Miss Amelia’s List is a lovely and charming story that will especially appeal to Jane Austen lovers who occasionally wish there was just a bit more actual magic in her stories – but do not want to go nearly as far as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

I’m pretty sure the above requires a bit of explanation. Maybe even more than a bit.

Amelia Stonehold and her cousin Serena Meleva arrive in London from the former – definitely and definitively former – American colonies in 1815. To set the historical stage, the War of 1812 was settled by treaty in December of 1814 – which means that some people are still a bit salty about it on both sides of the Atlantic. Jane Austen has published her first three novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park, under the pseudonym, ‘A Lady’. The Regency period is in the fullest of its flower. Napoleon is still in his first exile on Elba and has not yet ‘met his Waterloo’ and made that phrase into a cliché.

While this entry in the Elemental Masters series is number 17 in publication order, this series of magical retellings and reinterpretations of classic myths, legends, tales and historical events has not been published in ANY chronological order. The previous book in the series, The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley, is set in the late 19th century. Annie Oakley wasn’t even born until 1860 – long after the events of Miss Amelia’s List take place.

Which, by a roundabout route, leads us back to Amelia and Serena by way of Jane Austen. I put it that way because Amelia’s and Serena’s introduction to the Regency reads very much like the ‘comedy of manners’ style of Austen. Or at least like Austen if Austen knew about magic.

While Amelia’s and Serena’s perspectives on Regency society are very much informed by their ‘colonial’ origins, the realities of life in a new world, and the existence of magic and their significant powers within it, their story, and the events in which they participate and/or are excluded from is very similar to the world Austen described in such loving detail.

Which means that a large portion of Miss Amelia’s List is, in fact and told in a much more lively fashion, about the list of things that Amelia Stonehold has come to England to accomplish, and about the progression of Amelia and Serena through the highly structured but often ridiculously stratified and stultifying ‘society’ in which they must play an exacting part in order to get things done.

It’s fun, it’s charming. It’s occasionally teeth gnashing but because of Amelia’s and Serena’s outsider perspectives that teeth gnashing is shared by the characters. They know the so-called ‘rules’ are OFTEN ridiculous while knowing they must at least appear to conform, so the reader is in charity with them when some high-stickler makes an ass of themselves in their presence – or behind their backs.

But it’s not a story of action – in spite of the blurb. (Yes, I know, I’ve not been ‘in charity’ with a lot of blurbs in the last few weeks.) Miss Amelia’s List is utterly charming, a delightfully well told Austenesque ‘comedy of manners’, but there’s not a lot of excitement. At least, not until the very end.

An ending which includes death, dismemberment, big snakes and small helpers, as well as a happy ever after that appropriately differs for each and every character.

Escape Rating B: Miss Amelia’s List is a story that I truly enjoyed while I was in it. Howsomever, right up until the very end I didn’t feel any compulsion to find out what happened next, because there’s not really a lot happening at all.

Amelia, surprisingly so for being an Earth Master in this particular magic system, is rather like a duck or better yet, a swan, seeming to float effortless on top of the water – or all the various social situations to which she of necessity must adapt – while paddling furiously under the water DOING all that adapting.

Which is where I circle back to Austen’s comedy of manners style, as a LOT of what Amelia does is observation and then tailoring her behavior to what she’s observed. She may be extremely ruffled on the inside – and in fact often is – but she must appear decidedly UNruffled at all times, which she does.

So not a lot happens because it’s her ‘job’ in effect to make sure that it seems like not a lot is happening. Even if, or especially because, the reality is that a lot is getting done. Which again, gets back to the story being charming and lovely and a delight to sink into much like a warm bath, BUT not exactly a page-turner.

You might very well be looking for something EXACTLY like this amidst, or after, the holiday bustle. I absolutely enjoyed my read of it and hope that the Elemental Masters series eventually returns to the setting and some of the characters of Miss Amelia’s List.

After all, finding a husband for Miss Amelia herself was explicitly NOT on her list. Maybe it will be if we have the chance to see her again. If you like the concept of the Elemental Masters, but want a story that’s a bit more of a page-turner, you might want to try either The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley or the Sherlock Holmes subseries – my personal favorite – that begins with A Study in Sable.

Mercedes Lackey was one of my formative authors as a teen. Now that I'm just a little older, I've been enjoying her adult Elemental Masters series, especially since it's one of my favorite combos: historical fiction/romance plus fantasy. That said, the books can be uneven, and this particular book just didn't hit the spot.

Amelia is an Earth Master from North Carolina. She comes to England just after the War of 1812 with her "cousin," Air Mage and leopard shifter Serena. The first 3/4 of the book is setting: Amelia and Serena arrive in London, get a new wardrobe, go to public assemblies, go to soirees musicales, make friends and magical connections, etc. etc. (etc. ad nauseum). The history of the time goes on around them and they react to it: Napoleon escapes from Elba, makes a last stand at Waterloo, the Year Without a Summer begins. Truly, the characters don't do anything other than exist in this setting. It's not until the 75/80% mark that they leave London and start doing things other than buying clothes and talking about making preparations for possible famine. (I cannot tell you how many different kinds of fabric were discussed, or what kind of crops do well in cold weather...)

I get it, this is kind of Lackey's MO: tons of stage setting before finally getting to the plot. And that can sometimes work, if I am also hyperfixated on whatever she's decided to research (hawking! mercenary companies! snowstorms!). But honestly, here, it felt excessive, and I found myself pretty bored. Plus, when the plot DID arrive, she was obviously cribbing from/inspired by Pride and Prejudice. Sure, there was a little twist on the awful Darcy proposal, but it was too little, too late.

It's worth considering that I might have been particularly bored because of my heavy consumption of Historical Romance. I'm quite familiar with the history she presents, as well as the many (many!) different takes on P&P out there. Maybe if Waterloo wasn't in every other Regency romance, I might have found this one more interesting. If you are not a Historical Romance reader but you are a Lackey fan, this might work better for you. If you ARE a HistRom reader and you like the idea of Jane Austen plus magic, I'd recommend Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal over this one.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

A fun, cozy, magical story -- perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice who want their heroines a bit more independent and powerful!

This was a lovely little jaunt into the world of the Elemental Masters. While I prefer the excitement and high stakes of some of the other books in this series, this was pleasant and I would say quite cozy look into regency England. Amelia and Serena are perfectly lovely young women with quite modern views and it was fun to travel along with them as they arrived in England to set up house with their brother as they open a new arm of their father's business and possibly find a good match, as long as they meet all the points on Miss Amelia's list!

Not much romance, but meeting lots of interesting characters, putting up with only a few prejudiced people and most of the book only had distant threats, easily put off by magic, or being prudent and planning ahead. I was a little disappointed that the big bad did not happen till the last fifteen minutes of the book and was also so easily resolved. That could have been so much better than a throw away comment in the middle that was the solution, as the hunts obliquely mentioned were quite interesting and could have been more to make it more thrilling like earlier books.

So all in all a fun little read firmly in the cozy fantasy region.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book, although the repeated mentions of the two females not have servants did get distracting. I also found it introduced & wrapped up the conflict very quickly. However, I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very gentle and cozy book. A little slow paced, but it does wrap up nicely at the end. While I have read the whole series. I think this one might stand alone okay if the reader is already familiar with period fantasy novels and will be comfortable with a mage class in society semi secretly taking care of magically issues. The two girls are likable and pragmatic. Given the era they really must marry and are prepared to go about it in a business like fashion hoping to find someone compatible and pleasant where affection might grow. If you’re looking for a low stakes character driven fantasy series this one has been solidly enjoyable. My biggest complaint with the series is that in book 15 the character has an uneducated backwoods accent so you’ve got to read phonetically. But aside from that one nitpick I’ve loved the whole series!

A wonderful addition to the Elemental Masters Series. I love Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, but am less familiar with this world, luckily she does excellent world building, and even though this is the 17th book in the series, I was able to jump right in without much background knowledge. Amelia and Serena were wonderful characters, navigating the world of the British Gentry with aplomb and good humor. I loved the way this book tied in real life historical occurrences in alongside magical world happenings.

4.5 stars.

It's been a while since I've read a book in the Elemental Masters series. This one stood well enough on its own, having read at least some of the series. I think because I knew the fundamental precepts of the world, it didn't matter that I am not 100% up to date on the series.

I am not sure that the same could be said for someone with no knowledge of the world building, but it is possible.

This book read very much as slice of life regency (with magic) with not a lot of action until the very end. People should enjoy the MC's realistic portrayal of anxiety. I was, however, a little disappointed with the lack of romance (I know this isn't one of my regencies, but I am used to a bit of romance.)

Amelia and her “cousin” Serena have arrived in England looking to wed mages like themselves. Amela is an Earth Master and channel of that power while Serena is a Fire mage and a leopard shapeshifter. When they arrive Amelia’s brother James introduces them to the family’s friends and business associates, and they settle right into the correct social circles of the well to do tradespeople. They are also meeting mages looking for magical brides that come with a nice dowery if possible. The book is mostly a slice of life in England in 1815 so there is the year of no summer to move the plot along. There is a magical battle at the end but mostly this is a cozy of a fantasy and will be loved by people who like books in Regency settings with magic.

Miss Amelia's List is the 17th book in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series. Each book follows a different Elemental Master or mage, and they typically take place in a fantasy version of a historical setting. The early books in the series took place primarily in England, but the last few have taken place in America and Germany. With this book, though, we finally return to England - specifically, Regency Era England.

America hasn't been fully left behind, though. Amelia Stonecroft, an Earth Master, and her cousin Serene Meleva, a fire mage, have followed Amelia's brother, James, across the Atlantic Ocean to help him start a new branch of the family business in England. The Stonecrofts have a large plantation in North Carolina where they have used magic to perfect certain dyes that are very desirable in England. Amelia is determined to make the three of them a success in both business and society, and to aid her goals, she has created a number of lists.

Amelia has lists for everything from making the business successful to potentially finding suitable matches for herself, Serena and James. But first, they must learn the new rules for the society they have entered. English social customs are almost nothing like those in America, and Amelia and Serena must master them if they are to avoid making a complete disgrace of themselves. Thus begins a delicate balancing act of entering society respectably while also making the acquaintance of other Elemental Masters and mages.

If it wasn't obvious from this brief description, most of Miss Amelia's List describes a slice of life in Regency England. I really enjoyed all the details and learning about all the social customs Amelia and Serena were expected to learn and adhere to in order to be successful. It made me want to learn more about the history, fashions, fabrics, foods, etc. of the era, and a few true historical events took place during the book as well: 1) Napoleon's escape from Elba, and 2) the eruption of Mount Tambora. Both of these events served as a bit of tension until the climax in the last few chapters of the book.

I was also happy to see some little callbacks to other Regency Era books, like Pride & Prejudice. Amelia was a bit like Elizabeth Bennett with her feelings towards one of the suitors in the books, Phillip Nightsmith. He is another Earth Master and a landed gentleman, which would make him a good match for either Amelia or Serena. However, Amelia has soured towards him after overhearing his disparaging remarks concerning Amelia and Serena at a ball (much like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy!). Another would-be suitor, Captain Roughtower, had major Mr. Wickham vibes, and I was not surprised by the turn his character took at all.

Mostly, I really enjoyed how the book showed how women lived and were treated in this era. Amelia and Serena endeavored to prove themselves useful and worthy both through their own experience as magic users and savvy businesswomen. However, they did so while still living within the expectations and sensibilities of the society they were in. They took the time to learn the new social rules of their environment, and they still managed to convey their own inner strength.

This book also didn't shy away from the obvious. The Stonecrofts have a plantation in a time in which slavery was legal and rampant. Luckily, they are all magic users, and good ones at that. So, the only natural course of action was for them to save who they could. Amelia's forebears sought out slaves who were magic users, bought them and freed them as long as they were willing to continue living on the Stonecroft land where it was safe. Everyone working on the Stonecroft plantation has a share in the farm's production, and they all make wages. The Stonecrofts have even coached their people in what to say and do should they be caught by others.

Obviously, this is a very idealized version of events. I doubt in reality, even if magic were real, that it would be this simple to protect these people. It had to be agonizing at times, though, to be a magic user so in tune with the elements to know what was going on in other parts of the country and being unable to do more than save who you can. I will also say, the characters of Amelia and Serena spoke out numerous times quite vehemently against slavery, so they weren't shy about sharing their views. This may be a sensitive issue with some readers, so just be warned it is discussed at several points in the book.

The only other issue some readers may have with this book is the pacing. First of all, this is the first Elemental Masters book I've zoomed through reading for a few entries now. I really enjoyed it a lot, but I will also admit the first 75% of the book is basically only slice of life. The true conflict doesn't take place until the last few chapters, and it is resolved in under 20 pages. Some people may not like that, but since the slice of life part of the book was so well written and engaging, it didn't bother me. Plus, I've come to expect that from Mercedes Lackey, particularly for this series. I'll still keep reading it, though!

I gave Miss Amelia's List by Mercedes Lackey four out of five stars. I really enjoyed this book. It was such a relaxing read, just learning about life in Regency England. I've always enjoyed the magic system in these books as well, and I wish there was a bit more magic in this book. Some readers may find a few things hard to read about, such as discussions of slavery, and others may not enjoy the pacing. I still feel like this was a stronger entry in the series than the last few have been. So, whether you gave up on the series and want to start again, or if you want to get a taste of the Elemental Masters world, I recommend giving this book a try!

Great list. We start with the list and end with the same. In between you get a tale rich in descriptions. Great characters with a surprising plot. Great read for Lackey fans. Good introduction for others.

Miss Amelia's List is such a fantastic book to read on a cosy evening! I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

The Elemental Masters series was my gateway into Mercedes Lackey's work, and as such, I have been eagerly anticipating this next installment! And thankfully, it did not disappoint in the slightest! The compelling blend of Regency marriage drama and supernatural danger gives this book a wonderful cross-genre appeal, and after two stories featuring Americans and three focusing on Nan and Sarah, it's nice to see a story set back in England while focusing on entirely new characters! And the additions to the magic system are equally as engaging as the charming and witty characters! Overall, this is a spectacular entry in a spectacular series, and I recommend it to any lovers of fantasy, romance, or anything in=between! Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The seventeenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series follows Amelia Stonehold and Serena Meleva as they navigate property acquisition, marriage proposals, and other ancient horrors in Regency England, but with the help of elemental magic.

The year is 1815, and an American, Miss Amelia Stonehold, has arrived in the Devon town of Axminster, accompanied by her "cousin" Serena Meleva. She's brought with her a list to tick off: find a property, investigate the neighbors, bargain for and purchase the property, staff the property and...possibly...find a husband. But Amelia soon finds herself contending with some decidedly off-list trouble, including the Honorable Captain Harold Roughtower, whose eyes are fixed on her fortune. Little does Amelia know that his plans for her wealth extend far beyond refurbishing his own crumbing estate - they include the hidden Roman temple of Glykon, where something very old, very angry, and very dangerous still lurks.

But Roughtower isn't prepared to reckon with the fact that neither Amelia nor Serena are pushovers. And he certainly isn't ready for the revelation that he has an Earth Master and a Fire Mage on his hands - or that one of them is a shapeshifter."

Mercedes Lackey writing Regency Magic!?! How did she know what I wanted for Christmas!?!

A Cozy Period Fantasy

Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey
to be published Dec 24 2024, DAW

Set in 1815 London, the language of the opening captures the tone of Regency romances and novels of manners with wit and humor. Mercedes Lackey’s mastery with character does not disappoint. Two merchant-class elemental mages from America seek husbands, one of them secretly a shifter. I doubted the existence of the seven-story Belgravia mansion described until I found it for sale on mansionglobal dot com. The period terms are so well researched and archaic that you may need to Google a few like warping a ship into dock using ropes rather than FTL drive. For the first half of the novel, the challenges are distant, off-camera, and mild: Napoleon escaping exile and a volcanic eruption leading to two summerless years on the horizon. Nobody is ever really in danger, and most things are just handed to the main character. Indeed, the possible love interest and intense conflict doesn’t manifest until about 90 percent of the way through the novel. I give it 4 out of 5 only because the conflict is wrapped up so fast and conveniently.

Overall a continuation of stories which are further from fairy-tale retellings and much more like tales in their own right. Set in the Regency era, the books step backward in time, although several "new" (to this series) magic systems are mentioned, including ley lines and Channeling. Overall a good read. Slight confusion as the character of William, Lord Alderscroft makes several appearances, but for longtime readers more used to Lord Alderscroft being David, it is slightly jarring.

A delightful change of pace. Two young women from America post War of 1812 visit England on a mix of business and pleasure and of course find trouble. I loved learning more about this period in history from a womans point of view. Amelia and Serena are interesting and while this book doesn’t quite have the frenetic pace of earlier entries of this series there was enough to keep me goggeling at the world presented. A fascinating bit of intrigue.

This was the first Elemental Masters book I've read by Mercedes Lackey.
I've read all of her Valdemar and Dragon Jousters series.
I love her writing style so much. She creates her worlds and characters thoroughly.

Amelia and Serena are such wonderful, delightful characters. Seeing them travel from America to England, watching them learn new customs and make friends with other mages kept me entertained and dreaming I was there with them!
The dances they attended sounded like such fun, I so wanted to be there myself.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, which is one of a series but not a series you need to read all of, in order. Amelia is a believable and realistic character, comfortable with her power while coping with her anxiety, and her cousin Serena, though less fully developed, is often unexpectedly competent. It was interesting to look at Regency England from the perspective of American characters, which I haven’t seen a lot of.

Looking back at the ending, it felt a bit rushed: reading an ebook, I’m not always aware of how close to the end I am, and it came as something of a surprise to realize we were there. There is some implausibility to how things wrapped up, but I actually can see how it could have been even more so and wasn’t, so although that’s a backhand compliment, I do mean it well. A book I’m glad to have read, though not the one I would recommend for jumping into this series.

This was a strong entry in the Elemental Masters series, it had that writing style that I was looking for from Mercedes Lackey. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of the story.