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The Gates of Sleep

Book 2 in the series:Elemental Masters

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The Gates of Sleep, part of Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series, is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale set in the Edwardian era. The story follows Marina Roeswood, who was cursed at birth by her aunt Arachne and raised in secret by her godparents in Cornwall. As Marina approaches her eighteenth birthday, her aunt returns to claim her and reinstate the curse, leading to a battle between good and evil, magic and sorcery. The book explores themes of family, identity, and the clash between the Romanticism movement and the Industrial world, all woven into an imaginative magical world with well-developed characters.

Characters:

Characters range from likable, albeit emotionally distant main characters to convincing villains, each contributing to the unfolding fantasy narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is described as beautifully crafted and accessible, combining strong worldbuilding with relevant social themes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, positioned in Edwardian England, focusing on the struggles of the main character, Marina, who deals with a curse, family dynamics, and the battle against her evil aunt.

Setting:

The setting is firmly placed in Edwardian England, contrasting cultural movements of the time while incorporating a magical element.

Pacing:

The pacing is noted to be uneven, with slow build-up in some sections and a rapid conclusion, particularly around romantic developments.
BIRDS twittered in the rose bushes outside the old-fashioned diamond-paned windows. The windows, swung open on their ancient iron hinges, let in sunshine, a floating dandelion seed and a breath of mow...

Notes:

The story is a retelling of Snow White set in Edwardian England.
Marina Roeswood was cursed by her aunt at her christening.
Three godparents raised Marina in an unconventional artist community in Cornwall.
Marina has water elemental magic, which sets her apart from her family.
The antagonist, Arachne, is depicted as a Satanist who gains power by stealing it from young women.
Marina's parents' deaths lead to Arachne becoming her guardian.
Arachne tries to turn Marina against her own parents and marry her off to her son Reggie.
Arachne's pottery factories poison young women with lead paint.
Marina's love interest, Dr. Andrew Pike, runs a sanitarium for those with mental issues related to magic.
A significant part of the book explores the contrast between the Romanticism of the late 1800s and the Industrial Revolution.
The pacing of the novel has received mixed reviews, with some finding it unfocused.
The romance in the story is criticized for being rushed and lacking development.
The book maintains a fairy-tale atmosphere with a battle between good and evil.
Lackey's world-building and character development garnered praise, despite some wanting deeper connections.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of mental health struggles, potential lead poisoning, and child endangerment.

From The Publisher:

Growing up in the backwoods of Cornwall with foster parents, practitioners of Elemental Magic, Marina Roeswood is sent to live with her aunt after the deaths of her birth parents and finds herself the target of an evil that has been stalking her for her entire life.

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