the Author
April
30
22 Comments

Cast in Blood is (already) live

Posted in Elantra, Publication.

Tuesday, the latest of the CAST novels was released into the wilds in print, audio and ebook. People who have preordered the book should have seen it pop up on their ebook reading platforms.

This is the nine­teenth CAST novel, the twenty-third Elantra novel. I’ve been writing these books since the early 2000s, and many of you have been reading them since then. Many of you may have already read the book that was released last Tuesday >.<.

I can’t believe that my world has become so over-focused on family that I completely missed what would other­wise be the most impor­tant event on Tuesday just past – which would be pub day for Cast in Blood.

It’s proof that life – bad and good – continues apace, whether we’re watching or not. This is defi­nitely the good variety. Thank you so much for contin­uing to be my readers.

 

22 Responses to Cast in Blood is (already) live

  1. nicki himmel says:
    April 30, 2026 at 6:44 am

    I look forward to your books coming out.
    Hope you’re son is doing better.

  2. ashley w says:
    April 30, 2026 at 7:37 am

    I’m making myself go slow with this one. Because it’s sooo good. Hope you and family are doing better! And thank you for the much needed escape into Elantra!!

  3. Patrick says:
    April 30, 2026 at 7:48 am

    Once again I’m beyond ecstatic to immerse myself in Elantra. This book was excel­lent and each book makes me look forward to the next one. I had the day off to thor­oughly engage in Michelle’s world building. Anyone who hasn’t read her books is missing out.

  4. Susan Whelan says:
    April 30, 2026 at 9:05 am

    I reread the series this past two weeks, both to refresh my brain in prepa­ra­tion and to help time to pass more quickly until the 28th. And now I’m broken­hearted. I’m finished. The new one is all read. It’s like the antic­i­pa­tion leading up to Christmas Day and the letdown when it’s over.
    Prob­ably the worst part is that kindle has no “next” book with a future publi­ca­tion date.
    Cast In Blood is another of your fantastic books to stash away to reread more slowly when I’m tired of the formu­laic nature of the rest of the genre. You are my favourite author.. My grand­daughter laughed when I told her my rank­ings had changed and your books were now ahead of Jordan’s Wheel of Time and the Lord of the Ring series. I consider myself some­what of an expert, because I read at least a book a day, up to three on occa­sion, so in my mind, my opinion has weight. lol
    My only crit­i­cism, and it’s minor, is that Kaylin’s char­acter didn’t progress and she still has little sense of self worth. And there were no reso­lu­tions! I’m old, my expiry date is in sight and I’m worried I’ll die before I know the ending. No pressure!
    Greet­ings and a deep. Bow from PEI.

  5. Estara Swanberg says:
    April 30, 2026 at 9:57 am

    Bookday! This weekend I hope­fully have time. My UK Kobo edition released on time, and everything.

  6. Elisa Crawford says:
    April 30, 2026 at 9:58 am

    I’m excited to read your latest entry in the Elantra series, but I’m even more eager to hear news of your family. I hope you’re all doing better and every­thing is looking brighter.
    My best wishes to you!

  7. Cherie Gardner says:
    April 30, 2026 at 10:40 am

    Still wishing you good luck with family issues and congrat­u­la­tions on new book.

  8. Bruce Cain says:
    April 30, 2026 at 10:52 am

    I had been wondering for a few books why we weren’t seeing anything of Severn’s aunt or erst­while guardian since the Wolves books, so i was delighted to see An Tellarus make a signif­i­cant appearance.

    Having read your comment that Cast in Blood came in “too long” and noting that it was only 300 pages, I am hoping that means a contin­u­a­tion of events in Cast in Blood might already in progress. 

    Hoping your son continues to recover and that your family is blessed with a long respite from some of the more trying events that life can throw in our way.

    I am amazed that you have been able to juggle writing in three different series in two worlds and continue to catch the balls as they drop, no matter how high you had to throw them.

    All the best!

  9. Candace Bird says:
    April 30, 2026 at 11:22 am

    I’ve been eagerly waiting for the latest Cast instal­ment and it did not disap­point. I can’t wait for the next one. I’ve been following the series for many years and buy them in audible and paper­back format each time (and I don’t do that for just any series). Do you know how many books there will be in total?

  10. Julia O'Donnell says:
    April 30, 2026 at 5:41 pm

    Hi, Michelle, I hope this message finds you well. Not sure if this is the best place for this since is a CAST post, but i was just wondering how many books The Burning Crown will be in total, if its is ok to ask, thanks.

  11. mackeyblog1 says:
    April 30, 2026 at 8:12 pm

    LOVED it (as always). Defi­nitely feels like a first part of an “arc” inside the main story­line (like the two about the West March) but I love the folding in of Severn’s story and Yvonne and An’Sennarin.

  12. Robin W Crabtree says:
    May 2, 2026 at 9:42 am

    Really really enjoyed the newest Cast book, am presently rereading. So many loose ends! Thanks for creating this world for us to enjoy.

  13. br60103 says:
    May 2, 2026 at 8:34 pm

    Mine arrived 2 weeks ago, with a slip in the back that said April 28.

  14. Becky T says:
    May 2, 2026 at 11:09 pm

    An excel­lent book!!! I really wish they would let you write the natural book. 800 pages or not… We would read it. The only part I hate about reading the new book is not imme­di­ately having the next book. This book ends so abruptly. Obvi­ously only the begin­ning of a completely new arc. It is so exciting. There. Was. Not. Enough. Night­shade. There, I said it. I know he threatens to over­whelm the narra­tive. He is such a compelling char­acter. You should excise that by writing as many books about him as you have written about Severn… heh. Ok, enough stan­ning. The best part about this series is the lack of stag­na­tion. So many other series that go for this long fall flat, get repet­i­tive. This one is only growing. Expanding. It is obvious that you have this whole world at your finger­tips and you have to care­fully prune out only what you need to say in the narrow focus of the story at hand. I wonder if with two spin-off series to the main one you can safely release a codex or ency­clo­pedia without giving too many spoilers. Maybe a project for the future.… Eagerly awaiting the next one!

  15. Lee says:
    May 2, 2026 at 11:37 pm

    I’m reading it right now and it’s such a treat! So glad it’s revis­iting issues from the start of the series and other story­lines! Words can’t express how much I love the books and char­ac­ters in this series and its offshoots 🫶

  16. seerickson98d9e1f103 says:
    May 5, 2026 at 1:49 pm

    I have ‑100 pages to go and another awesome entry. I love how it has inter­woven plot­lines from the Severn books. 

    I have ques­tions remaining about why neither Night­shade nor Kaylin (whose memory as a human is of course imper­fect) haven’t explained to Annarion that Kaylin met Night­shade in the past in Tara when he was still the young version that Annarion remem­bered and he recog­nized from what Kaylin said and the shock of seeing his Erenne mark on her cheek that she could be crucial in his quest to rescue his brother and the cohort, that he also feared changing anything that would mean changing the time­line that Kaylin came from and that was the essen­tial reason he gave her the mark. He obvi­ously never used it to attempt to over­power her will. I under­stand the drama of the conflict between the two brothers but the lack of this clar­i­fi­ca­tion has me pulling my hair out;

  17. Mary Allen says:
    May 6, 2026 at 3:08 pm

    I was pleased to see An“Tellarus again. We left the Consort still in trouble so I imagine the next book will be about that. I really want more of your books but realize life and every­thing else must take prece­dence. I continue to pray for your son’s full recovery. I also hope every­thing else in your life is going better.

  18. Jb says:
    May 6, 2026 at 11:06 pm

    I just finished reading Cast in Blood. Couldn’t put in down. It was every­thing I could hope for. It explained so much. Wanted more. Thank you so much for another excel­lent book. Thank you for writing it. I know it had to be hard trying to find the time in between writing and taking care of your family. You are amazing and so is your family. Praying for your son and family

  19. Therese says:
    May 7, 2026 at 12:55 am

    I loved the new book! I will defi­nitely be re-reading it. So many parts made me laugh or smile. I’m not one to flag pages of a book but this one I’m tempted to so that I can more easily find them later.

    I must be in the minority in that I’m not a fan of Night­shade in general, so I’m not sad that he didn’t get more active time in the story. I do appre­ciate that his rela­tion­ship with his brother is improving, though.

    I also like that Kaylin is seeing a different side of Severn and curious to see where this goes in the next book. It’s nice to see their friend­ship devel­oping and hope there’s more to come.

    I love this series so much and am so grateful that you wrote it! My favorite tele­vi­sion shows are always cancelled after one or two seasons, so I’m always afraid that the next Cast book is the last one. Thank your for still writing!

  20. susanwhelan2002Susan says:
    May 7, 2026 at 7:28 am

    Then we’re a minority of 2, Therese, because he has no redeeming qual­i­ties in my mind. His feel­ings for Annarion are even suspect; is it love or is it the same posses­sion he feels for Kaylin? Every time he’s alone with Kaylin, I hold my breath until she leaves rela­tively untouched.
    Defi­nitely a tribute to the talent of Ms Sagara that we can feel that way about a fictional character.

  21. Therese says:
    May 7, 2026 at 7:53 pm

    I agree, defi­nitely an amazing talent. Night­shade’s personal inter­ac­tions with Kaylin always make me so uncomfortable!

  22. literatiliteraturelovers says:
    May 16, 2026 at 2:53 pm

    Bril­liant book. I love all your writing, your world building, the char­ac­ters, the poli­tics, all are so so well crafted, As a reader I know Severn is in love with Kaylin, and willing to wait. Welp, I need more Severn in any form, as he is always the rock for Kaylin. Severn books were brilliant.

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