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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This book was awful. First, the editing was terrible and lazy. Characters were misidentified (for example, the air wizard is playing with a salamander), the time line is wonky with the length of time events took place getting confused, and Katie was raised by parents who were outcasts but still has intimate knowledge of her mother's people whenever it's convenient to the plot. These are basic issues that a good read through could have fixed.
Additionally, the book is not consistent with the other EIGHT BOOKS in this series. Magic works differently - the characters are identified as not being Masters, but Katie, the heroine is able to summon a phoenix. If the characters use their relationship with the Elementals to defend themselves, then the creatures will be horribly corrupted, despite characters in other books doing precisely that with no consequences.
Worst of all, the story telling is lazy. The main conflict of the book is resolved when the villain accidentally sets himself on fire. The characters exhibit absolutely no agency. Katie gets her job due to magical luck after she follows the directions of a minor character. The men don't actually do anything except show up and help rescue her from the fire. There is no explanation as to how her brutish ex-husband found Katie in Brighton, no back story for why she married him, and the romance between her and Jack is tepid.
I really like this series and I was so disappointed.
Additionally, the book is not consistent with the other EIGHT BOOKS in this series. Magic works differently - the characters are identified as not being Masters, but Katie, the heroine is able to summon a phoenix. If the characters use their relationship with the Elementals to defend themselves, then the creatures will be horribly corrupted, despite characters in other books doing precisely that with no consequences.
Worst of all, the story telling is lazy. The main conflict of the book is resolved when the villain accidentally sets himself on fire. The characters exhibit absolutely no agency. Katie gets her job due to magical luck after she follows the directions of a minor character. The men don't actually do anything except show up and help rescue her from the fire. There is no explanation as to how her brutish ex-husband found Katie in Brighton, no back story for why she married him, and the romance between her and Jack is tepid.
I really like this series and I was so disappointed.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Formulaic, sexist, dull fantasy that barely bothers with the fantasy. I don't know if I've aged out of Lackey, taken to reading everything from a feminist perspective, or if Lackey's just phoning it in these days, but this book is "meh" with a side of cultural anger.
The love story leaned a little too heavily on the "certainty of magicians" and the whole thing was very predictable from start to finish, yet it was oddly satisfying. I love the worlds that Mercedes Lackey creates and her books are definitely among my favourite "don't think too much" reads! Highly recommend if you want a satisfying fantasy in a beautifully created world. Unfortunately, most of her newer books feel very rushed and just don't have the meaty plot that I've come to love. Also, what the heck's up with this business of introducing things, only to never finish elaborating on them? There were favors done, a lord about to show up, a curious sudden erasure of past problems - a little tidying would have done this book wonders!
Having some trouble with what fairy tale this is telling. Steadfast tin soldier?
This is a short story that got word fluffed into a book length manuscript. There's really nothing exciting about this book. It's the story of an abused wife who runs away (from the circus) and joins a theater. And there's magic, such as it is. Even the bossfight at the end was a disappointment.
Probably actually 2.5 stars, but I have a soft spot for Mercedes Lackey. This one had so many loose ends, plot holes, and such an abrupt ending, it definitely wasn't her best.
A sweet and somewhat predictable story, but compelling and unexpected enough that it didn't become rote. I enjoyed the fairy tale flair and how unique each character was from each other. There was plenty of excitement and action to keep the plot moving without losing the sentiment of the love story within.
I felt like this was a good entry into the series, but there are some issues. I appreciate that Lackey tried to bring up some of the issues that faced women of the era and present a complicated relationship between the characters and to root the series in the painful realities of the era, but having said that, it was clumsy and felt very awkward at times and the ending resolved things too neatly. She brings up the issues and yet seems to resolve them via deus ex machina.