Books 19 & 20

I decided to write a combined review of books 19 and 20. They are Phoenix & Ashes and Reserved for the Cat, both by Mercedes Lackey (I was really bitter after the 3 depressing books) and from her Elemental Masters series. Lackey's Elemental Masters books are some of my favorites-they are all based on retellings of fairy tales, and are set during the Late Victorian/Edwardian time period.  The pretty much hit all the points I look for in a book-female protagonist, historical setting, workable magic system, and fairy tale rewrites.

Phoenix & Ashes is my favorite books of the series-it's a retelling of Cinderella set during WWI. It's pretty much perfect to me. A good main character who you want to triumph, an appealing love interest, and villian that is clever. The books explores the class system in England, a women's place in the world, and the topic of war. All ends well, and I am a happy kitten.

Reserved for the Cat is the most recent book in the series, and is based on Puss in Boots. It follows a former ballerina's rise to prima donna of a music hall, and the cat that helps her. The most unusual thing about the book is the sympathetic look it takes upon women who wished to be courtesans in that time period-it shows why a pretty woman without options for a decent marriage or job would want to go that route, and manages to do so without being preachy or raunchy. As usual, all ends well, and it feature a talking cat. I love talking cats in books. I think talking cats may actually be better than pirates or ninjas.

Phoenix and Ashes

Mercedes Lackey

1/19/19

Reserved for the Cat

Mercedes Lackey

1/20/20