lynseyisreading's review against another edition
5.0
Don't fear the Damphir.
Ahh, so good to be back in this world! There are a select few urban fantasy authors that really take their worldbuilding seriously, and probably none quite as seriously as Ms. Chance. She knows her vampire lore inside and out, and is steadily increasing the intricate layering of her fey mythology as well, both within this, the spin-off, and the main Cassandra Palmer series. And it's fabulous stuff, let me tell you.
Everyone does vamps slightly differently, of course (although, let us never again mention the sparkly vegetarian variety, please, if you don't mind), but Chance's are without doubt my favourites. From their ability to take blood without biting, to the sense of family and loyalty they have within their feudal society, to the various extra abilities they acquire once reaching master level status. And just when you think you know exactly what it means to be a first level master, such as Mircea or Louis Cesare, there's more! And I do so enjoy the richness of it all; that no detail has been overlooked, even though I'm sure much of it doesn't even make it into the books, it's clear Chance knows the rules and limitations of her world, and that leaves us as readers feeling completely secure and able to just sit back and enjoy. Which I did!
In this instalment, we not only delve deeper into both the vampire and, to a lesser extent, the fey societies, but we also look more closely at our very own, very rare, resident damphir, Dory. Or should that be Dorina....?
She's not the only damphir in existence, but they are so rare and so short-lived, she might as well be. But we've never really examined too closely the why of it, of her. Why has Dory lived centuries longer than all other damphirs in existence? Why has she managed to stave off the insanity where none of the others have? Why wasn't she killed on sight like vamp law says she should have been? And why can't she ever remember what happens during her rages?
Wanna know? Read this book!
As well as the excellent worldbuilding, you've also got some pretty fabulous characters that are all equally fleshed-out and real. In some cases, quite literally real. Real historical people, that is. I thought the scenes with Mircea and Dory were really nicely done, and although I like Mircea in both series, it's nice to finally see him in a better light through Dory's eyes in this one. Also seen in a slightly new way were Kit and Louis Cesare. The latter of which gets a bit of a hard time from Dory. There's nothing quite as resistant as a scared damphir, it seems.
For me, though, the stand out character, the scene-stealer, the handsdown winner for best dialogue and most improved character, has to be Ray. I'm not even going to try to describe him or explain why; I wouldn't do him justice, I'm sure, but I just loved him. He has a new fan!
As is often the case with Chance's writing, although brilliant, it can sometimes seem a little hectic in places, or, in complete contrast, over explanatory in others. You've got some action scenes where it's hard to follow what's happening because everything is moving so fast—Whose foot was that that just kicked Dory in the face? You fell through where into a what now?—Then the next thing you know, you're reading a conversation over a chessboard that takes almost three entire chapters. Go figure.
Once the story had built sufficiently, however, and the mystery was in place, it was one of those books that you just wished would never end. Just keep going forever. More adventures, more fight scenes, more worldbuilding, more revelations, more sweet, sexy moments. Please just keep them coming!
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. And I'm even more sad this it will likely be two years until we get another Dory book. They are most definitely worth the wait though, much as it pains me to admit it. But please, Ms. Chance, for the sake of my sanity, couldn't you just write a little faster?
5 Stars ★★★★★
Ahh, so good to be back in this world! There are a select few urban fantasy authors that really take their worldbuilding seriously, and probably none quite as seriously as Ms. Chance. She knows her vampire lore inside and out, and is steadily increasing the intricate layering of her fey mythology as well, both within this, the spin-off, and the main Cassandra Palmer series. And it's fabulous stuff, let me tell you.
Everyone does vamps slightly differently, of course (although, let us never again mention the sparkly vegetarian variety, please, if you don't mind), but Chance's are without doubt my favourites. From their ability to take blood without biting, to the sense of family and loyalty they have within their feudal society, to the various extra abilities they acquire once reaching master level status. And just when you think you know exactly what it means to be a first level master, such as Mircea or Louis Cesare, there's more! And I do so enjoy the richness of it all; that no detail has been overlooked, even though I'm sure much of it doesn't even make it into the books, it's clear Chance knows the rules and limitations of her world, and that leaves us as readers feeling completely secure and able to just sit back and enjoy. Which I did!
In this instalment, we not only delve deeper into both the vampire and, to a lesser extent, the fey societies, but we also look more closely at our very own, very rare, resident damphir, Dory. Or should that be Dorina....?
She's not the only damphir in existence, but they are so rare and so short-lived, she might as well be. But we've never really examined too closely the why of it, of her. Why has Dory lived centuries longer than all other damphirs in existence? Why has she managed to stave off the insanity where none of the others have? Why wasn't she killed on sight like vamp law says she should have been? And why can't she ever remember what happens during her rages?
Wanna know? Read this book!
As well as the excellent worldbuilding, you've also got some pretty fabulous characters that are all equally fleshed-out and real. In some cases, quite literally real. Real historical people, that is. I thought the scenes with Mircea and Dory were really nicely done, and although I like Mircea in both series, it's nice to finally see him in a better light through Dory's eyes in this one. Also seen in a slightly new way were Kit and Louis Cesare. The latter of which gets a bit of a hard time from Dory. There's nothing quite as resistant as a scared damphir, it seems.
For me, though, the stand out character, the scene-stealer, the handsdown winner for best dialogue and most improved character, has to be Ray. I'm not even going to try to describe him or explain why; I wouldn't do him justice, I'm sure, but I just loved him. He has a new fan!
As is often the case with Chance's writing, although brilliant, it can sometimes seem a little hectic in places, or, in complete contrast, over explanatory in others. You've got some action scenes where it's hard to follow what's happening because everything is moving so fast—Whose foot was that that just kicked Dory in the face? You fell through where into a what now?—Then the next thing you know, you're reading a conversation over a chessboard that takes almost three entire chapters. Go figure.
Once the story had built sufficiently, however, and the mystery was in place, it was one of those books that you just wished would never end. Just keep going forever. More adventures, more fight scenes, more worldbuilding, more revelations, more sweet, sexy moments. Please just keep them coming!
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. And I'm even more sad this it will likely be two years until we get another Dory book. They are most definitely worth the wait though, much as it pains me to admit it. But please, Ms. Chance, for the sake of my sanity, couldn't you just write a little faster?
5 Stars ★★★★★
bookwife's review against another edition
4.0
There was soooo much going on in this book.. I really don't feel like I can write a review with out giving anything away. So I am just going to talk about randomness and then be done. You're welcome.
I have loved Dory in the first two books but in this one she kind of annoyed me, just a little bit. I mean I still love her but she is 500 years old.. 500.. And I feel like she acts like a child sometimes. I get her daddy issues and I understand that for 500 years everyone has looked at her with contempt but idk I just think after so long that you wouldn't have to point it out every time your dad upsets you. I mean EVERY time Mircea did anything that wasn't perfect she would point out that it has been like that for 500 years.. That is completely unnecessary. OH! and when anyone would try to talk she freaking interrupted them. Like the whole effing story! So a story that should have taken maybe eh 2 pages turns into 7 because everyone has to tell her to be patient and listen. Just annoying.
The opposite happened with Mircea.. I use to HATE him. I have read all the Cassie books and I just can't freaking stand him, like at all. But in this book I have grown kinda fond to him. In my opinion he is a fantastic father. Everything he has ever done was only to help Dory. And lets be honest, she is a complete bitch to him and instead of getting upset (well really Mircea never gets upset about anything but still) he remains calm and I just think that he deals with everything really well. A lot better than I would ever be able to. So I won't say that I love him and I still don't want him to end up with Cassie but I respect him. I understand why he did a lot of the things that he did in the other series.
There were times that I got completely lost.. There would be a lot of action going on and then she was waking up in a bed.. Nothing about her passing out or anything. For awhile I thought that all the bad things that were happening was a dream brought on by the fairy wine. It does explain everything in the end but it was just frustrating not knowing what the hell was going on.
I can't believe I have gone this long with out talking about Louis-Cesare! He is perfect. Seriously. I love him. I also kind of love Ray.. yeahhhhh he was kinda awesome in this book. He was funny and he kicked a lot of zombie butt. I think he is a great side character.
What I love about these books is that they line up with the other series really well. Karen Chance did a fantastic job at tying the stories together. Right now both series are around the same place in the timeline.. Well I think Dory's goes a little farther. I am excited to see what happens next in Cassie's story and see if Dory will be there. I would think she would have to be because of what happens at the end. I just think its going to be interesting.
I have loved Dory in the first two books but in this one she kind of annoyed me, just a little bit. I mean I still love her but she is 500 years old.. 500.. And I feel like she acts like a child sometimes. I get her daddy issues and I understand that for 500 years everyone has looked at her with contempt but idk I just think after so long that you wouldn't have to point it out every time your dad upsets you. I mean EVERY time Mircea did anything that wasn't perfect she would point out that it has been like that for 500 years.. That is completely unnecessary. OH! and when anyone would try to talk she freaking interrupted them. Like the whole effing story! So a story that should have taken maybe eh 2 pages turns into 7 because everyone has to tell her to be patient and listen. Just annoying.
The opposite happened with Mircea.. I use to HATE him. I have read all the Cassie books and I just can't freaking stand him, like at all. But in this book I have grown kinda fond to him. In my opinion he is a fantastic father. Everything he has ever done was only to help Dory. And lets be honest, she is a complete bitch to him and instead of getting upset (well really Mircea never gets upset about anything but still) he remains calm and I just think that he deals with everything really well. A lot better than I would ever be able to. So I won't say that I love him and I still don't want him to end up with Cassie but I respect him. I understand why he did a lot of the things that he did in the other series.
There were times that I got completely lost.. There would be a lot of action going on and then she was waking up in a bed.. Nothing about her passing out or anything. For awhile I thought that all the bad things that were happening was a dream brought on by the fairy wine. It does explain everything in the end but it was just frustrating not knowing what the hell was going on.
I can't believe I have gone this long with out talking about Louis-Cesare! He is perfect. Seriously. I love him. I also kind of love Ray.. yeahhhhh he was kinda awesome in this book. He was funny and he kicked a lot of zombie butt. I think he is a great side character.
What I love about these books is that they line up with the other series really well. Karen Chance did a fantastic job at tying the stories together. Right now both series are around the same place in the timeline.. Well I think Dory's goes a little farther. I am excited to see what happens next in Cassie's story and see if Dory will be there. I would think she would have to be because of what happens at the end. I just think its going to be interesting.
aknas22's review against another edition
4.0
Such a frenetic read! So much going on. Dory is a great character and she went through so much growth. Can't wait for the next Chance book!
crystalballer83's review against another edition
5.0
I love the blossoming relationship between Mircea and Dory, as well as between Dory and Louis-Cesare. :)
millie_rose_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Predictability isn't always a bad thing, just like unpredictability isn't always good. Fury's Kiss is predictable, and its a credit to the deliberate groundwork in the storytelling rather than a result of a hackneyed imagination. The conflicts are rooted in established characters and dynamics, and the narrative's pinball machine style of escalation, present in all Chance's books, is handled with more finesse because of it. It's an accomplishment only possible by about the third book in a series, when readers are comfortable with the world but still curious about it and capable of being surprised.
The plots of the last two started off straightforward before hurtling into muddied Fey politics. Here, mercifully, the convoluted politics remains background noise. In Fury's Kiss, Dory wakes up in a horrifying lab filled with cages, experimental abominations, and questionably poor lighting fixtures for such delicate (and monstrous) procedures—with no memory of the last couple hours and her vampire-half, Dorina, aggressively asserting herself. Once its explained to Dory that eleven senior masters died during this failed operation, Dory gives permission to Mircea to delve into her mind to retrieve those lost hours and make sense of such an unthinkable calamity.
While I never believed for the teeniest of tiniest of milliseconds that Mircea's duplicity would be treated as anything more than a particularly maddening character flaw, I am disappointed with how artificial that ambivalent tightrope of motivations on his behalf has become. There was no doubt that Mircea loves Dory; it'd be great if the story caught up to this fact. Chance has pulled every single punch when its come to Mircea's motivations so far—there's always a neat and satisfyingly (to the characters if not the reader) extenuating circumstance—and there's no reason to expect differently now or later down the line. In this respect, whether its Dory or Cassie's story being told, this go-to fake out in relation to Mircea's characterisation remains unchanged.
The most exciting development is the exploration of Dory's vampire/human duality. I loved reading from Dorina's perspective. Her voice is distinct but similar enough to Dory's to not feel too alien. The choice to have Dory empathize with Dorina quite quickly has to be the most gratifying moment in the book. It would have been easy to portray Dorina as simply villainous for a little, so it feels like the more novel choice. And with the reveal that Dorina has a lot more autonomy than previously believed (she literally goes on a killing spree while Dory sleeps, causing chaos in Dory's waking hours), I'm really excited about where this particular plot goes.
Louise-Cesare, Ray, Mircea and Marlowe all get moments to shine, and Claire is also there. I'm not even sure what Claire's role is anymore, or if she should even have one at this point.
I loved Fury's Kiss, and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.
The plots of the last two started off straightforward before hurtling into muddied Fey politics. Here, mercifully, the convoluted politics remains background noise. In Fury's Kiss, Dory wakes up in a horrifying lab filled with cages, experimental abominations, and questionably poor lighting fixtures for such delicate (and monstrous) procedures—with no memory of the last couple hours and her vampire-half, Dorina, aggressively asserting herself. Once its explained to Dory that eleven senior masters died during this failed operation, Dory gives permission to Mircea to delve into her mind to retrieve those lost hours and make sense of such an unthinkable calamity.
While I never believed for the teeniest of tiniest of milliseconds that Mircea's duplicity would be treated as anything more than a particularly maddening character flaw, I am disappointed with how artificial that ambivalent tightrope of motivations on his behalf has become. There was no doubt that Mircea loves Dory; it'd be great if the story caught up to this fact. Chance has pulled every single punch when its come to Mircea's motivations so far—there's always a neat and satisfyingly (to the characters if not the reader) extenuating circumstance—and there's no reason to expect differently now or later down the line. In this respect, whether its Dory or Cassie's story being told, this go-to fake out in relation to Mircea's characterisation remains unchanged.
The most exciting development is the exploration of Dory's vampire/human duality. I loved reading from Dorina's perspective. Her voice is distinct but similar enough to Dory's to not feel too alien. The choice to have Dory empathize with Dorina quite quickly has to be the most gratifying moment in the book. It would have been easy to portray Dorina as simply villainous for a little, so it feels like the more novel choice. And with the reveal that Dorina has a lot more autonomy than previously believed (she literally goes on a killing spree while Dory sleeps, causing chaos in Dory's waking hours), I'm really excited about where this particular plot goes.
Louise-Cesare, Ray, Mircea and Marlowe all get moments to shine, and Claire is also there. I'm not even sure what Claire's role is anymore, or if she should even have one at this point.
I loved Fury's Kiss, and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.
mdlaclair's review against another edition
3.0
The book was good overall. I did have some issues one was with Claire who just sounded like a whining b. the whole book. I just wanted her to shut up and go away since she clearly was not helping the plot any. My other issues is with the continuation of unresolved scenes. In one scene Dory gets teleported for a bedroom to a cow pasture by an blond women. However we Dory get back but there is never any talk about that scene again. I would why but it in if it never going to get talked. I feel like a lot of Ms. Chance's books there is scene jumping where the transitions from one scene to another are often awkward and abrupt.
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this a lot but I had to back up and go over a couple parts as she jumped from one reality to the next. It was ok once you got the thread of it.
The narrator did a good job. I like her voice and I never had any trouble following her beyond that of the story oddities I mentioned before.
Lots and lots of action and an ending that should be very interesting when we get to the next book.
The narrator did a good job. I like her voice and I never had any trouble following her beyond that of the story oddities I mentioned before.
Lots and lots of action and an ending that should be very interesting when we get to the next book.
lesliethewanderlust's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me awhile to get through. This second last semester of college has been hectic, so I kept picking it up and putting it down. Anyways here's my (short) review, finally!
I loved getting back into the world of Dorina and all the amazing characters like Ray and of course Dorina's somewhat boyfriend Louis-Cesare.
In Fury's Kiss Dorina learns a lot about herself, in terms of her relatioship with her father as a child and the lengths he went to, to protect her from her vampire side. I loved reading about that relationship, and what I hope to be Dorina's willingness to have a better relationship with him in the future.
Overall the book was enjoyable, there was a lot of action and revelations about the characters. I do tend to find Chance's writing to be confusing at times. Just the way some scenes are written/described. At times I have to re-read to understand how a character got from one scene to the next.
Looking forward to a future Dorina book and a Cassandra Palmer one!
I loved getting back into the world of Dorina and all the amazing characters like Ray and of course Dorina's somewhat boyfriend Louis-Cesare.
In Fury's Kiss Dorina learns a lot about herself, in terms of her relatioship with her father as a child and the lengths he went to, to protect her from her vampire side. I loved reading about that relationship, and what I hope to be Dorina's willingness to have a better relationship with him in the future.
Overall the book was enjoyable, there was a lot of action and revelations about the characters. I do tend to find Chance's writing to be confusing at times. Just the way some scenes are written/described. At times I have to re-read to understand how a character got from one scene to the next.
Looking forward to a future Dorina book and a Cassandra Palmer one!
otherwyrld's review
4.0
Karen Chance writes two series, Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Bharasab. I've always rated the latter lower than the former, not because of the absence of a certain war mage (though this may be part of it) but because I've found the authors take on vampires to be less than enthralling. Dorina is a dhampire - half human, half vampire - and is one of a long line of feisty female outsiders who have to make their way in a rigidly patriarchal society (vampires in this case). As such, she is a pretty one-note character, and I wasn't expecting to give the book anything more than 3 stars, which is my version of OK but forgettable.
It didn't start out great, with a lot of plot points that I simply didn't remember, mostly around a Fae war. The bits about the Fae were a lot more entertaining than a lot of vampire politics.
Halfway through the book, I was forced to change my opinion. There is a battle at this point that is by turns exhilarating, terrifying, and hysterically funny. Who else but Karen Chance could have had our heroine escape from a fight by using an enchanted frozen, floating vampire as an escape balloon? And then have the enchantment fail while she was still several storeys up and have to be rescued by a fallen angel?
Even more surprising is that our Dorina has some honest-to-god character development along the way, and ends the story in a very surprising place.
It all falls apart somewhat towards the end with a denouement that could have come out of Scooby Doo, but the signs for the next book are encouraging. Maybe not quite a 4 stars, possibly a high 3 1/2 but I'm back on board with this series.
It didn't start out great, with a lot of plot points that I simply didn't remember, mostly around a Fae war. The bits about the Fae were a lot more entertaining than a lot of vampire politics.
Halfway through the book, I was forced to change my opinion. There is a battle at this point that is by turns exhilarating, terrifying, and hysterically funny. Who else but Karen Chance could have had our heroine escape from a fight by using an enchanted frozen, floating vampire as an escape balloon? And then have the enchantment fail while she was still several storeys up and have to be rescued by a fallen angel?
Even more surprising is that our Dorina has some honest-to-god character development along the way, and ends the story in a very surprising place.
It all falls apart somewhat towards the end with a denouement that could have come out of Scooby Doo, but the signs for the next book are encouraging. Maybe not quite a 4 stars, possibly a high 3 1/2 but I'm back on board with this series.