Firebird (The Elemental Masters Fairy Tales) (original 1996; edição 1997)

Loved it just as much the 3rd time through as I did the first 2. :) ( )

Better than much of Lackey's work, this novel retells the Russian legend of the Firebird (with plenty of editorial embellishment). Ilya, a handsome Russian prince with a habit of womanizing, seems like he has everything going for him – except that his seven lunkhead brothers want to kill him, and their father doesn't particularly care. After a rash of mysterious thefts of rare cherries from a prized orchard, Ilya discovers that the culprit is a beautiful and magical bird-woman. Using the chaos she's thrown the household into to escape his family, he finds himself on a quest to rescue a dozen gorgeous tsarinas from an enchanted castle... but will he ever learn the true meaning of love?
Recommended for fans of re-told fairy tales, such as those by Jane Yolen, and much of Terri Windling & Ellen Datlow's Fairy Tale series. ( )

Well, I can see where she got the plot to one of her more recent books, since it was partially in here. This was a good book, though. :)

Mercedes Lackey, we usually get along tolerably well if not like a house on fire. What was this drivel? Really, what? If it's not outright offensive, it's boring as hell, or it's boring and offensive at once.

Struggled through to the end out of sheer bloody mindedness. Book did not improve. Please can I have those hours back? ( )

A delightful voyage into the myths and fantasies of another culture. This book was an rapid read, keeping me immersed and interested the whole way through. I really felt as if I could picture everything rather vividly, but the descriptions were never tedious. Surprises abound, which was a pleasure. ( )