This is the fifth book in the Elemental Masters series and veers away from the upper class Elemental Masters of the earlier books. It stars a young French ballet dancer named Ninette Dupond who had been raised by her washerwoman/artists' model mother after her English father disappeared. Ninette's mother didn't see any future for her pretty, talented daughter except to attract the attention of a wealthy man who would keep her.

Ninette thought that finding said wealthy man would be her future until she filled in for the star one matinee and danced too well. Her fine reviews made the star jealous and led to Ninette losing her job. With only days left before the rent came due on her apartment and no other job offers, Ninette is disposed to listen when a cat comes to her window and speaks into her mind.

The cat has a plan to get Ninette to Blackpool, England, where she could work in the theater owned by an Elemental Master. The plan requires that she pretend to be the Russian survivor of a shipwreck named Nina Tchereslavsky which will give her an edge up both with the impresario and with the public in Blackpool.

Unfortunately, the real Nina Tchereslavsky who is actually an evil Earth elemental hears about Ninette and is determined to have her revenge on the girl who has stolen her name. It will be up to her cat, her new friends from the theater, and her own strength and courage to win the day.

This was an engaging story with just enough magic to add luster. The setting of Blackpool in 1910 was well-developed. Ninette was an engaging character whose strong work ethic and kindness made her a favorite of all who met her. The narration by Mirabai Galashan was also excellent. ( )

Lackey never produces great literature, but she often gives her readers an entertaining read. She is uneven, though, and this book is, well, boring. The ideas and the plot aren't bad, and I really liked the villian. However, this needed a couple of rewrites before it was published. Lackey has forgotten the "show, not tell" creed taught in all fiction writing classes. Way too much uninteresting explanation of every single plot point; way too little focus on the characters. ( )

one of the weakest of the elemental mages books, it is still entertaining. ( )

This is my first Mercedes Lackey novel. I checked out her website and am amazed at the number of books she has written. Since this is my first reading one of her books, I cannot really compare it to her other works.

I did like the book. The story was not really held together well by the the characters but I did like the whole elemental magic part. I'm not sure if the characters were carried over from previous works or if they were solely created for this book. No one stood out as particularly deep or endearing with the exception of the villainness. You knew where she stood in her vengeance against the protagonist. She was well rounded and complete in who she was and what her ultimate goal would be. I appreciate an author who can create a character that evokes a strong response in me. The other characters were just there. Ms. Lackey even brings a last minute character in the form of a water mage who is given a bit part then disappears.

I did like her descriptions of the life of a ballet dancer (or any dancer) of that era. She was clear and concise on the many sacrifices women had to make to survive.

Ms. Lackey casted enough of a web that I am interested in her other series and will pursue them, particularly the elemental series. ( )

Non-specific spoilers below.

While parts of the book were entertaining and a few of the characters endearing, one big thing kept this book at a "3" rather than a "4" or a "5."

For me, Ms. Lackey is over-fond of the villain who takes over someone else's body/life. In thirty seconds, I can think of ten of her books that have the same theme, and I'm sure there are plenty more.

With that said, it's mostly a fun read, and the horrific parts are sufficiently shuddersome without being stomach-turning. It was a nice way to while away a snowy Saturday. ( )