Cast in Wisdom (The Chronicles of Elantra, #15)

by Michelle Sagara

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Cast in Wisdom in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cast in Wisdom is the fifteenth novel in Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra series, and it is still going strong. It’s hard to believe that we’re already fifteen books in. But we are. Kaylin has come a long way in these tomes, and I for one and looking forward to the next step in her journey.
They say that you can never truly leave the fiefs. Perhaps that is true. There is something growing, something waking in the fiefs. Kaylin and her allies have been tasked with investigating, which means they’re about to get into a world of trouble.
The fiefs have long been the final boundary that keeps the Shadow at bay. So one can understand all of the concerns about maintaining their status. We already know that fractures have been found and made. So the real question is, what happens next?

“Kaylin knew it was going to be bad when discussion banked the minute she entered the dining room.”

I have been looking forward to Cast in Wisdom ever since I read the description, and I’ve got to tell you; it does not disappoint. This novel embodies everything that made me fall in love with the series to begin with and then some. It was brilliant and intense, and so full of the magic that makes this series stand out in a crowd.
Honestly, I’m not even entirely sure where to begin with my review. The magical system is one that I’ve always loved, so hearing how happy I was with it here is probably no surprise. Michelle Sagara has a way of establishing and maintaining complex systems. It’s extremely impressive.
The fiefs and their towers are something that have been constantly fascinating for me. I’ve been desperate to see more of them, and I feel like Cast in Wisdom finally gave me a chance to really indulge in that craving.
There was something so deeply personal about this novel. Perhaps it’s because so many of the secondary characters had to acknowledge their wants and needs, and see change because of it. Or perhaps it was the Arkon’s plight that made it feel so personal. I’m not entirely sure. But I do know that I loved every minute of it.

“And in my experience, a happy, safe home is a daydream. It’s an idle wish, an impossible yearning.”

Michelle Sagara’s writing is so painfully profound at times. Kaylin may not be the most experienced or knowledgeable character out there, but her perspective is everything we needed here. She sees the humanity in the strange, in the ethereal and immortal. All of this was shown to beautiful effect in Cast in Wisdom.
It’s taking all of my willpower not to gush about everything I loved about this book. Mainly I’m resisting because I don’t want to begin tossing major spoilers around. I will say that there is a lot that happens within these pages, and much of it advances the plot and permanently alters the world we’ve come to love.
One highlight I will mention; I feel that Cast in Wisdom did an excellent job balancing the massive variety of characters. I won’t say that each of them got a moment – that is far too much, even for a book of this size. But I do feel like a lot of the fan favorites had a chance to shine, and that’s enough for me.
I don’t know where this series is going to lead in the long run. Or how many books are left. I do know one thing for certain, I already hate the wait I’ll be facing for the next book in this series. I’m desperate and anxious for more. But until then, enjoy.

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