Sagara, Michelle

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.

In her 12th adventure (after Cast in Honor), Kaylin shows no signs of slowing down. The bright, sometimes sarcastic heroine remains the dynamic heart around which an enchanting story of magic and politics revolves.

Jaded fantasy readers may appreciate that Sagara's books are set in such a compressed timeframe—it's been just over a year since the events of the series launch, Cast in Courtlight, and Kaylin has grown up only as much as a young woman would be expected to in the intervening time.