Half-human, half-vampire Dorina Basarab is back–and facing her biggest challenge yet in the next urban fantasy in the New York Times bestselling series.Dorina Basarab is a dhampir–half-human, half-vampire. As one of the Vampire Senate’s newest members, Dory already has a lot on her plate. But then a relative of one of Dory’s fey friends goes missing. They fear he’s been sold to a slaver who … sold to a slaver who arranges fights–sometimes to the death–between different types of fey.
As Dory investigates, she and her friends learn the slavers are into something much bigger than a fight club. With the Vampire Senate gearing up for war with Faerie, it’ll take everything she has to defeat the slavers–and deal with the entirely too attractive master vampire Louis-Cesare….
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A grab-you-by-the-throat-and-suck-you-in sort of book.
Very entertaining entry in the dhampir series by Karen Chance. The best is also what might turn off some readers: there is SO much action packed into this book that I personally found it a bit overwhelming. It became rather over-the-top but some readers might find that pace more fun than I did. I found the comic aspect to be enjoyable but the focus was clearly on the non-stop action and kick-ass-violence.
Dory and Dorina have always been two separate entities, in Shadow’s Bane we see Dory acknowledge that both sides of her mind are fighting and Dorina is stronger. Unable to know when Dorina is going to take over, Dory pushes back against anyone who loves her in order to protect them against the growing threat that is her other self. While Dory fights to survive she also takes on fey slavers who run underground fey fights. As if that isn’t enough, Dory must contend with those wanting her Senate seat trying to kill her for it.
This is one non stop action sequence after another as Dory combats both physically and mentally against vampires, fey and herself.
4.5 Stars – I’m still very much in love with this series.
I couldn’t even remember anymore what happened in the previous books so I jumped right into this kind of blind. Maybe that was the reason why I was confused at times. The story changed POV every other chapter and jumped back and forth in time which was only revealed later on as to why.
I loved the unpredictability because there’s no way to know what will happen next with this series and its crazy characters. The author is just so incredibly talented.
It’s really hard to say anything about this story without giving too much away. This book continued the crazy life of Dory and her skills of survival. Since she became a senator, life didn’t become easier. But Dory isn’t alone anymore and has a lot of friends to help her uncover secrets and fight against the bad guys wanting to destroy who knows what this time. The list of villains is seemingly endless and still not really known. The mystery was still very much there and had me captivated as always. Of course there was also a lot of action and even some emotional moments that we hadn’t experienced so far yet between Dory and a certain someone. 😉
Dory wants to save everyone but gets in the crossfire every time, add to that all her enemies who try to kill her along the way. This story also gave a lot more insight on what Mircea did for her back in the day to save her, which I was really intrigued about although I’m not much of a fan of him. But I loved to get to know more about Dory/Dorina, all the now developments that happened and the uncovering of what the bad guys did. I just loved all of it. I really did. It might have been a bit detailed at times but I couldn’t deny how talented this author is in writing her exceptionally amazing stories! Well, I do love Cassie a little bit more than Dory but there’s no denying how crazy badass Dorina is. And I miss my Pritkin =P
As always, excellent writing, lots of detailing and stuff happening seemingly all at once. This is what I love from this author’s books and why hers are my favorite fantasy stories. I hardly read any others. But since I’m a non-native English speaker, it’s a harder book for me to read and partly reason for my confusion. All I want to say is that I loved this no matter how hard it was for me to read compared to lots of those contemporary romances that I usually read. For all the fantasy fans out there this is a must read series (of course so is the Cassie Palmer series).
Writing reviews for this author’s books are a lot harder for me because her stories are so complex to even comprehend what to write. My words aren’t good enough but I can tell you that I absolutely loved this book as much as the previous ones!
And while maybe some things were very detailed, I just loved the entire book so much that I could overlook a few unimportant sentences. =P
Audiobook review: Shadow’s Bane has many unexpected and yet welcomed changes in store for Dorina and team! This story is action packed with fights, mystery, and a surprise old enemy. The sensual scenes are expertly written. The narrator did a fantastic job with providing unique voices for each character and appropriate tone inflections for each scene!
Own the series. Didn’t see the twists! Lobe it!
Excellent book, probably the best in the two connecting series Karen Chance writes. Not necessarily because the plot was better — though it was good — but because it was much better executed than usually. The endless mayhem was for once punctuated with slower chapters with inner reflection and picking up the clues that allowed the reader to catch up too. That way, the reader wasn’t completely blindsided by the story’s conclusion like usually, but was nicely brought along with it to the end. Now, if only there was some other way to start every single chapter than the main character waking up without a clue for how she’s ended that way or how the action of the previous chapter ended. I especially liked how the strange dual relationship with Dory and Dorina is developing, and how her strange family keeps growing with new people. The Mircea chapters set in the past were great too, giving insigth to his life we wouldn’t otherwise get. And Louis-Cesare was a dish like always.
This story has a lot going for it…lots of action, plot twists and turns, a romance with super handsome and lovable vampire. Unfortunately, since this was my first book in the I read, it was just slightly confusing to follow along the story that alluded to lot that has happened in previous 3 books. Also, there are certain parts that can be little slow. Still, it didn’t deter me from reading it through the end which does have fairly happy ending.
Voluntary and honest review after receiving ARC (advanced reader copy).
Dorina has a lot on her plate being one of the Vampire Senate’s newest members but when a relative of one of her friends goes missing, Dory investigates a slaver and it’ll take everything she has to defeat them and deal with Louis-Cesare.
The “Dorina Basarab” series is a well-developed and fascinating world full of strong, charismatic characters that readers are easily drawn to and certainly can’t get enough of. Each and every story is fast paced with thrilling and daring battles, intriguing events, magical weaponry that sparks the imagination and plots that keeps readers hanging on to every word and that’s not to mention that witty dialogue that produces chuckles even as the kick a** heroine puts enemies in their place. Dorina is one tough chick but she also has a vulnerable side and readers can easily connect with her while enjoying her adventures.
There is never a dull moment to be found in the fourth book – “Shadow’s Bane” as one thrilling event after another takes place during this fast paced plot which is also interspersed with emotional turbulent scenes that ensures the readers get a well-rounded view of Dory and the multiple issues taking place throughout the story including her romance with Louis-Cesare and her relationship with her father. Her and her friends not only have to deal with the slavers which is much more complicated than they originally thought, but Dory is faced with tons of houseguests, the coming war with the Fae, Mircea’s past and her inner struggle with her “twin”.
The plot is a bit complex and is so full of twists and turns that readers will need to pay attention in order to keep up but the plot plays out so that it adds to the anxious atmosphere of the story which really keeps readers glued to the pages and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in Dorina’s world.