Released: 1/5/10 432 pages
Publisher:n Onyx
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0451412768

This is the second book in the Dorina Basarab series, and this one is just as fast paced as the first. Dorina is a dhampir- half human, half vampire, whose lucky to be alive. Most are insane because of their genetic make up, experiencing bouts of rage, violence and blackouts, and Dory is no exception. She just uses the rage to her advantage. And most are murdered just as soon as they are born, but Dory was spared because her father is Mircea Basarab, brother to Dracula, and Radu, and high ranking vampire Senator.

All Dory wants at the moment is some peace and quiet after the mess her life has been, but she gets anything but. Her father hires her to bring in a vampire, one that everyone is after. Her roomate, Claire is back from Fairy with trouble of her own, and Senator/Champion Louis Cesare is stirring up trouble as well. And there's also Dory's drinking of fey wine to control her blackouts. It's magical properties are addictive and said to slowly drive the consumer insane, but that's not all its doing. Besides controlling her blackouts and seizures, its also giving her visions with a touch of the hand.

Karen Chance's books are always so fast paced they give me whiplash. The plots are intricate, and extremely detailed. And even though I try to read them slowly they always end before I'm ready for them to. It's highly explosive, and addictive, very hard to put down. This series interweaves characters from Chance's Cassandra Palmer series as well, so although you don't have to read both series to appreciate the story, it will enhance the experience.

The action is fast, but doesn't feel shallow, the characters are feel real and fleshed out, and the sparks between Dory and Louis Cesare are hot. And I love the inventfulness of her characters, the understated brilliance and the humor. The scenes are so rich that I find myself discovering new things with each read.

READ MORE

Released 10/7/08            384 pages

Publisher: Onyx

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 978-0451412621

The first book in the Dorina Basarab series, takes place in the same world as Karen Chances’s other series that follows Cassandra Palmer. Because of that series many of the secondary characters are already known to readers. Dorina’s father is the famous Mircea Basarab, brother of Dracula, and she’s asked to track down her uncle, who’s escaped his prison. She agrees to help when her father offers to use his influence to help locate Dory's missing, Claire, who has gone missing, even through Dracula is the only thing that truly scares her.

Dorina is dhampir- half human, half vampire hybrid whose been on her own kicking butt for about 500 years. Unlike Cassie, she knows full well what she’s capable of. The heroine is strong, almost too strong making everyone else seem weak, naïve or incapable at best.

Along for the ride is Louis-Cesare, the dueling champion for the vampire senate. Together there’s tons of heat and chemisty, but more than most others, he comes off as inexperienced. The Frenchmen showed vulnerability in the Cassandra series, but here it was like he was stuck in a miasma of emotions.

Just as with all her other books, this one is extremely fast paced. And while the story works well in this format, the inconsistencies between the two series are a little distracting, but the dialogue is sharp and entertaining.

To new readers, it may be hard keeping track of all the characters and politics without having first read the Cassandra books, but there is enough explanation that they’ll be able to follow the story, though they may feel as if they are missing something. The Dracula storyline works well, those the secondary one concerning Claire is a little inconsistent, mostly being wrapped up with Claire explaining where she was during a battle scene which was probably not the best time. Not my favorite book by Ms. Chance, but a nice first outing for Dory.

READ MORE