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The Emperor's Wolves
Michelle Sagara
Wolves of Elantra, book one
Audiobook, 17+ hours
First published October 13, 2020
ISBN 9781488056482
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 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.
Severn Handred was the first morally grey character I was ever drawn to. The first (and only?) character I ever fancasted. The one character that, with newly acquired book in hand, I would flip through the pages in haste to find any and all occurrences where “Severn” appeared.
So imagine my excitement when I learned that the Severn Handred was the center of Sagara’s newest (and I use that world loosely) installment in the world of Elantra—The Emperor’s Wolves.
I was obsessed with this character. This man who would slaughter two children to save his… hell, what was Elianne to him? His ward? His best friend? His family? His only would be confidant? His only anything?
When the deed was done and Elianne had fled, Severn finds himself being recruited by the Wolves. I expected an initiation. I expected training. I expected Severn’s story to finally be told.
But this wasn’t that. Not really.
I don’t know what this was.
Some of it was there… Once I dragged myself past seventy percent of the book.
And then came the audacity of this revelation:
I distinctly remember the scene where Elianne and Severn are reunited. It’s been twenty damn years since I’ve read that book but I still recall Severn saying he didn’t recognize her new name. But he did! He knew her name! He’d known it for years. Severn lied.
That sum of a bitch lied.
I didn't love it. I don't hate it. I'm just sitting here being the fool I am for having expectations because I have never been so disappointed.
3 out of 5 stars.