“Enjoyable, entertaining, engaging fantasy.” –Tor.com AT THE EMPEROR’S COMMAND Multiple races carefully navigate the City of Elantra under the Dragon Emperor’s wing. His Imperial Wolves are executioners, the smallest group to serve in the Halls of Law. The populace calls them assassins. Every wolf candidate must consent to a full examination by the Tha’alani, one of the most feared and … the most feared and distrusted races in Elantra for their ability to read minds. Most candidates don’t finish their job interviews.
Severn Handred, the newest potential recruit, is determined to face and pass this final test–even if by doing so he’s exposing secrets he has never shared.
When an interrogation uncovers the connections to a two-decade-old series of murders of the Tha’alani, the Wolves are commanded to hunt. Severn’s first job will be joining the chase. From the High Halls to the Tha’alani quarter, from the Oracles to the Emperor, secrets are uncovered, tensions are raised and justice just might be done…if Severn can survive.
The Wolves of Elantra
Book 1: The Emperor’s Wolves
more
I loved this book. You could read as a stand-alone but I think you would enjoy and appreciate the nuances more if you read the “Cast in…” series first.
Severn has always been the strong silent type, determined to protect Kaylin even though she would prefer to kill him. He’s been protecting her since he was a child, living off the streets in the poorest section of Elantra. He’s learnt the hard way to protect himself and others, survived when others would die.
He becomes an Emperor’s wolf, one of the Emperor’s silent assassins, trusted to kill when deemed necessary. This is our chance to understand this world though Severn’s eyes, and it’s been a long time coming.
I was in tears as Severn ‘relived’ his secret horror through Yberline and you wonder how he manages to remain so calm and self contained.
The world of Elantra and it’s many races are so rich and well written- you will definitely appreciate and understand them more if you read the cast in series first, but this is an excellent book even if you haven’t.
The Emperor’s Wolves is a new perspective on the already fascinating world of Elantra found in The Chronicles of Elantra series.
What I Loved
I love that Severn is like a whole new character and one of my new favorites. In The Chronicles, he is a solid support character – unwaveringly good, tried and true, the person you would want backing you up in precarious situations. In this book, where he is the main character, I saw and experienced him with new eyes, and I am in awe. He is incredibly complex, and each of his layers is peeled away slowly as the story unravels. That peeling away of the layers moves the plot forward as much as the murder investigation does – it is that essential and integral an aspect of the story. I don’t want to say anymore because I feel like it would spoil the story to do so, but I will settle on saying just ”Wow.” I love every little nuance of this character.
I also love learning about the Wolves law enforcement department. In The Chronicles, they are just as much of a mystery as Severn, so learning more about the law enforcement agencies in this intricate world is a reason alone to read this book. The difference between the Wolves and the Hawks is described in more detail than ever before, enabling me to feel like I have a complete picture of the different agencies within the Hall and how/why they exist.
Mysteries and fantasies are my two favorite book genres. As in each book of The Chronicles, I love how this novel is a mystery set in a fantasy world—as such, solving the mystery of who committed the crime is that much more complicated and entertaining to figure out. Severn is a professional detective, and as such, the story is told in that police procedural / hard-boiled mystery vein. And both areas – fantasy and mystery – are equally as strong, with one not conceding to the other at any point in the story.
Lastly, I loved the relationship/connection between Severn and Kaylin even more after reading this story. Learning more of their back story and discovering how far back it goes brought a whole new element to their relationship and made me realize how complex and genuine it is, more so than I ever was aware in The Chronicles.
To Read or Not to Read
If you have read any books in The Chronicles of Elantra series, you will instantly fall in love with this book and the characters as you quickly realize that there is so much more to their story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Not many authors can write a prequel spinoff that can stand on its own. This one succeeded. I have always wondered about Severn. The hints about his background, his involvment with the Wolves, his past with Kaylin only whetted my interest in this very stoic, supportive man who exemplies the quiet lethal badass. Thank you, Ms. Sagara, for finally answering some of my questions!
All about Severn and his start with the Wolves!
I’ve always wondered how Severn Handred started with the Wolves in the Halls of Law and The Emperor’s Wolves is about his first investigation even before he finished his probation for the Wolves.
If you are a fan of the Chronicles of Elantra this book is a hint at what is going to happen, and it answers some of the questions that I have but it leaves many questions unanswered. Severn was raised in the fiefs and where did he learn to read and write Elantran and Barani?
You need to read Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra Book #1) before reading The Emperor’s Wolves for more enjoyment of the book. Now I want more books about The Wolves of Elantra.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am a long-time Cast series fan. That has to be said at the beginning, otherwise no one will trust my reviews anymore. So this review (and this book, IMO) is for you other fans out there. Those other people who have read through all 14 (soon to be 15) books.
If that doesn’t describe you, do not pass go, do not collect $200, and go back and read Cast in Shadow. If you try to read this book without reading the series first you will be confused. Worse you won’t care about what you are reading because you have no history to ground you in these characters.
But for us fans, wow it was great. I was so excited to get the facts from Severn’s POV. I was happy we finally got to experience Severn’s fateful meeting with Nightshade when he still lived in the fiefs. I liked hearing what other Barani thought of Teela, and realizing how much Teela’s presence protected Kaylin even in the early years. We also got to see inside of the most mysterious branch of the Halls of Law, the Wolves. In the Cast series, we never meet the Lord of Wolves, despite Severn interacting with him several times.
So despite the plot of this novel revolving around a murder, what made it great were the cameo appearances by characters we already knew. It had the right mix of new plot, supported by characters you already feel connected to (Ybelline!) and tantalizing hints of future adventures. I can’t be the only person dying to know how Severn came to speak Barani after reading this, and umm, the magic thing? So many questions. I can only hope there is at least one more book forthcoming to continue his story. Go read it when it comes out. 4.5 stars.