Scan barcode
errantdreams's review
4.0
Kaylin is still an expert at offending people with her brash statements and her inappropriate questions; I find it endearing. Her personality really shines through in this narrative and this makes it easy to identify and sympathize with her. The characters are a lot of fun and have plenty of depth. Almost everything that was great in Cast In Shadow and Cast In Courtlight is still fantastic here. The worldbuilding is complex and immersive without a need for infodumps. Bits and pieces of Kaylin’s arc-plot come together, letting her (and us) start to get a little bit more of a feel for what she can do. We also see a lot more of the complex moral gray areas–if you like your fantasy black-and-white then this series isn’t for you. The plot is tense and down to the wire, and drew me in completely.
There are two aspects of Cast In Secret that don’t quite hold up to the previous two books. The first regards the rather oblique, half-said nature of many of Kaylin’s conversations. This time I had more trouble keeping up with them, and more difficulty figuring out how Kaylin could keep up as much as she did. The second problem is that too many important things happen just because Kaylin’s instincts tell her what to do. A certain amount of this is okay, but in at least one place she had an extended conversation in which her part was almost entirely instinct. It’s hard to buy into, and makes those plot developments seem less hard-won than they should. It takes some of the suspense out of things. (It also starts to push Kaylin dangerously close to Mary Sue territory.)
The narrative voice is excellent. There are nice quotable bits in this volume, and the perfect amount of humor to leaven the darkness and tragedy. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment!
For a longer review including premise: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/09/review-cast-in-secret-michelle-sagara/
There are two aspects of Cast In Secret that don’t quite hold up to the previous two books. The first regards the rather oblique, half-said nature of many of Kaylin’s conversations. This time I had more trouble keeping up with them, and more difficulty figuring out how Kaylin could keep up as much as she did. The second problem is that too many important things happen just because Kaylin’s instincts tell her what to do. A certain amount of this is okay, but in at least one place she had an extended conversation in which her part was almost entirely instinct. It’s hard to buy into, and makes those plot developments seem less hard-won than they should. It takes some of the suspense out of things. (It also starts to push Kaylin dangerously close to Mary Sue territory.)
The narrative voice is excellent. There are nice quotable bits in this volume, and the perfect amount of humor to leaven the darkness and tragedy. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment!
For a longer review including premise: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/09/review-cast-in-secret-michelle-sagara/
hazel_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Kaylin is sent to investigate a routine theft, but when she gets there, she can tell that it is anything but routine. It involves one of her least favorite things. Magic. After checking into the theft, she is summoned to a place she has never been, Ybelline's. The Tha'alani need help, and she is the only one they can turn to. I love these books! Kaylin is a complete mess until it becomes a life and death situation, then she pulls herself together. I loved how this book was more about the Tha'alani. They are very interesting!
suzjustsuz's review against another edition
4.0
This one is the best one yet. The author is still deftly unfolding the world and various races as a framework for the book length mystery/ suspense arcs.
The personal growth for the main character remains quite slow, though.
The personal growth for the main character remains quite slow, though.
kurenai's review against another edition
3.0
I'm trying to figure out why I am still reading these books. I'm three in and I am actually going to take the plunge with the fourth. Yet I don't really exactly like this series a whole lot. Or perhaps I should say I don't like the main character a lot. Kaylin is whiny, annoying, late everywhere, and has a huge blind, bleeding heart for children. She's irresponsible, unable to learn, frustrating beyond belief but yet somehow manages to make everything turn out fantastic in the end while making high and important friends in the process.
Maybe I'm sticking with it because I like some of the side characters, I suppose? Though with that said, I am starting to fall out of like even with some of them - Nightshade seems to only be around and helpful as a plot device - so I'll give the next book a shot and we'll see if I can manage to make it onward in this series though as to how far I'll go is really anyone's guess at this point.
Maybe I'm sticking with it because I like some of the side characters, I suppose? Though with that said, I am starting to fall out of like even with some of them - Nightshade seems to only be around and helpful as a plot device - so I'll give the next book a shot and we'll see if I can manage to make it onward in this series though as to how far I'll go is really anyone's guess at this point.
bookadventurer's review against another edition
4.0
In general, the books in this series seem to start out slowly, but they keep gathering steam and by the end, I can't put them down. The suspense and the revelation of more of Kaylin's mysterious powers kept me riveted.
sarah42783's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is one of the richest, most interesting, original Fantasy worlds I've ever come across. And yet…
Yep, that's right. Because there is only so much boredom I can take. And Bloody Fantastic Elantra (BFE™) or not, I've had it. I've had it with the incessant, irrelevant blah-blah-blah-ing. And with the non-stop, unnecessary, uninteresting info dumping. And with the painfully slow pace. And with the ever-jumbled plot that makes me feel like a harebrained nitwit. And with the total and utter lack of character development. Kaylin, my dear, you could have made it into my Cool Chicks Harem, but you keep blabbering like an immature teenager just like you did in the first instalment, and I've had enough. I have been anxiously waiting to know more about you and the mysteriously mysterious symbols on your body since book one, but you know what? I have no patience left. And I don't give a bloody damn anymore.
Come to think of it, this whole world and the characters in it seem to have stopped their progression/evolution at the end of book 1. Nothing new or exciting has happened since [b:Cast in Shadow|9542|Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, #1)|Michelle Sagara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427446538l/9542._SY75_.jpg|12369], and it feels like the author hit the freeze button on her writing remote ← don't ask me what a writing remote is supposed to be, I have no freaking idea. I usually love it when authors take their time to develop the world they created (not too much time though, I am, after all, little
» And the moral of this Crappy Non Review is: I. AM. DONE.
· Book 0.5: Cast in Moonlight ★★★★
· Book 1: Cast in Shadow ★★★★★
· Book 2: Cast in Courtlight ★★★★ (make that 3.5 stars. Because I was in a good mood when I wrote the Crappy Non Review.)
jaironside's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it says something that I find these books easier to engage with now I've turned up the audio narration speed? Anyway, I liked this better than the second book. Interesting enough storyline and a strong theme with regard to belonging, and how even accidental outcasts can turn vicious. We still see very little of Kaylin's interpersonal relationships. I'm not looking for romance but she has to be more than just her job. Worldbuilding fantastic as usual; prose style bogged down with repetition and expositionary dialogue also as usual. I liked this enough to keep going with the series.
katekat's review against another edition
5.0
Michelle Sagara's The Chronicles of Elantra series is one of my favorites and this title did not disappoint, A few of the books in this series have not been as strong in my opinion but this is not one of those. The story was engaging and helped to move the plot along. I felt like I learned more about many of the characters including the protagonist in this volume. I highly recommend this book.
eafiu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Genocide