Phoenix and Ashes

by Mercedes Lackey

Book Overview

Mercedes Lackey's magical Elemental Masters series recasts familiar fairy tales in a richly-imagined alternate Victorian world Eleanor Robinson's life had shattered when Father volunteered for the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756402727
• ISBN13: 9780756402723
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Cinderella and a wounded Prince

A new way to tell Cinderella's tale, but still exhibiting the intelligence and humor that we appreciate in her Five Hundred Kingdom's series, Mercedes Lackey's tale of star-crossed elemental mages is good drama, good romance, and a good read. Poignant aspects of England's experience in World War I, well researched and sensitively presented, form a backdrop to the story. The protagonists are, one, an heiress forced to labor at the hearth by a darkside Earth Mage stepmother who cuts off the girl's finger to set a binding spell , and two, an anristocratic young Air Mage, a brilliant pilot, who nearly dies from war trauma and the special awarenesses of his kind when he is trapped in the hellish trenches of the WWI battle field. He has returned home, but is locked in a fight for his life and his sanity as the Cinderella-like heiress gradually learns her powers as a Fire Mage and fights her way to freedom. The two come together to defeat the dark mage in a very satisfying ending. Nice little romance, understated but satisfying.

Cinderalla with a magical twist

Eleanor Robinson is slave to her stepmother, Alison and two stepsisters after her father is killed in the Great War. Her stepmother binds her to the house they live in using her magic and forces her to be servant. For Eleanor's stepmother is an Elemental Master of the Earth. Reggie Fenyx is a returning war hero but a torn and battered one. He too is an Elemental Master but of the Air which he used to help him hone his skills in battle in the skies. However, Reggie has lost his magic after witnessing the horrors of war. For he was buried in the trenches for a period of time before he is rescued. In the meantime his mind was invaded by the terror that is the Earth elementals, monsters and creatures controlled by the Earth Masters. On his return from war to the village of Broom, Eleanor's stepmother, Alison's aim is to pursue Reggie for one of her daughters. For Reggie lives as Lord of the Manor of Broom. He is rich and titled and would elevate Alison's status in society. Alison concocts spells to make Reggie go insane and then become dependent on her daughters. However, her spells don't work on Reggie and neither do her daughter's charm. In the meantime, Eleanor's godmother turns up on the doorstep and announces that Eleanor too has the making of an Elemental Master, a Master of Fire. Slowly, Eleanor learns the way of the Elements and plots to escape her stepmother's binding spells. Can Reggie and Eleanor heal each other's wounds? Can they thwart Alison's plans? Can they escape her dark magic? This was a wonderful read and a page turner indeed. Reggie made for a real war torn hero and Eleanor was a strong heroine. The Elemental magic was intriguing to learn about and made for a wonderful fantasy element. A highly recommended read. I can't wait to read the other books in the series. Lea Ling Tsang

Beautiful adult fairy tale

While World War I rages in Europe, in Broom, England widower Charles Robinson is a successful merchant raising his daughter Eleanor. One day he returns from a business trip with a surprise for Eleanor; he introduces her new "mother" his wife Alison and her two daughters. Almost immediate after the nuptials, he signs on for trench warfare and dies in combat. Alison, a dark Earth Master, binds Eleanor to the house with an obedience spell. Meanwhile former pilot and Air Master Reggie Fenyx returns home believing he lost his magical prowess when he was tormented by earth elementals. Though depressed the family ball is coming up and he will play the role of good host. Eleanor, who has loved Reggie, begins serendipitously to learn to use her skill as a Fire Master. If Alison finds out what she is doing too soon she knows she is doomed, but perhaps at the ball Reggie will realize she is his life mate and together combining the power of fire and air with love they can defeat earth. This is an intriguing retelling of Cinderella that combines history and fantasy to tell an adult fairy tale. Alison is a terrifically sinister malevolence while Eleanor is her perfect unsure opponent and slave. Reggie suffers from battle fatigue that has sapped him of his natural abilities leaving him magically impaired, which makes him an interesting protagonist. Though the story line at times is overwhelmed with historical details that seem unnecessary even if they provide in most cases a World War I era ambience, Mercedes Lackey provides a fine rendition of the classic tale with her latest Elemental Masters novel. Harriet Klausner

Mercedes Lackey at her Best!!!

I HAD to write a review for this book!!! This is the Mercedes Lackey I know and Love at her BEST!!! "Phoenix and Ashes" is another book in the Elemental Masters series that are re-tellings of well known Fairy Tales. This is Ms. Lackey's version of Cinderella, and our heroine Eleanor Robinson, is a girl with strength, guts, and determination to overcome her life as a servent to her Dark Elemental Master Stepmother Alison, to win her freedom, and the love of a "prince" of a man, pilot Reginald Fenyx. This dark romantic fantasy grabbed me from the first page and had a hard time putting it down for anything (Dirty Dishes & Laundry still in the sink/hamper)! It was smartly written with a continuous flow all the way through and never letting up it's pace. I was plesantly surprised many times during the story with how well developed her characters were and the depths she was able to communicate on the power of the Human Spirit is when confronted with life's lessons. As a lifelong fan of the Cinderella myth, I've read as many versions of this story as possible and have to say this is one of the best I have come across. If you are interested in reading this book, I hope you are, I would start with "The Serpent's Shadow" as an introduction into the World of Elemental Masters. A few of the characters from this story make an appearance in "Phoenix"

Another Great from a Master!

Once again, Ms Lackey has given us a terrific novel! I loved this modern re-telling of Cinderella- especially when the Main Character is such a strong woman, who doesn't sit around complaining or accepting her lot in life, in spite of the spell that her wicked stepmother has put her under. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this engaging book. The only complaint I have is that it ended too soon. I wanted to continue with the characters, instead of getting the equivalent of "And they lived happily ever after" As for the settings, I'm not sure I was reading the same book as some of the other reviewers. Any references to the aristocratic life had solely to do with plot line (Reggie is Prince Charming, after all) and to give us a good feel with the way of life during that time period, but very little of the story revolved around that. All in all, I was very pleased with this book, and look forward to her next book in this universe.