Thursday, June 5, 2014

Blood Red-Mercedes Lackey


Blood Red

Mercedes Lackey

DAW, Jun 3 2014, $25.95

ISBN: 9780756408978

 

In the primeval Black Forest, werewolves murder an elderly Earth Master.  The dead woman’s ten years old student Rosamund escapes the carnage, but also suffers from what she witnessed happened to her adopted grandmother.  Not long afterward, the Schwarzwald Foresters Hunt Master rescues the in shock child.  Seeing potential in little Rosa, her “Papa” Earth Magician tutors her to be more than a healer.

 

Years later, Rosa has become the first female Earth Master.  However, gender groundbreaking means nothing to obsessed Rosa as she never has forgotten the brutality that occurred to her grandmother.  Thus her fixated mission in life is to eradicate the malevolent especially werewolves who assault the innocent.  As she becomes a super slayer, Rosa struggles with etiquette when forced to join society.

 

The ninth Elemental Masters fairy tale (see Steadfast) is a delightful twisting rendition of Little Red Riding Hood after the wolf swallowed grandma.  Rosa is a terrific protagonist who keeps the engaging nineteenth century storyline with its rich Central European background focused as she is great at killing evil but horrible at a gala decorum. 

 

Harriet Klausner

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