This book begins with shattering statues of angels, flying bullets and spells, and a pulse pounding chase through a cemetery. At no point does the story slow down. This third installment in the Cassie Palmer series is by far the best. It grabs you by the throat, dips you low for a demanding kiss, then throws you into a knock down drag out fight.

Cassie Palmer is perhaps one of the more original heroines to come to life on the pages of a paranormal novel in many years. She is sassy, sexy, brash, bold, impetuous, loyal and she has a sense of style that is all her own. Cassie really begins to come into her own, and into her role as Pythia, in this book. We see her grow and mature, without losing the spark that is essential to this character. That spark fuels Cassie’s sense of humor, and the absurd, and this may be the greatest strength we encounter in Cassie. She encounters some truly amazing challenges in this romp, that almost, but not quite, test the suspension of disbelief we hold for our favorite characters.

Cassie’s interaction with the other character’s we’ve grown to know over the course of the first two novels expands upon them, as well. Her friendship with Billy the ghost, and with Rafe, one of the vampires she befriended in her childhood, continues to strengthen, although Rafe’s loyalty is tested at points. We also learn more about Cassie’s teenage years and her friend, Tami, who helped her learn the ropes on the streets. The men in Cassie’s life do not easily share center stage, however. This makes for some interesting interactions. While we do not lose sight of Mircea, we see a lot more of Pritkin, the war mage. I’d like to say we see Pritkin’s “softer side”, but I’m not sure he has one. But Pritkin fleshes out nicely, and he grows on you as a character. Mircea is even more compelling, and sensual, at the most interesting points. The encounters between Cassie and Mircea are steamy, intense and leave you wanting more.

In Cassie’s third time out, she is seeking a solution to the problem that is binding her magically to Mircea. Mircea had Cassie bound to him, magically, to protect her from other vampires and the mages; but also to ensure his ability to control her and the powers of the Pythia. Cassie desires the chance and ability to be her own woman, and Pythia, and not be the political play thing of the Vampires, or the Mages. In order to break the spell, she must find the Codex Merlini. Of course, this is no easily uncovered, every day magical tomb. It can only be found in the past. To add to complications, the Codex is rumored to contain other spells that should never see the light of the moon again. The “good guys” and the “bad guys”, and all manner of characters that fall somewhere in between those delineations are after Cassie and the Codex. This forces Cassie to team up with people, and creatures, she might not otherwise consider “friends”, much lest trust with her life, and the fate of the world.
I can whole heartedly endorse this book; Cassie is too much fun, the story is riotous, and Cassie bulls through all of her challenges with “sheer bloody-mindedness”. This book ends on the same high octane charge that starts this ride, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451461991
• ISBN-13: 978-0451461995

To purchase a print copy of Embrace the Night click here.

Books in the Cassandra Palmer series in the order they should be read:

Touch the Dark
Claimed by Shadow
Embrace the Night

To visit the author’s website go here.

(5 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)

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