Claimed by Shadow (Cassandra Palmer)

This book is like a bad casserole. Everything you ever heard about in the paranormal genre is here messing around and making a conglomeration
that is not only hard to swallow, but annoys the mental digestion. So we got a friendly ghost over here, an unfriendly golem over there, we gotcha' basic dark fae and light fae, we got houses that fly like in the Wizard of Oz and of course, vampires and too many war mages too count. But what we don't have is a plausible story line that one can follow in any kind of linear fashion. We don't have a clear vision of who the bad guys/good guys are and finally, why the heck do we care about any of these people? Where are the EDITORS out there?? Still, I was interested enough to buy this book and the next one--so cha-ching--who's the bigger fool?

It was with much yell out loud, hand-shaking anticipation that I picked up Claimed By Shadow the moment it landed in the stores.

The story picks up almost immediately after the end of book 1. Cassie is on a mission to locate the whereabouts of her ex-master - the vampire Tony - as well as her rival to the title of Pythia - Myra - who continues to possess the power to time travel and could prevent Cassie from ever being born.

Along the way, we are introduced to several new characters - among which include several incubus, 3 little old ladies who are more than what they appear to be, several species of the fae and even a zombie or two!

Cassie is still stubbornly refusing to complete the ritual that will grant her the title of Pythia, and the Powers That Be are NOT HAPPY at this situation. Towards the end of the book, the question of whether or not Cassie becomes Pythia is answered, and new alliances are formed that will be as surprising as it is unexpected.

Perhaps I had set my expectations way too high (what can I say, the first book - Touch the Dark - was just THAT GOOD), but the sequel didn't capture me the way I was expecting. Don't get me wrong. The writing is still fabulous, and the pace is still fast, exciting and action-packed. MOST of the returning characters, and some of the new ones, are as fascinating as ever. So what happened?

Basically, my gripe is with the main character - Cassie. In book one, we have this excellent female lead who experiences great character development as the story unravels. As she learns about her growing powers, it is like watching a caterpillar slowly emerge into a beautiful butterfly. The book ends with her becoming this empowered individual who wouldn't take crap from anyone, no matter how powerful or seductive they were.

But in book 2, it seemed to me like the butterfly was morphing back into a caterpillar. I started feeling somewhat annoyed at how indecisive the heroine had become. She questioned every little thing, and put off making any major decisions until she had no other choice. Every decision she DID end up making seemed to place her group in greater peril.

And some of her actions did not make sense at all. One case in point - who in the world would leave powerful, known to be magical items in the hands of an unknown servant who ultimately works for her most hated vampire enemy? I can cite several other such examples, but I would be giving too much of the story away. And when all her decisions end up proving somewhat disastrous, what does our stalwart heroine do? Shrug her shoulders and push the problem to the back of her mind (until it inevitably comes back to bite her in the butt).

However, the development of other characters do make up for the disappointment caused by Cassie. We get to understand more of the motivations behind Pritkin the fanatical war mage and he fleshed out into a well developed character who straddles the thin line between friend and foe. One new character - Mac - does not get much screen time, but whatever he does get manages to intrigue and engage the reader. And of course, the actions of the rascally ghost Billy and Pritkin's golem provide several of the comical moments in the book.

If not for the seeming regression of the main lead (which to me counts as a major crime and thus warrants deducting 1 star), this book would otherwise rate as a 5.

I barely made it through the 1st chapter because closing the audiobook!

It's really That bad, due to the AWFUL narrator, Cynthia Holloway!

She's just reading the script with NO emotions, just pronouncing the words and phrases correctly like she's suppose to but.. it's DULL!

I removed all traces of the Karen Chance audiobooks and will have to READ the library edition book IF I ever want to know anything about the book!

Ms. Holloway SHOULD listen to Kim Harrison's Hollow series with Marguerite Gavin as the narrator who has perfected and IS the female lead character, Rachel Morgan.
Now, THAT book series is pretty good, though the middle books weren't that good compared to the earlier volumes or the latest version, Black Magic Sanction, but, overall, that series is very good (watch out for "The Outlaw Demon Wails" as the narrator was changed for 1 of the titles which is why Ms. Gavin was brought back afterwards).

This book "MAY" be good to some but they really had to endure the narrator's almost monotone voice and UN-emotional narration which killed the book!

Worse.. the narrator is the SAME for all 3 audiobooks!

AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!

The story of the second book of the Cassie Palmer series, Claimed by Shadow, is as amazing as the first book.
This book has it all... packed with action, great characters, great storyline, humor, romance...
What an amazing follow up !

This book was better than the first in the series. Cassie's interaction with several of the characters is extremely entertaining. Billie gives the humorous edge just like Jinx in Kim Harrison's novels (not saying these books are as good as Kim Harrison's, but I'm just saying it also offers a funny character). I think Cassie is great. She is a bit relatable -- doesn't act like a superhero freak as many other books depict their heroes/heroines. Loved it.

I actually liked the sequel better than the first. Cassie is wiser and stronger; although she is still learning. I liked the interplay between characters. Cassie is back after battling it out with Myra in the first book. Basically, she cannot trust anyone and desperately needs to find Antonio and Myra, for two different reasons, while escaping from pretty much everyone. She also struggles with the idea of remaining Pythia. The book starts off at a fast pace and rarely lets up. There are a number of possible male love interests introduced. My only hope is that the author does not turn her into a overly promiscuous character whose only plot line is to "justifiably" create ways for her to be a big slut puppy. This has happened in a lot of other popular series (i.e. Laurel K. Hamilton) and while I like a good sex scene as much as the next person, it should at least be relevant to the plot and character relationhips rather than contrived porno. So, I really like Mercia, Pritken, Cassanova, etc. but it would be nice if she eventually creates an actual bond with one or two rather than all. All in all it was a good book. I do not want to offer any spoilers, so, I'll just say it is definately worth getting this book.

All the Cassie Palmer books are great! A must read for any "un-dead" fans! While they are not exactly your straight forward story, that is was keeps you intriged and addicted. They all leave you guessing and wondering! Just enough loving to keep the romance alive but not enough so you'll be totally certain of what will happen next. All I can really say, is when is the next going to come along!

You would think that with all the vampire books I've read that I wouldn't want to read another series but I got this book and couldn't stop reading it until I was done. This series is a must have for Kim Harrison fans!

Wonderful read--unless you're like the previous reviewer and only read romance novels, which this isn't. It's a well-written, witty, funny and engaging urban fantasy. One of the best series in the genre, in my opinion.

I loved the first book (Touch the Dark) and anxiously awaited the sequel. I was thrilled to find it was even better! Smart, sexy, funny, intense, like nothing else in the genre. Can't recommend it highly enough for fantasy, mystery or thriller fans.

All the Cassie Palmer books are great! A must read for any "un-dead" fans! While they are not exactly your straight forward story, that is was keeps you intriged and addicted. They all leave you guessing and wondering! Just enough loving to keep the romance alive but not enough so you'll be totally certain of what will happen next. All I can really say, is when is the next going to come along!