I'm beginning to think that whoever does the cover art/summary for the elemental masters series should be shot. Remember when your mama told you not to judge a book by it's cover? This series is what she is talking about. I resisted these books for years simply because of the summary and cover art... then I read Fire Rose.

On to the actual book now. Suzanne is one of the more enchanting and engaging characters I have read about in the last few months. Cast away by her father, Suzanne is raised by the servants of the household and educated in the ways of magic by a very familiar character indeed. (view spoiler)[ The most pleasing characterization of Puck I think I have ever read (hide spoiler)] She has the obligatory adventure that all these books have and, although she kept the descriptions quite vague, if you are scared stiff of zombies, ghost and things like that... The're in this book. Fair warning.

(view spoiler)[ It interests me that the main villain here is a "good guy gone bad". The book drops some hints that he wasn't quite as warm-hearted as many Earth Masters should be. But I do wish Lackey had perhaps shown us a little of his descent into madness so severe he would sacrifice his own daughter. (hide spoiler)]