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katyanaish's review
5.0
While I still find it tiresome to see Kaylin so disrespected by everyone (seriously, I'd be happy enough if she had just let the Barrani kill themselves, as they were trying so hard to do)... I just honestly adore this series.
And I am hopeful that she's no longer going to be treated as everyone's punching bag. We'll see.
And I am hopeful that she's no longer going to be treated as everyone's punching bag. We'll see.
bookworm5732's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
lorune's review
4.0
More of the same as the previous books, but in this case thats a good thing as they were really fun :)
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This is the ninth 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 think the books would be best read in order, because later books have comparatively little recapitulation of previous events.
"Cast in Sorrow" is a good entry in a very good series. If I wasn't as emotionally wrapped up in it as in some of the earlier books, it was still eminently satisfactory. And there were individual scenes that had me by the heart strings. A few more specific remarks after a spoiler warning.
Four out of five green 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).
"Cast in Sorrow" is a good entry in a very good series. If I wasn't as emotionally wrapped up in it as in some of the earlier books, it was still eminently satisfactory. And there were individual scenes that had me by the heart strings. A few more specific remarks after a spoiler warning.
Spoiler
Firstly, I admire the way that this book offers Kaylin the temptation to undo the deaths that haunt her, and that she refuses, and that the book makes it clear this is the right course. Death and loss are not something to be just set aside, even in fantasy, if the story is to have weight. Secondly, I do love the small dragon (who is not a small dragon). Thirdly, I also love Severn and Teela.Four out of five green 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).
livarleth's review against another edition
5.0
This continues to be one of my favorite fantasy series ever. It just keeps on being great.
chawlios's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katelin00's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Cast in Peril and Cast in Sorrow should have been one book. There is no reason for both to be so long. I feel like if certain things had been cut out, it wouldn't have been a loss to the story. There is so much introspection that you get overwhelmed. I think the world is almost too complex. Things like the Green or the Hallionne and even the Towers in the fiefs are complex things that mortals can't understand. But these complexities make them more confusing for the reader, pulling you out of the story. I want things to stop being so vague.
I also wish Kaylin had grown more in the series. I know that very little time has passed since book one, which is part of the problem. It hasn't even been a year. I want Kaylin to be more competent. There is a reason she lacks knowledge; it brings the world of Elantra to the reader, and we learn more about it through her perspective. This is usually a good tactic, but there are times when you just want the main character to know things. She's always confused, always making rash decisions, and she's always ignorant.
This all sounds harsh, but the story was good. I liked learning more about the Barrani and Teela. I especially liked the familiar when it comes to these two books. He's a fascinating addition. I like that we get so much of Teela. I like seeing how much of a family they are to each other. Teela truly cares about Kaylin and would die for her.
This review comes after a re-read/re-listen. The audiobook helps with distinguishing who's talking. My rating has not changed from when I originally reviewed it. However, now that I've gone back and have a back catalog of other well-written heroines, I find Kaylin much more difficult to root for.
Cast in Peril and Cast in Sorrow should have been one book. There is no reason for both to be so long. I feel like if certain things had been cut out, it wouldn't have been a loss to the story. There is so much introspection that you get overwhelmed. I think the world is almost too complex. Things like the Green or the Hallionne and even the Towers in the fiefs are complex things that mortals can't understand. But these complexities make them more confusing for the reader, pulling you out of the story. I want things to stop being so vague.
I also wish Kaylin had grown more in the series. I know that very little time has passed since book one, which is part of the problem. It hasn't even been a year. I want Kaylin to be more competent. There is a reason she lacks knowledge; it brings the world of Elantra to the reader, and we learn more about it through her perspective. This is usually a good tactic, but there are times when you just want the main character to know things. She's always confused, always making rash decisions, and she's always ignorant.
This all sounds harsh, but the story was good. I liked learning more about the Barrani and Teela. I especially liked the familiar when it comes to these two books. He's a fascinating addition. I like that we get so much of Teela. I like seeing how much of a family they are to each other. Teela truly cares about Kaylin and would die for her.
This review comes after a re-read/re-listen. The audiobook helps with distinguishing who's talking. My rating has not changed from when I originally reviewed it. However, now that I've gone back and have a back catalog of other well-written heroines, I find Kaylin much more difficult to root for.
ashkwtf's review against another edition
3.0
So, I always enjoy reading this series but ... it's starting to get repetitive. Kaylin goes from crisis to crisis, resolving them purely on instinct and blind luck. She has matured a bit as a character but I feel like many of the tensions from book one have barely changed. Sure she doesn't want to kill Severin anymore. I guess that's a little progress. After this book, perhaps Nightshade's interest in her has been explained and will wane? Or not? Eh. I'm not sure that's 9 books worth of development though.
paradoxically's review against another edition
3.0
I love these books. But they confuse me as equally as they enthrall me, and sometimes I wonder if the confusion outweighs my sheer interest in what I'm reading (it hasn't, yet, but it has come close in several parts). Cast In Sorrow finally finishes the tale that was started in the last book, a tale that is in part Teela's story, and you get a torrent of information about the Barrani and the West March and a little bit about the familiar. Who I still adore.
But it's confusing. It's top heavy. There is so much information and words being thrown around and exposition happening that I'm still reeling a little bit from all of it. It sounds pretty and in my mind it's both wonderful and exciting, but when I try to think of a summary, a complete one, I kind of blank and go with the bare, bare bones. The scope of what the author is doing is awesome. The execution is a bit lacking.
I do love the books though. The events and places that Sagara speaks of are fascinating. I adore the Barrani as a whole, and find their way of life just arresting. They convince me as a whole, whereas other fantasy books you read about a different species (or people) and it's shallow. This is not.
For all of that, though, I find Kaylin to be the most static. She's wonderfully complex, don't get me wrong, and she has grown a little throughout the books, but her sheer confusion makes me rather unhappy. She's always muddling in the dark. She's always flying by the seat of her pants and making things up that 'feel' right. And I just--I just want her to be competent for once. I want her to keep trying to do what she's doing, but not feel like she has no solid ground underneath her feet. She can mess up and fall and get beaten down, but I just want to chase away this relentless ignorance she has about her. It's not her fault--she really has no way of knowing what she's getting herself into for the most part, but it's so deeply frustrating to read book after book.
I'm rather unhappy with how Kaylin treats the familiar as a whole. He's like this nuisance that she barely puts up with, but throughout the book he helps her out more than he hinders. And I wanted to reach into the pages of the book and shake Kaylin's shoulders and shout this at her, because she doesn't understand this (or is willfully blind to it).
The plot itself varies between being achingly slow and blindingly fast. And it happens at different parts, so I can't even say, "Oh, the first half was slow but the second half was fast". No, it was fast and slow in different parts, though the ending was suitably engaging. It kind of jerked you around because something would happen and Kaylin would pitch herself in head first, and then talking happened and explaining and pages upon endless pages of Kaylin being deeply confused. Join the party, Kaylin, I hardly even question my puzzlement anymore, I just sort of accept it and keep moving on.
But for all of my complaints, for all that I think Sagara over complicates what she's trying to write, I enjoy the series. The world that the author builds is utterly convincing to me, and I love reading more about it. I do wish things just moved forward for Kaylin (her overall story arc is still rather slow), but the ride has been interesting. 3-4 stars, probably closer to 3 than 4.
But it's confusing. It's top heavy. There is so much information and words being thrown around and exposition happening that I'm still reeling a little bit from all of it. It sounds pretty and in my mind it's both wonderful and exciting, but when I try to think of a summary, a complete one, I kind of blank and go with the bare, bare bones. The scope of what the author is doing is awesome. The execution is a bit lacking.
I do love the books though. The events and places that Sagara speaks of are fascinating. I adore the Barrani as a whole, and find their way of life just arresting. They convince me as a whole, whereas other fantasy books you read about a different species (or people) and it's shallow. This is not.
For all of that, though, I find Kaylin to be the most static. She's wonderfully complex, don't get me wrong, and she has grown a little throughout the books, but her sheer confusion makes me rather unhappy. She's always muddling in the dark. She's always flying by the seat of her pants and making things up that 'feel' right. And I just--I just want her to be competent for once. I want her to keep trying to do what she's doing, but not feel like she has no solid ground underneath her feet. She can mess up and fall and get beaten down, but I just want to chase away this relentless ignorance she has about her. It's not her fault--she really has no way of knowing what she's getting herself into for the most part, but it's so deeply frustrating to read book after book.
I'm rather unhappy with how Kaylin treats the familiar as a whole. He's like this nuisance that she barely puts up with, but throughout the book he helps her out more than he hinders. And I wanted to reach into the pages of the book and shake Kaylin's shoulders and shout this at her, because she doesn't understand this (or is willfully blind to it).
The plot itself varies between being achingly slow and blindingly fast. And it happens at different parts, so I can't even say, "Oh, the first half was slow but the second half was fast". No, it was fast and slow in different parts, though the ending was suitably engaging. It kind of jerked you around because something would happen and Kaylin would pitch herself in head first, and then talking happened and explaining and pages upon endless pages of Kaylin being deeply confused. Join the party, Kaylin, I hardly even question my puzzlement anymore, I just sort of accept it and keep moving on.
But for all of my complaints, for all that I think Sagara over complicates what she's trying to write, I enjoy the series. The world that the author builds is utterly convincing to me, and I love reading more about it. I do wish things just moved forward for Kaylin (her overall story arc is still rather slow), but the ride has been interesting. 3-4 stars, probably closer to 3 than 4.
lassarina's review against another edition
5.0
This picks up right where Cast in Peril left off, and everything about it is very intense from there. I've been really enjoying the way Kaylin grows through this series--she learns, she changes, but she's still so very Kaylin. This installment focuses a lot on her relationships with Teela, the Lord of the West March, and the Consort--and shows us some important pieces of Barrani culture beyond the lethal politics of the High Court. It is, as many of the books in the series have been, rather abstract in its conflicts, but it also circles back to a central question since Book 1 and answers it in a really satisfying, but also wrenching, way. A lot of threads from prior books, like Kaylin's adventures in the Keeper's Garden and just where the hell did Severn get that weapon and why Nightshade took such a damn interest in Kaylin, are picked up and woven together here, and it works really well.
Plus, the small dragon is great.
Plus, the small dragon is great.