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Home From The Sea
Oct. 1st, 2014 09:28 pmThis next instalment of Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series, Home From The Sea, showcases some of her character and world-building skills in presenting an interesting bunch of new elemental creatures and a good, female protagonist in the fisherman's daughter who forces said creatures to alter their ancient bargain with her family in order to marry and have a family on her terms rather than theirs.
It also, however, demonstrates the weaknesses of some of Lackey's more recent offerings in that it is fragmented (skipping several months in some places without any signposting), repetitive (it lifts a whole chapter from one of the previous books in the series and repeats scenes from different points of view to no purpose), and a bit woolly (some aspects are presented and then don't go anywhere).
I still enjoyed it overall, particularly revisiting Nan and Sarah and their bird companions who have been in the series before, but the faults did detract from the story somewhat, especially since I consumed it in audiobook format, which meant I couldn't skip the more tedious, repetitive sections.
It also, however, demonstrates the weaknesses of some of Lackey's more recent offerings in that it is fragmented (skipping several months in some places without any signposting), repetitive (it lifts a whole chapter from one of the previous books in the series and repeats scenes from different points of view to no purpose), and a bit woolly (some aspects are presented and then don't go anywhere).
I still enjoyed it overall, particularly revisiting Nan and Sarah and their bird companions who have been in the series before, but the faults did detract from the story somewhat, especially since I consumed it in audiobook format, which meant I couldn't skip the more tedious, repetitive sections.
