Title:

Summers at Castle Auburn

Author:

Sharon Shinn

Category:

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

August 1, 2024

f there is a library somewhere with a Romantasy (Romance + Fantasy) section, then Summers at Castle Auburn will certainly be shelved in that area. Despite much of the plot consumed with who shall marry who, this is still an entertaining read. Shinn takes a different tack than many authors - rather trying to surprise her readers with plot twists, Shinn telegraphs what is to come; certainly there are few surprises in the story. The characters are what make this book an enjoyable read.

Coriel Halsing - "Corie" - is the illegitimate daughter of a deceased noble. Her status is above that of a peasant, but not as exhaulted as that of an aristocrat. Her half-sister, Elisandra, is the legitimate offspring of the Halsing line, and so she is betrothed to Prince Bryan, who will become king once he turns twenty-one. At the moment, the kingdom is guided by Regent Matthew - but there is no power struggle here, Matthew has made it clear that it is Bryan who will sit on throne (even though Matthew's own son, Kently, would be next in line for the throne should Bryan perish.)

Corie does not live at the royal court, not at Castle Auburn, but she is invited to visit her sister Elisandra there each summer. The other three seasons are spent living with her grandmother, who is the local healing-herb-and-potion witchy woman for her village. Corie has learned a lot of healing arts and even carries a satchel full of various ointments, powders, leaves and whatnot.

The novel is divided into three sections, each describing one summer at Castle Auburn. In the first section, Execursions, a fourteen year old Corie arrives for her annual summer visit when her Uncle Jaxon offers to take her along on an aliora hunt. The aliora are magical beings, like human-sized faeries. When captured, they are incredibly valuable assets, because their touch is healing and soothing. The nobles of the kingdom love having a personal aliora, but they are hard to catch and must be shackled with metal (which burns their skin) to prevent them from escaping.

Joining Uncle Jaxon and Corie on the aliora quest is Kent (second in line for the throne), Roderick the guard, Damien the taster (Prince Bryan is deathly afraid of being poisoned, and so Damien must sample everything before Bryan will eat it), and Prince Bryan himself. Fourteen year old Corie is quite smitten with Bryan, he is so handsome and charming - and when Bryan flirts with her, Corie blushes deeply. But the reader sees what Corie does not - Bryan is quite arrogant and boorish.

Back at the castle after an unsuccessful hunt, Corie joyfully meets with her half-sister Elisandra. Elisandra is the best character in Summers at Castle Auburn. She is beautiful and serene, kind to everyone and puts on no airs, despite the fact that one day she will become Queen when Bryan is crowned king. Corie shows Elisandra her satchel and describes all that she has learned from her grandmother, while Elisandra listens patiently to her dreams of one day becoming a healing woman herself.

The second section is titled Disillusionments and takes place three summers after part one. Corie is now seventeen and is drawing attention herself, even though she is illegitimate - but she does have Halsing blood, and Regent Matthew ponders if there could be an advantage gained from marrying her off to one of the nobles of the eight provinces. Corie makes friends with the guards of Castle Auburn. One them asks for a love potion to capture the heart of a woman who seems to be ignoring him. Corie says she cannot make anyone love someone else, but she can concoct a drink that will open a person's eyes to all that is going on around them. The woman of the guard's heart would hopefully notice what a fine husband he would make, and true love would then blossom. To prove that the potion is harmless, Corie promises to drink half of it herself.

Now Corie sees many things at Castle Auburn in a different light. Perhaps this is the result of new maturity, or perhaps the potion really does open her eyes. Corie finally notices how miserable the aliora are - they are captive slaves serving the human nobles. Corie realizes what a pompous jerk Prince Bryan is. She senses the dissatisfaction of the nobles with the prospect of Bryan reaching maturity and being installed as ruler of the kingdom just a year from now. But Corie still cannot tell what the inscrutable Elisandra thinks of her betrothal to Prince Bryan.

The third section, Weddings is the summer of Corie's eighteenth year. This when all the plot threads merge into the climax of the tale.

Shinn has written a lot of books, it might be worthwhile to checkout some of her other novels - our library has a lot of them.