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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.
blerdess's review against another edition
3.0
Ok so I don't think I have EVER given an actual book review (and this won't be one just a rant fyi).. I just normally mark my rating and keep it moving. But THIS TIME I had to!!! I have been trucking along for 8 books straight with this series. I have enjoyed this series pretty much (I mean I am on book 9) but OH MY GOD this book almost made me though my Ipod out the window. I actually yelled at this book and myself for the last hour of this book (audio). It dragged and dragged and dragged. I honestly think I yelled GET TO THE F'N point a few times and . It just stressed me and it was too much. I hope the next book itsn't like this or I might have to stop the series and come back at a later date.
Spoiler
name the damn thing alreadylavendermarch's review
4.0
A bit confusing at some points, but it all made sense - and made me smile - by the end.
Read May 7th, 2022
This was a decent conclusion to this particular 'episode' of the series. I enjoyed it and look forward to the changes that the ending will bring to the next few books in the series. I also liked that Kaylin has continued to improve her understanding of her powers and what she can do, although I did have a couple of times where I wanted to yell at her out of frustration for not listening to what multiple other people were telling her - - but I dealt with it. Anyway, I'm glad I reread these two books (8 and 9) as even if they weren't my favorites in the series, I did gain a much better understanding of Barrani. 4 stars.
Read May 7th, 2022
This was a decent conclusion to this particular 'episode' of the series. I enjoyed it and look forward to the changes that the ending will bring to the next few books in the series. I also liked that Kaylin has continued to improve her understanding of her powers and what she can do, although I did have a couple of times where I wanted to yell at her out of frustration for not listening to what multiple other people were telling her -
Spoiler
just name the freaking dragon!felinity's review
4.0
I'm always amazed by the complexity of the magic that Michelle Sagara manages to envision, and thankful that Kaylin is a relatively normal person who doesn't understand it either! The runes, the small dragon, and Kaylin-as-harmoniste all interact in strange ways I couldn't possibly have imagined. Teela's history unfolds a little more, and the breathless pace belies the intricacy of "the green" and its interactions with the traveling party. In short, another incredible book that still leaves room for more! I think I need to reread the last few books to refresh my memory of the details, and then reread this one immediately after. (Don't even think about starting the series here!)
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
shai3d's review
5.0
* * * * *
This is one series that I have loved from the very beginning but this is the first book that I have actually read. The others were in audio format so seeing how the names are actually spelled was a bit of a shock and one that made me decide that listening rather then reading a fantasy is the way to go.
Even struggling through some of the names, I have to say that I absolutely loved this book! Kaylin has yet again done the unexpected and managed me to make it work. All of my favorite characters were more then present and there were a lot of twists and turns.
I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys fantasy. The genre of fantasy is harder to pin down because for the most part it is urban but set in another world. Rather unique and very enjoyable.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
This is one series that I have loved from the very beginning but this is the first book that I have actually read. The others were in audio format so seeing how the names are actually spelled was a bit of a shock and one that made me decide that listening rather then reading a fantasy is the way to go.
Even struggling through some of the names, I have to say that I absolutely loved this book! Kaylin has yet again done the unexpected and managed me to make it work. All of my favorite characters were more then present and there were a lot of twists and turns.
I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys fantasy. The genre of fantasy is harder to pin down because for the most part it is urban but set in another world. Rather unique and very enjoyable.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
rremer's review against another edition
3.0
Another one in the series where we are clearly not meant to fully understand all of the magical happenings. However I did like all of the Teela history and interaction. We also got a tiny snippet of Severn's missing time as a Wolf.
reginaexmachina's review against another edition
2.0
I think part of my issue is the time between reading the last book and this one but overall I was disappointed with this book. I've been somewhat frustrated with this series that the main character hasn't grown very much and the plot has a million loose threads but I've still enjoyed each book. This book however finally changed that trend. I probably skimmed over half the book trying to find some place without endlessly confusing dialogue. I'm willing to read the next book in the hope that it gets better but if not I might finally have to give up on this series.