Dark Moon Defender:

A novel of the Twelve Houses

by Sharon Shinn

Ace Books; $23.95; 435pp

Sharon Shinn does it again.

As books about the Twelve Houses go: this one’s terrific. “Dark Moon Defender” is the third novel in the series and it’s a doozie. I couldn’t put it down and when I had to, well, I resented it!

This is the story of Justin, the street urchin turned exemplary King’s Rider and how he falls in love with a very unusual woman, Ellynor. She is a woman of the Lirrenlands and has her own brand of magic. And as a Lirren woman, custom has it she should never fall in love with a man not of the Lirrenlands for then her father, brothers and any number of cousins would have to challenge him to the death, because, well, he’s not one of them.

And to top everything off, Ellynor is a novice in the Lumanen Convent---home of the rabid followers of the Pale Mother. These are the ones that throughout the previous two books and this one as well, have been killing, usually by burning, mystics with a vengeance. Mystics are folks who have magical abilities: to shape-shift, to heal, to call forth fire, etc.

Ellynor went to the convent to lend support to her cousin Rosurie (who really had a calling) and because she felt a bit hemmed in by her over-protective brothers and Lirren customs. Of course the convent, though different, is not quite what Ellynor thought it would be.

And how do Justin and Ellynor get together? Well, Justin, as a King’s Rider is sent to the town of Neft (closest city to the Lumanen Convent) to report on any suspicious and seditious activity by Coralinda Gisseltess, the head of the convent and the most rabid anti-mystic there is.

One day, Ellynor, sent on an errand to Neft is trapped by a man with rape on his mind. He is swiftly dissuaded by the appearance of Justin, who bests him handily in a fight.

Of course, Justin is taken by Ellynor, whom he finds fascinatingly naive, and beautiful to boot. And she, despite her background and the rules of the convent, finds herself drawn to Justin.

The trials and tribulations these two “star-crossed” lovers go through is enough to raise your hair and have it fall out. The action and drama are very intense and compelling. And of course, the two discover a lot about themselves in the process. For Justin it is allowing himself to love beyond his tight circle of friends (Tayse, Senneth, Cammon, Donnal and Kirra---all mystics, save Tayse and all loyal to King Baryn of Gillengaria) and for Ellynor it is the discovery that what she considers a common skill among Lirren folk is considered mystic magic in Gillengaria. And something that might just get her killed. For not only does she have the powers of a mystic, the goddess of her people is the Dark Watcher, the night. And though Ellynor respects the capricious Pale Mother (the moon), her soul belongs utterly to the Great Mother of the night.

Justin as a King’s Rider and Ellynor with her exceptional skills prove a volatile combination and all hell breaks out in the last third of the book.

As I said, I couldn’t put this down, except under duress! Don’t miss it! - Sue Martin