Reviews

If this were not Lackey, it'd be a three. Like her other fairy tale stories, it has a lot of logistics issues and inconsistencies. She seems to have foregone editing too.

ladimcbeth's review against another edition

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3.0

Third in a series of fairy tales retold with elemental (earth, air, fire, water) magic mixed in. This one is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in turn-of-the-century rural England.

raemelle's review against another edition

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3.0

Is there a word for someone who is a snob about snobs? Not just a snob about snobs, but someone who acts like anyone else with money is selfish and shallow, but they themselves somehow manage to be the only down to earth and good people with money in existence? Am I even making sense? These books are rife with reverse snobs and humble bragging and so much bragging about how 'good' the 'unselfish' main characters are.

I guess Mercedes Lackey got to the point where she could just dump out a pile trite cliches and call it good. Throw in some feminism, and that's enough to refresh overused stories. Ugh. This is one of those series that I half convince myself I'll never read more of, only to wax forgetful of just how unimaginative and frankly amateurish they are; and a few months later I'm reading the next one. These are weak books. Maybe they get better? Maybe not. But they're easy reads and provide enough entertainment between other books. I guess that's all I can hope for.

hazeyjane_2's review

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3.0

3.5 stars. The Gates of Sleep dragged a bit towards the middle, but in general it was still an appealing book. I loved the double twist on the fairytale and the villains were, if still somewhat eyeroll-worthy, then at least less so than in The Serpent’s Shadow.

Seeing the Water magic performed was interesting, and the love story was less in focus this time around. Everything was much subtler. I like Maya better than Marina, purely in terms of ‘colour’ - she has a stronger force of personality and a more distinctive role - but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Marina as the country lady kept captive in the city. There was a real sense of domesticity and of Marina’s connection to her aunt and uncle and the local village people. All the characters were wonderful.

There were also none of the appropriation issues found in the previous book. So based on that alone, it would merit half a star.

alannabarras's review against another edition

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3.0

I reread this while on a Mercedes Lackey binge. Its a solid and enjoyable read, but if you've read any other books in the series you'll probably find it predictable. Lackey has established a clear formula for these books, and while I always enjoy revisiting them, the most recent reread of this one has it relegated for the used book store pile. The final battle just doesn't have quite enough substance for it to keep its place on the shelf.

That being said, if you enjoy the series or see it in the Library, go for it!

bellatora's review against another edition

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2.0

Nothing happens. NOTHING HAPPENS. For dozens and dozens and dozens of pages. I think the entire book could’ve been shortened into a novella. Maybe Lackey should’ve saved the page space she spent describing everything and preaching about the evils of industrialism and used it to, y’know, develop characters. Everyone is so one-dimensional. I kind of have the feeling that Lackey loves to live in her worlds. Everything is described so lovingly, especially the daily domestic routine. It is charming in its own way, but not anything I want right now and since I don’t want to know about the minutiae of being a country Elemental Master than it simply couldn't hold my interest.

kriedesel's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn't know this was a series, overall it was a good book. In the middle it got kind of slow but it picked up towards the end. Not sure if I will read the first two books or not.

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