Cast in Silence

Cast in Silence (2009) Michelle Sagara

Cast in Silence continues the story of Kaylin Neya, Private in the Hawk force, marked by Nightshade, and possessed of magical powers she has yet to learn to control.

The forces that surround and imbue Elantra are slipping into chaos, and both Kaylin’s history and powers make her uniquely suited to investigate what is leading to the chaos. Unfortunately for Kaylin, this history is one she prefers to forget.

One of the things I particularly like about this series is how Kaylin has grown over the course of the series and how actions taken in previous books in the series continue to have consequences. I particularly like how the parts of her education she dismissed as useless previously are either coming in use, or displaying themselves as glaring deficiencies she is coming to recognize.

I’ll be curious to see whether Kaylin continues to realize her somewhat willful deficiencies are causing her greater problems as she continues to come into her powers and rise in the ranks of the Hawks. I think she will, and it will be interesting to watch.

I’m not sure enjoyed is the proper word, but it was enlightening to see parts of Kaylin’s past she’d hidden from herself, as well as how these past relationships affect her current relationships.

SPOILER (rot 13)

BX, V jnf rfcrpvnyyl snfpvangrq ol gurve gevc gb gur cnfg, jurer fur zrg Avtugfunqr. Ur jnf n sne zber vagrerfgvat punenpgre va gur cnfg, naq V’z phevbhf nf gb jurgure ur jvyy erzbir uvf znex sebz ure, abj gung fur unf zrg uvz va gur cnfg.

V nyfb yvxrq ubj gur Svsr pnzr vagb gur unaqf (pynjf) vs Gvnznevf, naq jbaqre vs gung vf ubj gur svsrf jrer fhccbfrq gb or eha–ol oraribyrag nhgbpengf jub pnerq jung unccraf gb gubfr jub yvir va gur svsrf, engure guna ol oehgny qvpgngbef yvxr Avtugfunqr.

END SPOILER

If you’ve been reading the Elantra series, you won’t need to be told to pick up this story. If you’re looking for a somewhat dark fantasy without boinking, then you’ll want to start at the beginning of this series.
Rating: 7/10

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