The Wizard of London Breaks New Ground and Cold Hearts
We're back this week with a look at the fourth book in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series. I've mentioned my love for this series before, but I've never done a full review here. It's time to change that.
Like its predecessors, The Wizard of London retells a classic fairy tale in Lackey's alternate Victorian/Edwardian England. In this case, the tale in question is Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow Queen," although the parallels are scanter than previous books in the series.
In another change for the series, The Wizard of London picks up multiple POV storylines. Whereas previous books have focused on the romantic plot interwoven with the main conflict, usually maxing out at three POV characters, Wizard uses five main POVs. While some of Lackey's more direct adaptations would have suffered from the added perspectives, Wizard carries the tale forward better for its multiplied leads. The original story was, after all, quite episodic by nature, following Gerda through lands ruled by each of the four seasons. While the four seasons take less of a role in this tale, the episodic nature of the story remains somewhat.
The main plot of Wizard follows Isabelle Harton, headmistress of a school for the children of British expatriates, and especially those who show a Talent or Gift that lies outside of the series' main magical system of Elemental Mastery. Isabelle has been sent one such child: Sarah Lyon-White, a girl with psychic Talent that is beyond the skill of her Elemental Mage parents to teach. Isabelle gladly brings Sarah into the fold, and soon after Sarah convinces Nan--a street girl with her own Talent--to join the school as well. When these girls are targeted by a sinister assassination attempt, Isabelle must confront her history with the Elemental Mages of London, including the titular Wizard of London, David Alderscroft.
Though Sarah and Nan sometimes seem too mature for their ages, Nan's history on the streets and Sarah's peculiar gifting ease some of the disbelief, as do their moments of childish wonder, mischief, and play. The adults in this book are refreshingly mature, taking stock of themselves, their charges, and their colleagues in order to make wise decisions whenever possible.
One instance in particular, when the girls and Isabelle's husband think of the possible dangers involved in one of Isabelle's stings amidst the false mediums of the city, demonstrates the characters' maturity. Isabelle does not fly into a rage at the suggestion she cannot handle herself. Rather, she listens to the suggestions of those she cares for, and who care for her, and they have a rational discussion about how to keep everyone involved in the sting safe.
While all of the books in this series feature a romantic subplot, Wizard takes a different tack. There is romance to be had, but it is primarily between Isabelle and her husband. There is another romance for Isabelle--in the past, she was all but engaged to David Alderscroft, and his breaking things off with her was the catalyst for her leaving England and meeting her husband. The ache of what might have been between them colors both Isabelle's and David's chapters throughout the book, and serves a key function in driving some of their decisions as well as the larger plot.
As for religion, never a large part of Lackey's novels in this series, the largest impact it has is that Sarah's parents are missionaries as well as Mages, and Isabelle's loyal friends and servants hail from all the religious backgrounds India might offer.
Though perhaps not as skillful as its immediate predecessor, Phoenix and Ashes, The Wizard of London carries on the series into new territory with the development of the Talents like Sarah and Nan and with the introduction of the Fae through Puck/Robin Goodfellow, in what was one of my favorite sections of the novel.
If you've enjoyed previous books in this series or are interested in reading period literature that has a fantastic twist, check out The Wizard of London.
Like its predecessors, The Wizard of London retells a classic fairy tale in Lackey's alternate Victorian/Edwardian England. In this case, the tale in question is Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow Queen," although the parallels are scanter than previous books in the series.
In another change for the series, The Wizard of London picks up multiple POV storylines. Whereas previous books have focused on the romantic plot interwoven with the main conflict, usually maxing out at three POV characters, Wizard uses five main POVs. While some of Lackey's more direct adaptations would have suffered from the added perspectives, Wizard carries the tale forward better for its multiplied leads. The original story was, after all, quite episodic by nature, following Gerda through lands ruled by each of the four seasons. While the four seasons take less of a role in this tale, the episodic nature of the story remains somewhat.
The main plot of Wizard follows Isabelle Harton, headmistress of a school for the children of British expatriates, and especially those who show a Talent or Gift that lies outside of the series' main magical system of Elemental Mastery. Isabelle has been sent one such child: Sarah Lyon-White, a girl with psychic Talent that is beyond the skill of her Elemental Mage parents to teach. Isabelle gladly brings Sarah into the fold, and soon after Sarah convinces Nan--a street girl with her own Talent--to join the school as well. When these girls are targeted by a sinister assassination attempt, Isabelle must confront her history with the Elemental Mages of London, including the titular Wizard of London, David Alderscroft.
Though Sarah and Nan sometimes seem too mature for their ages, Nan's history on the streets and Sarah's peculiar gifting ease some of the disbelief, as do their moments of childish wonder, mischief, and play. The adults in this book are refreshingly mature, taking stock of themselves, their charges, and their colleagues in order to make wise decisions whenever possible.
One instance in particular, when the girls and Isabelle's husband think of the possible dangers involved in one of Isabelle's stings amidst the false mediums of the city, demonstrates the characters' maturity. Isabelle does not fly into a rage at the suggestion she cannot handle herself. Rather, she listens to the suggestions of those she cares for, and who care for her, and they have a rational discussion about how to keep everyone involved in the sting safe.
While all of the books in this series feature a romantic subplot, Wizard takes a different tack. There is romance to be had, but it is primarily between Isabelle and her husband. There is another romance for Isabelle--in the past, she was all but engaged to David Alderscroft, and his breaking things off with her was the catalyst for her leaving England and meeting her husband. The ache of what might have been between them colors both Isabelle's and David's chapters throughout the book, and serves a key function in driving some of their decisions as well as the larger plot.
As for religion, never a large part of Lackey's novels in this series, the largest impact it has is that Sarah's parents are missionaries as well as Mages, and Isabelle's loyal friends and servants hail from all the religious backgrounds India might offer.
Though perhaps not as skillful as its immediate predecessor, Phoenix and Ashes, The Wizard of London carries on the series into new territory with the development of the Talents like Sarah and Nan and with the introduction of the Fae through Puck/Robin Goodfellow, in what was one of my favorite sections of the novel.
If you've enjoyed previous books in this series or are interested in reading period literature that has a fantastic twist, check out The Wizard of London.
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