Cast in Sorrow

The smell of a freshly cracked book... heaven.


Welcome ladies and gents to this week's Book Designs post, where we finish up the Chronicles of Elantra series with Cast in Sorrow* aka Cast in Peril Part Two (as I'm calling it)
Don't all stories about forests leave out the bugs?
From what I can tell (and I'm guessing so far) this book is picking up right where we left off with the last one.
"Things Not To Do if You Want to Have Fun During Your Involuntary LEave/ of (Probably Unpaid) Absence
     love the title Kaylin!
I'm loving this list, although I really wish Leontine existed. It would be an amusing language to learn.
Hey, the Consort has armor now, what a nice gift from abig brother. I wonder if it's painted, enameled or just a naturally white metal?
If she was possible of wielding the power behind it, I 'd think Kaylin was trying to build a small Court for herself.
Shadow-not-birds. That's a new one.
Transforming, talking real birds. Kaylin, you never cease to amaze.
Barrani eye color: Gold with a ring of pale sky blue.
I love that they switch to Aerian in an attempt at privacy.
Domicile? Lirenne, you were less stiff the last time we met.  Yu're making me sad here.
West March - Court of the Vale
"Outcaste what? Outcaste number 13 or 90? "
So, this is where Teela considers home. ... I wonder where she lives in Elantra?
I wonder if the Ancients constructed the West March as they did the Hallione or High Halls or if the Barrani have carved out and decorated the interiors of the trees?
Types of trees denoting which street you're on, interesting .
Oh, I do. Where else could you get it repaired Sev?
She doesn't have this reaction to water at home.. Why here?
Ahh Question from last book answered. While Kaylin does call Nightshade Calarnenne, and thinks of that as his True Name, that's not quite how it works.  The 'name' is just a word. His True Name holds everything that he is and is more than mere speech. Kaylin just interprets it as speech, just like she interprets magical signatures as written words.
Kaylin, having attendants. Interesting. And she can't send them away or BAD things happen.
Barrani, as complicated as ever ^^
Huh, I didn't know that etiquette rule, I'll have to keep it in mind.
Oh, so she still has that mark on her forehead XD I wonder how others will react when they see it?
Oh Kaylin, you're growing up and it's quite interesting >< look at you doing political speak. So proud.
I need to learn to be amused and keep it off my face.
Severn, how do you know them? Were you forced to learn all the Barrani who hold the title of Lord? Or did you do it in your copious (cough cough) free time after you became a Lord? How many are there I wonder?
Teela this is something you mention earlier on! I'm also going to assume you don't like your Aunt Avonelle.
Laughing Barrani, always a strange sight.
The Hallione of the West March, the one that has been abandoned, is called Hallione Alansis.  I'm placing my bet here, the book ends with Kaylin having burged or destroyed it.
If healrs are so rare... is it because of the Barrani? Since they seem to dislike them so greatly?
Interesting and complex. Kaylin, you better be able to do what you say you can.
So the 'dreams' and the 'nightmares' of Alansis, are one and the same creatures. Just like real dreams and nightmares.
He's gone from being 'hatchling' to 'you' to 'small and squeaky'.
A line of ghosts.. with Kaylin in the lead.
Exactly! There are only 11 lost children. Not 12. Harrumph.
I like the idea of these glass statues being drawn to the runes, which are golden.
New low for the door wards in response to Kaylin, catching fire
A 12 pointed star? Wait, make that 11.
There's a Lord of the East?
This Lord of teh East challenged the harmoniste of the time? O.O why? For the title of harmoniste?
Oh, new note, none of the other Barrani Hawks are Lords.
Serian female not-servant. Gaedin male not-servant.
     Neither are lords, yet both seem to possess magic.
     Guess that kills Kaylin's theory.
Oh! 'Neya' was the nickname of Kaylin's mom. Her full name was Averneya.
>< Iberriene, I want to hate you. you did BAD things. But right now you're like a shy puppy, and I want to hug you.
Barrani- purple= deep grief.
Wait. Hold up. Rewind. KAYLIN, you KNEW Teela spoke on your behalf. It's talked about throughout the first book. It's not mentioned that she was using her rank in the Court, bu you still knew.
     Ah. ok. =blushes=
Teela, I adore you. "If the Exchequer doesn't hang for this, I'll hunt him down and kill him myself."
I love seeing how much she cares about Kaylin.
Teela, you hair brained, thrice cursed!
I cannot wait till the next book. Kaylin's given in. She's going to apply herself to magic.
O.O The 11... they're idiots.
I want to do a pendant that's a lantern, or maybe a string of lanterns.
Nightshade, I love that you protect her.
Mr. Small and Squeaky. What are you doing? Helping or hindering the Hallione?
Kaylin!
Did Nightshade jsut admit he would have failed? O.O Hit the Deck! The world is ending!
Will wonders never cease? Ynpharion willingly serving her?
O.O I LOVE this series XD
Kaylin holds the names of Four Barrani men now. Not one of them wants her dead.
The more they say it, the less I believe Kaylin will live a mortal's span of years.
I truly hope that Ynpharion isn't a one-off character.
I don't see how he could be since she holds his name, but there you go.
I think a time will come when Kaylin can speak Dragon. Possibly even intentionally.
So somehow the wards have been stripped from the green and placed into Alsanis. Is Alsanis trying to contain/protect/soothe the lost?
Finally! Silver! <3
Brother! Not son, win!
I actually like these 10 that remain >< They are going to make life so interesting.
Barrani? An eating contest? Oh yes, I do love these 10 new ones.
The 10 are staying in Alsanis to gain knowledge so that they can function and move in the world as it now is... probably smartest.
Except Annarion. Annarion wants to leave and Nighshade has commanded him to stay. Annarion has refused. Nightshade is pissed. Isn't that the way of younger brothers?  Ahh.. Annarion wants to take the Tes of Name.
Annarion is pissed and I almost think I like him more than Nightshade. XD
O.O He understands small and squeaky?
All he wants is to be with you Nightshade.
Oh dear. How will Tain react to Teela and her connection to the 10?
And Teela's not staying, but I figured on this.
And neither is Mandoran apparently, so only.... 8 are staying.
Manny... you want to join the Hawks? Oh this should be so interesting. I want Cast in Flame now please!
So ladies and gents that's the end  of this week's book :D I hope you enjoyed reading along, my thoughts and insights, and what not.
I didn't come up with many pieces while I was reading the book, but let's see what I can come up with once I sit down with my tablet.
If you did, feel free to comment below.
If you have suggestions for future books, feel free to comment below :D
If you're secretly an Aesir, please comment below :D
*While the series is actually not finished, this is the last that is currently available to me, and there is only one other set for publication, Cast in Flame, which is not yet available on the market.

Dark Currents

The tag title for this is Daisy Johanssen, reluctant hell-spawn.
And that is absolutely accurate. Unlike Faythe though (from Stray) she's not raging or a wound up ball of anger. She's pretty chill all in all. I find it interesting that the author decided to work in the concept of the "Seven Deadlies" as a palpable force almost that she has to be aware of at all times. Stuff tends to happen when she isn't.
I admit the name Daisy threw me for a loop at first and I had some preconceived notions about the characters personality and looks. They were all smashed within seconds. Which is always the best isn't it?
Anyway, while I'm not getting any solid ideas for jewelry for Miss Daisy of the Pemkowet police, I am getting something from her reluctant partner, Cody Fairfax. Apparently he's a werewolf* and every time he gets upset, the author mentions how there's a flicker of "phosphorescent green" behind his eyes. The color that comes to mind with that phrase.. I'd like to do something with that, although I don't have a clue what just yet XD. Cody is very rough and his werewolf side is very..naturalistic let’s say. I think a wolf pendant, with a little bit of magic to it would fit him. He’d probably string it on a leather cord he made himself.
I can't help it, I love a well written fop, and Casimir is lovely. Shammanic roots and head of the local coven not to mention small town business owner!
Funnily enough Casmir's in town rival, the bead shop, is called Baubles and Beads. Which brought to mind both the online store and the video series by the same name. (Although it turns out after checking later it’s “Beads, Baubles and Jewels. Ooops. Still an interesting thing though. )
Mogwai- Daisy's sometime pet cat. Sort of a stray, sort of not? I love his name, but I'm starting to think that he's something else, although you'd think Daisy would know if he was.
Old Mrs Browne- This little old lady gets jewelry. I don't know what yet, but I like her. She's a baker!:D She's also a brownie unless I'm off or something eldritch anyway. I’m thinking she’d need something easy to clean, so polymer clay or maybe metal, without a ton of texturing, but something colorful.
Lurine- Here's something I haven’t seen in awhile, a Lamia, Green and gold and blue with iridescent crimson spots. I get the feeling that Lurine might be a celebrity on land, but in the water, she's more akin to royalty. And pretty scary when she wants to be. If Lurine has been around for so long, I think she’d have collected certain pieces of jewelry, especially if I’m right and she’s some type of royalty? This fits her.
Mikill- I don't know if he's going to get jewelry or a painting at some point. A frost giant!
ansuz- the 'f' rune. And a piece for Daisy. Even though it doesn’t mention something like this in the book, I could see Daisy enjoying something simple, but a little bit of shiny to make her day brighter.
*It just isn't urban fantasy without weresomethings I suppose.

Cast in Silence

I can't believe we're already in the fifth book. Wowza.

If you're just coming in to this series, welcome! Feel free to scroll to the bottom click through to any of the earlier posts. This post series on Fridays is me reading a book, reacting as I read it, and then designing jewelry around what I read. Feel free to suggest books for the future.
For those of you coming back to read again, hi there! I missed all of you :D

Let's dig into the book!

I love when a book starts with threats of violence ^^. " Had the cheerful and musical voice belonged to a person who could be easily strangled, it would have stopped in midsentence."

Marcus! :D

Of course Kaylin is out of money. She wouldn't be Kaylin if she wasn't. XD

I wonder how many people have to be included for it to be called a 'smallish' war... a few hundred? Any less and it would be a skirmish right?
Given this description of Margot, I want to meet this woman. Other than the fact that she's a charlatan, she sounds interesting. Tall, statuesque redhead, amber eyes, sinful voice, lots of people attracted to her. Yup, going to have to design something for this... There we go, it would accentuate her throat, and any cleavage the lady has. Kaylin would probably just see it as an easier method to strangle her.

So even Kaylin get's accused of the 'oh it's just that time of month'... I like her threats in reply though ^^.

Grethan! I don't know whether to be happy to see you or want to whack you on the head.  Oh, he's learned to speak more clearly, good. Or just dealing with Evanton for a few weeks and not having his hopes torn to shreds and told he did something positively idiotic helped. XD

Oh dear....wait. If the Barrani called it Ravellon... how did it become a rune. More importantly, how are the true names of different people written on Kaylin. Are they true names in the sense of sybological languages? Where each symbol is a word in and of itself, but could also possibly be used as a name? O.o Ugh.. some of these bits make my head hurt...

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the first time it's been mentioned that there are blades at both ends of Severn's chain weapon.

Morse?

What is  a fieflord doing sending people across the river to do business? O.o

Ohhh... Barren. This book is going to be interesting. we get to find out about that six months after Steffi and Jade and prior to her becoming a Hawk maybe? This is either going to be wonderful, or very, very scary. I'm not sure which.

Teela! <3 "You've managed to go drinking with officers and wreck half a tavern!"

This is why I love Teela & Tain. Wait. Are these two lovers or siblings? I can never tell given the way they act with each other. NOT a sibling then... Barrani are scary. Teela dislikes potatoes. =laughs= I love this!  Aw, they're concerned over this. Yay having friends. O.O She... went into Barren when she was BORED??? Holy. Moly.

Seriously Kaylin? How could you accuse Teela of not trusting you? Idiot girl. She might consider you young in comparison (which given that Teela seems to be 1000 years old or so might be something..) doesn't mean she doesn't trust you.

Ok, am I the only one who saw that coming? To some degree?

I love a) seeing Sanabalis, and b) being reminded that Tiamaris was NOT the best student, despite his attitudes now.

Etiquette lessons. If and when this finally happens, this is going to be very, very interesting.

Joey and Timar- First time we've learned about her coworkers! (other than the plot essential ones I mean.)

Severn, you are sneaky and smart as always.

Tiamaris in full uniform? Oh, we haven't seen that since the first book. Goodie ^^

The idea of a Dragon 'seated primly' is rather amusing to me.

Oh dear. Angry Marcus. Lift your chin and keep your eyes down Tiamaris.

I love that Nightshade has an enjoyment of flowers.

Oh. Apparently my understanding of this entire world, has been off. I always imagined the fiefs to lie to the east of the city, apparently they're to the north of it.    Interesting.  You know what? Screw it. We're making a map. Technically it's not a jewelry design, but y'all know me by this point, there's no telling what I could turn it into at some point.  Now, if memory serves, the seven fiefs are arranged in a sort of crescent, and Barren and Nightshade are the only ones that border the Abalayne.... This map might get updated with more knowledge as it becomes possible. ^^;

So.. What Nightshade is suggesting is that although both Barren and Liatt are mortal, Liatt has claimed her fief's version of the Castle, while Barren hasn't, and merely holds the fief by... cunning? Evilness? Some combination thereof? And that apparently the fiefs, the land itself resonates with the fieflord's name.

So... shadows and possibly ferals are getting worse, which is possibly the real reason that Barren wants Kaylin, and not actually that he's wanting to blackmail her? But since that's the only way he knows, it's what he's going with. This is my conjecture anyway.

Tiamaris' correction from High Halls to Barrani High Halls is interesting. Does that mean that there are Dragon High Halls?

I think Dragons have some sort of telepathy between themselves. There are too many instances when it would make sense.

I really need to create a sign or something that says "I am the Arkon.  Touch any of my stuff and you will die horribly."  ^^

"Sanabalis left her abruptly, but his departure wasn't the usual mystery; a Dragon roared, the palace shook, and when the tremors had died down, he was already out the door. Yeesh. I wonder if the Emperor stays permanently in Dragon form? And if so, how big is he? Is he a healthy Dragon, or fat from staying inside all the time and never flying. In fact, we haven't seen any less than fit Dragons, how odd... or Barrani.. or Leontines, definitely not Aerians, but that's a given. Only humans. interesting.

Oh, a lesson in magical theory. Fun stuff. Let's take the Mia version!

Multiple worlds exist

Each one has the potential for magic

Magic runs in lines. Lines can cross making either crosses or knots. (I'm guessing these are squiggly and messy.)

The Castles of the fiefs exist on these knots.

Magic where these lines cross (in either fashion) is more wild than it is when called elsewhere.

Wait. The Dragons know Kaylin took a name don't they? They know at least that she passed the test of the High Halls, but did she tell anyone other than Severn, Teela and the Consorts that she had one herself? Doesn't this mean she's in danger of changing if she goes in there?  Uh oh.

I don't know what she went through, I don't know if she'll live till the end of the book, but DAMN do I like Morse. This woman is harsh.

Six legs, way too many eyes and it TALKS? Eugh.

Go tiamaris! Kill it with fire!!

....did he? No.... ok, apparently I was wrong and he did.

So Morse is really the power in the fief, not Barren. But she doesn't want that mantle, so she hasn't killed him?

So... Aside from being a sick schmuck, Barren might just be slightly interesting.

What are they offering to bring her into? Simply knowledge, or something more? The Dragons built things? I wonder what they built, and if any of it still stands?

Wait.. They said they didn't build Ravellon. buuuuttt, what the Arkon is saying seems to contradict this.

Oh interesting, back to the High Halls. Will we see the Lord of the West March I wonder? And since we're seeing his ring, I"m guessing that's a yes.  Emeralds and ivory, and of course it's got magic on it. (Why am I not surprised. Blasted Barrani.) Wait a sec. How did he get a ring symbolizing the two of them that quickly??

O.O The Wolves.. seconded. Oh shoes.

Consort ^^ Back here again? Oh bother.  I was hoping we wouldn't have to deal with this room again, it makes me twitchy. 
Wait... so Nightshade didn't change because he went for a reason, not because he wanted power and or knowledge? So... is this a scenario of power corupts? Wait, no, it can't be. Because then all the Barrani would be corrupt. XD

There are Baranni fieflords who are not, or at least were not Outcaste? Interesting.

The pacing in this book is slower than the others. It's necessary, but it's still slower and there's a steep learning curve on it.

Okay... what in the seven just happened? A carriage that could make the Imperials look bad? In Barren? 

NIGHTSHADE??? O.O What in all the seven? This book has seriously derailed from what I thought was happening. No! Bad Nightshade! Do NOT attack them >:(

...so the mark works even in this place? Good. NO BLAST IT NIGHTSHADE!

Copacetic? XD

Ok. Either this is a) the past or b) this is one of those different worlds.
How long has Nightshade been in the fiefs that it was prior to the existence of the Empire? ... actually, how old is the Empire?

>< Even in this strange place he's amused by her and cautioning her.

What does a door look like if you add it as an afterthought?

You cannot have Kaylin >:l

I have to agree Kaylin, I too like Younger Nightshade.

Morse: All bark and, yeah, still plenty of bite.

A Tower that unravels the lies we tell ourselves... I would build a place like that, and let all the world go through it. Maybe we'd be a people more at peace then... and the people that died trying to face it, we'd be better off.

Magic is supposed to have logic? I'm pretty sure this whole book has been proving that magic has no logic. XD

Flight, Wind, Fire Breath, Stone, associative words. DUH Kaylin, they're words that describe Dragons.

Imagining a little Tiamaris is amazing. ><

I don't understand what is going on here at all D: This, just, uhg. Brain melting.

It's cool and climactic, and tension, but my brain just isn't gettting it today with this headache ><;;;

!!!!! Tiamaris you amazing, beautiful, crazy Dragon. What in the seven bleeding hells are you doing??? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Or just. GAH!

"There are shadows and invaders in my domain. There presence does not please me"  Only you.

Oh shoes. That is not going to be a good conversation... That's an understatement. This is going to be ugly.

Tara, with that one line, you have become several magnitudes more awesome.

Oh, new Dragons.

Sanabalis

Tiamaris

Diarmat

Emmerian

Emeperor

^ All known Dragons  to date

108 requests for promotion. Yeesh Kaylin.

Normal doors? Gasp!

The piece along the bottom is for Tara, I thought it might fit her role and personality, along with being a reminder of what she is.

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Cast in Shadow 1 & 2

Cast in Courtlight

Cast in Secret

Cast in Fury