Steadfast

Elemental Masters, Book 8

By: Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by: Carmela Corbett

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The new novel in Mercedes Lackey’s best-selling series of an alternative Edwardian Britain, where magic is real - and Elemental Masters are in control.

Lionel Hawkins is a magician whose act is only partially sleight of hand. The rest is real magic. He’s an Elemental Magician with the power to persuade the Elementals of Air to help him create amazing illusions. It doesn’t take long before his assistant, acrobat Katie Langford, notices that he’s no ordinary magician - and for Lionel to discover that she’s no ordinary acrobat, but rather an untrained and unawakened Fire Magician. She’s also on the run from her murderous and vengeful brute of a husband. But can she harness her magic in time to stop her husband from achieving his deadly goal?

©2013 Mercedes Lackey (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Which is worse, an abusive husband or being an untrained fire mage?

As always, Mercedes Lackey's story keeps you enthralled. Will Katie find a job before she starves? Will she be safe from her strongman abusive husband? Will she learn to control her magic?

WONDERFUL!!!

i think this was wonderful. the book was great and the narrator is wonderful to listen to.

WESK

The writing in this story is so weak compared to previous stories by Mercedes Lackey, I have the suspicion that she didn’t actually write this, that she was a ghost rider. Like the previous book in the series from the sea, the writer doesn’t use subjunctive tense when she supposed to, incorrect words are used and the plot was lacking. I just really did not enjoy this book I found it a waste of time and it was just a filler for the contract. What I find really strange is that mess like he has written many books with strong female protagonist even in this universe of Victorian or Edwardian or whatever 18th century England. This one is a throwback to the poor, defenseless woman who needs a man or two to save her. She’s an elemental magician she never thought to use her elementals to spy on her husband? She didn’t think to use her elementals to get her out of beatings? She was totally submissive and just excepted everything that happened to her.Very disappointing. I regret purchasing this book

Love this concept of magic

I have listened to this story a few times now. one of Lackeys best. the narrator is a bit slow but you get used to the pacing and is otherwise excellent

A wonderful tale

I love these Elemental Masters stories. Katie is running from an abusive husband, and her marriage to him seems suspect in the first place. She meets Jack and Lionel who try to gently break her unknown talents to her. A great narrator.

Lackey does it again!

Well developed characters, interesting story. The plot is a bit "we've been here before", but the secomdary characters are realistic. And the villain can be hissed without compunction.

something about nothing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. The characters are flat. They seem like they can grown and be super interesting but nothing happens. They might come up with a plan, the super wizard might come and help and the heroine might get the courage or wit to escape, but in the end a fluke happens and there is no need for characters to do anything.

Would you ever listen to anything by Mercedes Lackey again?

yes. Have liked many of her books previously, and she does have a tendency to wrap up things in the last 5 minutes, but this one really goes nowhere.

What didn’t you like about Carmela Corbett’s performance?

She talks very very slow and with no, NO expression aside from the very sweet, shy, girl. Her pauses are too long between sentences and I kept wondering if I had run out of battery or I was about to get a call. Also, it's infuriating when she reads "what?" (in a shy voice) and the narration continues: " she said outraged" or "she said angrily" . Her family must enjoy the narrators angry moments if this is all the expression she is able to manage

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

yes

Any additional comments?

boring and a waste of time

A good listen

Very enjoyable addition to Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series. A little slow in parts compared to other of her excellent works, but overall well worth the time and effort.

Good, but not great.

I enjoy Lackey's books, the elemental masters series especially, but I don't think Steadfast lived up to the rest of the series. It had some great moments, but overall, I felt there were too many loose ends.

The heroine was a little flat. She has an interesting back story, but she doesn't seem to grow very much, and where their was the potential for her to--regain herself?--it wraps up too quickly to feel like anything momentous has occurred.

An old favorite character is briefly trotted out and just as briefly disappears with no explanation of what happened, and no real reason for his having been included.

I was left feeling like there was a lot left unsaid and I'd love to see the author's notes on this story.

On the other hand, it's the Elemental Masters series! I still enjoyed listening, and I'll probably listen to it again. It gave a little more information about the rules of elemental magic in the Lackey-verse. It was a very different class/culture of people than she has written about before. While there are are shades of Reserved for the Cat, I think the story is different enough to stand by itself.

Overall, I'd say that if you are a fan of the series, it's a must have just as part of the collection. If you are just starting, don't start with this book.

Domestic Violence PTSD Trigger

If you have ever been though domestic violence be warned some bits here are graphic & may stir up unpleasant memories.

The narrator needs work at changing voices.

The stories in this series have gotten a bit too "preachy." The tales are being lost in the lessons.
I would recommend this to help someone understand domestic violence victims better. I don't think I'd recommend it as a. Story.