Stealing the Elf-King's Roses Review

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Stealing the Elf-King's Roses ReviewStealing the Elf-King's Roses is another great book by Diane Duane. She is widely known as one of the best Star Trek novelists, but even non-fans of that series can enjoy her books. This particular one has lyrical prose, interesting situations and an intriguing setting. It all adds up to something that I'm very glad I read.
I've always been a Diane Duane fan, and when I saw this book, the premise really intrigued me. This is a combination fantasy/science fiction book. It has parallel worlds and some sort of psychic powers (though some may seem Lee's power as more magical than psychic), but it also has the Elves and the magical "glamour" of their world. Elves make all the other races uncomfortable because they have what seems to be a magical, perfect beauty that has some sort of psychological effect on the other races. There is actually a practical reason behind all of this which is addressed in the story in a very intriguing fashion.
Duane's world-building is marvelous. There are numerous universes that share a lot of common traits, with other traits being completely different. They all occupy the same space, just in a different world. Travel and commerce between these worlds are commonplace and made possible by a substance called "fairy gold," which powers the gates between the worlds, and which the Elves control.The two main worlds in the story, the first being Lee's world, a sort of modern-day setting with a few differences, such as different creatures wandering about, weird version of cars, communication implants and stuff like that. The second world is Alfheim, home of the Elves, who are a very secretive race. As the story unfolds, you see that they actually have a reason for being so secretive, but that things may have to change in order to avoid a calamity. While Duane does a good job portraying the differences between Lee's world and our own, she really outdoes herself with Alfheim, making it a truly beautiful place with a strange veneer of unreality about it. It's breathtaking, eerie and a place that you really like visiting.
While the book certainly has a great concept, Duane makes it more than that. The characterization is simply wonderful. Lee and Gelert's friendship is very touching but there's no hint of any romantic feelings between them. He's happily married (or whatever the wolf-like equivalent would be in this world) and she's just coming off of a bad relationship. But it's clear that they love each other as only good friends can. They're willing to do whatever it takes to protect each other. Gelert is even willing to do something that could easily be considered a suicide mission (and with his "wife's" insistence!) to save Lee. The dialogue is great and Duane makes Gelert one of the most human wolves that you'll ever see. There are times when you will lose track of the fact that he's a wolf because he sounds so human, but then he'll do something like drink his champagne from a dog dish or something like that. He's that believable. In fact, while I really liked Lee, I thought Gelert really stole the show and I'd love to read more about him.
The other characters are well-done also. The Elf-King is suitably regal yet he's a "human" character as well, with understandable motivations and a wry sense of humour at times. Most of the other characters don't have a great deal to do and are minor, but they all have some sort of hook that makes them just that much more than two-dimensional. The book is told from Lee's point of view, so all of the characters are coloured by her perception of them. This gives some of them an extra dimension, such as Matt, who is her ex-boyfriend and their contact in the District Attorney's office.
I can't end the positives in this review without talking about the prose. I just love Duane's writing. It not only carries you deep within the story, but it also makes you feel like you're actually taking part. The descriptions of Alfheim, as already stated, are just great. The dialogue, especially between Gelert and Lee, is snappy and there's not a wasted word in the whole bunch. I took forever to finish this book, mostly because I was just reveling in the language used. Sometimes an actor is given a compliment by being described as "somebody you'd love to watch just read the phonebook." Well, Duane is somebody who I'd love to read the phonebook that she wrote.
The only negatives in this book are a couple of slow spots in the middle. One spot is while we're waiting for the UN delegation to be formed to go to Alfheim and investigate some of the potential problems. Another is some of the traveling that is done on Alfheim between two of the cities. It almost seems like a lull in the action, and while the book is very interesting it's not action-packed. It doesn't need these lulls. In fact, there isn't a whole lot of action (such as fights, etc) in the book at all. This doesn't stop Duane in the least, though. She keeps increasing the tension until it's at the breaking point. The climax of the book is simply marvelous, with Lee having to make a very tough decision that could affect everything in all the worlds connected by the gates.
I'm really torn here. I love the fact that this book is completely self-contained, with no "to be continued" or anything like that. I want this to be a stand-alone book. On the other hand, I would love to see these characters again. I have faith in Diane Duane that, if she's going to write a sequel, it will be just as good. And if she doesn't, I am thankful to her that she's created this book. Read it. Experience it. You won't regret it.Stealing the Elf-King's Roses OverviewIn an alternate-world Los Angeles, prosecutor/psychic Lee Enfield and her partner, Gelert, investigate the murder of an elf. They soon reveal a deadly network of ties among organized crime, multinational corporations, and planetary governments of the Seven Worlds--all working together on the "ethnic cleansing" of elves from the alternate world of Alfheim. Original.

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