Cast in shadow - Kirjakasa

507 pages

English language

Published Dec. 29, 2005 by Luna.

ISBN:: 978-0-373-80254-8

(1 review)

Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered -- and 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 and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.But children are once again dying, and a dark and 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 and 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 …

Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered -- and 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 and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.But children are once again dying, and a dark and 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 and 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!

2 editions

Thom reviewed Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara West

Review of 'Cast in shadow' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

The author clearly has a huge world in mind, and this story gives us a small glimpse of it. That said, this glimpse is a bit of information overload. The main character is a wise cracking teen whose mouth gets her into trouble. All in all, a mixed bag.

First the information - this is one of those books that one would follow better on a second reading. It is also part of a series. I'm not exactly pushing for a glossary, but this world is different enough from ours that some introduction to it would help immensely. Another reviewer compared this to fan fiction for a show we've never seen, and that unfortunately rings true.

The main character is caught in the middle of some huge plot and starts out nearly clueless about it. This is good, she discovers the story. I just wish she could discover it with …

The author clearly has a huge world in mind, and this story gives us a small glimpse of it. That said, this glimpse is a bit of information overload. The main character is a wise cracking teen whose mouth gets her into trouble. All in all, a mixed bag.

First the information - this is one of those books that one would follow better on a second reading. It is also part of a series. I'm not exactly pushing for a glossary, but this world is different enough from ours that some introduction to it would help immensely. Another reviewer compared this to fan fiction for a show we've never seen, and that unfortunately rings true.

The main character is caught in the middle of some huge plot and starts out nearly clueless about it. This is good, she discovers the story. I just wish she could discover it with fewer emotional outbursts and without so much whining.

Finally the plot - the mystery was good. The investigators were well written, with their own motivations and responses. The ending seemed overly large to me - without spoilers, I can say it seems more like of the ending of a series.

So I liked it, but for me it wasn't amazing. This is the 9th of 10 books snagged from the "top" lists of friends.

Subjects

Murder -- Fiction.