I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Blood Red
by
Mercedes Lackey
It is part of the Elemental Masters #10 series and is a fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by DAW Books on June 3, 2014 and has 320 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Unnatural Issue, "The River's Gift", Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar, Foundation, Intrigues, Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit, Owlknight, Charmed Destinies, Changes, Beauty and the Werewolf, Invasion, Home From the Sea, Dead Reckoning, Conspiracies, Bedlam's Edge, Crown of Vengeance, Redoubt, Harvest Moon, World Divided, Elemental Magic: All New Tales of the Elemental Masters, Sacrifices, Steadfast, Burdens of the Dead, Bastion, Victories, The House of the Four Winds, Games Creatures Play, Closer to Home, Born to Run, Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, Chrome Circle, Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar, Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar, Arcanum 101, A Tangled Web, Winter Moon, Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar, Elementary: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters, No True Way: All-New Tales of Valdemar, From a High Tower, Hunter, Closer to the Heart, Silence, A Study in Sable, Elite, Closer to the Chest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, A Scandal in Battersea, The Hills Have Spies, The Bartered Brides, Dragon's Teeth, Eye Spy, Breaking Silence, Pathways, Passages, Magic's Pawn, The Black Gryphon, Magic's Promise, The Serpent's Shadow, The Oathbound, The White Gryphon, The Silver Gryphon, Beyond, Spy, Spy Again, Oathbreakers, The Lark and the Wren, The Gates of Sleep, Phoenix and Ashes, The Wizard of London, The Robin and the Kestrel, Oathblood, Take a Thief, Exile's Honor, The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley, Owlflight, Brightly Burning, Exile’s Valor, Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crucible, Choices, Into the West, Into the West, Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar, The Fire Rose, The Case of the Spellbound Child
Tenth in the Elemental Masters paranormal fantasy series and revolving around some version of a fairy tale. The focus here is on Rosa von Schwarzwald.
My Take
It starts with a slight twist on the Red Riding Hood tale.
Just reading Rosa’s thoughts of the trials of the journey back is enough to make me grateful for airplanes — even if they do come with all this excess security. Certainly Rosa appreciates the comforts provided by the treasure that Gheorghe and Matei give her. Rosa’s thoughts on the gown Mutti has made her also make us aware of the importance of dressing to fit in while the Professor helps her to codify the upper classes so she will understand better how to fit in.
It’s a clever move on Lackey’s part to introduce Rosa to this wider world. Very nicely done. It’s also very empowering for women as the men in Rosa’s life encourage her to embrace her abilities and proudly introduce her to other influential men. It’s very refreshing and includes moments of introspection in which Rosa is careful to remind herself not to get cocky. A nice way to show us Rosa’s character.
It’s also a fun way to introduce us to the German Elemental Masters — and isn’t that a treat to visit a different country in this series? It’s like a fun and cozy house party with the excitement of the chase built in at that level of society.
The story is also a good example of why treating others fairly is a good idea.
The Story
The move to Holzdorf in the Schwarzwald will change more than their address, and a wolf attack on Rosa’s teacher will change Rosa’s life forever.
It’s on a hunt in a foreign land that the copper medal is found on the hunted. And yet again. Two cannot be a coincidence, and it leads Rosa on a very dangerous hunt with new partners. One of whom will challenge all her beliefs.
The Characters
Rosamund “Rosa” von Schwarzwald, a.k.a., Red Cloak, has Earth magic, but not your standard Earth magic. No, our Rosa has more martial qualities. Mutti and Vati have had to move to Holzdorf in the Schwarzwald so Rosa may flourish, once Onkel Hans and Tante Bertha pointed it out. Mutti is not doing well while Vati is now a schoolteacher.
The Bruderschaft der Förster, a.k.a., the Brotherhood of the Forest…
…are the arcane guardians of the Schwarzwald, a great forest which the huntsmen protect from evil. The Hunt Master is Gunther von Schwarzwald and his crew — Gilda, Hans Osterwald (an Earth Master), and Fritz — rescue Rosa. Ulrich Bernwald and Walther Vogel will join Hans.
The Munich Lodge
The master is Heinrich, Graf von Stahldorf, and he’s a great friend of Rosa’s “father”. Fritz Bern is the Water Mage who got rumbled. Rudolf Weiss is the Graf’s private secretary. Bergdorf is the butler; Berthold serves at table. Marie had been the Graf’s mistress’ ladysmaid and now she has some useful tips for Rosa. Dominik Petro, an Earth Master who studied medicine, and Markos Nagy, a werewolf who studied history, are friends and cousins who have come for help from the Graf.
Professor von Endenberg has made a study of Society which will stand Rosa in good stead. Anna is a brilliant soprano. The children at the house party include Peter, Tobi, and Johan with lots of proper presents.
Mother Lovina, a Roma, has reassurances for Rosa. Matei and Gheorghe are magic-users who hide who they are in Rosia Montana, a tiny village in Romania with a wolf problem. Herr Bjorn Herbst is the Master of the Berlin White Lodge
Casolt
Frau Schmidt is the old lady of the village who is willing to talk. Petrescu, the mayor, and Vasile are the old men playing checkers while Lungu is middle-aged. The supernatural allies who come to help include Moşul, the iele who are Great Air Elementals, the zâne are of the fifth element, of Spirit, and the vâlva băilor, the Great Elementals of the Earth.
Durendal, a.k.a., Herr Doktor Erik Reinhardt, is an evil Air Mage in Vienna. Bertelan is the sorcerer-shifter in Romania who has been building his pack.
The alvar are the Elementals most people don’t see. Each forest seems to have its own Lord of the Hunt. The werewolves who use a belt of wolfskin to transform are magicians gone wrong. The strigoi are shapeshifting vampires.
The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous in its richness. A deep, blood red background with blood dripping from the top as wolves snarl around the inset picture of the blonde Rosa with her typical German braid crowning her head. The figured red cloak is framed by a black embroidered band, and she carries a flaming battle axe, a salamander perched above her hand. It — s perfect as our Rosa is primed for battle. Dangling on either side are the copper Stag of St. Hubert medals.
The title is all Rosa in her Blood Red cape and approach to the bad guys.
