Lace and Blade 4

Ross’s fourth collection of feminist sword-and-sorcery tales struggles valiantly to achieve relevance in a market saturated with more dynamic offerings. The 13 stories span the spectrum from eminently entertaining to merely mediocre. Judith Tarr’s “On the Peacock Path” is a lukewarm romance with little sense of adventure, and the magical elements of Pat McEwen’s “The Butcher’s Boy and the Piri Folk” feel tacked-on. More promising entries include Dave Smeds’s “The Wind’s Kiss,” which captures not only the imagination but also the heart, leaving behind a sense of peace and longing. India Edghill’s “Pawn’s Queen” follows a young woman on the path to her own destiny, seamlessly marrying a feast for the senses with the darker whimsies of magic and duty. Marella Sands’s excellent “The Game of Lions” focuses on the strength of bonds between sisters and teammates. The stronger stories evoke wonder and excitement, but the rest, despite technically sound writing, lack the spark that would make them memorable. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary. (Feb.)