The Thirteenth House
Sharon Shinn
Ace, Mar 2006, $24.95, 432 pp.
ISBN 0441013686

On Lord Tilt's land, shape-shifter Kirra Danalustrous with the help of her odd companions successfully stop three nobles from either killing or bartering Lord Romar Brendyn the Regent. Following that escapade she returns home only to learn that her family disowned her "title" for coveting a married man, Lord Romar, but also lovingly welcome her back. Her younger half-sister Casserah has the title mantle, but does not want it as she does not wish to attend the summer parties hosted by Gillengaria's Twelve Houses; to not attend is a nasty insult.

Kirra and Casserah "switch" places as the former shape shifts to look exactly like her younger sibling. Kirra disguised as her sister attends the Twelve Houses' galas though her motive besides helping Casserah is to learn more about the nobles' plot to overthrow King Baryn and to protect the Queen and her daughter also on the circuit. Kirra never anticipated that she and her beloved would end up as "guests" of the occupants of THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE.

The second Twelve Houses fantasy (see MYSTIC AND RIDER) is a delightful tale that grips fans from the moment that Kirra forces an invitation to stay at Tilt's home and never slows down even when the lovers berate themselves for their unacceptable feelings. The action-packed story line is fast-paced starting with the rescue and never slows down as the royalist supporter Kirra shape-shifted into Casserah makes the rounds of the festivities. Though the villains seems underdeveloped especially in comparison to the lovebirds, epic fantasy readers will appreciate Sharon Shinn' stupendous story.