This was a very confusingly written book. Often the sentences were stilted and weird as well as confusing. I had trouble following the sequence of events and their importance to the overall story. I still am not sure exactly all that happened and there's 0 romance in this book. Things are often explained away, or ignored in favor of following a current thought. Why bring it up? I really felt that I couldn't figure out everything going on this story. Kaylin has some sort of ability, and has marks. Old magic seems to be the cause but the world isn't well explained and I have no idea what the Hawks and Wolves really are? People? People with those animal characteristics? Seems possibly like both.

And the bread crumb trail was annoying because Kaylin would notice something and then not expand on it. Drives me nuts.

I was bored as well as frustrated. If there was just some romance the book could have been better. Ugh.

I am just glad this is over.

And today we have the first in yet another series I had heard much good about but avoided picking up for a variety of no good reasons. I think my reluctance stemmed somewhat from an uncertainty as to just what kind of series Michelle Sagara's Cast series was. I think at first I had the impression it was a paranormal romance, possibly an urban fantasy (the covers influenced me this way). A few chapters in I was surprised to find CAST IN SHADOW much more a mix of dark and high fantasy, peopled with a smattering of solid gold, humorous, and truly sinister characters living in a fully developed, layered, and fascinating world.

Kaylin Neya is a Hawk. The youngest of that number, in fact. In the city of Elantra, the Hawks are charged with policing the streets and guarding the citizens. They share that responsibility with their sibling organizations the Wolves and the Swords. Together the three forces are headquartered in the Halls of Law. Elantra's citizens are made up of a mix of humans like Kaylin, winged Aerians, furred Leontines, and the immortal Barrani. Seven years ago Kaylin left a life of squalor on the streets of the fief of Nightshade, gave herself a new name, and made her way to Elantra in search of a fresh start. Now her past has caught up with her as a series of murders takes place in Nightshade. Disturbing in their own right, they also bear an eerie resemblance to events in Kaylin's past she thought for sure she'd left behind.

CAST IN SHADOW starts at a good clip and doesn't slow down once. The writing is uncluttered and engaging and Kaylin is an extremely likeable heroine. She runs from a past so dark she has avoided revealing it to her closest friends. She has a gift for healing and will drop everything at a moment's notice to deliver a baby or rescue an orphan in trouble. It was actually kind of refreshing to read about a kick-a** heroine with a soft spot for children. So often they have an allergy to kids or have issues with some of the "softer" emotions and I loved Kaylin because she was both fierce and compassionate. I cheered her on when she was fighting and I wanted to help guard her secrets. Of which she has many. She has friends, enemies, comrades, and those who would use her for her unusual abilities, yet Kaylin remains a little aloof from them all, determined to make her own way. She's my kind of girl. Only a handful of pages into the book and I was completely invested from that point on. I loved this story and can't wait to move on to the next installment--Cast in Courtlight.

Kaylin Neya left the streets of Nightshade 7 years ago, and never looked back. She trained hard to become a Hawk, policing the city of Elantra. She loves being a Hawk, and never wants to go back to the fiefs. When she left all those years ago, children were being killed. She had to escape that life. She did, but not the same. She bears mysterious markings on her body and has no idea what they mean. Now, 7 years later, the killings have started again. She will do whatever it takes to stop the killer or killers targeting the children. This has been on my TBR list for quite a while. I loved it!! The world created here is fascinating and full of magic. I love the characters as well. I should have read this a long time ago, but at least now I don't have to wait for the next book to come out!!