I loved the original series and I love this addendum to the series just as much. It’s fascinating to get to know more backstory about the characters it really fleshes out the universe and makes me want to re-read all the previous books.
I would highly recommend this book to readers new and old.

Sword and Shadow is the second installment in author Michelle Sagara's Wolves of Elantra series. This is prequel to the authors Chronicles of Elantra series. As an orphan scrounging in the lawless slums of Nightshade, young Severn Handred didn't have the luxury of believing in anything beyond his own survival. He met a young girl named Elliane (later she'll become Kaylin Neya) and her mother who became family but ended up betraying her after vowing to protect her.

When Severn was spotted tailing some lawmen of the Hawks--a not insignificant feat to go otherwise undetected--the recruiter for the Imperial Wolves thinks he should join their ranks. The Wolves are a small, select group that work within the Halls of Law, reporting directly to the Eternal Emperor. They are what you would call assassins. If the Emperor wants someone dead, he sends the Wolves. Severn hopes to avoid the law--he certainly had no intention of joining it.

Fast forward almost a year, in exchange for information about his past and his parents, Severn Handred joins a Barrani lord (An'Tellarus) as well as his overseer Elluvian on a mission to the West March—an enclave well outside the boundaries of the Empire. Granted a leave of absence from the Wolves by his boss Helmut, Severn is in danger the moment he steps outside the reach of Imperial law. But the instincts that led him to the Wolves and the sense of duty that keeps him there can’t be discarded as easily as the tabard he wears.

In the heart of the West March, enmeshed in a tangled web of secrets that have been kept for centuries, Severn's belief in justice is going to be tested. When it seems that the Green of the West March wants something from Severn, he has to play it out. He's wanted to not ever offend the Green. Severn also made a promise to the man who saved him from certain death, that he would try to solve the mystery of whether a woman is still alive, or she's dead, or caught up in even more danger.

Readers who like their fantasy full-to-the-brim of political shenanigans and endless power struggles will adore this world and the deftness with which its story has been woven. The more you learn about Severn's past, the more fascinating of a character he becomes. He is a boy who grew up without a past into a young man with deep regrets. Even though he had a Barrani Master training him on the needs for the future, he deeply regrets how his actions have impacted Elliane. This book also solves the mystery of where he received his Barrani weapon and how he was able to keep it.

As I remind you fine folks who read my reviews, it really does matter when you have pen and paper next to you so you can keep track of the characters, events, and places where the events happen. With almost every Epic Fantasy, there are a TON of characters and Severin is forced to learn the dynamics of all the Barrani families and key characters so that he doesn't say or do the wrong thing. The novel is very slow for the first two thirds. Lots of explanation and history, and little action.

We learn so much more about Severn! This is another awesome book about his time with the Wolves. My personal theory about Severn’s surname Handred was totally blown out of the water.

Sword and Shadow Book 2 Wolves of Elantra series by Michelle Sagara

I'm a huge fan of all the Elantra books, but I thoroughly enjoy learning more about Severn. He's always been such a mystery in the other series. While I do not enjoy the repetition of some items from book to book, I will continue to read all of the adventures of Severn and Kaylin as long as the author writes them.

Loved it! We are back with Severn in another installment in his parallel series from Michelle Sagara. It has been great to see what the long-suffering Severn was up to while Kaylin grew up with the Hawks. I loved seeing more Barani, traveling to the West March for the first time, as well as getting a shocking look into Severn's parentage.

Review is posted!
Can't wait for the next one!

Another amazing book in this series. Once again, the author has provided and interesting and complex plot involving the past of Severn Handred. When Severn is offered to find some information concerning his parentage, he is unable to resist. He knows that the trip to obtaining this information in the West March will put him in danger, but it is too important to him to not take the chance. The number of questions that I, as a reader, had answered in this story is incredible, especially since I hadn't even asked many of them. This is another strong entry into an already strong series and a very satisfying read.

When I read the first book in the series, I didn't know this was a prequel to a longer series. Thanks to that, I started reading The Chronicles of Elantra, and now I have more opinions.

Severn is a fascinating character, and I didn't expect to see much of his past. This book did explain why Severn and his weapon always seemed unique for a non-magical human.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I did because I don't like the Barrani, and when the parent series went to West March, it was very weak. However, Sword and Shadow's pace doesn't make the West March or the trek a drag.

Because I feel like I have to state this: I don't ship Severn and Kaylin. Reading The Emporer's Wolves always made it seem like he has a big brother relationship with her. I don't want Kaylin to end up with anyone.

Curiouser and curiouser!

How can you not be inspired by Severn Handred’s story? His challenges and choices inspire as he journeys to the West Marshes, and on into the heart of the Green, I am reminded even more of Kaylin Nyla’s journey through the Green. I wonder how far in the past to that time this is set, and if the now experience will meld with that one.
Severn and Kaylin still have to come face to face in this series. Intriguing!
As I said before about Severn (GRds) when looking at the first in this series, The Emperor’s Wolves, “I love the quiet energy that emenates from Severn Handred. [The Wolves tales—the Emperor’s assassins] fill in the behind the-scene gaps of the early Elantra stories. I’ve always admired and wondered about Severn. He is a gift that reveals so much, as the past, present and future are intwined. Severn’s story rounds out and strengthens the Elantra series and Private Kaylin Neya.”
Severn as a Shadow Wolf—his composure is amazing. And he will need every inch of that control in the West Marshes. Barranari Lord, An’Tellarus wishes Severn to accompany her to the Marshes. As always she keeps close council and has many balls juggling in the air at once. What we know is An’Tellarus marches to the beat of her own drum. Elluvian, the Barrani Wolf who reports directly to the Dragon Emperor must go for his own reasons. Elluvian does not trust An’Tellarus. For Severn this journey is very personal. Once again we are confirmed that honor and integrity are key elements of Severn’s personality.
I relish the insight we are given about this society where the Barranari lead almost ageless lives. That longevity has spawned a society of beings who have old memories, seemingly immortal and yet not. Their contrast with short lived humans is startling. Their children are seen as either pawns or rising adversaries. But for humans it’s different. As one human explains to Severn, “children are important to so many of us: they’re the only form of immortality we have. They’re a part of ourselves that we can leave for the future. If we can’t become people of renown, if our name itself doesn’t become significant in history, it’s our sons and daughters that remain.”
Some questions about the Barrani and the other races are answered, even as new questions arise. Questions about the importance of the West Marches and the Shadow are highlighted.
This particular title, Sword and Shadow, off shoot of the Elantra texts,The Wolves of Elantra, has it all—adventure, mystery, sensitivity and danger.
Like Alice I’m wondering where to next. Which hole (or vortex) am I going to disappear down, who will I meet, and what happens when I get there? I can hardly wait!

A Harlequin Trade ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Michelle Sagara continues her parallel fantasy of Elantra that explains the history of Severn Handred, one of the dragon Emperor's wolves, in Sword and Shadow. The Chronicles of Elantra contain the story of Eliane,Kaylin Neya, a member of the dragon emperor's hawks who keep the peace in Elantra. and childhood friend of Severn
Both Severn and Kaylin have come far from their childhood in the predatory fiefs that lie outside the dragon empire. Severn has vowed to help a Barani he owes a great debt so he travels to the West March and becomes enmeshed in its politics and magic. Read this highly anticipated and enjoyable fantasy.

Title: Sword and Shadow
Author: Michelle Sagara
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5

In exchange for information about his past, Severn Handred joins a Barrani lord on a mission to the West March—an enclave well outside the boundaries of the Empire. Granted a leave of absence from the Wolves, Severn is in danger the moment he steps outside the reach of Imperial law. But the instincts that led him to the Wolves and the sense of duty that keeps him there can’t be discarded as easily as the tabard he wears.

In the heart of the West March, enmeshed in a tangled web of secrets that have been kept for centuries, Severn's belief in justice is going to be tested. There are murders to solve, people to protect, and truths to uncover. It's one mortal man and his single Barrani friend against a community of immortals who will die and kill to keep their secrets. But they’re up against the Wolves now.

I do love Michelle Sagara’s The Chronicles of Elantra series, and I think this spinoff series is fantastic as well. Severn is one of my favorite characters in the original series, and it’s lovely to get to know him better here. I love the verbal back-and-forth in these books, and the characters are such strong presences that I feel like I’m there with them. Detailed worldbuilding, nuanced plot, and plenty of action makes these books a must-read.

Michelle Sagara is a bestselling author. Sword and Shadow is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/21).

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of SWORD AND SHADOW (Book 2 of the Wolves of Elantra), by Michelle Sagara, in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book of Severn Handred’s story prior to his reunion with Kaylin Neya in the first book in the Chronicles of Elantra. When a Barani lord offers Severn answers about his past in exchange for Severn accompanying her to the West March, Severn takes a leave of absence from the Wolves. In addition to answers about his past, Severn intends to gain answers for another friend. This trip will reveal Severn’s origin and how he ended up with his signature weapon.

The Chronicles of Elantra is one of my favorite fantasy series. The Wolves of Elantra series is designed to tell Severn’s story, clear up some of the mystery about his background, and give the reader a deeper connection to the often stoic and silent Severn.

#SwordandShadow #NetGalley

Sword and Shadow, is the second book in the Wolves of Elantra series, the prequel/companion series to the Chronicles of Elantra books. Michelle Sagara has fleshed out both the background of one of her most interesting secondary characters, Severn Handred. And expanded the details of Barrani society. Which makes this a fascinating quest fantasy if you’re already a reader of the series but a very bad entry point if you’re new to it.

Severn is fascinating in the earlier books because he’s quiet and mysterious. I was afraid that learning about his past would remove that fascination. I was wrong. His past is even more intriguing and the more the author shares, the more I want to know!

This entry is a quiet book with a lot of discussion about events current and historical. Relationships are complicated and their set in what I think is the most complex of the nonhuman Elantran societies - the Barrani who are immortal, magical, secretive, and prone to killing people who speak out of turn.

I enjoyed the deeper look at the events that shaped Severn into the quiet, protective, justice-minded Corporal in the Chronicles of Elantra books.

Sword and Shadow by Michelle Sagara, I was ecstatic to get this ARC and it didn't fail me. A continuation of Severns' story and experience leading up to the other books that sheds light into several key areas. If you are a fan of Sagara's work DON'T miss out on these!