All caught up with the Cassie Palmer books by Karen Chance

I have to start off by saying that the biggest plus to this is how well the book matches my blog background, haha.

Just forewarning that I do have a bit of a rant ahead in general, and it contains some spoilers.

I was considering writing more, but I realized this would either be super long or fairly short, so I’m taking the shorter route.  After much lauding I finally got around to the Cassie Palmer Saga.  I expected a lot of action and supposedly a ton of love interests that would leave me not knowing which team I shipped.  That’s not really my thing but I gave it a try anyway…and this series only affirms why is isn’t.  The series kicks off with a ton of options, but by the 5th book there’s really only two as one was swept under the rug.  The first one gets a little side story that I’m in the middle of reading now (though it feels like such an afterthought since I know the character literally goes nowhere) after he’s just used as a plot device to take Cassie’s virtue.

As for the other two, they are at least interesting as characters in their own right, but I really have a hard time even beginning to talk about their complications with Cassie.  You have Pritkin (the overwhelming fan favorite), who starts out trying to kill her, yet they end up in a partnership and grow close over the course of the series.  Then there’s Mircea, super mysterious vampire, Dracula’s big bro, Senate member, and super sexy to boot who is Cassie’s current boyfriend, though it’s hard to tell most times.  The only real reason for their attraction initially was because of a spell.  With that done, why still go there with Pritkin obviously poised to be end game?   Mircea’s busy trying to lock her away, never telling her anything and then Pritkin’s always around for the action.  To me it just doesn’t feel like a real contest, so I was really irritated to hear the “L” word (for “love” not “lesbian”~_^) thrown around for Cassie and Mircea and then you have the kind of ending for this book where it’s very obvious she loves Pritkin and vice-versa.  Her issues with Mircea are dragged out and out and out to where it now just seems stupid.   I just don’t really see the point of them being together. I feel like it’s been books since Cassie can’t figure out who a special brunette girl is that Mircea keeps photos of.  Of course, if you’re not Cassie you know it’s Dorina, Mircea’s daughter (only because she’s the focal character in the spin-off series).  And actually as I think about it, it’s been 3 years, 3 Cassie Palmer books, and 2 Dorina books. What gives?

So after 5 books, I officially declare that I am not “Team Pritkin” or “Team Mircea”. Cassie ruins both for me.  I’m not sure if others aren’t quite bothered because as far as Pritkin’s concerned, it’s a matter of “when” they get together, not “if,” so pretty much anything Karen Chance throws in there in the meantime means nothing.  But that just doesn’t jive with me.  I don’t support either ship enough to validate essentially making Cassie…kind of a hoe.  Not really sure what else you can call it.  Cassie doesn’t really think on it much herself, be it before or after which is even more stupid.

I’m also not a huge fan of the pace.  It’s super fast and a lot of the action is really difficult to get into.  I have taken a liking to her body guard, Marco.  Sometimes you just feel bad for the guy since he’s pretty much responsible for Cassie and she’s always off nearly getting herself killed.  No, she can’t sit tight and look pretty, but there’s got to be a middle ground. Neither side is wrong per se.

I was strongly considering the Dorina Basarab series, but I hear that it’s just as fast-paced and on-the-go as Cassie Palmer.  A better lead female (at least for me because I’m not a Cassie fan at all) and no stupid “triangle” would be a plus, but the pacing usually exhausts me and I just READ the stuff so I’m not sure if I want to get to that right away.  There are a number of other series in the TBR pile that I’m more excited to get around to in the meantime.

Not sure if I will keep up with this series or not. I may read a couple of spoilers first. I would wait until couple of books are out, but I suspect that too much Cassie at once is more irritating than one every year, so I’m at a loss… We’ll just see how I feel in 2012. I mostly want to see what happens to Pritkin (as a character, not a love interest though I predict she’ll end up with him), but since Book 6 won’t be the final book I can expect the same song and dance, dragging it all out.

This article has 10 Comments

    1. You know, I think I would totally LOVE the pairing if it were from Pritkin’s POV (I enjoy his character better than Cassie), but I think you’re going to get your wish. Their development feels a lot more significant, you know?

  1. I’ve read both series and I like Dorina’s much better but it is fast moving since she’s a fighter. I’m glad you brought up the point that Cassie continually cheats on Mircea with Pritkin and doesn’t seem bothered by it and the all knowing Mircea never finds out. I’ll keep reading the series because I have to find out what happens but I find myself looking forward to the Dory series much more.

    1. Good to know, Gwendalla (would you mind if I called you Gwen in the future? I’m a sucker for nicknames, lol). I think I’m okay with fast-paced now since I will have had a break. I think reading all of the Cassie books back to back is what did me in. Dory is in my top 20 tbr so I should definitely get to it next year.

  2. I still have only read the first two. Have the next two to read though. It’s pretty good but so far hasn’t grabbed me like some of the other series so I havent been rushed to get it.

  3. I agree with you that the love triangle should be drop since the Cassie Mircea angle is just a waste. Same issue over and over. why can’t she just move on. after reading book 2, it was already a given that she’ll end up with Pritkin. They were together all the time and she only had what? 10mins with Mircea 🙂 So of course she’ll be more open with him than the other one.

    I kind of love & hate her. and I find her irritating and a bit dumb. I mean, why is she always doing things without thinking about it first? and why can’t she just accept the Pythia whole heartedly since her life will still be the same with or without it. Normal life is over-rated in her supernatural world. Funny thing is, she has trust issue. Can’t stand/forgive being lied, betrayed and manipulated but she’s doing all of that. Doesn’t she realize that by making out with both men behind their backs she’s doing the very thing she doesn’t want done to her? She have lots of other flows I can think of but I still kinda like her ‘coz no matter what she’s still there to help her so
    called friends like with Tomas. Well, Dori is better than her and I love her love/hate relationship with LC. I just hope on the next installment of Cassandra Palmer, Cassie will improve a bit.

  4. I’m with Mircae. He’s sexy and powerful but yeahhh… sorta not the one for her but at the same time Pritkin rubs me the wrong way. He hates her because she can use her power against him and all that jazz so… I feel like Mircae is the Eric Northam to Cassie’s Sookie and Pritkin is just bill. Although… Hah help me! I’m caught up in this equally dissatisfying love triangle. If only Mircae will be there more and i wish… well Louis is for Dory…

  5. So since I’m completely obsessed with that whole ‘second love interest’ trope and I’m a sucker for the evil (not jerks who act superior like Mircea) guy turned ally turned lover to the MFC like Pritkin and Trent Kalamack and Rhysand from ACOTAR and you get the point . . . I was wondering if you could recommend me some other PNR/UF book series where there’s guys like that as an option for the MFC. All the books I’ve tried lately ended up with the girl choosing the first guy —> that being the one who makes her all whiny and ugh.

    1. Hi Camille! Sorry for the reply and hope you still spot this. I think the Court of Thorn and Roses series might have what you’re looking for when it comes to that sort of thing. Have you read that one yet?

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