Tiffany M. reviewed on 9/6/2007 + 29 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 7

This is my favorite book from Mercedes Lackey's new series, Elemental Masters. Lackey has done a lovely job of creating interesting and reasonably realistic characters, and the world she has created is detailed and well-written. I love the multicultural flavor that this book has, as well as the wide diversity among the characters. Unlike many books which are based in this particular time period, the main characters of this story are all lower or middle class people - we only see the upper classes in passing, for the most part. The main characters are strong people with flaws and problems that make them real to the reader, and the attention to detail is superb. Lackey has clearly put a lot of effort into achieving a high degree of realism in the characters' daily lives - you can almost see yourself walking beside them as they go about their routines. I found this to be an extremely enjoyable read, and have re-read it several times. An excellent introduction to Lackey's writing or to the fantasy genre in general. If you like Regency & Victorian romances, you will like this book. For those who hate romances, rest assured that the romance is definitely secondary to the rest of the story - there is a definite plot that does not include copious amounts of gratuitous sex described in excessively flowery terms.

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