What do you think?
Rate this book
Elemental Masters #13
The Bartered Brides
The thirteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series continues the reimagined adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a richly-detailed alternate Victorian England.
The threat of Moriarty is gone--but so is Sherlock Holmes.
Even as they mourn the loss of their colleague, psychic Nan Killian, medium Sarah Lyon-White, and Elemental Masters John and Mary Watson must be vigilant, for members of Moriarty's network are still at large. And their troubles are far from over: in a matter of weeks, two headless bodies of young brides wash up in major waterways. A couple who fears for their own recently-wedded daughter hires the group to investigate, but with each new body, the mystery only deepens.
The more bodies emerge, the more the gang suspects that there is dangerous magic at work, and that Moriarty's associates are somehow involved. But as they race against the clock to uncover the killer, it will take all their talents, Magic, and Psychic Powers--and perhaps some help from a dearly departed friend--to bring the murderer to justice.
The threat of Moriarty is gone--but so is Sherlock Holmes.
Even as they mourn the loss of their colleague, psychic Nan Killian, medium Sarah Lyon-White, and Elemental Masters John and Mary Watson must be vigilant, for members of Moriarty's network are still at large. And their troubles are far from over: in a matter of weeks, two headless bodies of young brides wash up in major waterways. A couple who fears for their own recently-wedded daughter hires the group to investigate, but with each new body, the mystery only deepens.
The more bodies emerge, the more the gang suspects that there is dangerous magic at work, and that Moriarty's associates are somehow involved. But as they race against the clock to uncover the killer, it will take all their talents, Magic, and Psychic Powers--and perhaps some help from a dearly departed friend--to bring the murderer to justice.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2018
288 people are currently reading
1363 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
October 20, 2018
Sigh
I jump to buy any new Lackey release. But this entry to the world of the Elemental Masters lost me early on. The first books were wonderful, unique and thought-provoking. This volume struggles so to fit the Arthur Conan Doyle model that it took multiple attempts to finish reading it.
The best of Lackey is found in her ability to weave heart and hope into facing challenges and mysteries. This is the first volume without heart or hope or wit. I found no humor to hold me, and a lack of growth for the characters.
When it came time to rate the book? I felt 3 stars too generous and 2 stars ungracious to bulk of the body of work. 99% of the books Lackey has published are amazing. Please, don't let this volume steer you away from an amazing author. This book however needs a complete rewrite before it could be considered as running into the Lackey canon.
Please, Misty, let go of Holmes and get back to what you do best, Be You.
I jump to buy any new Lackey release. But this entry to the world of the Elemental Masters lost me early on. The first books were wonderful, unique and thought-provoking. This volume struggles so to fit the Arthur Conan Doyle model that it took multiple attempts to finish reading it.
The best of Lackey is found in her ability to weave heart and hope into facing challenges and mysteries. This is the first volume without heart or hope or wit. I found no humor to hold me, and a lack of growth for the characters.
When it came time to rate the book? I felt 3 stars too generous and 2 stars ungracious to bulk of the body of work. 99% of the books Lackey has published are amazing. Please, don't let this volume steer you away from an amazing author. This book however needs a complete rewrite before it could be considered as running into the Lackey canon.
Please, Misty, let go of Holmes and get back to what you do best, Be You.
November 12, 2018
Once again, we spend a significant portion of the book (at least one-third) in the head of the villain, who's blithely Bluebearding poor young women--one of whom is twelve--to use as magical fuel for his necromancy. Nan and Sarah are still the Best Psychics in London, and Sarah is revealed to be a super-special kind of magician that's ever so rare and with specialized abilities.
I think I'm done with this series, at least until it stops being the Nan and Sarah (and Holmes-Adjacent) Adventures.
I think I'm done with this series, at least until it stops being the Nan and Sarah (and Holmes-Adjacent) Adventures.
December 13, 2018
When I first started read in this series, I thought it was a light and fun alternative history of England with magic. Fun! And the universe expanded, adding in France and Germany, and I was happy. And some books revisted previous characters and that was good. And then Sherlock Holmes was introduced as a real person. Eh. At least the stories didn't focus on him or give him magical abilities, and it was interesting to have Watson be more knowledgeable, as a magician, than Sherlock about something.
And then this book happened. I have to say, I really hate when an author takes something, that they didn't create, and changes the story of what happened. I always liked the Moriarty storyline in the Sherlock stories. I liked the symmetry of them dying together. I love the plot twist that Sherlock wasn't really dead, but pretended to be SO HARD that he didn't even tell Watson he was alive.
Then this book happened. No no no no. Skip it if you can. I was annoyed by all the characters, including Sherlock, being idiots. Suddenly, a threat that everyone was worried about stops because the bad kidnapper guy dies, but he dies when none of the main characters know. And yet they're not worried anymore? Say what? Spending so much time, over so many books, establishing how well these women do their jobs, and it's out the window for a non-important plot point.
Even though this book kept me engaged and reading until late into the night, it was more of a rage read than the light, guilty pleasure I was expecting. Hopefully the next book is a return to form.
And then this book happened. I have to say, I really hate when an author takes something, that they didn't create, and changes the story of what happened. I always liked the Moriarty storyline in the Sherlock stories. I liked the symmetry of them dying together. I love the plot twist that Sherlock wasn't really dead, but pretended to be SO HARD that he didn't even tell Watson he was alive.
Then this book happened. No no no no. Skip it if you can. I was annoyed by all the characters, including Sherlock, being idiots. Suddenly, a threat that everyone was worried about stops because the bad kidnapper guy dies, but he dies when none of the main characters know. And yet they're not worried anymore? Say what? Spending so much time, over so many books, establishing how well these women do their jobs, and it's out the window for a non-important plot point.
Even though this book kept me engaged and reading until late into the night, it was more of a rage read than the light, guilty pleasure I was expecting. Hopefully the next book is a return to form.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
Fourteenth in the Elemental Masters historical paranormal fantasy series and revolving around Elementals of Air, Earth, Water, Fire, and Spirit. The focus here is on Nan and Sarah working with Dr Watson and his wife, Mary, and set in June in Victorian London.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Elemental Masters books on my website.
My Take
Lackey incorporates Sherlock Holmes and his world into that of the occult, using Nan and Sarah as the bridge into her world of magic. I do enjoy Holmes' not quite acceptance of magic, although he does, now, acknowledge that it exists. He simply prefers to ignore it, *laughing*.
In The Bartered Brides, Lestrade is desperate for help with the latest murders, but Holmes isn't there to help, and so he turns to Dr Watson and the girls. And it's one pip of a story, as none of them, including the Lodge, can find any trace of where those headless bodies are coming from.
I suspect this lack of progress is why I found the story tediously slow — and gave it a "3". It does use a third person global subjective point-of-view, giving the reader access to the thoughts and emotions from the primary perspectives of Nan, Sarah, and Spencer. As you'd suspect, the girls are stalwart and good while Spencer is the epitome of evil.
Oh, meow, *laughing*, Lackey gets in her licks about women treated as second-class citizens, as she pokes fun at the traditional men's club with Nan and Sarah thinking of those poor souls acting as window dressing, believing they actually hold the reins of power. Then Caro who desperately wants to be a boy. And in the end, the prejudice against women creates quite the problem for Lord Alderscroft, for the Lodge doesn't allow female members, does allow rogues and ruffians who have magic — and yet England has just acquired a Spirit Master and a Magician.
Lackey comes up with an intriguing explanation of the spirit plane and why ghosts linger, using Caro as her "human" interest.
I love that the Harton School takes into account how foreign England is to the expatriate children and provides them with the people and foods with which they grew up.
The bad guys are truly evil in this with that sociopathic approach to the lives of others, so casual in their destruction.
The Story
The plan had been to take down Moriarty and all his gang, but now Sherlock Holmes is dead, and it's up to Nan, Sarah, and the Watsons to keep an eye on Moriarty's crew.
Little do Lord Alderscroft, the Watsons, or Nan and Sarah know how dangerous his Organization remains, as Spencer is recruiting his brides to bring Moriarty back.
A brilliant and evil man who plots to murder John Watson.
The Characters
Nan Killian, a former street urchin, is a psychometrist with a Celtic Warrior avatar while Sarah Lyon-White is a medium (her parents had been doctors in Africa). Neville is Nan's raven while Grey is Sarah's African parrot, who are Astral Guardians to the girls. Suki is their psychic ward who came to them in A Study in Sable , 11. They live in a flat paid for by Lord Alderscroft who employs them on missions. Sometimes the girls work with the Watsons. When not on a case, Sarah helps spirits move on. Mrs Horace is their landlady who provides meals as well; Mary Ann is her maid of all work. Both girls are protected by Robin Goodefellow, the Oldest Old One in England who has granted them Puck's Blessing ( Home From the Sea , 8).
Caroline "Caro" Wells died and her spirit clung to her locket. Her mother, Charlotte, died giving birth to Stephen, her brother. Her father is Brandon Wells, a solicitor.
221 Baker Street is/was...
...Sherlock Holmes' flat and where his partner Dr John Watson and his wife, Mary, live in the flat above, 221C. Both are Elemental Masters, John of water and Mary of air. Mrs Hudson is their landlady and an excellent cook. Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock's older and more intelligent brother...Sherlock claims his brother is the government.
The Baker Street Irregulars are aching to help, and young Tommy Wiggins has them coordinating the hunt.
The White Lodge, a.k.a., the Hunting Lodge, is…
…a ruling magical body based in London with Lord Alderscroft, a.k.a., the The Wizard of London (5) or the Lion, a Fire Master, as its leader. He is also a Member of the House of Lords, the unofficial Minister of Magic to the Crown, and a confidant of the Prime Minister. The Exeter Club, a men-only club, is the Lodge's home. They've only recently allowed women past the public dining rooms. Williams is the doorman. Lily is a maid in Alderscroft's London townhouse. His scullery maid and cook want to learn self-defense from Nan. Charles is the butler.
Beatrice Leek is a witch who will tutor Sarah into expanding on her mediumistic gifts. Caprice, a.k.a., Cappy, is her enormous black cat. Alderscroft makes use of some young Lodge members: Eddie is a Fire Magician, Fred is an Air Master, and George is an Air Magician.
Inspector Lestrade is desperate for the help of the girls and the Watsons.
The Harton School for Expatriate Children is…
…a school for both expat children and psychically gifted children. Isabella Harton, a.k.a., Memsa'b, runs it along with Sahib, Frederick Harton. Karamjit, Selim (the strongest magically), and Agansing work at the school teaching self-defense in mental and physical combat. Dilawar is Selim's nephew who is in training with Mustafa and fills in as a driver. Kadar and Taral are nephews of Karamjit and Agansing, respectively. Gupta's wife is a kitchen wizard.
The Organization is/was...
...headed up by Professor James Moriarty who died at Reichenbach Falls. Supposedly. A Spirit Master who has embraced the dark side as a necromancer and Moriarty's executioner, Spencer is holding the men together. Mrs Kelly, an Earth magician, is the woman acting as his housekeeper/cook with an amazing ability to lie. Geoff the Elf is Spencer's primary henchman. Tony, Rudolfo, and Michael are an intimidating group of brothers. George is another member of the gang.
Mary O'Brien's parents, Ned and Meggie, sell her to Gerald "Jerry" Baker, who is moving to Canada. Her older sister, Sally, had also married a man who going to Australia. Peg had been in service but became pregnant by the master. Xi'er is an ugly Chinese woman carefully prepped by Shen Li.
Shen Li is a powerful old Chinese merchant of whom even the Tongs are afraid. Vladimir Volkov, a Russian, is possibly a Fire Mage or even a Master. Old Don will sell anything and anyone. Hugo Werlicke holds evening salons. Quite dull really, but useful for certain genuine occult secrets. Peter Hughs is one of his attendees, a frustrated poet who indulges in opium. Mrs Stately comes to visit the girls. Lee Chin operates an opium den.
There are five Elements — Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, which can interact with all the Elementals as well as human spirits. There are two levels of mastery: magician or Master. Each Element is capable of being used for good or ill. Sylphs are the smallest and most delicate of Air Elementals. Jenny Greenteeth is a nasty Water Elemental who prefers to dwell in polluted waters and preys on children.
Maestro Sarasate is likely an Elemental Magician of Spirit who uses music as his medium of interaction. The ill side of Spirit is necromancy, a Master who chooses to dominate spirits.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a gruesome collage against a burgundy background softened by the pink wedding dress and flowing veil with its crown of flowers worn by the hideous skeleton. In the foreground is a tall rectangular framed picture of Reichenbach Falls while Grey and Neville each hold half of a torn newspaper headline announcing the death of Sherlock Holmes. The author's name is at the very top in an embossed silver outlined in black while the title is at the very bottom in an embossed white also outlined in black. Tucked into the bottom left corner of the picture is the series information.
The title refers to the one essential commodity Spencer requires for his plan, The Bartered Brides.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Elemental Masters books on my website.
My Take
Lackey incorporates Sherlock Holmes and his world into that of the occult, using Nan and Sarah as the bridge into her world of magic. I do enjoy Holmes' not quite acceptance of magic, although he does, now, acknowledge that it exists. He simply prefers to ignore it, *laughing*.
In The Bartered Brides, Lestrade is desperate for help with the latest murders, but Holmes isn't there to help, and so he turns to Dr Watson and the girls. And it's one pip of a story, as none of them, including the Lodge, can find any trace of where those headless bodies are coming from.
I suspect this lack of progress is why I found the story tediously slow — and gave it a "3". It does use a third person global subjective point-of-view, giving the reader access to the thoughts and emotions from the primary perspectives of Nan, Sarah, and Spencer. As you'd suspect, the girls are stalwart and good while Spencer is the epitome of evil.
Oh, meow, *laughing*, Lackey gets in her licks about women treated as second-class citizens, as she pokes fun at the traditional men's club with Nan and Sarah thinking of those poor souls acting as window dressing, believing they actually hold the reins of power. Then Caro who desperately wants to be a boy. And in the end, the prejudice against women creates quite the problem for Lord Alderscroft, for the Lodge doesn't allow female members, does allow rogues and ruffians who have magic — and yet England has just acquired a Spirit Master and a Magician.
Lackey comes up with an intriguing explanation of the spirit plane and why ghosts linger, using Caro as her "human" interest.
I love that the Harton School takes into account how foreign England is to the expatriate children and provides them with the people and foods with which they grew up.
The bad guys are truly evil in this with that sociopathic approach to the lives of others, so casual in their destruction.
The Story
The plan had been to take down Moriarty and all his gang, but now Sherlock Holmes is dead, and it's up to Nan, Sarah, and the Watsons to keep an eye on Moriarty's crew.
Little do Lord Alderscroft, the Watsons, or Nan and Sarah know how dangerous his Organization remains, as Spencer is recruiting his brides to bring Moriarty back.
A brilliant and evil man who plots to murder John Watson.
The Characters
Nan Killian, a former street urchin, is a psychometrist with a Celtic Warrior avatar while Sarah Lyon-White is a medium (her parents had been doctors in Africa). Neville is Nan's raven while Grey is Sarah's African parrot, who are Astral Guardians to the girls. Suki is their psychic ward who came to them in A Study in Sable , 11. They live in a flat paid for by Lord Alderscroft who employs them on missions. Sometimes the girls work with the Watsons. When not on a case, Sarah helps spirits move on. Mrs Horace is their landlady who provides meals as well; Mary Ann is her maid of all work. Both girls are protected by Robin Goodefellow, the Oldest Old One in England who has granted them Puck's Blessing ( Home From the Sea , 8).
Caroline "Caro" Wells died and her spirit clung to her locket. Her mother, Charlotte, died giving birth to Stephen, her brother. Her father is Brandon Wells, a solicitor.
221 Baker Street is/was...
...Sherlock Holmes' flat and where his partner Dr John Watson and his wife, Mary, live in the flat above, 221C. Both are Elemental Masters, John of water and Mary of air. Mrs Hudson is their landlady and an excellent cook. Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock's older and more intelligent brother...Sherlock claims his brother is the government.
The Baker Street Irregulars are aching to help, and young Tommy Wiggins has them coordinating the hunt.
The White Lodge, a.k.a., the Hunting Lodge, is…
…a ruling magical body based in London with Lord Alderscroft, a.k.a., the The Wizard of London (5) or the Lion, a Fire Master, as its leader. He is also a Member of the House of Lords, the unofficial Minister of Magic to the Crown, and a confidant of the Prime Minister. The Exeter Club, a men-only club, is the Lodge's home. They've only recently allowed women past the public dining rooms. Williams is the doorman. Lily is a maid in Alderscroft's London townhouse. His scullery maid and cook want to learn self-defense from Nan. Charles is the butler.
Beatrice Leek is a witch who will tutor Sarah into expanding on her mediumistic gifts. Caprice, a.k.a., Cappy, is her enormous black cat. Alderscroft makes use of some young Lodge members: Eddie is a Fire Magician, Fred is an Air Master, and George is an Air Magician.
Inspector Lestrade is desperate for the help of the girls and the Watsons.
The Harton School for Expatriate Children is…
…a school for both expat children and psychically gifted children. Isabella Harton, a.k.a., Memsa'b, runs it along with Sahib, Frederick Harton. Karamjit, Selim (the strongest magically), and Agansing work at the school teaching self-defense in mental and physical combat. Dilawar is Selim's nephew who is in training with Mustafa and fills in as a driver. Kadar and Taral are nephews of Karamjit and Agansing, respectively. Gupta's wife is a kitchen wizard.
The Organization is/was...
...headed up by Professor James Moriarty who died at Reichenbach Falls. Supposedly. A Spirit Master who has embraced the dark side as a necromancer and Moriarty's executioner, Spencer is holding the men together. Mrs Kelly, an Earth magician, is the woman acting as his housekeeper/cook with an amazing ability to lie. Geoff the Elf is Spencer's primary henchman. Tony, Rudolfo, and Michael are an intimidating group of brothers. George is another member of the gang.
Mary O'Brien's parents, Ned and Meggie, sell her to Gerald "Jerry" Baker, who is moving to Canada. Her older sister, Sally, had also married a man who going to Australia. Peg had been in service but became pregnant by the master. Xi'er is an ugly Chinese woman carefully prepped by Shen Li.
Shen Li is a powerful old Chinese merchant of whom even the Tongs are afraid. Vladimir Volkov, a Russian, is possibly a Fire Mage or even a Master. Old Don will sell anything and anyone. Hugo Werlicke holds evening salons. Quite dull really, but useful for certain genuine occult secrets. Peter Hughs is one of his attendees, a frustrated poet who indulges in opium. Mrs Stately comes to visit the girls. Lee Chin operates an opium den.
There are five Elements — Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, which can interact with all the Elementals as well as human spirits. There are two levels of mastery: magician or Master. Each Element is capable of being used for good or ill. Sylphs are the smallest and most delicate of Air Elementals. Jenny Greenteeth is a nasty Water Elemental who prefers to dwell in polluted waters and preys on children.
Maestro Sarasate is likely an Elemental Magician of Spirit who uses music as his medium of interaction. The ill side of Spirit is necromancy, a Master who chooses to dominate spirits.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a gruesome collage against a burgundy background softened by the pink wedding dress and flowing veil with its crown of flowers worn by the hideous skeleton. In the foreground is a tall rectangular framed picture of Reichenbach Falls while Grey and Neville each hold half of a torn newspaper headline announcing the death of Sherlock Holmes. The author's name is at the very top in an embossed silver outlined in black while the title is at the very bottom in an embossed white also outlined in black. Tucked into the bottom left corner of the picture is the series information.
The title refers to the one essential commodity Spencer requires for his plan, The Bartered Brides.
October 15, 2018
Holmsian horror!
Lackey's Sherlock Holmes trope with a touch of horror is vastly engaging.
Sherlock and Moriaty have perished over Ravensbruck Falls. Elemental masters John and Mary Watson, occultists Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White find themselves enmeshed in a struggle with a necromancer who just might have had links to Moriaty's network. Headless bodies are beginning to turn up, dressed in white garments. Brides! But for what purpose?
Disturbing developments see the Watson's targeted by the unknown adversary. All must be vigilant as danger looms on all sides.
The introduction of the spirit Caro, is an interesting addition to the mix. Sarah and Nan along with their feathered companions, Neville the raven and Grey the African parrot, fierce protectors of the girls in the occult adventures.
I initially started reading with a somewhat jaundiced attitude but as the story moved on I became well and truly ensnared in its twists and turns.
A NetGalley ARC
Lackey's Sherlock Holmes trope with a touch of horror is vastly engaging.
Sherlock and Moriaty have perished over Ravensbruck Falls. Elemental masters John and Mary Watson, occultists Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White find themselves enmeshed in a struggle with a necromancer who just might have had links to Moriaty's network. Headless bodies are beginning to turn up, dressed in white garments. Brides! But for what purpose?
Disturbing developments see the Watson's targeted by the unknown adversary. All must be vigilant as danger looms on all sides.
The introduction of the spirit Caro, is an interesting addition to the mix. Sarah and Nan along with their feathered companions, Neville the raven and Grey the African parrot, fierce protectors of the girls in the occult adventures.
I initially started reading with a somewhat jaundiced attitude but as the story moved on I became well and truly ensnared in its twists and turns.
A NetGalley ARC
June 9, 2020
Lackey has great skill in creating super evil bad guys. This is the second book I have read by her. Both books feature terrible, awful villains. On the other hand, I continue to dislike the two protagonist heroines. The story starts off strong, drags through the middle, and suddenly ends. There is mystery; but rather than following clues like Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie, this book is more adventure / suspense / horror.
The opening chapter was brilliant. Readers are introduced to the villain and are given no chance of sympathy. He is awful. Readers may have familiarity with Nan and Sarah. This is the 13th book in the series. Presumably, there is way more character development in earlier works. Nan and Sarah are occultists / psychics who work on the fringe of the male-dominated world of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes appears in the book; but more of a cameo than a key character. Nan and Sarah more or less report to Dr. John Watson, who reports to the Wizard of London. There are jabs throughout the book about how unfair the male-centric world is to these heroines. I can appreciate the male-baiting; but I cannot develop sympathy for Nan and Sarah. I cannot imagine them whatsoever. After my second novel about them, all I know is that one of them is "beautiful" and both can disguise themselves as boys.
The book has a lot of feelings. As such there is way too much trivial dialogue between maids, housekeepers, cooks, Nan and Sarah, their pet birds, and everyone else. It actually drags the book along. Once in a while someone has an idea that leads to action (and a dead end). The heroes and heroines complain incessantly about not being able to do anything. It is group think at its worst. Then, all of a sudden, the story ends.
The ending bothered me because how sudden it ends and how simple it ends. There were some clues leading to the villain; but the way the good guys get there seems....cheap....as though it was not fully flushed out. The action at the end happened so quick that it was all over quite suddenly. And blast it, the magical birds save the day more than once in this book. The birds are almost a device for deus ex machina. Perhaps Lackey further develops the birds and explains their powers in earlier books, so I will not dwell on the negative, except to say....damn! Is there no other literary tool you can use except to have the birds possess magical abilities comparable to creatures like djinn or angels? Their leading roles in this book do not help it.
Overall, it is an engaging novel. There are exciting parts; but much of the book is people sitting around talking about their feelings, or the bad guy trying to outdo himself with evil. No matter how much I dislike Nan and Sarah (and every other good guy / magical being), I dislike the villain more. There is not much wit or humor. The smorgasbord of personalities that make up the good guys should lead to natural friction and comedy. There is a gender-confused ghost! That is a laugh by itself! No one blinks an eye every time she says 'I should have been born a male.' Instead, readers have to settle for Nan and Sarah discomforting leading males with references to gender inequality in Victorian London.
The opening chapter was brilliant. Readers are introduced to the villain and are given no chance of sympathy. He is awful. Readers may have familiarity with Nan and Sarah. This is the 13th book in the series. Presumably, there is way more character development in earlier works. Nan and Sarah are occultists / psychics who work on the fringe of the male-dominated world of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes appears in the book; but more of a cameo than a key character. Nan and Sarah more or less report to Dr. John Watson, who reports to the Wizard of London. There are jabs throughout the book about how unfair the male-centric world is to these heroines. I can appreciate the male-baiting; but I cannot develop sympathy for Nan and Sarah. I cannot imagine them whatsoever. After my second novel about them, all I know is that one of them is "beautiful" and both can disguise themselves as boys.
The book has a lot of feelings. As such there is way too much trivial dialogue between maids, housekeepers, cooks, Nan and Sarah, their pet birds, and everyone else. It actually drags the book along. Once in a while someone has an idea that leads to action (and a dead end). The heroes and heroines complain incessantly about not being able to do anything. It is group think at its worst. Then, all of a sudden, the story ends.
The ending bothered me because how sudden it ends and how simple it ends. There were some clues leading to the villain; but the way the good guys get there seems....cheap....as though it was not fully flushed out. The action at the end happened so quick that it was all over quite suddenly. And blast it, the magical birds save the day more than once in this book. The birds are almost a device for deus ex machina. Perhaps Lackey further develops the birds and explains their powers in earlier books, so I will not dwell on the negative, except to say....damn! Is there no other literary tool you can use except to have the birds possess magical abilities comparable to creatures like djinn or angels? Their leading roles in this book do not help it.
Overall, it is an engaging novel. There are exciting parts; but much of the book is people sitting around talking about their feelings, or the bad guy trying to outdo himself with evil. No matter how much I dislike Nan and Sarah (and every other good guy / magical being), I dislike the villain more. There is not much wit or humor. The smorgasbord of personalities that make up the good guys should lead to natural friction and comedy. There is a gender-confused ghost! That is a laugh by itself! No one blinks an eye every time she says 'I should have been born a male.' Instead, readers have to settle for Nan and Sarah discomforting leading males with references to gender inequality in Victorian London.
October 1, 2021
The newspapers are shouting that Sherlock Holmes is dead, and only those closest to him know the truth. But he needs to stay dead in order to track down and eliminate the remaining members of Moriarty's gang. That leaves only the Watsons, Nan, and Sarah to try to deal with Sherlock's usual cases. Right now they have a very difficult one.
Someone is dumping the headless bodies of young women in the sewer. Each is dressed in what could be a wedding gown. Lestrade is baffled and none of the Watsons or Nan and Sarah's magical or psychical talents are giving them any help in finding out who or why this is happening.
Meanwhile, we know that a Spirit Master named Spencer is the killer. He is a high-up member of Moriarty's gang and has been trying to hold it together. He also managed to grab Moriarty's spirit and confine it in a talisman and now is working very hard to find a new body for him and transfer him from the spirit world back to the physical world.
Spencer is binding these young women to him in a sort of wedding ceremony and using their power to fill batteries he has developed. He needs the power if he is ever to reanimate Moriarty. Spencer is also trying to keep the Watsons out of the way. In fact, he sends a basket of poison fruit along with a compulsion spell in a Snow White attempt to kill Mary Watson after a physical attack on John is unsuccessful because of Nan and Sarah's intervention. Nan and Sarah's birds do manage to foil the attempt on Mary but they are pretending she is dead to give them more working room.
Nan and Sarah learn more about their abilities in this one as they use all their talents to locate Spencer and get rid of him.
I like the worldbuilding in this story. It is a very well detailed Victorian world that surrounds the various adventures and magical elements. Even some commentary on woman's rights, or rather the lack of them is inserted into this story in a few places and in the person of a spirit named Caro. Gemma Dawson does a great job with the voices and the pacing.
Someone is dumping the headless bodies of young women in the sewer. Each is dressed in what could be a wedding gown. Lestrade is baffled and none of the Watsons or Nan and Sarah's magical or psychical talents are giving them any help in finding out who or why this is happening.
Meanwhile, we know that a Spirit Master named Spencer is the killer. He is a high-up member of Moriarty's gang and has been trying to hold it together. He also managed to grab Moriarty's spirit and confine it in a talisman and now is working very hard to find a new body for him and transfer him from the spirit world back to the physical world.
Spencer is binding these young women to him in a sort of wedding ceremony and using their power to fill batteries he has developed. He needs the power if he is ever to reanimate Moriarty. Spencer is also trying to keep the Watsons out of the way. In fact, he sends a basket of poison fruit along with a compulsion spell in a Snow White attempt to kill Mary Watson after a physical attack on John is unsuccessful because of Nan and Sarah's intervention. Nan and Sarah's birds do manage to foil the attempt on Mary but they are pretending she is dead to give them more working room.
Nan and Sarah learn more about their abilities in this one as they use all their talents to locate Spencer and get rid of him.
I like the worldbuilding in this story. It is a very well detailed Victorian world that surrounds the various adventures and magical elements. Even some commentary on woman's rights, or rather the lack of them is inserted into this story in a few places and in the person of a spirit named Caro. Gemma Dawson does a great job with the voices and the pacing.
November 21, 2018
Loosely following events that happened to Holmes, with the addition of Elemental magic to the story, of course. Nan and Sarah are learning more about their skills, and how to put them to use. Grisly murders are happening, and without Holmes to help, they have to try their best at uncovering the truth. Another good installment to the story.
April 9, 2020
I was intrigued, horrified and creeped out while reading this book. Some bits a bit slow and kinda obvious but it wrapped up nicely. I was glad that Holmes took a back seat in this book, and I like how the spirit element is now part of the Elemental Magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2018
Best not to read this novel without it's antecedents, Study in Sable and the Battersea title, not to mention the introductory book, The Wizard of London. I skipped Sable and Battersea to find the two girls nearly grown up, living in their own flat and assisting Sherlock Holmes. This novel was familiar, probably from having read a prior one of this series where a necromancer was the Lodge's enemy, although that one was set in a country estate rather than an East End flat. I'm weary from reading this book, because I felt it predictable. Nan and Sarah grow in recognition but not in any way on a personal level. Perhaps I would have felt different if I hadn't jumped ahead in the series, but I am getting tired of zombie wars. Also tired of the fixation on London's sewers in this type of fiction-surely other cities have sewers to explore if that's your thing. Puck's appearence at thhe school is far to brief to provide any relief for the sordid London grit. Sherlock is a minor figure, and I never enjoyed the settings of the Holmes universe. Humph
October 28, 2018
Originally published at Reading Reality
The Bartered Brides is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, as was last week’s Mycroft and Sherlock. But in spite of the two stories having more or less the same starting point, the Holmes canon, they couldn’t be any more different in tone or even genre.
Mycroft and Sherlock was a fairly straightforward, albeit excellent, historical mystery. The Bartered Brides on the other hand puts Sherlock Holmes in the midst of a Victorian urban fantasy. This is a world in which magic explicitly works, although most people, including Holmes himself, are at best reluctant to believe in it.
Just because Holmes doesn’t believe in magic doesn’t mean that magic doesn’t believe in him. Particularly in the person of Dr. John Watson, Sherlock’s chronicler and partner-in-solving-crime. Because Watson is an Elemental Water Master who solves cases that go where Holmes mostly refuses to tread.
Although for a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, Holmes himself is conspicuously absent for most of this story. The Bartered Brides takes place at a well-known point in the official Holmes canon, after the events of Reichenbach Falls, where Holmes and Moriarty both fell to their purported deaths. And before the events of The Empty House where Holmes returns, not from death after all, but from a long sojourn around the world recovering from his wounds and mopping up the remainders of Moriarty’s criminal organization.
Unlike in the canon, Watson at least, as well as his wife Mary, know that Holmes is alive and on the hunt. Which means that they are also aware that Moriarty’s henchmen in London might very well be hunting them.
But in the meantime, Lestrade is desperate. He does not know that Holmes is still alive. All he knows is that the headless corpses of young women are washing up on the banks of the Thames. He is out of his depth – not atypical for Lestrade. But this case feels weird – and it is – so he calls in his best Holmes substitute, Dr. John Watson and the two young women who assist him with his magical cases, psychic Nan Killian and medium Sarah Lyon-White.
When even their best isn’t good enough, they consider dropping the case. Until an emergency meeting with Sherlock’s brother Mycroft, representing Her Majesty’s government and Lord Alderscroft, and leader of London’s Elemental Masters convinces them to stay on the case.
They are both certain that this isn’t the usual kind of serial killer at work. Instead, this series of crimes looks like it’s right up the darker alleys of elemental mastery. Alderscroft in particular is beginning to believe that an Elemental Spirit Master has gone to the bad. And if there’s someone in London dabbling in the foul waters of necromancy he needs to get it stopped.
Nan and Sarah are also right. It would be too much like a bad farce for there to be both a gang of Moriarty’s henchmen out committing evil AND a gang of necromancer’s assistants out doing evil at the same time – even in a city as big as London.
But what could one have to do with the other?
Escape Rating B+: This is a fun book and has become a fun series. Originally the Elemental Masters series seemed to revolve around reworkings of classic fairy tales across various points in time where magic users who were masters of their particular elements were part of the reworking of the tales. And some entries in the series were better than others.
But a few books ago the author moved from reworking fairy tales to dealing with one legendary character in particular. In A Study in Sable she introduced her own versions of Holmes, Watson and the rest of the Baker Street crew. Sherlock was still very much his extremely rational self, but the Watson of this series is very different. His water mastery makes him much closer to Holmes’ equal, albeit in a different sphere. He also has allies and resources of his own separate from Holmes.
This redirection of the series really zings! It can also be read without reading the Elemental Masters series as a whole by starting with either A Study in Sable or an earlier volume which serves as a kind of prequel, The Wizard of London, which introduces the characters of Nan and Sarah as well as Lord Alderscroft, the titular “Wizard”.
The criminal conspiracies in this story do reduce to Occam’s Razor. Two separate gangs doing this much damage would be too much. It is a surprise however to see just how the one set of evil relates to the other – and they are both definitely very evil.
The truth about the headless corpses and their evil purpose will chill readers right down to the bone. As will the mastermind’s methods of obtaining them, which spotlights just how disposable working class women, especially young women, were at this point in history, as well as just how pervasive racial prejudices were at the time.
What makes this subseries so much fun is, of course, the cast of characters. The varying perspectives of this Watson with more agency, his equally powerful wife Mary, and the two young women who are determined to make an independent go of their world lets us see this version of Victorian London from it’s highest pinnacles to very nearly its lowest depths through the eyes of very sympathetic characters.
The villain in this case is deliciously and despicably evil, and we are able to see just enough of his horrible machinations to learn what he’s up to and to wholeheartedly concur with him receiving his just desserts.
This version of Victorian London is fascinating and magical, in both senses of the word. I hope we have plenty of return visits to look forward to!
The Bartered Brides is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, as was last week’s Mycroft and Sherlock. But in spite of the two stories having more or less the same starting point, the Holmes canon, they couldn’t be any more different in tone or even genre.
Mycroft and Sherlock was a fairly straightforward, albeit excellent, historical mystery. The Bartered Brides on the other hand puts Sherlock Holmes in the midst of a Victorian urban fantasy. This is a world in which magic explicitly works, although most people, including Holmes himself, are at best reluctant to believe in it.
Just because Holmes doesn’t believe in magic doesn’t mean that magic doesn’t believe in him. Particularly in the person of Dr. John Watson, Sherlock’s chronicler and partner-in-solving-crime. Because Watson is an Elemental Water Master who solves cases that go where Holmes mostly refuses to tread.
Although for a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, Holmes himself is conspicuously absent for most of this story. The Bartered Brides takes place at a well-known point in the official Holmes canon, after the events of Reichenbach Falls, where Holmes and Moriarty both fell to their purported deaths. And before the events of The Empty House where Holmes returns, not from death after all, but from a long sojourn around the world recovering from his wounds and mopping up the remainders of Moriarty’s criminal organization.
Unlike in the canon, Watson at least, as well as his wife Mary, know that Holmes is alive and on the hunt. Which means that they are also aware that Moriarty’s henchmen in London might very well be hunting them.
But in the meantime, Lestrade is desperate. He does not know that Holmes is still alive. All he knows is that the headless corpses of young women are washing up on the banks of the Thames. He is out of his depth – not atypical for Lestrade. But this case feels weird – and it is – so he calls in his best Holmes substitute, Dr. John Watson and the two young women who assist him with his magical cases, psychic Nan Killian and medium Sarah Lyon-White.
When even their best isn’t good enough, they consider dropping the case. Until an emergency meeting with Sherlock’s brother Mycroft, representing Her Majesty’s government and Lord Alderscroft, and leader of London’s Elemental Masters convinces them to stay on the case.
They are both certain that this isn’t the usual kind of serial killer at work. Instead, this series of crimes looks like it’s right up the darker alleys of elemental mastery. Alderscroft in particular is beginning to believe that an Elemental Spirit Master has gone to the bad. And if there’s someone in London dabbling in the foul waters of necromancy he needs to get it stopped.
Nan and Sarah are also right. It would be too much like a bad farce for there to be both a gang of Moriarty’s henchmen out committing evil AND a gang of necromancer’s assistants out doing evil at the same time – even in a city as big as London.
But what could one have to do with the other?
Escape Rating B+: This is a fun book and has become a fun series. Originally the Elemental Masters series seemed to revolve around reworkings of classic fairy tales across various points in time where magic users who were masters of their particular elements were part of the reworking of the tales. And some entries in the series were better than others.
But a few books ago the author moved from reworking fairy tales to dealing with one legendary character in particular. In A Study in Sable she introduced her own versions of Holmes, Watson and the rest of the Baker Street crew. Sherlock was still very much his extremely rational self, but the Watson of this series is very different. His water mastery makes him much closer to Holmes’ equal, albeit in a different sphere. He also has allies and resources of his own separate from Holmes.
This redirection of the series really zings! It can also be read without reading the Elemental Masters series as a whole by starting with either A Study in Sable or an earlier volume which serves as a kind of prequel, The Wizard of London, which introduces the characters of Nan and Sarah as well as Lord Alderscroft, the titular “Wizard”.
The criminal conspiracies in this story do reduce to Occam’s Razor. Two separate gangs doing this much damage would be too much. It is a surprise however to see just how the one set of evil relates to the other – and they are both definitely very evil.
The truth about the headless corpses and their evil purpose will chill readers right down to the bone. As will the mastermind’s methods of obtaining them, which spotlights just how disposable working class women, especially young women, were at this point in history, as well as just how pervasive racial prejudices were at the time.
What makes this subseries so much fun is, of course, the cast of characters. The varying perspectives of this Watson with more agency, his equally powerful wife Mary, and the two young women who are determined to make an independent go of their world lets us see this version of Victorian London from it’s highest pinnacles to very nearly its lowest depths through the eyes of very sympathetic characters.
The villain in this case is deliciously and despicably evil, and we are able to see just enough of his horrible machinations to learn what he’s up to and to wholeheartedly concur with him receiving his just desserts.
This version of Victorian London is fascinating and magical, in both senses of the word. I hope we have plenty of return visits to look forward to!
November 1, 2018
Another example of the author's irregular writing & forced intro of political viewpoints. Disappointing.
October 16, 2018
Returning to the world of Elemental Magicians, psychics, and Sherlock Holmes, The Bartered Brides takes the series to its next logical step: what if Professor Moriarty had a necromancer in his organization and, after Reichenbach Falls, that necromancer tried to bring Moriarty back in a new body? With Holmes in hiding to keep up the presence of being dead so he can track down remaining members of Moriarty's crew, it is up to the Watsons, Nan Killian, Sarah Lyon-White, the parrot Grey and the raven Neville to deal with a case Sherlock wouldn't be able to handle anyway. But can they track down the villain who is murdering innocent girls to power seriously dark magic before he can bring the Napoleon of Crime back from the dead?
The idea behind The Bartered Brides is a classic, and fits perfectly into Lackey's Elemental/Holmes universe. It also provides a good showcase for John and Mary Watson, who get overshadowed in the more 'traditional' Holmes world. As Elemental Masters, John and Mary have always worked to deal with the cases Holmes couldn't, and to try to provide magical insight when his own cases seemed to need it. Here they are recognized as powerful Masters in their elements, willing to take risks when needed and devoted to hunting down the man responsible for headless corpses turning up in the Thames. Brides in particular also celebrates the close bond between them.
While John and Mary shine here, Nan and Sarah- the theoretical heroines of the series- fade a bit. Unless they are using their particular talents (Nan as a mind reader, Sarah a medium) the two girls are pretty interchangeable in Brides. They think the same way, act the same way, plot the same way, and half of the time I could only remember who was who because of the birds. As brave and dedicated as all the heroes were, Brides pretty much stars the necromancer Spencer. Our heroes chase leads and dead ends while Spencer gets all the action. The reader is horrified by what Spencer is doing, and cheers his (eventual) failure, but he is still the stand out in the book. I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen. Which was also what our heroes were doing for most of the book. With what seemed to me a rather uncharacteristically hurried ending, I didn't feel like I got quite the payoff I was hoping for.
Unlike Lackey's earlier books (The Black Gryphon for example) Brides spends most of its time wandering. Loosely written, with largely mediocre and forgettable characters (although I greatly enjoyed meeting Caro!), this was not one of Lackey's best efforts. Devoted Mercedes Lackey fans will be willing to spend an afternoon with these familiar characters and in this familiar world, but I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point for those new to the works of a usually stellar author.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The idea behind The Bartered Brides is a classic, and fits perfectly into Lackey's Elemental/Holmes universe. It also provides a good showcase for John and Mary Watson, who get overshadowed in the more 'traditional' Holmes world. As Elemental Masters, John and Mary have always worked to deal with the cases Holmes couldn't, and to try to provide magical insight when his own cases seemed to need it. Here they are recognized as powerful Masters in their elements, willing to take risks when needed and devoted to hunting down the man responsible for headless corpses turning up in the Thames. Brides in particular also celebrates the close bond between them.
While John and Mary shine here, Nan and Sarah- the theoretical heroines of the series- fade a bit. Unless they are using their particular talents (Nan as a mind reader, Sarah a medium) the two girls are pretty interchangeable in Brides. They think the same way, act the same way, plot the same way, and half of the time I could only remember who was who because of the birds. As brave and dedicated as all the heroes were, Brides pretty much stars the necromancer Spencer. Our heroes chase leads and dead ends while Spencer gets all the action. The reader is horrified by what Spencer is doing, and cheers his (eventual) failure, but he is still the stand out in the book. I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen. Which was also what our heroes were doing for most of the book. With what seemed to me a rather uncharacteristically hurried ending, I didn't feel like I got quite the payoff I was hoping for.
Unlike Lackey's earlier books (The Black Gryphon for example) Brides spends most of its time wandering. Loosely written, with largely mediocre and forgettable characters (although I greatly enjoyed meeting Caro!), this was not one of Lackey's best efforts. Devoted Mercedes Lackey fans will be willing to spend an afternoon with these familiar characters and in this familiar world, but I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point for those new to the works of a usually stellar author.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 24, 2018
I´m always up for more Nan and Neville and Sarah and Grey and Sherlock and the Watsons, so I was pretty thrilled they get to star in this latest Elemental Masters book. Sarah and Nan and their birds are sort of outliers in the series because these characters do not appear to be Elemental Masters and have an almost entirely different and unique skillset which allows them to address matters the magicians might not even consider - and often cannot; yet their abilities complement the work the magicians *can* do. There´s quite a lot of teamwork and collaboration going on, leading to incremental but steady improvements in the overall way the magical society ¨works¨, even as they lead largely independent lives. They fascinate me.
Bartered Brides is a take on the Bluebeard tale, with an explanation as to just what that guy was up to that makes a horrible kind of sense. There are some really inspired new ideas here, such as the ability of some spirits to change things that was intriguing but not really delved into, and could also quite easily become terrifying. And also a sneaky, sneaky take on one person that had me grinning viciously when it came time to learning of their impending comeuppance - alas, not shown ¨on screen¨ as it were.
There were also some odd inconsistencies in the edition I read, such as Caro introducing herself as if for the first time to characters she was introduced to a couple of pages earlier, despite there being no indication that she was subject to memory lapses. And no one at all made the most obvious connection between ¨ritual¨ and a specific commonality among corpses. That . . . should not have been able to be explained by Sherlock´s absence. Every main character in this book is too *smart* to miss it. The story resolves for the reader, because we have all the information, but two pages before the end I realized none of the characters ever drew the conclusion themselves. It´s the cabby in Study in Pink all over again! Gah!
Anyways.
Aside from that, I found it strongly plotted, with solid character moments and surprising insights into daily life - such as, oh my gods, of course the ghosts would be (not finished because spoilerish). I was delighted with Caro, from beginning to end - hope to see more of this one in the future. There´s a terrific development that´s been hinted at all along in previous books (hurray, the long game!). And there were the moments, which I love seeing pop up in the books, where something in Lackey´s writing says, ¨Hey, there´s more here than you know, and if you´d like to know, go check it out and learn something real world cool!¨ And then I go and look things up and learn things that are real world cool.
Anwyays.
It ended a bit fast, some characters who looked to become ´more´ just went poof, and some threads were left loose - potential leads to new tales?, but I enjoyed the ride and I love seeing this group together.
Bartered Brides is a take on the Bluebeard tale, with an explanation as to just what that guy was up to that makes a horrible kind of sense. There are some really inspired new ideas here, such as the ability of some spirits to change things that was intriguing but not really delved into, and could also quite easily become terrifying. And also a sneaky, sneaky take on one person that had me grinning viciously when it came time to learning of their impending comeuppance - alas, not shown ¨on screen¨ as it were.
There were also some odd inconsistencies in the edition I read, such as Caro introducing herself as if for the first time to characters she was introduced to a couple of pages earlier, despite there being no indication that she was subject to memory lapses. And no one at all made the most obvious connection between ¨ritual¨ and a specific commonality among corpses. That . . . should not have been able to be explained by Sherlock´s absence. Every main character in this book is too *smart* to miss it. The story resolves for the reader, because we have all the information, but two pages before the end I realized none of the characters ever drew the conclusion themselves. It´s the cabby in Study in Pink all over again! Gah!
Anyways.
Aside from that, I found it strongly plotted, with solid character moments and surprising insights into daily life - such as, oh my gods, of course the ghosts would be (not finished because spoilerish). I was delighted with Caro, from beginning to end - hope to see more of this one in the future. There´s a terrific development that´s been hinted at all along in previous books (hurray, the long game!). And there were the moments, which I love seeing pop up in the books, where something in Lackey´s writing says, ¨Hey, there´s more here than you know, and if you´d like to know, go check it out and learn something real world cool!¨ And then I go and look things up and learn things that are real world cool.
Anwyays.
It ended a bit fast, some characters who looked to become ´more´ just went poof, and some threads were left loose - potential leads to new tales?, but I enjoyed the ride and I love seeing this group together.
January 6, 2019
The latest installment in the Elemental Masters series, despite having left behind everything that made the series interesting, is a bit of a let down. Lackey focuses on the world of Nan and Sarah, with Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from the previous few books. Taking place in the period where Sherlock had faked his death, we are further removed from the Elemental Masters part and mainly revolves around the absence of Holmes. Once again putting way too much of the book from the viewpoint of the bad guy, the story feels rather unpolished.
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
April 30, 2025
Bluebeard is the "folk tale" being referenced here, I think? Not that it matters: it's official, this series has just become Sherlock Holmes AU Fanfic With Nan and Sarah. Oh, Sarah's not OP enough? Nan got to be cooler than her at the end of the previous book? Well, never fear, because now Sarah is a Spirit Master! Yes, HEART SPIRIT, the 5th element. Barf. But don't worry, Nan is still super amazing as well! Despite her well-rounded but still relatively normal (in terms of content) education at the Harton school, and the fact that she's in her mid-20s, Watson at one point is just SO AMAZED by how smart and awesome she is, and says she and Sarah are almost as good as Holmes! Wow. Just wow.
Actually, the funniest thing about this book was how the author expressed her clear feelings about the 2016 election results by including a villainous orange-skinned man named "Don" as a minor character. This fellow is a scumbag procurer of raped Chinese girls (the main villain is of course a necromancer) and the author mentions how unusually small his hands are several times, even though he appears in only a few scenes. He of course blatantly attempts to cheat the villain out of money, and he gets his just deserts. I rolled my eyes but also laughed. It made me think fondly of when I'd transparently include my opinions about stuff in my fanfics when I was young! Of course I don't do that now as an adult when I write because it smacks of unprofessionalism, but I guess when you're an established and successful enough author that you can publish your Sherlock Holmes Meets Mary Sue fanfics as hardback novels, you can do whatever you like.
Why am I still reading these cringe-worthy books?!?!?! Yes, when I finished this one, I did start listening to the next one immediately, why do you ask
BTW, re: the audiobook... I like how this reader can do a lot of different English accents well enough for me (an American), since I love hearing them, but wow does she speak slowly. I listen to all these books at 1.15x speed at least (thinking of changing it to 1.20x) and I normally don't speed up that much with books that have dialogue (speeding up prose is fine, but when it's supposed to sound like people talking to one another, setting it too fast makes it not sound like dialogue anymore even though I take in the content). I've only run across a few other audiobooks that were read this slowly, and most of those were nonfiction read by the author. Is this lady being paid by the minute??
Actually, the funniest thing about this book was how the author expressed her clear feelings about the 2016 election results by including a villainous orange-skinned man named "Don" as a minor character. This fellow is a scumbag procurer of raped Chinese girls (the main villain is of course a necromancer) and the author mentions how unusually small his hands are several times, even though he appears in only a few scenes. He of course blatantly attempts to cheat the villain out of money, and he gets his just deserts. I rolled my eyes but also laughed. It made me think fondly of when I'd transparently include my opinions about stuff in my fanfics when I was young! Of course I don't do that now as an adult when I write because it smacks of unprofessionalism, but I guess when you're an established and successful enough author that you can publish your Sherlock Holmes Meets Mary Sue fanfics as hardback novels, you can do whatever you like.
Why am I still reading these cringe-worthy books?!?!?! Yes, when I finished this one, I did start listening to the next one immediately, why do you ask
BTW, re: the audiobook... I like how this reader can do a lot of different English accents well enough for me (an American), since I love hearing them, but wow does she speak slowly. I listen to all these books at 1.15x speed at least (thinking of changing it to 1.20x) and I normally don't speed up that much with books that have dialogue (speeding up prose is fine, but when it's supposed to sound like people talking to one another, setting it too fast makes it not sound like dialogue anymore even though I take in the content). I've only run across a few other audiobooks that were read this slowly, and most of those were nonfiction read by the author. Is this lady being paid by the minute??
September 24, 2020
The Bartered Brides is infinitely better than the previous book in the series (A Scandal in Battersea). I went into this one with low expectations after reading #12 and was pleasantly surprised. Once again, Mercedes Lackey writes genuinely interesting villains that I can’t help being intrigued by — until they commit horrific crimes. Like previous books in the series, the climax was extremely fast and almost too neat and tidy but it was definitely satisfying. It wasn’t just the end of this specific situation that was enjoyable but the main characters, Nan and Sarah, also had a bit of growth and forward movement in their story arc across the entire series.
Interestingly, Lackey seems to have included a transgender character. I say “seems to” because it’s based on two statements by the character who starts as Caro and ends as Peter (I won’t say how to avoid big spoilers). I loved that it was done in an almost nonchalant way (an admission very late in the story that the character always felt wrong), but it also felt a little too simplistic. I think it’s because we didn’t get to see any real character development in this character beyond one section early on and then at the very end. It’s possible I didn’t read obvious cues as a cis person who might not see that storyline in the same way a trans person would. It’s also possible that the inclusion of the “accidental” transition was a bit of an afterthought and not done as well as it could be. I’ll leave that decision to people who know more than I do. But I can say it was nice to see the inclusion at all and that the trans character seems to have gotten a happy ending, and that’s definitely something to appreciate.
The rampant racism against Chinese people that appeared in the book was accurate for the time period but it was painful to see. I believe our main protagonists wouldn’t condone such bigotry but I didn’t feel like we got a clear picture of their thoughts (beyond a line or two). It may be that readers of the series are expected to know that Sarah and Nan wouldn’t feel the way the rest of London seemed to (and I believe that’s likely the truth) but hearing the racism condemned from them more strongly would have been nice.
Otherwise it’s an enjoyable and fun read overall.
Interestingly, Lackey seems to have included a transgender character. I say “seems to” because it’s based on two statements by the character who starts as Caro and ends as Peter (I won’t say how to avoid big spoilers). I loved that it was done in an almost nonchalant way (an admission very late in the story that the character always felt wrong), but it also felt a little too simplistic. I think it’s because we didn’t get to see any real character development in this character beyond one section early on and then at the very end. It’s possible I didn’t read obvious cues as a cis person who might not see that storyline in the same way a trans person would. It’s also possible that the inclusion of the “accidental” transition was a bit of an afterthought and not done as well as it could be. I’ll leave that decision to people who know more than I do. But I can say it was nice to see the inclusion at all and that the trans character seems to have gotten a happy ending, and that’s definitely something to appreciate.
The rampant racism against Chinese people that appeared in the book was accurate for the time period but it was painful to see. I believe our main protagonists wouldn’t condone such bigotry but I didn’t feel like we got a clear picture of their thoughts (beyond a line or two). It may be that readers of the series are expected to know that Sarah and Nan wouldn’t feel the way the rest of London seemed to (and I believe that’s likely the truth) but hearing the racism condemned from them more strongly would have been nice.
Otherwise it’s an enjoyable and fun read overall.
December 4, 2018
Over the winter holidays I wanted light, happy, triumph-over-evil stories and Lackey is always good for that, so I binged all the available Elemental Masters books. This is a broad review for books 1 to 13.
I could see myself really loving this series in my teen years. Every main character is female. It champions women's rights, the poor, the foreign, with realistic history of the hardships and prejudice in Britain in the early 1990s for these folks. It empowers women, especially those who wanted a higher education and more in life than just being property. Every book (except the last few) has a romance but not misogynistic 'saved by a prince' type nor explicitly sexual.
If the reader is interested in occult studies there are decent passages on tarot cards, magic theory and symbolism and every book features someone with elemental (earth, air, fire, water) magic powers with corresponding creatures as familiars.
The use of fairytale plots is very obvious but nicely refitted to the world of early industrial Europe and strong female protagonists. This plot theme loosens up as the series progresses. As in all good fairy tales there are also adorable talking animals and mysterious Fae.
Strangely the last 3 books take a new plot turn borrowing from classic thrillers. It combines Sherlock Holmes characters with repeat protagonists, Psychic Nan Killian and Medium Sarah Lyon-White.
Lackey writes a lively, easily read story. The books always end in a positive, triumphant note. The stories are a bit excessively descriptive of everyday activities and banter, which I'll admit just skipping without loosing the plot.
Lackey actually describes her own style in a forward to 'From a High Tower' when talking about a book series in Germany popular for 150 years... "Karl May wrote a rattling good story. If he was a “hack,” remember that the definition of a “hack” is this: a strong, dependable horse that can always be relied on to get you where you want to go.
There are worse things to be."
I could see myself really loving this series in my teen years. Every main character is female. It champions women's rights, the poor, the foreign, with realistic history of the hardships and prejudice in Britain in the early 1990s for these folks. It empowers women, especially those who wanted a higher education and more in life than just being property. Every book (except the last few) has a romance but not misogynistic 'saved by a prince' type nor explicitly sexual.
If the reader is interested in occult studies there are decent passages on tarot cards, magic theory and symbolism and every book features someone with elemental (earth, air, fire, water) magic powers with corresponding creatures as familiars.
The use of fairytale plots is very obvious but nicely refitted to the world of early industrial Europe and strong female protagonists. This plot theme loosens up as the series progresses. As in all good fairy tales there are also adorable talking animals and mysterious Fae.
Strangely the last 3 books take a new plot turn borrowing from classic thrillers. It combines Sherlock Holmes characters with repeat protagonists, Psychic Nan Killian and Medium Sarah Lyon-White.
Lackey writes a lively, easily read story. The books always end in a positive, triumphant note. The stories are a bit excessively descriptive of everyday activities and banter, which I'll admit just skipping without loosing the plot.
Lackey actually describes her own style in a forward to 'From a High Tower' when talking about a book series in Germany popular for 150 years... "Karl May wrote a rattling good story. If he was a “hack,” remember that the definition of a “hack” is this: a strong, dependable horse that can always be relied on to get you where you want to go.
There are worse things to be."
December 28, 2018
I love The Elemental Masters and Nan and Sarah, especially in this Sherlock Holmes side series. However before I go any further, I must express my surprise and dismay that whoever edited this book before publication did an abysmal job. There are typos, grammatical errors, and even an instance of a character being presented, then presented again several pages later as if she hadn't met them before. I hope that the publisher re-releases this book with updates and revisions because these are things that should never have made it into print.
That said, this story was charming in a macabre way. There is a killer at work in London dumping headless bodies of women dressed in bridal gowns into the Thames. Who is behind this and why? To top it off Sherlock Holmes has fallen from Reichenbach Falls and both he and Professor Moriarty are presumed dead. Without the brilliant detective can Sarah and Nan find the murderer without losing their own heads in the process?
There is a lot of set up and detail in this novel. I like that most of the time, but did with the denouement had been more drawn out. It felt like everything started moving in double time towards the end of the story. The villain is cleverly drawn, but some of his supporting henchmen had just enough detail to be interesting and ultimately left out of the wrap up. I hope this makes for more sequels to this particular story line and was not just sloppy writing. The explanation of the spirit world and how spirits either thrive or lose themselves in it was also very interesting. It felt at times like she was borrowing a page from Garth Nix and the world of the Old Kingdom, minus the river and the seven gates. All in all, I would recommend this to fans of fractured fairy tales (albeit with a warning about the editing) and any one who is looking for something in the cozy mystery vein that doesn't involve a romance.
That said, this story was charming in a macabre way. There is a killer at work in London dumping headless bodies of women dressed in bridal gowns into the Thames. Who is behind this and why? To top it off Sherlock Holmes has fallen from Reichenbach Falls and both he and Professor Moriarty are presumed dead. Without the brilliant detective can Sarah and Nan find the murderer without losing their own heads in the process?
There is a lot of set up and detail in this novel. I like that most of the time, but did with the denouement had been more drawn out. It felt like everything started moving in double time towards the end of the story. The villain is cleverly drawn, but some of his supporting henchmen had just enough detail to be interesting and ultimately left out of the wrap up. I hope this makes for more sequels to this particular story line and was not just sloppy writing. The explanation of the spirit world and how spirits either thrive or lose themselves in it was also very interesting. It felt at times like she was borrowing a page from Garth Nix and the world of the Old Kingdom, minus the river and the seven gates. All in all, I would recommend this to fans of fractured fairy tales (albeit with a warning about the editing) and any one who is looking for something in the cozy mystery vein that doesn't involve a romance.
November 14, 2018
Interesting that ghost Caro who helps them gets body of male. Nice description of a trans character.
How are you
Like hell, but it’s getting better,” replied Peter Hughs. Or Caro, in Peter Hughs’ body. I have to get used to calling him Peter. Though he seems to be used to it already. Grey nudged his hand, and he continued gently scratching her neck. “It helps that I finally feel right for the first time in my life. I kept saying I should have been born a boy—not only to you two, but to my own father and brother—and no one took me seriously, but I really did feel . . . wrong, inside my own skin. Now I feel right. As for the rest—” he shrugged. “I may be miserable, I may vomit more than I eat, and I may shake as if I had a fever, but it’s easier than dying was
Good description of the old boys club mentality:
The appropriate way was to take the servant’s stair—encountering any of the venerable gentlemen who lived here on the guest stair would be worse than the birds saying something. Williams nodded and turned his attention back to his charges. Being here was a continual dance around the tender sensibilities of the old gents, who were encased in stone armor of hardened attitudes which could shatter disastrously at the faintest hint of change. Nan felt sorry for them rather than resentful. They labored under the illusion that they were the strong, stalwart defenders of God and Empire and all that was Good and Noble, when in fact, their rigidity and their age doomed them. With every passing day they grew closer to death, while the reins of power slipped from their fingers and, imperceptibly, the young and flexible took those reins away from them. And the irony was, if they had just been willing to bend and learn and change with the times, those reins would still be theirs, and the “upstarts” would be looking to them as sterling examples
How are you
Like hell, but it’s getting better,” replied Peter Hughs. Or Caro, in Peter Hughs’ body. I have to get used to calling him Peter. Though he seems to be used to it already. Grey nudged his hand, and he continued gently scratching her neck. “It helps that I finally feel right for the first time in my life. I kept saying I should have been born a boy—not only to you two, but to my own father and brother—and no one took me seriously, but I really did feel . . . wrong, inside my own skin. Now I feel right. As for the rest—” he shrugged. “I may be miserable, I may vomit more than I eat, and I may shake as if I had a fever, but it’s easier than dying was
Good description of the old boys club mentality:
The appropriate way was to take the servant’s stair—encountering any of the venerable gentlemen who lived here on the guest stair would be worse than the birds saying something. Williams nodded and turned his attention back to his charges. Being here was a continual dance around the tender sensibilities of the old gents, who were encased in stone armor of hardened attitudes which could shatter disastrously at the faintest hint of change. Nan felt sorry for them rather than resentful. They labored under the illusion that they were the strong, stalwart defenders of God and Empire and all that was Good and Noble, when in fact, their rigidity and their age doomed them. With every passing day they grew closer to death, while the reins of power slipped from their fingers and, imperceptibly, the young and flexible took those reins away from them. And the irony was, if they had just been willing to bend and learn and change with the times, those reins would still be theirs, and the “upstarts” would be looking to them as sterling examples
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2019
Although this is listed as #13 in the "Elemental Masters" series, it's really just several books into a crossover series between the "Elemental Masters" and Sherlock Holmes. (I think which began with A Study in Sable). The two lead characters, Nan and Sarah, branch away from the traditional Elemental magics that the series had primarily focused on; they're a medium and a psychic, respectively. In this, they have been invaluable assistants to Sherlock Holmes (who knows nothing of magic, but is the usual master detective), and the Watsons (who are themselves powerful Elemental Masters).
But now Sherlock Holmes is believed dead at the Reichenbach Falls, after a confrontation with his nemesis Moriarty, and those who are left behind must deal with the crimes confronting London. Such as a plague of brides, still in their bridal dresses, turning up in the Thames, baffling Scotland Yard. It's not a surprise that it turns out to be more than an ordinary serial killer at play.
I enjoyed most of the book, but the ending felt abrupt; there were quite a few things that seemed like they were laying down elements for a sequel. (). Similarly, the spirit guide subplot ended up resolved much more quickly and neatly than I expected.
But now Sherlock Holmes is believed dead at the Reichenbach Falls, after a confrontation with his nemesis Moriarty, and those who are left behind must deal with the crimes confronting London. Such as a plague of brides, still in their bridal dresses, turning up in the Thames, baffling Scotland Yard. It's not a surprise that it turns out to be more than an ordinary serial killer at play.
I enjoyed most of the book, but the ending felt abrupt; there were quite a few things that seemed like they were laying down elements for a sequel. (). Similarly, the spirit guide subplot ended up resolved much more quickly and neatly than I expected.
February 23, 2021
Once again, Mercedes Lackey has snared me well and truly, in her story.
I was over the moon to discover that it was another Nan and Sarah book, along with their trusty bird friends, Grey and Neville.
What put the icing on the cake, for me, though, was the convoluted twists and turns in their lives caused, once more, by their friendships with John and Mary Watson, as they strive to help Holmes to discover how, and why, there is a sudden rash of headless bodies being found in the Thames.
With Sherlock having to play dead himself, all of the usual cast of characters - along with a few new ones that end up playing vital roles in this mystery - do everything they can to find the necromancer doing these terrible deeds while, unknown to them all, there's an even more deadly danger ahead of them that, if they don't stop the killing soon enough, will cause more grief than any of them had ever faced before.
This was a wonderful story and, although a lot of the beginning was taken up in the moves and thoughts of the necromancer, I feel that this was a very important part of the story, for the reader to have that thorough background on him, before the intrigues and plots thickened beyond unravelling. I really enjoyed the surprise at the end, for Nan and Sarah, and hope this means ever more stories unfolding with them!
I'm really loving this mixing of characters and genres, and hope to read more in the future.
But, for now, I go on to book fourteen in the series: The Case of the Spellbound Child.
I was over the moon to discover that it was another Nan and Sarah book, along with their trusty bird friends, Grey and Neville.
What put the icing on the cake, for me, though, was the convoluted twists and turns in their lives caused, once more, by their friendships with John and Mary Watson, as they strive to help Holmes to discover how, and why, there is a sudden rash of headless bodies being found in the Thames.
With Sherlock having to play dead himself, all of the usual cast of characters - along with a few new ones that end up playing vital roles in this mystery - do everything they can to find the necromancer doing these terrible deeds while, unknown to them all, there's an even more deadly danger ahead of them that, if they don't stop the killing soon enough, will cause more grief than any of them had ever faced before.
This was a wonderful story and, although a lot of the beginning was taken up in the moves and thoughts of the necromancer, I feel that this was a very important part of the story, for the reader to have that thorough background on him, before the intrigues and plots thickened beyond unravelling. I really enjoyed the surprise at the end, for Nan and Sarah, and hope this means ever more stories unfolding with them!
I'm really loving this mixing of characters and genres, and hope to read more in the future.
But, for now, I go on to book fourteen in the series: The Case of the Spellbound Child.
October 21, 2019
I’m not going to lie. I significantly prefer the fairy tale retellings in this fantasy series to the Sherlock Holmes pastiches featuring Nan and Sara. I didn’t dislike this book, but I found myself not as invested in the main characters as I could have been. Both women gain new skills and mastery over their abilities, but that is the extent of the character development for them.
Things I did thoroughly enjoy about this book include the expansion of the magical system Lackey has created. I spotted some influence from previous projects here, and it works very well. There is also some subtle but amazing representation featuring one of the secondary characters that I literally cheered for during the final reveal. I also appreciate how Nan, Sara, and the Watsons employ era-appropriate (non-magical) crime-solving skills to search out the identity and motives of the villain.
Speaking of the bad guy, however, we spent way too much time with him. He’s not a sympathetic character and while all of the information and his experience were useful to the tale, I found those sections dragging. My final critique is the noticeable consistency issues surrounding some of the secondary characters that a more thorough edit might have caught.
Worth reading for fans of the series, but not a good place to jump into the middle. I hope the next Elemental Masters installment takes a break from Sherlock Holmes’ London and gives me another unique fairy tale to sink my teeth into.
Things I did thoroughly enjoy about this book include the expansion of the magical system Lackey has created. I spotted some influence from previous projects here, and it works very well. There is also some subtle but amazing representation featuring one of the secondary characters that I literally cheered for during the final reveal. I also appreciate how Nan, Sara, and the Watsons employ era-appropriate (non-magical) crime-solving skills to search out the identity and motives of the villain.
Speaking of the bad guy, however, we spent way too much time with him. He’s not a sympathetic character and while all of the information and his experience were useful to the tale, I found those sections dragging. My final critique is the noticeable consistency issues surrounding some of the secondary characters that a more thorough edit might have caught.
Worth reading for fans of the series, but not a good place to jump into the middle. I hope the next Elemental Masters installment takes a break from Sherlock Holmes’ London and gives me another unique fairy tale to sink my teeth into.
December 2, 2018
I've finished my Elemental Masters marathon, and this is sooner than I would have if an interlibrary loan problem wasn't holding up my nonfiction reading plans. This book is so fresh from the press that even though lots of local libraries have it, most of the copies were on loan or else not on the shelves yet. It's a third installment about Nan, Sarah, Holmes, and the Watsons. Holmes has killed his enemy Professor Moriarty but faked his own death so he can more easily deal with the surviving parts of Moriarty's criminal organization, leaving the others to do mostly without him for the time being. That's when the beheaded bodies of young women start turning up in the Thames. Unknown to Nan, Sarah and the Watsons, these are the victims of a necromancer associated with Moriarty. Once again the story tracks both the protagonists and the villain, so that you know a lot more than the characters do. Reasonably suspenseful, though for those of us who aren't familiar with the original Sherlock Holmes it would have made for a nice twist if we hadn't been told so quickly that he wasn't really did. The usual downsides of the series, Eurocentrism and haphazard world-building even within the framework of European magic, unfortunately continue.
December 27, 2024
What could be more enticing than Sherlock Holmes and a sprinkle of magic? This book definitely has me in its elemental grip, and now my only hope is to find the other volumes (probably 17 in total). Don't worry! Sherlock Holmes is still your classical crime-solving detective. However, Watson is more of a water magic user. This specific volume focuses on the aftermath of Professor Moriarty's demise when a member of his society (a necromancer) tries to revive him using a specific spell. Of course, Holmes' group of elemental masters or magicians are gathering to stop the necromancer and his hideous plan, but where is Holmes when you actually need him? Will they succeed? 😱
There are some brides involved, too, but I will leave you guys to find out more about them! I don't want to spoil you too much!
Other than that, this book is a quick read, even though it's part of a series you are given enough information to follow the plot, the essence of the original characters (Watson, Holmes, Lestrade, Mary) is still the same (so you don't need to be too offended if you are a hard-core fan of the original book) and despite the necromancer element, the scenes aren't too bloody or gory.
Review and pics @booksommelierxiii Insta
There are some brides involved, too, but I will leave you guys to find out more about them! I don't want to spoil you too much!
Other than that, this book is a quick read, even though it's part of a series you are given enough information to follow the plot, the essence of the original characters (Watson, Holmes, Lestrade, Mary) is still the same (so you don't need to be too offended if you are a hard-core fan of the original book) and despite the necromancer element, the scenes aren't too bloody or gory.
Review and pics @booksommelierxiii Insta
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2018
Number 13 of the Elemental Masters series and this one is loosely - very loosely - based on what I believe was Bluebeard's Wives.
Once again we have the characters of Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White with the birds, Grey and Neville, John and Mary Watson even as they mourn the temporary loss of their friend Sherlock Holmes. Yea, he pops in and out of the book a couple of times as he is busy disrupting and dissolving Moriarty's Organization. There is Suki, Memsa'b and Sahib and the nephews. Even Aldercroft and some of his rougher Lodge members make a couple of appearances as do some of the Baker Street Irregulars. And of course Lestrade.
This one was a bit more gruesome than the previous ones I have read. Let me clarify that Lackey does not write gory. It's the idea of this Master collecting magical power by marrying and then decapitating his brides, keeping their heads while dumping their bodies a la Sweeney Todd fashion is just - blech!
A new character in the form of a ghost named Caro who just wants to do something important before passing over is like a breath of fresh air. If the author plans to continue with more stories circling around Nan and Sarah, I hope that Caro continues to be a part of the action. Of course, that just makes more characters to keep track of.
As much as I like Nan, Sarah and company, what originally drew me to the series was that it was a retelling of some fairy tales in the Victorian age with the added interest of the elemental masters. Lately it's been the next adventure of Nan and Sarah with the Watson's along for the ride. So if you get the feeling that I'm a bit torn, you would be correct. Lackey had a wonderful idea and fabulous series and I am enjoying every single volume published (some more than others). But she seems to be focusing on the London crew connected to Holmes and it's slightly disappointing.
Once again we have the characters of Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White with the birds, Grey and Neville, John and Mary Watson even as they mourn the temporary loss of their friend Sherlock Holmes. Yea, he pops in and out of the book a couple of times as he is busy disrupting and dissolving Moriarty's Organization. There is Suki, Memsa'b and Sahib and the nephews. Even Aldercroft and some of his rougher Lodge members make a couple of appearances as do some of the Baker Street Irregulars. And of course Lestrade.
This one was a bit more gruesome than the previous ones I have read. Let me clarify that Lackey does not write gory. It's the idea of this Master collecting magical power by marrying and then decapitating his brides, keeping their heads while dumping their bodies a la Sweeney Todd fashion is just - blech!
A new character in the form of a ghost named Caro who just wants to do something important before passing over is like a breath of fresh air. If the author plans to continue with more stories circling around Nan and Sarah, I hope that Caro continues to be a part of the action. Of course, that just makes more characters to keep track of.
As much as I like Nan, Sarah and company, what originally drew me to the series was that it was a retelling of some fairy tales in the Victorian age with the added interest of the elemental masters. Lately it's been the next adventure of Nan and Sarah with the Watson's along for the ride. So if you get the feeling that I'm a bit torn, you would be correct. Lackey had a wonderful idea and fabulous series and I am enjoying every single volume published (some more than others). But she seems to be focusing on the London crew connected to Holmes and it's slightly disappointing.
June 26, 2019
This is the 13th in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series, which is set in England during the time of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarity. In fact, the book begins with the presumed death of Sherlock Holmes and the death of Moriarity. But psychic Nan Killian, medium Sarah Lyon-White, and the Elemental Masters John and Mary Watson must be vigilant because members of Moriarity's network are still at large. Soon headless bodies of young brides start turning up in the Thames. As more bodies emerge, the gang begins to suspect that there is a necromancer at work and that it will take all of their talents to bring the murderer to justice. I always enjoy Mercedes Lackey's books and this one was no different. I was glad that Nan got a larger role in this story and was recognized as a Spirit Master. I also liked that the character of Caro, a spirit who assists the gang in bringing the murder to justice. She also is someone who did not identify with the gender that she was given and found a surprising way to solve her problem.
December 7, 2018
Bluebeard and Holmes and Magic, Oh My! I thoroughly enjoy Holmesian fiction, so I expected to like this book and I did. Holmes is really least in sight, so Nan, Sarah, and Watson shine in this tale. And Lestrade? My favorite quotation was about him: Sarah had thought Lestrade couldn’t get any redder. She had been wrong. He turned from the color of a strawberry to the color of a beet.
So with all this going for it, why was I not totally thrilled with the book? I think the gruesomeness of the murders got to me. And for the first time that I can remember Mercedes Lackey has put an easily recognizable political figure in the book and done it in a highly uncomplimentary fashion. I read fantasy to escape from some of the unpleasantness in real life and don't enjoy real life rearing its ugly head so obviously.
Fans of the series will most likely enjoy the book as will those who enjoyed the earlier Holmes books in the series.
So with all this going for it, why was I not totally thrilled with the book? I think the gruesomeness of the murders got to me. And for the first time that I can remember Mercedes Lackey has put an easily recognizable political figure in the book and done it in a highly uncomplimentary fashion. I read fantasy to escape from some of the unpleasantness in real life and don't enjoy real life rearing its ugly head so obviously.
Fans of the series will most likely enjoy the book as will those who enjoyed the earlier Holmes books in the series.
December 31, 2018
It's been a while since I last read any of the Elemental Masters books and it has changed.
It used to be that I could pick up a book and begin reading. While all the stories were set in the same world and there was some overlap of characters, there was no real story arc, other than "good vs evil" and "magic vs nonmagic."
So when I saw this book at the library, I didn't think there'd be an issue. Sure, I hadn't read the last five books but I'd read the first five books without a problem and not in order.
Now there's an arc. I didn't know these characters and I'd obviously missed several adventures. I wasn't all that happy. I'm still not.
The story, itself, was fun once I'd caught back up. It was light which was what I'd needed. I'm disappointed, though, that I have to read the books in order now. It's difficult getting books in a series in order from the library. <--first world problem
It used to be that I could pick up a book and begin reading. While all the stories were set in the same world and there was some overlap of characters, there was no real story arc, other than "good vs evil" and "magic vs nonmagic."
So when I saw this book at the library, I didn't think there'd be an issue. Sure, I hadn't read the last five books but I'd read the first five books without a problem and not in order.
Now there's an arc. I didn't know these characters and I'd obviously missed several adventures. I wasn't all that happy. I'm still not.
The story, itself, was fun once I'd caught back up. It was light which was what I'd needed. I'm disappointed, though, that I have to read the books in order now. It's difficult getting books in a series in order from the library. <--first world problem
February 4, 2019
In "The Bartered Brides", Sherlock Holmes is apparently dead, and Lestrade needs the help of Watson, along with Nan and Sarah to solve the crime of who is beheading young women dressed as brides, and throwing the headless corpses in the Thames.
Mercedes Lackey has turned out a gorgeous tale of magic and murder.
The joy of the Elemental Masters books with Sherlock Holmes in them is that Holmes isn't a magician, and has difficulty with the concept, though, being the logical man that he is, when he is given evidence, he takes it on board.
Towards the end of the novel there is a delightful tip of the hat to Arthur Conan Doyle's abysmal continuity, that made me chuckle.
This is the third Elemental Masters book with the cast of Nan, Sarah, John & Mary Watson, and Sherlock Holmes. In each book the characters grow and develop just that little bit more.
"The Bartered Brides" is a delicious addition to my permanent Sherlock Holmes collection.
Highly recommended.
Mercedes Lackey has turned out a gorgeous tale of magic and murder.
The joy of the Elemental Masters books with Sherlock Holmes in them is that Holmes isn't a magician, and has difficulty with the concept, though, being the logical man that he is, when he is given evidence, he takes it on board.
Towards the end of the novel there is a delightful tip of the hat to Arthur Conan Doyle's abysmal continuity, that made me chuckle.
This is the third Elemental Masters book with the cast of Nan, Sarah, John & Mary Watson, and Sherlock Holmes. In each book the characters grow and develop just that little bit more.
"The Bartered Brides" is a delicious addition to my permanent Sherlock Holmes collection.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews