Cast In Peril

By Michelle Sagara

It has been a busy few weeks for Private Kaylin Neva. In between angling for a promotion, sharing her room with the last living female Dragon and dealing with more refugees than anyone knew what to do with, the unusual egg she'd been given was ready to hatch.

Actually, that turned out to be lucky, because it absorbed the energy from the bomb that went off in her quarters…

So now might be the perfect time to leave Elantra and journey to the West March with the Barrani. If not for the disappearances of citizens in the fief of Tiamaris – disappearances traced to the very Barrani Kaylin will be traveling with…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Oct 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781472046772

Michelle Sagara

New York Times bestselling author Michelle Sagara writes as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West; she is also published as Michelle Sagara West. She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs. She can be found @msagara on Twitter or http://msagarawest.wordpress.com

Reviews for Cast In Peril

[jami_leigh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Plot: 4 1/2 stars
Characters: 4 1/2 stars
Style: 4 stars
Pace: 3 1/2 stars

This one dragged for me in places, and felt rather monotonous because of it. However, I still enjoyed it, because the world itself just keeps getting richer, and I'm bemoaning the stopping place on this one. Pretty much guaranteed to pick up the next one, just to see what happens when they get to the West March!

[readsalot81 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE Michelle Sagara's "Cast" series, but am not the hugest fan of how there ends up being more questions than answers. On one hand, it's fascinating and complex (and all sorts of awesome) but on the other hand, it can be extremely frustrating that you're left wanting answers that have been popping up in earlier books. I love the books that deal directly with the Barrani in this particular series, so it had that going for it, but you're left hanging. With MORE questions. Argh. (But will still rush out to buy Cast in Sorrow.. because you know, I'm a ginormous fan)

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Leave it to (still a) Private Kaylin Neya to find trouble in something as innocuous as going home to sleep. When her apartment blows up around her, the mysterious egg finally hatches, and the problems with the Emperor's Exchequer finally come home to roost, Kaylin finds herself heading out of the city again. But this time, it's not the fiefs she's bound for. A mandatory journey to the West March in the company of Barrani royalty may be a good thing in that she'll be far from the Emperor and any chance of being eaten by a dragon, but Kaylin's not convinced she wouldn't be more use back in Elantra digging into disappearances of both fief dwellers and citizens of Elantra. Not to mention being "safe" in the company of Barrani is a contradiction in terms. The further they travel, the more it looks as if Kaylin may get a chance to solve the mystery of the missing persons after all...Kaylin may finally be gaining some manners, but as long as she retains the ability to stumble over adventure wherever she goes, I'm hooked.

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sagara….never disappoints!‘The worst thing about having a roommate…was morning!’ (Well not counting a dragon for a roommate, an arcane bomb, and Dragons, the Barrani, and Hawk Headquarters in uproar).And just like that we’re thrown into life with Kaylin Neya. Sagara continues to delight us with the differing facets of the world of Elantra’s Chronicles. The ongoing story of assassin turned Hawk, Private Kaylin and her various acquaintances and companions, drawn from the races found in Elantra, is as exciting today as it was from the very first read.The wry and delightful humor that undergirds much of Kaylin’s interaction with her world is constantly present. Her relationship with the female dragon Bellusdeo, often bemoaned by Kaylin, is a treasure to be explored further.We revisit known and loved characters in this continuing and surprising episode of Kaylin. Old friends take on new dimensions, as do old enemies—including ex barrani, now fief Lord, Nightshade, the barrani Hawk Teela, and oldest of friends Severn--a companion from the fiefs, one time Wolf, now Hawk. All frequently surprise, and are in turn surprised!Kaylin of course remains the ingénue, from the wrong side of the tracks. The assassin turned Hawk, Guild Midwife, and anti hero, whose gigantic heart doesn't count the cost when helping those in need. Be they barrini, dragon lords, or the lowliest of orphans. More particularly it’s the children that reach into her heart every time. Race or class is no barrier to her.The interesting acquisition of a familiar (or not as the case may turn out to be)--a small, smoky translucent, glass like dragon or lizard--by Kaylin is puzzling, frequently humorous, often an asset, and full of potential.Once again, a fabulous addition to an exciting chapter in the being of Elantra! I can hardly wait for the next book! A Netgalley ARC

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kaylin joins the Barrani High Court on their annual journey to the West March for the recitation of their regalia. But there is unexpected peril along the way.Be warned, although the immediate issues are dealt with, this is only half a story.

[capnrandm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.allthingsuf.comThe Chronicles of Elantra are an intricate hybrid of urban and high fantasy, with gritty streets, magical creatures, and medieval elements intwined. Sagara has created her own “urban” environment, as the City in which Kaylin lives serves as her whole world. Even in CAST IN PERIL, when obligations are going to take her beyond the familiar confines of her home, the landscape outside the City proper consists of danger, magic, etiquette, and inscrutable beings. Kaylin is right at home.So much has transpired in this series, even having read each book in order, I often have a hard time remembering details of the previous adventures (and prior events are often referenced). If you’re new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning, and if you’re behind, I highly recommend catching up to enjoy this book. Bare weeks separate most of the books in this series, which means Private Kaylin Neya only has time to change clothes before the next apocalyptic event comes knocking. I love the gruff humor and breathless chaos that swirl around Kaylin on any given day, and CAST IN PERIL offers quip after quip for most of the book. It wouldn’t be a Chronicles of Elantra novel without deadly, mysterious magic, however, and the Barrani pilgrimage to West March offers magical waystations, political intrigue, and insidious infections of Shadow. With both Nightshade and Severn in this story, the romantic subtext was greater than usual, to the point of actually bubbling out into conversation every once and awhile.Of all the magical mechanisms in fantasy, Sagara’s naming and runes can be some of the most intriguing and frustrating to read. I feel like I can see the runes and symbols floating in the air around Kaylin. Magical theory is always at the heart of the action, and I usually understand less of the mechanisms that drive the battles than I do notice the changes in Kaylin that result. CAST IN PERIL is no different in that regard. I understood less about the Naming and True Stories of the Barrani than I did the relationship dynamics around Kaylin.The Chronicles of Elantra matches Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse books for the sheer number of events, revelations, and societal upheavals that simmer off the pages of each book, though Sagara uses double the amount of pages with her ornate, mythological rich prose. CAST IN PERIL was filled with my favorite Elantra elements: glimpses of Dragons, Hawks, and Towers, Severn, Nightshade, and Teela, and the hyperbolic humor of Barrani death threats and Kaylin’s stubbornness. Those familiar pleasures carried me through some of the thicker magic at story’s end, to a breathless pause that I cannot release until CAST IN SORROW comes out next year.Sexual Content: Discussion of sex and rape.

[stacyatufi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

CAST IN PERIL is the 8th installment in the Chronicles of Elantra series. We have met many characters and witnessed many events. I would not recommend starting the series from anywhere but book 1. With CAST IN PERIL being book 8 I'm not going to go into to much background detail but will leave this review with my main thoughts. There is a lot of over explaining. I felt myself drifting off sometimes with the excessiveness of it. I know Kaylin had really rough teen years and some horrible things happened to her but I really wish she would try to move on from it with Severn. He is extremely patient and loves her a lot and I'm kinda getting annoyed that they are not "together" yet. I understand that its hard to move past something like that happening to you but she doesn't try. Love the glass dragon AKA little dragon. He is a fantastic addition to the story. I do however think that his "development" is going way to slow.CAST IN PERIL is my least favorite installment in the Chronicles of Elantra Series but I am still interested to see how Kaylin's story ends.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

CAST IN PERIL is the eighth book in the Chronicles of Elantra series. In this episode, Kaylin is the semi-reluctant roommate of the Dragon Belluseo - the only know female dragon - and is babysitting for an egg born of a human mother when magic was running wild. She is also preparing to head to the West March with a group of Barrani to pay off a debt that she incurred when getting needed information from Lord Nightshade. The group is headed to the West March to hear a recitation of a True story.Kaylin is not eager to make the journey both because she is a city girl and because she is investigating some disappearances of humans from the fiefs. When an Arcane bomb is exploded in her home it has some far-ranging effects. First, it causes the egg to hatch a creature that others call a familiar and that bonds with Kaylin. The creature resembles a small dragon and has a number of special and unusual powers. It is also really cute. Second, it causes the total loss of her home and necessitates a move to the Dragon Palace which rips away some of Kaylin's sense of security. Bellusdeo is not able to accompany Kaylin on her journey to the West March which she doesn't take complacently. However, Teela and Severn do accompany her along with the Consort of the Barrani who is currently very angry at Kaylin because of actions she took in a previous book.Also along on the journey is the Arcanist Barrani mage who was responsible for the bomb and is possibly involved in the disappearance of the humans from the fiefs. Each of the books in this series seems to concentrate on Kaylin's relationship with a different species. This one is primarily focused on the Barrani - immortal and arrogant. Kaylin learns more about her friend Teela who is a Lord of the Barrani Court and a fellow Hawk. The journey is filled with danger and intrigue. Kaylin has to survive the journey. Since the journey is filled with not only plotting Barrani but magical creatures that try to kill the party, this isn't an easy task. I like Kaylin because I feel that she is always trying to do the right think no matter how much opposition she gets. I like that she has a firm moral compass that guides her actions. This story takes place in a well-developed and complex fantasy world. This book is definitely not a starter book for the series but does add depth to those who are already familiar with the world and the characters. I really liked it and can't wait for CAST IN SORROW.

[krau0098 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the seventh book in the Chronicles of Elantra series. The eighth book will be titled Cast in Sorrow and is scheduled for a 2013 release. This book was very similar to other books in the series; there are some fun new additions but the story progresses very slowly.Kaylin is trying to juggle a number of things: her new dragon roommate, helping out the Midwives, her job as a Hawk, and both magical and political training with various Dragons. All of these things are brought to a halt when she is magically attacked in her home. People have been disappearing in the fifes and it is up to Kaylin to figure out why. Then Nightshade calls in the favor he requested from the Hawks in exchange for the intel he gave them in the last book; this is a favor that involves Kaylin leaving the City and heading outside of the Empire.There are some neat additions to the series in this book. Kaylin gains a familiar and she actually leaves the city to head outside the Empire. Despite these additions I still find these books to be wordy and move slowly. I always start these books so excited to read more about the characters and then by the end I feel like I've been reading the book forever...and not in a good way. The first part of the story focuses on Kaylin trying to help solve the mystery behind a number of disappearances happening in the fifes. Kind of the in the middle of this investigation the story switches gears. Kaylin is forced to leave with the Barrani and join them on their journey to West March. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of resolution in this story. Kaylin never even reaches West March. Kaylin is thrust into a number of bizarre and ambiguous magical situations in preparation of her arrival there, but never arrives. Some of the situations she ends up in are a bit hard to follow and I found my mind wandering as I read.We do learn a lot about Teela’s past and that is very interesting. The addition of the small dragon familiar is also very mysterious and intriguing. The uncertainty around what will happen when Kaylin finally reaches West March also helps to propel the story forward.Definitely not a book to start the series on. You will have to start from the beginning to get into this series; the number of plots and characters involved has gotten increasingly complicated from book to book.Overall I am still having some mixed feelings about this series (which I have had since the third or fourth book of the series). There are some interesting additions to the story; the familiar adds a lot of interest and having Kaylin venture into unknown territory is intriguing. But, as with previous books, the book is wordy and the plot moves at a snail’s pace. Many of the magical things Kaylin ends up involved in are ambiguous and hard to picture. If you are a huge fan of this series, I think you will love this book. If you have been on the fence with previous books, this book is more of the same.

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 STARSChronicles of Elantra book #8. This is not an easy book to follow but a complex world and plots. It is the second book of the series that I have read and I know I am missing a lot of the story.I plan to buy the first 3 books and read them soon. This book could stand alone but I don't think it should be.In the world of Elantra thier are dragons that turn to people,a race of immortals, magic,place of shadows that try to destroy. It is not a simple world and in that world is Private Kaylin Neva a human, Chosen,Lord Kaylin,a poor detective who mingles with lots of different societys.Kaylin has a small room that is where she lives,the only home that is hers. Living with her is the only female dragon that is left who decides to live with her. She also has a egg that she watches over.Thier is a bomb that destroys Kaylin apartment and should of killed them both but the egg hatches and a glass dragon protects them both.They don't know if if was Kaylin or the female dragon were the target. They moved into the castle at command.Kaylin to discover why people are missing is sent on a journey to here a true story that all the Lords have to go at least once in a lifetime. Kaylin is always making enemies and being a exception to different laws. Lots of trouble happen on thier journey.No one really know what the glass dragon is really that wants to stay on Kaylin shoulders or head most of the time.If you have read the other books in the Chronicles of Elantra I think you will like this novel even more.I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.09/18/2012 PUB Harlequin Luna 544 pages