The Safe-Keeper's Secret

by Sharon Shinn

The Safe-Keeper's Secret is a journey into a vibrantly crafted fantasy world, overflowing with questions of truth and self-discovery. 

Damiana is safe-keeper in the small village of Tambleham. Neighbors and strangers alike come one by one, in secret, to tell her things they dare not share with anyone else, knowing that Damiana will keep then to herself. One late night, a mysterious visitor from the city arrives with an unusual secret for the Safe-Keeper—a newborn baby. Damiana, who is expecting her own child, agrees to take the foundling. She names him Reed and raises him side by side with her daughter, Fiona. And the years pass and the two children grow into teenagers, they must come to terms with who they are—and who they may be.

"The most promising and original writer of fantasy to come along since Robin McKinley."—Peter S. Beagle, best-selling author of The Last Unicorm

• ISBN10: 0142403571
• ISBN13: 9780142403570
• Publish Date: 3 November 2005 (first published 11 May 2004)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 5 March 2013
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 240
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780142403570

Reviews

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

reviews.metaphorosis.com

3 stars

A Safe-Keeper, forbidden to tell the secrets she receives, is handed a baby just as her sister Safe-Keeper gives birth. Rumor has it the child is the king's, but the children are raised as brother and sister, each trying to find its destiny.

This is a pleasant, nicely written new fairy tale, with likeable characters and a smoothly drawn environment. It's a fun read, for the most part. Unfortunately, as is often true with Shinn, the story is heavily wrapped in traditional stereotypes and gender roles. The boy is hyperactive and muscular; the girl is quiet and obedient. It's an approach that was substantially outdated long before the book was written in 2004.

Despite all that, Shinn is a good writer, the characters (under the stereotypes) are nice, and the story is well-balanced, so it's a fun story to read. It's disappointing, therefore, that Shinn undercuts it all with authorial legerdemain that, when revealed, wipes out most of the reader's goodwill. She's created a nice world, and there are apparently other stories in it. If you want a good young adult book, and can set aside the gender issues, it might be fun to explore those.

[ladygrey]

I don't quite know how to express how wonderful this book is. I'm amazed at what a complete and well developed world [author:Sharon Shinn] is able to craft in such a small book. But she does a fantastic job giving me characters to care deeply about and mysteries and lyrical writing and a really fascinating world and intriguing plot. All in a very quick read.

I would love to read more stories in this world. Maybe even find out what comes next.

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Shinn weaves an engaging and believable fantasy that is both imaginative and grounded. Her world is replete with good and lovable characters and those who are not so good, but may be redeemable. The strands of the tale themselves seem to know when to twist, resulting in events truly unexpected but never jarring that will keep readers loathe to put the novel down. The end is loose, yet satisfying, as answers have been found but not all adventures yet played out. This is a masterpiece tapestry, richly colored and expertly woven.