sharon shinn | BOOK HARBINGER

In the foothills of the unexciting Jordana, Elizabeth is not your average farm cook. She doesn’t flirt, and she doesn’t blush at the grinning glance of a dimwitted farmer. She was born and raised for better things before her parents died. She may have little money but her pride is still intact. So it’s only natural that Elizabeth initially rejected seedy field hand Bennie’s offer for a ride with him to Cedar Hills. She doesn’t want to give him any false ideas but she’d more than almost anything love to better her situation, and Cedar Hills would be just the place. As the newest angel hold, it’s the most accessible and popular place for angel-seekers, women seeking to bear an angel child. Elizabeth’s hoping to do just that; find an angel, bear his angel child, and live amongst the angel-elite forever.

The Jansai woman Rebekah’s aspirations couldn’t be more opposite. She can’t imagine leaving her sheltered life in Breven, with its history of Edori enslavement still fresh and where women do not bare their faces in public and are raised for arranged, “blind” marriages. Even though her life monotonous and boring, she loves her family and wouldn’t dare leave them or shirk her duties. That is until she meets injured angel Obadiah and begins to live a double life. Which life is right for Rebekah and how will she know? Her and Elizabeth’s paths will cross as they both become angel-seekers in very different ways.

I was admittedly hesitant to read this book or any others in the series after Sharon Shinn’s incomparable first Samaria novel, Archangel. Since the novels follow new protagonists with each book, I wasn’t sure if Samaria would be the same without Gabriel and Rachel. And since this is the only book set in their generation, we do get glimpses of both of them here, which I eagerly anticipated. Two years later it seems like they’re more themselves than ever and in a good place. I treasured their appearances. What first excited me about Angel-seeker however was that Rachel’s dear friend Obadiah was one of the main characters. He was there when Rachel needed someone and his flirty, outgoing personality is very infectious. I was thrilled to get to know him better and hopefully see him with his own happy ending. What I didn’t know was how much I’d like Rebekah, who’s impossibly sandwiched between all she’s known and forbidden love. I admired her and how delicately and complexly her conflicted character was handled. I never once thought Rebekah was making the wrong decisions, when it would be easy for anyone accustomed to the more modern freedoms to misunderstand them. Elizabeth grew on me as well and I was always able to sympathize with her angel-seeking. You want so much for these women as well as Obadiah, who’s endearing in his own search for happiness.

Again, Sharon Shinn knows how to write. She had me from the first page, her chapters and story flow so easily. I’m very capable of falling asleep late at night during very engaging books but Angel-seeker completely absorbed me. It was exciting and suspenseful and I had to go on to see how these characters would fare. Fans of romantic fantasy should eat this up. To me it seemed even more romantic than Archangel yet still having an underlying political plot and I loved it all. Samaria’s a place I need to visit and revisit. Overall topnotch world-building and great character development. Sharon Shinn is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I look forward to all her Samaria books yet unread.

Suggested Reading Order
Archangel (Samaria #1) – my review
Angel-seeker (Samaria #5)
Jovah’s Angel (Samaria #2)
Alleluia Files (Samaria #3)
Angelica (Samaria #4)

Second Opinions
Giraffe Days Review
Kristina’s Book Blog Review
Rosario’s Reading Journal Review
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Review

Samaria’s a complicated place for the next Archangel. In six months Gabriel will sing in the Gloria with his new bride, the angelica, and his rule will begin. Since the angelica opens the Gloria, she is chosen by the god Jovah himself, and it is vital to have Jovah’s choice by Gabriel’s side at the appointed time. If not, he risks Jovah’s wrath. The only potential hurdle he foresees is learning her name and location from the oracle and finding her. Maybe after that he’ll be able to tackle what he sees as abuses that the current archangel Raphael has incurred during his rule of Samaria. Gabriel’s overconfidence in both himself as an angel and others’ faith in Jovah’s will, however will quickly reveal his oversights in regard to Rachel, the preordained angelica.

Unbeknown to Gabriel, Rachel serves as a slave at a wealthy city merchant’s home in Semorrah. She does not have the dark skin and hair of an Edori, but was raised by the nomadic tribe much despised by the rest of Samaria for their unorthodox beliefs and eccentric culture. Rachel has lost her freedom, her people, and her love but continues to hope for her emancipation. Just when she thinks she’s earned if of her own accord, Rachel meets Gabriel. Determined not to lose her freedom a second time, Rachel will prick and fight until she risks offending Jovah himself.

This book had my curious attention from the first page and had me utterly captivated shortly thereafter. You just knew Gabriel in all his arrogance was asking for it. And Rachel is such a confident, solid character from the start. Her fierce, obstinate nature was never once annoying, although she’s plain illogical at times. After all she’s gone through, the strength she still possesses to claim her life and do with it what she will is incredibly endearing. There is just something special about these characters. It’s not hard likewise to become a fan of loyal, dependable, hard-working and practical Gabriel, who goes about his Archangel responsibilities and duties honorably and with an unmovable faith in Jovah. Gabriel and Rachel, as all perfect couples do, bring out the worse and best in each other, and their relationship is such a pleasure to read.

I could go on and on with my love for Gabriel and Rachel, and if that was all I could say, Archangel would still be a great book. But the world-building, plot, and general writing are all exceptional. Shinn’s clear prose is effortless to read and her pacing is near flawless. The chapters alternate perspective from Gabriel to Rachel, and I could never wait to switch characters and see what happened when they were apart and his/her viewpoint when they were together. The music and religion so central to the story were unique and beautiful complements. The overall world-building left me with the feeling that Samaria exists somewhere and has a rich people, history and culture. With that and the sweet, perfect conclusion for Rachel and Gabriel, I have an irresistible nagging to return to Samaria very soon.

Series Reading Order (by publication)
Archangel
Jovah’s Angel
The Alleluia Flies
Angelica
Angel-Seeker

Second Opinions
Chachic’s Book Nook
Fantasy Cafe Review
Giraffe Days Review
Kristina’s Book Blog Review
Reading for Sanity Review
See Michelle Read Review