesn’t get much better than [this]—interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, a believable love story, and a satisfying ending.” —
Starlog
Starlog
“Smoothly written. Shinn has a talent for creating vivid, sympathetic characters. Nuanced and intelligent. A thoroughly entertaining reading experience.”—
SF Site
SF Site
“A delightful world to escape into.”—
Locus
Locus
“A solid read.”—
Booklist
Booklist
“Rich with texture and diversity, and genuine characters.”
—Anne McCaffrey
“Romantic . . . delightful. I’m eagerly awaiting her next novel.”
—
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
“Warm and triumphant.”—
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
“Inventive and compelling.”—
Library Journal
Library Journal
Ace Books by Sharon Shinn
MYSTIC AND RIDER
THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE
DARK MOON DEFENDER
READER AND RAELYNX
THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE
DARK MOON DEFENDER
READER AND RAELYNX
ARCHANGEL
JOVAH’S ANGEL
THE ALLELUIA FILES
ANGELICA
ANGEL-SEEKER
JOVAH’S ANGEL
THE ALLELUIA FILES
ANGELICA
ANGEL-SEEKER
WRAPT IN CRYSTAL
THE SHAPE-CHANGER’S WIFE
HEART OF GOLD
SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN
JENNA STARBORN
THE SHAPE-CHANGER’S WIFE
HEART OF GOLD
SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN
JENNA STARBORN
Viking / Firebird Books by Sharon Shinn
THE SAFE-KEEPER’S SECRET
THE TRUTH-TELLER’S TALE
THE DREAM-MAKER’S MAGIC
GENERAL WINSTON’S DAUGHTER
THE TRUTH-TELLER’S TALE
THE DREAM-MAKER’S MAGIC
GENERAL WINSTON’S DAUGHTER
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
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South Africa
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia
(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), Cnr. Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand
(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
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South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
MYSTIC AND RIDER
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
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375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
eISBN : 978-1-440-60653-3
ACE
Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ACE and the “A” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ACE and the “A” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
For two women, sisters to each other,
who touched my life profoundly:
who touched my life profoundly:
Cissy, still the best teacher I ever had, and
Mary Anne, who took care of me when I was far from home.
Mary Anne, who took care of me when I was far from home.
There are all kinds of magic.
GILLEMGARIA
CHAPTER 1
K
ARDON stood at the back of the tavern, surveying the night’s clientele, and smiled with a brutal satisfaction. A chilled and rainy night, so he hadn’t expected many customers, and he’d been right. There were a handful of regulars playing chess in the corner or drinking at the bar and eyeing the newcomers with a speculative sideways interest. Kardon wasn’t really a charitable sort, but he almost found it in him to feel sorry for the four strangers scattered throughout the long, low-beamed room. The chances were good that one or all of them would lose his money—or his life—before the night was over.
ARDON stood at the back of the tavern, surveying the night’s clientele, and smiled with a brutal satisfaction. A chilled and rainy night, so he hadn’t expected many customers, and he’d been right. There were a handful of regulars playing chess in the corner or drinking at the bar and eyeing the newcomers with a speculative sideways interest. Kardon wasn’t really a charitable sort, but he almost found it in him to feel sorry for the four strangers scattered throughout the long, low-beamed room. The chances were good that one or all of them would lose his money—or his life—before the night was over.
Kardon’s regular customers were, to a man, thieves, cutthroats, and hired blades whose scruples had never been overnice. Honest work had been hard to come by here in the dead of winter. Who could blame them for taking advantage when good fortune presented them with a few easy purses to pick, a few unwary travelers to dispose of?
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