★ 02/01/2022
The second (after The Emperor's Wolves) in a series spun off Sagara's "Chronicles of Elantra" books. Her world of Elantra is ruled by immortal Dragons, while the Dragons' eternal enemy-turned-reluctant ally, the Barrani (Elantra's version of elves), play at high-stakes political shenanigans to keep boredom at bay over the course of their long, unchanging lives. Severn Handred, a human officer of the Imperial Dragon's Halls of Law, allows himself to be thrust into the heart of multiple deadly plots and counterplots, out of a desire to pay back an otherwise unpayable debt while looking for the truth—or at least a truth—about his own murky origins. The truth might not set Severn free, but it will almost certainly lead to either the freedom or the deaths of more individuals than he understands. VERDICT Ideal for readers looking for stories of complex political maneuvering in fully realized fantasy worlds, with earth-shattering events told through complicated, sympathetic characters. This origin story for a well-loved character from the world of Elantra will get new readers up to speed while telling a story that long-time followers have been waiting for. Highly recommended.—Marlene Harris
