FANTASY BOOK SELECTION THIRTEEN ORPHANS
by
JANE LINDSKOLD
Thirteen Orphans (2008)
Tor paperback
492 pages (left)
Tor hardcover
367 pages (right)
Cover art by Sam Weber
From the back cover of the paperback:
The Thirteen Orphans represent the
twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac -- plus the noble Cat...and they are under
siege. The surviving Orphans are led by Pearl Bright, a gracious and
vivacious older Asian-American who is the avatar of the Tiger. Pearl has
the hidden claws and steely determination of her namesake, though she has no
idea of the number or strength of her enemies and her forces are few and mostly
inexperienced.
One of Pearl's warriors is college
sophomore Brenda Morris, daughter of the Rat. Until a few days ago, Brenda
had no idea that her father could do magic or that there were other worlds.
Now, with her father's abilities stolen, Brenda and the Orphans are stunned to
discover that Brenda has some of the Rat's powers...though she has no idea what
to do with them.
She will have to learn fast.
From the inside flap of the hardcover:
Their ancestors came to Earth as exiles
from the Lands Born from Smoke and Sacrifice, which had been mysteriously formed
from the lost lore of Imperial China. Concealing their magic in the game
of mah-jong, the Thirteen Orphans vowed to protect their adopted world from the
strife they left behind.
Generations later, the war they thought
long over has followed the Orphans to Earth. Scattered, their traditions
in disarray, and with the magical abilities of some Orphans already disabled,
the survivors must act quickly to defend themselves and those they love.
The Thirteen Orphans represent the
twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac -- plus the Cat. They are led by
Pearl Bright, a gracious and vivacious older woman who is the avatar of the
Tiger -- and who has the hidden claws and steely determination of her namesake.
Pearl's outward confidence masks her inner concern, for she has no idea of the
number or strength of her enemies and her forces are few and mostly
inexperienced: the Dog, a former soldier who knew of his ancestry but never
expected to learn or use magic; the Hare, a young mother who has rarely left the
shelter of her family; the Rooster, a skilled magic-worker who has never gone
into battle.
And
college sophomore Brenda Morris, whose father is the Rat. Until a few days
ago, Brenda had no idea that her father could do magic or that other worlds
existed. Now, with her father's abilities stolen, Brenda and the other
Orphans are stunned to discover that Brenda has some of the Rat's
powers...though she has no idea, yet, what to do with them.
Read for group discussion on September 9, 2009RATINGS: How we each rated this book
Dan
-
Amy
7
10 Wow! Don't miss it
8-9 Highly recommended
7 Recommended
5-6 Mild recommendation
3-4 Take your chances
1-2 Below average; skip it
0 Get out the flamethrower!
U Unfinishable or unreadable
- Skipped or no rating given
Cheri
5
Barb
-
Aaron
4
Cynthia
-
Jackie
7
Ron
4
Jennifer
6.5
Bibliography:
Jane Lindskold (1962- ) is an US writer
fantasy and science fiction.
Orphans or Breaking the Wall series books
-- Thirteen Orphans (2008)
-- Nine Gates (2009)
-- Five Odd Honors (2010)
The Firekeeper Saga or Wolf Series
-- Through Wolf's Eyes (2001)
-- Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (2002)
-- The Dragon of Despair (2003)
-- Wolf Captured (2004)
-- Wolf Hunting (2006)
-- Wolf's Blood (2007)
The Athanor series
-- Changer (1998)
-- Legends Walking (1999)
Other books
-- Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls (1994), her first novel
-- Marks of Our Brothers (1995)
-- The Pipes of Orpheus (1995)
-- Smoke and Mirrors (1996)
-- Chronomaster (1996), based on the CD ROM game of the same name
-- When the Gods are Silent (1997)
-- The Buried Pyramid (2004), stand-alone fantasy
-- Child of a Rainless Year (2005), stand-alone contemporary fantasy
Collaborations
-- Donnerjack (1997), completion of an unfinished novel by Roger Zelazny
-- Lord Demon (1999), completion of an unfinished novel by Roger Zelazny
