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Praise for Sharon Shinn

“Sharon Shinn’s books have been on my comfort shelf ever since Archangel came out.”

—Anne McCaffrey

PRAISE FOR
HEART OF GOLD

“Smoothly written, with an easy story flow that carries the reader effortlessly along. Shinn has a talent for creating vivid, sympathetic characters … [Her] treatment of her theme of bigotry is nuanced and intelligent … One of the book’s strengths is that Shinn doesn’t pick sides, portraying the assets and weaknesses of each culture in equal measure and illustrating that even repugnant customs can have social utility.”

—SF Site

“As a story, it is at its best when this conflict is brought to the personal level, forcing Kit to reconcile her love for Jex … This soul-searching makes for a novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy unconventional romances and strong women protagonists … provokes thought … provides entertainment.”

—Sci Fi Weekly

“A fast, enjoyable read.”

—Romantic SF Fantasy Novels

“Shinn is a good writer and succeeded in getting me interested in her characters. Their problems are realistic and their struggles to overcome their own prejudices are convincingly portrayed. And the romance between the two is well written … entertaining.”

—On Spec

MORE PRAISE FOR SHARON SHINN AND HER NOVELS

“The most promising and original writer of fantasy to come along since Robin McKinley.”

—Peter S. Beagle

“It doesn’t get much better than [this]—interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, a believable love story, and a satisfying ending.”

—Starlog.com

“Rich with texture and diversity and genuine characters.”

—Anne McCaffrey

Books by Sharon Shinn

Ace Books by Sharon Shinn

THE SHAPE OF DESIRE

STILL LIFE WITH SHAPE-SHIFTER

THE TURNING SEASON

TROUBLED WATERS

ROYAL AIRS

JEWELED FIRE

UNQUIET LAND

MYSTIC AND RIDER

THE THIRTEENTH HOUSE

DARK MOON DEFENDER

READER AND RAELYNX

FORTUNE AND FATE

ARCHANGEL

JOVAH’S ANGEL

THE ALLELUIA FILES

ANGELICA

ANGEL-SEEKER

WRAPT IN CRYSTAL

THE SHAPE-CHANGER’S WIFE

HEART OF GOLD

SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN

JENNA STARBORN

QUATRAIN

Viking / Firebird Books by Sharon Shinn

THE SAFE-KEEPER’S SECRET

THE TRUTH-TELLER’S TALE

THE DREAM-MAKER’S MAGIC

GENERAL WINSTON’S DAUGHTER

GATEWAY

Dedication

For Donna,

who wanted to marry Nolan

CHAPTER ONE

Nolan was nearly an hour late by the time he arrived at the Central Government Activities Complex, and even here his way was blocked. Throngs of tourists, lines of determined security guards, and pockets of news reporters clustered in front of every entrance to the huge red granite building that dominated the city skyline. Trying to be polite about it, Nolan edged his way past blueskin security forces, gulden spectators, and journalists of both races. This was one of the rare mornings he had to show an I.D. to enter the building.

“Name?” the guard questioned while he fumbled for his badge.

“Nolan Adelpho.”

The guard checked a clipboard. “Adelpho. Indigo male,” he muttered, marking off something on his sheet. “Reason for admittance to the Complex?”