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Wrapt in Crystal
Women from two very different religious sects are being murdered on the planet of Semay, and no one knows why. Sent to investigate is Cowen Drake, a special assignment officer with an intergalactic peacekeeping force—also known as a Moonchild. He finds himself drawn to the vibrant and sophisticated Jovieve, head of the joyous Triumphante sect. But at the compound of the ascetic Fideles, he finds himself falling in love with a quiet, intense woman named Laura—who risks her life so carelessly that she could easily be the killer’s next victim. (from Sharon Shinn's website)
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
28 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Shinn
58 books2,277 followersI’ve been writing stories and poems since I was eight years old. My first poem was about Halloween: "What is tonight? What is tonight?/Try to guess and you’ll guess right." Perhaps this inauspicious beginning explains why it took me till I was in my thirties to sell a novel. It occurred to me early on that it might take some time and a lot of tries before I was able to publish any of my creative writing, so I pursued a degree in journalism at Northwestern University so I’d be able to support myself while I figured out how to write fiction.
I’ve spent most of my journalism career at three trade and association magazines—The Professional Photographer (which, as you might guess, went to studio and industrial photographers), DECOR (which went to frame shop and art gallery owners), and BizEd (which is directed at deans and professors at business schools). My longest stint, seventeen years, was at DECOR. Many people don’t know this, but I’m a CPF (Certified Picture Framer), having passed a very long, technical test to prove I understood the tenets of conservation framing. Now I write about management education and interview some really cool, really smart people from all over the world.
I mostly write my fiction in the evenings and on weekends. It requires a pretty obsessive-compulsive personality to be as prolific as I’ve been in the past ten years and hold down a full-time job. But I do manage to tear myself away from the computer now and then to do something fun. I read as often as I can, across all genres, though I’m most often holding a book that’s fantasy or romance, with the occasional western thrown in. I’m a fan of Cardinals baseball and try to be at the ballpark on opening day. If I had the time, I’d see a movie every day of my life. I love certain TV shows so much that knowing a new episode is going to air that night will make me happy all day. (I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, but in the past I’ve given my heart to shows all over the map in terms of quality: "Knight Rider," "Remington Steele," "Blake’s 7," "Moonlighting," "The Young Riders," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues," "X-Files," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica"...you can probably fill in the gaps. And let’s not forget my very first loves, "The Partridge Family," "Here Come the Brides" and "Alias Smith & Jones.")
I don’t have kids, I don’t want pets, and all my plants die, so I’m really only forced to provide ongoing care for my menagerie of stuffed animals. All my friends are animal lovers, though, and someone once theorized that I keep friends as pets. I’m still trying to decide if that’s true.
I’ve spent most of my journalism career at three trade and association magazines—The Professional Photographer (which, as you might guess, went to studio and industrial photographers), DECOR (which went to frame shop and art gallery owners), and BizEd (which is directed at deans and professors at business schools). My longest stint, seventeen years, was at DECOR. Many people don’t know this, but I’m a CPF (Certified Picture Framer), having passed a very long, technical test to prove I understood the tenets of conservation framing. Now I write about management education and interview some really cool, really smart people from all over the world.
I mostly write my fiction in the evenings and on weekends. It requires a pretty obsessive-compulsive personality to be as prolific as I’ve been in the past ten years and hold down a full-time job. But I do manage to tear myself away from the computer now and then to do something fun. I read as often as I can, across all genres, though I’m most often holding a book that’s fantasy or romance, with the occasional western thrown in. I’m a fan of Cardinals baseball and try to be at the ballpark on opening day. If I had the time, I’d see a movie every day of my life. I love certain TV shows so much that knowing a new episode is going to air that night will make me happy all day. (I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, but in the past I’ve given my heart to shows all over the map in terms of quality: "Knight Rider," "Remington Steele," "Blake’s 7," "Moonlighting," "The Young Riders," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues," "X-Files," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica"...you can probably fill in the gaps. And let’s not forget my very first loves, "The Partridge Family," "Here Come the Brides" and "Alias Smith & Jones.")
I don’t have kids, I don’t want pets, and all my plants die, so I’m really only forced to provide ongoing care for my menagerie of stuffed animals. All my friends are animal lovers, though, and someone once theorized that I keep friends as pets. I’m still trying to decide if that’s true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 8, 2010
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.
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.
March 7, 2016
This is one of Shinn’s earlier novels. I thought I read everything by her – she is one of my favorite writers – but to my surprise, I remembered neither the plot nor the characters of this book. Maybe I did read it, when it first came out in 1999, but I don’t recall it, so this was a fresh and enchanting reading experience.
The story is complex. On the surface, it’s a murder mystery. There is space travel involved, albeit in the background, and the actions transpire on another planet, so it has a sci-fi undertones. It also includes a love story, the protagonist’s struggle with his own self-doubts, and an exploration of faith and religion. It’s such a potent brew, it could’ve been easy for a writer to slide into moralizing or preaching, but Shinn is too good a writer for that.
Her story is an amazingly tactful and deep trip into the human psyche. The murder mystery is just a frame for the characters’ interactions, as they try to understand rights and wrongs, love and faith, guilt and forgiveness.
A quick plot recap: on the planet of Semay, someone has been murdering priestesses of two main religions. Both religions have the same goddess Ava, but they approach her in different, ways. The adherents of Triumphantes believe that faith should be joy. They embrace wealth and happiness; their temples are stuffed with priceless artifacts, and their priestesses celebrate their goddess with their bodies and their souls.
The adherents of Fideles believe that wealth is incompatible with Ava. They give up their worldly possessions, tend to the poor, nurture their souls, and maintain celibacy.
Both religions coexist peacefully, and for most citizens on Semay, any priestess, no matter Triumphante or Fidele, is sacrosanct. When a vicious killer start murdering indiscriminately the priestesses of both sects, the local police is baffled. They ask the interstellar federation of planets for help, and a special investigator Cowen Drake is dispatched to solve the mystery and stop the killing.
Drake is the protagonist. A hard-core professional military, he left his own faith in his childhood. Over the years, he’s had his share of personal tragedies, and he doesn’t think much of any deity. His encounters with priestesses of both sects, his drive to understand them, and through them the motivations of their murderer, comprises this story.
It’s Drake’s journey. A man of integrity and courage, he is frozen inside like an icicle. It takes the priestesses of both Triumphantes and Fideles to propel him back to life, to reopen his heart for warmth, love, and joy. The deep conflict between the priestesses’ convictions and his own spiritual denial eventually jolts him back to full humanity from his cold robot-like existence. His emotional gamut unfolds like a mental rebirth – painful, hard, and necessary – and it’s shadowed by his mundane murder investigation: questioning witnesses, visiting crime scenes, reading police reports.
The story is slowly building to its inevitable outward crescendo – the confrontation with the killer – but Drake’s inner self-discovery provides a powerful counterpoint to the action sequences.
In the end, he doesn’t convert, doesn’t start believing in Ava. That would be too blatant, too straightforward. Instead, he accepts others into the inner sanctuary of his soul. He embraces vulnerability as a gift, not a burden. He learns to love again.
A beautiful book.
The story is complex. On the surface, it’s a murder mystery. There is space travel involved, albeit in the background, and the actions transpire on another planet, so it has a sci-fi undertones. It also includes a love story, the protagonist’s struggle with his own self-doubts, and an exploration of faith and religion. It’s such a potent brew, it could’ve been easy for a writer to slide into moralizing or preaching, but Shinn is too good a writer for that.
Her story is an amazingly tactful and deep trip into the human psyche. The murder mystery is just a frame for the characters’ interactions, as they try to understand rights and wrongs, love and faith, guilt and forgiveness.
A quick plot recap: on the planet of Semay, someone has been murdering priestesses of two main religions. Both religions have the same goddess Ava, but they approach her in different, ways. The adherents of Triumphantes believe that faith should be joy. They embrace wealth and happiness; their temples are stuffed with priceless artifacts, and their priestesses celebrate their goddess with their bodies and their souls.
The adherents of Fideles believe that wealth is incompatible with Ava. They give up their worldly possessions, tend to the poor, nurture their souls, and maintain celibacy.
Both religions coexist peacefully, and for most citizens on Semay, any priestess, no matter Triumphante or Fidele, is sacrosanct. When a vicious killer start murdering indiscriminately the priestesses of both sects, the local police is baffled. They ask the interstellar federation of planets for help, and a special investigator Cowen Drake is dispatched to solve the mystery and stop the killing.
Drake is the protagonist. A hard-core professional military, he left his own faith in his childhood. Over the years, he’s had his share of personal tragedies, and he doesn’t think much of any deity. His encounters with priestesses of both sects, his drive to understand them, and through them the motivations of their murderer, comprises this story.
It’s Drake’s journey. A man of integrity and courage, he is frozen inside like an icicle. It takes the priestesses of both Triumphantes and Fideles to propel him back to life, to reopen his heart for warmth, love, and joy. The deep conflict between the priestesses’ convictions and his own spiritual denial eventually jolts him back to full humanity from his cold robot-like existence. His emotional gamut unfolds like a mental rebirth – painful, hard, and necessary – and it’s shadowed by his mundane murder investigation: questioning witnesses, visiting crime scenes, reading police reports.
The story is slowly building to its inevitable outward crescendo – the confrontation with the killer – but Drake’s inner self-discovery provides a powerful counterpoint to the action sequences.
In the end, he doesn’t convert, doesn’t start believing in Ava. That would be too blatant, too straightforward. Instead, he accepts others into the inner sanctuary of his soul. He embraces vulnerability as a gift, not a burden. He learns to love again.
A beautiful book.
April 12, 2020
Another surprising read of 2018. I expected to like this book, but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. In fact, it was just what I needed to pull me out of this weird reading slump in which nothing on my shelves look interesting and the books I was currently reading were just blah.
I bought an out-of-print copy of this obscure book at a used bookstore because I liked the look of the cover and thought the brief summary on the back was interesting. I had no idea what was inside. This was the best kind of surprise.
Can't really say much about the plot or characters without giving too much away. I can only say that both are intertwined in an interestingly layered and nuanced way. In short, this book is about having faith and losing faith and finding your way back to what you lost. The brief summary on the back cover doesn't do it justice, but I don't know if there is a way to summarize this story and capture what it's really about. I'll work on it.
I had never read anything by Sharon Shinn before, only heard a lot about her over the years since I started reading genre fiction again. Now I look forward to reading everything she's ever written.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
I bought an out-of-print copy of this obscure book at a used bookstore because I liked the look of the cover and thought the brief summary on the back was interesting. I had no idea what was inside. This was the best kind of surprise.
Can't really say much about the plot or characters without giving too much away. I can only say that both are intertwined in an interestingly layered and nuanced way. In short, this book is about having faith and losing faith and finding your way back to what you lost. The brief summary on the back cover doesn't do it justice, but I don't know if there is a way to summarize this story and capture what it's really about. I'll work on it.
I had never read anything by Sharon Shinn before, only heard a lot about her over the years since I started reading genre fiction again. Now I look forward to reading everything she's ever written.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
February 14, 2024
Another great comfort read. A science fiction murder mystery love story. Fun!
February 14, 2024
Sometimes a girl just wants to read something she loves❤️❤️❤️. Perfect Valentine read, part murder mystery part science fiction part romance. Perfect.
February 14, 2024
Sometimes a girl just wants to read something she loves❤️❤️❤️. Perfect Valentine read, part murder mystery part science fiction part romance. Perfect.
July 7, 2016
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, respectful friendship with his co-worker Lise is one of my all-time favorites in fiction.
I pulled my rumpled, stained copy off the shelf just this evening. Bumping my rating up to five stars.
"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, respectful friendship with his co-worker Lise is one of my all-time favorites in fiction.
I pulled my rumpled, stained copy off the shelf just this evening. Bumping my rating up to five stars.
May 29, 2023
Shinn is one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy authors, so I was excited to get into another of her books, this one combining sci-fi with a murder mystery.
Her world-building of interplanetary travel, multiple religious sects, and different political levels was expertly done as usual, but I didn’t feel like the mystery portion was her strong suit.
There was also romance here that seemed a bit out of place but ended up being more intricate to the story than I expected.
So anyway, good not great. Sci-fi fans especially might love the world-building but it’s not one for mystery lovers to pick up.
Her world-building of interplanetary travel, multiple religious sects, and different political levels was expertly done as usual, but I didn’t feel like the mystery portion was her strong suit.
There was also romance here that seemed a bit out of place but ended up being more intricate to the story than I expected.
So anyway, good not great. Sci-fi fans especially might love the world-building but it’s not one for mystery lovers to pick up.
June 10, 2017
Sadly, this didn't hold up particularly well. I dislike Drake because
One of my least favorite books by Shinn.
One of my least favorite books by Shinn.
August 11, 2022
My favorite Shinn of all!
July 12, 2019
Ugh... I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I loved Archangel and The Shape-Changer's Wife, so I had high hopes for Wrapt in Crystal. Unfortunately, I found myself frustrated throughout and wanting so much more.
For a science fiction novel, it had a distinctly earth-bound feel. Everything felt like a carbon copy of Earth in the mid-'90s: the languages, cultures, the weather, the atmosphere, even the vehicles. We've got cars and phones, police departments that operate the same as those on earth, and everything feels so familiar as to be off-putting.
The plot is the slow-burn kind... not super engaging, but relatively sweet. And I enjoyed the in-depth exploration of faith and religious beliefs.
However, my biggest problem was with the romantic elements. It made no sense to me that Drake would fall in love with Laura. None whatsoever! She's cold and disagreeable at every turn. By contrast, Jovieve is brimming with vitality, and she actually WANTS him -- yet he pushes her aside at each opportunity. And then finally gives in to her "feminine wiles" and it seems like he's doing her a favour. And then, of course, he casts her aside. Yuck.
Yeah, definitely not a book I can recommend.
For a science fiction novel, it had a distinctly earth-bound feel. Everything felt like a carbon copy of Earth in the mid-'90s: the languages, cultures, the weather, the atmosphere, even the vehicles. We've got cars and phones, police departments that operate the same as those on earth, and everything feels so familiar as to be off-putting.
The plot is the slow-burn kind... not super engaging, but relatively sweet. And I enjoyed the in-depth exploration of faith and religious beliefs.
However, my biggest problem was with the romantic elements. It made no sense to me that Drake would fall in love with Laura. None whatsoever! She's cold and disagreeable at every turn. By contrast, Jovieve is brimming with vitality, and she actually WANTS him -- yet he pushes her aside at each opportunity. And then finally gives in to her "feminine wiles" and it seems like he's doing her a favour. And then, of course, he casts her aside. Yuck.
Yeah, definitely not a book I can recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2017
I read this one because I’ve loved Sharon Shinn’s fantasy and because these days I’ve 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 priestess Jovieve and Drake’s fellow cop Lise, both confident and competent women. At one point Drake thinks of Lise, “She liked people, and she liked herself.” What a neatly succinct recipe for a likable character. A darn shame she’s not the female lead.
It was on that front the story let me down, with its distressingly old-fashioned romance and love interest. At certain points in the story Laura struck me as admirable, but on the whole, where Lise and Jovieve are heroines, Laura is a damsel, and her need of protection and rescue is specifically what wins Drake’s heart. His preference for her reminds me of a 19th century conduct book that advised young ladies to cultivate mild, retiring virtues rather than bold, dazzling ones, because the latter will excite “admiration rather than affection” in the hearts of men. This is exactly what happens here. The heroines win the hero’s regard, but the damsel wins his love.
Laura particularly suffers, for me, in comparison with Hanani, the priestess heroine of The Shadowed Sun. Both women have self-esteem issues. Both women are, at different points, drawn towards death — not suicide so much as not caring if they live or die. But while Hanani is Savior, Laura is Saved. Both women give up their vocations at the end, but Hanani still follows her calling toward healing and her would-be husband had better understand that. What Laura will do, other than follow Drake to wherever his bosses send him, remains a mystery. Maybe that’s a question we’re not expected to ask.
But I know that Shinn can write better love interests and love stories than this. She’s still one of my favorites.
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 priestess Jovieve and Drake’s fellow cop Lise, both confident and competent women. At one point Drake thinks of Lise, “She liked people, and she liked herself.” What a neatly succinct recipe for a likable character. A darn shame she’s not the female lead.
It was on that front the story let me down, with its distressingly old-fashioned romance and love interest. At certain points in the story Laura struck me as admirable, but on the whole, where Lise and Jovieve are heroines, Laura is a damsel, and her need of protection and rescue is specifically what wins Drake’s heart. His preference for her reminds me of a 19th century conduct book that advised young ladies to cultivate mild, retiring virtues rather than bold, dazzling ones, because the latter will excite “admiration rather than affection” in the hearts of men. This is exactly what happens here. The heroines win the hero’s regard, but the damsel wins his love.
Laura particularly suffers, for me, in comparison with Hanani, the priestess heroine of The Shadowed Sun. Both women have self-esteem issues. Both women are, at different points, drawn towards death — not suicide so much as not caring if they live or die. But while Hanani is Savior, Laura is Saved. Both women give up their vocations at the end, but Hanani still follows her calling toward healing and her would-be husband had better understand that. What Laura will do, other than follow Drake to wherever his bosses send him, remains a mystery. Maybe that’s a question we’re not expected to ask.
But I know that Shinn can write better love interests and love stories than this. She’s still one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2013
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 book is about a serial killer so there is some deaths that are not to detailed. But there are some scenes in the book where they go to slums and there is killing and violence. There is a brutal beating of a woman that is sad but not so detailed that it is disturbing.
Language- There is some swearing by the rough crowd in the book so it is scattered and not by our main characters. F word, B word and some sexual slang.
Sex- A couple of scenes that were not detailed or grafic. Some great kisses. References to prostitution. Sex without marriage.
Violence- This book is about a serial killer so there is some deaths that are not to detailed. But there are some scenes in the book where they go to slums and there is killing and violence. There is a brutal beating of a woman that is sad but not so detailed that it is disturbing.
Language- There is some swearing by the rough crowd in the book so it is scattered and not by our main characters. F word, B word and some sexual slang.
January 9, 2012
This is the best book I have ever read... or re-read. Bar none. It is a spectacular book! Boiled down, it is the result of what happened when science fiction met fantasy at a mystery writers' convention.
But the writing is stunning and glittering and shimmering and shining on every page. Technically, it was as -- or more -- sound than any I have read before or since. The final rendering was the most gorgeous piece of literature I have ever come across. The part that stuck in my mind the most was the Prayer to the Goddess:
Night of crystal, day of gold
Goddess in your arms enfold
Soldier, servant, saint, and sinner –
Spring and summer, fall and winter
Crystal midnight, golden dawn
Flawlessly the days flow on,
Filled with pure ecstatic light –
Fiery morning, icy night.
Goddess, give us star and sun
To guide us through our mortal run.
Sweetly are the secrets told –
Wrapt in Crystal, limned in gold.
But the writing is stunning and glittering and shimmering and shining on every page. Technically, it was as -- or more -- sound than any I have read before or since. The final rendering was the most gorgeous piece of literature I have ever come across. The part that stuck in my mind the most was the Prayer to the Goddess:
Night of crystal, day of gold
Goddess in your arms enfold
Soldier, servant, saint, and sinner –
Spring and summer, fall and winter
Crystal midnight, golden dawn
Flawlessly the days flow on,
Filled with pure ecstatic light –
Fiery morning, icy night.
Goddess, give us star and sun
To guide us through our mortal run.
Sweetly are the secrets told –
Wrapt in Crystal, limned in gold.
February 6, 2011
It was a Paperbackswap.com book. Love using this service to get books you might not find. Wasn't sure what to think except I love the author.
And I really do like Sharon Shinn. I haven't been into Romance books lately, but she is a clear converter. This book definitely wraps you up into the world of Senya, a desert planet with a serial killer. The main character, Cowen, is sent as the person to check it out. Along the way he finds the case has more than it's normal twists and turns. He starts to get involved with the locals. I loved the combination of Mystery/Sci-Fi/Romance in this book. Definitely a good to get lost in book.
And I really do like Sharon Shinn. I haven't been into Romance books lately, but she is a clear converter. This book definitely wraps you up into the world of Senya, a desert planet with a serial killer. The main character, Cowen, is sent as the person to check it out. Along the way he finds the case has more than it's normal twists and turns. He starts to get involved with the locals. I loved the combination of Mystery/Sci-Fi/Romance in this book. Definitely a good to get lost in book.
July 6, 2009
I am not opposed to a good romance, but this verged on heaving bosoms, unfortunately. Not all Shinn's books do so it was a surprise. There were interesting ideas - religious orders supported by the state, the compromises necessary to join a federation and what is too much to give up. But a bit too much bosom, and not a particularly compelling romance.
March 15, 2011
This was an interesting story about a killer who is targetting priestesses on a specific planet. A special investigative officer from a ruling planetary system is sent in to find out what is going on. The story is fairly slow until towards the end. This book made you think, although I didn't necessarily agree with some of it. Contains suggestive material. 3.5 stars.
May 26, 2023
It took me a while to get into this book, not because I didn’t like it, but I just wasn’t in the right mood for it. I am glad I persevered, because I did like it quite a bit.
October 3, 2018
"
Goddess, give us star and sun
To guide us through our mortal run.
Sweetly are the secrets told -
Wrapt in crystal, limned in gold. "
~ Last verse (of 3) in Prayer to Ava
I love Sharon Shinn, and was so pleased and grateful to receive this Out of Print (OOP) copy from a friend who also loves this author 😊
How to describe this unique book? Like Shinn's Samaria series, it is a unique blend of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance. But it is also a police procedural, and a deep philosophical meditation on religion that is in no way preachy (which is quite an achievement!).
Cowen Drake is a Moonchild, an elite military specialist with anthropological investigative skills, adept at integrating himself into, and gaining an understanding of, foreign cultures.
He is assigned to a murder case on Semay, a small politically-important planet flirting with the idea of joining the Intergalactic Alliance of Federated Planets (aka Interfed), who employ the Moonchildren as a kind of interplanetary special forces.
Semay is a desert planet, where life is split into two religious factions. The hedonistic Triumphantes worship through ostentatious displays of wealth and riches, and prize joy, beauty, celebration and free love over all else. The sisters are mostly young, pretty and promiscuous. The Fideles, on the other hand, take a vow of celibacy and poverty and minster to the poor. The sisters tend to be older, serious and somber.
The Triumphantes, led by the charismatic Joyvieve (such a beautiful name!), are state-sponsored and politically powerful. The Fideles exist on donations and prefer to stay politically neutral.
And yet both orders worship the SAME Goddess, Ava! They explain this contradiction of natures away by saying that Ava has two faces, one of happiness (the Triumphantes) and one of sorrow (the Fideles), and neither is better or worse than the other.
It's an intriguing, unusual concept and one of my favourite things about the story. Priestesses from both orders are being murdered, with their special crystal Goddess Eyes (rosaries of a sort) wrapped around their wrists. Cowen is tasked with finding the killer(s) before they strike again. He works closely with Joyvieve and with Laura, an enigmatic sister from the Fideles.
Both Cowen and Laura have tragic pasts. Laura's true identity comes as no surprise, and takes a little too long to reveal. But as Cowen painstakingly puzzles out the truth with few leads and lots of dead ends, he learns how to live and love again. The only problem is that he has to try and help Laura remember how to live and love again too. They're both deeply damaged people, but - perhaps with some help from the mysterious Ava - they start to learn that healing is possible.
The ending is fabulous and incredibly satisfactory. There is a scene early on when Cowan is driving at night through the desert and he describes it as feeling like he's suspended in space, unable to tell if he is moving or the world is moving around him. The story echoes with this feeling of stasis, of checked motion, and as it twists and turns and seems to go one place it surprises by going somewhere else entirely.
The sum total is so much greater than its part, like most of Sharon Shinn's amazing writing. It's a story that stays with you past the last pages, and one I'm very glad to have read. Highly recommended.
To guide us through our mortal run.
Sweetly are the secrets told -
Wrapt in crystal, limned in gold. "
~ Last verse (of 3) in Prayer to Ava
I love Sharon Shinn, and was so pleased and grateful to receive this Out of Print (OOP) copy from a friend who also loves this author 😊
How to describe this unique book? Like Shinn's Samaria series, it is a unique blend of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance. But it is also a police procedural, and a deep philosophical meditation on religion that is in no way preachy (which is quite an achievement!).
Cowen Drake is a Moonchild, an elite military specialist with anthropological investigative skills, adept at integrating himself into, and gaining an understanding of, foreign cultures.
He is assigned to a murder case on Semay, a small politically-important planet flirting with the idea of joining the Intergalactic Alliance of Federated Planets (aka Interfed), who employ the Moonchildren as a kind of interplanetary special forces.
Semay is a desert planet, where life is split into two religious factions. The hedonistic Triumphantes worship through ostentatious displays of wealth and riches, and prize joy, beauty, celebration and free love over all else. The sisters are mostly young, pretty and promiscuous. The Fideles, on the other hand, take a vow of celibacy and poverty and minster to the poor. The sisters tend to be older, serious and somber.
The Triumphantes, led by the charismatic Joyvieve (such a beautiful name!), are state-sponsored and politically powerful. The Fideles exist on donations and prefer to stay politically neutral.
And yet both orders worship the SAME Goddess, Ava! They explain this contradiction of natures away by saying that Ava has two faces, one of happiness (the Triumphantes) and one of sorrow (the Fideles), and neither is better or worse than the other.
It's an intriguing, unusual concept and one of my favourite things about the story. Priestesses from both orders are being murdered, with their special crystal Goddess Eyes (rosaries of a sort) wrapped around their wrists. Cowen is tasked with finding the killer(s) before they strike again. He works closely with Joyvieve and with Laura, an enigmatic sister from the Fideles.
Both Cowen and Laura have tragic pasts. Laura's true identity comes as no surprise, and takes a little too long to reveal. But as Cowen painstakingly puzzles out the truth with few leads and lots of dead ends, he learns how to live and love again. The only problem is that he has to try and help Laura remember how to live and love again too. They're both deeply damaged people, but - perhaps with some help from the mysterious Ava - they start to learn that healing is possible.
The ending is fabulous and incredibly satisfactory. There is a scene early on when Cowan is driving at night through the desert and he describes it as feeling like he's suspended in space, unable to tell if he is moving or the world is moving around him. The story echoes with this feeling of stasis, of checked motion, and as it twists and turns and seems to go one place it surprises by going somewhere else entirely.
The sum total is so much greater than its part, like most of Sharon Shinn's amazing writing. It's a story that stays with you past the last pages, and one I'm very glad to have read. Highly recommended.
July 27, 2018
More of a 2.5. After reading the lovely Summers at Castle Auburn by the same author, I had high expectations. Wrapt in Crystal, unfortunately, didn't do much for me. It's got a little of everything -- mystery, romance, sci-fi, religion -- but while those elements normally interest me, in this case, they all failed to draw me in. I found the protagonist Drake very dull, and of the three women who dance around him, Jovieve was a bit mysterious to me, Lise was fun but had little pagetime, and Laura was ... I'm not sure if she annoyed me so much as I felt annoyed with all of her interactions with Drake, since they seemed to bring out the obnoxious alpha male in him.
I was able to figure out the main part of the mystery before the halfway point. It started as a good hunch, but then around halfway (not long after my hunch formed), I felt like the solution was beaten over my head again and again all the way until almost the end (when Drake finally grasps what I did). The rest of the mystery (the parts that could not be deduced) was fairly standard stuff, a bit of a letdown.
As for the romance ... ugh. Probably because I ended up disliking Drake, it was not for me at all, to the point I felt almost repulsed instead of swooning (or whatever was the intended effect).
There were also a lot of small things about the setting that bothered me. Like, the throwaway that Moonchildren can't get married. Why? Sure, marrying someone who will be traveling a lot would be difficult, but plenty of people today still do it. Why straight out prohibit it in the far future? Actually, the reason for having Moonchildren involved at all in this case felt a little less than solid to me. (I know, I know, questioning the very premise? Why did I even read this book?) Madrid at first seemed like a place with little crime, but as the book goes on, it seems pretty seedy, so you'd think the police force would have some experience solving crimes -- after all, what Drake does is pretty much legwork. The adherents of the two religions are supposed to be sacrosanct, but they don't really come off that way in practice (especially not with )
In short, the elements did not come together well for me, and some individual parts were really not to my taste. However, the writing itself is not bad, so I have hope that the author's other books may, with better characters and plots, not be so disappointing as this one was.
I was able to figure out the main part of the mystery before the halfway point. It started as a good hunch, but then around halfway (not long after my hunch formed), I felt like the solution was beaten over my head again and again all the way until almost the end (when Drake finally grasps what I did). The rest of the mystery (the parts that could not be deduced) was fairly standard stuff, a bit of a letdown.
As for the romance ... ugh. Probably because I ended up disliking Drake, it was not for me at all, to the point I felt almost repulsed instead of swooning (or whatever was the intended effect).
There were also a lot of small things about the setting that bothered me. Like, the throwaway that Moonchildren can't get married. Why? Sure, marrying someone who will be traveling a lot would be difficult, but plenty of people today still do it. Why straight out prohibit it in the far future? Actually, the reason for having Moonchildren involved at all in this case felt a little less than solid to me. (I know, I know, questioning the very premise? Why did I even read this book?) Madrid at first seemed like a place with little crime, but as the book goes on, it seems pretty seedy, so you'd think the police force would have some experience solving crimes -- after all, what Drake does is pretty much legwork. The adherents of the two religions are supposed to be sacrosanct, but they don't really come off that way in practice (especially not with )
In short, the elements did not come together well for me, and some individual parts were really not to my taste. However, the writing itself is not bad, so I have hope that the author's other books may, with better characters and plots, not be so disappointing as this one was.
January 17, 2022
This was a bit of a conflicting read for me. Some elements I liked and others I thought could have used more work.
To start, I will say that I enjoyed the characters of this novel. None of them feel like cardboard cut-outs just there to pad the story. In particular, I found our main character Drake to be quite likeable. He's honorable and intelligent and watching him slowly open up his heart after personal tragedy is gratifying. I also appreciated the Triumphante priestess Jovieve. Generous and wise, I understood why people were so easily wrapped around her finger.
Additionally, I found the main murder mystery plot to be compelling. I appreciate Shinn's nuanced discussion of faith as well. I never felt like I was being preached at.
One of the biggest disappointments of the novel is the main romance. I feel as if the couple didn't spend enough time together to actually fall in love. More importantly, I'm not exactly buying why they were drawn together.
While this is technically a sci-fi novel, it hardly felt that way. I understand that Semay is reluctant to embrace technology, but the planet really didn't feel any different than earth. I would have liked a little more than air ships to drive home the futuristic setting. The world building as a whole is decent in some places, but could use work in others.
Not my favorite Sharon Shinn novel, but I'm not mad I read it.
To start, I will say that I enjoyed the characters of this novel. None of them feel like cardboard cut-outs just there to pad the story. In particular, I found our main character Drake to be quite likeable. He's honorable and intelligent and watching him slowly open up his heart after personal tragedy is gratifying. I also appreciated the Triumphante priestess Jovieve. Generous and wise, I understood why people were so easily wrapped around her finger.
Additionally, I found the main murder mystery plot to be compelling. I appreciate Shinn's nuanced discussion of faith as well. I never felt like I was being preached at.
One of the biggest disappointments of the novel is the main romance. I feel as if the couple didn't spend enough time together to actually fall in love. More importantly, I'm not exactly buying why they were drawn together.
While this is technically a sci-fi novel, it hardly felt that way. I understand that Semay is reluctant to embrace technology, but the planet really didn't feel any different than earth. I would have liked a little more than air ships to drive home the futuristic setting. The world building as a whole is decent in some places, but could use work in others.
Not my favorite Sharon Shinn novel, but I'm not mad I read it.
April 21, 2021
This is a surprising book. I feel that it's definitely one of those books that is divisive; some people would really bounce off it. But I for one enjoyed it, more than I was expecting to from the description - and more, I think, than I would have expected to even if you'd told me all the plot details.
This is a scifi novel that is also an old-fashioned murder mystery that is also a surprisingly deep meditation on religion, spirituality, and healing after trauma. See? That is an odd combo. There's also romance that almost shades into obsession, and diplomatic negotiations.
And all of that combines with great worldbuilding and rich characterizations, and turns into a quiet gem of a story that takes on a bit of the grace it meditates on. The mystery is well-fashioned, though the twist may be clear early, and the world is immersive. I've noticed in other Shinn books that she is very good at creating religious and quasi-religious belief systems that feel lived in and authentic.
Definitely not a book for everyone. And yet definitely a book for me.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
This is a scifi novel that is also an old-fashioned murder mystery that is also a surprisingly deep meditation on religion, spirituality, and healing after trauma. See? That is an odd combo. There's also romance that almost shades into obsession, and diplomatic negotiations.
And all of that combines with great worldbuilding and rich characterizations, and turns into a quiet gem of a story that takes on a bit of the grace it meditates on. The mystery is well-fashioned, though the twist may be clear early, and the world is immersive. I've noticed in other Shinn books that she is very good at creating religious and quasi-religious belief systems that feel lived in and authentic.
Definitely not a book for everyone. And yet definitely a book for me.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
August 6, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. Some elements I absolutely adored. The mystery plotline and the world-building were excellent and completely sucked me into the story. But the characters and the romance kind of fell flat for me. Some of the romance plotlines made sense once the reveal of the book happened, but I still don't understand why some of it had to happen. I enjoyed the character arc's focus on finding ways to live again even after horrible things happen in your life, but the emphasis on religion as the way to find yourself felt a little preachy at times. But overall, I enjoyed the read. I am starting to read through Sharon Shinn's adult novels after being obsessed with her YA Safe-Keepers series, and I'm excited to read some of her other works.
March 1, 2020
Structurally, this is a romance novel, and the romance is not particularly believable but not especially offensive either. The world-building is what makes this a 3-star instead 2-star book for me - it’s quite compelling and rendered with a deft touch, and the values of the culture and its religions are actually deeply thought provoking. The investigation process of the murder mystery is well-written but a bit of a letdown when it all comes together. Overall, nothing special, but a pleasant enough read for a thrift store find.
December 14, 2018
Cowen's religious background is cliche but the way his journey is written was believable and relatable for me. That was subtext to the main story so it was never emphasized but it was nevertheless a highlight for me. I had an inkling of the plot resolution before it came but was sufficiently engrossed to not think too much about it, and so the surprise was mostly preserved and I liked it.
April 6, 2022
sweet love story that explores religion, love, tragedy, and recovery
My favorite character is the priestess joidevivre described as a high class prostitute
She's very insightful and loving and helps others to be happier.
While I don't agree with her views on sex, I do think we could all be more loving.
My favorite character is the priestess joidevivre described as a high class prostitute
She's very insightful and loving and helps others to be happier.
While I don't agree with her views on sex, I do think we could all be more loving.
June 12, 2018
I really enjoyed the world-building in this. I'm still shocked it's a standalone, as I had assumed there could be dozens of books about the Moonchildren and Interfed. The mystery was less outstanding than the characters and setting, but still worthwhile.
July 9, 2018
I enjoyed this book, but there were too many problematic (in a writing sense) things to ignore. The climax was terribly anticlimactic, the guy picked the wrong girl, and the end was more predictable than I would've liked. So, an okay read, but not a book I'm keeping.
Currently reading
October 30, 2020I cannot express how thrilled I am that they are finally releasing Wrapt in Crystal in ebook, or re-issuing it at all. It's been out of print for so long, it was unconscionable. Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. One of my very favorite books. re-read it many times and will continue to re-read it.
August 13, 2022
This book is a 10/10 for me
It is also rather hard to describe or categorize. I suspect I first read it because I am a fan of Sharon Shin and have read many of her books. This one remains a favorite, and I have read it several times. YMMV.
HEA, if that is a factor.
It is also rather hard to describe or categorize. I suspect I first read it because I am a fan of Sharon Shin and have read many of her books. This one remains a favorite, and I have read it several times. YMMV.
HEA, if that is a factor.
June 8, 2023
Another very interesting Sharon Shinn take on what it means to believe in a higher power. I am distinctly non-religious but her books make me think. The three main characters were all convincing, the plot was good, the writing excellent (which is almost the main criteria for me).
March 17, 2019
This was really slow going for me, with only about a 50 page section that was really intriguing.
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