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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
An anthology of 19 stories revolving around the Elemental Masters urban fantasy series set in Victorian England.
The Stories
Samuel Conway's "Fire-Water" is something of a parable with a dose of Solomon's judgment and a splash of tequila. It's a unique interpretation as well as a cute description of how prey detects a predator: "the sun winks".
Diana L. Paxson's "Fire Song" blends ancient history with magic as a philosopher's family flees the overthrow of his patron. Nice peek into the personal fears of a mother with the very real fears of pursuit and murder.
Kristin Schwengel's "Sails of the Armada" is a very sad attempt to "explain" how the Spanish Armada truly met its doom. It does take on a very personal perspective with the kidnapped Rodrigo's perspective and his friend, a sea serpent. Rodrigo raises an interesting question as he wonders if one is only a heretic if one is an enemy.
Fiona Patton's "The Wild Rogue" finds a wild, bad-tempered Water mage drinking his demons away. It's got plenty of twists and turns — enough to get me very confused.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Feathers and Foundations" finds Thomas Davies in trouble for not controlling the ravens in his new role as Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. It's a struggle, for the ravens answer to Air while Davies is an Earth mage. It's struggle that ends when Davies must use his power to heal.
Dayle A. Dermatis's "Hearth and Family" is a little bit fairy tale and a little bit persecution as a new family is formed and torn asunder. It's the boy's return that accelerates decisions. It's a sweet story and only a bit clichéd.
Louisa Swann's "Secret Friends" is an anomaly in the Elemental Masters series in that its protagonist, Nettie, gains cooperation from Air, Water, and Earth spirits. It's a brief glimpse into her life, albeit a very dangerous episode in which she might lose her brother.
Elisabeth Waters' "Fire's Daughter" finds an upper-class girl battling her mother over whether she'll be a "proper young lady" or an independent young woman. It's both funny and sad as it reinforces the narrow view Victorian society had of what a woman could do.
Cedric Johnson's "Picking Up the Pieces" is cute but juvenile and the writing needs a LOT more polish. I think he included every idea he had about the story.
Jennifer Brozek's "The Price of Family" is somewhat selfish and somewhat righteous, and the whole of it is more real than I think we'd want to admit. It's a choice between which family to save: Josie's new family or reuniting a mother with her son.
Tanya Huff's "Arms of the Sea" is both tragic and uplifting. I know. I seem to be quite confused about events in the previous story and this one, but if you read them, you'll understand. It's a young crippled woman who battles against those who care for her, who only see a crippled person. But Marie manages to get her way and accomplish quite a bit. A good example of a complete story.
Ben Ohlander's "London Falling" is disgusting and depressing, even as this sibling finally becomes an adult.
Michele Lang's "The King of the River Rats" finds an intrepid woman reporter going against Tammany Hall to investigate the increasing number of missing girls. It's a quick, fun read.
Jody Lynn Nye's "Air of Deception" continues on from Elemental Magic: "Air of Mystery" with Aurelia saving another's life with her swift thinking and deft hand with perfumes. I did enjoy this story, almost as much as I enjoyed that first one I read.
Stephanie Shaver's "Fly or Fall" finds Aurelia fleeing her gift. It takes a young girl and her mother's ignorance to reconcile Aurelia with her own power. A good story that is well written.
Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox's "Bone Dance" is confusing in small ways. For one, I have no idea how the title relates to the story. I had to hunt to understand how various characters were related and some aspects were rather juvenile. And what's with this Council? What happened to the White Lodge? The story has promise, but needs work.
Ron Collins' "The Flying Contraption" concludes that one should never stop making mistakes, lol. Of course, you have to clean up after. It's a cute story and well written about a very curious little girl and the Wright brothers.
Gail Sanders and Michael Z. Williamson's "A Peony Amongst Roses" is an unexpected foray into peony gardens and their value in protecting the royals. Sure I love peonies; they are absolutely gorgeous, but Sanders/Williamson do nothing to elucidate on this. Yeah, I know. It protects against evil. I'm sorry but it's too vague for me on how the peony accomplishes this. I guess short stories aren't required to be complete. It is cute with lots of interesting detail, except that one that I really want.
Mercedes Lackey's "Into the Woods" is an excerpt, the start, from Blood Red, 10. I see this as a cheat of a short story even though Blood Red is a good story.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a collage of the short stories and begins with a bright blue and purple set of draperies for the background, an inset rectangle with a woman in yellow and a man in a top hat with a cat sitting atop the rectangle and a pair of birds flying at them.
The title is basic enough, for it is Elementary: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters.
The Stories
Samuel Conway's "Fire-Water" is something of a parable with a dose of Solomon's judgment and a splash of tequila. It's a unique interpretation as well as a cute description of how prey detects a predator: "the sun winks".
Diana L. Paxson's "Fire Song" blends ancient history with magic as a philosopher's family flees the overthrow of his patron. Nice peek into the personal fears of a mother with the very real fears of pursuit and murder.
Kristin Schwengel's "Sails of the Armada" is a very sad attempt to "explain" how the Spanish Armada truly met its doom. It does take on a very personal perspective with the kidnapped Rodrigo's perspective and his friend, a sea serpent. Rodrigo raises an interesting question as he wonders if one is only a heretic if one is an enemy.
Fiona Patton's "The Wild Rogue" finds a wild, bad-tempered Water mage drinking his demons away. It's got plenty of twists and turns — enough to get me very confused.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Feathers and Foundations" finds Thomas Davies in trouble for not controlling the ravens in his new role as Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. It's a struggle, for the ravens answer to Air while Davies is an Earth mage. It's struggle that ends when Davies must use his power to heal.
Dayle A. Dermatis's "Hearth and Family" is a little bit fairy tale and a little bit persecution as a new family is formed and torn asunder. It's the boy's return that accelerates decisions. It's a sweet story and only a bit clichéd.
Louisa Swann's "Secret Friends" is an anomaly in the Elemental Masters series in that its protagonist, Nettie, gains cooperation from Air, Water, and Earth spirits. It's a brief glimpse into her life, albeit a very dangerous episode in which she might lose her brother.
Elisabeth Waters' "Fire's Daughter" finds an upper-class girl battling her mother over whether she'll be a "proper young lady" or an independent young woman. It's both funny and sad as it reinforces the narrow view Victorian society had of what a woman could do.
Cedric Johnson's "Picking Up the Pieces" is cute but juvenile and the writing needs a LOT more polish. I think he included every idea he had about the story.
Jennifer Brozek's "The Price of Family" is somewhat selfish and somewhat righteous, and the whole of it is more real than I think we'd want to admit. It's a choice between which family to save: Josie's new family or reuniting a mother with her son.
Tanya Huff's "Arms of the Sea" is both tragic and uplifting. I know. I seem to be quite confused about events in the previous story and this one, but if you read them, you'll understand. It's a young crippled woman who battles against those who care for her, who only see a crippled person. But Marie manages to get her way and accomplish quite a bit. A good example of a complete story.
Ben Ohlander's "London Falling" is disgusting and depressing, even as this sibling finally becomes an adult.
Michele Lang's "The King of the River Rats" finds an intrepid woman reporter going against Tammany Hall to investigate the increasing number of missing girls. It's a quick, fun read.
Jody Lynn Nye's "Air of Deception" continues on from Elemental Magic: "Air of Mystery" with Aurelia saving another's life with her swift thinking and deft hand with perfumes. I did enjoy this story, almost as much as I enjoyed that first one I read.
Stephanie Shaver's "Fly or Fall" finds Aurelia fleeing her gift. It takes a young girl and her mother's ignorance to reconcile Aurelia with her own power. A good story that is well written.
Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox's "Bone Dance" is confusing in small ways. For one, I have no idea how the title relates to the story. I had to hunt to understand how various characters were related and some aspects were rather juvenile. And what's with this Council? What happened to the White Lodge? The story has promise, but needs work.
Ron Collins' "The Flying Contraption" concludes that one should never stop making mistakes, lol. Of course, you have to clean up after. It's a cute story and well written about a very curious little girl and the Wright brothers.
Gail Sanders and Michael Z. Williamson's "A Peony Amongst Roses" is an unexpected foray into peony gardens and their value in protecting the royals. Sure I love peonies; they are absolutely gorgeous, but Sanders/Williamson do nothing to elucidate on this. Yeah, I know. It protects against evil. I'm sorry but it's too vague for me on how the peony accomplishes this. I guess short stories aren't required to be complete. It is cute with lots of interesting detail, except that one that I really want.
Mercedes Lackey's "Into the Woods" is an excerpt, the start, from Blood Red, 10. I see this as a cheat of a short story even though Blood Red is a good story.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a collage of the short stories and begins with a bright blue and purple set of draperies for the background, an inset rectangle with a woman in yellow and a man in a top hat with a cat sitting atop the rectangle and a pair of birds flying at them.
The title is basic enough, for it is Elementary: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters.
adularia25's review against another edition
5.0
I can't resist a faerie tale retelling, and this book is filled with them! I've read nearly all the books in the Elemental Masters series, and while the ones at the start of the series were quite clever, over time they have become flat and dull. Even the cover of this book is just a mash-up of covers of previous books.
But don't let the cover fool you!
By bringing in other authors and their takes on the world where elemental magic reigns, new life is breathed into the world Mercedes Lackey started. It was fun seeing some of my favorite obscure faerie tales retold within these pages, as well as touches of Aztec mythology, and delightful historical fiction.
This brings the spark of magic back to a series I had once loved.
But don't let the cover fool you!
By bringing in other authors and their takes on the world where elemental magic reigns, new life is breathed into the world Mercedes Lackey started. It was fun seeing some of my favorite obscure faerie tales retold within these pages, as well as touches of Aztec mythology, and delightful historical fiction.
This brings the spark of magic back to a series I had once loved.
kmoses87's review against another edition
2.0
I'm about halfway through the book (though I read the short story by Mercedes Lackey that's at the end first). As others have said, the stories are really hit and miss. Some of them are so poorly written I feel my high school students could do better. I wish there were more by Mercedes Lackey herself.
stuhlsem's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love this book. The Elemental Masters series were all kind of repetitive, but I read them all on the strength of Mercedes Lackey's writing and super BA female characters. These stories were just too short, the characters not developed enough, and the writing different enough from Lackey's that I just didn't feel it. AND THEN, I'd already read the 'all new' story by Lackey because it's the intro to her most recent Elemental Masters book! Woe is me.
sbbarnes's review against another edition
3.0
A mixed bag for me, as the previous short story collection was. My biggest issue is that the way the elemental magic stuff is pretty inconsistently used by different authors. What exactly is the right form of interaction between magicians and elementals? Command and control or friendship? It's really inconsistent.
Fire-Water - Samuel Conway: Really interesting story told from the point of view of a rabbit based on Aztec mythology. Liked this one.
Fire Song - Diana L. Paxson: Sequel to previous short story about ancient Greco-Roman family, the previous protagonist now has a little child who is also a master and they flee from political stuff going on in Rome. Eh.
Sails of the Armada - Kristin Schwengel: Liked this one. Spanish history going on here; water master who is part of a colonized bit of previously independent Spain secretly works against the Spanish armada from within.
The Wild Rogue - Fiona Patton: This one is really interesting, follows the bastard son of a water master who is trying to take down the water master who killed his father. Nice character stuff.
Feathers and Foundations - Elizabeth a. Vaugham: Sequel to the previous one by her, the Earth Master who is now Raven Master and trying to fix London. Less interesting than the first one.
Hearth and Family - Dayle A. Dermatis: German Hansel and Gretel retelling; kids are lost in the woods and taken in by a miller's widow, they all have magical powers and use them to make the mill run. Then conscription happens. Kind of lovely.
Secret Friends - Louisa Swann: Nettie is searching for her adoptive brother. She finds him in the clutches of an evil magician. Meh.
Fire's Daughter - Elisabeth Waters: YES. The girl disguised as a boy from the last book gets her own story. Lovely. She tries to burn out her uterus when she gets her period.
Picking up the Pieces - Cedric Johnson: Meeeeeeeeh sequel to the one about the guy with Quartz powers. Worst retelling of Snow White and Rose Red I've read so far.
The Price of Family - Jennifer Brozek: Interesting kind of wild west story about an urchin who gets taken in by a blacksmith and wants to save a fire spirit but it's a bad fire spirit. Liked this one.
Arms of the Sea - Tanya Huff: Very rushed story about a girl trapped in a wheelchair after almost drowning and how she gets to do stuff anyway and send a snake home. Features characters from last time.
London Falling - Ben Ohlander: Very hard to read. Overly full of adjectives. Guy's evil brother tells him to come to London and then wants to do the bad magics on him. He becomes a rage monster of fire and there's a gross thing in his hand now.
The King of the River Rats - Michele Lang: Sequel to last one about the plucky young investigative journalist heroine in New York. Still not my thing; this should be a full length detective mystery. As is it's pretty flat.
Air of Deception - Jody Lynn Nye: Sequel about the parfumerie in Paris, really liked this one, introduces a sort of french white lodge with an opera singer, and perfumes that can make you remember things and forget things.
Fly or Fall - Stephanie Shaver: I liked this one, follows a girl who is scared to gain her mastery of Elementals because her sister failed and is now followed by vicious air spirits and became an opium addict. She uses kitchen magic and saves a little girl from opium. Good stuff.
Bone Dance - Rosemarie Edgehill and Rebecca Fox: Captain Frederick Wentworth (??? is this name not taken???) saves a girl from a weak water magician trying to Mr. Hyde a bear. The bear kills him and saves the day.
The Flying Contraption - Ron Collins: Girl starts working for the Wright brothers and an evil guy wants her to spy on them. Everyone is secretly an air magician. A bit of Zauberlehrling in there. Really enjoy what Collins does with perspective.
A Peony Among Roses - Gail Sanderson and Michael Z. Williams: Eh. It's okay, sequel about Mei who is half-chinese and grows magic flowers to protect the king. There's a new king who needs new flowers. Just not that interesting to me.
Into the Woods- MErcedes Lackey: Little Red Riding Hood retelling set in the Schwarzwald. Strong start, gets a little hazy towards the end - unsure about the wolf and what he did to the Grandmother, she gets mutilated etc.?? There's magic but it's vague. Girl ends up leaving her parents to go learn about magic. Would have been better if it had been set up that she felt misunderstood by her parents earlier as opposed to just how the mother was sad about being lonely.
Fire-Water - Samuel Conway: Really interesting story told from the point of view of a rabbit based on Aztec mythology. Liked this one.
Fire Song - Diana L. Paxson: Sequel to previous short story about ancient Greco-Roman family, the previous protagonist now has a little child who is also a master and they flee from political stuff going on in Rome. Eh.
Sails of the Armada - Kristin Schwengel: Liked this one. Spanish history going on here; water master who is part of a colonized bit of previously independent Spain secretly works against the Spanish armada from within.
The Wild Rogue - Fiona Patton: This one is really interesting, follows the bastard son of a water master who is trying to take down the water master who killed his father. Nice character stuff.
Feathers and Foundations - Elizabeth a. Vaugham: Sequel to the previous one by her, the Earth Master who is now Raven Master and trying to fix London. Less interesting than the first one.
Hearth and Family - Dayle A. Dermatis: German Hansel and Gretel retelling; kids are lost in the woods and taken in by a miller's widow, they all have magical powers and use them to make the mill run. Then conscription happens. Kind of lovely.
Secret Friends - Louisa Swann: Nettie is searching for her adoptive brother. She finds him in the clutches of an evil magician. Meh.
Fire's Daughter - Elisabeth Waters: YES. The girl disguised as a boy from the last book gets her own story. Lovely. She tries to burn out her uterus when she gets her period.
Picking up the Pieces - Cedric Johnson: Meeeeeeeeh sequel to the one about the guy with Quartz powers. Worst retelling of Snow White and Rose Red I've read so far.
The Price of Family - Jennifer Brozek: Interesting kind of wild west story about an urchin who gets taken in by a blacksmith and wants to save a fire spirit but it's a bad fire spirit. Liked this one.
Arms of the Sea - Tanya Huff: Very rushed story about a girl trapped in a wheelchair after almost drowning and how she gets to do stuff anyway and send a snake home. Features characters from last time.
London Falling - Ben Ohlander: Very hard to read. Overly full of adjectives. Guy's evil brother tells him to come to London and then wants to do the bad magics on him. He becomes a rage monster of fire and there's a gross thing in his hand now.
The King of the River Rats - Michele Lang: Sequel to last one about the plucky young investigative journalist heroine in New York. Still not my thing; this should be a full length detective mystery. As is it's pretty flat.
Air of Deception - Jody Lynn Nye: Sequel about the parfumerie in Paris, really liked this one, introduces a sort of french white lodge with an opera singer, and perfumes that can make you remember things and forget things.
Fly or Fall - Stephanie Shaver: I liked this one, follows a girl who is scared to gain her mastery of Elementals because her sister failed and is now followed by vicious air spirits and became an opium addict. She uses kitchen magic and saves a little girl from opium. Good stuff.
Bone Dance - Rosemarie Edgehill and Rebecca Fox: Captain Frederick Wentworth (??? is this name not taken???) saves a girl from a weak water magician trying to Mr. Hyde a bear. The bear kills him and saves the day.
The Flying Contraption - Ron Collins: Girl starts working for the Wright brothers and an evil guy wants her to spy on them. Everyone is secretly an air magician. A bit of Zauberlehrling in there. Really enjoy what Collins does with perspective.
A Peony Among Roses - Gail Sanderson and Michael Z. Williams: Eh. It's okay, sequel about Mei who is half-chinese and grows magic flowers to protect the king. There's a new king who needs new flowers. Just not that interesting to me.
Into the Woods- MErcedes Lackey: Little Red Riding Hood retelling set in the Schwarzwald. Strong start, gets a little hazy towards the end - unsure about the wolf and what he did to the Grandmother, she gets mutilated etc.?? There's magic but it's vague. Girl ends up leaving her parents to go learn about magic. Would have been better if it had been set up that she felt misunderstood by her parents earlier as opposed to just how the mother was sad about being lonely.
hawksinger's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book of short(ish) stories based in the Elemental Masters Universe. It is, like most of its kind, written by a different author for each story, with an original story by the main author for the actual series, Mercedes Lackey. I have always loved seeing how new authors will write people into series, and I have not been disappointed here. Stories based in steam age Britain, full of Magicians and magical creatures. If you like fantasy, this will probably be right up your alley.
lifstrand's review against another edition
3.0
There were 19 stories in this Elemental Masters anthology but only 5 that I actually liked, Probably I shouldn't count the Mercedes Lackey story because it's the beginning of Blood Red, which I read before I read Elementary. That's what I get for having not read this book when it was published in 2013.
I'm not all that fond of anthologies because good short stories are tough to write and therefore aren't always pleasing to read, but generally Lackey's choices are more satisfying to me than this one was. Oh well, win some, lose some.
The stories I liked:
Arms of the Sea, by Tanya HUff
Bone Dance, by Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox
The Flying Contraption, by Ron Collins
A Peony Amongst Roses, by Gail Sanders and Michael Z Williamson
I'm not all that fond of anthologies because good short stories are tough to write and therefore aren't always pleasing to read, but generally Lackey's choices are more satisfying to me than this one was. Oh well, win some, lose some.
The stories I liked:
Arms of the Sea, by Tanya HUff
Bone Dance, by Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox
The Flying Contraption, by Ron Collins
A Peony Amongst Roses, by Gail Sanders and Michael Z Williamson
bookwyrm37's review against another edition
5.0
The only problem with this book is thar I wanted more from every single story! Like an entire books worth!
squirrelfish's review against another edition
4.0
It was good. Some of the stories were great, some were only okay. I love the world, and thought a few of the stories could expand to full books pretty well.
amalyndb's review against another edition
5.0
Collection of short stories set in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters universe by many awesome authors. I enjoyed the lot of them, as they flesh out more, filling in more scenery around the stories I've read so far. I especially enjoyed Into the Woods (a red riding hood retelling by Mercedes Lackey).