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A review by bellatora
Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara
2.0
Unnecessarily confusing.
For one thing, I couldn't understand why there were so many different types of humanoids mucking about. There’s Barrani (aka, fey), Leontines (lion people), Dragons (who usually seem human but can transform into Dragon Classic), Arians (winged people) and Tha'alani (who I thought were just psychic humans but are actually psychics with head tentacles). To add to this madness, any of these races may belong to the three guard organizations, all of which are named after animals (Hawks, Wolves, and something else). So there’s animal-esque people who belong to organizations named after other animals. Oh, and there's at least two types of magic users, three if you include the Tha'alani.
Politics and geography are also muddled. Everyone is ruled by the Emperor. Except for within the fiefs (which are slummish, hell-hole places), which are ruled by fieflords (who may or may not all be outcast Barrani. This was also unclear). The main character, Kaylin, is an ex-fief denizen who is now a Hawk (one of the guard orders. Who despite the name don’t go airborne. Unless they’re Arians who naturally have wings). The Hawk place (town? Citadel? Castle?) is a stone’s throw from the fief. Kaylin and her companions keep walking/running to the fief so it’s probably less than 5 miles away. Maybe one mile? It is just so absurdly close I don’t understand.
I don’t like being confused. I really, really don’t. I liked the concept of a fantasy-mystery, and there were actual creepy parts, plus the ultimate reveal of the reason behind why Kaylin keeps trying to kill childhood friend-turned-enemy Severn is an emotional punch in the stomach. But when I can’t quite keep straight who everyone is and what is going on, I am too distracted trying to make sense of things to appreciate the story.
Also, ultra-powerful immortals need to stop falling in love with heroines for NO GOOD REASON. Stop going mushy for humans because you find the mix of ignorance, sarcasm and defiance cute or whatever.
For one thing, I couldn't understand why there were so many different types of humanoids mucking about. There’s Barrani (aka, fey), Leontines (lion people), Dragons (who usually seem human but can transform into Dragon Classic), Arians (winged people) and Tha'alani (who I thought were just psychic humans but are actually psychics with head tentacles). To add to this madness, any of these races may belong to the three guard organizations, all of which are named after animals (Hawks, Wolves, and something else). So there’s animal-esque people who belong to organizations named after other animals. Oh, and there's at least two types of magic users, three if you include the Tha'alani.
Politics and geography are also muddled. Everyone is ruled by the Emperor. Except for within the fiefs (which are slummish, hell-hole places), which are ruled by fieflords (who may or may not all be outcast Barrani. This was also unclear). The main character, Kaylin, is an ex-fief denizen who is now a Hawk (one of the guard orders. Who despite the name don’t go airborne. Unless they’re Arians who naturally have wings). The Hawk place (town? Citadel? Castle?) is a stone’s throw from the fief. Kaylin and her companions keep walking/running to the fief so it’s probably less than 5 miles away. Maybe one mile? It is just so absurdly close I don’t understand.
I don’t like being confused. I really, really don’t. I liked the concept of a fantasy-mystery, and there were actual creepy parts, plus the ultimate reveal of the reason behind why Kaylin keeps trying to kill childhood friend-turned-enemy Severn is an emotional punch in the stomach. But when I can’t quite keep straight who everyone is and what is going on, I am too distracted trying to make sense of things to appreciate the story.
Also, ultra-powerful immortals need to stop falling in love with heroines for NO GOOD REASON. Stop going mushy for humans because you find the mix of ignorance, sarcasm and defiance cute or whatever.