All caught up with the Cassie Palmer books by Karen Chance
I have to start off by saying that the biggest plus to this is how well the book matches my blog background, haha.
Just forewarning that I do have a bit of a rant ahead in general, and it contains some spoilers.
I was considering writing more, but I realized this would either be super long or fairly short, so I’m taking the shorter route. After much lauding I finally got around to the Cassie Palmer Saga. I expected a lot of action and supposedly a ton of love interests that would leave me not knowing which team I shipped. That’s not really my thing but I gave it a try anyway…and this series only affirms why is isn’t. The series kicks off with a ton of options, but by the 5th book there’s really only two as one was swept under the rug. The first one gets a little side story that I’m in the middle of reading now (though it feels like such an afterthought since I know the character literally goes nowhere) after he’s just used as a plot device to take Cassie’s virtue.
As for the other two, they are at least interesting as characters in their own right, but I really have a hard time even beginning to talk about their complications with Cassie. You have Pritkin (the overwhelming fan favorite), who starts out trying to kill her, yet they end up in a partnership and grow close over the course of the series. Then there’s Mircea, super mysterious vampire, Dracula’s big bro, Senate member, and super sexy to boot who is Cassie’s current boyfriend, though it’s hard to tell most times. The only real reason for their attraction initially was because of a spell. With that done, why still go there with Pritkin obviously poised to be end game? Mircea’s busy trying to lock her away, never telling her anything and then Pritkin’s always around for the action. To me it just doesn’t feel like a real contest, so I was really irritated to hear the “L” word (for “love” not “lesbian”~_^) thrown around for Cassie and Mircea and then you have the kind of ending for this book where it’s very obvious she loves Pritkin and vice-versa. Her issues with Mircea are dragged out and out and out to where it now just seems stupid. I just don’t really see the point of them being together. I feel like it’s been books since Cassie can’t figure out who a special brunette girl is that Mircea keeps photos of. Of course, if you’re not Cassie you know it’s Dorina, Mircea’s daughter (only because she’s the focal character in the spin-off series). And actually as I think about it, it’s been 3 years, 3 Cassie Palmer books, and 2 Dorina books. What gives?
So after 5 books, I officially declare that I am not “Team Pritkin” or “Team Mircea”. Cassie ruins both for me. I’m not sure if others aren’t quite bothered because as far as Pritkin’s concerned, it’s a matter of “when” they get together, not “if,” so pretty much anything Karen Chance throws in there in the meantime means nothing. But that just doesn’t jive with me. I don’t support either ship enough to validate essentially making Cassie…kind of a hoe. Not really sure what else you can call it. Cassie doesn’t really think on it much herself, be it before or after which is even more stupid.
I’m also not a huge fan of the pace. It’s super fast and a lot of the action is really difficult to get into. I have taken a liking to her body guard, Marco. Sometimes you just feel bad for the guy since he’s pretty much responsible for Cassie and she’s always off nearly getting herself killed. No, she can’t sit tight and look pretty, but there’s got to be a middle ground. Neither side is wrong per se.
I was strongly considering the Dorina Basarab series, but I hear that it’s just as fast-paced and on-the-go as Cassie Palmer. A better lead female (at least for me because I’m not a Cassie fan at all) and no stupid “triangle” would be a plus, but the pacing usually exhausts me and I just READ the stuff so I’m not sure if I want to get to that right away. There are a number of other series in the TBR pile that I’m more excited to get around to in the meantime.
Not sure if I will keep up with this series or not. I may read a couple of spoilers first. I would wait until couple of books are out, but I suspect that too much Cassie at once is more irritating than one every year, so I’m at a loss… We’ll just see how I feel in 2012. I mostly want to see what happens to Pritkin (as a character, not a love interest though I predict she’ll end up with him), but since Book 6 won’t be the final book I can expect the same song and dance, dragging it all out.
Black Dagger Brotherhood 1 - Dark Lover - Better Late Than Never!
Soooo, I finally decided to dive into the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. With so many people faving it I couldn’t go wrong, could I? The first book kicks off primarily focusing on Wrath, vampire “King” of the Brotherhood. With their race dwindling, it’s up to him to lead a small “special ops” group of leather-clad and dagger-wielding vamps in their war against a formidable brood of vampire hunters. He’s blood thirsty, ruthless, and…blind? That’s certainly a twist. Add to the mix the little complication of a fallen brother who leaves him with one dying wish-for Wrath to help said brother’s secret daughter as she transitions into her own vampirism. Never fear, there’s no incest involved. These guys are “Brothers” in the symbolic sense.
Personally, for me the book started off pretty strong, but as it progressed I found myself enjoying it a lot less. One area that sort of irked me involved the villains. This group of vampire hunters has a special calling card; they smell like baby powder. Yes, I am totally serious. Sometimes I can go with the flow, but that really made it difficult for me to be intimidated a lot of the time. They also have no sex drive, though that is perfectly fine with me as the Brothers have plenty to go around, maybe too much.
I liked the characters at times, but I don’t quite love them…yet. They have a lot of promise, so I have to say that I was disappointed to notice a number of pointless, drawn out, and completely out-of-character scenes (the wedding scene comes to mind). There were many stretches of purely overdone sap, and that’s really not my thing. I believe there can be a good balance of action, badassery, and gradual relationship-building. It suffers from the typical paranormal romance dynamic: feelings literally change overnight. I can handle it to an extent depending on the story, but that typically doesn’t jive well with me and it didn’t here. I need a little more complexity. While I try to keep from mentioning other series outright, I can’t help but say “Damn you Jericho Barrons for setting the bar so high!” I don’t really like major development and character evolution over the span of a few pages. I appreciate it happening, but I’d just like it to be a little more interesting, realistic, and creative.
While Dark Lover has its quirks, there are some good things here. The title of the book certainly doesn’t disappoint as it does deliver what it promises. But aside from that, I can say that it was truly a breath of fresh air to read this series in third-person as well as shift to different scenes with different characters. I’m so used to the first-person past tense with Urban Fantasy books, so this was a nice departure. I also appreciated that J.R. Ward took the time to develop her own kind of vampire, and they make sense. Vampires feed from other vampires. Human blood is too weak to sustain them. That makes it more possible to keep their society secret. These vampires aren’t completely invincible either. They have their own battle scars and inner demons, while still managing to be sexy. I do look forward to seeing how their stories are fleshed out in later books.
All in all, if I were to base my recommendation on just this book I would be on the fence. I was really feeling it up until the 60% mark, and then it became a chore. However, I have heard great things about future books and I know all too well how many series suffer from “first book syndrome,” so I think the next few sequels are worth a try after I read a few other books in that ever-growing “to-be-read” pile.
Sea Lion Books Plug - Can’t help it
I’ve been fortunate enough to be an early reviewer for Sea Lion Books, so I have to say that they’ve consistently impressed me with the beautiful quality of their graphic novel adaptations. I’ve been particularly impressed with several works from Storm Born to Pariah and now Hush, Hush. The wonderful artwork and distinctive styles make it really easy to immerse yourself into the world. I’ve come across so many series where the production is so sub-par that I cannot invest in the story or the characters. My rule of thumb: if you can’t make them look nearly as good as I imagine them in my head, then don’t even bother. Keep it in written form.
Check out a recent interview with Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34413
I also recommend giving Storm Born and Pariah a look-see. You can also download a wallpaper here
Finally got around to designing this thing!
I finally built up the nerve to design my blog! I’ve been meaning to design it since I started, but between finding motivation and simply not having the time, it’s been tough. This is probably the first weekend since Comic Con that I’ve had the opportunity to do absolutely nothing, so I was glad to finally get to chance to focus on it. My Photoshop rustiness made it take a little longer than I thought it would, but you live and you learn. I blame Adobe for updating practically every 5 minutes!
I hope this has a more Urban Fantasy feel than the original default version. I plan to provide many reviews, news, and general thoughts this fall. So if you’re a friend on Goodreads, twitter, an author (yes, one has dropped by), or just someone in general that loves the genre, I’d love to hear from you. This is YOUR URBAN FANTASY afterall! Feel free to subscribe on the link to your write…errr right.
Happy reading! I’m about to get back to it myself…
A series where each new book is better than the last
The Living with The Dead series should be a sitcom. It’d be the anti-The Walking Dead. I don’t know what it is about these books, be it the current pop culture references or that Shaun of the Dead/Zombieland kind of feel, but I really like them. The lines are genuinely funny, there’s plenty of action and zombie gore, and it’s a perfect length for this kind of story. In short, it certainly packs a punch (or in this case, a shotgun). If you want a departure from the usual drama-filled and highly sexualized urban fantasy series, then this one comes highly recommended. Peterson writes in prose, making it very easy to visualize what’s happening so that the comedy translates better. What’s also good about these books is that you don’t really need to read the previous novels to understand the story. Sure, it does enrich the experience, but Peterson throws reminders out there at just the right time so that it isn’t a distraction or an annoyance. This helps a lot with flow and decent plot progression.
I will say that if you’ve read the prior novels, it is starting to become a tad predictable in terms of their companions that they meet along the way. It’s no longer a “will they disband?” rather it’s now a “when will they disband?” I do rather like some of the characters we’ve met so I don’t always want to see them go. The point is clear that this is all about Sarah, Chris, and the zombies. Thankfully, that’s still good enough.
Sea Lion Books: Acquires Graphic Novel Rights to Critically Acclaimed Anne Rice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Publicity Contact for Sea Lion Books:
David Dabel: 678-426-8330 or
[email protected]
International Rights Contact: Clarice Levin
212-689-0396 (o) | 917-648-1228 (c) or
[email protected]
Sea Lion Books
Acquires Graphic Novel Rights to Critically Acclaimed
Anne Rice
Novel
International Bestselling Author Anne Rice’s novel,
Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, to become Graphic Novel.
International bestselling author Anne Rice’s critically acclaimed novel,
Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, receives a graphic spin as newly
established publishing house, Sea Lion Books, acquires the worldwide rights
to this graphic novel publication. The novel will be adapted by the author
Anne Rice and comic creator Anne Elizabeth and will feature artwork by Siya
Oum. This graphic novel is scheduled for release in time for Easter 2012.
“Christ the Lord: the Road to Cana, I consider one of my personal
favorites,” said Rice. “The writing of it took less time than the research
because I feel driven to recreate authenticity in the narrative. The
characters must see what people saw in first century Palestine because I
want my readers to see the same. Any artistic effort short of that fails
not only for me but also for the actual figures I endeavored to recreate in
my novel. Today this work is being reinterpreted through the marvelous
medium of graphic novels. The visual imagery will give my characters a new
dimension that cannot be captured in words alone. Sea Lion Books will
translate The Road to Cana into a format that will do as I have done:
Recreate first century Palestine with the women and men who changed the
course of human history. The characters you know will be there — Jesus,
Mary, Joseph — in the rich colors and beautiful forms that only artists can
draw. This is going to be a thrilling adventure for my characters, for me,
and I think for you readers and viewers as well.”
The book is the second within a series dramatizing the life of Jesus Christ.
Based on the four Gospels, current New Testament research, and studies of
Jewish culture, Rice created and described the early stage in Jesus’ life
before his baptism in the Jordan and the miracle at Cana. Faced with a
winter of no rain, endless dust, and talk of trouble in Judea, Jesus must
confront his destiny. The book’s power derives from the profound feeling
Rice brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the presence
of Jesus Christ.
“Working on such a spiritually beautiful book is a remarkable experience!
Not only is it an opportunity to work with brilliant storyteller Anne Rice
and talented artist Siya Oum, but it is a chance to explore my own faith,â€
said adapter Anne Elizabeth, whose graphic novel The Pendulum is also being
released by Sea Lion Books.
Derek Ruiz, Vice President and Publisher of Sea Lion Books, said, “It’s
an
honor to be working with Anne Rice, one of my all time favorite authors. We
at Sea Lion Books are excited to introduce the Christ the Lord series to the
Graphic Novel Market. Anne Rice and the Christ the Lord series are great
additions to the lineup we have been building at Sea Lion Books. With each
new announcement we continue to show that we want to bring quality stories
to the visual medium we love.â€
The full-color Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana graphic novel edition,
ISBN: 978-0-9836131-4-5, will be available April 2012 and will sell for
$24.99. For more information, please visit http://sealionbooks.com/
Sea Lion Books is available worldwide from Diamond Comics Distributors and
Diamond Book Distributors. Diamond is the leading distributor of graphic
novels and pop-culture products in the world.
* For comic shops, please contact your Diamond customer service
representative
* For bookstores & libraries, please contact Diamond Book Distributors:
http://www.diamondbookdistributors.com
* Sea Lion Books are also available from all major wholesalers including
Baker & Taylor and Ingram.
About Anne Rice:
One of America’s most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for
weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that
both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of
history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that
examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive. Anne
lives and works in California. Anne’s life experiences and intellectual
inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work. You can
visit Anne Rice on the Internet at: http://www.annerice.com
About Sea Lion Books:
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Sea Lion Books LLC is a newly established
publishing house which specializes in all formats—hardcover, trade
paperback, and mass market and in urban fantasy and young adult genres. Sea
Lion Books LLC recent roster of authors include: International Bestselling
author, Paulo Coelho, New York Times Bestselling authors, Richelle Mead,
Richard A. Knaak and F. Paul Wilson, Becca Fitzpatrick, plus more to be
announced in the upcoming months.
Copyright 2011, Sea Lion Books. All Rights reserved.
All trademarks and titles are the property of their respective owners.
The statements contained within this document are considered
“forward-looking statements”
and may not reflect upon the actual future performance of Sea Lion Books.
Follow YOUR URBAN FANTASY
ErikaT on 
kittybelle103108 on 
slcurwin on 
