Curse The Dawn by Karen Chance

Book 4 of the Cassandra Palmer series

About This Book:

Embrace The Night by Karen Chance
Book 3 of the Cassandra Palmer series.

About This Book:

Ah, yes, the pivotal third book. I have to admit, the first two confused the hell out of me. In the first, all the necessary characters were introduced and we were introduced to the rules of the world. Getting used to someone’s fictional world always requires a second reading, or at least another book to understand it completely, I believe. So the first left me a little in “huh?” territory. The second one went a long way toward dispelling the confusion, but then the character started seriously jumping through time and with that comes the inevitable confusion about changing history and when certain things happened. So I was less confused about the world and interactions and a little more confused about the timeline. This newest entry, however, was the easiest to read and understand, I find.

Cassie is one of my favorite characters to read. She’s just sassy enough without overriding the others around her, and her dilemma with Mircea is truly delicious. I’m rooting for them. Even though the chance that the series will end with them together forever is highly unlikely, I still like to believe it’s possible. After all I can’t have read through all these books to not get rewarded at the end, right? Right?

I loved the development of Pritkin as well. When he first entered the scene, I thought of him as a contender for Cassie’s affection, and right now I am reading too many series with two boys fighting over one girl. For once, I would like to see a clear indication of preference. Then we got his whole backstory, and that was fabulous. I have to say that I applaud Ms. Chance for her delightful use of historical characters in her world. It’s fascinating to think of those major figures of history as being vampires. I love it. Pritkin falls into the category of historical figure, we find out, but of course I won’t tell you which one, or even if he’s important or not. I just thought it was a neat idea.

So I give this one a “my favorite of the series thus far.” Well done.

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (13/15)

Fans of Patricia Briggs will appreciate the Alpha and Omega novella, which takes place before events in Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground. The story centers on Anna Latham, an abused omega wolf in a Chicago pack. When she suspects that her Alpha, Leo, might be responsible for a death of young werewolf Alan McKenzie Frazier, she calls the Marrok. She then meets up with his investigator, Charles Cornick, whose wolf takes her as his mate.

Things go as smooth as sandpaper from there. Assassination attempts, nasty confrontations, and brutal fight scenes ensue. Charles’ and Anna’s tale is a pleasant change from the Mercy Thompson series – it’s nice to see the story told from a perspective other than Mercy’s. While I’m not a big fan of rape stories (what’s with all the rape in Briggs’ recent works, anyway?), Alpha and Omega manages to deal with the beginnings of the recovery process realistically. Not a fluff piece, but it’ll leave you wanting more.

Inhuman by Eileen Wilks (12.5/15)

Inhuman is based on Kai Michalski, a girl who’s Gifted with an ability to read minds and emotions. She’s not technically a mind-reader – she can see the colour of people’s auras. After digging a bullet out of her hot non-human neighbour’s flesh, things take a turn for the disturbing as the story delves into the Nathan’s investigations as a Hunter. And the truth finally comes to light: Nathan was born a hellhound, which accounts for his insanely long lifespan.

The characters in Inhuman were engaging and well-scripted, and the attraction-charged interactions between Nathan and Kai were absolutely electric. Kai is a likeable heroine, and her unique urban fantasy universe Eileen Wilks paints is a fascinating and action-packed one. Kai and Nathan’s story continues in Night Season, book 4 in Wilks’s World of the Lupi series.

Buying Trouble by Karen Chance (12/15)

I usually have an issue with fey stories, since I’ve yet to read one that’s left an impression. Buying Trouble takes off with protagonist Claire being auctioned off to a bunch of Otherworldly beings. Claire is a mage, and her special ability is that she nullifies magic around her within a certain radius. She gets whisked off from the auction grounds and straight into Faerie by mysterious fey Heidar, and the action kicks in from there.

It’s a mad chase in the gritty alleys of Faerie as Claire and her savior dodge kidnap attempts by several… persistent clans, each determined to capture her and use her powers for their own means. Somewhere in the midst of all this running, they have sex. And… she turns into a dragon after the deed. Yep, weird doesn’t even begin to cover it. It turns out that Claire’s Two-Natured, and her other form is one of a baby dragon. Fun times.

Buying Trouble was a fun, fast-paced read, and throughly enjoyable. It’s written as a one-shot, and the story ties up nicely in the end, where Claire and Heidar relocate to the human world so she can come to terms with her dragon half.

Mona Lisa Betwining by Sunny (6/15)

The story revolves around a Monère Queen (three quarters Monère, one quarter human), and the opening cahpter jumps right into the midst of the story. Mona Lisa is torn between Dontaine, her loyal follower and numerous other lovers in her bid to bear a child for the royal line. There’s loads of shapeshifting drama in this one – Mona Lisa’s other form is a tiger, and Dontaine’s is a wolf.

I can’t say I enjoyed this one as I did the others, mostly because the whole story seems very out of place with the other novellas that are clearly more urban fantasy-oriented. Mona Lisa Betwining is opens with more erotica than plot, and the protagonist’s promiscuity had me grimacing for most of it. If that’s your cup of tea, though, you can pick up other titles by Sunny that run in the same vein: Mona Lisa Awakening, Mona Lisa Blossoming, and Mona Lisa Craving.

See also: Cry Wolf, Hunting Ground, Night Season, Mona Lisa Awakening, Mona Lisa Blossoming, Mona Lisa Craving

Curse the Dawn ist Buch Nummer vier in der Cassandra Palmer-Serie von Karen Chance. Innerhalb von vier Tagen ausgelesen, aber auch nur, weil ich am Samstag und Sonntag kaum bzw. gar nicht zum Lesen gekommen bin. Ansonsten wäre das viel schneller zu Ende gewesen

Cassandra Palmer, oder Cassie, wie sie genannt werden will, hat ein Problem. Nicht nur, dass die die Pythia ist, die Wahrsagerin schlechthin und Wächterin über die Zeit, nein. Der Silver Circle, der eigentlich auf die Pythia geschworen ist, und sie beschützen soll, erkennt Cassie in ihrer Position nicht an, und will sie lieber tot sehen. Der Vampir Mircea Basarab, Bruder von Dracula [ja, DER Dracula] hat Cassie als sein Eigentum gekennzeichnet, und nun steht sie unter dem Schutz des Vampirsenates, auch wenn ihr das weniger passt. Und zu allem Überfluss ist auch noch der Gott Apollon aus seiner Verbannung entkommen und versteckt sich in Faerie. Wenn er auf die Welt losgelassen wird, verspricht das Chaos, Zerstörung und Tod. Und sicher kein freudiges Wiedersehen für die magische Gemeinde, da die ihn vor tausenden Jahren ja verbannt hatten. Und Götter können sehr nachtragend sein.

Ich war sehr skeptisch. Nach Touch the Dark (Band #1), der wirklich sehr fast paced und packend und spannend war, war Claimed by Shadown (Band #2) ein kleiner Rückschritt. Aber Embrace the Night (Band #3) war ehrlich gesagt furchtbar. Nicht schlecht geschrieben, aber ich saß die ganze Zeit da, und wartete darauf, dass denn nun einmal was passierte. Es zog sich alles hin, wie Kaugummi. Man hatte das Gefühl, Wasser zu treten. Was passierte, brachte die Handlung nicht voran. Aber mit Curse the Dawn meldet Karen Chance sich mit einem Knall zurück. Wundervoll geschrieben, waren die anderen drei Bücher auch schon. Aber Curse the Dawn kann locker an die Stärken von Touch the Dark anknüpfen, es ist schnell, man weiß manchmal nicht, wo einem der Kopf steht, fühlt sich wie Cassie verwirrt. Einziger Kritikpunkt sind vielleicht die Visionen. Die zwar durchaus wichtig sind. Aber auf die Art, wie die ins Geschehen eingefügt wurden, wirkt es wie ein Bruch in der Geschichte. Vielleicht ist das Absicht, mir hat’s persönlich die drei Male, die es passiert ist, nicht sehr gefallen. Aber das kann man durchaus vergessen, und sich wieder in der Handlung verlieren. Chance hat einen packenden Schreibstil, und Cassies Perspektive und Einwürfe sorgen für einige Lacher, aber durchaus auch für die ein oder andere Träne. Die Intrigeen nehmen ihren Lauf, und immer dann, wenn man denkt, dass man das Ganze durchschaut hat, kommt eine Wendung, die man so nicht vorhersagen konnte.

Man sollte die anderen drei Bände gelesen haben, um die Handlung von Curse the Dawn zu verstehen. Karen Chance stellt zwar kurz nochmal die wichtigsten Figuren und ihren Status vor, wenn sie das erste Mal auftauchen, aber vieles, wie die Interaktion zwischen Cassie und Mircea, und wieso Cassie so an Rafe hängt, und wer eigentlich John Pritkin ist und auf Cassies Seite steht, obwohl er zum Silver Circle gehört, versteht man nur wirklich, wenn man die Vorgeschichte kennt. Und selbst ich habe kurz dagesessen und gedacht “Rossier wer bitte? Hä?” bis es mir wieder einfiel.

Also, sehr gelungenes Buch, Must Read für alle, die die anderen drei Bände gelesen haben. Veröffentlichungsdatum oder überhaupt einen Hinweis auf einen Band #5 gibt es (noch?) nicht. Allerdings ist Curse the Dawn auch erst im April erschienen, von daher kann es noch eine ganze Weile dauern, bis man etwas von einem solchen Band hört.

Übrigens, die Bände erscheinen auch jetzt langsam auf deutsch. Nummer 1 “Untot mit Biss” ist bereits seit letztem Jahr erhältlich, Band 2 “Hinreißend untot” ist seit Juli im Handel, und “Für immer untot” soll im Januar 2010 erscheinen.

Halfway through July and my sidebar is still displaying “May Books I Want”.  I feel slightly embarrassed.  I may even update it later today.

Anyway, here are the July books I want.  Rather unusually, there are three historical romances to start off:

Mary Jo Putney’s “Loving a Lost Lord” (historical romance):  A straight historical romance from Mary Jo Putney. *happy dance*  Her Fallen Angels series was one of the first historical romance books I read, together with Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick, et al., but it’s been quite a while since I last read one of her books.  According to Ms Putney’s website, LaLL is the start of a new Regency historical series as well, so fingers crossed it’s a good one.

Excerpt here (out now)

Eloisa James’ “A Duke of My Own” (historical romance):  The last of her Desperate Duchesses series, this is Villiers’ story.  While this series has been slightly uneven at times, it has definitely been my favourite historical romance series over the past year or so.  I’m hoping her next series will be just as good – I can’t wait to find out what she chooses to write next.

Excerpt here (out July 28)

Julia Quinn’s “What Happens in London” (historical romance):  This is loosely tied to her “The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever” book, but pretty much a stand-alone, from what I gather.  A Quinn book never fails to make me smile, and I’ve been hearing pretty good things about this one.

Excerpt here (out now)

And moving on to urban fantasy and paranormal romance:

Jenna Black’s “Speak of the Devil” (urban fantasy): Fourth in her Morgan Kingsley series, Morgan being a demon exorcist.  I was almost ready to stop after the second book, but the third one redeemed this series IMO, so I’m now excited about the fourth.

Excerpt here (out July 28)

Nalini Singh’s “Branded by Fire” (paranormal romance): Part of her Psy-Changeling series, this is Riley and Mercy’s story.  This is one of the few paranormal romance series I read, as Ms Singh manages to combine really strong world-building with wonderful romance.  I have no idea why I haven’t bought this one yet.  Must go get.  Now.

Excerpt here (out now)

Linda Howard’s “Burn” (romantic suspense):  I really really wish Linda Howard had a website.  And I wish Piatkus Books would publish the UK version closer to the US release date – Amazon is currently showing October.  Oh well, it is a Linda Howard so I will buy.  I’m hoping it’s not as outdoor-survival-focused as her recent ones.

No excerpt (out now in US)

Suzanne Brockmann’s “Hot Pursuit” (romantic suspense):  The latest in her Troubleshooters series, this is a Sam and Alyssa book, IIRC.  There was a whole lot of controversy around her January release earlier this year, but I haven’t heard much about this one.  Or maybe I just haven’t been hanging out in the right places.

Excerpt here (out July 28)

And finally, the anthology “Strange Brew” is already sitting on my bedside table.  Edited by PN Elrod, it has short stories by Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Karen Chance, and Charlaine Harris, amongst others.  My thoughts so far?  The Briggs story didn’t really grab me until the last few pages,  Jim Butcher’s contribution is a nice Harry Dresden interlude, the Karen Chance one is very representative of her non-stop action writing (I really liked it), and the Charlaine Harris story is slightly disturbing (set in her Sookie Stackhouse universe but no Sookie).

During all of Cassandra Palmer’s short reign as Pythia, the world’s most powerful clairvoyant and time traveler, factions in the supernatural community have been fighting to control or destroy her. Now Cassie is trying to stop the plans of her most powerful enemy yet – a supernatural being who was once worshiped as a god. She faces attacks, accidents, and even a magical disaster, all while having her usual arguments with the allies who want to keep her safely away from the action.

These books seem to be getting increasingly hectic, and the constant tension isn’t helped by the fact that Cassie still doesn’t seem all that competent. It’s one thing to say that she doesn’t understand her powers because she wasn’t trained, but she also seems to be really slow about learning from experience. She makes some terrible decisions, one of which was so over-the-top stupid that it spoiled one of the twists.

It’s frustrating that she keeps trusting people that she shouldn’t, especially because she’s often dismissive of advice from people who have already proven themselves to her. In the first book, it was understandable how out of the loop Cassie was, but I can’t help feeling she should really be more together by now. Instead she seems to be losing ground.

I like the concept and most of the side characters, and the world is well-developed. But I’m sad to say that I’m really losing patience with Cassie. It would be nice to see her start listening to those around her a little more, at this point some of her problems seem caused by sheer stubborness.

I also hope that the pace will slow down just a little. It’s not that I want the overall story to move at a slower rate, but it would really help me if the mile-a-minute action was broken up by a few more quiet, character-focused scenes (other than the ever-present sex scenes).

This is the fourth book in the Cassandra Palmer series.

Cassie is still trying to learn exactly what her job is. The Silver Circle is trying to put her on trial and get rid of her, and she is unsure how to deal with her vampire husband. Cassie needs to find someone who can train her, and give her at least some idea of what she is supposed to be doing with her new powers. At the same time she is trying to form an alliance with the Silver Circle and possibly between the Silver Circle and the Senate. But can she and Pritkin stay alive long enough to manage that or one of her many enemies manage to capture or kill her first?

I’m so late with this post that I’ve already read quite a few of the April releases!  However, better late than never…

So first up was Karen Chance’s “Curse the Dawn” (urban fantasy), fourth in her Cassandra Palmer series.  Excerpt here. 

I’m a big fan of this series, and this installment didn’t disappoint.  Cassie’s trying to figure out how to be Pythia with zero training, and she’s got to learn fast.  Very fast.  I’ve gotten used to Ms Chance’s writing style of non-stop action, where you pretty much hit the ground running from the first page onwards, and this story was no exception.  I think fans of the mage Pritkin will be pleased with this one as there is much Pritkin.  I’m on Team Mircea myself, and I like the way things are developing.  I admit if I were extremely picky, I wish Ms Chance would slow down at times and let me catch my breath.  Still, I really enjoyed this and it was a B+ for me.  I’m very much looking forward to her Fall release “Death’s Mistress”, the second in the Dorina Basarab series.

The next book I read was Sarah Monette’s “Corambis” (dark fantasy), the fourth and final book in her Doctrine of Labyrinths series.  Podcasts of the first two chapters here.

“Corambis” is an incredibly satisfying finale to a rather complex and dark series.  In a way, I think this is the most accessible book in the series – it’s probably the most focused of all four and possibly the most conventional?  I’m not sure, will have to think about that a bit more.  Also, not hugely relevant, but I am constantly impressed by how Ms Monette writes different POVs so effortlessly.  In “Corambis”, we get Felix and Mildmay’s POVs, as well as a new character’s, and each is just right for the character.  This was an A- read for me.

And last night, I finished Jim Butcher’s “Turn Coat” (urban fantasy), the eleventh in his Dresden Files series.  Excerpts here.

I pretty much glommed the entire series late last year, and really couldn’t wait for this one.  I’ve said it before, but what makes this series for me is the fact that there is no sense of either characters or plot stagnating, and that’s saying quite a bit for a series with eleven books in it.  I guessed the traitor quite a bit in advance, but not the how.  “Turn Coat” advances the overall series plot by quite a bit, and I can’t believe we’ve to wait another year for the next Dresden book.  A strong B+.

And then the other April releases I haven’t yet read but definitely plan on getting:

Tamora Pierce’s “Bloodhound” (YA fantasy): Second in her Beka Cooper series.  I love Tamora Pierce, and “Terrier”, the first book, came out way back in 2006.  It’s been too long.  Out April 14.

Jo Beverley’s “The Secret Wedding” (historical romance):  Part of her long-running (and loosely-connected) Malloren series.  I read a lot less historical romance nowadays, but Ms Beverley is on my autobuy list.  Excerpt here, out now.

Ann Aguirre’s “Blue Diablo” (urban fantasy):  First in a new series and with a cover blurb from Patricia Briggs.  And of course, glowing reviews all over the web.  Excerpt here, out now.

Kelley Armstrong’s “The Awakening” (YA urban fantasy):  Second in the Chloe Saunders trilogy.  The first book “The Summoning” ended on a cliffhanger and I hate, hate that.  I’ll forgive Ms Armstrong for a lot of things, however.  Excerpt here, out April 28.

CURSE THE DAWN

Cassandra Palmer Series
Book 4
by Karen Chance

Release Date: April 7, 2009

BUY FROM AMAZON
Download First 2 Chapters (.PDF)
YouTube Video Trailer

SYNOPSIS

Cassandra Palmer may be the all-powerful Pythia now, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to kill her. Most of the supernatural power players don’t want the independent minded Cassie as chief clairvoyant—and they’ll stop at nothing to see her six feet under.

The Vampire Senate does support Cassie in her position, but their protection comes with a price: an alliance with the sexy master vampire Mircea, who has claimed Cassie as his own.

But even the vampires will have trouble keeping Cassie alive now that the self-styled god Apollo, the source of the Pythia’s power, has it in for her in a big way. To save her life—and the world—Cassie’s going to have to face down her creator once and for all.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
  
Embrace the Night  (book 3)
Claimed by Shadow  (book 2)
Touch the Dark  (book 1)

I stopped by the bookstore today and they had Karen Chance’s “Curse the Dawn” out!  Her Cassie Palmer UF series is one of my favourites so getting this just in time for the weekend made my day.

I almost missed it on the display table because I was expecting a cover similar to the US one, as all the previous UK editions have pretty much re-used the US cover picture.  However, “Curse the Dawn” has completely different cover art – I’m not 100% convinced because it looks pretty generic (the UK cover is the one on the right).  Oh well, it’s what’s inside that counts 

And because there was a 3 for 2 offer, I also picked up JD Robb’s “Salvation in Death” (let’s face it, Nora Roberts is a fail-safe choice) and Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” (have been meaning to get this one forever because of all the great reviews).

Am off to read now…

This is the third book in the Cassandra Palmer series.

Cassie is trying to find the Codex Merlini, for both the Dark Fae King, in order to complete the deal she made with him, and to find the spell to lift the geis that is binding her to Mircea, and driving them both crazy. Only the closer she gets to finding it, the more enemies who are trying to keep her from finding it! Can Cassie manage to lift the geis, but not destroy the world in the process?

This is the second book in the Cassandra  Palmer series.

Cassie is trying to locate Tony, the master vampire who had her parents killed so that he could have use of her powers as she grew up, because she has discovered that he is holding her father’s spirit captive, and she is determined to free him. Along the way she discovers that the Silver Circle is out to kill her, because they have found another canidate for Prythia that they feel is better than Cassie. Can Cassie manage to escape all who are after her, including the Vampire Senate, while remaining alive and finding what she is after?

I tried to publish this post while we were on the road last week–and ended up losing the whole post!

I’ve redone it and am excited all over again about some of these April books. I’ve enjoyed the first two books in the Huxtable series (see February and March New Books) Mary Balogh wrote so this third book is an auto buy for me. Several others are on my list to buy right away while others may have to wait. What books do you plan to buy and read in April?

Paradise Valley

• by Robyn Carr
• Virgin River series, book 7
• Paperback released April 1
• Mira
• Contemporary romance
• “Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraq — his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. The carefree boy is gone, replaced by a man who believes his future is as bleak as his mirror image. But can the passion and commitment of a young woman who has never given up on him mend his broken body and shattered heart? As the people of Virgin River rally around Rick, another recent arrival tests the tightly knit mountain town’s famous welcoming spirit. Dan Brady has a questionable past, and he’s looking for a place to start over. He’d like it to be Virgin River…if he can find a way in. But he never expects to find it in the arms of a woman who was as much an outcast as himself.”

Blue Diablo

• by Ann Aguirre
• Corine Solomon series, book 1
• Paperback released April 7
• Roc
• Urban fantasy
• “Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance….”

Borderline

• by Nevada Barr
• Anna Pigeon series, book 15
• Hardcover released April 7
• Putnam
• Mystery
• “Drained and haunted by the killings on Isle Royale, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and on administrative leave by order of her superintendent, the one bright spot in Anna’s life is Paul, her husband of less than a year. Hoping the warmth and the adventure of a raft trip in Big Bend National Park will lift her spirits, Paul takes Anna to southwest Texas, where the sun is hot and the Rio Grande is running high. The sheer beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and the power of the river work their magic—until the raft is lost in the rapids and a young college student makes a grisly discovery.”

The Secret Wedding

• by Jo Beverley
• Georgian Romance series
• Paperback released April 7
• Historical Romance
• Signet
• “Home from a decade of war, Christian, Major Lord Grandiston wants to enjoy bachelor pleasures, but his father is wooing a rich woman on his behalf. Embarrassing, when he might already have a wife. Is Dorcas Froggatt alive, and if so, will she be his salvation or an even worse burden? He heads north to the industrial town of Sheffield to find out, but soon he’s on the run from the law with a woman who’s nothing but trouble, especially when they’re joined by a very peculiar cat.”

Turn Coat

• by Jim Butcher
• The Dresden Files, book 11
• Hardback, released April 7
• Roc
• Urban fantasy
• “The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council–and there’s only one, final punishment for that crime. He’s on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden.”

Curse the Dawn

• by Karen Chance
• Cassandra Palmer series, book 4
• Paperback, released April 7
• Onyx
• Urban fantasy
• “Cassandra Palmer may be the all-powerful Pythia now, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to kill her. Most of the supernatural power players don’t want the independent minded Cassie as chief clairvoyant—and they’ll stop at nothing to see her six feet under.”

Longeye

• by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
• book 2
• Hardcover released April 7
• Baen Books
• Fantasy
• “Hidden from the human-inhabited world by the inimical magical device known as the keleigh, the Vaitura has become a subtle battleground where the once all-powerful Elder Fey strive against each other and the upstart Queen to regain ascendancy. Of all the Elder Fey it is Altimere who is strongest in magical kest and Altimere who is most devious. Pitted against Zaldore and her group seeking to manipulate the convelescing Ranger known as Longeye to foil the Queen and rule the world, Altimere dares to utilize the untested powers of half-human, half-Fey Rebecca Beauvally, recognized by the elemental denizens of the Vaitura as The Gardener. Now all plans must be rewritten: Becca breaks Altimere’s capricious dominion with the dangerous herbal help of Duainfey, but, weakened by the effort, is held against her will in service to the Queen by Meripen’s mysterious sea-lord cousin, Sian. Becca must escape the Queen’s retainers to regain control of her own fate.”

Ghostland

• by Jory Strong
• Ghostland World series, book 1
• Trade paperback released April 7
• Berkley Trade
• Urban Fantasy Romance
• “In a post-Apocalyptic world where supernaturals have emerged from hiding, wealthy humans delight in decadence while the religious gain power through temptation. For the masses, fear reigns from birth to death, and the afterlife holds beings that only the bravest can summon—or dare to desire…”

White Star

• by Elizabeth Vaughan
• Star series, book 2
• Paperback released April 7
• Berkley
• Fantasy romance
• “In Palins, a land in the throes of upheaval, Lady High Priestess Evelyn leads a rebellion against an unjust usurper. But when she is taken prisoner by Orrin Blackhart, their clashing souls will be forged in desire, redemption, and glory…”

Killer Keepsakes

• by Jane K. Cleland
• Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series, book 4
• Hardcover released April 14
• Minotaur Books
• Mystery
• “Josie’s cheerful and helpful assistant, Gretchen, who turned up unexpectedly just as Josie was setting up shop in New Hampshire doesn’t show up for work one day. Surprise turns to alarm when a dead body is found in Gretchen’s home—and Gretchen is the prime suspect. Josie sets out to find the real killer, and using her knowledge of antiques, discovers long-buried secrets that help bring Gretchen safely home.”

Fragile Eternity

• by Melissa Marr
• book 3
• Hardcover released April 21
• Harper Collins
• Young Adult fantasy
• “Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he’d ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen. Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who’d always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she’d ever imagined.”

At Last Comes Love

• by Mary Balogh
• Huxtable Quintet series, book 3
• Paperback released April 28
• Dell
• Historical romance
• “Margaret Huxtable has given her youth in order to keep her promise to her dying father to hold the family together until her sisters and brother have grown up. She gave up the chance to marry Crispin Dew, the man she loved, and suffered the pain of learning that he married someone else. But now her siblings are grown up, and her sisters are married. She is thirty years old and has decided that it is time she married too since the alternative is to be a spinster sister dependent upon her brother and sisters for the rest of her life.”

Storm Glass

• by Maria V. Snyder
• Glass series, book 1
• Trade paperback released April 28
• Mira
• Young adult fantasy
• “As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it’s time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan’s glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal’s unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she never knew she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she’s ever known.”

This is the first book in the Cassandra Palmer series.

Cassandra is a seer, she grew up in the household of a vampire master, but has since escaped, by turning the law against him, and is in hiding with help from Witness Protection. Until suddenly, she senses vampires, and she knows that they have found her. Cassie fights her new captivity by the vampire senate, and escapes, only to discover she has new powers and doesn’t know where they came from. Can Cassie figure out exactly what she is, and will she avoid being a captive of the vampires again?

Mar 24: Stargazer (Evernight Novels 2) by Claudia Gray
City of Bones (Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare

Mar 31: The Immortal Hunter (Rogue Hunters 2) by Lynsay Sands
Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites 4) by Michelle Rowen
Magic Strikes (Magic Series, Book 3) by Ilona Land

Apr 7: Curse The Dawn (Cassandra Palmer 4) by Karen Chance

Apr 21: Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely 3) by Melissa Marr
The Beginning (Vampire Kisses Prequel) by Ellen Schrieber

Apr 28: Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood 7) by J. R. Ward
Night World No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight by L. J. Smith

May 5: Dead and Gone (Southern Vampire Mysteries 9) by Charlaine Harris

May 19: Royal Blood (Vampires Kisses 6) by Ellen Schreiber
Vacations from Hell (anthology w/Claudia Gray)
Ashes of Midnight (Midnight Breeds 6) Lara Adrian

May 26: Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1) by Kim Harrison

Jun 4: Succubus Heat (Georgina Kincaid, Book 4) by Richelle Mead
Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine

Jul 28: Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, Book 2) by Richelle Mead
Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2)  by Patricia Briggs

Aug 4: Skykeepers (Final Prophecy, Book 3) by Jessica Andersen
Aug 25: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4) by Richelle Mead
Sep 1: Tall, Dark & Fangsome (Immortality Bites 5) by Michelle Rowen
Sep 8: Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins

Sherwood Smith blogs about jury reading for the 2008 Andre Norton Award, and gives some good recs for YA science fiction and fantasy books.  I’m definitely going to be looking up all the ones she’s mentioned.

Check out this followup to last year’s “Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance” (out in August this year).  This time it’s called “Love Bites”, and contributors include Karen Chance and Eileen Wilks.  This will be an autobuy for me. 

And it’s no secret that I love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy (the final one “City of Glass” is out next month and I can’t wait).  Here’s a short story that’s been out awhile, it’s part of Baen’s “Turn the Other Chick” anthology, and called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” (you may have to click on #5 in the navigator bar).  A fun and tongue-in-cheek take on a princess being rescued from the evil Dark Wizard.  Sort of.

The main character of Midnight’s Daughter is Dorina, a human/vampire hybrid. Unlike most of her fellow dhampirs, Dorina has managed to stay fairly sane between her occasional berserk rages. When her uncle Dracula escapes from his prison, Dorina reluctantly agrees to track him down with the help of Louis-Cesare, a vampire with a troubled past.

I really like Dorina as a character, in fact I’d probably say I prefer her to Cassie. Of course I was sick and grouchy when I read it, so that may have something to do with my enthusiastic reaction to her casual violence. I enjoyed her sense of snark, and especially loved her discussions with Louis-Cesare about the family. At first I worried that her tendency to black out when fighting would turn into a convenient way to avoid fight scenes, but it didn’t get over used and the aftermath was often entertaining.

My main complaint is one that I’ve had with some of Chance’s previous books. Things just get too damn complicated. I’m all for a layered story, but when that’s taken too far things tend to get messy. Some characters from Chance’s other series show up and seem to serve very little purpose other than making a cameo appearance. The idea of finding Claire provided a little action and direction, but the resolution of that situation was seriously awkward (which usually tends to happen when any writer’s plot requires recapping a separately published short story). There was a side plot about magically mutated animals that I could have done without. Maybe the point behind those will come up later, but their main role in this book was to draw out the already action-heavy ending to such a degree that it was tempting me to skim.

Though this is a separate series, I’d strongly recommend reading the Cassie Palmer series and Chance’s story “Buying Trouble” from the On The Prowl anthology before Midnight’s Daughter. Some references may be confusing if you aren’t familiar with aspects of the Cassie books, and the roommate plot could seem like a big, weird mess to those who haven’t read the related short story.

Those who liked the other books set in this world should like this one as well. In some ways I preferred it, because while there’s definitely some steamy scenes the heroine’s sex life isn’t a big part of the plot.

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I thoroughly enjoy Karen Chance’s Cassie Palmer series and so I was pretty excited when I heard that she was coming out with a new book set in the same world. Midnight’s Daughter is about Dory, a dhampir, who’s Mircea’s daughter. (Mircea’s one of the main characters in the Cassie Palmer series.) She’s tough, has a chip on her shoulder, and isn’t afraid to go her own way.

The author brings in some characters from her other stories, which is really neat. Dory’s roommate, Claire, has already been featured in a short story (or “companion novella”, as the author’s website describes it, even though it was published first), and it’s great to have her as a part of this story. The storyline is crisp, the characters are a lot of fun, and it ties up some loose ends from Chance’s other works. I’m not sure how this will effect events in the Cassie Palmer series, since things seem related but not necessarily completely intertwined, but I look forward to finding out when the next book comes out later this year.

I think this book would stand on its own just as well as it does as part of the existing mythology. I would still encourage folks to read Chance’s other books before hitting this one, because it makes the characters feel more real, but this book would also serve as a good introduction to this world, and these people.