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lisonfaye's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
heidi_mcj's review against another edition
4.0
Another entertaining addition to the series although I do wish the story would move along a bit.
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
Holy crap.
I love this series. I loved this book. But this ending ... or rather, cliffhanger non-ending ... nearly killed me.
Also, I feel positive that the box that Alsanis gave to Kaylin Bets, anyone?
I'm not going to do a big review, because 13 books in, you either know the series and love it (because who goes 13 books in to a series they don't love?) or you haven't started the series (fools) and wouldn't really understand what I'm talking about unless I gave a pile of background and spoilers for earlier books. So I'll just say this:
My quibble with the series, for the last few books, is that there is no evolution in how the secondary characters treat Kaylin. She's young, yes. But her instincts are superb, and she is connected with her magic in a way that - while she can't explain it - rarely leads her wrong. She has saved the city, and saved her friends, on many occasions. Which all means that the fact that every book starts out with people belittling her ("it's above your pay grade") or demanding that she stay out of a problem because it is too dangerous for her (which, lol)... it is tedious, frustrating and becoming a problem.
I *do* understand that some of why they keep her in a low position (still Private, which is so insulting) is because it gives her more freedom - she can make decisions as she needs to, and is generally shielded by her bosses. But I feel like this is a polite fiction - woven by the people who are trying to shield her - that has played itself out. At this point, the Emperor understands her, her choices, and that she is always going to make the decision out of a desire to help... never rooted in ego or politics. Which makes this a charade that is tiresome. And that only applies to stuff with Marcus and the Hawklord. The reaction of her friends, belittling her ability to help and treating her as if she's constantly causing problems, when the reality is that being Chosen means she is ALWAYS going to be drawn into - or in this book's case, thrown into - major problems because the power she has is meant to be used to fix said problems, is frustrating.
It has to change, before it becomes a poisoned apple that rots the barrel for me.
But at this point, it's a quibble, because while it is annoying as hell in the first 20% of the book, once we jump into the actual situation, it utterly disappears.
WTB the next book, please...
I love this series. I loved this book. But this ending ... or rather, cliffhanger non-ending ... nearly killed me.
Also, I feel positive that the box that Alsanis gave to Kaylin
Spoiler
- the little ring box, when he said sometimes a home is a cage - is Teranno's name.I'm not going to do a big review, because 13 books in, you either know the series and love it (because who goes 13 books in to a series they don't love?) or you haven't started the series (fools) and wouldn't really understand what I'm talking about unless I gave a pile of background and spoilers for earlier books. So I'll just say this:
My quibble with the series, for the last few books, is that there is no evolution in how the secondary characters treat Kaylin. She's young, yes. But her instincts are superb, and she is connected with her magic in a way that - while she can't explain it - rarely leads her wrong. She has saved the city, and saved her friends, on many occasions. Which all means that the fact that every book starts out with people belittling her ("it's above your pay grade") or demanding that she stay out of a problem because it is too dangerous for her (which, lol)... it is tedious, frustrating and becoming a problem.
I *do* understand that some of why they keep her in a low position (still Private, which is so insulting) is because it gives her more freedom - she can make decisions as she needs to, and is generally shielded by her bosses. But I feel like this is a polite fiction - woven by the people who are trying to shield her - that has played itself out. At this point, the Emperor understands her, her choices, and that she is always going to make the decision out of a desire to help... never rooted in ego or politics. Which makes this a charade that is tiresome. And that only applies to stuff with Marcus and the Hawklord. The reaction of her friends, belittling her ability to help and treating her as if she's constantly causing problems, when the reality is that being Chosen means she is ALWAYS going to be drawn into - or in this book's case, thrown into - major problems because the power she has is meant to be used to fix said problems, is frustrating.
It has to change, before it becomes a poisoned apple that rots the barrel for me.
But at this point, it's a quibble, because while it is annoying as hell in the first 20% of the book, once we jump into the actual situation, it utterly disappears.
WTB the next book, please...
lee25's review against another edition
4.0
This is my favourite Elantra book for quite a while. I like the way it seemed to break away from the formula of the other books; spoiler alert.... Kaylin didn't single-handedly save Elantra with her glowing marks.
I'm hoping this means the story will focus a bit more on the characters for a while - I really want to know more about Severn's past and how he ended up a Wolf. I also want to know more about the Cohort, especially Mandoran and Terrano, and how they will effect Elantran politics.
Looking forward to the next one.
I'm hoping this means the story will focus a bit more on the characters for a while - I really want to know more about Severn's past and how he ended up a Wolf. I also want to know more about the Cohort, especially Mandoran and Terrano, and how they will effect Elantran politics.
Looking forward to the next one.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This is the thirteenth novel in the fantasy series "The Chronicles of Elantra," a series that I'm enjoying very much. The books have a very likable heroine, very likable recurring supporting characters, strong found-family and friendship themes, intriguing magic and worldbuilding, high stakes, and some notably dark content. I strongly recommend reading the series in order, because later books have comparatively little recapitulation of previous events -- and those events are necessary for emotional heft as well as clarity.
I returned to this series after a hiatus of a few months and have gobbled up four books in a row. This, the fourth, fell short of the other three. I still love Kaylin, Severn, et al. And I still enjoyed this considerably. Yet the other three books each had an emotional core that moved me more, speaking of home or loneliness, or introducing characters -- especially Gilbert in "Cast in Honor" -- that tugged at me. Although the theme of loneliness is present again, it felt flatter. The closing scenes carried emotional weight for me, but not the main part of the book.
Good but not as good. Call it three and a half out of five stars in the cohort.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I returned to this series after a hiatus of a few months and have gobbled up four books in a row. This, the fourth, fell short of the other three. I still love Kaylin, Severn, et al. And I still enjoyed this considerably. Yet the other three books each had an emotional core that moved me more, speaking of home or loneliness, or introducing characters -- especially Gilbert in "Cast in Honor" -- that tugged at me. Although the theme of loneliness is present again, it felt flatter. The closing scenes carried emotional weight for me, but not the main part of the book.
Good but not as good. Call it three and a half out of five stars in the cohort.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
chawlios's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alassea's review against another edition
3.0
Another book where the focus is on the journey and everything happening along it, rather than the goal the story sets out with. This is very much a prologue to the next book, or a bad second book looking to get you on to the finale. As usual Kaylin knows very little of what she actually is doing.
If it wasn't for the fact I like the people in the story, I don't know if I would keep reading the series. Terrano and Bellusdeo pulled this book to a 3 instead of a 2 for me.
I would only recommend this book to fans of the series, which is fair at 13 books in.
If it wasn't for the fact I like the people in the story, I don't know if I would keep reading the series. Terrano and Bellusdeo pulled this book to a 3 instead of a 2 for me.
I would only recommend this book to fans of the series, which is fair at 13 books in.