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Available
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Publication
Luna (2009), Edition: Original, Paperback, 464 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: Don't ask. Don't tell. Stay alive. A member of the elite Hawk force that protects the City of Elantra, Kaylin Neya has sacrificed much to earn the respect of the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani she works alongside. But the mean streets she escaped as a child aren't the ones she's vowed to give her life guarding. Those were much darker... Kaylin's moved on with her life--and is keeping silent about the shameful things she's done to stay alive. But when the city's oracles warn of brewing unrest in the outer fiefdoms, a mysterious visitor from Kaylin's past casts her under a cloud of suspicion. Thankfully, if she's anything, she's a survivor...
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the fifth book in the Chronicles of Elantra series by Sagara. Originally Sagara was contracted for five books, but it looks like that's been extended to eight books total. This was definitely not the best book in the series. It was still a good read, but at times I was really bored.
In this
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. You learn more about Kaylin's past and more about the fiefs. In fact the majority of the story takes place in the fiefs. I liked this a lot since the fiefs have kind of remained a mystery. You also learn more about the dark heart of the fiefs, about the dragons as a race, and about Nightshade's past. I really like Nightshade as a character so more info about him was a good thing. Overall the book was well-written, but there were quite a few things that bothered me.
So...on to the things I didn't like. Severn was mostly present as a place holder for most of the book. In fact there were many scenes where he was supposedly in the scene but he did so little I couldn't remember if he had left the scene or not. He talked rarely and mostly just stood there and let Kaylin do her thing. Kaylin spent a lot of the beginning on the book talking about how awful her past in Barren was, but when it all came down to it, most of the the people around her knew most of her past and didn't care. So, I had some trouble figuring out why Kaylin made such a big deal about all of that.
The story was going along okay until they got into the scene where they enter the Tower the first time. Then the book really starts to drag and get pretty darn boring. I had a lot of trouble enjoying the second half of the book because it just went too slow. I also get a little sick of the fact that Kaylin always seems to be exhausted and stressed out about everything. I was also a little surprised, that Kaylin doesn't even have a second of time to deal with her relationships with Severn and/or Nightshade. She kind of ignores them most of the time. I guess with Nightshade I can understand that since he has all the time in the world, but I was surprised Severn's role was so truncated.
Overall it was an okay read. I think all the things that we learn about the fiefs and the origins of the Empire outweigh the bad pacing and whiny Kaylin; but I really was bored the last half of the book. I am still interesting to see how things pan out in the next book, now that we know more about the heart of the fiefs. So, I will read the next book, but I will get it from the library.
In this
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book Kaylin is sent to investigate some strange goings on in the fiefs. For once her journey doesn't take her to the fief of Nightshade, but to the fief of Barren where Kaylin lived out 6 months of her life that she would rather forget and has never shared with anyone. Kaylin, Severn, and the dragon end up finding more about the dark heart of the fief than they had ever imagined.There was a lot of good stuff in this book. You learn more about Kaylin's past and more about the fiefs. In fact the majority of the story takes place in the fiefs. I liked this a lot since the fiefs have kind of remained a mystery. You also learn more about the dark heart of the fiefs, about the dragons as a race, and about Nightshade's past. I really like Nightshade as a character so more info about him was a good thing. Overall the book was well-written, but there were quite a few things that bothered me.
So...on to the things I didn't like. Severn was mostly present as a place holder for most of the book. In fact there were many scenes where he was supposedly in the scene but he did so little I couldn't remember if he had left the scene or not. He talked rarely and mostly just stood there and let Kaylin do her thing. Kaylin spent a lot of the beginning on the book talking about how awful her past in Barren was, but when it all came down to it, most of the the people around her knew most of her past and didn't care. So, I had some trouble figuring out why Kaylin made such a big deal about all of that.
The story was going along okay until they got into the scene where they enter the Tower the first time. Then the book really starts to drag and get pretty darn boring. I had a lot of trouble enjoying the second half of the book because it just went too slow. I also get a little sick of the fact that Kaylin always seems to be exhausted and stressed out about everything. I was also a little surprised, that Kaylin doesn't even have a second of time to deal with her relationships with Severn and/or Nightshade. She kind of ignores them most of the time. I guess with Nightshade I can understand that since he has all the time in the world, but I was surprised Severn's role was so truncated.
Overall it was an okay read. I think all the things that we learn about the fiefs and the origins of the Empire outweigh the bad pacing and whiny Kaylin; but I really was bored the last half of the book. I am still interesting to see how things pan out in the next book, now that we know more about the heart of the fiefs. So, I will read the next book, but I will get it from the library.
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LibraryThing member lewispike
This book takes place mostly after the other books in the series, but throws Kaylin back to her youth, before heading into the city and joining the Hawks, showing us a bit more about that.
In addition a fair chunk of the book takes places in the deep past of the city - so deep that the Dragons
The story is not all that compelling unless you're already invested in the characters - this would not be the place that I would suggest starting at all - but if you are it reveals interesting information about dragons, barryani, Kaylin, Nightshade, the fiefs, the city and so on and is well worth a read.
In addition a fair chunk of the book takes places in the deep past of the city - so deep that the Dragons
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haven't taken over yet in fact!The story is not all that compelling unless you're already invested in the characters - this would not be the place that I would suggest starting at all - but if you are it reveals interesting information about dragons, barryani, Kaylin, Nightshade, the fiefs, the city and so on and is well worth a read.
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LibraryThing member Cynical_Ames
This is the 5th book in the Chronicle of Elantra and it pains me to give this one 3 stars but it has to be done. It covers the period of 6 months after Kaylin left Nightshade and before she entered the city and began working fot the Hawks.
I found this novel to be much slower in pace than the
I admit that it took me longer to reach the end than normal and did seriously consider giving up on it. It felt more like an 'in-between' book rather than a full novel which sets the scene for the next one.
It also breaks with the general themes of the others in the series, the first focuses on the back story of the main characters whereas the others focus on the ins and outs of each of the races, one at a time, within the world Sagara has created. I expected this one to either be about the Aerians, some new race or the Dragon Emperor. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Hopefully the next in the series, CAST IN CHAOS will be better.
I found this novel to be much slower in pace than the
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others and reached an ending which I saw coming (but was still good). The slow pace is the result of a lot of psychological and philosophical discussion which sometimes left me a bit confused. I admit that it took me longer to reach the end than normal and did seriously consider giving up on it. It felt more like an 'in-between' book rather than a full novel which sets the scene for the next one.
It also breaks with the general themes of the others in the series, the first focuses on the back story of the main characters whereas the others focus on the ins and outs of each of the races, one at a time, within the world Sagara has created. I expected this one to either be about the Aerians, some new race or the Dragon Emperor. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Hopefully the next in the series, CAST IN CHAOS will be better.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
The elements are restless - which in Elantra doesn't bode well. The disturbance is coming from somewhere deep in the fiefs. Groundhawk Kaylin Neya has moved on with her life, but if she wants life as she knows it to continue for Elantra, she's going to have to face the past - and the dead - she
This series just keeps getting better.
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left buried in the fief of Barren.This series just keeps getting better.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
This story sees Kaylin, Severn and Tiamaris traveling into the fiefs. We learn, in a series of flashbacks, about the six months Kaylin spent in the fief of Barren after leaving Nightshade but before she crossed the river into the City. We learn that she came to the City to assassinate the Hawklord
They are sent into the fiefs because the ferals and other monsters are becoming more common and there is fear that the towers that are supposed to protect against them are failing. They find monsters and they find a tower almost abandoned. They also learn that Barren isn't actually the fief lord because he hasn't been accepted by the tower.
A magical storm forces Kaylin, Severn and Tiamaris into the tower where they need to face tests before they can leave. They find themselves moved back in time before the fiefs were so overrun with ferals. There they meet a much younger Nightshade who has not yet taken over his fief. It is during Kaylin's tests that we learn the most about her time in Barren. But Tiamaris also faces a number of tests when he decides to claim the fief and has to defeat the current fieflord who is a Barrani who has given up his name.
This story had a lot of interesting things about the fiefs and how they are controlled. It has some things about Kaylin's magic as she gradually learns more about the marks on her body and even about the Ancient Ones who are now the only ones who can read those mysterious marks.
I enjoyed this new visit to the world of Elantra. It is always intriguing to see what problems Kaylin will have next. Watching her grow and become more self aware is always a pleasure.
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at the orders of Barren. But the Hawklord made her an offer closer to her heart working for justice instead of revenge.They are sent into the fiefs because the ferals and other monsters are becoming more common and there is fear that the towers that are supposed to protect against them are failing. They find monsters and they find a tower almost abandoned. They also learn that Barren isn't actually the fief lord because he hasn't been accepted by the tower.
A magical storm forces Kaylin, Severn and Tiamaris into the tower where they need to face tests before they can leave. They find themselves moved back in time before the fiefs were so overrun with ferals. There they meet a much younger Nightshade who has not yet taken over his fief. It is during Kaylin's tests that we learn the most about her time in Barren. But Tiamaris also faces a number of tests when he decides to claim the fief and has to defeat the current fieflord who is a Barrani who has given up his name.
This story had a lot of interesting things about the fiefs and how they are controlled. It has some things about Kaylin's magic as she gradually learns more about the marks on her body and even about the Ancient Ones who are now the only ones who can read those mysterious marks.
I enjoyed this new visit to the world of Elantra. It is always intriguing to see what problems Kaylin will have next. Watching her grow and become more self aware is always a pleasure.
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Language
Original publication date
2009-07-28
Physical description
464 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0373803001 / 9780373803002