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weremallard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Okay, I know it's a YA book, but that's not an excuse for how predictable the story is or the 1-dimensionality of the characters. I usually enjoy the elemental masters book, but this one didn't work for me.
soulfulsin's review against another edition
This book took me far longer to read than I would have liked thanks to problems in real life. However, I enjoyed it, for the most part. It was a little draggy, in certain aspects, and I can understand how the romance between Isabelle and Frederick seemed a bit much.
However, after I realized just what David Alderscoft had done to himself, it was hard not to feel sorry for him. Thanks to Cordelia's manipulations, he had lost the one thing that he could have prized above everything. Now the juxtaposition was clear, between Frederick and David, and why Frederick was invariably a better man for Isabelle.
I would like to see another book dealing with the Fey, not just some of the magical creatures that sporadically appear. For example, I loved Puck's appearance. Perhaps Mercedes Lackey should write a series revolving around faeries.
The ending was good. It showed how the children knew more about life than someone who had considered himself above everyone else and how a child could conquer an adult simply by reaching out. I also like how the Salamanders and other Fire Elemental creatures were simply waiting for David to return to his senses and summon them, rather than abandon him.
The notion of ice being the opposite of fire yet still being within a Fire Elemental's power to control is an interesting one. I loved the explanation of it, too, and also, the similarities, however unintentional, between Cordelia wanting to be an Ice Queen and Puck calling the children "daughters/sons of Eve/Adam" and Narnia. Maybe it was just me who saw those comparisons, however.
However, after I realized just what David Alderscoft had done to himself, it was hard not to feel sorry for him. Thanks to Cordelia's manipulations, he had lost the one thing that he could have prized above everything. Now the juxtaposition was clear, between Frederick and David, and why Frederick was invariably a better man for Isabelle.
I would like to see another book dealing with the Fey, not just some of the magical creatures that sporadically appear. For example, I loved Puck's appearance. Perhaps Mercedes Lackey should write a series revolving around faeries.
The ending was good. It showed how the children knew more about life than someone who had considered himself above everyone else and how a child could conquer an adult simply by reaching out. I also like how the Salamanders and other Fire Elemental creatures were simply waiting for David to return to his senses and summon them, rather than abandon him.
The notion of ice being the opposite of fire yet still being within a Fire Elemental's power to control is an interesting one. I loved the explanation of it, too, and also, the similarities, however unintentional, between Cordelia wanting to be an Ice Queen and Puck calling the children "daughters/sons of Eve/Adam" and Narnia. Maybe it was just me who saw those comparisons, however.
sjgaspari's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.75
melodine's review against another edition
3.0
I still like the series and literally everything Mercedes Lackey writes as a solo author but this book so far is definitely the weakest link.
I loved the two main girls and really loved the further mysticism and faerie lore added in this book and the story was very enjoyable.
Until the very end where I feel the author just threw in the towel there. Very rushed and pat. No real climax.
Giving it 3 stars because I don't think I can physically rate any solo Mercedes Lackey book lower. Overall not left with a happy satisfaction of a book well read.
I loved the two main girls and really loved the further mysticism and faerie lore added in this book and the story was very enjoyable.
Until the very end where I feel the author just threw in the towel there. Very rushed and pat. No real climax.
Giving it 3 stars because I don't think I can physically rate any solo Mercedes Lackey book lower. Overall not left with a happy satisfaction of a book well read.
vickybuka's review against another edition
3.0
I was really enjoying this story - and then it ended. Abruptly.
The author spent such a long time developing these characters, creating a world where fantastical and magical creatures exist alongside humans. Characters with depth and history. Motivations. Reactions.
And then it ended. Not enough dénouement.
The author spent such a long time developing these characters, creating a world where fantastical and magical creatures exist alongside humans. Characters with depth and history. Motivations. Reactions.
And then it ended. Not enough dénouement.
kaeritha's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it quite a bit considering the issue I had with the pacing. Come to think of it, that seems to be my biggest problem with her books--the pacing. She has neat ideas and good stories, but the pacing feels off in so many of them. This book could have been much, much shorter, in my opinion and been an even better story for it.
elentarri's review against another edition
3.0
An entertaining and fairly straight forward entry in the Elemental Masters series. The avian familiars are a hoot!
imbookingit's review against another edition
4.0
Probably more of a 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed it.
The best part of this book was the magical world presented. It's an alternate history, set in England in a past much like ours. There was a world of elemental mages, with the power to control an element and the magical creatures associated with that sphere, and those with more psychic gifts-- like speaking with the dead as well as various battle related skills.
The characters were also interesting, particularly David Alderscroft. He's a basically good guy being lured by the pull of power, led by a mentor who is much more than she appears.
Isabelle also had an interesting story, linked long ago with David's. After their relationship ended, she went to India, and found her husband. Together they have built a very satisfying life, including a school for children of British citizens living abroad-- particularly those with magical talents of the non-elemental variety.
At the center of the action are two very talented young girls. I had a problem when reading that if their age was given in the first part of the book, I missed it. If I'd been reading a print version I would have gone back to check, but that's much harder when listening. I kept trying to guess, and my estimates ranged from 8/10 to 15/17. I did figure it out, but I think I would have liked the book better if they had been older. As it was, it felt more like events were happening to them, and they weren't mature enough to make good decisions about their involvement.
I'm planning to go back and fill in earlier books in the series. I don't think they are particularly tightly linked, but I'd like to explore this world a little more.
The best part of this book was the magical world presented. It's an alternate history, set in England in a past much like ours. There was a world of elemental mages, with the power to control an element and the magical creatures associated with that sphere, and those with more psychic gifts-- like speaking with the dead as well as various battle related skills.
The characters were also interesting, particularly David Alderscroft. He's a basically good guy being lured by the pull of power, led by a mentor who is much more than she appears.
Isabelle also had an interesting story, linked long ago with David's. After their relationship ended, she went to India, and found her husband. Together they have built a very satisfying life, including a school for children of British citizens living abroad-- particularly those with magical talents of the non-elemental variety.
At the center of the action are two very talented young girls. I had a problem when reading that if their age was given in the first part of the book, I missed it. If I'd been reading a print version I would have gone back to check, but that's much harder when listening. I kept trying to guess, and my estimates ranged from 8/10 to 15/17. I did figure it out, but I think I would have liked the book better if they had been older. As it was, it felt more like events were happening to them, and they weren't mature enough to make good decisions about their involvement.
I'm planning to go back and fill in earlier books in the series. I don't think they are particularly tightly linked, but I'd like to explore this world a little more.
xeni's review against another edition
5.0
This was the weirdest of all the Elemental Masters series. I have no idea what ML was thinking (perhaps just playing around with possibilities) but this book is really below what I would normally think of her high standard.
It has the high rating because it was mainly the plot development that bothered me; the rest was pretty amazing.
It has the high rating because it was mainly the plot development that bothered me; the rest was pretty amazing.
depizan's review against another edition
2.0
I just don't know about this series. I decided to give it a second chance after someone I know on another website started reading their way through the series, but oh dear bog.
This had pretty much the exact same problems as the other book in this series I read: the awkward attempts at being diverse*, the (I suspect) questionable historical accuracy, the plot showing up well over halfway through the book, the rushed ending... I don't remember Lackey's books being this much of a mess in the past. (Or I was less likely to notice some of the problems?)
It's probably also not a good sign that I didn't know what fairy tale the book was based on until I came here and saw other reviews. The plot (such as it is) is just so far removed from The Snow Queen that even with ice magic involved, I didn't think of it. The guy in need of saving is just kind of there until a couple of chapters from the end of the book, and it's not even his old girlfriend who first thinks of saving him.
Meh.
*Note: Diverse = good. Except not so much when I have the strong suspicion that it would be off-putting to people of the ethnicity (or other group) the author is trying to include. (Or when they only exist as servants of the white people.)
This had pretty much the exact same problems as the other book in this series I read: the awkward attempts at being diverse*, the (I suspect) questionable historical accuracy, the plot showing up well over halfway through the book, the rushed ending... I don't remember Lackey's books being this much of a mess in the past. (Or I was less likely to notice some of the problems?)
It's probably also not a good sign that I didn't know what fairy tale the book was based on until I came here and saw other reviews. The plot (such as it is) is just so far removed from The Snow Queen that even with ice magic involved, I didn't think of it. The guy in need of saving is just kind of there until a couple of chapters from the end of the book, and it's not even his old girlfriend who first thinks of saving him.
Meh.
*Note: Diverse = good. Except not so much when I have the strong suspicion that it would be off-putting to people of the ethnicity (or other group) the author is trying to include. (Or when they only exist as servants of the white people.)