Review: I liked this story from page one. Claire is a Null (or something more), someone who can nullify magic, a rarity that her 'family' wants to cash in on by selling her to the highest bidder. Heidar, a Light Elf, lends a hand in her rescue sending the two on the lam through the Faeire realm where, of course, romance and action ensue.
There isn't any explanation for the world in this story (I didn’t even realize that I was in the same world as in the Cassandra Palmer series until afterwards, which, considering how I reviewed the first Cassie book is probably a good thing); its like ours in most respects, except that it is populated with fey, weres, vampires, mages, trolls and even dragons. Some hardcore UF lovers might not enjoy this story as much as I did as the majority of the story takes place in the decidedly un-urban faeire realm, and in that sense feels more like straight fantasy. The characters, however, are strong with very modern mindsets. Claire specifically was sharp and witty with just the right amount of cynicism for my taste.
Another nice thing about this story is, that unlike a lot of anthology selections, this one actually has an ending. None of that, 'read the rest of the story in the next book...' And it feels like a complete story, something not all novellas do. I hope Ms. Chance plans on writing more about Claire and Heidar in the near future. *NOTE I WILL BE REVIEWING THE OTHER STORIES IN THIS ANTHOLOGY IN SEPERATE POSTS*
Sexual Content:
One semi graphic sex scene.
Thanks for the review, I really want to read this now! I just finished Midnight's Daughter two days ago, and it was obvious that Claire had been up to all sorts of adventures that are only very briefly relayed - the main character of Midnight's Daughter, Claire's flatmate Dory, spends most of the book looking for Claire so you hear about Claire all the way through but don't actually meet her until the end.
ReplyDeleteI think that the timeframe for Midnight's Daughter (and obviously this novella which is set at the same time as Midnight's Daughter) is actually during some of the action in the Cassie Palmer books too.
Thanks Jennynz. I definitely going to read Midnight's Daughter, and I'm glad to know Claire is involved.
ReplyDeleteDid you see my contest to win On The Prowl?
http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-1st-giveaway-on-prowl-by-briggs.html#comments
You have to read the rest of the Cassie books too, ok? Cos they are great - I liked them more than Midnight's Daughter.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win On the Prowl but I'm not in the US - I'm in New Zealand. Yeah I have a really unoriginal username!
I might. I had some issues with the first Cassie book (did you read my review?). Do they get better?
ReplyDeleteYup, actually I think I commented on your review :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty new to UF - I read Twilight (not impressed) then Sookie Stackhouse (loved) then a couple of Mercy Thompson books and then the Cassie Palmer series - so I'm thinking there are lots of as-yet-undiscovered-to-me UF books out there, but still I really enjoyed the Cassie Palmer books. The world created was a lot more complicated than anything I'd read before and yes the explanations in the first book made my head spin too! But the subsequent books are a lot easier - lots of action but a bit less explanation. Each book has a sex scene or two but I quite liked them - you'll see later in the series why the sex scene in the first book which seems totally out of place, actually isn't.
I guess too I prefer heroines who are a bit less-than-perfect and maybe a bit confused and weak, to the slayer/mercenary/kick-ass strong woman types, who I don't find very interesting. So you might find Cassie a bit "whiney" but I think that makes her more real :o)
Thanks for throwing in your two cents. I guess everyone deserves a second chance...even Cassie :)
ReplyDeleteNice review :)
ReplyDeleteI am a reading an anthology right now. But they are a bunch of really short stories. But a good way to have a look at different stories