Element of Fire by Martha Wells

This is the first book I have stayed up all night to finish in a long time. It happened over the Xmas holidays which made the extravagance possible, but I would have been captivated by the characters and situations of Wells' novel even in the middle of the busiest of weeks. Wells achieves a fantasy setting with enough historical realism to retain the interest of the older, more cynical reader who would like to experience the joy of once more sympathizing whole-heartedly with worthwhile characters. I worried she was going to crush my revived joy in the noble and heroic just enough to be unable to sleep without finding out what happens to the gallant, jaded Thomas and the brash young mortal-fairy hybrid Kade Carrion who begins the tale as a problem for Thomas, the captain of the Queen's guard, but becomes the answer to more than he'd bargained for. Thomas' relationship with the dowager queen and the character of Ravenna herself weave a rewarding counterpoint to the growing entanglement of Thomas and Kade, keeping the story grounded in politics that reminded me of bits and pieces of European history surrounding royal families, their favorites, scheming courtiers, and interminable struggles for dominance with other powers. Students of literature and folklore will likewise enjoy Wells' portrayal of fairy, which cleverly incorporates both the 'ugly and evil' view of fairy-kind based on medieval legend and the 'beautiful but inhumanly cold' alternative, with Kade knocking around all realms as a misfit in every one.

I highly recommend the tale to intelligent readers, young and old, who like to cheer for deserving, if imperfect, good guys and experience the senory pleasures of a romp through an enchanted land.

Element of Fire by Martha Wells was originally released by Tor in 1993. I reviewed the 2006 edition re-released by the author after a tidy-up edit in order to keep the book accessible in print. Cover design for the 2006 edition is by M. Wilson with typesetting by Katya Loney.

PS for a map of the palace to let you locate characters in scenes as they unfold, see Palace of Vienne in the Ile-Rien on Wells' website.