Why Would You DO THAT???

In my weary research for a good new urban fantasy series to read, I recently found one that was actually written pretty well. The protagonist wasn't a complete idiot, bumbling into things until the powerful alpha male had to come and rescue her all the time (which I had to torture myself into reading in my search for a good urban fantasy series)—although it was a bit cliché—newly turned vampire and the master of the house of vamps, incidentally also her sire. Then again, which paranormal series doesn't at least have a cliché or two? The trick, with good authors, is in making that cliché interesting enough to readers who have already read it.

Called the Chicagoland Vampires, it was a bit slow in the mystery department as the main protagonist also dealt with her newly changing life, and the side characters that involved themselves into her life. I really loved how Chloe Neill wrote them—they had dimension, depth, and their own interesting little side-stories (that were sometimes, to me, more interesting than the protagonist's—but that's just because I'm mainly a matchmaker at heart).

Predictably, I consumed the entire five books that were in the series (as of present) within a span of three days. Sometimes, when a series gets really interesting, I'm unable to do anything—eat, sleep, or work—until I finish it. Yes, I have an addictive personality. Yes, I'm working on fixing it. But I digress. This was one of the few series that actually consumed me so. And, God, it's been such a long time since I've found an interesting series that didn't become too much of the same thing (the only others I've found to be so are the Dresden Files, Kate Daniels, Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Bhasarab, Night Huntress, the Mercedes Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, the Fever series, and—usually, as I'm not much of a fan of Blaze of Memory—Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter). Sherrilyn Kenyon disappointed me. Gena Showalter disappointed me. Jacquelyn Frank started to bore me. Christine Feehan—God, I don't even want to talk about her. I liked the Drake sisters... until it got progressively worse with each book. I even gave the Carpathians a chance. But the rape scene in one book was too much for me. I could've handled it if the antagonist, or the villain had done it. But it was the hero. Just because he couldn't help himself. The fact that she was condoning rape... No. Just no.
And... I've gotten off-track again. I seem to do that a lot when I rant.

Anyway, while reading this series, I was really rooting for the canon couple. Sure they seemed to have the typical clichéd tension-ridden breakup-up-and-back-together-again cycle of a relationship, but, you know what, the protagonist actually had some serious concerns over the realtionship—which made it serious. It wasn't simply the fact that she was stubborn and refused to commit over a stupid reason (which is surprisingly common in many novels—of all genres).

Yesterday—well, tonight, actually—I had nearly reached the ending of the fifth book when a twist just stopped my mind. I kept going over the words again and again while my thoughts screamed out a verbal, "NOOoooooo!!!" I just... I'm in shock. All I'm thinking is, "WHY?" I mean, this was completely unexpected because you can't just... do that! It's, like, taboo for authors. And it's just so random. It's like going up to a complete stranger and punching him/her in the face. Yes, Chloe Neill has just metaphorically punched her readers in the face.

Now I'm frustrated and confused, just in time for my summer school test this morning. And I'll probably stay frustrated and confused (and, dammit, still slightly hopeful that what I read actually didn't happen) until November, which is when the next book in the series will come out.

I fucking hate cliffhangers.

Hello Again

Okay, so maybe I didn't keep my promise about the whole "months" thing, but school had started again, and exams... and all that shit, so I didn't really have the time, but since this is like an online diary with vague references about me (since this is online—safety matters, even though everyone pretends to ignore the adults that come in every month for "internet safety" assemblies, with their laptops and powerpoint presentations), but more about my interests, I'm sure no one would mind (ha—not that there is anyone to mind).
So, now I'm starting up again, and I'm probably going to disappear for months again... it's like a pattern. Write a few posts in a matter of hours or days, and then disappear for months.
Anyway, guess what I'm here to talk about? That's right: Books!! Don't you love books? I know I do *grin*.

So, I finally got the next book in the Cassie Palmer Series—trampling over people isn't that bad a crime is it?—and now I'm here to share what I read with the world—without spoiling all of it, of course. So think of this as an enlightened experience (even though it really is just a typical review, but whatever).
In the beginning, we read about Cassie going back in time to get some help from the former Pythia, Agnes. But all Agnes says is to "trust her clairvoyant abilities," so that she doesn't mess up the future, by being able to see how the future would be if she changed it. Anyway, Cassie is assigned a body guard by the delectable Mircea, Marco, who I think isn't all that bad for a new character. Throughout the book she keeps getting these apocalyptic visions given to her by her power, but she doesn't know what's going to happen. Also, for part of the book, Pritkin and Cassie experience how it's like to be in each other's bodies :P. And that's all the spoilers I'm going to give you.
As usual with Karen Chance, and what I'm beginning to love about her, the book is a complete action-packed adventure. Cassie goes from one problem to the next with barely any rest in between, if any at all.

Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

This is the third book in the Cassandra Palmer Series—one of my favourite supernatural series. As usual, with Karen Chance, you get right into the action and it never stops. This is one fast-paced book you don't want to miss. In this book, you learn more about each main character in the series, mostly Cassie, Pritkin, and Mircea. The plot revolves around the Codex Merlini and everyone who's after it or wants it destroyed. Cassie has to take help from those she wouldn't trust with her life, and Pritkin's most inner secret is revealed. The Greek "Gods" from the legends make more than a brief appearance and the conclusion to the geis draws to a close. From gunshots and magic blasts to revealing spells and ley-lines, this book never lets you catch your breath. Even as it ends abruptly, as usual, the series could end there and become a trilogy, as many had assumed. But that was before Karen Chance announced that the fourth book—Curse the Dawn—was coming out in 2009. Many fans, including me, are eagerly waiting for the next installment.