I first read this book a few years ago as well as the second in the series, but never got round to reading any more of the series. I recently bought Embrace the Night (Book 3 in the series) and when I went to read it, realised I had no clue at all what had happened in the other 2 books, so had to go buy those as well.
Synopsis from Goodreads.com:
Cassie Palmer, a powerful clairvoyant who works part-time at an Atlanta club reading Tarot cards, is finding it difficult to escape her past. Orphaned at a young age and brought up by the undead, Cassie has the ability to communicate with the spirit realm, and her powers were abused time and time again by a ruthless master vampire named Tony. It's been three years since Cassie -- a self-described "ghost magnet" -- has been free of the centuries-old bloodsucker, but now he's back and eager to reclaim his human possession. Forced to turn to the Senate (a group of "really old vamps" who make laws for the supernatural community) for protection, Cassie is thrown into a complex conflict where control of the entire supernatural world is at stake. Rasputin (yes, the Mad Monk himself), a power-hungry vampire, is killing off the Senate members one by one. Aided by some impressive allies -- including Dracula's older brother, Mircea -- Cassie must use everything in her paranormal arsenal to fight the encroaching evil -- and somehow stay alive
My Review:
Cassie Palmer is a clairvoyant on the run from the vampire who brought her up from when she was just 4 years old. She ran away from him as a teenager when she found out that he had had her parents murdered so that he could harness and control both her and her powers. There had always been a rumour that one day she might be the Pythia, the cheif of all Seers, whose power is matched by no other.
After spending 3 years in hiding, Cassie finds herself back on the run and in the fight to save her life constantly. She finds out that her roommate of 6 months is actually a first-level master vampire and she is soon captured by the Senate vampires.
The Consul, leader of the Senate for North American Vampires, has been challenged by Rasputin, who himself has captured another Seer, who is also a candidate for the Pythia's power. Using her power to travel back through time, Rasputin aims to kill off the vampire he is meant to duel. No vampire made a few hundreds years ago means he has no vampire to beat now! Cassie, with the help of Tomas (her roommate) initially go back in time to one of the most horrid of all prisons in 16th Century France and help save a witch.
Later on, having realised what they are capable of doing, Cassie goes back this time with Mircea (her vampire foster father's master) and with the help of a fair few ghosts fight off Rasputin, his Seer and army.
Cassie is finally named the new Pythia, even though she desparately doesn't want the title, powers and responsibilities that go with it!
I liked this book, but do think that sometimes the author isn't totally aware of her audience. In the middle of a fight scene for example, she wrote almost an entire page about what wards are, how they are created and the different types of them. Hang on a minute, I want to know what's happening with all the vamps and ghosts fighting first, then tell me about wards! Also quite a few of the vampire characters are based on real characters from history - Louis-Cesear = The Man in the Iron Mask, Rasputin, Rafe = Rafael the Italian painter, Mircea's brother is Dracula, Jack the Ripper also makes an appearance. What happened to just having vamps without the so-called celebrity status?! Any old vamp will do, you don't need to make them sound more interesting by giving them a history we already know.
I did also think it was a bit creepy that Cassie was making out, almost had sex with and was developing feelings for Mircea, who had declared she was his since she was 11 years old! I know he's a vamp so time moves differently for him, but still isn't that just a bit too paedophile? If she had been 16 I wouldn't have minded as much, but 11 is just way too young! I know he never did anything about it, but the fact that he thought it was enough for me! I will try to forget about this bit though as I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading to rest of the series.
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