The Shining City: Book Two of Rhiannon's Ride [Mass Market Paperback]

Kate Forsyth (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rhiannon's Ride | Publication Date: April 4, 2006

In a world of dark spirits, forbidden magic, and intrigue, Rhiannon awaits trial for murder and treason. Suspecting that a spell has stolen her lover's heart, she vows to win him back-and escape to save the land before it's too late...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Forsyth writes with aplomb and style. (Examiner [Australia])

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Roc (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451460804
• ISBN-13: 978-0451460806
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #841,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More questions, and a cliffhanger ending. Hang on folks, the ride isn't over yet, March 21, 2006

By 

Lilly Flora "by Lilo Drandoff" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Shining City: Book Two of Rhiannon's Ride (Mass Market Paperback)

First off, Kate Forsyth is a fantastic writer, and not just of fantasy. She has brilliant command of language and imagery and I almost wish she would branch out and write a non-fantasy novel to explore her skills. In the meantime though, this is one dozy of a book that I heartily recommend, even if you didn't love her previous novels.

The Shining City is the second book in Rhiannon's Ride (pronounced Ree-annn-on) which is a trilogy offshoot of the Witches of Eileanan series. In this book Rhiannon is taken captive to the shining capital city and held on trial for murdering one of the king's guards, Connor the just. In the last book it was reveled that she killed him, but she also feel in love with Lewen, who is also part fairy and desperately in love with her despite her being half wild. The book starts as she's taken to prison.

Of course Lewen has his own life in the city as a student witch a squire for the king. He's also best friends with the king's daughter, Olwynne. She's been in love with him her whole life and upon hearing about his new loves, decides to concoct a love potion (which are illegal in this world) to win his love away.

All this is happening while evil forces gather in the background with some very peculiar helpers we know from previous books. Soon a terrible thing will happen. Will Rhiannon be hung for her crime? Will Lewen fall for the love spell? If he does it mean that he and Rhiannon can never be together again? Will the evil necromancers from the last book be reveled as having an even more sinister purpose? Can this all end happily?

I don't know-there's one book left in the series called the Heart of Stars which should come out next year. I await it eagerly. This book is fantastic and edgy and romantic and you'll be on the edge of your seat the whole time cheering for the good guys and booing the bad ones (particularly Olwynne who seems inoccent and good because she's in love with Lewen-not that that's an excuse for what she did) until it ends...with a cliffhanger. I will count the days until the next book and hope for a happy ending. I actually ordered the last in this series from Australia! I'm happy to share info with anyone, who, like me, needs reasurence that everything ends well. Email me for details at [e-mail].

Five stars.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars who are these people and am I supposed to care?, May 26, 2006

By 

moria2 (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Shining City: Book Two of Rhiannon's Ride (Mass Market Paperback)

3 and a half stars. The Shining City is book 2 of Rhiannon's Ride. Rhiannon, Lewen and crew have finally reached the city (Lucescere), and Rhiannon and Lord Fettercain are taken directly to prison. Both are charged with murder, and he has an additional charge of necromancy against his person. Rhiannon spends most of the book helpless in jail. While the servant of Lord Fettercain (Dedrie) somehow fools everyone, gets out of jail, and starts to ingratiate herself with members of the Theurgia. Lewen seems to forget about Rhiannon as she remains behind bars, and the intrigues of the royal family and their court take the floor, including plans for the wedding of Bronwen, the daughter of Maya the Ensorcellor, to Donncan, the heir apparent to the throne.

I really enjoyed the first book of this series. However, this book didn't seem to always make sense to me. I haven't read the Witches of Eileanan series by Ms. Forsyth. So, a lot of the characters and the subjects that come up while the setting is in Lucescere don't mean boo to me. This wasn't the case with the first book of this series. I'm fairly sure that someone who has read the Eileanan books would understand all that is going on. On the bright side, at least for those like me, it looks as though they leave the city behind at the end of this particular segment. Hopefully, the backfill from the first series will fade as they leave the city behind or perhaps I'll have time for the 6 Witches of Eileanan books before the next in this series is ready.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Stressful, Yet SO Great!, August 9, 2006

By 

Gladys White "The Naked Artisan" (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shining City: Book Two of Rhiannon's Ride (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was even more gripping than the first. It made me angry, distressed, sad, relieved, excited, and more. I fell in love with the characters even further. I was glad to see some of the original relationships from the original series still existing. Although an angsty plot, I adored this book and am chomping at the bit for the release of the final book. I need to know the consequences and the outcomes! Can't wait. Kate Forsyth has become my favorite author, hands down!