Customer Reviews
Had potential... - By: Elizabeth, 14 Oct 2008 
I won't rehash the plot, as the reviwers who have gone before me have already done that. To summerise briefly, CAST IN SHADOW is the first bookin a series about a woman who livesin a world where 4 different races live side by side. There are the 'normal' humans, the 'dragons' (not real dragons, more like humans with extra powers), lion-like people & flying people. She has a mysterious past that always comes back to haunt her. Basically, it's a fantasy story with intrigue & action, & slight hints at romance.
What really annoys me about this book is it's wasted potential: the storyline is pretty original & does get you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Also, the heroine is the usual plucky type who can stand on her own two feet & has an answer for everything, & yet underneath that confident exterior are a few secrets...there's magic & mystery, fighting & strange happenings & new & unusual creatures...to put it simply, it's everything I look forin a fantasy novel!
So allin all the basics are there for a good read, & I think this is what all the other reviewers are responding to when they give it so many stars. And I'm going to admit, although I bought the first two booksin the series because of the glowing reviews on Amazon, after I had finished CAST IN SHADOW I wasn't particularly bothered about CAST IN COURTLIGHT (number 2). However, I had paid for it & I soon ran out of things to read, so I picked it up & enjoyed it a lot more. I think it's because I had more knowledge of the characters & the world they live in.
Because ultimately, that is what's wrong with this book: it opens, & straight away doesn't give the reader enough knowledge of the world of the characters. In fact, the characters, including the main protagonist, came across as pretty 2 dimensional & shallow. I found that I just didn't care for them, what happened to them, what physical & mental anguish they went through etc etc. Don't get me wrong, every author has their own techniquein fantasy novels for introducing the reader to the new world they have created. There's the 'explainers', who explain every thing & everyone, but have the risk of spoiling the pace & action of the novel & simply boring the pants off the reader with too much detail...
Or there's the 'droppers', who drop the reader rightin the middle of some action, introduce things slowly & only when it is relevant, & keep on with the high pace throughout. Generally, I prefer this style, & I get the feeling this is what Michelle was trying to do...howeverin my opinion she fails. I was left bewildered for quite a lot of the novel, unsure if I hadn't understood a section because I wasn't meant too, or perhaps because I had missed some vital clue the author had droppedin (this happened a lot, & led to many re-readings of certain sections as I struggled to make sense of what is happening), or if it was simply down to the poor writingin general: I would recommend to this author that she gets a new editor or something, because the bad sentence structure, poor use of words & assumption that the reader knows the characters as well as the author does spoiled the book. (and we don't by the way. You created them, so you know them inside out, but brooding & mysterious only goes so far before it becomes flat & boring).
Another issue I had with the book was that the Heroine, Kaylin, came across as a young girl...maybe she's meant to be emotionally immature, but if asked her age I would say 16-17. I don't believe her age is ever actually mentionedin the two books I have read of the series, although I think I worked it out that she is meant to bein her early 20s. I'm sorry, but I don't think the author remembers what it's like to be that age!
However, after all is said & done, I still found myself reading both novel that I bought, & enjoying them too, & if someone offered me the nextin the series for a super discounted price, I don't think I would say no...
great! - By: Mrs. K. Brookbank, 07 Oct 2008 
I have had this book on my tbr shelf for over 18 months, I thought it was about time it got read. I don't know why I hadn't picked it up sooner, what a great book. The plot was intriguing & I want MORE! Castin Courtlight is on my wanted list & can't wait to learn more about Kaylin.
'Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered - & all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin....
Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight & she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol & police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians & the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.
But children are once again dying, & a dark & familiar pattern is emerging. Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion & a device to contain her powers - powers that no other human has. Her task is simple - find the killer, stop the murders...and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies! '
Decent Concept, but in need of a good editor. - By: Emma J. Clutterbuck, 30 Aug 2008 The charactersin this book are interesting, the plot line is a fairly decent one & the author manages to create a fairly interesting world. And that's pretty much where the plus points end on this.
For one, the book is pretty badly written &in need of a good edit. As a reader, I should not have to reconstruct sentences within a book just to make sense of it. There are spelling mistakes & bad phrasing pretty much all the way through. Its difficult to understand what on earth is going on for most of the story as the author forgets that her world needs to be explained, causing confusion & several rereads of paragraphs just to try & understand what on earth is going on!
As well as this, the characters are shallow & don't seem to have much of a personality about them, with the exception of a few plot points. There is an entirely pointless partin the castle that I can imagine taking a while to act out, that occurs when the character is desperately searching for something on a TIME LIMIT. It makes very little sense & shows that the author is clearly not focused on her story.
Over all, I think this had veins of a good bookin it, it just isn't ready to be published yet, another rewrite isin desperate need for this novel, which is a such a shame!
really good - By: CR, 20 May 2008 Michelle Sagara is always good to read & I have very much enjoyed the Elantra books. This was a good edition to the series & I am eagerly awaiting the next book. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between the heroine & Nightshade developes.
Ps her quartet starting with Into the Dark Lands is just brilliant.
A fun fantasy read - By: NicE, 06 Apr 2008 
I really enjoyed this book. It has some very interesting characters & a story line that just keeps you reading. Michelle Sagara's style is easy to access & has some witty dialogue. The story has a darker mysterious side which is not all resolved by the end of the book. Which means that there is lots to look forward toin next booksin the series.
So, if you are looking for something that is as fully realised as Tolkien you may be disappointed.
But for a fun & enjoyable read that looks as if there is plenty of material for future stories this is a must read.
