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Summary
Summary
As evocative and moving as Charles de Lint's Newford books, with the youthful protagonists and exciting action of Mercedes Lackey's fantasies, Thirteen Orphans makes our world today as excitingly strange and unfamiliar as any fantasy realm . . .and grants readers a glimpse of a fantasy world founded by ancient Chinese lore and magic.
As far as college freshman Brenda Morris knows, there is only one Earth and magic exists only in fairy tales.Brenda is wrong.
A father-daughter weekend turns into a nightmare when Brenda's father is magically attacked before her eyes. Brenda soon learns that her ancestors once lived in world of smoke and shadows, of magic and secrets.
When that world's Emperor was overthrown, the Thirteen Orphans fled to our earth and hid their magic system in the game of mah-jong. Each Orphan represents an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. Brenda's father is the Rat. And her polished, former child-star aunt, Pearl--that eminent lady is the Tiger.
Only a handful of Orphans remain to stand against their enemies. The Tiger, the Rooster, the Dog, the Rabbit . . . and Brenda Morris. Not quite the Rat, but not quite human either.
Author Notes
Jane Lindskold received a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Fordham University. She was an adjunct professor at Fordham, before becoming an Assistant Professor of English at Lynchburg College in Virginia. While there, she became friends with Roger Zelazny. She completed his two unfinished novels Donnerjack and Lord Demon after his death. Her first novel, Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls was published in 1994. Her other works include Changer, Legends Walking, Through Wolf's Eyes, and Fire Season written with David Weber.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Adult/High School-Nineteen-year-old Brenda Morris lives a comfortable life bounded by a loving family, good friends, and her college studies. One summer night, though, after a young man dressed like a Chinese warrior attacks her father and uses magic to alter his memories, Brenda learns that she is descended from one of 13 nobles who fled another world to seek refuge on Earth. Now, after almost a century, the heirs of those exiles are under attack. Brenda joins with a handful of other descendants in a desperate attempt to save their heritage. Yet she also finds herself drawn to the attacker. Who is friend, and who is foe? Lindskold has created a convincing tale of a young woman entering adulthood, assuming responsibility for herself and for others, and making sometimes-wrenching decisions. Action is brisk in the first and last thirds of the book, while the middle concentrates on developing relationships between the characters and providing background information. The story is nevertheless an attention-grabber throughout. It ends with questions and conflicts still unresolved, while the unexpected arrival of a new character sets up the next book in what promises to be an engrossing series. Recommend this one to teens who enjoy urban fantasies by authors such as Charles de Lint, Jim Butcher, or Lilith Saintcrow.-Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Lindskold (Through Wolf's Eyes) delivers an enjoyable but unremarkable series launch. Brenda Morris, an innocent quarter-Chinese college student, is abruptly thrust into the hidden world of the Thirteen Orphans, descendants of magicians who take the forms of Chinese zodiac animals and draw magic from the game of mah-jongg. Brenda fights valiantly against otherworld elements who seek to steal the Orphans' power, but indulges in a painfully juvenile crush on a killer who attacks her father. From a fascinating premise, the narrative stalls repeatedly under the weight of awkward exposition, explanation of magic and mah-jongg and analysis of offscreen events. Stiff, unrealistic dialogue interrupts crisp, clean narrative prose. The only sparkle comes from mysterious assassins Flying Claw and Righteous Drum. After this serviceable setup, readers will mostly hope for the interesting sequel promised by the abrupt conclusion. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
This enchanting combination of politics, the Chinese horoscope, mahjong, multiple generations, and animal natures begins with Brenda Morris, on vacation from college, accompanying her businessman father to California to visit a wealthy old friend, who's missing when they arrive. Instead of calling the police, Gaheris Morris contacts septuagenarian Chinese-Jewish family friend Pearl Bright, once a famous child actress. Brenda learns of a kingdom of sacrifice and smoke that may be east of the sun and west of the moon, from whence came an emperor and 12 advisers, exiled to our world, each with a beautifully hand-carved mahjong set to use for divination and casting magical spells. Mysterious individuals from their former world have now arrived, casting spells to steal the exiles' animal natures and their memories of their secret origins. With the emperor, among others, out of commission, Brenda, Pearl, and one of the attackers suffering from his own amnesia spell try to stop the other spell-casters. This intricate, exciting series-launcher makes one eager for the next installment.--Tixier Herald, Diana Copyright 2008 Booklist
Library Journal Review
When 19-year-old Brenda Morris witnesses what appears to be a magical attack against her father, she uncovers the secret history of her family and 12 others, each former inhabitants of the world of Smoke and Shadows and now exiled to Earth after the overthrow of their emperor. The Thirteen Orphans, as the exiles and their descendants are called, are named after the houses of the Chinese Zodiac plus the Cat, and the ancient Chinese game of mah-jongg hides their magic, which must be recovered before Orphans are destroyed and their way home closed forever. This new series launch by the author of the "Firekeeper" series (e.g., Through Wolf's Eyes) deftly mingles the fascination of the mah-jongg tiles and the animal lore of the Chinese Zodiac with a modern tale of discovery and danger. This urban fantasy should appeal to fans of Charles de Lint and Jim Butcher and is an excellent choice for most libraries. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.