Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer Series #1)

Great read!!

This book is one of the best urban fantasy novels I have read in a while. Everyone seems to be writing them but only a few do it well. I liked this one so much I ordered the other two and pre-ordered the next one.
Cassie Palmer has lived her whole life until 14 with a vampire mobster. She is a clairvoyant and he used her predictions to make money. She also can see ghosts and talks to them. Her mother and father were killed in a car bomb. Tony has raised her and when she finds out he has not warned the people of a major fire that she predicted, she realizes he has lied to her and used her. She very quickly disappears for three yrs. Then deciding to take Tony down she returns to him and sets him up for the FBI. Now at 20 she lives on the run and takes care of herself.
Tomas is a young man she saves off the street. She allows him to live with her and she gets him a job where she works. When she is finally found by Tony she takes the time to warn him. That allows the vamps sent by Tony to catch up with her. And reveals Tomas as a master vamp who has been sent by the Vampire Senate to protect her.
Mircea is the brother of Vlad Dracul and the maker of Tony, so he knows Cass and he is the one who sent Tomas. He and the Senate have a job for Cass and both want to use her powers.
In the last few days Cass's powers have increased and she doesn't know why. But if she can help the Senate maybe they can take care of Tony.
I loved it. If you like urban fantasy this is a must read. A true page turner!

26 out of 26 people found this review helpful.

Started off well... then died.

This book started out with a lot of promise. You have your butt-kicking heroine, you have the dark, attractive and brooding companion, and you have the initial action to get the story moving. And then it's all just kinda downhill from there.

It was boring at best with brief periods of extreme sexual tension that goes completely unfulfilled as the character is supposed to be some "chosen one" that has to remain a virgin in order to be so.

13 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

You'll need to be patient with this one

Touch the Dark has the feel of having too many good character ideas at the same time and not being able to sort through them. Overall I enjoyed the book; however, if you are not in the habit of reading, it may try your patience as the author spends what feels like a third of the book introducing character after character. Once the introductions are done, the story picks up and becomes truly intriguing with a sexy ending that definitely left me wanting more. I just have to know what's next.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

GREAT PARANORMAL SERIES

If you like non-stop action involving vampires, fae, black and white mages (magic), a dose of humor, and all that goes with it - you'll love this book and the series. Cassandra Palmer is a hot commodity by all. She "successfully" hides for three years until discovered and the fun begins. Her side-kick is a ghost who tasted the bottom of the ol' Mississippi after a poker game he was cheating at didn't go too well (for him). Considering this is the first major book by Ms. Chance, I am looking forward to a long reading experience with her. I highly recommend the whole series.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

good read

I thought this book was pretty good. A little too much detail through out the book that could have been left out and more conversation could have taken place. Good characters and setting. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes the supernatural element. A must if you want to read the series.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Complicated but worth the effort...

The first book is difficult because of the charactor & history development. I almost gave up on it but didn't because I purchased the audio book and didn't want to waste the money and I'm so glad that I gave it a chance. If you can make it through the first book you will fall in love with the series. I'm itching for the fourth book to come in the mail. itunes has the audio books for a reasonable price as well but the fourth book isn't available on audio yet?

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It just wasn't what I was hoping for

I was very excited to get this series as I'd heard a lot of good things about it. Unfortunately it just didn't live up to the hype, at least not for me. The writing was good, the characters were likeable enough, but the story dragged, it was slow and the author really over did it with making long paragraphs out of rather minor parts. Honestly it's only been a month since I finished the series and I can't tell you what the whole point was.

This might be a good series for people who enjoyed Anita Blake, it reminded me a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton's writing style.

Also, if you're looking for something close to a Paranormal Romance, this really isn't it. There is some romance, but it's an afterthought at best.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

very surprised!!!

wow!......not to sound like i'm kicking the book or anything, but this book was better than i thought it would be! when i initially read the summary, i thought it sounded like it was a book that was better suited for when you're in between books. i mean i love the whole vampire involvement thing (yeah i'm a vampire story junkie), but the storyline just sounded kind of ehhh to me...and i really hadn't expected to like it this much.
......in all honesty, i actually started reading it just to kill time and the ratings seemed well enough. but i've gotta honestly say....it ended up wayyy above my expectations. it felt kind of long and over-descriptive in the beginning but then out of nowhere it immediately started picking up. and then it seemed like a good thing that it was so descriptive. it helped draw me into the scenes. i felt like i was right there alongside her, too. i couldn't even put the book down after that. i can't wait for the second book to arrive in the mail and i'll definitely be sure to check out the anita blake series ;-)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

I read this book after I stumbled across Karen Chance's other book Midnight's Daughter. I liked that book so I picked up a copy of this series. I originally was very hesitant because I usually dont like psychics and ghosts. I am glad I took the chance. This book was awesome. It held my attention and I finished it in one day. I am a sucker (no pun intended) for a good vampire and Mircea ranks right up there with Jean-Claude(from Anita Blakes series)! I am now on the third one in the series and trust me they get better and better. I love how they incorprate the fey,weres,witches and vampires all in one book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fast-paced thriller

The world of vampires has become a popular subject in many current books, yet Karen Chance manages to bring new life to the concept. The pace of this book starts a little slow as she establishes the history of clairvoyant Cassie Palmer, now on the run from her vampire guardian. As the book progresses, however, so does the pacing. At times, you almost feel as breathless as the heroine while she dodges angry vampires and mages. What especially sets this book apart from others in the genre is the development of the characters. Each main character is complex and dynamic, and part of the fun comes from watching them grow as the book (and series) continues. Lifelike characters combined with funny dialogue and moments of intense suspense and romance make this book difficult to put down.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

entertaining supernatural thriller

Over three years ago Antonio the Mafioso vampire killed his parents who were in the way when he went to abduct Cassandra Palmer so that he could control her clairvoyance skills. She escaped and felt relatively safe until now when she reads her obit on her computer screen. Deciding not to wait for her death on Atlanta¿s Peachtree Street, Cass races home to insure her roommate Tomas is safe. However vampires attack both of them. They survive the assault with help from some of Cass¿ more spirited friends and it helps that Tomas is a vampire too. Tomas escorts Cassie to the Metaphysical Alliance for Greater Cooperation (MAGIC) headquarters for a who¿s who of supernatural and mythological species. She pleads with the vampiric Senate for protection against avenging literally blood-thirsty hitman instead the senators demand much more unsafe escapades from her. Cass is beginning to comprehend for some unknown reason she is the center of a supernatural war. As Cassie begins to understand the scope of her power, she finds herself attracted to Senator Mircea, but fears he just wants to make her dinner not take her to dinner. --- TOUCH THE DARK is an entertaining supernatural thriller starring a bewildered beleaguered brave woman struggling to survive in a world that makes no sense to her, which is saying a lot since she regularly speaks with ghosts. The action-packed story line never slows down for a nano second so wear the seat belts and set some time as this is a one read thriller. The creatures of the dark seem genuine whether they are vampire, ghost, or a were-species and the senate is a fascinating mix of historical and literary figures while a seemingly bittersweet star-crossed romance augments a strong tale that will bring much acclaim to Karen Chance. --- Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

confusing

I liked the characters and the plot.. There was alot in this book trying to be tied together. I will get the second book to see how things turn out and if her abilities make more sense down the road. I do think it has alot of potential :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another good paranormal series

For a girl who accidentally came into special powers, she is holding her own.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A Stand Out Vampire Novel

Cassandra Palmer is a woman on the run. Having escaped an evil vampire who orphaned her to use her gift of clairvoyance for illegal purposes. She was just starting to feel safe when she reads a message that she will be murdered. She decides to leave as quickly as she can, but first rushes to warn her roommate Tomas of the danger that is approaching. Everything is going fine, when suddenly all hell breaks loose. Vampires start attacking her and Tomas and she fears that she will not survive. Amazingly (and with the help of many ghosts) Cassie and Tomas fend off their attackers, but not before she finds out that the man she has been living with is a vampire himself. From there the action intensifies as Cassie is whisked away to MAGICfs (the Metaphysical Alliance for Greater Cooperation) headquarters, and meets the Senate, consisting of some of the most powerful vampires ever created. Needless to say, she realizes that she is embroiled in something beyond the scope of one vengeful vampire. There are were-creatures, mages, witches, dark and light fey and a ghost that is bound to her by a necklace she wears. Not to mention that she discovers powers that she never dreamt of and does not really want to deal with, like being transported back in time, and witnessing horrific acts. Touch The Dark is a fast paced action packed novel that never lets up. From the moment Cassiefs journey begins we are thrown into a diverse and fantastical world of magic and mayhem. The characters are so well drawn and singular that each of them could easily have their own novels. I was captivated by the seductive vampires and the periods they hailed from. Karen Chance chose some of the most fascinating historical figures to make up the Senate, she is one of the most original voices in paranormal fiction that I have ever encountered. Cassandra was a wonderful heroine, whom so many authors would have made cute or annoyingly unfunny. Not to worry here, Cassie has a wry sense of humor and takes all that comes at her with courage and grace. I mentioned the vampires right? I fell for them all, Tomas who is not as he seems at first and second glance, Mircea Vlad III Tsepesf enthralling older brother, Louis-Cé sar whose identity I will not give away...you get the idea. I also enjoyed Cassandrafs ghostly accomplice Billy Jo, who helped her through many tight spots. Touch The Dark is a gdo not missh novel for fans of vampires or fans of great storytelling. The author weaves a compelling, heart racing, erotic tale. Ms. Chancefs writing will cast a spell over you and not let you go until the cliff-hanger ending, which will only leave you wanting more. There is no doubt that we have not seen the last of Cassie, Billy Jo and the enthralling vampires that inhabited her world. It will be a long wait for me, I look forward to revisiting all of the characters that I have become so attached to. Bravo Ms. Chance for an intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable novel. Reviewed for: The Mystic Castle

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good Series! Hope there will be a book 6!

This is a fun series! I'm really hoping for a book 6 I feel like some things are left hanging. But it has been a great, quick series.

Love the whole series

I absolutely loved this series. They just keep getting better. I hope there are more to come after hunt the moon. Definitely would recommend.

Deedee

Great read!!!!!!!! But what happened nothing has come out for some time??????

Quite frankly, I find this book hard to review. I liked the pre

Quite frankly, I find this book hard to review. I liked the premise and the characters, but I find myself left with mixed feelings about the novel. It is difficult for me to put a finger on what exactly about this book made me like it less than I should have.

I liked the protagonist, Cassie. As a clairvoyant essentially raised by a vampire mafia, she is an interesting character with an intriguing background and an fascinating set of abilities. So, it’s not the main character that bothered me. The rest of the cast of characters includes a plethora of vampires, several of them representing famous faces in history such as Cleopatra, Jack the Ripper, Rasputin, and more. There are also ghosts (with whom Cassie communicates), and mages. They are pretty well-developed for the time spent with their characters and the lens through which Cassie sees them, so it’s not that either.

There is action. Oh, there is action. I am nearly certain that this is my problem with the novel. Karen Chance doesn’t give you the feeling that you are reading the first book in what will be a somewhat long series (I believe there are 5 books out now). When you start reading the novel, you hit the ground running, and never stop. Cassie is thrown through events and characters and situations at such a breakneck speed, neither she nor the reader really ever gets a chance to rest. As a result, it is sometimes hard to keep track of what is going on, which characters are currently involved, and how Cassie feels about it. There was just so much happening in this book. In a way, it felt like the last novel of a series. Not because events were resolved (because they largely were not), but because it felt like the author and the characters were in a hurry to get all of the events packed in before the end.

Despite the general feeling that you are reading a novel in the middle or end of the series, the ending seems very abrupt. I contribute this to the fact the the novel runs full-steam from page 1, thus any ending seems like a train running off a cliff. Since I liked the characters, the world, and the plot, and I want to see what happens next to Cassie, I will at least give the next book in the series a chance. Hopefully, Chance has provided a novel which feels more complete.

Keep a look out for my review of Claimed by Shadow to see my recommendations regarding this series!

Makes me want to read the next one

Ok, the story and all the history and interwoven plotlines (including time travel) is a lot to keep your head around. You really have to pay attention. But I like Cassie, she is a good strong female lead who doesn't put up with crap. The supporting characters are good also - and her relationship with Billy is funny. There is even a surprise historical tie-in that I wasn't expecting, but enjoyed.

Great read!

I enjoyed this book very much. I have read all of the Cassie Palmer books. I ordered book one for my good friend. I think that she will enjoy it as well.