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The Fire Rose (Elemental Masters #1)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 4,854 ratings · 213 reviews

San Francisco, 1905: Rosalind, a medieval scholar, is hired by Jason, a powerful sorcerer. Jason's enemy offers to restore Rosalind's family fortune if she will betray Jason. And then the earthquake strikes. . . .

Paperback, 433 pages

Published November 1st 1996 by Baen (first published October 1st 1995)

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Feb 07, 2011 Mariel rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: the bangles

Recommended to Mariel by: an untrustworthy (it is clear to me now) amazon reviewer

You know the old cliche of something being so bad it is good? Some cliches and stereotypes got started in the first place for a good reason. They say that to indicate the bad stuff you enjoy that gives you indigestion afterwards. Well, The Fire Rose is almost so bad it's good and then so bad it's back to being plain old bad again. Throwing up your hands in frustrated disgust bad. (I feel like those chicks from the yoghurt ads. "Good... Unbutton your pants and cut up your credit cards GOOD!") It'...more You know the old cliche of something being so bad it is good? Some cliches and stereotypes got started in the first place for a good reason. They say that to indicate the bad stuff you enjoy that gives you indigestion afterwards. Well, The Fire Rose is almost so bad it's good and then so bad it's back to being plain old bad again. Throwing up your hands in frustrated disgust bad. (I feel like those chicks from the yoghurt ads. "Good... Unbutton your pants and cut up your credit cards GOOD!") It's disgusting. I'm disgusted. ("You don't look disgusted, Mariel. You look like you like it!") I've complained about this book to my twin to the point it has taken on epic proportions between us. She hasn't even read it and can quote entire passages (which never fails to crack me up). The baddie who breaks in trafficked hookers as a hobby (he learns Spanish and Chinese just to torment the religious girls about their impurities. Couldn't he just heckle bad comedians? I personally like to heckle athletes at the park. I even did it in Spanish once. "¡Malo!"), the lover who stays the beast in the end (she prefers him that way! Those Egyptian sphinx heads were oddly attractive). There is much bad goodness here. It's an embarrassment of riches, that's what it is. Yet it is still so, so bad. It is a wonder I didn't throw it at the wall, or in the trash (my twin has thrown books of mine in the trash out of fits of dramatic disgust- before I've had the chance to read them. "That was mine!" "I'm doing you a favor!" I prefer to switch out what she is reading and replace it with The Fire Rose).

What was with the constant use of italics? Living in a college town I've had the misfortune to buy many used books that are highlighted out the ass. The italics here are about as intrusive as that. It can be fun to read the notes written in the margins. Kinda like reading a book with someone else, even if sometimes you'll start writing a school paper on it too. I wanna read for fun, damnit! In that case, it was Lackey's own fault that I criticized her book harshly. She put me in mind of school papers. And her use of italics was like those kids who highlighted the unimportant stuff and wrote margins that massively missed the point.

The magical theory was pretty good. I liked the competitive master/student relationships, and the mad science gone horribly wrong quality. The student who conned her into doing his homework was probably too realistic though (he should've written in his own margins!). Coughs not that I've ever let anyone copy off me. (I hate heroines who speak infinity languages when my Spanish is pathetic.) (Then again, I never had a good enough reason like torturing prostitutes I've broken in to motivate me. What is Spanish for you suck in bed?)
Lackey shouldn't have tried for a Beauty and the Beast tale. The point was that the Beast gets a better personality. He's still beastly AND still an animal. (And I did so want to enjoy a bestility romance...)

I've not read anything else by Ms. Lackey. Every bookshop in town has at least two shelves dedicated to her (none other than R.A. Salvatore receive that royal treatment). Where to start? Perhaps the gay robot book and I could make it a theme weekend and pair it up with Tanith Lee's Silver Metal Lover. Anyone wanna do it with me? I'd doodle gay robots in the margins of my books (don't wanna miss the point, after all).

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Apr 09, 2013 Kathleen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, pnr-uf, ya, beauty-beast, series-opener

Hadn't read Lackey before, but she's prolific, and some reviews are very positive, so I was looking forward to her take on Beauty and the Beast in historic San Francisco. What a disappointment! For those who want romance, there is not so much as a kiss despite the HEA wedding -- no great loss, since I dislike the hero, Jason Cameron.

I had more respect for the heroine, Rosalind (Rose) Hawkins. But not much. Blame it on Lackey's introduction of this young bespectacled historian:

In the autumn of...more

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Jun 12, 2007 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I was excited as hell when I saw that Lackey had done a fairy tale retelling, as I tend to like her work, and I love fairy tale retellings.

However, I found this book rather a disappointment. Robin McKinley is 100 times more talented at the retelling, and honestly, I don't think Lackey put her best effort into this.

A decent read, but not really worth the effort.

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Mar 11, 2008 piraterie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romantic-fantasy, romance, read2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Hmm.

An all right read, but definitely not lacking in problems. I can't even really say what I did like about it, besides the fact that I was entertained. The problems though...

1. The cover. I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover. This one is seriously fug though.

2. Villains are never interesting when they are just pure evil. The villainy in this book was of the ridiculously mwahahaaa-so-evil variety. Lame.

3. Okay, so this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. In which you would think th...more

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Mar 29, 2009 Evan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorite fairy tales. And I am a serious sucker for retelling/modernizations of fairy tales, so this seemed right up my ally.

I've read very little Mercedes Lackey, but she seems to have a problem writing villains realistically, or at all. The main villain didn't appear until the very end and he was more annoying than evil. The main vessel of evil was so over the top that I nicknamed him Rapist McBabyeater. That's about how subtle it was. I mean, he brea...more Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorite fairy tales. And I am a serious sucker for retelling/modernizations of fairy tales, so this seemed right up my ally.

I've read very little Mercedes Lackey, but she seems to have a problem writing villains realistically, or at all. The main villain didn't appear until the very end and he was more annoying than evil. The main vessel of evil was so over the top that I nicknamed him Rapist McBabyeater. That's about how subtle it was. I mean, he breaks in women kidnapped to be whores on the weekend as a hobby! Though my favorite Evil Trait of his was that he didn't study and hated learning.

The overall story was interesting. Fairy tale adaptations don't hinge just on the story but on how they transcribe the fairy tale to the new setting. That's where most of the flaws came in.

The Beauty character is the reader's (or at least target audience's) avatar. Pretty but not too much so, and bookish without making the reader feel stupid. The smarts felt a facade when she wondered aloud whether or not Stanford University was coed or not. She's supposed to be a PhD level linguist, how does she not at least have a passing familiarity with this information? My favorite moment of her character was when she dismissed the Bronte novels on display, despite staring in a story that had similar trappings to her life.

I was annoyed at her ability to be the best at everything. She figures out the magic training extremely quickly, she is tempted as part of the training and resists without any struggle, and she is the best most magic virgin to ever talk to a unicorn. Somewhat annoying. To be fair, it is established that once she gets interested in a subject she pursues it with unfailing interest, but it was a bit too much.

The Beast character was forgettable other than me trying to figure out why he needed the Beauty character exactly. He had normal hands and he had magic lizard servants, why lure a lady linguist to his lair? He didn't impress me much, other than his Byronic hero qualities. He, of course, finds the Beauty character pretty even though no one else does. He doesn't become human again in the end, which is awkward to imagine. How so they kiss? He did maul a dude in the book, so we know his teeth are not harmless.

The tale pretty much throws the classic ending away and instead we have the great 1906 Quake and an anticlimactic fight scene.

The book is a good fluffy read, but I would recommend Lackey's other books in the Elemental Masters series over this one.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Corrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!

I met Mercedes Lackey a couple of years ago at Ad Astra, and I began reading her work afterwards. While her Valdemar books are possibly the best known, I prefer her Elemental Masters and 500 Kingdoms series. Each Elemental Masters novel follows a young woman in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century as she discovers her own magical powers and uses them to change her life. The idea is that all magicians have an element that they are...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Shoshana rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of fairy tales, fantasy, the early 20th century, and/or Lackey

Shelves: fairy-tales, fantasy, historical-fiction, old-favorite, ya

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where Beauty isn't a prisoner and the Beast isn't beastly? Absolutely! I'll take it! Especially in this old favorite, still rife with conflict, touched with a love story, and doused thoroughly in elemental magic.

Some of the writing isn't perfect; sometimes it's a hair dramatic. But on the whole, Lackey does a nice job here developing characters and conflict, and exploring the early 20th century world she sets them in. In fact, this book gives me a bit of hope...more

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Dec 28, 2012 LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star, historical, read-2009, format-print, acquired-bought-used

This book is set in the early 20th century. Rose Hawkins is a young scholar in Chicago who finds herself having to make some tough decisions after her father dies and creditors take nearly everything she has left. With no other options left to her, she accepts a position as a governess for the children of Jason Cameron, a wealthy rail baron in San Francisco. When she arrives at her new home and workplace, she discovers that Cameron wasn't entirely truthful. While he doesn't actually have childre...more This book is set in the early 20th century. Rose Hawkins is a young scholar in Chicago who finds herself having to make some tough decisions after her father dies and creditors take nearly everything she has left. With no other options left to her, she accepts a position as a governess for the children of Jason Cameron, a wealthy rail baron in San Francisco. When she arrives at her new home and workplace, she discovers that Cameron wasn't entirely truthful. While he doesn't actually have children, he does need her scholarly expertise. A recent accident has made it impossible to read the books he needs to read in order to conduct his research. Rose agrees to work for him under these changed conditions, but the strange books he has her reading make her begin to wonder about the secrets Cameron is hiding.

And wonder she should - Cameron is no ordinary man, and his accident was definitely not a normal one. Cameron is an Elemental Master whose specialty is Fire. Confident in his abilities, Cameron attempted a spell that he thought would allow him to assume the form of a wolf at will. However, something went wrong, and he was left in a painful half-man, half-wolf body. He's determined to find a way to undo what he's done, but he needs help for that, which is where Rose comes in. Of course, Rose is neither stupid nor incurious, and Jason eventually finds it necessary to prove the existence of Elemental Magic to her. Rose stays by Jason, even when she discovers what his accident has done to his appearance. With an old enemy looking for any exploitable weakness, Jason needs all the friends he can get.

I have to admit, I wouldn't have minded it if Lackey had only written this one Elemental Masters book. This is by far the best in the series, with interesting and usually enjoyable characters and an almost believable romance (I'll get to that later). The "Beauty and the Beast" aspect doesn't feel at all forced, mainly because Lackey doesn't require that the book use all the details from the story (actually, she doesn't use hardly any).

The magical system was fascinating. I suppose I can see why she felt the need to write more books - this one only scratched the surface of one or two elements, leaving much more that could be explored. This book teaches readers about Elemental Magic through Rose, who becomes Jason's apprentice - it's a nice way to give readers a lot of information while keeping things from getting boring. I loved reading about the Salamanders, and I only wish Lackey had spent more time writing about the Sylphs.

The setting was also fun to read about. I can't personally say whether Lackey got all the details right, but nothing struck me as being jarringly wrong. I wasn't always a fan of Rose and Jason's many popular culture references (or what would have been popular culture back then - musicals, opera, books, etc.) - those felt a little overdone, like Lackey was trying a little too hard. I did, however, like the "life in 1905/1906" details that came up occasionally, like the tidbits about Rose's clothing, etc. Rose's trip to Chinatown was also a lot of fun.

I also enjoyed the romance in this book, although this is one of those romantic storylines that is most enjoyable if you don't think about it too much. The friendship and, eventually, love between Rose and Jason develops smoothly and naturally enough. I think what bothers me is thinking about how the mechanics of their relationship will work. Unlike "Beauty and the Beast," which ends with the Beast becoming a man again, Jason doesn't become like he once was. At one point, Jason finds himself wondering how a relationship between him and Rose could possibly work, since kissing him would be like "kissing an Alsatian," even though he's pretty much human from nipples to mid-thigh. Rose is, at first, startled and upset by Jason's appearance, but she gradually grows used to him and even finds him a little attractive, kind of like one of the Egyptian gods. This, I'm guessing, is supposed to reassure readers that she won't mind doing more than hand-holding with Jason, but I'm not buying it. Apparently, either Lackey thought a sex scene, or even kissing, would turn readers off, or maybe even she couldn't picture how things would work out, because Rose and Jason are never described as doing more than holding hands.

Some readers may also be turned off by Lackey's one-dimensional villains. Paul, Jason's apprentice and secretary, has absolutely no redeeming characteristics. Actually, the fact that Jason knew about his apprentice's horrific entertainments and did nothing is a black mark against him - if Rose ever finds out, Jason's going to be in the dog house, no pun intended. Simon, Jason's enemy, is even more one-dimensional. He's there to be both bad and (somewhat) clever, while Paul is merely bad. If you like your villains to be more than just cardboard, this is not the book for you.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and it held up nicely to a re-read, after a few years of sitting in my bookshelves collecting dust. I think I'll just pretend that the other books in the series never happened...

(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)(less)

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Jun 25, 2012 Ward Bond added it

...more

Rosalind Hawkins is a medieval scholar from a fine family in Chicago. Unfortunately, her professor father has speculated away the family money and died, leaving young Rosalind with no fortune and no future. Desolate with grief, forced to cut her education short, she agrees to go West to take a job as a governess to a wealthy man in San Francisco. A boom town in the 1850s, in 1905 San Francisco is the center of culture in the new West, and perhaps there she will rediscover a reason for living. But when she arrives at Jason Cameron's mansion on a hill overlooking the Pacific, she discovers that there are no children, not even a wife, in residence: just the gentleman himself and his enigmatic manservant. Penniless, Rosalind stays despite her misgivings. For the household is very odd indeed. Despite there being but one servant, the huge house is immaculate and food is prepared and served in the most elegant manner. Oddest of all is the master of the house: Rosalind never sees him, but communicates only through a speaking tube, and only at night. But then...she is happy. For her job in the household is to read to him: Latin, French, Greek, German - and she feels herself coming alive once more. As for Jason Cameron, through his contact with Rosalind, he, too, is renewed. An Adept and Alchemist, Master of the Element of Fire, he had attempted the old French werewolf transformation - and bungled it. Stuck in wolf form, over the years he had slowly been losing his humanity. Rosalind is bringing it back to him. But when a rival alchemist offers Rosalind the chance to restore her family's fortune in exchange for Jason's secret, who will she side with? And then the earthquake strikes....

Annotation

One of the hottest writers in the fantasy genre, Mercedes Lackey boasts an audience that is impressively large and rapidly growing. This unusual new fantasy tells the story of a brave young woman caught in a clash between enemy sorcerers in San Francisco in the 1900s--on the eve of the San Francisco earthquake!

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Mar 20, 2012 Samara rated it 3 of 5 stars

A twist on the story of Beauty and the Beast set in the early 1900s, scholar and recent orphan Rosalind Hawkins is offered a job by wealthy rail baron Jason Cameron: tutoring his two children in the classics. Throwing caution to the wind, she arrives in her new employer's home in San Francisco to find that the letter was a ruse: there are no children, Cameron himself is a reclusive invalid, and, other than Cameron's secretary Paul du Mond, no servents. Cameron brought her to his manor in order t...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Mareena rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes historical fantasy

Recommended to Mareena by: Barnes and Noble

Impoverished heiress Rosalind Hawkins is a thoroughly modern medieval scholar. When her father dies after losing all the family fortunes in bad investments, Rose has to apply for a position of some sort. What she receives is a request to become governess to a reclusive rail baron's precocious children. When Rose arrives in Jason Cameron's palatial mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay, she discovers that there are no children for her to teach, and the house is filled with invisible servants and...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Maya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmm... I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I got it as an audiobook, and I definitely got through it quickly: 11 hours in 2.5 days! So overall I enjoyed it. It was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I'm always up for. It's one of the more creative ones I've found. But I had a few issues with it.

First of all, I felt that the second half is far more rushed than the first. It took a long time to get to action at first: Lackey describes everything in vivid detail, and as this is h...more Hmm... I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I got it as an audiobook, and I definitely got through it quickly: 11 hours in 2.5 days! So overall I enjoyed it. It was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I'm always up for. It's one of the more creative ones I've found. But I had a few issues with it.

First of all, I felt that the second half is far more rushed than the first. It took a long time to get to action at first: Lackey describes everything in vivid detail, and as this is how I tend to write, I rather enjoyed it. But then the end tended to glose over some stuff that I felt was rather important to include. Such as more descriptions of magic. And the END. Oh god, the end. The look on my face was not pleasant as I listened to it!

The villains were so one-dimensional it was almost funny. Pure evil, no motives save for power makes it boring. Especially if there are numerous parts IN the main character's POV! The true villain didn't come in until the end and didn't feel nearly as bad as his servant, who (view spoiler). But the fact that the true villain comes in so late and is so underdeveloped compared to Du Mond that it just feels silly and anticlimactic.

The fact that Jason wasn't cured at the end was a bit weird, but okay. I've read adaptations where that happens, but the fact that that was what half the book was about: how to change him back, and then it never happens, is just awkward. I just kept thinking "How do you kiss?" (view spoiler)

But yeah, I enjoyed it; it was fluffy and good for an airline flight (where I started it). I will probably read more of Lackey's work, and the rest of this series, since I love fairy tales so much. I hear that the Valdemar series is brilliant. (less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Terrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure why it took me so long to read this book and start the series. It could be that I have been a lifelong fan of Mercedes Lackey and, to be fair, very little can hold a candle to Valdemar and her inhabitants. And yet, I was pleasantly and happily surprised with this book.

Lackey is an master story teller, giving just enough rich descriptions to fill your mind with wonder and just enough of a glimpse into each character’s heart that you can almost tell what they are going to do – until t...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Simeonberesford rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, green, dragon

Giles Gordon disliked Denis Wheatley 's work. As a young man he had one of Whitley's submissions sent out for a slush-pile report as if it was from an unknown.[return]The report which came back was not favourable. 'The book is terribly hackneyed,' declared the reader. 'Decline.' Giles showed this report to his boss, Robert Lusty, who was not amused. Giles was told to publish the book in short order. 'In spite of my best efforts,' said Giles, 'Dennis Wheatley's career continued to prosper.' One c...more

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May 02, 2010 ~M~ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Should I even get into the one dimensional Paul du Mond? The entire book, I was waiting for him to tie Rosalind to Cameron's railroad tracks, and then twist his mustache while laughing mockingly: "MWAH-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!" It's the only cliche the author missed including.

I loved Mercedes Lackey in college but sometime in my 30s I became tired of her simplistic characters, and especially of the chip she has on her shoulder regarding organized religion. If I had to read one more time that non-orthodox...more Should I even get into the one dimensional Paul du Mond? The entire book, I was waiting for him to tie Rosalind to Cameron's railroad tracks, and then twist his mustache while laughing mockingly: "MWAH-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!" It's the only cliche the author missed including.

I loved Mercedes Lackey in college but sometime in my 30s I became tired of her simplistic characters, and especially of the chip she has on her shoulder regarding organized religion. If I had to read one more time that non-orthodox spirituality is "good" and orthodox religious structures (to wit: Christianity) are "bad" I believed I would vomit. It makes reading the rest of what she writes a trial.

Even in this book, a novel not at all concerned with religion in any way or form, Lackey just has to spend a page or two talking about how Christians are stupid. It has nothing to do with the book or the plot or the main characters, but let's throw it in there that Christians are stupid to use the lamb symbolism, shall we? Lackey of course shows NO knowledge of the origins of that symbol, or why it was chosen in early Christian texts. You don't have to be a religious studies scholar, but if you're going to criticize, do some basic research, or leave it out.

I also have a giant problem with books set in historical eras featuring modern characters who basically just wear old fashioned clothes. I am a huge historical fiction fan, and there was more differing women in those eras from modern women than just wearing corsets. People in earlier times had different thoughts, different attitudes, and different beliefs about life.

But here is little Rose Hawkins who, by virtue of her being smart and well read, is apparently mostly outside the cultural structures of her society. All of her attitudes and beliefs are those of modern women. Except of course, she does not care to wear bloomers and be a Suffragette. Ok then.

Not to mention, she is a Medieval scholar, oh but she is reading the classics in the original Greek and Latin, and hey happens to know lots about Egyptology as well? I think not.

The one good part about this book, and the one strength Lackey has as a writer, is the great descriptions of Magick, and other fantasy-related themes. It was the only interesting part of the whole book.

Lackey needs to stick to creating fantasy worlds, because her abilities in describing characters who live in THIS world are sadly lacking.

The one good thing about this book is, it didn't require me to think too hard. When one is in finals for grad school and just wants some brainless entertainment, Mercedes Lackey is where you head.

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Apr 12, 2010 Leeanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

The Fire Rose, by Mercedes Lackey

Do NOT judge this book by its cover!

"The Fire Rose" is a gem, a masterful retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story.

The Beauty is Rose Hawkins, a booksmart Chicago native working toward a doctorate at university. The Beast is Jason Cameron, a San Francisco rail baron, and a man trapped by hubris in the body of a wolf.

Left penniless when her father dies, Rose has few options for survival. She could work as a governess or a teacher, but pursuing her cherished d...more The Fire Rose, by Mercedes Lackey

Do NOT judge this book by its cover!

"The Fire Rose" is a gem, a masterful retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story.

The Beauty is Rose Hawkins, a booksmart Chicago native working toward a doctorate at university. The Beast is Jason Cameron, a San Francisco rail baron, and a man trapped by hubris in the body of a wolf.

Left penniless when her father dies, Rose has few options for survival. She could work as a governess or a teacher, but pursuing her cherished degree is certainly out of the way. Disheartened by her situation, Rose accepts an employment offer from Jason Cameron: she will travel to San Francisco to be a governess to his children. Only when she arrives, Rose finds that Jason was lying to her: there are no children and instead she is to translate ancient alchemical books for him.

Far from being upset at the unusual situation, Rose is happy with her new life. She lives in luxury, and considers herself a research colleague rather than an employee. She is also unaware that the works she is reading to Jason are actually Magickal in content, and that Jason Cameron is a Firemaster. And Rose...she herself may have potential to do Magick.

"The Fire Rose," is to me, an almost flawless book. I've read my copy so many times the binding is worn out, and it would be a book I'd take to a desert island. Rose and Jason are two of my favorite characters of all time. I feel like they are old friends, and I dearly wish that Lackey had continued their story. "The Fire Rose" is a one book story, and has a good ending; it's just my personal (and greedy) wish for more of them.

Lackey creates a plausible magic system, and explains it over the course of the book. Because Rose reads Jason many texts, it gives the author a great way to explain how the system works. The author also pays plenty of attention to detail. "The Fire Rose" fits in perfectly with the time it is set, as all comparisons are made to period events or people. The descriptions of clothing and furnishings are sumptuous, and helped me immerse myself in the book.

There's a little of something for everybody in "The Fire Rose," and I'm always sad when I read the last page.

5/5. (less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Nenia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: x-series-bk-1, x-1990s, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit, reviewed, historical-wotsits, twice-upon-a-time, witches-not-bitches, i-burn-i-pine-i-perish

Rose, a Medieval scholar, is on the verge of killing herself when she finds that her cruel relatives have sicced the creditors on her father's estate, leaving her with little more than the clothes on her back. Luckily, her ex-faculty adviser, Professor Cathcart, has a solution: an eccentric millionaire named Jason Cameron has requested someone with precisely Rose's skills to act as a governess to his two children. Reluctantly, Rose agrees and embarks on the journey to his mansion.

Once there, she...more Rose, a Medieval scholar, is on the verge of killing herself when she finds that her cruel relatives have sicced the creditors on her father's estate, leaving her with little more than the clothes on her back. Luckily, her ex-faculty adviser, Professor Cathcart, has a solution: an eccentric millionaire named Jason Cameron has requested someone with precisely Rose's skills to act as a governess to his two children. Reluctantly, Rose agrees and embarks on the journey to his mansion.

Once there, she realizes that Cameron's mansion is literally in the middle of nowhere; and the extent to which he has sequestered himself away from the world makes her very uneasy. Especially when he tells her that the children were a pretense for his inviting her here; he has suffered a disfiguring accident, and wants her to read to him through a speaking tube. Servants that she never sees make her bed and prepare her meals and the only living person she does see his Cameron's sinister secretary, Du Mond. And Cameron has what seems to be an unhealthy interest in the occult...

Lackey gets points for creating an interesting magic system based on the four classical elements, and I adore fairytale retellings. I won't tell you which one it's based off, because if you haven't guessed already I don't want to spoil it for you. However, the plot isn't perfect. Granted, few things are, but I felt like the story had been building up to a climax that would regard both Du Mond's true intentions, and a resolution to Cameron's problems; and yet, both were highly anticlimactic and very disappointing in the ending Lackey provided. I had the same problem with the first book in her newer series The Fairy Godmother, which had similar problems, but the second book in the series was so amazing that it completely eclipsed the first. I own the second book in this series, as well, so for now I'm chalking up this story's weaknesses to the author exploring new territory and being unsure of her footing, as a result. :)(less)

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Nov 20, 2011 Mandolin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rosalind Hawkins has a brilliant mind that she refuses to sacrifice for respectability. Unfortunately, even her genius can't save her from the poverty in which her father has left her. Overcome by grief at his loss and in her situation, she contemplates suicide as her only resort to ending the misery that has become her life. Desperate for a purpose and a meaning to negate the need for that last option, she grasps at an offer to become the governess to the children of a reclusive rail baron in S...more Rosalind Hawkins has a brilliant mind that she refuses to sacrifice for respectability. Unfortunately, even her genius can't save her from the poverty in which her father has left her. Overcome by grief at his loss and in her situation, she contemplates suicide as her only resort to ending the misery that has become her life. Desperate for a purpose and a meaning to negate the need for that last option, she grasps at an offer to become the governess to the children of a reclusive rail baron in San Francisco. When she arrives at the growing and prosperous city, she quickly discovers that Jason Cameron's request for governess was a ruse...what he actually desires is a translator of classic languages to aid him in his researches. Secluded from the city itself, he lives alone in his mansion with a single manservant. Rose never sees him, communicating with him only via a speaking tube. The house, too, is mysterious; despite the apparent lack of servants, everything from meals to clothing suddenly appear as if by magic. Despite her misgivings, Rose agrees to remain in his luxurious home and aid him in his research. Surprisingly, she finds happiness and renewal in her work, soon forgetting her plans of suicide as she learns more about her new master. Ultimately, she discovers the reason behind his seclusion: Cameron is a FireMaster whose one tragic flaw, pride, led him to attempt a spell that left him as a half-man, half wolf. Stuck in his hybrid form, Jason is desperate to find the spell that will reverse his mistake and prevent him from deteriorating fully into an animal. He cannot reveal his mistake to anyone, for his rival Firemaster would quickly use it to destroy him. Will he and Rosalind find the key to his transformation? Or will Rosalind fall prey to his rival's promises of wealth in exchange for Jason's secrets?

Lackey has a broad knowledge of magical folklore and legend, as she's desplayed quite well in her newest series, the Five Hundred Kingdoms. She also proves herself to be a thorough historical researcher, providing the reader with a wonderfully clear picture of San Francisco at its height of prosperity. She deftly weaves a magical thread through the real city, making it seem very credible.

The best aspect of this book, however, is the characters. She delves into their personalities and their internal struggles, creating full-fleshed beings that come to life on the page and draw the reader into their turmoil and joy. Rather than focusing on the sub-plots of Jason's transformation and his rivalry with Simon Beltaire, she focuses on the relationship between Jason and Rose. The tension between the two pulls the reader through what would otherwise be a lackluster plot. Combined with a variety of interesting supporting characters, including the despicable du Mond, Earth Master Pao and others, they are the true heart of the novel. Unfortunately, this leads to its one big fault: the climax of the book seems too forced and easy. It's as if Lackey needed to find a quick ending to the subplots while also leaving Rose and Jason where she finally wanted them: together. Despite this flaw, however, the book was an entertaining read and, though I think that her newer books (like Beauty and the Werewolf) are much more well-written, I'm glad I read this one.
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Dec 05, 2012 Anna Moseley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: booty-kicking-books

First and foremost as much as I adore this book I would not recommend it to everyone (thus the 4 star rating instead of 5). It's a slower book in terms of action but absolutely wonderful in the aspects of character development and interest. I would recommend it for people who want a good yarn and to slow down for a bit. Don't get me wrong, it has some great action in it, but The Fire Rose is the kind of book that you just want to curl on the sofa with in front of a blazing fire and some hot tea....more First and foremost as much as I adore this book I would not recommend it to everyone (thus the 4 star rating instead of 5). It's a slower book in terms of action but absolutely wonderful in the aspects of character development and interest. I would recommend it for people who want a good yarn and to slow down for a bit. Don't get me wrong, it has some great action in it, but The Fire Rose is the kind of book that you just want to curl on the sofa with in front of a blazing fire and some hot tea.

This is also a girl power book. Rose is a perfect heroine. She's realistically flawed and acknowledges said flaws often enough to show her insecurities in particular events but not nearly enough to be a moping dolt. She also fights against the norms that society has for her (time period is early 1900s), but in her own special way. Through her determination and intelligence she really takes a stand against the prejudices that so many have against her. This is especially true when interacting with Jason Cameron.

Jason is a great character. This story is based off of Beauty and the Beast and he perfectly fits that role. He's arrogant (and ashamed of his pride, yet too proud to admit it), temperamental and prejudiced. Of course his physical form is beastly as well, but the personality just really makes it click. Of course he has his shining moments and those really were a joy to read. I loved seeing how he developed over the course of the story (especially with other animals-read it and you'll get it, but I'm not spoiling it!). He really does come into his own.

When Rose and Jason interact, weather face to face or through the speaking tubes, it's always fun to read. The way their relationship develops is well timed and thought out. I loved their banter. Watching two witty and intelligent people flirt is always a treat, especially when it's so well written!

Another wonderful aspect about this book are the villains. There are some books where girls swoon over the bad guys just as much as they do the hero. Not with these fellows! While they are attractive, their personalities are repulsive. I loved that these people were just utterly evil in the most human of ways-it was never over done. They do quite a few disturbing (and repulsive) things, but it's tactfully written. Another factor into the rating. Some of what they do can make readers uncomfortable, but maybe that's the point. They are the villains after all.

Perhaps the best part of this book (aside from Rose and Jason's interactions of course) is the Magick. This is so well thought out and so well described that it's very easy to get lost in it! I could go on for ages about it, but it would be much simpler for you to just read the book and find out all the details and quirks for yourself.

Again, I loved this book. To me it is an almost perfect book. It's well written, well paced (despite any huge action scenes until later in the book) and the romance is realistic. This is a deeply passionate and intelligent love story. Unfortunately some of these themes might seem a bit old hat thanks to so much of them being featured (sometimes poorly) in current YA lit. Keep in mind this book was written long before Twilight! The details added so much and the characters were thoroughly enjoyable. If you have a thing for retelling of faerie-tales, well thought out magick and want to truly get attached to some characters, then you'll no doubt enjoy this! (less)

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Jun 08, 2009 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, romance

My friend lent me this book without the cover--and I totally agree, the cover is too spoilery! But oh well.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the second Mecerdes Lackey book I've read, but she really shows off her skill here. Set in the turn of the 20th century San Francisco, her research into this historical period is flawless. The technology is right, the clothes are right, the attitudes feel right, the language is marvelous. Not only that, but Rose's characterization is believable and likable....more

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Mar 25, 2013 Rosa Aquafire rated it 4 of 5 stars

"I really liked it."

Honestly this deserves far closer to a three. It suffers from every single one of the Mercedes Lackey pitfalls, including but not limited to:

- Sedate first act followed by compressed second act and a blitzed third act.
- Laughably and yet disturbingly evil villains (where do you come UP with this shit Misty?)
- Plot points appearing out of nowhere and then getting harped on forever like she suddenly realized what a great idea they were.
- About twice as many words that need to b...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Jill Furedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yes, I'm reading another Beauty and the Beast retelling. And I'm glad I did...this is my favorite of the few Mercedes Lackey books I've read. I felt there was potential in her last few books, but they never grabbed me this fully. This one I really enjoyed. Yet at the same time, upon realizing there were more Elemental Masters books, I read the blurbs and haven't decided if I'll pick those up. If they had continued the Rose and Jason, I would definately read them. Or even if they involved Master...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

So each time I reread this book, I think I like it a little less. For one thing, random quotation marks are everywhere and random quotation marks drive me INSANE. Rose was too smart to be a "proper" "lady" and the "good" "Christians" objected to her "modern" ideas. Arg! Death to random quotation marks! For another thing, ML has certain canned rants about religion and the oppression of women that get old, especially because they're not particularly sophisticated canned rants. I've started skippin...more

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May 04, 2011 Belinda Kroll rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tale, fantasy, historical, victorian

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The story began slowly, and the description sometimes got in the way of the plot, I felt. At its heart, this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. We have the beast, Jason Cameron, a elemental wizard who got too big for his britches and tried a spell he didn't know how to uncast. We have the beauty, an heiress who was working on her PhD when her father died and left her penniless.

Though the story moved slowly, I kept reading it because I loved Rosal...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars. Rosalind Hawkins enjoyed a privileged life in turn-of-the-century Chicago as the daughter of a respected, well-to-do academic with the luxury and acumen to pursue advanced academic study. But shortly before his death her father gambled away the family fortune, leaving Rosalind penniless and unable to pursue her graduate work in medieval studies, her future a frightening and uncertain void. But hope arrives in the form of a most unusual query -- Jason Cameron, a wealthy railroad baron...more 3.5 Stars. Rosalind Hawkins enjoyed a privileged life in turn-of-the-century Chicago as the daughter of a respected, well-to-do academic with the luxury and acumen to pursue advanced academic study. But shortly before his death her father gambled away the family fortune, leaving Rosalind penniless and unable to pursue her graduate work in medieval studies, her future a frightening and uncertain void. But hope arrives in the form of a most unusual query -- Jason Cameron, a wealthy railroad baron in San Francisco seeks governess well-versed in the classics to tutor his children. Grasping this thin hope of salvation, Rosalind heads west, only to discover that where Jason Cameron is concerned, nothing is as it seems. Cameron's immaculate home appears to employ only one servant -- the wily Paul du Mond -- and there are no children. Surrounded by riches beyond her wildest dreams, Rosalind is asked to agree to a most unorthodox arrangement -- reading ancient and obscure texts to Cameron every evening via a speaking tube. Though she's never set eyes on her employer, Rosalind grows to embrace the purpose and opportunities afforded to her by her new life. And Jason, an adept in "magick" and a Master of the Element of Fire, imprisoned in his home by an experiment gone awry, begin to cherish the hope for a future outside his study walls thanks to Rosalind's friendship. But Jason's enemies will do anything to prevent him from finding a cure, and in allying herself to the enigmatic Fire Master, Rosalind finds herself facing dangers that threaten to rob her of the life she's come to love and the future she's dared to hope for with Jason...

It's no secret that I adore fairy tales, and therefore I'm always on the lookout for new-to-me retellings that will put a fresh spin on a classic tale. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorites, and as such I was thrilled to stumble upon The Fire Rose, Lackey's take on the love story as old as time. In Lackey's alternate early twentieth-century history, "magick" is real, ruled by masters of the four elements -- earth, wind, air, and fire. Masters are individuals whose internal "balance" leans sharply toward one of the four elements, and when that preference is identified they are then apprenticed with an eye toward becoming adepts in their chosen field, able to communicate with the spirits of their element (salamanders for fire, sylphs for air, etc.) and exert control in their sphere of power. Lackey's world-building is one of the novel's greatest strengths -- she takes time (albeit perhaps occasionally tending towards pedanatry) exploring the mechanics of this alternate history, grounding her magic in plausible, elemental connections. In many ways it's workable -- and that sense of the everyday, that sense of credibility shades Rosalind and Jason's world with texture and possibility.

For me, the "Beauty" character is essential to the success of any Beauty and the Beast retelling -- she must not only be able to look beyond the "Beast's" beastly exterior, but preferably possesses an intelligence and poise that sets her apart from other fairy tale heroines of her ilk. I loved Rosalind's love of learning, her passion for education and the written word. Her struggle with finding her "place" in 1905 is handled with aplomb and sensitivity -- she may be an atypical, forward-thinking woman, but she is also very much a product of her time and as such grapples with the restrictions and opportunities afforded to her in an authentic manner. Jason is her perfect match, relishing the challenges provided by a woman who isn't afraid to exercise her intellectual prowess. He's quite proud, which is what gets him into trouble to begin with -- but it also makes it a bit hard to warm to his character. While I loved that Lackey crafts two extremely intelligent leads, I do wish she'd spent a bit less time world-building and a bit more time interjecting some romantic spark into Rosalind and Jason's relationship -- their story is, after all, inspired by arguably one of the most romantic fairy tales.

The Fire Rose is a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to Lackey's writing, and as a precursor to her British-set Elemental Magic novels, I definitely plan to investigate her magical take on the early twentieth-century further. Considering the source, this is a surprisingly realistic -- at times almost gritty -- retelling. Lackey doesn't shy away from acknowledging the seamier side of life facing unprotected women in 1905 San Francisco. And despite the development of magic in this alternate history, the elemental ties to the 1905 earthquake and its aftermath lends this novel more of a historical than a fantasy feel. It's a unique, refreshing take on fairy tale retellings, and if further novels interject greater romantic spark and character development, I'll be a very happy reader. (less)

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May 01, 2013 Lis Carey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, f-sf, fiction

It's 1905, and Rosalind Hawkins, her father recently dead after losing all their money in ill-advised investing, needs to give up her pursuit of a university degree and a scholarly career, and find paying work. When an offer arrives of a position as a governess for two bright children in San Francisco, it seems like a Godsend. She's soon on the train from Chicago to San Francisco.

Rose arrives to find that her employer, Jason Cameron, is extremely wealthy, as well as quite eccentric, and the posi...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Chev E rated it 4 of 5 stars

After her father loses all of their money in a Ponzi-like scheme and dies shortly after, Rose is left completely destitute with nowhere to go. So when Jason Cameron, a railroad baron and secret sorcerer, offers her a position as a governess, she has no choice but to accept. Upon arrival in his manor, she discovers that her students are not two precocious children, as she was first informed, but her new boss himself. Due to a magical mistake, Jason is half-wolf, and he has hired Rose to help him...more After her father loses all of their money in a Ponzi-like scheme and dies shortly after, Rose is left completely destitute with nowhere to go. So when Jason Cameron, a railroad baron and secret sorcerer, offers her a position as a governess, she has no choice but to accept. Upon arrival in his manor, she discovers that her students are not two precocious children, as she was first informed, but her new boss himself. Due to a magical mistake, Jason is half-wolf, and he has hired Rose to help him with his research. However, every powerful man has enemies, and Jason's enemy, who already has the creepy steward on his side, wants to win Rose over to aid in Jason's downfall. However, Rose is nothing like the demure insipid woman the two sexists imagine her to be and are faced with a lot more than they bargained for when Rose starts training to become an elemental master in her own right.

I found this modern telling of Beauty and the Beast a tad disturbing. The romance and plot was cute, but the fact that he was still a wolf at the end made my stomach churn a bit. I understand the whole concept of looking at the inside and not the outside, but I think this book took it a little too far.

I haven't read many of Mercedes Lackey's books, but from what I've noticed, every heroine is strong, confident, entirely too sensible, and exactly the same. They all manage to be so sure of themselves that it comes off as cocky. They all think straight in completely crazy situations that make any normal person go nuts. But what I dislike the most about them, is that they seem to split people into two categories: people they like and people they don't. This wouldn't even bother me so much if it weren't for the qualifications that they use to judge, because it seems like they deem someone unworthy if they aren't as smart or sensible as the heroine herself, and she is always very smart and very sensible. They also give me the impression that they think they're better than everyone else, and that they are the only sane people around, save for one or two specific people. Maybe I'm magnifying my own slight observations and extending them to all the other heroines, but even their most staunch supporters have to admit that these girls are a bit judgy.(less)

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Mar 26, 2010 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesomeauthors, fantasy, historical, own

Seeing that this was the first in the Elemental Masters series confirms my suspicions upon finishing it. It definitely seemed like an earlier work by an otherwise amazing writer. Many of Lackey's talents at storytelling are present, however there were a few issues with the story that appeared the product of inexperience rather than lack of talent. Some of the subplots were given endings that felt hasty and convenient, and I felt that not enough was explained in the end -- not that any great myst...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Jeremy Preacher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical

I had read a number of the Elemental Masters series before I realized that this was properly the first one - as it's a different publisher than the rest, it's not listed with them.

All of the series are loose retellings of traditional fairy tales, set in the turn-of-the-century "real world" but with the framework of elemental magic added in. The Fire Rose is a Beauty and the Beast story, and it's basically a romance - there's really not much plot to speak of beyond the will-they-or-won't-they. Th...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Awallens rated it 3 of 5 stars

Accepting employment as a governess after hard times hit her family, medieval scholar Rosalind Hawkins is surprised when she learns that her mysterious
employer has no children and only wants her to read to him through a speaking tube. What secrets is her employer hiding behind the tube? what magical abilities does he have?
this book took a while to get started. Once I settled myself down to read it, though, I really enjoyed it. I was kind of disappointed in the narration of this book. Kristin ali...more

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About Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts &...more Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.

"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as `my job.' My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of `story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the `folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.

"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't `not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a `high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL [`There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the `evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.

"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:

"There's no such thing as `one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."

Also known as Misty Lackey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/merced...(less)

More about Mercedes Lackey...

Books by Mercedes Lackey

Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1)

Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #1)

Magic's Price (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #3)

Magic's Promise (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #2)

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“Mister Cameron - I have read the unexpurgated Ovid, the love poems of Sappho, the Decameron in the original, and a great many texts in Greek and Latin histories that were not though fit for proper gentlemen to read, much less proper ladies. I know in precise detail what Caligula did to, and with, his sisters, and I can quote it to you in Latin or in my own translation if you wish. I am interested in historical truth, and truth in history is often unpleasant and distasteful to those of fine sensibility. I frankly doubt that you will produce anything to shock me. ” — 40 people liked it

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The Fire Rose (Elemental Masters #1)

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