"Enjoyable Medieval Romantic Fantasy"
Her father is noble, but her mother is not and besides they
never wed. Coriel Halsing spends much of the year under
the tutelage of her grandmother who is teaching her to
become a herbalist or perhaps a witch depending on your
perspective. One season of the year she spends at Castle
Auburn home of her sire and her older half-sister. As she
matures, Coriel becomes concerned with her patriarchal
family and the royalty's hunt for the Aliora, a fairy-like
people that the humans enslave. Soon, instead of the
delight she once saw during her youthful summers at the
Castle, Coriel observes prejudice and injustice. Still,
her teen obsession with the spoiled Prince Bryan has turned
to adult admiration and seemingly unrequited love for his
levelheaded relative Kent. Realistically alone because of
her divided heritage, Coriel wonders what one intrepid but
frightened woman can do to make things right. SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN is an enjoyable medieval romantic
fantasy showing why Sharon Shinn is an award-winning
author. The tale is filled with action sprinkled with
Faerie dust and solid characters. Though romance readers
will relish the growing affection between Kent and Coriel,
fantasy fans will feel a bit slighted as the Faerie
community offers possibilities, but never is explored.
Still, Ms Shinn provides her audience with a delightful
novel that readers will demand sequels with more than just
a paranormal dusting.
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Courtesy PNR Reviews
Posted August 21, 2001
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