Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Fantasy Novels

Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Fantasy Novels

Ebooks of the five out-of-print novels originally called the Children of Ynell series are available in two omnibus editions: The Shattered Stone includes The Ring of Fire and The Wolf Bell while The Runestone of Eresu contains The Castle of Hape, Caves of Fire and Ice, and The Joining of the Stone.
Ebooks of the out-of-print Dragonbards Trilogy are also available.
All these ebooks can be purchased in EPUB, MOBI and PDF formats at Smashwords.com (an ebook distributor); in EPUB format at Barnes & Noble, Apple, Sony and several other retailers; and for the Kindle at Amazon.com. For descriptions and links to purchase, visit Murphy's page at Backlist eBooks. For excerpts, click on the book jackets.

Here's what the critics said about these novels.
Note: Although all except The Catswold Portal are out of print, they are available as ebooks and print editions can be found in many public libraries. A few signed copies of some are now available for purchase at low discount prices (see below).

Click on book jacket to read an excerpt!

The Catswold Portal (Adult Fantasy)

NAL/ROC, 1992; ROC paperback, 1993
EOS, an imprint of HarperCollins, paperback, 2005
ISBN 0-06-076540-2 -- in print!
HarperCollins ebook, 2007
"You don't have to love cats to appreciate this fantasy novel in which a race of shapechanging cats are the key to the fate of a Netherworld.... Ms. Murphy's characterization of Melissa is truly remarkable, making the reader fully alive to the vibrant, sensual world of the feline. Masterfully orchestrating this cat's cradle plot, Ms. Murphy will make you take a second look at the next cat you see." -- Romantic Times
"Delightful fantasy.... Murphy...balances her rich, detailed Netherworld with a vividly characterized earthly realm. Her cat people, in particular, ring true." -- Publisher's Weekly
"A captivating feline fantasy.... Characterizations are dynamic, whether human or otherwise, and the growing relationship between Braden and Melissa--as cat and as human--is ingeniously handled as is Melissa's Catswold heritage. Murphy has carefully created two well-realized, disparate worlds linked by the dramatic struggle to defeat the evil queen. Romantic fantasy with plenty of action and sure appeal." -- Booklist
"Murphy's true sorcery is in her deft juggling of two different but inextricably related worlds...and a cast of exotic beasts, outlandlish creatures and intriguing characters caught in a compelling turmoil that swirls them between those worlds.... Some of the finest moments are Murphy's convincing portrayals of the problems faced by a creature who is a cat and a woman.... The Catswold Portal is an enchanting, inventive and ingeniously plotted fantasy, and Murphy's insight into feline nature is remarkable. A word of warning: Don't pick up this book in the evening, intending to read yourself to sleep. You'll be awfully tired the next day." -- Cat Fancy

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Dragonbards Trilogy (Young Adult)

Nightpool
Harper & Row, 1985; Harper paperback, 1987
Ad Stellae Books ebook, 2010
"A sense that communication with animals once existed but has been lost permeates all of human lore. Georgia writer Shirley Rousseau Murphy's forte is her ability to vicariously compensate for this loss through her stories. In Nightpool she is in top form." --Atlanta Journal and Constitution
"Scenes that fairly soar infuse the tale with mythical qualities, which are buttressed by vitalized characterizations (the otters, foxes and dragons as well as Teb are developed in loving detail while the evil ones are truly evil). An enthralling fantasy that begs a sequel, better yet a series of sequels." --ALA Booklist

The Ivory Lyre
Harper & Row, 1987; Harper paperback, 1988
Ad Stellae Books ebook, 2010
"This well-crafted fantasy has a depth and scope reminiscent of Tolkien." --Publisher's Weekly
"A riveting sequel to Nightpool.... A finely crafted story filled with scenes of chilling horror as well as courage and beauty. Murphy's dragon lore exhibits an exciting immediacy; her scenes of dragons in flight exalt the reader.... Anne McCaffrey, make room." --ALA Booklist

The Dragonbards
Harper & Row, 1988; Harper paperback, 1989
Ad Stellae Books ebook, 2010
"The concluding volume of the author's generally acclaimed Dragonbards trilogy ... assumes a harrowing narrative pace that builds to a grand, good-over-evil finale.... This is rollicking high fantasy...." --Christian Science Monitor
"Once again Murphy demonstrates a fine sense of storytelling, high adventure, scene setting, and characterization--human, animal, and evil monster. And her dragons remain some of the most appealing in contemporary fantasy." --ALA Booklist

Children of Ynell Quintet (Young Adult)

The Ring of Fire
Atheneum, 1977; Avon paperback, 1979
Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Shattered Stone), 2011
"First of a projected series about the land of Ere and the telepathic Children of Ynell.... An intricate adventure story with appeal for fantasy lovers." --ALA Booklist

The Wolf Bell
Atheneum, 1979; Avon paperback, 1980
Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Shattered Stone), 2011
"The enjoyable tale rises above the pack on the strength of the author's unique and compelling 'warts and all' portrayal of Tayba, a multifaceted, real, and fascinating woman." --School Library Journal

The Castle of Hape
Atheneum, 1980; Avon paperback, 1981
Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011
"The many episodes involving the race of winged horses are magnificently imagined." --School Library Journal

Caves of Fire and Ice
Atheneum, 1980; Avon paperback, 1982
Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011
"The fourth novel set on Ere . . . moves into the past, the present, and the future ... a mind-boggling time sequence." --The Alan Review

The Joining of the Stone
Atheneum, 1981; Avon paperback, 1983
Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011
"The dramatic climax in a series of five fantasies about the inhabitants, human and otherwise, of the land of Ere. Although each book stands alone, Shirley Murphy satisfactorily draws together the strands (and her incredible images) of good and evil that have woven in and out of approximately a thousand pages of adventure." --Atlanta Journal and Constitution

Signed copies available at discount prices!
Shirley Murphy is cleaning out her storage cupboards. For new signed copies of the out-of-print books listed below, please e-mail webmaster@joegrey.com to reserve them for a limited time and to obtain the address for mailing your check. If you wish, you can pay by credit card at PayPal.
SHIPPING is $5.00 for 1 to 3 paperbacks or 1 hardcover, or $11.00 for up to 4 hardcovers with no extra charge for paperbacks in the same package.
Dragonbards trilogy

Nightpool - hardcover, $10; no paperback copies available.
The Ivory Lyre - hardcover, $10; paperback, $5.
The Dragonbards - paperback, $5; no hardcover copies available.
Children of Ynell quintet

The Castle of Hape - hardcover, no paperback copies available.
The Joining of the Stone - hardcover, no paperback copies available.
Signed copies of many of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's children's books are also available; click on "Children's Books" below.

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	*The Ring of Fire* Atheneum, 1977; Avon paperback, 1979 Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Shattered Stone), 2011 "First of a projected series about the land of Ere and the telepathic Children of Ynell.... An intricate adventure story with appeal for fantasy lovers." --ALA Booklist
	*The Wolf Bell* Atheneum, 1979; Avon paperback, 1980 Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Shattered Stone), 2011 "The enjoyable tale rises above the pack on the strength of the author's unique and compelling 'warts and all' portrayal of Tayba, a multifaceted, real, and fascinating woman." --School Library Journal
	*The Castle of Hape* Atheneum, 1980; Avon paperback, 1981 Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011 "The many episodes involving the race of winged horses are magnificently imagined." --School Library Journal
	*Caves of Fire and Ice* Atheneum, 1980; Avon paperback, 1982 Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011 "The fourth novel set on Ere . . . moves into the past, the present, and the future ... a mind-boggling time sequence." --The Alan Review
	*The Joining of the Stone* Atheneum, 1981; Avon paperback, 1983 Ad Stellae Books ebook (in The Runestone of Eresu), 2011 "The dramatic climax in a series of five fantasies about the inhabitants, human and otherwise, of the land of Ere. Although each book stands alone, Shirley Murphy satisfactorily draws together the strands (and her incredible images) of good and evil that have woven in and out of approximately a thousand pages of adventure." --Atlanta Journal and Constitution