From A High Tower
Mercedes Lackey
DAW, Jun 2 2015,
$25.95
ISBN 9780756408985
In Freiberg, Friedrich Schnittel struggles to feed his eight
children and pregnant wife Maria when he finds a plentiful garden. He brings home food, but on his third
nocturnal raid, a cold female voice growls at him for stealing from her
garden. Instead of her dogs attacking
him or prison, the Earth Master allows him to continue to feed his children and
spouse in exchange for the soon to be born baby.
Mother raises Giselle in isolation except somewhat for the Black
Forest Foresters. Whenever Mother must
leave Giselle by herself, she locks her daughter inside a tower allegedly to
keep her safe. While Mother is in
Fredericksburg, a handsome young man Johann Schmidt arrives at the Tower. She helps him up into the Tower, but when he
attacks her, she displays the skills of an Air Master until Mother tosses the
rogue out the window. When Mother dies,
Giselle dressed as Gunther leaves her only home.
The Eleventh Elemental Masters (see Blood Red and Steadfast) is an
engaging version of Rapunzel. Readers
will appreciate the heroine’s hairy misadventures, but lacks tension as
Giselle’s key adversary makes extremely limited appearances.
Harriet Klausner
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