Blood Red

April 21, 2014
Lackey’s long-awaited ninth Elemental Masters fairy tale (after Steadfast) will satisfy her eager fans. As a budding Earth mage in 19th-century Europe, young Rosa studied deep in the Schwarzwald forest of Germany under the tutelage of her adopted grandmother, until the day the wolf literally came to her door. Some years later, having come fully into her Mastery of Earth, Rosa is called to hunt the same creatures that haunt her past and who set her on her current path—assuming her training for polite society doesn’t kill her first. The action and dialogue flow freely, mingling with beautiful descriptions of European countryside and just a hint of romance. However, despite a well-developed heroine and engaging story, the novel falls short of its full potential, feeling somewhat like a rewritten role-playing adventure. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

May 15, 2014

Little Red Riding Hood grows up to be a dangerous hunter of shape-shifters and magic abusers in this latest series entry (after 2013's Steadfast). Having trained all her life to protect the inhabitants of Germany's forests from rampaging werewolves, Rosa of Schwarzwald is called on by another lodge in England to help eradicate a werewolf pack that might be controlled by a rogue Elemental Master. VERDICT Although she shifts gears between an oddly girlish interest in pretty dresses and hardheaded hunt master, Rosa remains a typical, strong Lackey heroine. The author has an army of fans, and while this series lacks some of the satisfying emotional angst of her Valdemar books, it will be in demand with those who can't get enough Lackey.

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