Review: The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Title: The House of the Four Winds
Author: Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory
Genre: fantasy
Series: One Dozen Daughters #1
Pages: 304
Published: August 5, 2014
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Mercedes Lackey is the New York Times bestselling author of the Valdemar series and romantic fantasies like Beauty and the Werewolf and The Fairy Godmother. James Mallory and Lackey have collaborated on six novels. Now, these New York Times and USA Today bestselling collaborators bring romance to the fore with The House of Four Winds.

The rulers of tiny, impoverished Swansgaard have twelve daughters and one son. While the prince’s future is assured, his twelve sisters must find their own fortunes.

Disguising herself as Clarence, a sailor, Princess Clarice intends to work her way to the New World. When the crew rebels, Clarice/Clarence, an expert with rapier and dagger, sides with the handsome navigator, Dominick, and kills the cruel captain.

Dominick leads the now-outlawed crew in search of treasure in the secret pirate haven known as The House of Four Winds. They encounter the sorceress Shamal, who claims Dominick for her own—but Clarice has fallen hard for Dominick and won’t give him up without a fight.


Full of swashbuckling adventure, buoyant magic, and irrepressible charm, The House of the Four Winds is a lighthearted fantasy romp by a pair of bestselling writers.

Reviewed by Danielle. 

If I could rate this book based on a summary of events, it would be five stars. It’s got a princesses disguised as a boy, sword fighting, pirates, an evil sorceress, romance, sea monsters, treasure, and a happily ever after. ♪ ♫These are a few of my favorite things! ♪ ♫

Unfortunately, what The House of the Four Winds suffers from is poor pacing. The initial boat trip stretches on far too long and we aren’t even introduced to the villain until well past the half way mark. Things drag on, (the reverend, the magical amnesia,) and are then resolved with little to no fanfare or impact. The climax felt clumsy and a big reveal didn’t have enough time or emotion behind it to feel shocking. If I could take 75 pages from the early set up and reassign them to the climax, I’d be a lot happier.

Furthermore, I am very disappointed in the worldbuilding. It’s Earth, but because of the discovery of magic, everything’s different! Well, the country and city names are different. Except Manna-hattan. And everything’s pretty analogous to 18th Century Europe. But it’s totally different!

And your African parallel is still being plundered for slave trade? Spare me.

Now, there are positives for this book. Clarice is a really fun character. I was very impressed with the way she handled herself on the ship. She’s level headed and good, but still acted when the situation called for it. I really appreciated that she accepted her feelings for Dominick and then moved on with her life because nothing could be done about it right then. The romance was nice, evolving in a natural and sweet way. I really liked and appreciated that his virginity and her lack there of was an absolute non-issue. Go Mercedes, flip that script.

The House of the Four Winds isn’t a fairy tale retelling, but it has a lot of similarities to old classics. It actually has a lot in common with Ms. Lackey’s Five Hundred Kingdom’s series, in both tone and structure. It’s not my favorite series, but it’s one I’m always happy to come across. I suspect the One Dozen Daughters will be the same way.

Review: Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Title: Dead Reckoning

Author(s): Mercedes Lackey, Rosemary Edghill

Genre: western, horror, steampunk

Series: N/A as of yet 

Pages: 336 (Nook ARC edition)

Published: expected June 5, 2012

Source: publishers via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! 

As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord … but who would want an undead army? And why? This gunslinging, hair-raising, zombie western mashup is perfect for fans of Cowboys vs. Aliens and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

I had a lot of unexpected fun with this quick-moving tale of zombies in Texas - even when the steampunk aspect came in unexpectedly I was more than game for a late addition. I'm not one much for reading western novels in general; I grew up with a Louis L'Amour and Tony Hillerman-novel-guzzling dad and though he and I can find common ground on fantasy and science fiction (less so on contemporary YA romances, though I can't imagine why..), I rarely stray into his most beloved genre. I'm glad I took a chance here with Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill - sure, their version of the Wild Wild West has zombies and steampunk also going for it, but at the heart of it, Dead Reckoning is a darn good Western with gunslingers, smart women and barfights. I have read numerous other novels by Mercedes Lackey, though they are usually of the fantasy (Valdemar series, etc.) and fairytale retelling ilk (The Five Hundred Kingdoms series). This is a marked departure for her and I can't help but cast Ms. Rosemary Edghill as the beneficial influence - which is just a long-winded way of me saying that I enjoyed this novel of Lackey's far more than the previous eight by her I'd read.

In 1867 West Texas, "Jett Gallatin" is a gunslinger "someone who lives and died by the gun" working her his way further and further West. Most of what is surface about Jett is utterly false - he is a she, and not even an adult. What is real about her is her talent with her guns, her independence and her own brand of knowledge. Her stated goal is finding her missing brother "Jasper" but several other factors added up to the 17-year-olds exodus from her original home in Louisiana. In this alternate version of America, not only is steam-power the new technology and hope for advancement, but the victorious North of the Civil War is definitely an antagonistic force for Jett  personally. Fleeing the sack of her home and the razing of her town by the Union forces, Jett possesses some unfavorable views about "bluebellies" and "Union tyranny" but the strength of her personality overrides any distaste for her personal politics. Jett has a distinct dialect all her own ("Wonder if throwing my beer in his face will cool him down peaceable-like?") - on the whole, it might be a bit cliched but it fits for the persona Philippa Jett has created for her own safety. I appreciated the restraint the authors showed with regards to Jett's personal history. It isn't just handed out on a platter in an infodump, but is slowly revealed, piece by piece, memory by memory.

An immediate point in Dead Reckoning's favor is that it doesn't wait around and stall for action. There are zombies present and wreaking havoc by page thirteen of chapter one (in the ARC version at least) and there's an implicit promise for more zombies and death later on. The first fight is quick and bloody affair and one that leads to a chain of events stretching back two years, leading Jett into a deadly mystery and the two odd fellows she falls in with. While unfortunately the zombie action didn't stay as constant as the intial contact had me hoping and did drop off for a while during the mid-part of the novel, the different methods and ideas for the "zuvembie"/reanimated dead themselves were nicely thought out. The antagonist of the novel might suffer from the most extreme case of Syndrome Syndrome (a term I culled/created from The Incredibles to use whenever a villain conveniently explains his nefarious plans to the hero before killing them) I've ever read seen, but his methodology, reason and modus operandi were at least fun to try and unravel.

Honoria (any M*A*S*H fans out there? No? Just me? Ok) Verity Providentia Gibbons, she of that unholy mouthful of a name and a similarly perpetually running mouth, is a thoroughly clever and unusual young woman for the days and customs in which she lives. While this book is rather light on steampunk (and that's a relief after the mess that is The Steampunk Chronicles), the few additions shown in Dead Reckoning used are used sparsely and, most importantly, believably. As an independent investigator of all things paranormal, Honoria ventures alone into what some might call 'fool-hardy adventures' but girlfriend comes prepared with three Gatling guns. She's also the mind behind the slight steampunkery evident in the novel as the "Auto-Tachypode" comes across as a steam-powered, whirligigged "horseless wagon" or proto-car. Honoria is a multi-faceted character - she's smart ("Science first. Then vapors."), protective, and loyal above all. She also is a prime example of how brilliant people aren't above being occasionally, thoughtless brainless for Science! There are a lot of similarities between her and Jett, once they get past the outer, major discrepancies. They are both two women who have had to work hard and against all convention to get what they want, and be where they want. There's an easy rapport despite the occasional bickering - even third character White Fox doesn't detract from the camaraderie in the cast. He actually rounds the gunslinger and the talkative inventor both, in very different manners. In fact all three are fish out of water - White Fox, as a white man reared among a native tribe, feels that he doesn't belong to either world. The three characters complement each other well, all without adding an unnecessary romance, or heaven forbid, a love triangle into the fray.

Despite being a bit short on the murdery death I thought I would be getting, Dead Reckoning is a winner. Don't let any of the labels attached to it scare you off, be it "western", "steampunk" or "zombie" - this is a quick-moving and fantastic read for a few hours. The steampunk part of the novel doesn't come off as mere convenience for the plot but is nicely enveloped into the tale, adding a further level of atmosphere and interest to the world Jett, Honoria and White Fox live in. The ending is final for the main plot of the book, but there are hints that more in this vein/series could be coming. Several ideas are left open for further exploration, and I hope there is demand for such. I want sequels.

Review: Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Beauty and the Werewolf

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: fantasy, fairy-tale retelling

Series: The Five Hundred Kingdoms #6

Pages: 398 (Nook NetGalley edition)

Published: October 2011
Source: publishers via NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/5

The eldest daughter is often doomed in fairy tales. But Bella— Isabella Beauchamps, daughter of a wealthy merchant—vows to escape the usual pitfalls.

Anxious to avoid the Traditional path, Bella dons a red cloak and ventures into the forbidden forest to consult
with “Granny,” the local wise woman. But on the way home she’s attacked by a wolf—who turns out to be a cursed nobleman! Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh—when he isn’t howling at the moon.

Breaking spells is never easy. But a determined beauty, a wizard (after all, he’s only an occasional werewolf) and a little godmotherly interference might just be able to bring about a happy ending…

Mercedes Lackey is an author that is evidently growing better and better with age and output. I've read her novels since I first started getting into reading a lot of fantasy as a genre at about age 13, and this most recent foray into her splendid imagination was even better than my first reading experience 11 years ago.  Her fairytale/myth/legend inspired Five Hundred Kingdoms series has a level of fun and whimsy present in every volume that I truly enjoy (a quick mention of "Jenny Pluck Pears" as a nod to our world's "Jimmy Crack Corn" made me laugh within the first three chapters) and wish was present in more novels these days. I just have fun with these books; it's practically impossible not to. They're not perfect, but I often enjoy the experience of reading them more than enough to forgive many issues I might have. I've had a great time with each of the first four in this unique and original world of Godmothers and Tradition (I've yet to read number five, The Sleeping Beauty) and Beauty and the Werewolf was, happily for me, no different. An engaging mix and remix of Red Riding Hood as well as Beauty and the Beast, I sped through this latest magical offering from Ms. Lackey and loved every minute.

Unlike previous novels in this same series, Beauty and the Werewolf is told from the sole, first-person perspective of the heroine, Bella. While I liked the back-and-forth of the first four with the switching POV's from male to female, I relished the chance to really connect to Bella, without interruption from another viewpoint. Due at least partly to this, I liked Bella intensely - she's up there with Andromeda from the #2 novel One Good Knight, as my all-time favorite woman in this series. Unlike the other leads from the series, Bella and her life, are largely ignorant of the Tradition - and I liked the switcheroo from the others. It's a nice refresher on the rules and ideas of this fantasy world after more than a few months away. Lackey doesn't go overboard and drown the reader in an infodump, however, Isabella just learns as she goes. I liked Bella immensely: she's smart, she knows it and she uses it. Yes, an actual heroine with a brain. Much more down-to-earth and "modern-day" for lack of a better term, than her stepsister or stepmother, she's the most "normal" character of the novel. I liked that while Bella is quick-thinking and capable, she's not the most martial of heroines: she is a character that favors brains over brawn anytime. She's a very logical, coolly smart woman who doesn't rush into anything, including relationships. . . leading me to . . 

Duke Sebastian, the werewolf of unknown origin and a minor noble. Quite obviously the love-interest of Bella, I liked his very easy-going manner from the minute he appeared. I actually wouldn't have minded a chapter or two from inside Sebastian's point-of-view - he quickly endeared himself to me, with his bumbling intentions and owlish handsomeness. He's not the most developed character, but I didn't find him to be especially wanting/lacking. Kind, unassuming and shy the dynamic between the Duke and his bite-victim is not the typical situation: Bella is very definitely in charge from the moment they meet. She sets the tone for their interactions for the entire novel, a change I find refreshing from the normal dominate-male and submissive-woman relationship scenario. They don't delve into instalove, instalust, instahate, insta-anything.  Theirs is a believable and compelling mix of justified pique, curiosity, and similar intelligences. There's several interesting contrasts between the two lead characters: both feel alone and long for community but where the Duke is an isolated orphan, Bella feels the same from within the bosom of a loving and mixed family. Their inevitable coupledom, when it does occur, feels ripe and mature for the relationship and the adventures the two embark upon with one another.

Outside of the characters, Mercedes Lackey's humor is a hit for me with this book. I was endlessly amused by the clever hints, allusions and asides inserted into Beauty and the Werewolf. Though Sebastian and Bella themselves kept me amused by their dialogue and deeds, it was winning self-aware bits like, "a Traditional monologue" being mentioned after the villain actually does basically perform a monologue his reasons that made me round this up to a 3.5 out of 5. I had a few minor quibbles, but they fade in face of just how much I enjoyed myself while reading this novel. Lackey also dispenses with more information and details on the world and magic of her Five Hundred Kingdoms. Thanks to Bella's ignorance, the reader finally learns what the point/plan of the Tradition is (a force feeds on emotion, has learned certain paths [myths/stories/legends of that world] will create such emotion, thus The Tradition in an endless loop) - a question I had wanted answers for about four books ago. 

I might have found the villain to be super-obvious from the beginning (I mean, really, there are only about 8 characters in the whole book and Bella, Sebastian, Bella's dad, stepmom, twin sisters count for six of them...) I think a little more effort could have gone into disguising the Big Bad of the novel, but for all that I loved the ending. It was fully action-packed and emotionally fulfilling for Bella. I'd say this is a win for anyone who's read and enjoyed a fantasy tale from Mercedes Lackey. It's simple, easy, but above all, FUN! Beauty and the Werewolf is out and published with hopefully another sequel to follow later in the future.

Two Minute Reviews: Fortune's Fool and The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey

 Title: Fortune's Fool

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: mythic fiction/fairytale retellings/supernatural fiction, fantasy

Series: The 500 Kingdoms #3

Pages: 368 (Nook edition)

Published: March 2007

Rating: 3.5/5

From the first page, the latest installment of The Five Hundred Kingdoms is retelling/reinvention of several different influences. I found the third novel much more charming than the first and on par with the second. Katya is another female heroine I genuinely like, though she's a difficult character. There is a definite feel to this story akin to that of the classic The Little Mermaid, and elements of Russian folktales that inspired the Disney classic as well as a bit of Greek legend (Sirens/Siren blood) mixed in as well. The author does an admirable job of blending all three source materials into something fresh and fun to read.

I enjoyed this one just as much as One Good Knight and considerably more than The Fairy Godmother. The Tradition has less impact upon the lives of Katya and her family than the previous novels because they are part of the separatist Sea King's underwater Kingdom, but it is still a strong force within the series. I like the distance from the plot-heavy/obvious routes of the Tradition: Fortune's Fool feels less like a retread and more like the retelling it is - similar but spiced with unique developments courtesy of a fresh mind behind the age-old myths. Like the two previous novels, Katya is paired up with a love interest almost instantly, but unlike the first two, she is then separated from him and he must find her and, eventually, free her on his own.  Katya is the most genuinely likeable, if not relatable, female protagonists this far in the series. Likewise for Sasha, her attractive love interest: as he is just as likeable as Peri and Adam, and much more so than Alexander.

My only real complaint is that I do wish that the names for places had been a little more thought-out or just even more original. "Dry Lands", "Nippon", and "Belarus" felt like an easy/unoriginal way out for Lackey to name important locales of the story. A little more disguising of who their real-world Earth counterparts are would do a lot for the atmosphere of the story, since she decided to go with an other-world for the setting of the novel.

Title: The Snow Queen

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: mythic fiction/fairytale retellings/supernatural fiction, fantasy

Series: The 500 Kingdoms #4

Pages: 384 (Nook edition)

Published: June 2008

Rating: 3/5

Similar to the formula in the first book of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, the main character in the fourth of the series is a Godmother named Aleksia or the Ice Fairy/Snow Queen of Ever-Winter. Also like Elena, she was a failed Traditional story twice, hers being that of the Snow White/Rose Red and the murderously jealous sister that covets a twin's husband. I liked the similarities and differences to the earlier heroine: Aleksia was an interesting comparison to her more warm-hearted (forgive me, I cannot resist) Godmothers. Sadly, besides unraveling the mysteries of just which two Traditional paths she had failed, I found Aleksia a hard character to relate to - as I am sure was supposed to be the case - she's the Snow Queen. I only wish she would have defrosted either earlier, or privately. I simply couldn't empathize enough to more than merely like her.

I have enjoyed this series so far, and this latest effort was no exception. The characters were interesting and vivid, as well as fresh and engaging. The instant coupling up that the previous books had wasn't the same for Aleksia, which I though was an improvement. She developed as her own character, rather than an part of a dependent pair. While some readers may have wished for more romance in this novel, as it is notable pared down from the first three on the romantical front, I found the change of pace refreshing. I enjoy a good sex scene, don't doubt me there, but I also enjoyed reading a character who didn't feel as if every urge needed to be satisfied carnally.

There were no major problems with this book for me. The pacing felt a bit off in the beginning fifty pages or so (quite slow, and a bit of an infodump initially), and the editing could surely use some work. However, both of those are minor complaints in the larger view of a detailed, fun, fast read. I also have to note that I have found Ms. Lackey's male protagonists in this series have vastly improved in characterization, personality, depth and charm since the first book, as well. I can actually believe the romance, sex, etc. between the characters rather than viewing them as sheer spectacle. 

Side note: this is a very inexpensive - and fun! - read for those with ereaders. Fortune's Fool is currently only $5.04 on B&N and $4.85 Amazon. The Ice Queen is only $5.76 on B&N and Amazon. There are also two more books in the series: The Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Werewolf. If you enjoy fairy-tales with a twist, or re-tellings of old favorites with a flair, I recommend this series for a fast fix.

Two Minute Reviews: The Fairy Godmother and One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey

Title: The Fairy Godmother

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: fantasy, supernatural/mythic fiction

Series: The 500 Kingdoms #1

Pages: 496 (nook version)

Published: July 2004

Rating: 3/5

I found this introductory novel into a series of fairy-tale retellings to be more than mildly interesting and an admittedly clever premise for such a series. Subtly subverting the archetype of Cinderella for the first novel, Lackey interprets the fairy tale in an original and fun way; it feels fresh and new unlike a familiar or well-trod literary path. Lackey has a flair all her own and Elena lacked the passivity present in so many damsels-in-distress. 

I think the opening chapters fell a little bit flat, and were slightly boring the first hundred pages or so. I kept waiting for the magic (pun intended, I'm shameless) to happen and I never clicked with Elena as closely as I'd liked. Things I enjoyed from the novel: I liked the author's inventive idea for how magic works in this world and how said magic is channeled through certain people via The Tradition, a natural force responsible for the shaping and creating different versions of classic fairytales throughout all the Five Hundred Kingdoms.

The main character of Elena was annoying at first, but she grew on me, like the rest of the book did. I found her to be a bit too perfect and that itself is a big no-no for me: no Mary Sues need apply. However, Elena grows and changes from her stiff and stuffy first impression. The other characters in the book were fairly one-dimensional and lacked any real fire, except for maybe Alexander. And as the obvious love interest, I would've had many more complaints if he had been as wooden as the rest of the background characters. 

It was not as good as I hoped, quite honestly, but it improved drastically after all the introductory details and background were finished. The infodumping is minimal as Lackey keeps her worldbuilding simple and easy to follow/create mentally. I did feel a bit bored as the "lessons" with Alexander wore on, but the unicorns were more than enough amusement to make up for that. The only other main issue I had with the story was that the final conflict and resolution seemed rushed and stilted in their slightly predictable execution. A decent effort, overall enjoyable and easy to read, though far from outstanding. I hope for more in the second. I will say the book is worth the money in ebook form: it was only $5.76

Title: One Good Knight

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: fantasy, supernatural/mythic fiction

Series: The 500 Kingdoms #2

Pages: 400 (Nook edition)

Published: March 2006

Rating: 3.5/5

Much stronger plotlines (and less predictable as well) than its predecessor, along with a genuinely likable protagonist made One Good Knight an easy 3.5 out of 5.

This was a drastic improvement over the first in the series of the Five Hundred Kingdoms. Almost none of the problems I had from the first novel were in this sequel, and it was vastly more entertaining to read than The Fairy Godmother. Instead of focusing on the "Cinderella" fairytale, the second book is about the Greek legend of the Andromeda sacrifices in a small, poor Kingdom with no Godmother. I am a huge fan of Greek myths and legends and Lackey's handling of the popular tale was both amusing and surprising. 

First on the list of vast improvements is Andromeda herself. Andie is the main character and is actually that, a character instead of a cliche. She's smart, bookish, resourceful, and clever. She's a very engaging character, as were the villains of the story (which surprised me). Not content to do as she is told and is expected, Andie is a determined girl with heart and personality to burn. Though she may be a tad earnest and eager, she was a nice change from more popular and jaded heroines. I'm almost always also a sucker for a bookworm character: its very easy for me to relate to. . . hmm. . . wonder why that could be?

Second on the list of what I enjoyed: the conflict and resolution did not seem nearly as rushed as the end of the first book. It was much better plotted, without the random lulls and frequent rushes in narrative that plagued the first. On the whole, the entire novel felt more well-planned, thought out and written than the first. It's also much funnier and filled with more fleshed out characters instead of one-dimensional second-rate "personalities". As before stated, even the male villain specifically has more than one side and wrestled with Andie to claim the position of my favorite character.

One minor problem I had was that sometimes the actions of a character would make absolutely no sense, as in did nothing to help that character out and were blatant attempts to make the ending work to its predictable Traditional path. (Usually the actions of one or the other of the antagonists...)That being said, the ending did surprise me in a way that I totally loved and grinned while reading. A much better book than the first and I look forward to the next. And, like The Fairy Godmother this is a pretty cheap ebook - only $5.76