Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series offers a captivating reimagining of classic fairy tales, expertly woven into the rich tapestry of an alternate Victorian era imbued with elemental magic. Within this enthralling world, we encounter Rosamund, an Earth Master residing in the depths of the Schwarzwald, Germany’s legendary Black Forest. From the tender age of ten, her life has been intertwined with the mystical forest and her mentor, the esteemed Hunt Master and Earth Magician of the Schwarzwald Foresters, whom she affectionately calls “Papa.” He became her guardian after a harrowing incident that tragically shaped her destiny: the brutal murder of her original Earth Master teacher by werewolves. Rosa narrowly escaped the same fate, an experience that solidified her path.
Like her fellow Earth Masters of the Schwarzwald Lodge, Rosa’s talents are not geared towards healing. Instead, she is drawn to the more combative aspects of her craft – protection and defense. Her purpose is to “cleanse” the Earth and safeguard its gentle fae inhabitants from malevolent entities. This dedication leads Rosa to become the first woman Hunt Master, a formidable force against creatures of darkness, with a particular expertise in combating werewolves and shapeshifters of all kinds.
During a visit with a Fire Master, a comrade of her mentor from the Schwarzwald Lodge, Rosa encounters two Elemental Magicians hailing from Hungary. They arrive seeking assistance, burdened by suspicion of a dark power lurking behind a series of unsettling murders in the isolated Transylvanian countryside. However, concrete evidence remains elusive. Rosa, driven by her protective nature, agrees to lend her skills. Yet, her agreement comes with a significant complication: one of the Hungarian magicians seeking her aid is himself a hereditary werewolf.
Rosa’s upbringing has instilled in her a clear understanding of werewolves, categorizing them into three distinct types. The first, and most abhorrent, are those who intentionally transform through dark magic. Secondly, there are the unfortunate victims, infected by the bite of these magically corrupted werewolves, cursed to transform uncontrollably. But the third category presents a moral quandary: individuals born with the innate ability to transform at will. While some argue for the benign nature of certain hereditary werewolves, Rosa’s personal experiences have never aligned with such leniency. She has never encountered a werewolf she deemed trustworthy. The central question looms large: can Rosa place her trust in this Hungarian werewolf? Or is the skilled Hunt Master about to become the prey in a deadly game of hunter and hunted?
