Cast in Flame (Chronicles of Elantra #10)

So, after a series of books in which Kaylin and Severn accompany a group of Barrani out to the West Marches, and accomplish quite a bit in the process, theyre back in Elantra, and Severn is back at work as a Hawk. Kaylin wants to beand sporadically isbut shes also stuck in the Imperial Palace with the Dragon Emperor, because shes still rooming with Bellusdeo, the only surviving female dragon, and the emperor wont let Bellusdeo live anywhere else after shed nearly been killed by a magical explosion that destroyed Kaylins previous home. (A miniature dragon Kaylin has named Hope after it adopted her saved them from that.) Hope had gone along on the West Marches trip and had proved very useful several times in those books. Kaylin is looking for a new home thats not the Imperial Palace but that can be defended well enough to get the emperors permission for Bellusdeo to move. But a couple of Barrani who are Teelas age, but who have been out of the Elantra world for centuries, return with her and in the course of renewing acquaintance with Nightshade (the brother of one of them) manage to mess up the magic of Nightshades Tower and release a couple of ancestorsextremely powerful mages who are related to the Barrani but much stronger individually. The Keeper of the Elements, Evanton, recommends a house to Kaylin, and when she goes to check it out assorted adventures begin, which make for quite a lively book.

I picked up this series several years ago, and was almost immediately hooked. I love the world-building and the concept, and a lot of the people. I\’ve read other reviewers whinge about the lack of romance, but that is one of the BEST parts. (I hate, hate, HATE that standard sci-fi/fantasy / urban/fantasy has been all but taken over by crappy romance novels with random supernatural bits thrown in and bad porn scenes.) So far the only real romance is between a dragon and a sentient building, but I must admit it\’s rather sweet I thought, except for one bit, that this book moved well, and I liked meeting Mandoran and Annarion. (If there is a Barani for Kaylin, I think it is Mandoran rather than Nightshade, they\’re much on the same maturity level, whether Kaylin will admit it or not.) I still think something is up with Severn, he\’s just \’too\’ perfect, and a bit Mary-Sue-ish for my tastes. So far a lot of things we\’ve heard have come back to be important plot points so perhaps random comments about his \’shadow\’ and his being a \’darkchild\’ will bear some interesting fruit. Yes, I think Dariandaros is hot in a dark and brooding sort of way, but I\’m fairly sure that there will not be any extended bits between him and Bellusdeo. Sorry, I was getting distracted about my thoughts on this series, and not this book in particular. So far we haven\’t lost anyone very major, unless Nightshade has had a fatal accident on his walkabout, but I like the feeling I get that Sagara would, unlike Certain Other Authors who shall Remain Nameless would be more than willing to kill her darlings to advance the plot. I\’m not entirely thrilled with the introduction of Helen, I think she\’s a bit of a lazy shortcut. Besides, she might cut into important time spent with Tara and Tiamaris. Anyway, please start at the beginning, and I hope you enjoy reading this series as much as I do. If anyone wants to have a long discussion about the characters and world, I would be delighted.

I find it hard to set Michelle Sagara as a five star when she really deserves to be in the realm above a five star rating system. I own all of her books and have never been happy setting them down in the middle of a story to take a break. As a result there have been many overnight reading sessions or simply falling asleep while reading. As I am not a person who reads and drops a good book, I have continually returned to her books to read over and over again. I also love the fact that she does not produce a multitude of short books but provides a longer and more complete portion of the saga in one book. Its extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also proves top rated plots, characters and excitement in her stories.

As always Ms Sagara manages to draw me in to her world. Just when you think Kaylin\’s life can get any more complicated, dangerous or difficult, she manages to find trouble. This time though it isn\’t her, it\’s the Barrani. This series is deliciously complex and fascinating that makes it a pleasure to go back and read multiple times. Please keep going Ms Sagara!

Hot stuff from Ancestors and Dragons as Kaylin Neya returns with another irreverent perusal of the conflicted and complicated cultures of her home world. All those who love Words will find power in these stories. Another high fantasy epic to add to Sagara\’s Elantra series. Well worth a read.

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