title: The Gates of Sleep (Elemental Masters, Book 2)
author:  Mercedes Lackey 
description: Putting a fresh face to a well-loved fairytale is not an easy task, but it is one that seems effortless to the prolific Lackey, best known for her Valdemar series (Arrows of the Queen, etc.). In a brilliant twist, the author sets the classic story of Sleeping Beauty in Edwardian England, imbuing her characters with the power of elemental magic, including the cursed child herself, Marina Roeswood. In an uninvited visit to her christening, Marina's evil aunt, Arachne, arrives in a puff of smoke and delivers a deadly curse, which is mitigated by the blessing of a family friend who imparts one last gift on the baby. Marina's guardians spirit her away to the Devon countryside to grow up. When we next see her, Marina is galloping through her 17th year, pursuing her magical training, though her guardians have tragically kept her ignorant of the curse. The inevitable triggering of said curse, when she turns 18, pits Marina's intelligence, cunning and magic skills against the full force of satanic evil. Beautiful phrasing and a thorough grounding in the dress, mannerisms and history of the period help move the story along gracefully. Marina's character, along with those of her guardians, her friends and Arachne, are fully fleshed out and credible. The fact that a teenage half-trained water mage would even dare to take on a 40ish satanist may be a bit implausible, but only on second thought. This is a wonderful example of a new look at an old theme.<BR>Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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  # **THE GATES OF SLEEP**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # By Mercedes Lackey and Available from Titan Books
  
  
  **Elemental Masters**
  
  
  The Serpent’s Shadow
  
  
  The Gates of Sleep
  
  
  Phoenix and Ashes
  
  
  The Wizard of London
  
  
  Reserved for the Cat
  
  
  Unnatural Issue
  
  
  Home from the Sea
  
  
  Steadfast
  
  
  Blood Red
  
  
  **Collegium Chronicles**
  
  
  Foundation
  
  
  Intrigues
  
  
  Changes
  
  
  Redoubt
  
  
  Bastion
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # **THE GATES OF SLEEP**
  
  
  # ELEMENTAL MASTERS
  
  
  # **Mercedes Lackey**
  
  
  TITAN BOOKS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  
  
  
  THE GATES OF SLEEP
  
  
    
  E-book edition ISBN: 9781783293865
  
  
  Published by
  
  
    
  Titan Books
  
  
    
  A division of Titan Publishing Group Ltd
  
  
    
  144 Southwark Street
  
  
    
  London
  
  
    
  SE1 0UP
  
  
  First edition: May 2014
  
  
    
  12345678910
  
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are
  the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any
  resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments,
  events, or local