Fortune and Fate by Sharon Shinn

From the Publisher

Plagued by guilt for failing to protect her king, Rider Wren has fled the city of Gilengaria and given herself the penance of a life of wandering, helping strangers in need. But when chance brings her to the great estate known as Fortune, Wren will find her fate, and finally confront the ghosts of her past.

Publishers Weekly

Following 2007's Reader and Raelynx, which wrapped up the original Twelve Houses fantasy quartet, this rousing sword-and-sorcery romance introduces Wen, a former elite warrior Rider haunted by her failure to protect King Baryn during a rebellion and heartbroken by her lover's marriage to another. After Wen saves teen heiress Karryn, daughter of one of the rebels, from kidnapping and ravishment, Karryn's uncle and guardian, Jasper Paladar, rewards Wen with an offer to train a cadre of bodyguards. Reluctant at first, Wen gradually faces her fears and falls in love with Jasper, the soul of sexy scholarly gallantry. Despite the tweeny dialogue and predictable derring-do, Shinn combines a substantial range of appealing characters with a solid reinforcement of women's capabilities in peace and war, making the story comfortable, if not profound. (Nov.)

VOYA

Shinn is at her best in this fourth entry in the Twelve Houses series. It stands alone well, although there are spoilers for those who have not read the earlier books. Shinn tells the story of Wen, a minor character from the earlier titles. Formerly part of the elite guard of King's Riders sworn to protect the king with their lives, Wen survived when the old king was assassinated. Although also grievously wounded, she cannot forgive herself. She has taken to wandering the roads of Gillengaria looking for innocents in danger and charging to the rescue. As this book begins, she rescues a young girl from an unwelcome suitor. The girl turns out to be Karryn, the future ruler of Fortunalt, and thus begins Wen's eventual healing. There are many predictable elements in this book for Shinn fans. Wen will fall in love and live happily ever after. She will heal her mental wounds and learn that her fears of rejection by the other Riders are totally unfounded. The six companions of the first three titles will make guest appearances, but the threats to Karryn are anything but expected. None of this predictability takes away from the fact that Shinn is a wonderful storyteller whose characters clamor for the reader's attention, refusing to let the book be put down until the end. This title is sure to please existing fans and win new ones. Reviewer: Beth Karpas

Jackie Cassada - Library Journal

Failed King's Rider Wen embarks on a personal quest seeking redemption against a background of political entanglements and social disquiet. Shinn's fifth installment in her "Twelve Houses" series (Mystic and Rider) continues to feature strong female protagonists as the author skillfully blends romance and adventure. The author explores new parts of her richly detailed world and introduces new characters while maintaining contact with old favorites. As a stand-alone, this volume is a good introduction for readers new to the series, while longstanding fans will appreciate another venture into a world of magic, swords, and political intrigue.

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