Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, #1) in Pick-a-Shelf

Jan 11, 2015 Lauren rated it liked it

Shelves: vampires, ghosts, urban-fantasy, magic-and-witchcraft, virgin-heroines, time-travel, jack-the-ripper, audiobooks, psychic-medium

Touch the Dark
3.5 Stars

On the run from her former employer, Cassandra Palmer is not your usual fugitive. First, she is clairvoyant and second, her boss is a vampire. When her past finally catches up with her, Cassie realizes that not only is she the focus of several factions within the supernatural world including the vampire Senate, the Mage circles and the Fae, but that she cannot escape her ultimate destiny…

An interesting story with an engaging heroine. Unfortunately, it suffers from first bo Touch the Dark
3.5 Stars

On the run from her former employer, Cassandra Palmer is not your usual fugitive. First, she is clairvoyant and second, her boss is a vampire. When her past finally catches up with her, Cassie realizes that not only is she the focus of several factions within the supernatural world including the vampire Senate, the Mage circles and the Fae, but that she cannot escape her ultimate destiny…

An interesting story with an engaging heroine. Unfortunately, it suffers from first book syndrome with excessive amounts of information on the world building including the natures and skills of a variety of magical beings as well specific details on the main and secondary characters. Interwoven with all of these details is a convoluted story involving time travel, assassination attempts and a complex love triangle.

Despite these issues, Cassie is a charming heroine with a very practical approach to living her life amongst things that go bump in the night. Nothings seems to phase her - not hairy satyrs, blood sucking vampires or aggressive war mages determined to end her at all costs.

The basic story revolving around a conspiracy to undermine the vampire Senate is compelling although it is overshadowed by the above mentioned information dumping. The same is true of the romantic aspects with Cassie attracting the attention of two very different men, both of whom with apparent ulterior motives. By the end of the book, (view spoiler) does seem to have the edge on (view spoiler) and for good reasons - his unfailing honesty and pure sex appeal.

Cynthia Holloway’s narration is never going to be a favorite. Her pacing is too slow, her male voices are indistinguishable from her female and her accents need a lot of work. Nevertheless, she is not completely unbearable so its possible to muddle through, especially as there is no alternative for those, like myself, who cannot read 1st person POV.

All in all, not a bad beginning to a series and I will continue with it. ...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Vivian rated it liked it

Shelves: first-in-series, read-2010

This was a really confusing read for me. There was a lot going on, with info dumps inserted in the middle of events or conversations. A lot to try and process and sort through. By the end, when things started to finally make sense, I did decide I liked the book. I'm guessing the second one will be less confusing now that I've got a sense of the writer's style and some background story.

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May 23, 2011 KarenF rated it liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, kindle

There was some good stuff here but also a bit of first book in the series syndrome. A fair amount of info dumping and history exposition, often interrupted dialogue so that I forgot what the question was before I heard the answer. But a lot of times first books aren't my favorite and I like the world and want to read more in the series. ...more

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