A review by aphelia88
Brave the Tempest by Karen Chance
5.0
Shortly before this book was released, Karen Chance announced that she had been dropped by her publisher (!!!), and I was terribly afraid that she might have set up a sort of finale, just when her two series (Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab) are finally starting to come together.
Thankfully, this is another entertaining, rollercoaster read that demands future adventures! Chance keeps getting better with each book, and continues to raise impossibly high stakes. She's one of my favourite authors, and she is the type of author that, as a reader, you have to let go of second-guessing and trust, and just go along for the ride. She writes action scenes so vividly that the books feel cinematic!
It's hard to believe that only four months have passed since Cassie became Pythia, with all the time-jumping and her ever-increasingly-complicated life. But Cassie is finally starting to act instead of react, and is seriously considering her priorities for the first time. She has figured out what she wants: her Court in good order, the War Council (demons, vampires and mages) working together to win the War, and Pritkin (YAY!!!). At long last she is clear about her feelings for Mircea (this is one of the most frustrating love triangles I've ever read) and ready to move forward and become the best Pythia she can be.
Unfortunately, the Universe has other ideas and the world - and the coming War - keeps getting in the way. Although Cassie's wacky and wonderful sense of humour remains intact, this is a much darker book as the events of the previous novel with the fight between Apollo and Ares weigh heavily on her and her many new responsibilities multiply.
Everyone - including her own Court - is under the mistaken impression that Cassie's demigod heritage makes her invincible and all powerful, and she is confronted by her power limitations at every turn. But she cannot set people straight lest she give the impression that she - and thus the Pythian office and Court - is weak, which would make them all a target.
And having actually gone to Hell and back to save Pritkin and his soul, Cassie finally has him back safe and sound. Only to have him rushing off on secret missions and not acting at all like himself - they saved the world together but they still can't catch a break!
Cassie also talks with Dorina for the first time and it's so exciting that the two storylines are FINALLY starting to converge! I can't wait for the next book
Thankfully, this is another entertaining, rollercoaster read that demands future adventures! Chance keeps getting better with each book, and continues to raise impossibly high stakes. She's one of my favourite authors, and she is the type of author that, as a reader, you have to let go of second-guessing and trust, and just go along for the ride. She writes action scenes so vividly that the books feel cinematic!
It's hard to believe that only four months have passed since Cassie became Pythia, with all the time-jumping and her ever-increasingly-complicated life. But Cassie is finally starting to act instead of react, and is seriously considering her priorities for the first time. She has figured out what she wants: her Court in good order, the War Council (demons, vampires and mages) working together to win the War, and Pritkin (YAY!!!). At long last she is clear about her feelings for Mircea (this is one of the most frustrating love triangles I've ever read) and ready to move forward and become the best Pythia she can be.
Unfortunately, the Universe has other ideas and the world - and the coming War - keeps getting in the way. Although Cassie's wacky and wonderful sense of humour remains intact, this is a much darker book as the events of the previous novel with the fight between Apollo and Ares weigh heavily on her and her many new responsibilities multiply.
Everyone - including her own Court - is under the mistaken impression that Cassie's demigod heritage makes her invincible and all powerful, and she is confronted by her power limitations at every turn. But she cannot set people straight lest she give the impression that she - and thus the Pythian office and Court - is weak, which would make them all a target.
And having actually gone to Hell and back to save Pritkin and his soul, Cassie finally has him back safe and sound. Only to have him rushing off on secret missions and not acting at all like himself - they saved the world together but they still can't catch a break!
Cassie also talks with Dorina for the first time and it's so exciting that the two storylines are FINALLY starting to converge! I can't wait for the next book