I really liked how Jody Lynn Nye was able to contribute a second story with the same cast of characters from the first anthology. I'd like to see this continue with other authors, there are several very compelling characters from whom I'd like to see more; for instance, Marie from Arms of the Sea and El from The Fire's Daughter. ( )

I really liked how Jody Lynn Nye was able to contribute a second story with the same cast of characters from the first anthology. I'd like to see this continue with other authors, there are several very compelling characters from whom I'd like to see more; for instance, Marie from Arms of the Sea and El from The Fire's Daughter. ( )

I didn't finish this. The first few stories seemed to contradict some of the books about Elemental Magic, and the stories were not engaging. It seemed more an exercise in trying to weave in some elemental magic in historical stories. Which could have been nice, but it wasn't. Bleh. ( )

I like this universe so reading more set in it with other takes would be great. Several of the stories are set outside the usual time frame that the author has used. As with most collections there were high points and low points. It wasn't an amazing collection of stories but there is something for everyone that is a fan of the Elemental Masters books. Now to read the first collection of these stories at some point in time. Mostly to see if there is more by some of the writers I did like in the collection and if they have more with their take on it.
( )

I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!

(Description nicked from B&N.com.)

“In March 1987, Mercedes Lackey, a young author from Oklahoma, published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. No one could have envisioned that this modest book would be the beginning of a fantasy career that would span decades and more than a hundred novels, with no signs of slowing yet.

And among Ms. Lackey's many novels, few are as critically-acclaimed and beloved as those of the Elemental Masters. The novels in this series are loosely based on classic fairy tales, and take place in a fantasy version of turn-of-the-century London, where magic is real and Elemental Masters control the powers of Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

Now the voices of other authors join Mercedes Lackey to add their own special touches to this delightful alternate history, in a world where magic is always just around the corner...”

The Elemental Masters series has gotten kind of derivative, and although I’ve enjoyed the past few books, I haven’t felt that they were especially creative. I also felt the same about the original short story volume, last year’s Elemental Magic. I am happy to report that Elementary far surpasses its predecessor and even the novels upon which it is based.

I was initially excited to see that the stories were drawing from ancient literary sources to craft their tales, and one story even touched on the historical events that led to the defeat of the Spanish Armada by the British fleet. It really felt like there was an attempt being made to pull the entire volume together with a common theme beyond just the world that it’s based on. However, after the first three stories, that conceit was dropped. I was disappointed, but the stories that came after were still strong despite not following in the footsteps of the earlier tales. Of these three stories, Samuel C. Conway’s “Fire-Water” is the best one, with a charmingly skittish rabbit and a benevolent, grandmotherly Earth mage.

Like in the Valdemar anthologies, several of the authors have chosen to carry over characters and storylines from the first volume. My favorite of these is “Air of Deception” by Jody Lynn Nye. Her main character is an apprentice perfume-maker, which I think is a very creative application of the powers of an Air Master.

Another story that I really liked (although I can’t remember if it’s a continuation from the first book) is Ben Ohlander’s “London Falling”. While most of the stories are tidily wrapped up, or at least have a positive ending, this one delves into darker territory. It’s a reminder that even strong magicians can meet their match and have to take drastic measures to preserve their lives. The story is deliciously creepy and a nice change from the other tales.

As to the others, Elisabeth Waters’ “Fire’s Daughter” caught my interest, with a girl on the cusp of puberty who was raised as a boy and does not want to step into a woman’s traditional gender roles. Pair this with the fact that she’s a powerful Fire Mage in training, and you have a recipe for a horrifying disaster. Other tales feature mages who are reluctant to truly commit to their magic or who have abandoned it for some reason. In a shared world where magic is usually something sought after, seeing those to whom it doesn’t come gently is a great choice of subject matter.

Overall, I was much more pleased with this volume than I expected to be. The stories were well-written, covered a variety of subjects and geographic locations and time periods, and didn’t shy away from dipping a bit into the dark side of magic when appropriate. If you know someone who might like the Elemental Masters series, this book of stories would be a good introduction.

This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on January 27, 2014.