I was unable to follow all of the characters' names and plotlines. It felt like I was missing parts of the story. I found out that this was a spinoff of another series and felt like I would need to read the other series to know what was going on here.

Severn Handred has joined and is trying to survive training in the Emperor's Wolves. The emperor of Elantra is a dragon but his wolves are humans and Barrani, spies and assassins who remove the enemies of the empire, the worst of the worst. Can Severn survive his training? Great paranormal read.

This first book in a new Elantra series is something you need to read! This book starts off Severin near the time the time Kaylin starts her journey in the "Cast in" books and is just as good as that original series. Some questions get answered and a whole new set of questions are established.

The base story is about Severin investigating a decades old series of murders in the Tha'alaani quarter. The mystery brings him into contact with many of the supporting characters from Kaylin's stories but also brings a rich vibrancy to new characters. More than that will spoil the story.

I hadn't read the Chronicles, so I felt that I didn't really get the nuances so the review would be short until I could go back to read the earlier books and re-read this one.

Set in the times of the chronicles, It told the story from Severn's POV where he had to face the mind readers to become a wolf. I loved the writing which could immerse me deep into the story. I was eager to get my hands on the earlier books.

Hoping to read more of this author in the coming year.

Michelle Sagara is such a wonderful timeless author. Her writing style just flows so effortlessly and is deceptively simple. I was nervous to read this prequel, because I love the Elantra series so much. However I also love Severn...and he is such a mystery. Unfortunately, this book raised more questions than it answered about him, but it is bearable with consideration to the additional books of Severn to come. I was pleasantly surprised to learn more about the Tha'alani, since I thought we received so much already through Kaylin's perspective (chronicles). The one negative, is that it dragged along in several sections and unless the reader was a dedicated fan, they could easily loose interest.

I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

This is a spin-off series from Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra Series. It follows Severn's first case with the Wolves, a special investigative unit separate from other everyday types of law enforcement.

Find out what happened to Severn in the years he is separate from Kaylin. The book has a slightly different feel from the original series. I like it and will definitely look for the next.

Can't wait for the next book!

Since my first visit to the fantastical world of Elantra I've been hooked. There are so many diverse and engaging characters that help or hinder Kaylin in her adventures but none so much as Severn and I was overjoyed to get to see how he became the man he is. This adds so much rich backstory to an already amazing series and I cannot wait for my next visit with these wonderful characters.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am doing this review voluntarily.


This is a very interesting book. The case a new Wolf is given takes almost the entire book to be solved. This book focuses on only 3 of the different races, and leaves more mysteries left to be examined and solved. I personally can relate to some of the behaviors of the new Wolf. There is still a very tangled weave to unravelled and understand.

Alright, so this is mildly embarrassing. The Emperor’s Wolves is the start of a spin-off series by Michelle Sagara. It follows some of the side characters from her sixteen book Chronicles of Elantra series. I did not know this when I picked up The Emperor’s Wolves and somehow didn’t figure it out until I had completely finished the book. Thus, I will be reviewing Wolves as a stand-alone independent novel, but please know that it is part of a much larger world. I have no familiarity with the original Chronicles of Elantra series, but now that I have finished Wolves I am tempted to pick it up.

Wolves has a strong premise that leapt off its back cover and drew me in right away. The book takes place in a magical empire ruled by a dragon emperor. In order to keep the peace between the myriad of magical races that live in his domain, the emperor has a number of specialized forces that handle unpleasant business that crops up from time to time. One of these groups is The Wolves, a band of legally mandated pseudo-assassins that are deployed to bring in, or cut down, dangerous beings who believe they are above the empire’s law. It’s a dangerous job with little upside and a horrible recruitment process – but someone has to do it.

The book is an extremely character-focused story about a young Severn Handred, newest recruit of the Emperor’s Wolves. The story follows his progression from promising street rogue, to the interview process to become a Wolf, and finally to his first case. The story is centered around Severn, and in hindsight is clearly an origin story, but it is mostly told from the perspective of the other veteran Wolves around Severn as they comment and judge his behavior and first days as a Wolf. By moving the focus to outsiders observing Severn, instead of hearing his internal thoughts, two effects are achieved. First, Severn is written to be a quiet and private character, and this narrative style does a fantastic job of reinforcing that. It allows Sagara to have a character who doesn’t like to talk, likes to listen, but still has consistent and meaningful agency to the story. It’s really nice as we don’t often get quiet and thoughtful leads in fantasy, and it made Severn stand out in the larger genre landscape. The second effect this narrative style has on Severn is that it makes him seem really cool/clever/awesome really quickly and very naturally. By never having Severn state his own greatness, and having most of the positive reinforcement come from external characters around him, he organically starts to seem brilliant and mysterious. I was a big fan of the effect.

Something you need to understand about The Emperor’s Wolves is that it is a book about nothing. The entire plot of the book revolves around Severn just walking around and talking to people. While there is a ton of character growth, fantastic worldbuilding, and fun themes around the human condition – nothing really happens. The cast doesn’t do anything other than chat – and that’s fine. I still really enjoy the book and had a blast exploring the world. However, I know that there are some readers who will feel that this story doesn’t have enough meat on its bones and will be bored by its character-focused narrative. The one place I struggled with Wolves is that it has the occasional tendency to be a little too self-absorbed to keep me immersed in the story. I suspect this will be less of an issue for those coming from the original core series, but there were times in the story where the book failed to sell me on the gravity of events and I was momentarily pulled out of the book and it felt over the top. But, these moments were few and far between, and in general, the book was very engaging.

The Emperor’s Wolves is a very enjoyable book on its own, and I suspect that fans of the original Chronicles of Elantra series will love it even more. Severn is an interesting character to focus a narrative around, and the world of Elantra is fun to explore with its variety of original magical races and creatures. The dialogue is fun and snappy, the characters experience meaningful growth over the course of the book, and I had a good time. Although I have no idea what the greater series has in store, I still recommend The Emperor’s Wolves.

Rating: The Emperor’s Wolves – 8.0/10

This book was not for me. I can appreciate its appeal to those who have loved the entire series of 15-ish books. But here’s the thing, I’ve only read one other, and it shouldn’t have been the recommended standalone choice. So, the characters and world and plot don’t have the immediate draw or enjoyment for me. That’s on me and the way this was introduced to me, not the book itself. I believe that all the readers who have loved this series will truly enjoy this book as well. For me, fantasy books that are series books, need to be read in order for the full experience.
#TheEmpororsWolves #Netgalley #Harlequin #MIRA

I think this book just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into the story. I know a lot of people loved this book but I just couldn't get past a few chapters.

The Emperor's Wolves by Michelle Sagara, if you are a fan of her Cast series, you will love this look into how Severn got his start. I highly recommend it if you like Sagara!

I am a fan of the Elantra series and have really enjoyed the character Severn. I love the fact that The Emperor's Wolves delves into his background as well as giving the reader more history about the Wolves. I can't speak to this book as someone who hasn't read at least a book or more of the other series, but I believe that having read those books really helped with this book. The pacing, like her other books, can run a bit slow at times. I look at her books as a journey and for that reason, the pacing always works. Overall, I am so glad I learned more about Severn and the Wolves. I look forward to more installments of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Emperor's Wolves.

this was a great start to a series, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the time period used. I look forward to more from the author.

This is a solid 4-star read, and it makes me realize that I need to go and read the whole CHRONICLES OF ELANTRA series right now! If you saw my post yesterday, you know I recently read the very last book in the series, but I have to admit that I have not yet read the rest. But that is going to have to happen now. Especially because I get the feeling I missed a lot by not having read the other series first. So if you are reading this, and you are intrigued but haven’t read anything in the world of Elantra yet, might I recommend going and starting with the first in the CHRONICLES OF ELANTRA series, CAST IN SHADOW?

Even though I am sure I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the whole other series first, I have to say, I still thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this story. Sagara has a very straightforward and precise writing style, which makes it easy to devour the pages and follow what is happening. I tend to prefer a more lyrical style, but this straightforward prose does work for the action-packed plot and to keep us from getting bogged down in weighty world-building descriptions. In general, I thought the world was well built and I was able to totally immerse myself in it. I would say that I felt a few more details about how exactly the magic works would have been helpful, for those of us who have not yet read the other series. That is really my only gripe about this book. I absolutely loved reading how Severn became a Wolf, and I can’t wait to read more in this world! Check it out if you like epic fantasy that isn’t overly flowery and where the plot/action is the most important part.

I'm rather new to the world of Chronicles of Elantra, so I went into this spin-off knowing very little. I was intrigued from the book I read by Severn, and about his past as a Wolf, so I was actually very happy to not know a lot about the world, or what happens in the future of the original series. Not knowing allowed me to be very open to discover the past, and it was a very interesting journey. Let me tell you all about it.

First I want to start by apologizing. I was supposed to post this review yesterday, but unfortunately life got in the way and I wasn't able to do it. With that, let's get started for real this time.

I was so intrigued by Severn while reading Cast In Secret. I loved the connection that he had with Kaylin, and I loved his extensive knowledge of the various cultures of the people who lived in Elantra. But, for the most part of that book, he felt like a mystery. So when I saw that The Emperor's Wolves opens a spin off series about him, I was very intrigued. Going in, I truly expected to get the footnotes version of his childhood. I didn't expect to get such a detailed story, and you know me and long series and how much I love them, so this was such a great story for me.

What I enjoyed a lot about this story, as with Cast In Secret, I enjoyed the flow of the story. I was constantly surprised by the turns the story took, the fact that there never seems to be just one thing happening. Also, contrary to what I initially believed, we get a lot more points of view in this book than I anticipated. It was interesting to see Severn from Ybelline's perspective, or Elluvian, even Helmat. 

The interest that Elluvian and Helmat had in Severn was very interesting to me and I wanted to find out what they saw in him. The more I got to uncover Severn's character, the more I understood that he truly was special. I'm certain that for readers familiar with the Chronicles of Elantra, this will be even more evident, and that they'll catch certain details that I have not.

As I said, I only read one book in the original series, but that didn't make me not enjoy the book. On the contrary, sometimes I find it very freeing to read the start of a spinoff when I don't know the original world. I got to discover the world before the one that Kaylin lives in, and I very much enjoyed it. 

Honestly, reading this book has made me even more curious about this world. I'll definitely be reading the original series, because I am very curious, and I cannot wait for the next story in this series. So if you enjoy high fantasy, this book is for you!

I have not reviewed many of the Chronicles of Elantra novels but I enjoyed the ones I have. In The Emperor's Wolves, we finally get to hear about Severn's story and get to know him better. The Emperor's Wolves is book #0.1, and, as with the Harry Potter series, I enjoyed the fact that there was "book 0" addition to the Cast In series.

The book also starts off another series called The Wolves of Elantra which I am looking forward to.

Michelle Sagara continues to shine in this novel and I quickly got into it and now feel I know Severn better. I enjoyed going on his personal journey with him through the pages of this novel.

I am looking forward to the rest of Michelle Sagara's novels and hope that one day I can review both this series and the rest of the Chronicles of Elantra series.

Thanks to Michelle Sagara and Harlequin for this great opportunity to take part in the series reread for Cast in Ruin as well as the group review for The Emperor's Wolves.

5 stars for The Emperor's Wolves.

Title: The Emperor’s Wolves
Author: Michelle Sagara
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5

As an orphan scrounging in the lawless slums, young Severn Handred didn’t have the luxury of believing in anything beyond his own survival. Now he’s crossed the river and entered the heart of the empire: the city of Elantra. When Severn is 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. Severn hopes to avoid the law—he certainly had no intention of joining it.

In order to become a wolf—even on probation—Severn must face the investigators most dreaded throughout the Empire: The Tha’alani, readers of minds. No secret is safe from their prying, no knowledge can remain buried. But Severn’s secret, never shared before, is not enough to prevent the Wolves from adopting him as one of their own. All men have secrets, after all. Severn’s first job will be joining a hunt, but between the treacherous politics of the High Court, the almost unnatural interest of one of the Lords, and those who wish long-held secrets to remain buried forever, the trick will be surviving it.

I’ll start off by saying that I’m a huge fan of Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra series—and Severn is one of my favorite characters. Reading this novel made me want to re-read that entire series…except I don’t have time right now. I love the voice in that series so much—and Kaylin is such a great character and finds herself in so many situations that keep my attention riveted.

Fittingly, the voice in this prequel spin-off isn’t the same. There are still hints of snark, but, as we’re following Severn, there’s not the same rushing-headlong-into-trouble-and-other-people’s-business plot going on here. Fantastic writing, setting, and characterization as the other series, but the action in this is more thought-out—whereas Kaylin rushes into everything, Severn actually thinks things through before acting.

I really loved seeing things from his eyes and learning more about his past and Kaylin’s. I can’t wait to read more in this spin-off series!

Michelle Sagara is an author, book¬seller, and lover of liter¬ature based in Toronto.

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

(Review live on 10/16.)

The Emperor's Wolves, by Michelle Sagara, is the first novel in the Wolves of Elantra series. However, fans of Sagara will certainly recognize the world and characters within. This series is a direct spin-off of the Chronicles of Elantra series, and focuses on one of my favorite characters of all time.

Severn Handred grew up in the fiefs. He proved his willingness to do anything and everything to protect somebody he loved. Now, he's trying to find a path through life, while carrying the guilt of his actions.

His skills, determination, and personality make him a strong candidate for the Wolves. They, like the Hawks, are an organization that upholds the law in Elantra. However, they are considered to be a darker branch, and are frequently (and not entirely incorrectly) considered to be the assassins for the Emperor.

It doesn't take long before Severn, a probationary Wolf, finds himself in a case that should quickly have gone over his head. However, Severn has always been a quiet and confident character, and this tale shows how he grew into the character we all know him as.

“To live as a Wolf, you must be true to the principles you have chosen to uphold. Those principles cannot be rocked or shaken by anger, by grief; they cannot be ignored when convenient. The act you commit, you commit for a reason, and that certainty is what hold you above the abyss.”

First, I just have to tell you this; when I learned that Michelle Sagara was writing a novel about Severn, I just about lost my mind. He's my favorite character, not just of the series, but arguably in general. So getting a novel (and now, what appears to be a series) heavily focused on him is basically a dream come true.

To say that I had high expectations going into The Emperor's Wolves would be a massive understatement. And yet, this novel blew all of those hopes, expectations, and dreams out of the water. It was an exciting read, portraying the backstory of a beloved and frequently understated character.

I feel like this is the journey many of us fans have been waiting to hear. We know so much about Kaylin and her past (obviously), and thus the past of her allies. Except for Severn. His backstory only ever came up in context of Kaylin, and thus ended when they two weren't near each other.

This novel begins to fill in those gaps. Honestly, I had expected the novel to cover the entire time period that they were separated. It does not – it is very much the beginning of a new series, and Sagara isn't afraid to provide the same level of detail to Severn's series.

A fact that I adored. Give me another novel, another ten novels, surrounding Severn, and I guarantee you that I will read every single one of them. I'm not sure what I loved more about this novel – the chance to learn more about his history, his personality, or how he became so confident as a wolf.

“If I don't know the laws, I won't know when I'm breaking them.”
“Use common sense.”
“I grew up in the fiefs.”

I should mention that The Emperor's Wolves surprised me on more than one occasion. It's a good surprise, don't worry. I wasn't expecting to recognize so many characters that made appearances in this story. That alone made it clear how well Severn had integrated himself into this new life, all while avoiding being spotted by Kaylin.

Another surprising element? Severn isn't the only perspective provided in this novel. I suppose that shouldn't be as surprising, since it is about the Wolves, and as such, any number of those characters could easily steal the focus.

All things considered, I adored The Emperor's Wolves and the insight it provided. I cannot wait to see what adventure Severn and his new allies get into next. Likewise, I'm still looking forward to seeing what is happening in the present, with Kaylin and everyone else. However, Cast in Conflict isn't due out until 2021, which leaves plenty of time to reread The Emperor's Wolves!

Although this is the first in a new series: the Wolves of Elantra, it continues with the story of Severn, who already starred in the Elantra Series. So, for someone who hasn't read al the series, it is difficult to understand al the characters in the story.
For the Re-read Blogtour I had already read >Cast in Honor<, but still the story of Severn was hard to follow for me. As the series get a very high score, I would recommend that you read the total series and become a Cast junkie. If you randomly read some parts, I think the story is too confusing to really get into the story.
Where the serie of Elantra focuses on Kaylin, this new series gets told from Severn's POV. So you get more insight into the mysterious background of Severn (since he is very private in the other series).
The story revolves around a mysterious murder. During the story, the clues unfold and give you an insight in the background. In all, an interesting read. I probably would have given more than three out of five stars, if I had read the total series.