Reviews

Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara

kathydavie's review against another edition

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5.0

Fourth in the Chronicles of Elantra fantasy series revolving around Kaylin Neya.

My Take
Absolutely fascinating as Sagara expands on another of the civilizations that make up the inhabitants of Elantra, focusing on the Leontines this time, and we learn a great deal about its society, its culture and origins, and its stance on babies. Of Marrin's past and her reasons for starting the Foundling Halls. All of which Sagara uses to twist this tale of propaganda and murder. And, man, does she dribble out the clues in tiny bits and pieces! Oh, wow, we also learn more of how the Outcaste Dragon became what he is.

The central theme is fear. Fear of other cultures, fear of magic, fear of the government, fear of someone different from you, and the fear of how others will react to it. It's the fear of difference that is at the core of this particular story. Orogrim's difference causes hate, a hate that causes Orogrim's reactions now. The Tha'alani difference and their efforts to save Elantra raises fear and hate amongst the humans. What Kaylin brings, what we in the real world need to heed is tolerance, acceptance. Understanding. It's Kaylin's power of words that threaten Makuron. More terrifying to him than even the Dragonkiller.

Giving and taking is a sub theme. The different permutations of give-and-take, taking, giving, and how Kaylin assesses the different peoples and cultures she knows.

It's also a growth period for her as she learns patience and conformance. And if that isn't a curious evolution to watch! Poor Kaylin, LOL. And Mallory throws yet another demand upon her. It should be interesting to see if there's a follow-through. Kaylin does use her loyalty to Marcus and the Pridelea and her knowledge of the law to stay killing hands, and it's brilliant.

Hmmm, Cultural Resource and Kaylin are not words that I would normally put together. It'll be interesting to see how Sagara fits them together. It's interesting to watch Kaylin/Rennick as she/he expounds on her/his particular prejudices only to find that they were pre-judging. There is an amazing ring of truth in each person's revelations that you can't help but appreciate for its subtlety. That whole confusion over lies and stories was excellent.

Then there's the fascinating look inside a playwright's mind, how he thinks; his fascination with seemingly unrelated, unnecessary information, and how he chooses to convey an idea to an audience.

I'm confused. If Kaylin was twenty-sixish in Cast in Shadows, 1, then how can she be thinking she might not see twenty-one in this story?

I love watching as Rennick's perspective evolves from the "truth" of the gossip he's heard through to the truth of the Tha'alani people. It's a beautiful progression.

We learn the power of words, of story.
"And in the end, it's Kaylin's words about trouble that are the most true:
'...if we all died at birth, nothing bad would ever happen.'"


The Story
The people of Elantra are terrified and easily lash out at those they see as their enemy: the Tha'alani. Their actions at the waterfront in Cast in Secret, 3, have cast them as mankind's enemies, eager for human deaths. It's an easy role for the humans to push the Tha'alani into as Kaylin knows. Not so long ago, she saw them as evil as well.

Now it's up to Kaylin and Severn to teach Rennick how to truly see.

Because that's not enough of a challenge, Marcus has been arrested for murder.

The Characters
Private Lord Kaylin Neya of the Hawks is a special case and not just in the Hawks. It's the tattoos in the Old Tongue that have made her more than a curiosity, and for such a lowly person, she has friends in some very high places.

Corporal Lord Severn Handred grew up with Kaylin. And earned his lordly title in the same time and place she did in Cast in Courtlight, 2. Estranged for years, Kaylin has finally learned the truth of his actions, and they are partners in the Hawks.

Lord Sanabalis is one of four Dragon lords at the Imperial Court and the mage who will continue to work with Kaylin to understand her powers. Lord Tiamaris, a Dragon, worked with Kaylin and Severn in Cast in Shadows, 1 and Cast in Secret, and now he will assist them in their hunt for Orogrim and the black dragon. The Arkon is the Dragon whose hoard is the Imperial Libraries and the galleries.

Richard Rennick is the Imperial Playwright charged with interpreting events in Cast in Secret to redirect the peoples' anger. And he's clueless.

And, as Marcus points out:
"You took a man that makes you look tactful to the Tha'alani Quarter."


Marrin is the Leontine who organized the Foundling Halls for the human orphans; cross her at your peril. Amos is the Hall's guard and gardener. Dock and Cassie are two of the foundlings.

Evanton, the Keeper of an elemental garden, has been dragged in to help with makeup.

The Hawks include:
Well, not Ironjaw, more formally known as Sergeant Marcus Kassan, is in jail, and one of Kaylin's worst enemies---Constant Mallory from Missing Persons---is in his place, handing out the assignments, looking to destroy Kaylin, and making everyone in and out of the office absolutely miserable. Perenne, Tanner, Breen, and Clint (of the enticing flight feathers!) are Aerians and worried about Kaylin keeping her job. The Quartermaster usually hates Kaylin---she keeps bringing back damaged equipment. Now he's conspiring. Moran is Aerian and the Hawks' medic.

The Leontines
Kayala is the Mrryn, Matriarch, of the Pridelea, Marcus' wives, along with Tessa, Graylin, Reesa, and Sarabe. And we learn more about Leontine culture and the importance of fur color. The Elders rule the Leontine neighborhood. One of them was Gorran, a friend of Marcus'. Adar of the Claw is the Leontine castelord, and First Son; they call Sanabalis, Eldest.

Arlan/Marai is a Leontine, Sarabe's sister, whom Kaylin helped in the birthing of her son, Roshan Kaylarr. The same one she was invited to lick in Cast in Secret, with all that this implies in Leontine culture. It enables Kaylin to claim Pridelea, even though Arlan is not in one. Orogrim is Outcaste, a Leontine mage, with deadly plans for Roshan.

The Tha'alani
Used to delve inside a person's mind, their touch is not usually delicate. For this and the rape of one's mind, the Tha'alani, a.k.a., Truthseekers, are feared, hated. What the public doesn't know is that this is the compromise the Tha'alani were forced to make, to serve the Emperor or become piles of ash. Ybelline Rabon'alani is the Emperor's Tha'alani and the castelord of her people. Sergeant Voone of the Swords is helping to protect them. Ellis is the very young heir to the castelord.

Lord Nightshade, an outcaste Barrani fieflord, provides new information about the fiefs, and holds Dragonkiller, Meliannos. From what I can gather, he's indicated that Kaylin will be his Erenne, and the best I can figure is that he intends her to be his consort or wife?? Lord Andellen, one of the Barrani guards with Kaylin in Cast in Courtlight, is fighting alongside them both.

The Outcaste Dragon Lord, Makuron the Black, is still alive and plotting.

The peacekeeping forces of Elantra
There are three peacekeeping forces and three Lords of Law: the Lord of Hawks, Lord Grammayre, the Hawklord, heads up the Hawks---the investigators; the Lord of Swords and his men are the peacekeepers---the street cops, if you will; and, Lord Merlin, the Lord of Wolves and his people are its black ops with the Shadow Wolves the "darkest face the Law could turn on the populace".

Think of the Aerians as birdmen, but not shifters. Barrani are the upper class in this society, although not the uppermost. Vicious, cruel, and they seem to have the appearance of what I would consider Fey. The Leontine are lion shifters. Arcanists are mages who work independently of the Dragon Emperor.

Fieflords are independent conquerors of the seven large criminal neighborhoods outside the city proper. The fiefs themselves have always existed, a metaphysical "solidity that defies the darkness, erodes it" where the "land and the Lord are almost one", an ancient binding, twisted. The heart of the fiefs is Ravellon, a fief none dare enter. I think it makes Nightshade look benign!

The Cover
The cover is shades of pink and lavender as the even-more tattooed Kaylin, in a very sexy lavender slip dress, appears to hold back a tidal wave.

The title is the response of the people of Elantra, Cast in Fury in their perception of the Tha'alani actions that day in the previous story.

b00kdragon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

heidi_mcj's review against another edition

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3.0

More entertaining fluff :)

mary_soon_lee's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the fourth novel in the fantasy series The Chronicles of Elantra, a series that I'm enjoying very much. At the risk of becoming repetitive, I continue to love Kaylin, the main character, and also love several of the supporting cast, and I love the way that the series offers found-family and friendship in abundance.

I think my reviews of the earlier entries neglected to mention that there's a good helping of humor. The humor and the friendships balance quite dark plots. Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler"Cast in Fury" is perhaps my second-favorite of the books to date. I particularly liked Marrin's small but pivotal role. I anticipated the ending, but that didn't make it any less perfect.


Four out of five leontine 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).

nmthonet's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mamap's review against another edition

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3.0

more about culture, race, and belief. still cryptic. still want to know where the author is going.

katelin00's review against another edition

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4.0

Originally posted to A Bookworm's Confessions

4.5 stars

You have no idea how much I wish Goodreads had half stars. Thankfully I can do whatever I want on this blog and this book gets 4.5 stars!

As in Cast in Courtlight and Cast in Secret, Cast in Fury focuses on the Leontine race. This is super interesting. The fact that something from a previous book is a major plot point in this book is actually really awesome. J.K. Rowling did these small things all the time in Harry Potter. I love when authors do that. Kaylin helped a Leontine mother give birth to her child. It was a difficult birth which is unusual for the Leontines. Kaylin licked the birthing fluids from the baby's eyelids and he is named after her. This is extremely important because by Leontine and Pridlea law, the baby is also hers.


Kaylin and Severn have a new assignment in this book. When the giant tidal wave threatened to drown the city in Cast in Secret, the Tha'alani went to the docks to try and help Kaylin stop the water. Now the humans believe that the Tha'alani were responsible for the tidal wave and there are riots and unrest. Tha'alani are being attacked. Kaylin and Severn have to help the Imperial Playwright with his play. The Dragon Emperor demanded a play to explain some of the Tha'alani and their actions. Since Kaylin and Severn know the Tha'alani best, they have to help him make the play more realistic. While at the palace, Kaylin hears of attacks at the Tha'alani Quarter. She instantly goes to their aid. Four Tha'alani have been injured and at least two of them are in critical condition. Kaylin heals them right in front of the playwright. Her healing powers have been kept on the down low so it's not too good that it was witnessed by someone who works for the Emperor.

While Kaylin and Severn were in the Quarter, Marcus was arrested by the Leontines for murder. Kaylin can't believe this of course even though it is true. She visits the Pridlea. A pridlea is the home of a male Leontine and his wives. Yes the Leontines have multiple wives. Ever since Kaylin joined the Hawks, Marcus brought her to the Pridlea and she soon became a part of it.

Basically this means Kaylin has two jobs in this book.She must help this playwright get his play correct so he doesn't offend the Tha'alani but also helps calm the public and she also has to find a way to save Marcus from his fate at the hands on the castelord of the Leontines.

We get Timarias back in this book and we also get more information of the fiefs, the history of the Leontines and how they came to be. If a Leontine child is born with amber colored fur they are considered marked and are put to death immediately. This was not true for one of Marcus' wives because she was a female but her sister was also marked and she birthed a male. This can cause all kinds of problems.

What I really enjoyed was finding out about Marrin's history as a Leontine outside of the city. She gave birth to a marked cub and she was put to death. Marrin left her husband and came to the city of Elantra. She created the foundling hall because even though she couldn't save her baby, she could save the human children who were abandoned by their parents.

I am really happy with this book and it deserved my 4.5 stars. This series is starting to become one of my favorites. I have many favorites of course but I am enjoying this series immensely.

Next up, Cast in Silence.

suzsmith's review against another edition

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5.0

The best so far!

chawlios's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lynseyisreading's review against another edition

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3.0

The plot for this was was a lot clearer and easier to follow than all of the previous three thus far. It was more or less a straightforward police investigation involving Marcus, Kaylin's Leontine Sergeant and friend. And a subplot about putting on a play to help relations between the humans and the Tha'alani.

That was about it, and if you ask me, it was not enough content to justify nearly 500 pages of book.

Perhaps if, in the world of Elantra, they conducted regular police work; following clues and interviewing suspects and such, it might have worked better as a police procedural novel, but they don't. They already had most of the answers before they even started and it was just a case of playing it out. Hell, they could have just asked Marcus since he would have been able to tell them all everything he knew and saved everyone a lot of trouble, and us as readers, a lot of filler.

I'm also getting annoyed by the lack of character development. Surely we could have used a few of those 500 pages of text to do something, anything, with the two "potential" love interests in the series? I need for something to happen; a conversation, a lingering look. I will accept ANYTHING at this point that indicates Kaylin isn't 100% asexual.

Moan, moan, whinge, whinge. Hey, it wasn't all bad. I enjoyed learning about the Leontines and how Marcus lives with his wives. I enjoyed getting Marrin's back story...but I'm just really ready for something BIG to happen . And soon!

3 Stars! ★★★