Cast in Courtlight

Chronicles of Elantra, Book 2

By: Michelle Sagara

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

In Elantra, a job well done is rewarded with a more dangerous task. So after defeating a dark evil, Kaylin Neya goes before the Barrani High Court, where a misspoken word brings sure death. Kaylin's never been known for her grace or manners, but the High Lord's heir is suspiciously ill, and Kaylin's healing magic is the only shot at saving him - if she can dodge the traps laid for her.

Spellbound? Listen to more Chronicles of Elantra.

©2008 Michelle Sagara (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Kaylin goes to High Court

What did you love best about Cast in Courtlight?

Gaining a much better understanding of just how little we know of the Baroni. And getting to know Kaylin and Teela better.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cast in Courtlight?

When she gets to meet the Lord of the Green for the first time inside his soul. I really like him.

What about Khristine Hvam’s performance did you like?

I love how she treats all of her characters. she makes them all individual.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I dislike this question. I wish someone would make this series into a series of movies like Harry Potter. I can just SEE the man who would be Sanabalis. Or even better--The Archon! but while I can just Hear a young James Earl Jones growling Marcus' lines, he is too dignified to act the part. So I am still trying to find the "right" personality AND voice for Marcus. Not to mention Nightshade.

Couldn't stop listening!

Any additional comments?

I was hooked after the first book, but this one was even better. Michelle does a great job of building the characters.Khristine is so believable as the narrator.

Great performance

What did you love best about Cast in Courtlight?

We learn about Kaylin's world and secrets along with her.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kaylin -- she has great power and yet lives a normal life and messes up like the rest of us.

What about Khristine Hvam’s performance did you like?

The voices she gives to the various characters and races make them come alive.

Great Book - Great Story

Would you listen to Cast in Courtlight again? Why?

YES. I have all of the books and this one of 5 series that I would read again.
Others are: Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Series * / Geroge RR Martin Game of Thrones / All JD Robb In Death Series / Christine Feehan Ghostwalkers (also like her Carapthian Series) / JRR Tolkien the Hobbit-Lord of the Rings Big commitments but worth the time and money to purchase and listen to them as well as purchase in print form. *I have both for many of my books.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything

Have you listened to any of Khristine Hvam’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She did an amazing job on this and on all other projects. My hope is that in making these reviews, it encourages the authors to use the talent that we feel is best as well as encourage those narrators with negative comments to work on their approach to reading the book. It is also my hope that the books we like very well will encourage the authors to write more of them knowing they have people who dearly love their work.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

love her book's

love the authors books this series as well as her other ones and the readers voice and style fits so well to those stories

Strong sequel as we delve deeper into the fantasy

Would you listen to Cast in Courtlight again? Why?

Yes, my understanding of the Barrani was vastly improved here as well as key background given to important characters - definitely worth a second listen

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There is a lot of world building which slowed the pace down but I found the book wholly enjoyable!

Any additional comments?

I'm hooked on this series and will be reading it start to finish!

Another Winner in the series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutley! One of my favs in the last year. Started with #7 on sale and was so impressed I just bought the first book and am now starting #4. Missing work to listen through the series! Picky about my purchases and this enire series is worth the credits.

What other book might you compare Cast in Courtlight to and why?

I enojoyed his book as much as my first read..#7. First book was good but 2 and 7 are my favorites so far. More adult with less of the erotica in many female fantasy reads. It's one of my top listens the year if not the best. Enjoy it as much as my Bujold Vorkosigan series or Flints 1632. Highly recommend the series. Kind of an Eve Dallas story set in a fantasy world.

What about Khristine Hvam’s performance did you like?

Good solid performance. Did have a bit of trouble following some of the characters due to a lack of more than a couple of accents and the confusing names.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Only the insatiable desire to get through the entire stories 7.5 books ASAPP.
I know it's good, as I have ignored work for nearly a week now.

Even Better

What made the experience of listening to Cast in Courtlight the most enjoyable?

I love this series! This story is even better than the first (and just a hint, they just keep getting better!). The reader is great and presents the characters with "doing voices". Awesome Audible purchase!

Sigh, i reall did try...

I wanted to like this book and this series, god i really did. However the fact that i am actually having to keep forcing myself to get back to these books is rather telling for me. There is just so much nonsensical poetic metaphor!!! I have no idea what is happening, for crying out loud i feel like i am trying to decipher Shakespeare written in Japanese or something. Also it doesn't help that i lost any tolerance for super power angst a LONG time ago. Being disabled makes people complaining about having super powers just flat out insulting. Speaking of really annoying things i got fed up with, why does everyone in these books act so prickly and paranoid about EVERYTHING? Not a single question is asked or answered without pretty much pulling out the entire jaw line along with the teeth. No deed is done without a bunch of people acting really really REALLY vague about it or what might happen if the main character does the thing. Whole conversations seem to happen on winks and silences that the audience is never given any kind of explanation for. it's...well kind of stupid. I honestly couldn't tell you what happened in any of the two books i tried . The author just flat out refuses to give it's audience anything. If i was tring to listen to a one sided phone conversation in ancient Greek next to a jet engine i would probably have a better idea what that person was talking about than anyone in these books.

The Heroine is a Feisty One:)

If you could sum up Cast in Courtlight in three words, what would they be?

Mysterious Foreshadowing Illuminating

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cast in Courtlight?

There is a part where Kaylin (sp heard the book, never saw the spelling for her name.) gained herself a name, which by rote implies that she is now Immortal, because mortals don't have NAMES (the deep can bind you ones). But at the time she also grabbed a second name, which is a key element in this book.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She totally gets the attitude of Kaylin, she personifies her completely to the extent that you start feeling her angst against things she cannot control. *lol*

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Hrmm....No. I did get a little sad when the new mother was chosen, and was glad when the new lord of the court came forth, but no real extremes.

Any additional comments?

This series is getting interesting. Kaylin seems almost a force of nature. A natural power check on the re-awakening of the ancients perhaps. I don't know, but look forward to book three. :)