Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra, #7)

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Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra #7)

4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 · rating details · 2,050 ratings · 139 reviews

Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin mu...more

Paperback, 457 pages

Published September 20th 2011 by Luna

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May 12, 2012 Estara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the series - this is NOT a book to start it

Recommended to Estara by: auto-buy author and series

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2011, favorites, re-read, read-in-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 2nd read: After reading Silence, I just didn't want to separate from MSW's voice and I realised that she is a surefire comfort read for me because the one story that is always at least one focus of all her books and a lot of the time the main focus (Haven't read all of The Sundered and I'm not sure if it works for the Hunter's Oath duology, apart from Evayne a'Nolan maybe) is a woman who has an incredible power (which she either desires - The Terafin - or for some reason has thrust upon her - Em...more 2nd read: After reading Silence, I just didn't want to separate from MSW's voice and I realised that she is a surefire comfort read for me because the one story that is always at least one focus of all her books and a lot of the time the main focus (Haven't read all of The Sundered and I'm not sure if it works for the Hunter's Oath duology, apart from Evayne a'Nolan maybe) is a woman who has an incredible power (which she either desires - The Terafin - or for some reason has thrust upon her - Emma - or inherits - Diora, Jewel -) and uses it to keep her family safe, get revenge for her family, make a new family and keep that safe.
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I'm continually fascinated how intricate some plots can go and how fast the development while I as the reader still can follow along without getting hopelessly lost.

Like the most recent Foreigner trilogy in C.J. Cherryh's series this particular book is set over only a couple of days at most, starting directly after the last book finished. Plotwise I am getting the impression we are nearing the all-out confrontation with the darkness inside Ravellon, but personally I'm hoping it will slow down some - I want to spend more time with the developing Kaylin and the various new strands to the empire.

While this is NOT the dragon court book, I would call it the dragon book - we get a lot of creation story and explanation story in here. On the personal front, Kaylin and Severn have a talk that was years overdue and unavoidable after what happened in the previous book. I'm sure a few of the Team Nightshade readers will be unhappy - but I agree with Kaylin's judgement about his feelings towards her, I also can understand what her reservations about Severn are.

I adored the fact that now that Kaylin has more of an idea about where her powers come from and what a Chosen is, that she is able to ... I want to say level-up in her use of true words - (view spoiler). I totally enjoyed the focus on the various dragon interactions, getting to know Diarmad and more in Tiamaris fief and with the new People, the Norannir.

MSW has said that the next book will be in the Western March, so we'll actually leave Elantra. That should be fascinating. There's also still the egg that Kaylin is trying to hatch. (view spoiler) The book really needed those extra pages after the dramatic climax and I'm very happy we got them.

Of course, I want to read the next one NOW!(less)

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Jan 28, 2012 Sho rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, re-read

Oh my last reread of the series for now. There are no more to read in this series! I really cannnot wait to read the next book.

By re-reading I finally understood that althougth there are more dragons, there are only few that are actually awake and functioning in the dragon court. Don't know how I could have missed that in the first reading but there it is. And Kaylin knows almost all of them except for two that includes the empire! I have to say if Sannabalis had "grey" hair, his will be all sil...more Oh my last reread of the series for now. There are no more to read in this series! I really cannnot wait to read the next book.

By re-reading I finally understood that althougth there are more dragons, there are only few that are actually awake and functioning in the dragon court. Don't know how I could have missed that in the first reading but there it is. And Kaylin knows almost all of them except for two that includes the empire! I have to say if Sannabalis had "grey" hair, his will be all silver by now due to his two most troublsome students. At the same time I am sure he is enjoying his
challanging experiences with them.

There is a classic Japanese traveling series called YajiKita traveling journals. Yaji and Kita, the Japanese Edo period version of the odd couple, go on a journey across Japan's main island. I want to read someting like that with Kaylin and Bellusdeo going to the gathering...Well, Nightshade can come too if he wants too and we cannot forget Severn, of course..

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This book didn't have as much court intrigue nor the frantic pace as the other books, instead it had wealth of imagery and knowledge about dragon true names and how they are given and could be taken.I cannot tell you how much I wished for a better creative mind to paint the picture of what Kaylin was seeing when she was helping the female Dragon. THe descriptions alone were fascinating but my god I really would have liked to see it.

Also we get to see Kaylin finally coming to accept and take action as the "chosen." That I was very glad to see. I think we are finally seeing what the words on her body mean. Nightshade also makes a short but a meaningful appearance in this book. I have a feeling that the next book will be at the gathering(?) but I'm wondering if Bellusdeo will insist going with her...Now THAT I would like to read LOL.

Finding out what Kaylin is scared of in a relationship is understandable but I hope she will overcome it. I am amazed at how patient Severn is, considering his age. In a way his patience is "non-human" and his love for her is admirable. I would love to see where Severn looses it, though. I think he deserves a break. Everybody else had a chance to "loose it," why not him? I gave him a secret name "Andre" from my all time favorite manga Rose of Versailles

　

I really look forward to reading the next book soon, I hope?(less)

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Oct 01, 2011 Scooper Speaks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Favorite Lines: "It was true: hope could be unkind. You opened yourself up to the worst of wounds because you wanted to believe that something good could finally happen. But if you didn't? You missed this. This intense and perfect moment in which, while the world was almost literally going to hells all around you, hope and reality blended in a single, perfect note." (p. 394, egalley)

Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra, Book 7) is the book I've been waiting for. I've loved every book in the serie...more Favorite Lines: "It was true: hope could be unkind. You opened yourself up to the worst of wounds because you wanted to believe that something good could finally happen. But if you didn't? You missed this. This intense and perfect moment in which, while the world was almost literally going to hells all around you, hope and reality blended in a single, perfect note." (p. 394, egalley)

Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra, Book 7) is the book I've been waiting for. I've loved every book in the series, but Cast in Ruin is right up there with the first two books, which were my favorites. Do not attempt to jump into the series now; there is no way you'll understand everything that has taken place.

Sagara's world building is excellent and each book has covered a different aspect of her world. Book seven focuses on giving us information about dragons, fiefs and Kaylin. It answers a ton of questions and whets the appetite for book eight. (There is also a novella which appeared in the Harvest Moon anthology.)

I know some people weren't thrilled with book six, because they felt like Kaylin wasn't growing as a character. Well that definitely cannot be said about book seven. We get another glimpse into Kaylin's past, while she investigates the darkness invading the fiefs and it's something that was hinted at, but never quite was said. One of the most important things to remember about Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra Series is that the events of each book are taking place back to back. There aren't years separating Kaylin's adventures. There are weeks.

When I received Cast in Ruin I stayed up all night until I finished it. Despite reading the book mid-week I was ready to re-read the book by the weekend. It was that good. The magic, the way the characters stay true to the qualities they were introduced with in book one and the pacing, set Cast in Ruin above other book. It is my absolute favorite fantasy series. I know each book will be well written, thought inducing and a book that I will come back to time and time again. The Chronicles of Elantra is one of the only series I can auto buy and know that I'm getting quality work.

Cast in Ruin has two of my favorite characters, Severn and Nightshade. Of course Severn has more page coverage than Nightshade, but I felt like I was being teased for a book where the opposite will be true. I can't wait for that day. Psst...If you want to know what Kaylin feels for Nightshade and Severn, this is the book you need to read.

Heads up! We're getting closer to the day Kaylin meets the emperor. Sagara said she is contracted to write four more books in the series for LUNA. (OMG, I'm gonna freakin' crap when I read the final book!) The next book is Cast in Peril; it'll be released next year.
Scooper Speaks (less)

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Oct 02, 2011 Mirjam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I've always loved Kaylin Neya, so I'm over the moon whenever I a new book in the series is published and I get to visit her in Elantra. I'm pleased to say that Cast in Ruin is as exciting a read as all the previous books in the Chronicles of Elantra. Michelle Sagara has created many wonderful characters amongst the Barrani, the Aerians, the Leontines, the Tha'alani, the Norannirs and of course the dragons. In this book we learn quite a bit about the dragons and even get to know one of the more i...more

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Dec 25, 2011 drey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, fantasy, favorites

I love Kaylin, and I love watching her growth in Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra series.

drey’s thoughts:
She started out in this series an awkward young woman, on the beat for the Halls of Law, irreverent and impetuous, and known more for being late than anything else. With each installment Kaylin Neya’s grown a bit more–either in her magic, or her understanding of it. Of course, it’s still in dribs and drabs, considering that there’s nobody around who could tell her about her magic…

In Ca...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Seventh in the Chronicles of Elantra fantasy series for young adults revolving around a feisty young lady with a heart of gold.

My Take
This has turned into a series that I just can't wait to get my hands---and eyes---on. In spite of the whining ahead...*grin*

Sagara is retreating to her previous confusing wording in this story. I'll read sections over and over trying to figure out what she's saying...and it doesn't work. I just keep hoping that eventually I'll come across a section that does expla...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Natina El rated it 4 of 5 stars

Somewhere in my review reading I was confused about Cast in Silence and Cast in Chaos, looking for a kiss and a hint of sexual abuse making Cast in chaos terribly long for me. But once I got past the kiss and the hint of abuse that I was sure would be in Cast in Silence, not only did it speed up but it made Cast in Ruin a runaway train.. a cliff hanging runaway train. This book unlike the one before it starts off with a bang and I swear never slows down not even in it's ending. Yesterday (in the...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Paradoxical rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list, books-otherwise

I am extraordinarily fond of this series, but at the same time I have to admit that sometimes it seems that the author is just throwing things out at the reader and hoping that it'll stick. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun and a blast to read, but it's also a little jumbled and confusing and sometimes I wish that things... well, that things hurried up a little or something. Not that I know what I want hurried up, but I'm still left feeling this way.

Part of it is probably because while we get c...more I am extraordinarily fond of this series, but at the same time I have to admit that sometimes it seems that the author is just throwing things out at the reader and hoping that it'll stick. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun and a blast to read, but it's also a little jumbled and confusing and sometimes I wish that things... well, that things hurried up a little or something. Not that I know what I want hurried up, but I'm still left feeling this way.

Part of it is probably because while we get crumbs of new information (or a good amount of new information--as in about the species that live in Elantra), we never get much in the way of answers for Kaylin. Her marks? Still mysterious. Her chosen status? There and still mysterious. The only people who might shed a little more light about the chosen stay silent about it and it's driving me up a wall.

Still, it's a fun read. Each book has a solid, contained story. The only real downside is that the continuing story, the story about Kaylin, is very slow. This is a bit difficult to fathom since all of the books take place in the span of days (this one, for instance, has a time elapse of about a week from the last book and still takes place over only a few days).

Kaylin is in Tiamaris on the insistence of Sanabalis, and she gets caught up in the deaths of several women who are all identical. Not only that, but they don't seem quite human, and there are shadows creeping along the borders. The plot of this story takes a while to warm up, and it only really gets rolling along the middle towards the end, but it's decent. The ending was, like all of the books in the series, a giant, exciting rush to the end, even if it's always a bit messy.

I like the series. I really, really do. I just wish that we get more--Kaylin actually wanting to learn how to do the things she can do (instead of somehow stumbling over it when most needed and winging it), or even just more insight into what Kaylin is. Still, the books are fun, and I do enjoy reading them. 3 stars. (less)

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Jan 31, 2012 WillowBe rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was gratified to see Kaylin maturing in this book and give the author kudos for letting Kay voice her ambivalence about what she wants and to explain it fully. Even acknowledging she may want Nightshade, just alittle, though not so much for himself, but bec Severn is a dangerous choice for her heart. And for Sev to be a real person saying- hey, I'll wait for now, but not forever, showing a bit of impatient desire but also that he will always be her friend and supporter. He was very cool asking...more I was gratified to see Kaylin maturing in this book and give the author kudos for letting Kay voice her ambivalence about what she wants and to explain it fully. Even acknowledging she may want Nightshade, just alittle, though not so much for himself, but bec Severn is a dangerous choice for her heart. And for Sev to be a real person saying- hey, I'll wait for now, but not forever, showing a bit of impatient desire but also that he will always be her friend and supporter. He was very cool asking her what she really wants with no judgement and no pressure. Talk about a fantasy man! Very mature scene and maintains the integrity of the the dynamics of this relationship. So, good job with that.

Loved that kiss with Nightshade- sigh. That maybe the only reason he's in the running for her desire- Nightshade-3 kisses, Sev-0. I predict Sev will continue to give only deep searching looks until she says, it's him and noone else. Then he'll let it roll. he doesn't play around.

I CANNOT WAIT for Cast in Peril. I was so disappointed to realize that I had outread the series! I thought Peril was coming soon to an ebookstore near me. Now to hear I have to wait til practically my birthday in October? Of course, I could be really disappointed with the direction it takes. But I don't see how in the heck Ns is going to get into the Elven, oops, I mean, the Barrani Gathering in the West March even with Kaylin leading the way. I am dying to know what he did to become Outcaste. I'm hoping that the Wolf Lord will insist that Sev come over for some special shadow assignment that only he can do, and it's just Kay and Ns with Teela and Tain as bristling accompaniment disapproving of Ns and trying to protect her. Then Sev pops back in at the most inopportune time making her feel like a two-timing heel. Love the slow burn he does when he sees Ns making blatant plays for Kay. He seems twice as dangerous at those moments than even when he is swinging that enchanted chain.

So, I am happy with the progress and the realism. The story itself- kind of weird. I am glad they didn't leave us hanging about what happens with Dulcedeo. and AT LAST- Kaylin will get a decent place to live!!!!! I predict after Cast in Peril, it will be about Kay finall making it to the Dragon Court. I am going to re-read Cast in Shadow again. I think it's time.(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller-goodies, sf-f-goodies

That's really 3.5 stars--

This author is driving me crazy. Once again, the first 50-75-100 pages just drag! Yes, there is action--but it feels like we are reading a transcript in slo-mo. But I've encountered this often enough in this series that I knew to hang in there. Sure enough the action soon kicked into high gear.
And off we go--
We get to meet a magic sword, a new dragon (yay!) and many older friends and frenemies(Lord Nightshade, anyone?). Plus we are left with a major dangling thread--whic...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review: Cast in Ruins by Michelle Sagara
4 STARS MAYBE 5 STARS if I had read the rest.

Cast in Ruins is the seventh book in the series and I have not read any of them before. I feel quite lost trying to figure out the different spieces, Who are the leaders, Who are good guys and bad guys. What magic exists. I would not recommend starting this series with book 7. Kaylin Neyas is a private on their police force.
It took a long time for me to figure out everything I good understand. I wish I had the...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Phaedra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, nook

I'm going to be honest, it took me a little bit to get into this installment of Kaylin and company. Partially because I'm used to the style of writing to be a bit more abrupt but also because I didn't fully remember the events of the last book.

However, after reading the blurb about the book I had an idea of what would be in it. What I love about this author was that the book fulfilled everything that the back said but in a way that I never would have expected. Yes, there were murders... sort of...more

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May 03, 2012 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm still enjoying this series and interested in the characters; however, this was not my favorite book in the sequence. Unfortunately, it seemed to me like about a third of a book's actual plot's worth, padded to fill this book by way of large exposition dumps and also endless repetition of variations on "Kaylin, you must be a civilized human being!" "But I *can't* be a civilized human being!" scenes, which... yeah, I've pretty much lost interest in that particular subplot. I'm doubly uninteres...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Laurie Bongiorno rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, follow, magic, multi-demensions, kick-ass-female, shapeshifters

I can't wait to discover what is in that egg!! (I was hoping another female dragon-with Kaylin raising it?!?) I also look forward to Nightshade, Kaylin and Teela going on their trip - you know it is going to happen:) Will Nightshade get lucky?? I thought this book made Severn's already weakish character - weaker. Knowing she is drawn to Nightshade because she does not have to protect him, (and he often protects her-although she didn't mention that)a point was made of Severn in this book with Kay...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy this series more every book, and if I try to analyze why I come up with: it alternates between esoteric discussions about magical theory and incredibly uncomfortable social interactions. Occasionally they're the same thing. (The only thing worse than interrogating a Dragon about his reproductive habits is the Dragon knowing that answering is important.) And this is awesome! I don't know why. It's related to the Covenant thing, actually. It's the "heroine pulls out a new magic power every...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Alyssa Louie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-series, female-author

This book felt surprisingly short, for a Michelle Sagara book, though not short for almost anyone else. ;) We learned a lot about the Dragons in this book; not so much about the workings of the Dragon Court, per se, but about the mechanics of the Dragon species. I'm still waiting to hear more about the history of how the Emperor became the Emperor. A new, highly entertaining character was introduced, and the long mystery of the apparently all-male Dragon court was discussed. There was also some...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cast in Ruin was a complex fantasy that is the seventh in the series. Each one builds on the previous books. This one continued the plot thread of Kaylin learning more about herself and preparing for a meeting with the dragon emperor. Along the way she is side-tracked by an investigation into the sudden appearance of seven dead bodies in the fief of Tiamaris. Tiamaris is a dragon who is her friend. So is his tower - Tara. Lord Tiamaris took over this fief and is trying to reconstruct it. However...more Cast in Ruin was a complex fantasy that is the seventh in the series. Each one builds on the previous books. This one continued the plot thread of Kaylin learning more about herself and preparing for a meeting with the dragon emperor. Along the way she is side-tracked by an investigation into the sudden appearance of seven dead bodies in the fief of Tiamaris. Tiamaris is a dragon who is her friend. So is his tower - Tara. Lord Tiamaris took over this fief and is trying to reconstruct it. However, shadows are still fighting for it.

This episode concentrates on the dragons. Kaylin interacts with them in many ways and learns much more about them. Dragons are incredibly touchy and secretive about themselves. She has to have protocol lessons from Lord Diarmat who has a very poor opinion of humans. She is being taught magic by Lord Sanabalis who is rather tolerant for a dragon. She interacts with the Arkon who is the oldest dragon in the Empire and who is the librarian for the Empire. Tiamaris, Sanabalis, and the Arkon are all involved in the investigation in the fief of Tiamaris.

Adding to the complexity of the fief are the Norannir who are 8-foot tall aliens who have come from shadows to fight Shadow. They were invited by Tiamaris to settle in his fief but the humans in the fief are still very wary of them. We also learn about the mythology of the Norannir as it intersects with Kaylin's investigation in the fief.

I like Kaylin a lot. She is a child of the fiefs who escaped them for the Empire. All she wants to be is a Hawk and uphold the Empire's laws. But she has a sort of magic that makes her more prominent than she would like. Some of the fief lord's want to control her. The dragons are wary of her and her magic because what she is and what she can do is not known to them. And dragons do not like mysteries!

It is hard to describe this book because it is so complex and has so many plot threads woven into it. But each episode has excitement and self-discovery and further illuminates a fascinating fantasy world. I can't wait for the next episode - Cast in Peril. (less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Twiggy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magical, adventure

The further adventures of Kaylin et co.

Kaylin is sent into the fief of Tiamaris to investigate the presence of 7 bodies of what appears to be the same woman.

It turns out that, contrary to initial appearances, the woman is not mortal and there is increasing consternation within the ranks of the surviving dragons as to exactly who and what she is.

Sadly Nightshade does not figure strongly in this story - but there is a teaser for what I presume will be the next book.

There is some discussion bet...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Sbuchler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, scifi-fantasy

Genre: Fantasy

Per standard for this series, Cast in Ruin is set in a fantasy universe, but really reads like urban fantasy – this novel even more so since Kaylin’s bevy of men (e.g. Severn and Nightshade) are actually making noises about being interested in romantic/sexual relationships with her. Despite that interpersonal interest, I was disappointed by this book. I felt like it didn’t really have a plot or resolution, instead the entire thing seemed to be building up to introducing a new chara...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Aly S rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book... for the most part. I felt there was a lot of filler in it that could have been edited out, and a lot of repeated descriptions or phrases that weren't necessary. For example (and I'm just creating an example - this is NOT an excerpt from the book) "his eyes were red; his eyes shaded red at the sight of the body." Basically it would be a description with a semi-colon followed by a very similar phrase describing the same thing. Maybe not in a very different way.

I also...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, canadian-connection

Other than the first book in the series, which was hampered by the need to introduce all the characters and build the world, this has been my least favourite book so far. I still read it all in one sitting and stayed up way too late doing it, but I felt a little frustrated at the end. It just didn't feel like there was enough progress in the larger story arc to justify this installment, if that makes sense. There was also way too little Nightshade, though it sounds like that will be remedied in...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara West is the seventh book in the Chronicles of Elantra series. It is scheduled for release on September 29 2011. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment, particularly the growth that Kaylin continues to demonstrate and a plot line that is full of excitement and important details of the larger story arch. The series keeps getting better, and I am looking forward to Cast in Peril, and the three unnamed books that Sagara has mentioned on her blog. I do not reco...more Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara West is the seventh book in the Chronicles of Elantra series. It is scheduled for release on September 29 2011. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment, particularly the growth that Kaylin continues to demonstrate and a plot line that is full of excitement and important details of the larger story arch. The series keeps getting better, and I am looking forward to Cast in Peril, and the three unnamed books that Sagara has mentioned on her blog. I do not recommend the book to readers new to the series, instead I suggest that those that are intrigued go back and start with Cast in Shadow, the first book in this series.

Cast in Ruin picks up where Cast in Chaos left off. The refugees are living in the Dragon Lord's Fief, but things are not exactly setting down. The human inhabitants are weary of their new neighbors, that they are huge and armed to the teeth does not assuage their fears, but the fact that they are actively fighting the shadows does. Things only get more complicated as seven identical corpses are found in the streets of the fief. Kaylin receives a reprieve from more intense etiquette lessons when she is assigned to investigate the bodies; who they were, who killed them, and why. Are shadows breaching the boarders or is it something more ominous? Kaylin must embrace everything she has learned, and all of her gifts, in order to protect the people she has promised to protect. There is no available retreat, and surrender is not a viable option. Metaphysical and intensely physical battles await, as do lessons in manners and relationship questions that still need examining.

I enjoyed Cast in Ruin, and the series thus far. However, this is not a series that I recommend starting in the middle. This is not because the story would not but enjoyable without the background information, but because the full growth and development of the characters and world is a gripping part of the story that you would miss without fully understanding what has happened in the previous books. Sagara does do a great job of reminding readers of the important points, and letting new readers in on what they have missed, but the full import of some of the events cannot be appreciated without reading the previous six books, starting with Cast in Shadow. (less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Maya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, my thoughts, the positive: More dragons are always a welcome thing. I find Diarmat oddly hilarious, though I don't think I'm supposed to. And speaking of, I think I'll love Bellusdeo, though TWO such females in any one series can't help but end in trouble. I missed Kaylin and company something awful, so I was ready to forgive all manner of things, and this book definitely did not fail to entertain me.

My thoughts, the negative: Not enough Nightshade, but it seems as though the framework is...more

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Oct 30, 2011 k reads rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, reviewed

This review first appeared at So I Read This Book... at http://www.soireadthisbook.com/2011/10/quick-dirty-reviews-say-hello-to.html

I’ve been a fan of the Chronicles of Elantra for quite some time and I thought the series hit a new high with book five, Cast in Silence. So I was really looking forward to the newest entry in the continuing saga of Private Kaylin Neya. Unfortunately, this installment failed to satisy. I found the writing style convoluted, even clunky at times, something I have not...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I had to get to this seventh book to understand why all the action is so packed in a few weeks time. Ever single book is truly good on its own, but I'm starting to see an over-all story arch and understand why the timing is so tight. (yeah!!)

I have already said that the books in the series reminded me of the Catholic "Passione di Cristo", not as a religious text, story or philosophy. But simply because in every church there are symbols that tell that story (that may be paintings, pottery/faience...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my third read-through of the book. We finally got to learn a little more about DRAGONS! And while the ever-intriguing egg didn't hatch, there was plenty of action in this episode in the life of Kaylin. I've always been a very word-centric person. I love languages. The ability to write and speak with the right words is a powerful thing. Language and words are POWER. And I don't mean that in a megalomaniacal sense. Power to make someone see your side, power to describe something that shou...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Cleffairy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at: Over A Cuppa Tea
Review date: 30 Jan 2012
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=6731

Highly imaginative,darkly amusing and entertaining. I was breathless by the time I finished this book. Anyone who appreciate a good fantasy would be able to love this book, and it's a gem to have in your personal library collection.

I love the mystery and I love the plot development. The characters are highly dynamic and I definitely wouldn't mind reading this book again some time soon. Highly recommende...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, magic, non-humans

I automatically bought this book because I have enjoyed the Chronicles of Elantra, of which this is the seventh. However, as I started reading it I wondered if the series wasn't beginning to drag. Seven stories and we still don't understand what's going on at the most basic level. Who is Kaylin really, where did her magic come from, and what is her destiny?

This seventh installment still doesn't answer those questions. However, like all the previous installments the story introduces enough total...more

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Jul 08, 2012 The Novel Reader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cast in Ruin is the seventh book in the series and it is just as exciting as the previous entries. Kaylin Neya has been sent to the fiefs to investigate seven bodies that are discovered, all of which are are identical. At the same time, she is required to have etiquette lessons with an unforgiving and strict Dragon, Lord Diarmat.

So far this is my favorite book yet from the series as well as one of the the best covers. We meet two new characters, and one of them is a game changer of the series. I...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cast in Ruin is the 7th book in Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra. Saying that I enjoyed this series doesn't even come close. I became so enthralled with Kaylin and her crew that I put the whole Elantra series on my "Best of 2011" list. Now I get to tell you why.

It's a little hard to categorize this series. It reads like an urban fantasy. Complete with snark. There's a very high snark quotient, and it's definitely of the "snicker, snicker, snort" persuasion. It's also very dry humor, and v...more Cast in Ruin is the 7th book in Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra. Saying that I enjoyed this series doesn't even come close. I became so enthralled with Kaylin and her crew that I put the whole Elantra series on my "Best of 2011" list. Now I get to tell you why.

It's a little hard to categorize this series. It reads like an urban fantasy. Complete with snark. There's a very high snark quotient, and it's definitely of the "snicker, snicker, snort" persuasion. It's also very dry humor, and very situational. What made me chuckle was based on the personalities, rather than because something was funny per se. And it made things damn hard to explain to my husband, who wanted to know what the chuckles were all about.

Like so much of urban fantasy, a lot of the humor is gallows humor. The city of Elantra has as much crime as any big city, magical or otherwise. In addition, there's more unusual and magical sort of crime. Investigating the seamier side of human (and other-human) nature seems to require a taste for gallows humor in whoever (or whatever) does that investigating. Whether that investigator has skin, fangs, fur, feathers, or scales.

But if the Chronicles of Elantra are urban fantasy, complete with detectives, they are not just urban fantasy. The city of Elantra does not appear to be on Earth, or in any history that includes our Earth, at least not so far. Elantra, in this reviewer's mind, is a high-fantasy world. The human characters that we identify with at first, Kaylin and later Severn, are part of a race that is not native to Elantra. The native races are the immortals, the Dragons and the Barrani. Then there are the mortal native races, the Leontines and the Aerians. Plus another mortal race who somehow came later to Elantra, the Tha'alani.

And into this polyglot steps Kaylin Nera. Kaylin is a child of the fiefs. In other words, she grew up outside the edge of the city, outside of the laws of the Dragon Emperor, and was poorer than poor. But for no reason that anyone has ever been able to determine, magic interfered with her life. Runes of ancient script became written on her skin just before her 13th birthday. Because of those runes, other girls died in an attempt to awaken some power that Kaylin did not and still does not want.

But Kaylin has magic whether she wants it or not. And because she does, she has become involved with people that she never would have imagined when she was begging on the streets in the fief of Nightshade.

By the time of Cast in Ruin, Kaylin is in her 20s. She has come a long way from the 13 year old waif who first came to the Halls of Law and attempted to assassinate the Hawklord. She should have been executed for her crime. Instead, the Hawks adopted her as a mascot. And when she was old enough, she became one of them. A ground Hawk, an investigator of crimes against the Dragon Emperor's laws.

Seven identical women have been found dead in Tiamaris' fief. But in the fiefs, the Dragon Emperor's laws don't apply, even if Tiamaris was a member of the Emperor's court until just a few short days ago. But Tiamaris has also allowed the new race of giants who had come through the mysterious "ways" to settle in his fief. And the giants have angered the "Shadows" at the fief borders, the "Shadows" that threatens the stability of all the magic that underpins Elantra. And those seven identical dead women, well, number eight shows up with a message, then dies. But when number nine comes to call, let's just say that everyone's assumptions about everything are about to come unglued. Along with a few dragons.

Escape Rating A+: This was fantastic, stupendous, wonderful. I wish I could take Kaylin out for drinks because I love her brand of snark. But she's also one of the most complicated characters I've met in a long time. She grows and changes and knows she's growing up. She has so much stuff in her head and she doesn't believe in herself but she keeps trying anyway. And she has so much to forgive herself for, but not as much as she thinks she does. Give yourself a really, really gigantic treat. Take the time to start with Cast in Moonlight (in Hunter's Moon) the novella that starts it all, then dive straight into to Cast in Shadow and don't look back.(less)

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About Michelle Sagara

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Michelle Sagara West
Michelle West

Michelle is an author, bookseller, and lover of literature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and sometimes as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.

She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.

Reading is one of her...more

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Books by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, #1)

Cast In Courtlight (Chronicles of Elantra, #2)

Cast In Secret (Chronicles of Elantra, #3)

Cast in Fury (Chronicles of Elantra, #4)

Cast in Silence (Chronicles of Elantra, #5)

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Quotes from Cast in Ruin

“There wasn't a colloquial phrase, or curse, that went something like, "May your day be full of angry dragons" or, "May every dragon you meet today be pissed off." But, there should have been.” — 15 people liked it

“I don't make the laws, I just enforce them."
"Then remind me to introduce a new set of laws, since the ones we have clearly assume a level of common sense that's lacking.” — 3 people liked it

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Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra #7)

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