World Famous Comics: Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters, Book 5)
Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters, Book 5)
By: Mercedes Lackey Publisher: DAW Hardcover Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DAW Hardcover Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 336 Publication Date: October 30, 2007
Product Description: In 1910, in an alternate London, a penniless young dancer is visited by a cat who communicates with her mind to mind. Though she is certain she must be going mad, she is desperate enough to follow the cat's advice and impersonates a famous Russian ballerina. The cat, it turns out, is actually an Elemental Earth Spirit, and leads her to minor stardom.
Meanwhile, the real Russian ballerina has fallen victim to an evil troll who takes over her body and kills her patrons, drinking their life essences in order to strengthen his powers. And soon, the troll focuses his dark attentions on the young dancer...
A quick, exciting read Fans of Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series can rest easy with this one. Reserved for the Cat continues in the same vein as the others in the series, and even rises to new heights as readers are introduced to other forms of magic and and magic users.
Rather than re-cap the plot, as many have already done, here's what works well and what I found to be a little less than what I'd hoped for:
What works: 1. The elaborate plot that Thomas the cat cooks up to allow the main character (Ninette Dupond) to step from her old life in the Paris Ballet, to a new one as a dancer in a variety show in England. 2. The introduction of the Elemental Masters as average work-a-day people. 3. The blending of the magical with the non-magical -- it's just the way it is in Lackey's world, and she writes it that way.
What doesn't work: There's not much that doesn't work here. There are a couple of characters that are a bit two-dimensional, and I'd have liked to see the antagonist interact with its surrounding a bit more -- it just wasn't as believable to me as the rest of the cast. Also, the obvious love-interest didn't quite get off the ground (perhaps grist for a future volume?).
All in all, a good, tight read.
four stars bw 6/28
reservations about the cat This was a good concept but I felt that the writing let it down. When characters are young or feline it is too easy to write in the genre of a children"s book rather than hitting that adult market. I enjoyed but at times was annoyed
RESERVED FOR THE CAT GOOD BOOK BUT I ALSO BOUGHT ; NOBODY NOTICED THE CAT" AND SEEMED THE SAME.
A wonderful read! As someone who once (many years ago) was a dancer, I found this book fascinating. I love Misty's work anyway, but it is rare to find someone who is not a dancer who understands the blisters, the pain, the strains, the panic, the in-fighting, and conversely, the sense of passion and glory that makes it all worthwhile. And as someone who is currently owned by three cats, the mix was irresistable to me. I just wish I could find someone who COULD tell me what mine are saying!
popcorn read, without much flavor I generally like Mercedes Lackey novels because I know I will likely enjoy the characterization, even when they are a little short on plot. They're light meals; they digest well. But if I'm going to stick with the food metaphor, I have to say that this one was sort of like unflavored cotton candy (candy floss). There really wasn't much to it and it was quite unmemorable.
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