Kaylin Neya is a Hawk, part of the elite force tasked with keeping the City of Elantra safe. Her past is dark, her magic uncontrolled and her allies unpredictable. And nothing has prepared her for what is coming, when the charlatans on Elani Street suddenly grow powerful, the Oracles are thrown into an uproar and the skies rain blood…. The powerful of Elantra believe that the mysterious markings on Kaylin's skin hold the answer, and they are not averse to using her—how ever they have to—in order to discover what it is. Something is coming, breaking through the barriers between the worlds. But is it a threat that Kaylin needs to defend her city against—or has she been chosen for another reason entirely?

New York Times bestselling author Michelle Sagara sweeps readers away to the fantastical city of Elantra, where magic and adventure ensure that the life of Private Kaylin Neya is never boring. CAST IN MOONLIGHT Barely a teenager, Kaylin Neya is a thief, a fugitive and an attempted assassin. She also has a smart mouth, sharp wits and mysterious markings on her skin. All of which make her perfect bait for a child prostitution sting in the city of Elantra—if she survives her first meeting with the Hawks! CAST IN SHADOW Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade. Since then, she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. But a dark and familiar case from her past reemerges, and Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers—powers that no other human has. CAST IN COURTLIGHT In Elantra, a job well done is rewarded with a more dangerous task. And so, after defeating a dark evil, Private Kaylin Neya is summoned to the Barrani High Court, where a misspoken word brings sure death. But the High Lord's heir is suspiciously ill, and Kaylin's healing magic is the only shot at saving him—if she manages to dodge the traps laid for her.

Book 4 in the Chronicles of Elantra fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Michelle Sagara When a minority race of telepaths is suspected of causing a near-devastating tidal wave, Private Kaylin Neya is summoned to Court—and into a PR nightmare. To ease racial tensions, the emperor has commissioned a play, and the playwright has his own ideas about who should be the focus… But Kaylin works her best magic behind the scenes, and though she tries to stay neutral, she is again drawn into a world of politics…and murder. To make matters worse, Marcus, her trusted sergeant, gets stripped of his command, leaving Kaylin vulnerable. Now she's juggling two troubling cases, and even magic's looking good by comparison. But then nobody ever said life in the theater was easy… Originally published in 2008

Book 3 in the Chronicles of Elantra fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Michelle Sagara Still avoiding her magic lessons—yet using her powers when need be—Private Kaylin Neya is relishing investigating a regular theft once again. That is, until she finds out the mysterious box was taken from Elani Street, where the mages and charlatans mingle and it's sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the two. Still, she hopes this might be a mundane case… Then in a back room, Kaylin sees a lost-looking girl in a reflective pool…who calls out for Kaylin's help. Shaken, Kaylin tries to stay focused on the case at hand. But since the stolen item is ancient, has no keyhole and holds tremendous darkness inside, Kaylin knows unknown forces are again playing with her destiny—and her life… Originally published in 2007

“Enjoyable, entertaining, engaging fantasy.” —Tor.com AT THE EMPEROR’S COMMAND 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. The Wolves of Elantra Book 1: The Emperor’s Wolves

Copyright page and covers taken from original BenBella Books trade paperback edition, 2005.

A sharp-tongued warrior uncovers treachery in the halls of Imperial court in this fantasy thriller sequel to Cast in Shadow. In Elantra, a job well done is rewarded with an even more dangerous task. And Kaylin, one of the city’s most fearsome patrol Hawks, has just defeated a dark evil in the slums of Nightshade. Now she must enter a new realm of deceit and treachery—a place where silk and jewels hide deadly secrets. . . . Kaylin must go before the Barrani High Court, where a misspoken word brings sure death. And she’s never been known for her grace or manners. But the High Lord’s heir is suspiciously ill and Kaylin’s healing magic is the only shot at saving him—if she manages to dodge the traps laid for her.