adularia25's review against another edition
4.0
As the fourth book in the Elemental Masters series, the Wizard of London dramatically changes the format that readers have come to expect from the series. While this is a retelling of the Snow Queen, the main characters in this book are Sarah and Nan, children who were never in the original tale. Also, this book focuses on other types of magic users in the world, instead of focusing on Elemental Masters. The Wizard of London is a strong story that would almost be better if it hadn't been tied to a fairy tale at all. Mercedes Lackey takes great liberties with the Snow Queen tale, which some people might not enjoy. But if you can get past the associated fairy tale, this is an entertaining tale with all sorts of magic, birds and mayhem thrown in.
maggpiebymoonlight's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jacalata's review against another edition
3.0
Slightly overpowered children but a good universe and story with some surprises. Will probably read more set in this universe.
reasie's review against another edition
2.0
Predictable, fluffy, a little too flat on the characterizations, but competent. I did not know it was one of a series when I picked it up for free, and I don't think I missed having not read any other book in the series so that's good. I suppose I'd recommend it for a pre-teen, if you don't mind them getting the sot of cut-and-dried morality where bad people are bad and love is always forever and ever and just once. I kinda hate that idea, and so the way the romance in the book is treated dropped this to a two-star.
raemelle's review
2.0
A painfully long and drawn out story. The bulk was so disproportionately large for the short conclusion it was almost comical. It might make sense if this were a first novel of a long series, introducing these characters for a long haul. But it doesn't appear that's the case. The next novel will be some other cast. Seriously. 370 pages for about 5 pages of a very mild climax. Not to mention the painfully good Good Guys. There's no conflict for them. They're just pure good, and it's boring as heck.
sbbarnes's review against another edition
3.0
Snow Queen retelling. This volume of the Elemental Masters introduces Sarah, Nan, Isabelle and Frederick Harton and their school, and also Peter Alderscroft at greater length. It follows Sarah and Nan being accepted into the Harton's school and learning their abilities, while solving a bunch of ghost-related mysteries first in London and then in the country. Also features Robin Goodfellow, a lot of Shakespeare references, and I guess a plot about an Ice Master trying to kill Alderscroft and turn him to ice.
Issues:
-The plot arrives more than 100 pages into the book. Alderscroft and Cordelia don't show up for ages, and even when they do it takes forever for them to intersect with everyone else.
-The writing is occasionally pretty flat. Stuff happens very quickly and you don't really see much of it - just vague descriptions that Sarah and Nan are doing schoolwork and that Nan can already read after about two pages of her being in school, or the mention that they're doing Midsummer Night's Dream and then suddenly they already know all the lines and it's tomorrow. Also Sarah's perspective just vanishes immediately.
-It's still really colonial despite purporting to not be colonial because the white people are friends with the brown people they employ and also met while stationed on military missions in their countries.
- Feminism = evil? I know that's not what Lackey is going for, because in the Gates of Sleep that's a whole plot point about how Maya should totally be in on Alderscroft's little in-group. But uh yeah, totally legit to be an angry feminist, don't really buy how that would lead to selling your soul to the ice man.
- Could not take the description of the Gifted and Talented people seriously without thinking about the Princess Diaries.
Issues:
-The plot arrives more than 100 pages into the book. Alderscroft and Cordelia don't show up for ages, and even when they do it takes forever for them to intersect with everyone else.
-The writing is occasionally pretty flat. Stuff happens very quickly and you don't really see much of it - just vague descriptions that Sarah and Nan are doing schoolwork and that Nan can already read after about two pages of her being in school, or the mention that they're doing Midsummer Night's Dream and then suddenly they already know all the lines and it's tomorrow. Also Sarah's perspective just vanishes immediately.
-It's still really colonial despite purporting to not be colonial because the white people are friends with the brown people they employ and also met while stationed on military missions in their countries.
- Feminism = evil? I know that's not what Lackey is going for, because in the Gates of Sleep that's a whole plot point about how Maya should totally be in on Alderscroft's little in-group. But uh yeah, totally legit to be an angry feminist, don't really buy how that would lead to selling your soul to the ice man.
- Could not take the description of the Gifted and Talented people seriously without thinking about the Princess Diaries.
mazza57's review
1.0
this is not an awful book just not for me i was bored and couldn't wait to be done. I think this may appeal to a teeenager who doesnt necessarily see the same thing an adult does
kimu's review against another edition
4.0
There was a lot that I enjoyed in this book, but also a very valid point made by other reviewers that the flow of the book is very choppy. I’m very glad that I read it. Definitely not where I’d start with the series though.
alannabarras's review against another edition
4.0
I gave this 4 stars because I know I will reread it again at some point, as I've already read it 3(?) times in the past. I love the world the elemental masters live in, but this iteration doesn't do it justice. The introduction of psychics doesn't seems to fit well, and feels more like and afterthought than a true addition to the world. I always enjoy the book while reading it, but even a day after finishing it I'd struggle to tell you what the main crux of the book is, or how its resolved - I'm surprised every reading with the introduction of the main villain, because I keep forgetting about her entirely. I honestly don't know if that's a pro or a con, but its certainly unique to Mercedes Lackey's books.
eak1013's review against another edition
2.0
Lackey should really stay away from writing about that whole "enlightened white heroine mixes with other races because she's so enlightened in far less enlightened times" thing. The magical non-human beings are less obsequiously subservient to the Nice White Lady than the Benneton ad spread of Servants From Other Continents.
On the other hand, Lackey broke out of the standard romance structure for this - a happily married couple who remain happily married! A POV split between the children and adults! I do wish there were less of the "I have loved once, I can never love again" slash "I though I loved once but I didn't really know what love was so that doesn't count!" thing, but even this squidge of variety was pleasant.
Also, for the love of all that's holy, the dialect. OH, the dialect. Just. No.
(And yet I'm still reading all of these. I don't even.)
On the other hand, Lackey broke out of the standard romance structure for this - a happily married couple who remain happily married! A POV split between the children and adults! I do wish there were less of the "I have loved once, I can never love again" slash "I though I loved once but I didn't really know what love was so that doesn't count!" thing, but even this squidge of variety was pleasant.
Also, for the love of all that's holy, the dialect. OH, the dialect. Just. No.
(And yet I'm still reading all of these. I don't even.)