Customer Reviews

The Safe-keepers Secret

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a huge Sharon Shinn fan I felt compelled to pick up 'The Safe-Keeper's Secret'.

Unlike most of her other novels this book is written with a teenage audience in mind. The writing is simplified, and the story is easy to follow. Regardless the book can be enjoyed by anyone.

The setting is a fantasy world where every town has a safe-keeper, and a truth-teller. Furthermore this world also has a dream-maker.

This is the story of a safe-keeper and her two children. The safe-keeper is a person who can hold on to secrets no matter how horrible they may be. One of her children happens to be a secret, the boy was mysteriously dropped off in the middle of the night, and she raises him as her own.

The rest of the book follows the two children, Reed & Fiona. They discover themselves; learn of what they want to be, & that bloodlines don't truly matter. During this period of time they suffer the loss of a loved one. To reveal more of the plot would be to ruin the story.

While this was an overall good novel, I found it somewhat difficult to become attached to some of the characters earlier on. I would therefore recommend the 'Samalia' books or 'Summer at Castle Auburn' if you're looking to try a Sharon Shinn fantasy.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret (2004) is a standalone fantasy novel. One night, the King's own Safe-Keeper came riding through Tambleham, stopping at the Safe-Keeper's house on the other side. There he left a baby and a secret.

Safe-Keepers exist only to keep secrets, some for just a short while and others for all eternity. Conversely, Truth-Tellers exist only to relate the literal truth. Dream-Makers exist to fulfill wishes through their magic, but cannot control the gift.

In this novel, Elminstra the herb witch comes to the Safe-Keeper's house early the next morning with food and milk. She knocks on the door, calling out to the two sisters, then pushes it open after no one responds. Angeline comes to answer the knocking with a child in each arm, telling Elminstra that the girl is her sister's newborn and the boy has been left in their care.

Angeline is the Safe-Keeper for Lowford. She has come to help deliver the child of her sister Damiana, the Safe-Keeper for Tambleham. Damiana will raise the two children as if they are both her own, although the whole village knows that only one is hers. In fact, everybody else thinks that Reed is the illegitimate son of the King.

Reed and Fiona grow up as if they were twins. They even look alike. But Reed is full of energy, while Fiona is much more sedate. She remains calm even when Reed brings in a snake to show her and even looks for a box to keep it in for a pet. Yet Fiona always goes out to see any new thing that Reed finds in his roaming.

Reed isn't sure what he wants to be, but he is willing to try anything once. Fiona has always known that she will be a Safe-Keeper like her mother and grandmother. Thomas the Truth-Teller tries to tell Fiona that she will not follow in her mother's footsteps and she hates him for it. Like most people, she seems to hate disagreeable truths.

Fiona and Reed love the annual gathering in Damiana's house. Angeline and Thomas always come, as does Isodora the Dream-Maker. They make wreathes to burn on a great bonfire in the front yard and cook feasts to devour until they are all sated.

In this story, Fiona and Reed live together with Damiana as their mother until death takes Damiana away. Then Elminstra insists on her granddaughter Allison moving in with Fiona, even though Reed is away learning new trades much of the time. Every time he returns, Fiona feels like a missing part of her life is now
filled.

This story is without adventure, has very little suspense and almost no conflict. Deaths occur, but only Damiana's passing is dwelled upon and, even then, only for its affect on Fiona. This story is mostly about the growth and development of two children and their relationships with older friends. Nevertheless, it is a deeply satisfying story with a very moving conclusion.

This story is very much a fantasy without any chance of being mistaken for reality. Yet one can only wish that it were true. Some things should be real, even if only for a little while.

Highly recommended for Shinn fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of loving relationships and surprise endings.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I have loved Sharon Shinn's writing since I first picked up her Summers at Castle Auburn, and then quickly moved on to read and love all of her Samira books (I must admit her more sci-fi books, though good, were harder for me to get in to, but that is because I rarely read science fiction). So I was happy to see her write a book for young adults, and was interested to see how she approached it. I find that young adult fantasy books are the most interesting and imaginative. This book was enjoyable, it had the easy flow of the story like in her other books, but written in a simpler way, which did not take from the story at all in my opinion. It has an interesting plot, and though some say it all wrapped up a bit TOO nicely at the end, they are right that it did tie all lose ends together and everyone was happy, but this book was written for younger people, and I think that a happy ending is perfectly acceptable. I was happy for the characters, and smiling when I put the book down, so whether or not the ending was 'too' perfect or not, I grew attached to the characters and cared about them, and that is one of the most important things in story telling if you ask me! There is more, being adopted, I really liked the theme surrounding belonging - I do not want to go to into detail because I am not here to retell the story, it is just that the book focused on what you are instead of who you are, and there were times I re-read a paragraph or two and took her views on belonging to heart, and it was nice. I could relate to the feelings of some of the characters, and I could hear myself saying some of the same things when I was younger, and even at times now. The way Sharon Shinn addressed these issues made me feel good about myself. I think that this is a book worth reading, for young adults and for the young at heart adults.

I read this book in one evening, despite being at least a decade older than the target audience. The author doesn't spend too much time establishing the different aspects of her world, but instead drops us into the story and explains what's needed when we need to know. That's the mark of a great fantasy writer.

I immediatly picked up the next book, The Truth-Teller's Tale, because I couldn't admit this one was over. It's wonderful, fast-paced, and contains things that while written in a way that a teenager would understand are the sort of things most authors shy away from, like death, growing older, and the way life takes shape around you.

An excellent book, I reccomend it for everyone.

In every town there is a safe-keeper. People come from all over to tell their secrets to their safe-keeper and they are not to tell a soul these secrets. One late night the safe-keeper for the king comes to a neighboring town, Tambleham, with a newborn baby for the safe keeper of that town. Damiana is the safe-keeper for Tambleham and she is giving birth to a child at the time that he comes. She decides to raise her daughter (Fiona) and the mysterious boy (Reed) as brother and sister. Damiana get sick when Fiona and Reed are fifteen and then die's. But before she dies she tells Fiona who her dad is and who Reed's family is. Fiona takes the position as the town's safe-keeper which is something she has wanted to do since she was a little girl but she find that is does not suit her. Reed apprentices at many jobs trying to find one that he enjoys. When he does not find a job the he likes, he goes to the palace trying to meet the king and his daughter because he thinks that they might be his family. About five months after Reed went to the palace the king comes to the town looking for his child that his safe-keeper brought to the Tambleham eighteen years ago. During his visit secrets come out that only Damiana knew. This book is by Sharon Shinn. If you are a mystery/ fantasy lover then this book is for you.

Although THE SAFE-KEEPER'S SECRET doesn't have the epic sweep or romance of many of Shinn's books for adults, it is in its own way a beautiful little book, charming and satisfying.

I waited a long time to purchase this book becuase I wasn't sure I would like it, but I'm so glad I bought it. Though it is a simple story the characters and the fairy tale world they inhabit are endearing.

I'm very much looking forward to the next two books in this series, THE TRUTH-TELLER'S TALE and THE DREAM-MAKER'S MAGIC. If they are as delightful as this book, I won't be a bit sorry that Shinn has turned her hand to writing for young adults. And for the record, I am 35! This is a book that people of all ages could appreciate and enjoy.

I hope more people give it a try and approach it with an open mind. It's quite different from the Samaria books, but though quieter and simpler, still a gem.

Fiona and her "brother" Reed live in a tiny village in a simple medieval-feeling culture where the magic is fairly subtle but woven deeply into society. The book is the story of their discovering who they are and what role they will play as they mature. There are many dark aspects of the story, including incest and the death of a major character, but the tone is very calm and comfortable. I liked the variety of characters the author brought to life, and the way they pulled together as a community.

I look forward to reading the other books in this series, and anything else Ms. Shinn writes. Sure, I'd rather have adult novels from her existing series, but the occasional young adult book is a nice change of pace.

This is a beautiful book about a young woman, Fiona, and her love for her friends and family. A quick, delightful read taking place in an imaginative fantasy world. This is the only one of the series I have read, having finished it today (also having started it today - it's a very quick read) but I fully intend to read the others. I love how Fiona's feelings are portrayed, how she longs to help others while still struggling to keep the secrets entrusted to her.

But, if you want an honest opinion, I'll give you one. First off, I'll try to be as objective as possible, but I can't rule out any bias .

This book was, to say the least, enjoyable. Of all the characters, Reed was the most amusing, from his child-like boyhood ways, to his sensitive exterior, especially when showing his feelings to those he cares. Fiona is more of the strong, silent type. She is an honest person to a fault, letting those she doesn't like know she doesn't like them yet, meanwhile, being at least civil to them. As for the other characters, they were enjoyable, and if not, at least tolerable.

As for the parts of the story that first interested me into reading this book- the relationship between Fiona and Reed and the true parentage of their birth- I would have to say that they were satisfying. Parents don't have to worry about the condition between Reed and Fiona's relationship. Although it does turn romantic, albeit implied, there is a clear and crisp indication that Reed and Fiona are not blood brother and sister. Perhaps the only concern parents may have is the idea of stepbrother/sister falling in love. Whatever the concerns, such is left to the discretion of parents.

As for the secrets of Fiona and Reeds birth, the ending is quite surprising. Readers will want to stick through the novel to know who Reed and Fiona's parents are and the backstory in their being raised with each other. But that's just it. This story is mainly about two 'orphans' learning who they are by birth. Although the story is a coming-of-age story, the main driving factor of this novel is Reed and Fiona trying to figure out who they are by birth. Nothing more (in terms of 'a great mystery').

Above all, an interesting read though not exceptional. You might want to check this book out at the library rather than spend whatever you'll pay to read it.

I have never read any of Sharon Shinn's young adult books before, and I was glad when this one held up to my expectations of her writing. The Safe-Keeper's Secret isn't filled with action and adventure -- there are a few ongoing mysteries throughout the novel, but most would consider this a slow book. However, I read more for the characters than the plot, so I really liked this story.

As always, Shinn has created a brilliant world. It's seems much the same as England in the 1100's, except magic exists and there are certain people who do odd jobs. There are Safe-Keepers who are obligated to listen to people's secrets and keep them, Truth-Tellers who always tell the truth no matter what, and one Dream-Maker, whose mere presence may make a person's deepest wishes come true. I thought this was a unique spin on things and really enjoyed learning about these different jobs and the people who perform them.

Most of all, however, I loved the characters. This book is mainly about life and the relationships that we form throughout our lifetimes. I got to know Damiana, Reed, Fiona, and all the others as if they were my own family and was interested in what they were doing and what their dreams were, even if the action was simple. Also, with Fiona's mother and aunt being Safe-Keepers, and then becoming a Safe-Keeper herself, there is a good bit of intrigue woven in.

Halfway through (if even that far), I figured out what was going to come about at the end, but figuring out the mystery wasn't really the point of the novel, I think. Rather, it's about Fiona coming to terms with who she is as an individual, what she wants to do with her life. This is a lovely story about the meaning of love and family. I highly recommend it.