Rating: 
Summary: Definately a "goodness I have missed my stop" book
Review: This is one of those rare stories that is too hard to put down. From the first page when the fascinating "moonchild" character is introduced, thru to the brilliant description of the people and fascinating planet Semay. This is a murder mystery that cannot be solved by the reader within the first few chapters. The romance side is introduced with warmth and humour, and this too has one guessing for a while. Please ., please Sharon Shinn more tales of the "moonchildren".
Rating: 
Summary: Tired
Review: This is the 4th Sharon Shinn book that I've read, loved the first 3 but I struggled to get through this one.
I'd love to have known more about the Moonchildren but by time I was 3/4 finished, I no longer cared, I just wanted to finish it. I'll keep the other 3 Shinn books that I have but this one goes to the 2nd hand book store.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good for weekend reading.
Review: This is the first Sharon Shinn book I've ever read, but I've heard good things about her other books (Archangel, Jovah's Angel) so I decided to give it a try. I liked the setting, but I do wish some things had been explained in a bit more detail, like the Moonchildren. I especially liked the use of words from "our" languages, altered to reflect the passage of time. It's a detail many "colony of earth" sci-fi writers ignore or bungle. I can't say the mystery enthralled me, I figured the second biggest mystery about half-way through the book. The "whodunnit" part was weak, but this book is worth reading purely for the philosophy of the Triumphantes. It's a believable world, and the characters are well-drawn. I don't regret buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good for weekend reading.
Review: This is the first Sharon Shinn book I've ever read, but I've heard good things about her other books (Archangel, Jovah's Angel) so I decided to give it a try. I liked the setting, but I do wish some things had been explained in a bit more detail, like the Moonchildren. I especially liked the use of words from "our" languages, altered to reflect the passage of time. It's a detail many "colony of earth" sci-fi writers ignore or bungle. I can't say the mystery enthralled me, I figured the second biggest mystery about half-way through the book. The "whodunnit" part was weak, but this book is worth reading purely for the philosophy of the Triumphantes. It's a believable world, and the characters are well-drawn. I don't regret buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing mystery/sci-fi combo
Review: While Wrapt in Crystal did not enthrall me the way Archangel did, it was an excellent, suspenseful mystery (but don't read the Kirkus review-- it gives it all away). Shinn's writing, as usual, is lyrical and lovely and the plot moves quickly. I'm really not much for sci-fi, and am the antithesis of religious, but apart from that, I had one major quibble. The language is supposedly a mixture of Spanish, Italian and French. As an avid Spanish student, I noticed many major grammatical errors in noun gender agreement, misuse of the Ud./tu form and inconsistent use of the subjunctive... It annoyed me so much that my enjoyment of the overall book was lowered. So if you speak Spanish, be prepared! All in all though, still a very well-written book.
Rating:
Summary: Good SF, satisfying mystery
Review: Wrapt in Crystal is a deft blend of mystery and social science fiction, with colorful characters and complex world building. In particular, the Goddess-with-two-faces idea powers the plot through the mysterious deaths of priestesses and the soul-searching of a heroic detective. Shinn's crystal prose is always a delight, and no less in this tale than in her delightful Samaria series. Don't miss this one!
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