A review by fantasyfunk
Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara

2.0

This book felt like a second draft of the second book of a series. It most definitely did not feel like the first book in the series and I think that was my biggest problem with it. I thought the world-building was interesting, but there was so much about it that I never understood. There are different races, gods are mentioned, fiefs, an emperor, magic, vampires etc. Way too much stuffed into the book. I understand wanting to have everything cool in a book, but at some point you have to pick unless you're drafting a 1000 page epic fantasy. Although with 12+ books in the series, maybe that was the intent, but I never latched on to the story and characters enough to keep going. There were enough interesting moments to make it through this one, but I don't see myself adding another to my TBR pile.