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Cast in Wisdom

(Chronicles of Elantra #15)

Michelle Sagara

4.58 · Rating details · 38 ratings · 14 reviews

SOMETHING IS WAKING

The fiefs that exist at the heart of the city of Elantra are home to sentient Towers that guard the world against the incursion of Shadow. But between the fiefs exists the gray world of the border zone. In it, geography changes between one passage across a border and the next. The rules of magic are different there—and yet somehow familiar to Kaylin ...more

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Paperback, 544 pages

Expected publication: January 28th 2020 by Mira Books

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· 38 ratings · 14 reviews

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Start your review of Cast in Wisdom (The Chronicles of Elantra, #15)

Jan 30, 2019 Miss OP marked it as to-read

Just hit the end of book 14. Whoa :) Can't wait for the next one.

I hate EVERYONE who reads this book before me.

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Nov 26, 2019 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, own, harlequin, mira, january-2020, scifi, fantasy, read-to-review

I received this ARC copy of Cast in Wisdom from HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) - MIRA. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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Sep 12, 2019 Giuliana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Cover and blurb are out
https://michellesagara.com/cover-cast...

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Jan 05, 2020 T.J. Fox rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, netgally, arc-review-copy

Overall: 4/5 Stars
World Building: 5/5 Stars
Series Continuity/Expectations: 3/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 4/5 Stars

I am yet again struggling to review a book in this series that I love. I could almost copy and past my review from the last book as the issues I had with that one are still very much present in this one.

This is now the at least the third book in a row where you see little to no character growth from Kaylin. You see little to no page time from some of the original favorite characters Overall: 4/5 Stars
World Building: 5/5 Stars
Series Continuity/Expectations: 3/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 4/5 Stars

I am yet again struggling to review a book in this series that I love. I could almost copy and past my review from the last book as the issues I had with that one are still very much present in this one.

This is now the at least the third book in a row where you see little to no character growth from Kaylin. You see little to no page time from some of the original favorite characters like Marcus, the Hawklord or Sanabalis.

Though we do get more time with Nightshade, that interaction is done almost entirely through his mental link with Kaylin and no actual interaction. There is a great deal of Kaylin’s interactions in this book that are handled in this manner. This is frustrating because it seems that somewhere along the way the deep tensions between Kaylin and Nightshade and Kaylin and Severn have been lost. Whatever tension existed between them has vanished. Severn’s place has turned more into a less personal bodyguard kind of a role while Nightshade has been relegated to more of an advisor/information bank.

I did love that we got to spend more time with the Arkon. This really was more about his story than anything and I was glad to see the focus shift from the cohort. You still get a good dose of them in this book, but they aren’t the focal point. It was also nice to see that Kaylin didn’t collect anyone or anything new in this book.

Another piece that was different in this one from many previous books is that Kaylin seems like more of an observer. She participates and has a few points where her abilities are key, but it isn’t her actions that are the most important. In a way, it is nice to see her not always being the one to come in and save the day, but she is the basis for the series. I would have really liked to see this be a book that helped her character grow in some way.

As far as series expectations go, this is where I tend to get tangled up. If you look at the last several books in this series, this is absolutely right in line with those books. But if you look at the earliest books in the series, this doesn’t have quite the same characteristics and feel. It does have more going on and brings about some drastic changes to the world than the last couple of books, so I’d say it falls in between the early books and the last couple as far as those expectations go.

As I mentioned in my review of Cast in Oblivion, I still love this series and these books, but characters need to grow. There are also things about characters that readers fall in love with and if you leave those things behind, you may end up leaving the readers behind as well. This one did a better job of bringing some of those things along than the last few, but not quite as much as I would have liked.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions stated are honest and my own. ...more

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Nov 01, 2019 Louisa rated it it was amazing

Oh, wow, this book was so utterly fantastic! Loved dealing with the fiefs, and the border zones, so interesting, we learned a lot, and lots of changes occurred! Can't wait for the next book!

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Jan 08, 2020 Hannah Osborn rated it it was amazing

"Were I you, I would abandon all hope of what passes for normal in your life and assume that everything will, as you colloquially put it, be on fire in the worst conceivable way possible."

Cast in Wisdom by Michelle Sagara

My thoughts:

Kaylin Neya, Chosen, healer of broken things, is once again caught up in an investigation that snowballs into an all out arcane brawl. If you are new this series or simply curious, I think you would enjoy this book but I highly recommend starting from the beginning ...more

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Jan 10, 2020 Tessa Pulyer rated it it was amazing

Favorite Character: Kaylin Neya
Even though Kaylin is the main character for the entire series, she shares the spotlight in this novel. Her personality still shows through, though, loud and clear. She has powers but doesn't know how they work or has even the most basic control of them - relying on instinct to use them in the right way at the right time. She is very relatable with her endearing quirks, as well as her mortality. I can't wait to learn more about her in other novels in the series.

Favorite Character: Kaylin Neya
Even though Kaylin is the main character for the entire series, she shares the spotlight in this novel. Her personality still shows through, though, loud and clear. She has powers but doesn't know how they work or has even the most basic control of them - relying on instinct to use them in the right way at the right time. She is very relatable with her endearing quirks, as well as her mortality. I can't wait to learn more about her in other novels in the series.

What I Liked

The world of Elantra is so amazingly complex, detailed, and nothing short of brilliant. It is nothing like our world except for a few basic things, but it is alive in a way that makes you able to easily suspend disbelief and marvel at the wonders contained within the pages. There is so much detail, large and small, and no gaps to fill in using your own imagination. From the changes in eye color that reflect emotion to the way the dragons change form to the description of the few sentient buildings - I can see and hear it all. My five-star rating is based mostly on world creation in this novel; it is that good.

I also love that the main character is the Elantra equivalent of a police detective called a Hawk. This element brings mystery and suspense into the fantasy world that I love reading. The story is full of action that keeps the pages turning, as Kaylin Neya works to solve the mystery of the building with one eye.

As I stated earlier, Kaylin Neya is my favorite character. I love that she is Chosen and all but ignores this fact unless she needs to find a power in her runes that will help her fight the bad guy. She is unique, but it is not in her to acknowledge that or act in a way that shows it. She routinely skips any training on how to use her magic, instead preferring to be out there fighting the evils that exist in her world. Interestingly, she lives in a house that chose her, as it is sentient, and is called Helen.

Helen is the family that Kaylin never had. She takes care of Kaylin – from the everyday tasks of making sure she is fed and gets rest to the more complex help of giving her advice about different situations. Helen is a close second for me when it comes to a favorite character. I particularly enjoyed the part of the story that takes place in Kaylin's home and am glad that Kaylin has that kind of motherly figure in her life.

The plot in this story is interesting as it appears to be a shift in the series storyline. It is an opening for a whole new tomorrow. I wonder if Kaylin will finally get the training she needs but does not seem to desire except in small flickers of want that, if you are not paying attention, you will miss.

The dialogue flows naturally, even though it technically is in many different languages - translated, so the reader understands it, of course. And, all the characters are well-developed no matter how fantastical they are - and they can be pretty fantastical as Elantra contains many different races – Dragons, Barrani, Aerians, and mortals, to name a few.

What I Wish

There are many named characters in this book and series. Even if I start a series from book one, I tend to get lost in a lot of names. A simple glossary, which I ended up making myself, would be a significant help.

To Read or Not to Read
If you love high (or epic) fantasy, you will want to add this series to your bookshelves!

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and a special thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Justine Sha for my spot on the blog tour. ...more

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Jan 15, 2020 Jenn rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I can't believe we are already at book number 15! One of the things I like best about Michelle Sagara's Cast series is that the character development happens at a normal pace. 15 books seems like a lot, but what it really does is allow readers to experience character growth naturally, through the situations the main character encounters. And in this book we finally see the payoff of all of that growth. *Someone* gets a promotion. And the scene is delightful. Go read it for yourself.

In Cast in I can't believe we are already at book number 15! One of the things I like best about Michelle Sagara's Cast series is that the character development happens at a normal pace. 15 books seems like a lot, but what it really does is allow readers to experience character growth naturally, through the situations the main character encounters. And in this book we finally see the payoff of all of that growth. *Someone* gets a promotion. And the scene is delightful. Go read it for yourself.

In Cast in Wisdom, it has been some time since Kaylin has been to work. She serves as the equivalent of a street cop in the world of Elantra, but events continuously conspire to prevent her from doing her job, much to the annoyance of her boss. At the beginning of this book, we think she might be about to return to work. And she does. For about one day. A patrol assignment turns into confinement in what amounts to a semi-sentient haunted house.

Of course, Kaylin is not alone on her patrol. Her roommate, Bellusdeo, who also happens to be the last female dragon (read: a very important person), is trapped as well, along with several members of the Barrani cohort who were freed from the Heart of the Green in previous books. In their attempts to escape from the building, they discover more about what the building used to be and its particular importance to one of the members of the Imperial Dragon Court.

Despite most of this book taking place while trapped inside various buildings, there were some real bright spots. We got to see more of the fiefs and their respective Lords- some of whom I very much hope will make appearances in future books. Lord Emmerian comes back, and I got some more fuel for my personal theory that Emmerian might be the answer to Bellusdeo's problem of who to eventually have a clutch of baby dragons with. We hear more about the Arkon's past and how he spent his youth. We also delve a little bit further into Kaylin's mysterious healing ability, which she tried to use on more than just living creatures.

An enjoyable addition to the series that contributes to the overall forward motion of the story arc. Not my absolute favorite, but a solid installment of a great story. Available January 28, 2020. I already can’t wait for the next book (keeping my fingers crossed for more relationship development).

I would recommend this book to any past fans of the series and fans of Illona Andrews (though you should start at the beginning- Cast in Shadow). 4 stars.

...more

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Dec 03, 2019 Bobbie Kirkland rated it it was amazing

I received a free copy of CAST IN WISDOM (Book 15 of the Chronicles of Elantra) by Michelle Sagara in exchange for an honest review. It’s time for Kaylin to get back to work. There’s something weird (well, more weird than usual) going on in the gray border zones between the fiefs. Since the fiefs and their towers are all that stand between their world and an invasion by Shadow, the Hawk lord, the Archon, and the Emperor all agree that Kaylin must investigate to find out what exactly is causing ...more

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Jan 16, 2020 Sonya rated it it was amazing

I struggle with the books in the Chronicles of Elantra on occasion. For the most part, it is a matter of the slower pace of many of the books. One thing that remains consistent is the amazing and imaginative storyline, the world-building and the wonderful cast of characters. Book 15 did not disappoint. Just when things seem to get back to some semblance of normalcy, Kaylin is thrust into an investigation that develops into much more. I loved seeing Tiamaris and Tara back in the story especially ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 Kathy Martin rated it it was amazing

When one of the fief lords lets a Barrani carrying Shadow cross into Elantra from his fief, the Hawklord assigns Kaylin and Severn to do a survey of the fiefs to make sure their borders aren't letting other Shadows through.

Bellusdeo, the only female dragon and a survivor of a world Shadow overwhelmed, is Kaylin's friend and decides to go along. As they are exploring the borderlands they discover an ancient sentient building which was once the Academie which was a major center of learning before ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 CR rated it it was amazing

This has been one of my favorite all time series and it just keeps getting better!! This one we learn new things and old things and the world just gets even more expanded. The characters are freaking amazing and the world is just so breathtaking. The stories that Sagara comes up with for these just keep drawing me in every second of the story and I just can not put them down.

Go Into This One Knowing: I need more!! Must Read!

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Dec 26, 2019 Anna Fox rated it it was amazing

I really enjoy this series. Ms. Sagara writes this series with lots of interesting characters. Great world building as well. My only problem is my memory is so bad, it takes me a while to remember what has gone on before. However, she always gets me wrapped up again in the stories.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley. I'm hoping for many more in the series.

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Sep 25, 2019 Amy rated it it was amazing

If you love complex world building and subtle characters along with a far reaching plot, this series is for you. Sagara's remarkable ability to world build continues in this most recent Elantra book.

I always believe I know the plot direction for her books, and she always provides a pleasant surprise. Cast in Wisdom shows us more about dragons - particularly the Arkon - and more about Ravelon. Oh, and Kaylin continues to grow and mature. If you are new to the series, I recommend starting at the ...more

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About Michelle Sagara

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