BOOKS AND BAKING

Devouring food and literature one bite at a time.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Fire Rose - Mercedes Lackey




(more that average)
(Adult Themes)

I have to say this is probably the 4th Mercedes book I've read, all part of the Elemental Masters Series. And I find them fascinating. These are retold Fairy Tale Stories, but told in a way you've never read before. They are usually in semi-modern times (WWII or Victorian era) and they are not your pixie dust and charming prince type stories. They contain Magik, but not the fairy godmother type. An there usually is some pretty Dark Magic (hence the adult themes). But they are fun.


This one is about 'Rose' who after her father passes away she is left with his debts, and is forced to drop out of college (it was hard enough trying to get an education as a girl but with out money and her fathers support....) when she gets a mysterious letter from a Jason Cameron, a rail road mogul, asking for her specific skills as a linguist to come be a governess for his children. When she arrives she finds out there are no children but she has been hired to translate and read ancient tomes to the mysterious Jason through a speaking tube. Jason is arrogant and cold, and has become a recluse since his 'accident'. Rose soon learns that Jason is a Firemaster, a very powerful magician, and his accident happened because he let his pride get in the way and tried a spell that was too powerful for him. Now that Rose is learning about Magik, she helps Jason find the cure for his 'accident'. But there is dark magik at work in San Francisco, and Rose and Jason must work together to fight it, before its too late and Jason is destroyed.


If you like fairy tell revellings, but want something different than Lackey, try Robin McKinley. Start with Beauty, her retelling of B&B. Also her most famous.

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