Sharon Shinn
Mass Market Paperback | Pages: 335 pages Rating: 3.54 | 1458 Users | 81 Reviews
Be Specific About Books In Pursuance Of Wrapt in Crystal
| Original Title: | Wrapt in Crystal |
| ISBN: | 0441007147 (ISBN13: 9780441007141) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Description To Books Wrapt in Crystal
A re-read. I don't think that this is a five-star book for most people, and in fact it rarely rises to mind when I think of favorite books. But every time I read it I'm struck all over again by how much I love the characters, even the secondary ones; and I just sit there quietly once I've closed the back cover because I have this feeling of peace and satisfaction. This is based wholly on my particular reading buttons, but if you had described this book to me, I never would have expected its enormous appeal. Sf and set on a desert planet that is somewhat resistant to technology. Religion rules the society, through two forms of worship of the goddess Ava: the Triumphantes, who see her joyful face, and the Fideles, who serve her in a more austere fashion. The priestesses are revered, and yet they are being murdered. Lieutenant Cowen Drake is brought in to investigate. On the surface, this is a ludicrous notion -- a random foreign dude sweeping in to find a serial killer using old-fashioned sole-wearing detective work? But Shinn is reliable for her thoughtful exploration of other cultures, and Drake's questioning of native ways and his slow understanding ring true for me. The people he encounters are complex and whole. Shinn doesn't spare the romance either, although it takes a nontraditional path. I adored it. As I said, not likely for everyone, but I think that Shinn fans will find something familiar and likable here.Identify About Books Wrapt in Crystal
| Title | : | Wrapt in Crystal |
| Author | : | Sharon Shinn |
| Book Format | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 335 pages |
| Published | : | April 1st 2000 by Ace (first published 1999) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Science Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Fiction. Science Fiction Fantasy |
Rating About Books Wrapt in Crystal
Ratings: 3.54 From 1458 Users | 81 ReviewsComment On About Books Wrapt in Crystal
It's been a long, long time since I've read Sharon Shinn: indeed, on revisiting her work, I realize I was overdue. This was not quite as good as her Samaria series, or my (perhaps idiosyncratically) personal favorite, Heart of Gold, but that's a relative sort of thing. Wrapt In Crystal is a murder mystery, a romance, and a speculative fiction novel. As a mystery, I appreciate its realisism: Drake does a lot of door-to-door canvassing and searching through records and running up against deadThis is a reread, which I don't usually count towards read counts...except when I do. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it."There's this interesting trend among the sff books of the 80s and 90s (lets say the 90s runs a bit into the 00s for the purposes of this conversation) that were written by women of taking on big questions under the guise of formulaic genre. Not all formulaic books do this--although perhaps more than anticipated--but I have found that books written by men are
This was a very interesting book. I have read almost all of Shinn's novels except for some recent ones. I enjoy her writing and the way she gets me thinking. Her love story's are always epic and heart wrenching. This reminded me of some of the later Archangel books, the religious aspect, the culture, the morals. Not my favorite of hers, but I enjoyed the story.Sex- A couple of scenes that were not detailed or grafic. Some great kisses. References to prostitution. Sex without marriage.Violence-
This was an interesting book. Something I'd never have picked up on my own. I did start to figure things out eventually (about 2/3 through) I did get it before it was all revealed to the reader. The characters were interesting. They had their flaws, but as a reader you were still able to relate to them and care for them, invest yourself in their story. I did find the book hard to get into and keep moving through. I had to read in small doses, and every time I started back up it took my brain
Sadly, this didn't hold up particularly well. I dislike Drake because (view spoiler)[he kisses Laura so uncompromisingly. She tries to pull away and he is unrelenting. That's basically assault, no matter how many butterflies they are each feeling.Also, Laura gives up her religious vows so easily. This bothered me on a re-read. Surely people change and occasionally leave their vows, but she seems to do it so easily. I question whether this is a good thing. (hide spoiler)]One of my least favorite
I read this one because Ive loved Sharon Shinns fantasy and because these days Ive been looking for good books that feature sympathetic portraits of women of the cloth. Well, I got that, but I came away disappointed, particularly as it contrasts with the last book I read of that kind, The Shadowed Sun. The sole POV character, policeman Cowen Drake, is easy enough to like and root for; he has honor and a sense of justice. The book also featured two heroines I appreciated, the Triumphante high
My partner refers to this book as "sexy space cop." I think that nearly sums it up."Wrapt in Crystal" is a novel I come back to over and over and over, not because Drake is a "sexy space cop," but because this book -while sci-fi, while fantasy, while a tale of the banal specificities of detective work and dangers/strengths in religious practices- is just so sane, pragmatic, and well-plotted, I find it irresistible.The central romance in "Wrapt" doesn't much appeal to me, but Drake's easy,
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