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arisofia's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Started reading the book and got the feeling it wasn't the first - turns out it was the 18th! Aside from that, although it took a while to get into, the conclusion was riveting. Characters (both in terms of power and who was who) was confusing, but I assume that would not have been the case had I read the rest of the series first.
kathydavie's review
5.0
Seventeenth in The Chronicles of Elantra fantasy series and revolving around Corporal Kaylin Neya. The focus is on a death that didn't happen and the resulting ghosts..
My Take
I do enjoy Kaylin. She's hostile to most people but in a friendly way, very eager to help people. Did I mention she's also very, very stubborn? She'll brave anyone to ensure the laws protect the innocent. So it isn't a surprise that the Dragon Court frequently finds Corporal Neya at the center of unusual and dangerous magical anomalies. It's being Chosen that saves her. She also comes to a realization about herself, a positive one! Who knew this would ever happen?!?
We learn so much from Sagara's use of third person protagonist point-of-view from Kaylin's perspective.
It's so sweet that the Hawks feel so proprietary for a woman they consider a kook. Mrs Erickson is a wonderful, old woman who is nice to everyone, including the ghosts she encounters. A trait the ghosts appreciate so much, as she's their only social outlet. As for the ghosts who live in her childhood home, their back story is slowly revealed and just nasty. They're why she's so worried about how much longer she'll live.
Her household ghosts have a lot of fears, one of which includes that neighbor of Mrs Erickson's, who excites Kaylin and Hope to such anger. It's too bad they couldn't follow through. What we learn about him later is whack.
It's interesting how much information one can glean from public records, including a missing person report from 90 years ago. It took the longest time for me to draw that correlation between their later crimes.
Lol, Serralyn gets her dearest wish — because of Kaylin. Then Sagara humanizes Sedarias! Sagara also provides more information about the Lady's duties and reinforces the pragmatism she can adopt. It is an eye-opening reveal of the requirements for a Consort to be chosen.
Sagara introduces a new element that explains the "water" in the Dragon's altar, the "water" in the Lake of Life; the mirrors; and, she also reveals more about the history of the green.
I suspect this is true, that people seek power for its safety. I think Azoria was more interested in power for the sake of superiority. She'll learn anything she can about how others evolve and come to life with their Words that become True Names.
We do learn more about how the Wevaren are born and escape their hatching with the imperative of survival, which ties into Azoria's dreams. It's part of the contrast provided between Terrano's ambitions and Azoria's that's so fascinating.
I gotta say that I don't get the idea that if the Lake is destroyed and the Barrani are dead, who's left to rule?
While Cast in Eternity is full of action, it's primarily character-driven — and of course, I do enjoy the core characters in The Chronicles of Elantra! Pace-wise . . . I don't know. Sometimes it felt slow and other times it went too fast. Part of it is the prose, which can become convoluted.
In the end it's all about long range plans that are all about possession, of ensuring a greater immortality.
The Story
It sucks when Kaylin is assigned front desk duties. It's all paperwork and listening to idiots. Until Mrs Erickson shows up. It's a daily expectation by the front desk; it's even better since she brings baked goods for the Hawks.
It's Mrs Erickson's city ghosts who worry about Corporal Handred and the weapon he carries that pulls Kaylin's interest. And the bullying by her neighbor that makes her and Hope so angry. Then Mrs Erickson's house ghosts appear . . .
Kaylin's concern rises when she sees the spirits Mrs Erickson sees as friends, four of whom saw her born, grew up with her, and continue to protect her. It all raises questions for Kaylin, especially when she looks into the records regarding property and missing persons.
Questions arise that anger the Barrani, for some don't want the past to be uncovered, and they’re perfectly willing to destroy Kaylin if it preserves the secrets of the dead.
The Characters
Corporal Kaylin Neya is a Hawk who carries a translucent familiar, Hope. She's also Chosen and covered in glyphs which allow her to heal almost anything. Corporal Severn Handred is her partner who carries a coveted Barrani weapon and is detached to the Hawks from the Wolves. Helen is the independent sentient house where Kaylin lives. I want a Helen who cooks, cleans, launders, and provides security!
Imelda Swindon Erickson is a widow with a gift who lives in a tiny house populated by four ghosts with a terrifying history who can't leave her house: Jamal Rayan is a poltergeist with anger issues; Callis Creekson; Esmeralda "Esme" Noachin; and, Katie Holdern, who is the youngest. There are two more ghosts Mrs Erickson meets with, only they're city ghosts who can't enter her house: Amaldi and the critical Darreno. They had been Barrani slaves years ago, belonging to Azoria. Curly Erickson had been her husband. Stacia and Collin Swindon had been Imelda's parents. One of her neighbors, Brennan Oswald, is a widower and a nasty bully. His wife had been Annalisa "Alisa".
The Halls of Law are . . .
. . . three separate policing organizations of Elantra — the Hawks, the Wolves, and the Swords — who all work for the Emperor.
The Imperial Hawks are . . .
. . . the cops of this world, walking a beat and investigating crime.The Hawklord, an Aerian, is in charge of the Hawks. Sergeant Bridget Keele is in charge of all front desk duties. Sergeant Marcus Kassan, a Leontine, is Kaylin's immediate supervisor. Caitlin, a human, is the Hawks' very efficient secretary. Corporal Teela, a.k.a. An'Teela, is Barrani, Kaylin's friend, and had been part of the cohort. Corporal Tain is Teela's Barrani partner and another friend. Red is the coroner. Hanson is the Hawklord's secretary.
The Imperial Swords are peacekeepers. The Imperial Wolves are the emperor's executioners, his assassins.
The Cohort are . . .
. . . a group of Barrani young who were lost to an experiment (Cast in Peril, 8) and trapped in the Hallionne Alsanis. The cohort must live with Helen lest they destroy the city. They include Mandoran with his almost human curiosity; Sedarias is their bossy leader — and the new head of her house as Lord An’Mellarionne; Terrano, who evolved past his original existence and drives them all mad for he delights in chaos; Allaron; Annarion, who is Nightshade’s angry brother; Valliant; Serralyn, who is happily attending the Academia; Eddorian; Torrissant; Karian; and Fallessian.
The Barrani had bee . . .
. . . enemies of the Dragons, having fought several wars. Not much has changed! The current Barrani rulers live in the High Halls. The mostly apolitical Consort, a.k.a. the Lady, is sister to the very political High Lord, and she is the mother of the race. Lirienne, the Lord of the West March, is the youngest sibling of the Lady and the High Lord. Ynpharion is a Barrani angry at being bonded to Kayla, but it does have its uses, including that he now serves the Consort personally. The Avatar of the High Halls, Abel, who is not Barrani, has been freed to take up his duties again. The Lake of Life is the source of the True Names the Consort chooses from to bring newborn Barrani to life. Kaylin freed the High Halls of the terror of the Adversary in Cast in Oblivion, 14. The Warden of the West March's duty is to absorb the nightmares of the Hallionne and converse with it, to visit.
Spike is a being from Shadow in Ravellon, an historian who became friends with Kayla and is now ensconced in the High Halls, friends with the former (enslaved) Adversary and the Avatar (Cast in Deception, 13).
Azoria An'Berrani was a malevolent, ambitious arcanist, the supreme egoist, who took it too far. Her entire line excised. An'Berranin had been her father. Her younger and beloved sister, Leyalyn, had been intended to be a possible Consort, but she died.
The Academia, a . . .
. . . great school millennia ago with the library is its heart, had been lost when the Towers rose, and it has been rediscovered (Cast in Wisdom, 15) but it's not mappable. Only in Elantra . . . The highly respected Lannagaros, the former Arkon, has found his true hoard — the chancellorship. Killianas, a.k.a. Killian, is the sentient being that kept the Academia running, but he's not sentient in the way Helen is.
Starrante, a Wevaren (a giant spider); Kavallac had been a Dragon; and, Androsse had been a Barranni Ancestor. All three became librarians and arbiters. Larrantin is/was a Barrani legend who had been offered one of the Three. Robin is one of the five students who remained. Matilda mans the front desk. Bakkon is also a Wevaren and a librarian who had been trapped in Ravellon in Cast in Conflict, 16. Bakkon is currently living in Liatt's Tower, another fief.
The Dragons rule . . .
. . . Elantra. Lord Sanabalis is the new Arkon, who rules the Library. Lord Emmerian is the youngest approachable dragon who is in love with Lord Bellusdeo, the only female Dragon, who has taken on her own Tower. And she's another good friend of Kaylin's. Tiamaris is now the dragon fieflord of the Tower of Tiamaris, one of seven fiefs that protect Elantra. Tara is the tower's Avatar; both are friendly with Kaylin.
The Arcanum is . . .
. . . sort of a magic guild with arcanists, who are mages who work independently of the Dragon Emperor.
Mirrors are the primary method of communication in Elantra, although Kaylin did discover a flaw in its use. An' is a Barrani honorific indicating the head of a House. The Hallionne are a Barrani version of an inn that is sentient, alive, and able to read minds with a duty to recreate the best comforts of a guest’s home. while preventing anyone killing anyone else. A Leontine is a lion shifter. Margot is the Elani Street charlatan whom Kaylin despises. The Outlands are a potential space, gray and formless. The giant is from a people of purpose, the Ancients, powerful beings who are almost myth, and they created everything and everybody.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of grays in the background with a gray sky and a ravine of grays and browns with Kaylin facing away from us in a skintight gray top and pants with a blue cape hanging down her back. I'm suspecting the somewhat transparent circle of peaches , blues, purples, and white is a portal to the outlands, a gray tower in the distance. At the very top is a testimonial in a greenish-yellow. Below that is an info blurb in white, and below that is the author's name, also in white. Crossing Kaylin's waist is the start of the title in white while at the very bottom is the series info in the same yellowish-green.
The title is Azoria's dream to be Cast in Eternity.
My Take
I do enjoy Kaylin. She's hostile to most people but in a friendly way, very eager to help people. Did I mention she's also very, very stubborn? She'll brave anyone to ensure the laws protect the innocent. So it isn't a surprise that the Dragon Court frequently finds Corporal Neya at the center of unusual and dangerous magical anomalies. It's being Chosen that saves her. She also comes to a realization about herself, a positive one! Who knew this would ever happen?!?
We learn so much from Sagara's use of third person protagonist point-of-view from Kaylin's perspective.
It's so sweet that the Hawks feel so proprietary for a woman they consider a kook. Mrs Erickson is a wonderful, old woman who is nice to everyone, including the ghosts she encounters. A trait the ghosts appreciate so much, as she's their only social outlet. As for the ghosts who live in her childhood home, their back story is slowly revealed and just nasty. They're why she's so worried about how much longer she'll live.
Her household ghosts have a lot of fears, one of which includes that neighbor of Mrs Erickson's, who excites Kaylin and Hope to such anger. It's too bad they couldn't follow through. What we learn about him later is whack.
It's interesting how much information one can glean from public records, including a missing person report from 90 years ago. It took the longest time for me to draw that correlation between their later crimes.
Lol, Serralyn gets her dearest wish — because of Kaylin. Then Sagara humanizes Sedarias! Sagara also provides more information about the Lady's duties and reinforces the pragmatism she can adopt. It is an eye-opening reveal of the requirements for a Consort to be chosen.
Sagara introduces a new element that explains the "water" in the Dragon's altar, the "water" in the Lake of Life; the mirrors; and, she also reveals more about the history of the green.
I suspect this is true, that people seek power for its safety. I think Azoria was more interested in power for the sake of superiority. She'll learn anything she can about how others evolve and come to life with their Words that become True Names.
We do learn more about how the Wevaren are born and escape their hatching with the imperative of survival, which ties into Azoria's dreams. It's part of the contrast provided between Terrano's ambitions and Azoria's that's so fascinating.
I gotta say that I don't get the idea that if the Lake is destroyed and the Barrani are dead, who's left to rule?
While Cast in Eternity is full of action, it's primarily character-driven — and of course, I do enjoy the core characters in The Chronicles of Elantra! Pace-wise . . . I don't know. Sometimes it felt slow and other times it went too fast. Part of it is the prose, which can become convoluted.
In the end it's all about long range plans that are all about possession, of ensuring a greater immortality.
The Story
It sucks when Kaylin is assigned front desk duties. It's all paperwork and listening to idiots. Until Mrs Erickson shows up. It's a daily expectation by the front desk; it's even better since she brings baked goods for the Hawks.
It's Mrs Erickson's city ghosts who worry about Corporal Handred and the weapon he carries that pulls Kaylin's interest. And the bullying by her neighbor that makes her and Hope so angry. Then Mrs Erickson's house ghosts appear . . .
Kaylin's concern rises when she sees the spirits Mrs Erickson sees as friends, four of whom saw her born, grew up with her, and continue to protect her. It all raises questions for Kaylin, especially when she looks into the records regarding property and missing persons.
Questions arise that anger the Barrani, for some don't want the past to be uncovered, and they’re perfectly willing to destroy Kaylin if it preserves the secrets of the dead.
The Characters
Corporal Kaylin Neya is a Hawk who carries a translucent familiar, Hope. She's also Chosen and covered in glyphs which allow her to heal almost anything. Corporal Severn Handred is her partner who carries a coveted Barrani weapon and is detached to the Hawks from the Wolves. Helen is the independent sentient house where Kaylin lives. I want a Helen who cooks, cleans, launders, and provides security!
Imelda Swindon Erickson is a widow with a gift who lives in a tiny house populated by four ghosts with a terrifying history who can't leave her house: Jamal Rayan is a poltergeist with anger issues; Callis Creekson; Esmeralda "Esme" Noachin; and, Katie Holdern, who is the youngest. There are two more ghosts Mrs Erickson meets with, only they're city ghosts who can't enter her house: Amaldi and the critical Darreno. They had been Barrani slaves years ago, belonging to Azoria. Curly Erickson had been her husband. Stacia and Collin Swindon had been Imelda's parents. One of her neighbors, Brennan Oswald, is a widower and a nasty bully. His wife had been Annalisa "Alisa".
The Halls of Law are . . .
. . . three separate policing organizations of Elantra — the Hawks, the Wolves, and the Swords — who all work for the Emperor.
The Imperial Hawks are . . .
. . . the cops of this world, walking a beat and investigating crime.The Hawklord, an Aerian, is in charge of the Hawks. Sergeant Bridget Keele is in charge of all front desk duties. Sergeant Marcus Kassan, a Leontine, is Kaylin's immediate supervisor. Caitlin, a human, is the Hawks' very efficient secretary. Corporal Teela, a.k.a. An'Teela, is Barrani, Kaylin's friend, and had been part of the cohort. Corporal Tain is Teela's Barrani partner and another friend. Red is the coroner. Hanson is the Hawklord's secretary.
The Imperial Swords are peacekeepers. The Imperial Wolves are the emperor's executioners, his assassins.
The Cohort are . . .
. . . a group of Barrani young who were lost to an experiment (Cast in Peril, 8) and trapped in the Hallionne Alsanis. The cohort must live with Helen lest they destroy the city. They include Mandoran with his almost human curiosity; Sedarias is their bossy leader — and the new head of her house as Lord An’Mellarionne; Terrano, who evolved past his original existence and drives them all mad for he delights in chaos; Allaron; Annarion, who is Nightshade’s angry brother; Valliant; Serralyn, who is happily attending the Academia; Eddorian; Torrissant; Karian; and Fallessian.
The Barrani had bee . . .
. . . enemies of the Dragons, having fought several wars. Not much has changed! The current Barrani rulers live in the High Halls. The mostly apolitical Consort, a.k.a. the Lady, is sister to the very political High Lord, and she is the mother of the race. Lirienne, the Lord of the West March, is the youngest sibling of the Lady and the High Lord. Ynpharion is a Barrani angry at being bonded to Kayla, but it does have its uses, including that he now serves the Consort personally. The Avatar of the High Halls, Abel, who is not Barrani, has been freed to take up his duties again. The Lake of Life is the source of the True Names the Consort chooses from to bring newborn Barrani to life. Kaylin freed the High Halls of the terror of the Adversary in Cast in Oblivion, 14. The Warden of the West March's duty is to absorb the nightmares of the Hallionne and converse with it, to visit.
Spike is a being from Shadow in Ravellon, an historian who became friends with Kayla and is now ensconced in the High Halls, friends with the former (enslaved) Adversary and the Avatar (Cast in Deception, 13).
Azoria An'Berrani was a malevolent, ambitious arcanist, the supreme egoist, who took it too far. Her entire line excised. An'Berranin had been her father. Her younger and beloved sister, Leyalyn, had been intended to be a possible Consort, but she died.
The Academia, a . . .
. . . great school millennia ago with the library is its heart, had been lost when the Towers rose, and it has been rediscovered (Cast in Wisdom, 15) but it's not mappable. Only in Elantra . . . The highly respected Lannagaros, the former Arkon, has found his true hoard — the chancellorship. Killianas, a.k.a. Killian, is the sentient being that kept the Academia running, but he's not sentient in the way Helen is.
Starrante, a Wevaren (a giant spider); Kavallac had been a Dragon; and, Androsse had been a Barranni Ancestor. All three became librarians and arbiters. Larrantin is/was a Barrani legend who had been offered one of the Three. Robin is one of the five students who remained. Matilda mans the front desk. Bakkon is also a Wevaren and a librarian who had been trapped in Ravellon in Cast in Conflict, 16. Bakkon is currently living in Liatt's Tower, another fief.
The Dragons rule . . .
. . . Elantra. Lord Sanabalis is the new Arkon, who rules the Library. Lord Emmerian is the youngest approachable dragon who is in love with Lord Bellusdeo, the only female Dragon, who has taken on her own Tower. And she's another good friend of Kaylin's. Tiamaris is now the dragon fieflord of the Tower of Tiamaris, one of seven fiefs that protect Elantra. Tara is the tower's Avatar; both are friendly with Kaylin.
The Arcanum is . . .
. . . sort of a magic guild with arcanists, who are mages who work independently of the Dragon Emperor.
Mirrors are the primary method of communication in Elantra, although Kaylin did discover a flaw in its use. An' is a Barrani honorific indicating the head of a House. The Hallionne are a Barrani version of an inn that is sentient, alive, and able to read minds with a duty to recreate the best comforts of a guest’s home. while preventing anyone killing anyone else. A Leontine is a lion shifter. Margot is the Elani Street charlatan whom Kaylin despises. The Outlands are a potential space, gray and formless. The giant is from a people of purpose, the Ancients, powerful beings who are almost myth, and they created everything and everybody.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of grays in the background with a gray sky and a ravine of grays and browns with Kaylin facing away from us in a skintight gray top and pants with a blue cape hanging down her back. I'm suspecting the somewhat transparent circle of peaches , blues, purples, and white is a portal to the outlands, a gray tower in the distance. At the very top is a testimonial in a greenish-yellow. Below that is an info blurb in white, and below that is the author's name, also in white. Crossing Kaylin's waist is the start of the title in white while at the very bottom is the series info in the same yellowish-green.
The title is Azoria's dream to be Cast in Eternity.
rkstumblingbear's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
katyanaish's review
5.0
I love this series, I really, really do.
I know it isn't for everyone. The narrative flows in a stream-of-consciousness way that I really dig, but at the same time I get that will drive some people batty. But for me, I flow with it, I feel like I'm riding with Kaylin's intuition, and I just adore the experience.
I would also like to say that it was a relief to me, in this book, that it seems people are done treating Kaylin like an inept child that they're trying shoo away from what is clearly a situation that is calling her, in her duty as Chosen. She felt like she had agency in this book, right from the start. Yes, Teela tried to convince her to not pursue this case, but she did it with a discussion - making the argument, as she would to an equal. Neither she nor anyone else tried to batter Kaylin into submission as if she hasn't proven herself as a capable, intuitive problem-solver over and over. And that, in turn, led to the most cohesive, mature chapter with Kaylin. She thought things through, followed steps, kept people informed (because she didn't have to hide from them that she was involved) ... and though they weren't thrilled, it was more because oy, this is a big problem and who wants a big problem in your lap? It wasn't because oy, this ridiculous Kaylin is such a problem child (which always grates on me in earlier books - she doesn't cause these problems, she is drawn to them because of who she is, and she FIXES them).
I missed a lot of the secondary cast - Bellusdeo, Tiamaris, and Tara were the most conspicuous missing characters - but the cast at this point is so huge that it is impossible to involve them all in a meaningful way in every story. Better for there to be fewer characters so that they can be integrated to the story, and the next one can feature others.
I'm going to hit up the Severn spin-off series next. I've bought the books, but haven't read them yet ... I think because I'm not sure I'll like visiting this world without Kaylin at the core. But we'll see. I do love Severn, and I wish for he and Kaylin to find their happiness at some point. And I'd love the detail on his character. So we'll see!
I know it isn't for everyone. The narrative flows in a stream-of-consciousness way that I really dig, but at the same time I get that will drive some people batty. But for me, I flow with it, I feel like I'm riding with Kaylin's intuition, and I just adore the experience.
I would also like to say that it was a relief to me, in this book, that it seems people are done treating Kaylin like an inept child that they're trying shoo away from what is clearly a situation that is calling her, in her duty as Chosen. She felt like she had agency in this book, right from the start. Yes, Teela tried to convince her to not pursue this case, but she did it with a discussion - making the argument, as she would to an equal. Neither she nor anyone else tried to batter Kaylin into submission as if she hasn't proven herself as a capable, intuitive problem-solver over and over. And that, in turn, led to the most cohesive, mature chapter with Kaylin. She thought things through, followed steps, kept people informed (because she didn't have to hide from them that she was involved) ... and though they weren't thrilled, it was more because oy, this is a big problem and who wants a big problem in your lap? It wasn't because oy, this ridiculous Kaylin is such a problem child (which always grates on me in earlier books - she doesn't cause these problems, she is drawn to them because of who she is, and she FIXES them).
I missed a lot of the secondary cast - Bellusdeo, Tiamaris, and Tara were the most conspicuous missing characters - but the cast at this point is so huge that it is impossible to involve them all in a meaningful way in every story. Better for there to be fewer characters so that they can be integrated to the story, and the next one can feature others.
I'm going to hit up the Severn spin-off series next. I've bought the books, but haven't read them yet ... I think because I'm not sure I'll like visiting this world without Kaylin at the core. But we'll see. I do love Severn, and I wish for he and Kaylin to find their happiness at some point. And I'd love the detail on his character. So we'll see!
lee25's review
4.0
[b:Cast in Eternity|59978355|Cast in Eternity (Chronicles of Elantra, #17)|Michelle Sagara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652515572l/59978355._SY75_.jpg|94519988] is another great book in the Chronicles of Elantra series.
Much like the previous books it has likeable and interesting characters, amusing and often dry banter, and a fascinating world. My only criticism of this series is that so often the much more interesting battles are happening "off page" while the story stays with Kaylen is doing her "Chosen" thing.
From my point of view every book in this series is a 5 star book until the last 50-60 pages when the other characters fade into the background and we focus on the Kaylen.
Much like the previous books it has likeable and interesting characters, amusing and often dry banter, and a fascinating world. My only criticism of this series is that so often the much more interesting battles are happening "off page" while the story stays with Kaylen is doing her "Chosen" thing.
Spoiler
And sadly that happened again in this book. Teela, Severn and the cohort are fighting for their, and everyone else's, (after)lives, but we are with Kaylen cluelessly wielding her chosen marksFrom my point of view every book in this series is a 5 star book until the last 50-60 pages when the other characters fade into the background and we focus on the Kaylen.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This is the seventeenth and latest book in the Chronicles of Elantra, a fantasy series that I began a little over a year ago. I like the series very much, this book included. Kaylin, the main character, continues to be thoroughly likable: compassionate and brave and determined. The fantasy worldbuilding is rich and complex. I always care about the characters and what will happen to them.
Sagara spends less time than most series authors explaining what has gone before, which is just as well since a Very Great Deal happened in the previous sixteen books and large numbers of important characters were introduced, quite a few of whom reappear here. Her success in making me care about her characters means that I am somewhat disappointed when my favorites are absent or reduced to a small role, and I have sufficiently many favorites that they can't all play a sizable part. (For the record, my very favorite is Severn.) Two of the new characters from "Cast in Eternity" have now been added to my list of favorites (for the curious: Mrs. Erickson and Jamal).
At times, the unfolding plot is perhaps too convoluted, or at least the discussions about the plot's convolutions are overly protracted, with debates going on for pages. But the emotional heart of the story moved me again and again.
Four out of five ghost stars.
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).
Sagara spends less time than most series authors explaining what has gone before, which is just as well since a Very Great Deal happened in the previous sixteen books and large numbers of important characters were introduced, quite a few of whom reappear here. Her success in making me care about her characters means that I am somewhat disappointed when my favorites are absent or reduced to a small role, and I have sufficiently many favorites that they can't all play a sizable part. (For the record, my very favorite is Severn.) Two of the new characters from "Cast in Eternity" have now been added to my list of favorites (for the curious: Mrs. Erickson and Jamal).
At times, the unfolding plot is perhaps too convoluted, or at least the discussions about the plot's convolutions are overly protracted, with debates going on for pages. But the emotional heart of the story moved me again and again.
Four out of five ghost stars.
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).
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.5
Kaylin is put on front desk duty while Severn is off doing work with the wolves when Mrs. Erickson comes in like she usually does and asks Kaylin "how well she really knows Severn and can she see how bright his belt glows?" not really how Kaylin thought her day was going to go, especially when Mrs. Erickson proceeds to tell her that ghosts friends were the ones to tell her something about him is wrong. As usual Kaylin follows a seemingly benign thread and yanks out a rats nest.
It's been a while since I truly enjoyed one of these books, I've been complaining that the series really needs to end for the last 3 books at least, but this brought the series home again and it felt more grounded than several of the previous books. It actually made me tear up in the end which I don't think any of these books ever have before, I'm really glad I didn't give up on this series now.
It's been a while since I truly enjoyed one of these books, I've been complaining that the series really needs to end for the last 3 books at least, but this brought the series home again and it felt more grounded than several of the previous books. It actually made me tear up in the end which I don't think any of these books ever have before, I'm really glad I didn't give up on this series now.
krisbethea's review
5.0
Michelle's newest in the Chronicles of Elantra is fantastic!
I really enjoyed this new adventure. It felt a little different than the others but in a good way. I can't wait till the next one comes out! I'm excited to see what happens next.
I really enjoyed this new adventure. It felt a little different than the others but in a good way. I can't wait till the next one comes out! I'm excited to see what happens next.