Angel-Seeker: Samaria, Book 5

This was the fifth and final book in Shinn's Samaria series. It's not that it reached any definitive conclusion to the series, just that it was the last one written and that the author has said she has no plans to write more of them.I enjoyed it. It seemed to have a bit of a political message, but it was one I agree with.All of these Samaria books are interesting blends of SF, fantasy, and romance. The SF bit is that we're living in a world that is specifically not Earth but a distant colony of Earth in some equally distant future. The fantasy bit is that we're living in a world with angels living amongst the mortals of the world, and there is no doubt about the reality of Jovah, their god. They can sing prayers and get results, anything from manna falling from the heavens to lightning bolts blasting at the desired target. And the romance... well, in some ways I would say that they are all romance books merely set in an odd SF/fantasy world.This book has two romances. The first is between an ambitious girl and... well, I won't say with whom. She is determined to marry an angel and give birth to an angel child. I won't say whether or not she succeeds, but I will say that her romance is more about finding herself than whether or not she actually marries an angel. I enjoyed this one quite a bit, mostly for her character arc.The second romance was between an angel and a young Jansai girl. The Jansai are one of the many cultures populating the world of Samaria, and they seem to be remarkably similar to certain Earth cultures, particularly in how they treat their women. They treat their women as cherished property, but they can also be quite vicious to their women if they step outside their defined roles. And sexual promiscuity pretty much carries the death penalty, i.e. stoning and exile to the lifeless desert.Anyway, this second romance dealt a lot with the politics around that kind of culture. Many or most of the men seem to be quite happy to hand out these harsh punishments. Some are disgusted by it but seem powerless to stop the overall harshness. The women are mixed between those who support it simply because it's what they know, those who hate it but find can only fight it in tiny rebellions, and those who would flagrantly flaunt the law of their male masters.Shinn ultimately comes down hard on this culture, so there is some politics here, but like I said, I agree with her position. As for the romance, I mostly found myself shouting at the young Jansai girl to get out while the getting is good, but I confess that seeing her reluctance to leave the only world she knew gave me some insight into how many women on Earth tolerate or even reinforce these cultures here on Earth. So while parts of it made my skin crawl, it did expand my horizons.Now, that's all about how I liked the book for what it was. However, I do have a little complaint about what the book wasn't, and that's no fault of the book. What bugged me was where it fell in the Samarian timeline.The first three books in this series proceeded along in chronological order. Then the fourth book jumped to a time long before the first, and then this one was just after the first. That would be all right except that the third book - the furthest along in the timeline - kind of ended on a cliffhanger. There had been some major change in the world, and I was left wondering what was going to happen next. After two more books, I still don't know because nothing has been written in the time after the third book, and from the sounds of it, nothing will be.As such, the series feels unfinished to me. I don't know if the publisher just gave up on it, or if the author herself doesn't know what comes next. Either way, I'm cranky that I never quite got a sense of resolution to this series.

I really like the whole series a lot. Certainly a new way of thinking about angels and humans interaction-showing a not so nice side even tho I've had a totally different view of angels. I like the action with the falling from the sky, the one angel seeker actually becoming a healer-not so much being abused by the certain group of males but we know that's close to real life for some women. I just wished there was more romance-kind of mild even for teens.Glad I read the whole series and wished there were more.

I love this series...it is definately on my "comfort shelf". My least favorite is the third. This one is probably not good for youth readers...it has some serious adult topics. It really gets into the life of angel seekers and the promiscuity of that group of people. The Janasi have a very arabic/muslim feel and the book is pretty slanted against them. Overall the book was much heavier and more...dare I say it...political than the first four. I'd recommend it to those of a stout heart and moderate shock value/life experience.

I love the way that Shin writes! I recommend all her books.

Angel-Seeker is a fascinating exploration of two societies' customs and beliefs--the Jansais' virtual imprisonment of their women and Angel seekers, women who deliberately offer themselves to Angels with the hope of bearing an angel child and thus being cared for for the rest of their lives.The dual stories of two of these characters--one young Jansai woman who falls in love with an angel, and one Angel seeker who finds her true future in the practice of medicine and the love of an Edori man--are both intriguing and touching. A fine addition to Sharon Shinn's Samaria stories.

This is one of my favorite books. Strong, interesting characters that you can identify with. I love the way this book looks at situations from different points of view. Sharon Shinn is a great world builder and her characters are always compelling.

This is my favorite of the five books in the Samaria series. The writing is quite exquisite. The book is quite though-provoking as well from perspectives of technology, society, beliefs and religion.

LOVE these books. Nice to have them read to me on my drive to work as well. Love how the story line is not super predictable, though still logical.