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atinydisaster's review
3.0
This book, like the rest of the series, is really well written and engaging. Michelle Sagara has created a pretty fantastical world that I think is fairly uncommon now for this kind of fantasy. For me, the Chronicles of Elantra series has always read a lot like Urban Fantasy. This has a lot to do with how much of the plot lines have to do with the goings on of a very urban city, albeit not a modern one. That, and Kaylin is witty, kick-ass and a little self deprecating like a lot of my favorite UF heroines.
It's hard to really go into the plot of this one without getting into spoilers since the books description tells you next to nothing, but I'll tell you it was good. This series has a tendency to get a little sidetracked away from the main story due to all of the intricacies of the world the characters live in. All of the different races in this story lead pretty specific lives, most of which we've seen Kaylin (MC) delve into, even if it wasn't necessary. Good world building, absolutely! But it does tend to pull focus away from plotting. Only happened a little in this one though and the detours are usually well worth it :)
Even though the back cover of the book didn't tell you much, one thing I did love was the blatant foreshadowing. We did get a feel of what was coming midway through the book while the tension was still rising and it made for a pretty exciting read! I also loved getting to know some of our dragon characters a little better. Damn those mysterious immortals!
Anyways, like I said, I'm really excited to see what's coming next although I have a feeling book seven will go off in some random direction. To be fair though, I don't know how many books this series is planned to go for... but there are still a lot of loose ends that need to be dealt with so I doubt the next book will be the last! *fingers crossed*
It's hard to really go into the plot of this one without getting into spoilers since the books description tells you next to nothing, but I'll tell you it was good. This series has a tendency to get a little sidetracked away from the main story due to all of the intricacies of the world the characters live in. All of the different races in this story lead pretty specific lives, most of which we've seen Kaylin (MC) delve into, even if it wasn't necessary. Good world building, absolutely! But it does tend to pull focus away from plotting. Only happened a little in this one though and the detours are usually well worth it :)
Even though the back cover of the book didn't tell you much, one thing I did love was the blatant foreshadowing. We did get a feel of what was coming midway through the book while the tension was still rising and it made for a pretty exciting read! I also loved getting to know some of our dragon characters a little better. Damn those mysterious immortals!
Anyways, like I said, I'm really excited to see what's coming next although I have a feeling book seven will go off in some random direction. To be fair though, I don't know how many books this series is planned to go for... but there are still a lot of loose ends that need to be dealt with so I doubt the next book will be the last! *fingers crossed*
paradoxically's review
4.0
This series is, at once, beautiful and frustrating. Sometimes you want to smack Kaylin and sometimes you just want to hug her. If nothing else, the books are entertaining and they capture your attention and imagination very quickly. The author does much the same in Cast in Chaos, expanding and developing the world that she has created and making it something rich and rather lovely (as well as rather terrible to boot).
The beginning of the book was a bit of a mess. It has been a while since I've last read one of the books, and it was a little confusing and there were names and phrases thrown around like crazy. It's not really a series you can pick up in the middle and expect to figure out everything, but they are standalone, in that each and every book tells a complete story. But once the story gets moving, once you begin to understand a little more, the writing flows out and grasps your attention. More importantly, it holds it, and you're pretty much sucked into the world that is presented before you.
The plot of the book is fairly complex and filled with quite of a lot of layers. There is an area in the city that is warped by strange magic--or rather, magic is being warped in the area, and nobody knows why. Kaylin and the rest of the Hawks try to investigate what is happening, and why, with little success until Kaylin, of course, manages to fall out of place in the world and become lost. There is nothing there, and yet there is a presence that terrifies her and she barely manages to escape from such a place. Unfortunately that presence, the Devourer, a being that swallows up worlds, is searching for something, and Kaylin fears that it is her world. And that's just the tip of it, really.
The characters are great. Kaylin has grown from what she was in the beginning books, all for the better. She's not as irritating now, she thinks a little more before she jumps into things, but she's still her. She still makes rash decisions and still can't keep her mouth shut for the most part. And, okay, I'm pretty much in love with Nightshade, for no good reason other than I apparently have a certain type in books, and he pretty much encompasses all of it. It's just too bad that he doesn't show up nearly as much as I want him too.
But I think what's best about the series is the amount of creativity the author has put into the world. It's a rich, deep, complex world that you can't help but get lost in. It's a little confusing, and sometimes you don't get any answers, but there's always something more and something different. 4 stars.
The beginning of the book was a bit of a mess. It has been a while since I've last read one of the books, and it was a little confusing and there were names and phrases thrown around like crazy. It's not really a series you can pick up in the middle and expect to figure out everything, but they are standalone, in that each and every book tells a complete story. But once the story gets moving, once you begin to understand a little more, the writing flows out and grasps your attention. More importantly, it holds it, and you're pretty much sucked into the world that is presented before you.
The plot of the book is fairly complex and filled with quite of a lot of layers. There is an area in the city that is warped by strange magic--or rather, magic is being warped in the area, and nobody knows why. Kaylin and the rest of the Hawks try to investigate what is happening, and why, with little success until Kaylin, of course, manages to fall out of place in the world and become lost. There is nothing there, and yet there is a presence that terrifies her and she barely manages to escape from such a place. Unfortunately that presence, the Devourer, a being that swallows up worlds, is searching for something, and Kaylin fears that it is her world. And that's just the tip of it, really.
The characters are great. Kaylin has grown from what she was in the beginning books, all for the better. She's not as irritating now, she thinks a little more before she jumps into things, but she's still her. She still makes rash decisions and still can't keep her mouth shut for the most part. And, okay, I'm pretty much in love with Nightshade, for no good reason other than I apparently have a certain type in books, and he pretty much encompasses all of it. It's just too bad that he doesn't show up nearly as much as I want him too.
But I think what's best about the series is the amount of creativity the author has put into the world. It's a rich, deep, complex world that you can't help but get lost in. It's a little confusing, and sometimes you don't get any answers, but there's always something more and something different. 4 stars.
lassarina's review
5.0
This takes many of the threads that have been created in prior books in the series and weaves them together into a fascinating whole: the Garden, names, Kaylin's adventures at the High Court, the fiefs and specifically the fief of Tiamaris, and all the details about Elani Street. It also moves forward Kaylin and Severin's relationship in a way that's loving and charming but also highlights how messed up that relationship is in many ways. One of my favorites in the series so far.
peppermintbat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lavendermarch's review against another edition
5.0
This my new favorite book in this series. It definitely is in the top 50 of all time faves. Kaylin was so mature in this book, and we got some questions answered. We understand the book's world a LOT better, through the elements and the Devourer. Also, there were...
ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENTS
TEAM NIGHTSHADE
5 stars. This book was beautiful. The characters were awesome as ever, the plot was AMAZING (seriously, you have no idea how much it kicked ass) and it's my new favorite book in this series, as stated above. So yeah, 5 STARS!
Reread May 4th-5th, 2022
This was a fantastic reread. My favorite so far - it breaks new ground, takes the world building to new heights, and just generally delivers a well-paced, interesting, funny story with endearing characters. The Arkon is a new favorite of mine, and I especially enjoyed his interactions with Evanton - they were hilarious! Romantically, Overall, this was a strong sixth installment in the series and I'm very pleased to have read it. It was hard to put down and I'm eager to read book seven and see the developments that will unfurl thanks to this book's ending. 5 stars.
ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Spoiler
Severn told Kaylin why he loves her (made me like him a little more) and NIGHTSHADE KISSED HER! Side note: I think Kaylin has a past of being sexually abused, in Barren. Probs by him. (Insert multiple swearwords here, in English, plus all the languages Kaylin speaks). But anyways. Nightshade. He said (again, for those who've been paying attention) that he would wait for her. Because he had time to. More than Severn. His competition. WHOOP!TEAM NIGHTSHADE
5 stars. This book was beautiful. The characters were awesome as ever, the plot was AMAZING (seriously, you have no idea how much it kicked ass) and it's my new favorite book in this series, as stated above. So yeah, 5 STARS!
Reread May 4th-5th, 2022
This was a fantastic reread. My favorite so far - it breaks new ground, takes the world building to new heights, and just generally delivers a well-paced, interesting, funny story with endearing characters. The Arkon is a new favorite of mine, and I especially enjoyed his interactions with Evanton - they were hilarious! Romantically,
Spoiler
my allegiances are with Nightshade, but I won't be too upset if Severn wins - as I suspect - in the end.bookarian's review
4.0
So I read this one, went back and read all the other books in the series, and then read this one again. I'm so glad that the next book is coming out only a year away from this one!
dlmoldovan's review
3.0
I absolutely love this series. It is one of my favourite, read again and again series. But. And unfortunately there is a but. This installment was a little dense. Too many things going on, endless descriptions, and sometimes the storyline got too convoluted. I love the character development, and I loved the premise of the plot, but I did find myself wanting to skim over the long paragraphs every once in a while. That's the only reason I'm rating this one a star less than the previous books in the series. For those that are new to this series, it is a series that is made up of stand alone books, but in order to make sense of the characters, it is better to read them in order. I can hardly wait for the next installment.
19lindsey89's review
2.0
Kaylin Neya is a Hawk. In other words she is a cop in the kingdom of Elantra. She investigates the crimes that infest the streets of Elantra. This might be a normal job except for the magic that dominate Kaylin’s life and cases. Her partner is Severn Handred. They grew up together and have a tangled past. They were on patrol on a normal day when it starts raining blood. Babies are being born with magical deformities. Magic is running rampant but no one has any explanations. Kaylin and Severn must find the source of the magic and stop it before it wipes out most of the city, but what they discover is far worse than they had thought. The Devourer is coming.
Interesting writing style. It usually takes me awhile to get used to it. The plot is complex and sometimes confusing. I love the characters and their past and how it influences them. There is frequent swearing. I would recommend for upper end of young adults.
Interesting writing style. It usually takes me awhile to get used to it. The plot is complex and sometimes confusing. I love the characters and their past and how it influences them. There is frequent swearing. I would recommend for upper end of young adults.
nelsonseye's review against another edition
4.0
Another challenging but compelling read in The Chronicles of Elantra. Kaylin had some interesting conversations with both Severn and Nightshade that I very much appreciated, and we've learned more about Elantra and its history. I still wish I could grasp the magical/word stuff a bit more easily, but, as previously mentioned, my lack of comprehension has not impacted my enjoyment of the series.