Dorina Basarab is a dhampir-half-human, half-vampire. Back home in Brooklyn after the demise of her insane Uncle Dracula, Dory’s hoping her life is about to calm down. But soon Dory realizes someone is killing vampire Senate members, and if she can’t stop the murderer, her friends may be next…
Death’s Mistress
By karenchance
I love Karen Chance’s books and this one is no exception even though it wasn’t my favorite. There was one very long scene in particular that added nothing to the plot and could have been trimmed significantly without losing the direction of the story. Aside from that, I loved it. The dialogue is sharp and witty. The character interactions are fun. Will read them all.
<3 <3 <3
It was ok. Not as amazing as her first series. My expectations were too high from the first series.
I love Dory! In Death’s Mistress she gets herself into trouble with the fey once again. This time by accident. She’s working for Mircea/NA Senate to shut down down a smuggling ring and steps into the middle of a much bigger problem. All in the middle of the ley line racing championship.
In this book we meet Ray, a mid level vamp that everyone wants to kill. His cranky sarcastic attitude provides a lot of hilarious one liners throughout the book. Plus Olga the mountain troll has decided to become Dory’s secretary and several of her family members regularly bunk over. And of course more Stinky and Louis-Cesare!
Dory is one of my all time favorite characters. She kicks ass, takes many beatings and never loses her snark. All while trying to keep her friends alive and stay sane. “He looked fascinated, like a scientist confronted by a strange new species: dontgiveadamnus from the phylum couldntcareless.”
Another fun ride in Dory’s world. Karen chance writes such amazing stories. Full of adventure, action, fun, great characters. Never a dull moment.
Dorina is working on the vampire task force that is trying to end the smuggling in and out of faerie. While on a routine recovery mission, Dorina is swept up into the political world of the vampire senates. The European Consul is trying to bring Louis-Cesar back onto the European Senate while Mircea tries to negotiate his continued stay on the North American Senate.
Used to being outside of the vampire hierarchy, her usual sass and devil may care attitude cause trouble for her father and fellow task force member, Louis-Cesar. In a race against time, Dorina must try and catch a killer before Louis-Cesar is tried for the crime before the European Senate who want to see him guilty.
While the first book set up Dorina’s family and their history, this book expands on the supernatural world. I think it’s hinting at a shake up of this world and how Dorina fits in it.
There is a slight reference to Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series, but nothing that would spoil that series. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it.
Death’s Mistress starts off with Dorina doing mercinary work with the Senate. She now hunts down the vampires that are breaking Senate rules, cuts off their head, and drops the head onto Mircea’s desk while collecting her money. Immortals have to pay their bills and this is steady work.
Claire has been gone from Earth for about a month to seemingly be happily wed in Faerie. In Midnight’s Daughter she was being hunted by Aesubrand for becoming pregnant with the future heir. It shouldn’t be a surprise that her time in Faerie hasn’t been all that pleasant. The time streams of the two worlds do not match up and Claire has been gone long enough to have had a 9 month old son, Aiden, that mysterious Fey are trying to murder. The resolution to this problem should have been the rune all the heirs to the throne wear after their first birthday. The rune makes the wearer impossible to kill. The threat to Aiden’s life is unending and the ceremony to put the rune on him is moved up, but not fast enough. Aiden’s babysitter is killed and Claire grabs her kid and books it out of Faerie to hide with Dory.
The oh so important rune is stolen from the royal Fey, taken to Earth to be sold fast, and instead becomes the motive in a large number of murders. Every head honcho in the supernatural community wants this rune. Mircea and Ming-de are two of the very select interested parties at the auction. It was being passed from the Fey that originally stole it onto the runner of the auction when murder happens, and the rune goes missing. Again. It could be anywhere with anyone and Aiden is still vulnerable. Dory becomes the official envoy of the Blarestri princess and kicks down doors looking to get it back.
Death’s Mistress is golden. A unique aspect of the Dorina series is the inclusion of the Fey in the story. Typically supernatural species stay in their own stories. A dhamphir knows vampires better than demons so why stray from those characters? Chance builds up two complex worlds and tangles them together masterfully. Plenty of characters from the first novel appear in the second. Olga sells weapons in a beauty shop. Stinky is losing his baby teeth and being a strange fluffy child. Mircea and Marlowe make some appearances individually and together. Ray, the auction holder, is a highlight of the book. We get to meet Christine, L-C’s former mistress and eternal damsel. I’m sad that we don’t get to see her again. She was such a fun ditzy character turned psycho.
Audiobook review: I really enjoyed this audiobook. Non-stop action from the beginning, the witty banter, likable characters, unexpected twists, the intimate scenes, and tough as nails heroine provide hours of entertainment! The narrator did an awesome job!!
Dory rocks!
I love Dorina Basarab, she’s a badass damphir. Karen Chance has created a complex supernatural world. The action is fast paced and action laced. In this book Dorina has to find a powerful rune stolen from her fey princess roommate and solve some horrible murders. The suspect is one that she’ll do everything to defend. She also delves deeper into the relationship with her father Micrea Basarab. She’s up against powerful foes. Can she solve the murders, help her friend and get the man she wants? Well, you’ll just have to read the book and find out.
I have reread both the Cassie Palmer which the author build the world around, and the Dorina Basarab series that follow along the Cassie Palmer series. I highly recommend you read them all.