Helpful Score: 9
Continuing story of Cassandra Palmer - clairvoyent raised by vampires in a huge power struggle between various factions. If you read book 1, book 2 has the same problems, if not more. Cassie has enemies and her supporters aren't very clear cut. She still spends her time running from one place to another and again we have people who want her to be under their control or dead. I think the goal here is Cassie wanting to track down two people who she knows are her enemies and want to kill her, but she spends so much time getting there it was ridiculous. Subgoal - she has a geas placed on her by master vamp Mircea, her guardian from childhood which binds her to him and she wants it off.
It was interesting to see the world building here and the neat new characters with cool abilities (moving tattoos, incubi, magic bombs, portals, talismans, zombies, gargoyles). But while fights and action is fine, but don't overdo it so that it bogs down the story. Save it for the next book! Basically: too many characters, too much action without a break, too complicated. What really irritates me is that if the author cut down on her interesting ideas she would have a good story, but she has a tendency to just throw everything in there and mix.
This COULD be a good book, but too much cool ideas = overkill. I still want the author to get it right in the next book and I'm willing to read it to see if she does. I liked book one better than this one, so maybe I'll like book three better.
It was interesting to see the world building here and the neat new characters with cool abilities (moving tattoos, incubi, magic bombs, portals, talismans, zombies, gargoyles). But while fights and action is fine, but don't overdo it so that it bogs down the story. Save it for the next book! Basically: too many characters, too much action without a break, too complicated. What really irritates me is that if the author cut down on her interesting ideas she would have a good story, but she has a tendency to just throw everything in there and mix.
This COULD be a good book, but too much cool ideas = overkill. I still want the author to get it right in the next book and I'm willing to read it to see if she does. I liked book one better than this one, so maybe I'll like book three better.
Karen F. (cosmichomicide) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 134 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I still like this series, though I continue to think that the author is cheating a bit on some of the character development by using famous historic figures for many of the master vampires. Still, the book was fast moving, has some great supporting characters and a nice twist on the vampire/mage mythos. Loved some of the new characters introduced in this installment, looking forward to the third book.
Lisa R. (alterlisa) -
Helpful Score: 2
I read the first book in this series and loved it, however, I found the second book in this series difficult to get into. There were so many characters and so much going on that you needed a score card to keep up with the gist of the story. I struggled through about half of it and quit. I may try later to reread it as I really wanted to like it.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 724 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Got throught this book and was pleased but not enough to buy the third.
This book picks up where the last one left off with Cassie diving head first into a paranormal world of action, adventure and some (though not nearly enough) vampire lovin. The author introduces us to a few new interesting characters too.
Did you all know the famed Casanova was an incubus? Me neither but it seems to make a lot of sense. He stirs up trouble when he tells Cassie a secret about Mircea that disturbs her greatly and changes their budding relationship and may be far more dangerous than she ever realized.
Cassie is still attempting to avoid becoming the new Pythia because she doesnt want the power and the responsibility it entails and is still jumping back and forth between realms and time. Its still all a bit confusing for me. Billy the ghost, who I wasnt overly fond of in book 1, shows up again to drive me just a little crazier than I was when I began this series. I keep hoping hell go away for good but he always comes back. Theres just something odd and annoying about someone looking over your shoulder all the time and making comments, even if it is a ghost, even if he is often helpful. Or maybe Im just paranoid.
Anyway, this book is action-packed. It doesnt slow down once it gets going and so much happens here that I think Im going to have to give it another listen because I know I didnt absorb it all. I liked the book, it was more focused than the last and I really enjoy the characters but I do wish the author had added in less action and more emotional/character interaction. I enjoyed learning a wee bit more about Pritkin but I feel like I didnt get to know Cassie any better than I did in Touch the Dark. It was all look out, get him, save so and so, must find Myra, where are we and whose body are we in? and I was freaking exhausted trying to keep up.
Ill continue with the series but now I need a good, rejuvenating nap because my brain aches.
Did you all know the famed Casanova was an incubus? Me neither but it seems to make a lot of sense. He stirs up trouble when he tells Cassie a secret about Mircea that disturbs her greatly and changes their budding relationship and may be far more dangerous than she ever realized.
Cassie is still attempting to avoid becoming the new Pythia because she doesnt want the power and the responsibility it entails and is still jumping back and forth between realms and time. Its still all a bit confusing for me. Billy the ghost, who I wasnt overly fond of in book 1, shows up again to drive me just a little crazier than I was when I began this series. I keep hoping hell go away for good but he always comes back. Theres just something odd and annoying about someone looking over your shoulder all the time and making comments, even if it is a ghost, even if he is often helpful. Or maybe Im just paranoid.
Anyway, this book is action-packed. It doesnt slow down once it gets going and so much happens here that I think Im going to have to give it another listen because I know I didnt absorb it all. I liked the book, it was more focused than the last and I really enjoy the characters but I do wish the author had added in less action and more emotional/character interaction. I enjoyed learning a wee bit more about Pritkin but I feel like I didnt get to know Cassie any better than I did in Touch the Dark. It was all look out, get him, save so and so, must find Myra, where are we and whose body are we in? and I was freaking exhausted trying to keep up.
Ill continue with the series but now I need a good, rejuvenating nap because my brain aches.
I have read this book several times and it is great. There are 3 books in this series and each one is just as good as the before it. Its the kinds book you cen put down.
Beela S. (Cottonwoodrose) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 9 more book reviews
Totally and completely love the Cassie Palmer series. Keep em coming an I will keep reading.!!
Karina F. (FineLQQKn) -
Listed to book on cd. Heavy political details. It was a decent book to listen to, but to heavy for my general preference in reading.
This is the second of I think either 4 or 5 published books in this series of interesting, time traveling stories about Cassandra and vamps, feys, and mages. I collect and save all books from this series, as they are great to re-read.
Dear Cassandea Palmer,
What is going on in your world girl?
I mean you are Here in the physical world
And then next... you are in the Past.
Not to mention frollicking in the land of the fae...
(I can not give a review to Book II without making reference to book I. Which is a text book in the world of Cassie ( Seer/the next Pythia) Palmer.
After so much description, I forgot that there was a story going on...but i was still compelled to read the next in the series.
Which was a really good start to a series.
I would recommend this book ( Cautiously!)
If you are not into heavy description and dialouged action scenes then... you know where this is going..)
Anyways...
Cassie I hope you soar high when you finally embrace the night, and Ill see you there.
Sincerly C.
P.S Oh yeah and get rid of the annoying geis while you're at it.
What is going on in your world girl?
I mean you are Here in the physical world
And then next... you are in the Past.
Not to mention frollicking in the land of the fae...
(I can not give a review to Book II without making reference to book I. Which is a text book in the world of Cassie ( Seer/the next Pythia) Palmer.
After so much description, I forgot that there was a story going on...but i was still compelled to read the next in the series.
Which was a really good start to a series.
I would recommend this book ( Cautiously!)
If you are not into heavy description and dialouged action scenes then... you know where this is going..)
Anyways...
Cassie I hope you soar high when you finally embrace the night, and Ill see you there.
Sincerly C.
P.S Oh yeah and get rid of the annoying geis while you're at it.
The first wasn't bad or I wouldn't have read the second but this one was better. I'm even more interested in getting my hands on the next one.
Cristal L. (chickerific) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 30 more book reviews
Good read. Great, fast paced story and humorous observations. Because, this book did not pick up right from where book one left off, I felt as if I had missed a couple chunks of the story. Either way, it's enjoyable.
This is a good book. It keeps you turning the pages with solid action throughout. My only complaint is that the main character is usualy slow on the uptake.
Rebecca D. (busymother) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 10 more book reviews
Good book.
Janet S. (poodledogs) reviewed Claimed By Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Bk 2) on + 244 more book reviews
Second in series. More magical than vampire in this story. See first book for more comments.
