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| Cast in Shadow | 
 enlarge | Author: Michelle Sagara
Publisher: Luna Books
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £1.90
You Save: £5.09 (73%)
New (18) from £1.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 11425
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.5
ISBN: 0373802544
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780373802548
ASIN: 0373802544
Publication Date: July 1, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: New book. Due to problems with Standard Airmail delivery times from the USA, we have switched to using PRIORITY AIRMAIL ONLY. UK & European delivery is 7-10 days.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Had potential... October 14, 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 book in a series about a woman who lives in 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 and flying people. She has a mysterious past that always comes back to haunt her. Basically, it's a fantasy story with intrigue and action, and slight hints at romance.
What really annoys me about this book is it's wasted potential: the storyline is pretty original and 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 and has an answer for everything, and yet underneath that confident exterior are a few secrets...there's magic and mystery, fighting and strange happenings and new and unusual creatures...to put it simply, it's everything I look for in a fantasy novel!
So all in all the basics are there for a good read, and 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 books in 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 and I soon ran out of things to read, so I picked it up and enjoyed it a lot more. I think it's because I had more knowledge of the characters and the world they live in.
Because ultimately, that is what's wrong with this book: it opens, and 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 and shallow. I found that I just didn't care for them, what happened to them, what physical and mental anguish they went through etc etc. Don't get me wrong, every author has their own technique in fantasy novels for introducing the reader to the new world they have created. There's the 'explainers', who explain every thing and everyone, but have the risk of spoiling the pace and action of the novel and simply boring the pants off the reader with too much detail...
Or there's the 'droppers', who drop the reader right in the middle of some action, introduce things slowly and only when it is relevant, and keep on with the high pace throughout. Generally, I prefer this style, and I get the feeling this is what Michelle was trying to do...however in 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 dropped in (this happened a lot, and 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 writing in general: I would recommend to this author that she gets a new editor or something, because the bad sentence structure, poor use of words and 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 and mysterious only goes so far before it becomes flat and 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 mentioned in the two books I have read of the series, although I think I worked it out that she is meant to be in 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 and done, I still found myself reading both novel that I bought, and enjoying them too, and if someone offered me the next in the series for a super discounted price, I don't think I would say no...
 great! October 7, 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 and I want MORE! Cast in Courtlight is on my wanted list and 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 - 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! '
Decent Concept, but in need of a good editor. August 30, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The characters in this book are interesting, the plot line is a fairly decent one and 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 and 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 and 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 and several rereads of paragraphs just to try and understand what on earth is going on!
As well as this, the characters are shallow and don't seem to have much of a personality about them, with the exception of a few plot points. There is an entirely pointless part in 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 and shows that the author is clearly not focused on her story.
Over all, I think this had veins of a good book in it, it just isn't ready to be published yet, another rewrite is in desperate need for this novel, which is a such a shame!
really good May 20, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Michelle Sagara is always good to read and I have very much enjoyed the Elantra books. This was a good edition to the series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between the heroine and Nightshade developes.
Ps her quartet starting with Into the Dark Lands is just brilliant.
 A fun fantasy read April 6, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book. It has some very interesting characters and a story line that just keeps you reading. Michelle Sagara's style is easy to access and 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 to in next books in the series.
So, if you are looking for something that is as fully realised as Tolkien you may be disappointed.
But for a fun and enjoyable read that looks as if there is plenty of material for future stories this is a must read.
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