From the Bookshelf of Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
I liked the concept, and the two little girls, but the book as a whole was poorly balanced and needed editing. The tone was too self-righteous and didactic, and the bulk of the pages were devoted to set-up and criticism of Victorian society (merited, but hardly requiring a lengthy exposition in a modern fantasy novel). When conflicts/dangers occur they get handled too easily to create much tension.
Not one of Mercedes Lackey's best books, in my opinion. There were several things she kept repeating - e.g. that 3 of the servants came from different, oftentimes opposing, cultures but had come to respect each other and work together as a unified group. As this is one of the main themes of the book - differing cultures/classes/genders working harmoniously together as equals - I understand the desire to stress it, but over and over? I'm not stupid (and I really hate being treated as such) and I
...more
Anti-climatic. She could do better.
I'm a dedicated Mercedes Lackey fan. This was a good read, not one of her best. But if you like mystics and London, you might like this book. It does help to have read the other Elemental books, although this one can stand alone.
...more
This book was terrible. The characters were wooden. The plot was marginal, and it was the worst book I've read of hers except for If I Pay Thee Not in Gold. Lackey is a much better writer than she shows in this book.
...more
Dec 18, 2007
Alice
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2008
Jenniffer
marked it as to-read
Jan 20, 2014
Nicky
marked it as to-read
Sep 14, 2019
Phil
marked it as tbr-pile
