Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Jul 22, 2008 Lanica rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed, fantasy, read-in-2008, series-continuing

I found the first several pages confusing, having entered into reading it on a recommendation with little to no background. I got the title from a friend, read the back, then started to read the book.

Races: There are several races introduced almost immediately, but they are not well differentiated by the author. One's a hawk-like race, another a lion-like race, then later a third dragon-like race. Above these mortal races are a dark features immortal race. They all get confused in the first few I found the first several pages confusing, having entered into reading it on a recommendation with little to no background. I got the title from a friend, read the back, then started to read the book.

Races: There are several races introduced almost immediately, but they are not well differentiated by the author. One's a hawk-like race, another a lion-like race, then later a third dragon-like race. Above these mortal races are a dark features immortal race. They all get confused in the first few pages and so I have introduced them here so that when the main character touches the wings of a person she meets (without the author explaining that the person is from the hawk-like race) it might make more sense to you than it did to me.

Character Interaction: I like the idea behind the story, but was really annoyed by the way it was written. The reader goes in knowing nothing and fed the plot bit by bit. We are in the mind of the main character; however, the main character shields her thoughts. It's frustrating to have an interesting idea introduced, then pulled away as the character decides that it's not something she wants to think about. It's painful to get intersting characters introduced, then readers are not told anything about them becuase the main character hates them and would rather not think about their history together.

There is also a possibly interesting relationship between the narrator and one of her superiors, but it's only hinted at until the end of the book, then very little is revealed. I wanted to know more about their history, but didn't like this book enough to read the next in the series for that single aspect.

Writing: The author does a good job of creating a detailed fantasy world with interesting characters and a rich history. The dialogue fits into the world nicely, until the main character, whose thoughts we are sharing, thinks to her self a slang term or a very age specific phrase. Example: 'as if', The narrator disagreed with something someone suggests she do, so she thinks to herself. "As if." (Think of this coming out of the mouth os a young teen, Valley Girl style.) and then drops back into the genre. This happened several times and each time I was annoyed at the author.

Plot: I liked the villians and enjoyed the storyline. I wanted to know what would happen next, but I never got into the story because the above issues kept pulling my out of the world she was trying to create. ...more

Like · see review