Duainfey by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
I've heard that Duainfey contains disturbing sexual content. I mention that as a word of warning, in case you're a reader who dislikes that sort of thing.
That said, I can't speak to that personally. I didn't get that far. Duainfey starts with an overly-confusing prologue set in the Fey realm. I was never quite sure what was actually going on in this scene. Then, the story shifts to the doings of a human family in Regency society. The plot is less confusing here, but this dialogue is just not for me. Here's the heroine's brother, upon being asked about a Fey lord's hair color:
"Yellow, oh, aye," Dickon returned slowly; "you might call it yellow — but not like yours, Lady Caro. And his eyes — you see I anticipate your next question! — you might say that his eyes are a pale brown. His coat — attend me now, Mother — was tawn... Read More
Longeye by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Longeye is the sequel and conclusion to the enjoyable novel Duainfey.
Now that Becca has escaped from life as a sex-slave to Artificer Altimere, she must find a way to rebuild her life, learn to trust again, and help solve the mystery of what is happening to the land around her, as undead trees and strange monsters are starting to appear and take over Faliance. (Undead trees? That’s the big bad guy here?)
I usually am a big fan of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, especially their Liaden books, so I was surprised that I didn’t like Longeye. There was the potential for a good story here, but it was smothered by a main character I didn’t care about hurdling through a plot that felt far-fetched and contrived, and then slamming into a con... Read More
Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee
My sister refers to this type of book as “Grandma died/disappeared and left you the family home and a whopping big mess in the basement/attic/surrounding landscape to clear up.” Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee is that kind of story, with a big helping of “you can run from your responsibilities in life, but you can’t hide.”
Carousel Tides is contemporary fantasy. I can’t call it “urban” since it takes place in a small town in coastal Maine, and I’m not sure “rural fantasy” is an acknowledged sub-genre. It’s a town where Trenvay creatures — selkies, Black Dogs, and other creatures of land and sea — exist. Some of the townspeople know about them while most people just live their normal lives without being aware of the supernatural. Reading Carousel Tides reminded me of Fantasy Life Read More
More speculative fiction by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Liaden Universe — (1988- ) With Steve Miller. Space opera and romance on a grand scale in a galaxy full of interstellar trading clans. The nationally best-selling Liaden Universe novels are treasured by space opera aficionados for their wit, world-building, strong characterizations, tender romance, and edge-of-the-chair action.
Short story collections:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIADEN STORIES.
The Great Migration — (2005-2006) With Steve Miller. Publisher: Centuries in the past, mankind fought a seemingly unbeatable adversary from sector to sector across the Spiral Arm until the war ground to a standstill and the Enemy withdrew. Believing that they had won, the citizens of the galaxy rebuilt. The Inner Worlds, which had escaped the worst of the war’s ravages, became even more insular, while the Rim worlds adopted a free and easy way with law and order. Now, hundreds of years after their withdrawal, the Enemy is back — and this time they’ll be satisfied with nothing less than the extinction of the galaxy.
Sword of Orion — (2005) Publisher: Throughout the Free Galaxy, remnants of the fascistic Oligarchy are working to bring mankind back under their cruel and repressive rule. Sixteen-year-old Jerel Telemon holds the key to the weapon that can tilt the balance toward good or evil. The first book of a multi-book series.
The Naming of Kinzel — (2011) Publisher: Three stories of power, innocence, and magic. Kinzel the Foolish: Meet Kinzel, ‘prentice to Mad Siljan the herb lady. Not quite the village fool. Not quite. And does it take a fool, or a wise child, to bargain with a unicorn? Kinzel the Innocent: Against his master’s — and his own! — expectation, Kinzel has won a wizard’s staff, and, having done so, he can no longer stay in his master’s house. So, he sets to see the world, finding it as wondrous as the world seems to find him. It’s a good life, but it may be a short one, for Kinzel has made powerful enemies. Kinzel the Arbiter: Two wealthy townsmen vie for the affections — and the gifts — of the grey crow. But to whom does the crow belong? That is the question the traveling wise man Kinzel is called upon to decide.
Endeavors of Will — (2011) Publisher: Two decades of fantastic writing. Sharon Lee’s science fiction and fantasy career began in 1980 and since her first professional sale she’s entertained thousands with her carefully crafted fiction. Perhaps best known for the Liaden Universe® stories and novels co-written with Steve Miller, Lee’s solo short fiction is also a treat. Endeavors of Will features eight early short stories — including Balrog Award nominee “A Matter of Ceremony” form Amazing Stories — as well as one of her rare poems. The stories here range from out-and-out adventure to subtle mood pieces. They first appeared in such varied magazines as Star Triad, Amazing Stories, Charles de Lint’s Dragonfields, and Owlflight, as well as Fantasy Book, the SPWAO Showcase, and Times Lost, Worlds Forgotten. If you’re in the market for a highly readable and somewhat unpredictable collection of fantasy and science fiction, with subtle humor, irony, and good story sense, Endeavors of Will by Sharon Lee may well be what you’re looking for! Included in this collection are: Stolen Laughter, The Winter Consort, The Pretender, The Silver Pathway, Stormshelter, The Girl, The Cat and Deviant, A Matter of Ceremony, The Handsome Prince, and the poem Cards.
The Day They Brought the Bears to Belfast — (2012) Publisher: The day the bears came to Belfast, Maine, was a magical one for Katy and her brother, Jeremy. But what if the magic raised that day was… real?
CLICK HERE FOR MORE BY SHARON LEE.
Sharon Lee lives in the rolling hills of Central Maine with her husband, Steve Miller, and two insistent muses in the form of cats and a large cast of characters. Sharon has published short stories, newspaper pieces, and two mystery novels, and, with her husband, has done collaborative work in science fiction and fantasy, including twelve novels and numerous short stories in their award-winning Liaden Universe® series. For five years, Sharon served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, consecutively as Executive Director, Vice President and President. Sharon’s interests include music, seashores and pine cones. Read excerpts at Sharon Lee‘s 
