The Twelve Houses series is a fantasy novel series by Sharon Shinn. These books are notable for their marriage of two distinct genres: Sword and Sorcery and Romance. They take place in the mythical kingdom of Gillengaria which is ruled by good king Baryn.
The land of Gillengaria is an island divided into twelve semi-independent fiefdoms each ruled by a great house. King Baryn has only one child, believed by many to be unfit to rule. The Twelve Great Houses are jockeying for position to be ready to contend for the throne when King Baryn dies. This jockeying is tearing the kingdom apart, and has brought it to the brink of civil war.
In addition the general population is angry at the king for defending the mystics which they fear and despise. The mystics are people born to magical powers, usually of a quite limited scope such as being able to change shape, or being able to start fires. Any family of any rank can produce a mystic. Usually if the family is prominent the child is cast out.
In addition to the Mystics, and the Twelve Great Houses, there is a third power group, the King's Riders. The King's Riders are a band of fifty bodyguards who are fanatically loyal to the king. They are depicted as being extraordinary fighters, skilled with all weapons.
It currently consists of these books.
- Mystic and Rider (Ace Books, 2005)
- The Thirteenth House (Ace Books, 2006)
- Dark Moon Defender (Ace Books, 2006)
- Reader and Raelynx (Ace Books, 2007)
- Fortune and Fate (Ace Books, 2008; new story arc)
The first four books complete a story arc. The fifth book starts a new story arc.
Read more about The Twelve Houses Series: Relevance of The Title
Famous quotes containing the words twelve, houses and/or series:
“The jury, passing on the prisoner’s life,
May have in the sworn twelve a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“People’s backyards are much more interesting than their front gardens, and houses that back on to railways are public benefactors.”
—Sir John Betjeman (1906–1984)
“Life ... is not simply a series of exciting new ventures. The future is not always a whole new ball game. There tends to be unfinished business. One trails all sorts of things around with one, things that simply won’t be got rid of.”
—Anita Brookner (b. 1928)