To Weave a Web of Magic: Four Stories of Fantasy and Exquisite Romance

I don't think Sharon Shinn EVER writes a story that's not completely magical and that doesn't engulf a reader from the first sentence. Her story definitely is a 5.Delacroix's story was very close to Shinn's in quality. I don't require a happy ending if the ending is the right one for the story and this one definitely was. The ending was haunting but true. Another 5.Kurland's story was OK, if obvious all the way through, probably a 3-4, and I didn't finish the McKillip story. Nothing new here - in an anthology, the quality of the stories will vary. If you're a fan of Shinn (like me) or of Delacroix (I'd never read anything by her before), you should definitely enjoy their stories.

I only bought this book because I love Sharon Shinn,s Archangel Series and discovered there was a story about that world here. I ended up enjoying all the stories as well

Very interesting short stories - unusually detailed and interesting

Bought it for the Kurland story, but enjoyed the other stories included, too!

Fantastic item fast shipping ,great price.

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Awesome

I bought this book for Lynn Kurland's story, called "The Tale of Two Swords." The other stories aren't bad, but they're not my style, so I'll let others tell you about them."The Tale of Two Swords" is, however, a little story that I absolutely adore. I love the way it's sandwiched between young Harold's dreams of adventure, and I love the way this story is referred to in the first Nine Kingdoms trilogy.Young Harold is ready for an adventure. The problem is that there's a blizzard raging outside the drafty and lonely castle he lives in, and no one to help him on his quest. And so he settles for the story that we get to hear with him.The story begins with Mehar of Angesand fleeing from her father and an arranged marriage on one of the famous Angesand steeds. All she's got is her mother's book of spells and hope that maybe the king's mage will teach her to read them. Unfortunately, she arrives to find the palace of Chagailt nearly destroyed and no one around, other than the cook and two men...one of whom has pale, fae eyes that stare into her soul. It is not long, however, before she learns that the man she is quickly falling in love with isn't quite who she thought he was. Even more surprising...neither is she!And for that matter, neither is Harold! ::grins::Finally, I must tell you that this is the little story that is referenced so many times in the full-length novels in the story. If you want to explore the Nine Kingdoms, then you should start with "A Whisper of Spring" found in where Symon, the first king of Neroche, woos and wins Iolaire, the elvin princess. You'll find it in the  The Queen in Winter  anthology.Then read this little story.Finally, jump forward in time to Star of the Morning and let the magic begin! Here's the series lineup as of January '15:Two Prelude short stories, found in anthologies with other authors:- "A Whisper of Spring" mentioned above.- This storyMiach and Morgan's story is told in:1-  Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1) 2-  The Mage's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 2) 3-  Princess of the Sword (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 3) Ruith and Sarah's story (which OVERLAPS Miach and Morgan's story in the timeline) is told in:4-  A Tapestry of Spells (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 4) 5-  Spellweaver (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 5) 6-  Gift of Magic (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 6) Runach and Aisling's story is being told in:7-  Dreamspinner (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 7) 8-  River of Dreams (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 8) 9-  Dreamer's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 9)

i agree totally with a previous reviewer, and liked the tale of two swords! it was fun, charming and, most importantly, the heroine had some power of her own, she was not just caught passively in the tentacles of "love", which, sadly seemed to be the fate of the heroines in the other stories...dismal, sad, melancholy tales of rape, misuse, abuse and "fate" crushing any self-determination or individual initiative...maybe it is true that young women are forever victims of the patriarchal structures around us, but it was depressing to read such well-written stories by word mistresses, where violence, injustice, prejudice, bullying and oppression just piles on..could be used in a seminar addressing the issue of how to make young women pliable and meek, so they will submit to the rulings of the powerful...feed them on the myth of "love", until they kiss the hand that hurts them, rather than revolt...sad!

I loved The Tale of Two Swords - read it straight through again once I'd finished. Being a sucker for a love story and a bit of magic this is a lovely story. The style reminded me of both Patricia McKillp and Robin McKinley. I shall search out this author's other work. Fallen Angel - interesting idea, but the story was predictable really, An Elegy for Melusine - interesting, but not a happy tale. Lastly, Patricia McKillip's The Gorgon in The Cupboard - the reason I bought this book. I love all Ms McKillip's books having started with the Riddle Master series many moons ago. This is a good story, I liked her characters as always, and hey - it has a happy ending! These are stories for the ladies - I can't see many blokes enjoying these.

Pleasant. I bought this for the Sharon Shinn, but liked the Claire Delacroix best.

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