*This title will be released on June 7, 2011*

Title: Hunt the Moon Author: Karen Chance Series: Cassandra Palmer #5 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Signet Select; Original edition (June 7, 2011) ISBN-10: 0451413075 ISBN-13: 978-0451413079 Sexual Content: Several sex scenes Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

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Description

Cassandra Palmer recently defeated a god, which you'd think would buy a girl a little time off. But it doesn't work that way when your job description is Pythia-the world's chief clairvoyant. Cassie is busier than ever, trying to learn about her power, preparing for her upcoming coronation, and figuring out her relationship with the enigmatic sexy master vampire, Mircea.

But someone doesn't want Cassie to become Pythia, and is willing to go to any lengths to make sure the coronation ceremony never happens- including attacking her mother before Cassie is even born.

Review

It has been a few years since I followed the Cassie Palmer series closely, somewhere back around book three I lost track of her and the too-smooth Mircea.  HUNT THE MOON not only brought me back up to speed with the action and politics of Cassie's life, but it made me fall in love with these characters in a way none of the other books ever had.

I was charmed by Cassie's insight into vampire culture, Pritkin's steadfast support, and even Mircea's glossy persona took on nuances I had never noticed before.  While I fall firmly into Pritkin's camp romantically, HUNT THE MOON contains moments that show both men to stunning advantage.

As for the action that is so characteristic of this series, Chance does a much better job writing chase scenes than I do at reading them. Though HUNT THE MOON has it's share of cart, car, and train chases that left me in the dust, Chance also gave me camaraderie, comedy and snappy dialog enough to balance it all out.

Sitting here, having just finished the book, I’m fighting the urge to pick it up and revisit certain scenes all over again.    A quiet moments with Marco, or when Pritkin and Cassie sat next to each other on a lounge chair, his hand around her ankle, or the moment when Cassie looks up at the stars, bloody, broken, and for the first time in her life, utterly without doubt... I am as surprised as anyone to have book five of a series stand me on my head and dazzle me, and even more so as I realize I could pick up HUNT THE MOON and these characters would do it again and again and again.

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
Touch the Dark Claimed By Shadow Embrace the Night Curse the Dawn	That's QUEEN Bitch To You Genre Go Round Reviews Bitten by Books

Karen Chance was kind enough to stop by today and answer some questions about her upcoming urban fantasy anthology Inked (available January 5th) which I've been drooling over for months now (how gorgeous is that cover?) January 5th is a huge day for Karen because in addition to Inked, Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, Book 2) is also releasing tomorrow and Karen has generously offered a copy of Death’s Mistress for one of you to win (see below for complete giveaway details).

Karen Chance is the author of the Cassandra Palmer series and the Dorina Basarab series. She grew up in Orlando, Florida, the home of make-believe, which probably explains a lot. She has since resided in France, Great Britain, Hong Kong and New Orleans, mostly goofing off but occasionally teaching history. She is currently back in Florida where she plans to continue writing while dodging hurricanes (and occasionally drinking a few).

 

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Book Description: Four of today's hottest urban fantasy writers together for the first time! From today's most provocative authors come four tales of urban fantasy and paranormal romance exploring body art that is more than it seems-in a world of magic and mayhem that always leaves its mark. This captivating tattoo theme surrounds each author's popular characters and worlds: Karen Chance's war mage Lia de Croissets, Marjorie M. Liu's demon-hunter Maxine Kiss, Yasmine Galenorn's Otherworld Intelligence Agency operative Camille D'Artigo, and Eileen Wilk's Lupi world.

Interview

ATUF: “Skin Deep” is the title of your story in Inked. Can you give us a teaser of what it's about?

KC: It’s about Lia de Croissets, a half-werewolf who works with the War Mage Corps, a kind of supernatural police force. Her boyfriend, a werewolf named Cyrus, goes missing about the same time that the corpses of other Weres start showing up having been skinned alive. The story is about her search for Cyrus while also attempting to find out who the killer is. I have the first chapter posted to my site at http://www.karenchance.com/books_sd.html.

ATUF: "Skin Deep" is a continuation of the characters you introduced in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology story "Rogue Elements" and the Strange Brew anthology story "Vegas Odds."  What order should we read these in? Can "Skin Deep" be read as a stand alone?

KC: The order is “Rogue Elements”, “Vegas Odds” and “Skin Deep”, but I believe they all pretty much stand alone. I try to make all of my shorter pieces do so, as not everyone buys every anthology.

ATUF: “Skin Deep” is set in the same world as your Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab series.  Any chance we'll run into some familiar characters?

KC: Caleb crosses over, as does Sebastian. I think that’s all in this one, though. One of the things I like about doing the Lia stories is that they allow me to show a different side of the world I usually write. So while crossovers are possible, they probably won’t be frequent.

ATUF: How did you come up with the idea of the War Mage Corps?  And can you tell us a little about this supernatural police force?

KC: Every society of any complexity needs a peace keeping force of some kind, and it seemed reasonable that a magical community would need a strong one because of the abilities of the people they have to reign in. The War Mage Corps is therefore made up of mages with greater than usual powers, who are trained to keep the magical community safe and, as much as possible, law abiding. They tend to be a lot more autonomous than human police, with the ability to act in emergencies without direct orders from above. Think a bunch of supernatural James Bonds and you kind of have the idea. Of course, people with that kind of power can be dangerous if they get out of control themselves, which makes for some interesting story lines.

ATUF: I loved the characters of Lia and Cyrus, any chance these two will eventually get their own full length novel? Or better yet their own series?

KC: Thank you, I enjoy writing both of them. As for their own novel, it’s something I would like to do, but that decision rests more with the powers that be at my publishing company than with me. I do plan to write more about them, though, in some format.

ATUF: What are some of the challenges unique to writing short stories/novellas as opposed to full length novels?  Do you have a preference?

KC: I vastly prefer writing novels. A short story has to incorporate all the aspects of a novel—characterization, plot, world building, etc.--in a much more compact form. I always find them far more challenging than doing longer works, although I always like my shorter pieces when they are finished.

ATUF: Do you have a favorite story in this anthology?

KC: I liked them all. I think it’s a very strong anthology with some great stories. And, no, I’m not just saying that because I’m in it!

ATUF: All of the stories in Inked involve tattoos. Do you have any tattoos, magical or otherwise, that you can share with us?

KC: No. I’m a certified coward. I’m afraid that the idea of getting stabbed by a needle several thousand times doesn’t appeal.

 ATUF: I don't think I've seen a cover for any of your books that aren't gorgeous (the Cassandra Palmer covers are consistently stunning), but Inked has to be my favorite so far.  Did you have any influence on the final design?

KC: I have always been very fortunate in the cover art my books have received. And I was thrilled to discover that they’d decided to use Lia for the Inked cover. I hadn’t had any hints on that before I received it, so it was a very nice surprise. But other than for providing the subject, I can’t take any credit for the design.

ATUF: I love hearing about what my favorite authors are reading? Can you tell us some of your favorite urban fantasy books?

KC: Too many to name, really. There are some awesome authors out there right now. In paranormal romance, my favorite would have to be Nalini Singh, who does some great world building in her books (which is one of my favorite things). In UF, I’m enjoying Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series, which just seems to get better and better. And, of course, the ladies in the anthology with me—Marjorie Liu, Yasmine Galenorn and Eileen Wilkes—all rock!

ATUF: What projects do you have coming up next?

KC: Well, I’m not sure if “next” is the right word, as it’s coming out concurrently with Inked, but my second Dorina Basarab novel, Death’s Mistress, hits the shelves in January. I’ve also just finished a short story for the Chicks Kick Ass anthology, due out in 2011, and I’m currently working on the fifth Cassandra Palmer novel.

Thank you so much Karen for letting me pick your brain a little.  Come back anytime!

Books and anthologies by Karen Chance:

Cassandra Palmer series
1. Touch the Dark (2006)
2. Claimed By Shadow (2007)
3. Embrace the Night (2008)
4. Curse the Dawn (2009)

Dorina Basarab, Dhampir series
1. Midnight's Daughter (2008)
2. Death's Mistress (2010)

Anthologies

• On the Prowl
• Wolfesbane and Mistletoe
• The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
• Strange Brew
• Inked

Giveaway

Karen is giving away a copy of her new book: Death's Mistress

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. So far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing.

Back home in Brooklyn after the demise of her insane uncle Dracula, Dory’s hoping her life is about to calm down. But then she gets some visitors. A friend wants Dory’s help in finding a magical Fey relic, and the gorgeous vampire, Louis-Cesare, is desperate to find his former mistress Christine.

Dory and Louis-Cesare quickly discover that the same master vampire Christine is bound to is also rumored to be in possession of the relic. But when the master vampire turns up dead, they realize that there’s more at stake than a missing mistress. Someone is killing vampire Senate members, and if Dory and Louis-Cesare can’t stop the murderer, they may be next…

Read a sample chapter here. Look for Death's Mistress on January 5, 2010!

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES

1. Open US residents only
2. Must be a follower or subscribe via email (right sidebar)
3. You must include your email - [at] [dot] is fine
4. Leave a comment about this interview or answer the question: what would your magical tattoo look like?
5. Entries must be received by Midnight MST on January 11th

Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, Book 1) by Karen Chance

 

Book Blurb: Cassandra Palmer can see the future and communicate with spirits-talents that make her attractive to the dead and the undead.  The ghosts of the dead aren't usually dangerous; they just like to talk...a lot. The undead are another matter. Like any sensible girl, Cassie tries to avoid vampires.  But when the bloodsucking Mafioso she escaped three years ago finds Cassie again with vengeance on his mind, she's forced to turn to the vampire Senate for protection. The undead senators won't help her for nothing, and Cassie finds herself working with one of their most powerful members, a dangerously seductive master vampire-and the price he demands may be more than Cassie is willing to pay...

 

Mini Review: Anyone who knows a thing or two about Greek mythology would instantly be intrigued about the heroine of this series because Cassandra Palmer is a seer.  Urban Fantasy Land asked Karen Chance about the mythological inspiration for her character:

UFL: As far as my Greek mythology knowledge goes Cassandra is one of the most talented seer back in her time. As the myth goes she was cursed by the gods to make the greatest premonitions and yet no one to believe her. Is there some parallel between this Cassandra and your Cassandra?

KC:Quite a bit, in fact. Cassie came by her position in a roundabout sort of way, and as the series begins, few in the supernatural community are willing to accept her or pay much attention to anything she has to say. Also, the original Cassandra wasn’t cursed by the gods so much as cursed by a god, the lover she’d spurned. He’d given her her ability and expected to control her, although that didn’t turn out quite like he’d planned. Something similar happens to Cassie, who also tends to be rather independent minded. (click here to read the entire interview)

I’m a huge Greek mythology buff, so right out of the gate, I was psyched for this book (plus I still think the cover is beautiful).  And in terms of the character of Cassandra, I wasn’t disappointed.  Cassie is brave and resourceful, if a bit foolish and occasionally whiny, and I mostly understood her motives.  But the problem for me was that I wish that the author has shown a bit--okay a lot--more restraint in the plotting of this book.  As it is, there is so much going on in this book(ghosts, time-travel,  paranormal senates, magical tattoos, body possession, vampire mafia, mages, witches, talking shrunken heads, Greek mythology etc.)  that is hard to take in.  In this first book alone, there is more than enough plot for an entire series.  Not that the story or the supernatural world that Cassandra lives in isn't interesting, quite the opposite.  But as a reader, I didn't get to enjoy it very much because I was constantly being crammed with plot, plot, and more plot (except for the abrupt and extremely graphic--and long-- sex scene that seemed very out of place given the tone of the rest of the book).

I would have liked to become more slowly immersed into the world rather then getting thrown in and never being allowed to come up for air.  I would have read the rest of the series if the former had been true rather then the latter, assuming that the over the top graphic sex scene hadn't been included.  Maybe Cassandra would have fared better too. Oh well.

Sexual Content: Two sex scenes (one of which is extremely extremely long and graphic).