Steadfast

"Steadfast" is another in Lackey's "Elemental Masters" series, and while not my favorite (That was "The Compass Rose", it was still an enjoyable read. The book follows a young dancer fleeing an abusive husband in an England where magic exists, albeit in secret. While patterned after the "Steadfast Tin Soldier' fairy tale, the story really belongs more to Katie than to Jack, the soldier in the story. How they manage both Katie's mundane problems and her burgeoning fire mage abilities is the heart of this story. I wish the resolution with her husband had been a little less pat, but overall I give this story four stars.