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kathydavie's review
5.0
Seventh in the Elemental Masters paranormal magic series based in England with this one set at the start of World War I.
Although, the book itself claims to be the sixth in the Elemental Masters series. I wonder if the series is being re-numbered chronologically since there are already six [or seven!] Elemental Masters stories out there.
1. Fire Rose
2. Serpent's Shadow
3. Gates of Sleep
4. Phoenix and Ashes
5. Wizard of London
6. Reserved for the Cat
7. Unnatural Issue
My Take
Oh! Another fabulous tale from Mercedes Lackey! I love the history and settings Lackey provides in her Elemental Masters series and Unnatural Issue does not disappoint with its very descriptive feel for the countryside, the people, their interactions, and Lackey's depiction of war in the trenches.
I particularly loved the similarity of the stance Puck and the Kerridges took on poaching as well as caring for the earth. It has such a homey, warm, comforting feel to it with a tremendous sense of the practical.
As I read, I kept subconsciously inserting "Wimsey" into the text — this Lord Peter seems to be modeled upon Dorothy Sayers' own Lord Peter. The same appearance. The same approach to detecting. The same ruthlessness. I must confess when Susanne first encounters Peter and Charles Kerridge, I kept wanting her to end up with Peter, but Susanne fell in love with Charles… Lackey put an interesting twist on the whole love resolution — I did not expect the ending Lackey gave us.
I really hate that I'll have to wait for Home From the Sea to possibly find out how things turn out for Susanne. In fact, there were so many characters whose stories I've read in earlier installments that I may just have to go back and re-read them…before the next book appears as their lives seem to intertwine so much. It'll give me something to do while I'm waiting…impatiently so.
The Story
Called away to aid the Circle in London, Richard Whitestone is anxious to return home to his pregnant wife, but he returns too late to help. Three hours earlier, Rebecca had gone into labor. And died. In a rage, Richard repudiates his daughter never wanting to see her again. And for 20 years, he does not. The servants raise his daughter while Puck teaches her the use of her earth magic. A magic she uses to keep the lands around them healthy and productive.
But a chance discovery sets Richard onto a new tack. Raising his wife from the dead.
The Characters
Susanne Whitestone, Earth Master, is the unacknowledged daughter of Richard Whitestone. Strong in her power yet kindly in its wielding, Susanne attracted the attention of the Puck and gathers strong elemental allies around her wherever she goes.
Richard Whitestone is an Earth Master happily anticipating the birth of his daughter, the dreams he and Rebecca have of many children dancing through their home, swirling in his thoughts. His loss causes him to withdraw from all society leaving his daughter to the care of the servants, the land to anyone's care.
Lord Peter Almsley, a Water Master and the younger son of a duke, is an undercover agent for the Old Lion, the leader of the magical community in England, and now he wants Peter to investigate uneasy rumors emanating from Yorkshire.
Charles Kerridge is the son and heir of Michael and Elizabeth Kerridge, all three Earth Masters living at Branwell Hall. A happy estate where all are aware of their magics.
The Cover and Title
The cover is easily related to the story with the beautiful Susanne gathering a basket of elementals out in an orchard with yet more elementals clustering around her in her colorful servant's garb while in the background there's a mirror showing her mother and the skeletal dead behind her. Amazing how many stories that cover tells!
While I'm not sure just what the title refers to — certainly her father's reaction to her birth is unnatural, and as his child, Susanne is his issue. Then of course you could always argue for her father's obsession as an Unnatural Issue.
Although, the book itself claims to be the sixth in the Elemental Masters series. I wonder if the series is being re-numbered chronologically since there are already six [or seven!] Elemental Masters stories out there.
1. Fire Rose
2. Serpent's Shadow
3. Gates of Sleep
4. Phoenix and Ashes
5. Wizard of London
6. Reserved for the Cat
7. Unnatural Issue
My Take
Oh! Another fabulous tale from Mercedes Lackey! I love the history and settings Lackey provides in her Elemental Masters series and Unnatural Issue does not disappoint with its very descriptive feel for the countryside, the people, their interactions, and Lackey's depiction of war in the trenches.
I particularly loved the similarity of the stance Puck and the Kerridges took on poaching as well as caring for the earth. It has such a homey, warm, comforting feel to it with a tremendous sense of the practical.
As I read, I kept subconsciously inserting "Wimsey" into the text — this Lord Peter seems to be modeled upon Dorothy Sayers' own Lord Peter. The same appearance. The same approach to detecting. The same ruthlessness. I must confess when Susanne first encounters Peter and Charles Kerridge, I kept wanting her to end up with Peter, but Susanne fell in love with Charles… Lackey put an interesting twist on the whole love resolution — I did not expect the ending Lackey gave us.
I really hate that I'll have to wait for Home From the Sea to possibly find out how things turn out for Susanne. In fact, there were so many characters whose stories I've read in earlier installments that I may just have to go back and re-read them…before the next book appears as their lives seem to intertwine so much. It'll give me something to do while I'm waiting…impatiently so.
The Story
Called away to aid the Circle in London, Richard Whitestone is anxious to return home to his pregnant wife, but he returns too late to help. Three hours earlier, Rebecca had gone into labor. And died. In a rage, Richard repudiates his daughter never wanting to see her again. And for 20 years, he does not. The servants raise his daughter while Puck teaches her the use of her earth magic. A magic she uses to keep the lands around them healthy and productive.
But a chance discovery sets Richard onto a new tack. Raising his wife from the dead.
The Characters
Susanne Whitestone, Earth Master, is the unacknowledged daughter of Richard Whitestone. Strong in her power yet kindly in its wielding, Susanne attracted the attention of the Puck and gathers strong elemental allies around her wherever she goes.
Richard Whitestone is an Earth Master happily anticipating the birth of his daughter, the dreams he and Rebecca have of many children dancing through their home, swirling in his thoughts. His loss causes him to withdraw from all society leaving his daughter to the care of the servants, the land to anyone's care.
Lord Peter Almsley, a Water Master and the younger son of a duke, is an undercover agent for the Old Lion, the leader of the magical community in England, and now he wants Peter to investigate uneasy rumors emanating from Yorkshire.
Charles Kerridge is the son and heir of Michael and Elizabeth Kerridge, all three Earth Masters living at Branwell Hall. A happy estate where all are aware of their magics.
The Cover and Title
The cover is easily related to the story with the beautiful Susanne gathering a basket of elementals out in an orchard with yet more elementals clustering around her in her colorful servant's garb while in the background there's a mirror showing her mother and the skeletal dead behind her. Amazing how many stories that cover tells!
While I'm not sure just what the title refers to — certainly her father's reaction to her birth is unnatural, and as his child, Susanne is his issue. Then of course you could always argue for her father's obsession as an Unnatural Issue.
kivt's review
2.0
i keep having to check the description to even remember which one this was. this was marginally more interesting than some of the other elemental masters books, but still bad.
kmcquage's review
2.0
You know, this book was almost good.
It only would have taken the deletion of a single line, maybe six words of text. But no, she has to destroy the little packet that makes an illusory version of her, and then USE IT TO DEFEAT THE BAD GUY. Editing, people. It isn't hard.
I don't actually blame Lackey for that, as much as I blame her editor.
It only would have taken the deletion of a single line, maybe six words of text. But no, she has to destroy the little packet that makes an illusory version of her, and then USE IT TO DEFEAT THE BAD GUY. Editing, people. It isn't hard.
I don't actually blame Lackey for that, as much as I blame her editor.
rainbowdragonz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book equals the great heights reached by other series standouts Fire Rose and Reserved for the Cat. I couldn't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Minor: Misogyny and Violence
embereye's review
3.0
Fun, although I was not entirely convinced by the romance of the ending. The world war one trenches and frontline bits of story were perhaps among my favorites.
ptothelo's review
4.0
I didn't like the cat one very much, so I was really happy that I liked this one. It felt more like the other ones and dealt with Peter Almsley, who has been mentioned in other books but never got his chance in the spotlight. She also extends the adventures to the Continent and different ways the elementals appear in different countries would be fun to explore further in other books.Next it'd be great if there was a book where you had all the characters who've been in the Elemental Masters novels team up. But maybe that's too Avenger-ish.
kortirion's review
3.0
It was entertaining but felt slap-dash, like maybe the author wrote it really quickly and then it got pushed through to publication without proper editing and polish.
seeinghowitgoes's review
2.0
Quite readable and finished within 2 days, but I found myself struggling to have any empathy or even liking any of the characters! The main character had the potential to be quite interesting but her ridiculous crush on Charles made her seem so moronic.
vlphildreth's review
2.0
I'm glad I got this from the library. It is very boring, even though it has elements I would normally be interested in, such as Fay creatures and necromancy. The pacing on this is probably the worst part.