Fury's Kiss

Dorina Basarab #3

by Karen Chance

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir - half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing...

Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he's not an easy kill.

It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.

To find out what was done to her - and who is behind it - Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead...

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Magic

543 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2012

About the author

Karen Chance is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, plus a number of novellas and short stories, all set in the Cassandra Palmer universe. A full-time writer since 2008, she was previously a university history teacher, which comes in handy when writing the time-travel aspect of Cassie’s crazy adventures. She loves Las Vegas, the main setting for her novels, but currently lives in Florida near her family home. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook here.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know when you have a friend who just loves to tell stories? Who has the habit of including lots of info, explaining a lot of detail, and pretty much makes detouring into an art? Whose stories are entertaining as hell, but sometimes you just can't help wishing she'd get to the point already?
Well, Karen Chance is that friend.

There is a lot going on in this book. Which is usual for a Chance story, but this book seemed even more action packed and chaotic than normal.
Fury's Kiss is the longest book out of the series (it has 163 pages more than Midnight's Daughter). I feel like a shorter, tighter story would have been better, because the plot lacked an overall focus and the action scenes -with their elaborate set up, the high speed fighting and the sardonic commentary- were entertaining, but made me go "huh?" on more than one occasion. There was so much going on that at certain parts I really couldn't follow what was happening.
Which is sad because Chance really is a gifted story teller and her characters are to die for.

Thankfully, there was a lot to enjoy about them. Dory is still a great combination of kick ass and vulnerable, the main men (Louis-Cesare and Mircea) are still a mix of outer perfection and inner turmoil, and the extras (Radu, Ray; but also: Claire, Stinky and the French servants) still guarantee some great comic relief.

Also: there were some very touching, endearing and romantic moments in the story, which managed to not get lost despite the overabundance of action.

All in all, Fury's Kiss is still a good book, but certainly not Chance's best. I'm hoping for a 'less is more'-approach next time.
3,5 stars

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dory wakes up in a lab with no idea of who she is or where she is with a red headed vampire crashing in saying he is trying to save her. But that is least of Dory's problems, with the Fey plotting and the vampires scheming Dory may just be facing an enemy she can't defeat.

I have been waiting for this book for so long! The Dorina Basarab series has definitely become one of the my favourite urban fantasy's. Packed full of manic action that gets your adrenal glands pumping, interspersed with funny, romantic and tender moments to soften the frantic pace; it is a rollercoaster of a read.

So much happens in this book; we breach the subject of Dory's vampire side, something that I hope you be explored more in the next book. We also see Dory's relationship with her father, Mircea, developing beautifully, as well as things between her and Louis Cesare really heating up. Dory alse seems to have acquired a vampire servant, Ray, and I doubt if I am alone in saying the hilarious, but sometimes touching, banter between Ray and Dory were some of my favourite parts.

What I really like about this series is that each book builds up from the next one; the relationships between the characters gets more complex and intense; the various factions and plots are getting more intricate and Dory's character has come to vivid life as we get to know her more deeply.

I am now dying to read the next book as Fury's Kiss had some highly unexpected events take place at the end and I can't wait to see what will happen next!

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I loved Karen Chance's other series, Cassie Palmer, better, but this book definitely seals my Dorina favoritism. This book pretty much has everything you want in one of these series, vampires, fae, smart ass chicks, and TONS of action scenes. Actually I think this author does action scenes better than any other paranormal author out there, she knows how to raise the stakes in incredible ways. In fact, I think sometimes she OVERDOES the action scenes (see the last Cassie Palmer book for reference), but this one has a perfect balance of mystery, world-building, character stuff and relationships. Really satisfying read, and I can't wait for more.

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

first I was like

then I was like

then louis-ceaser saves the day

mostly I was like


It was sometimes good, sometimes really confusing. Cassie and dory's meeting was hilarious :D I wonder if she figured out she was mircea's daughter? stupid bitch cassie :S

Yine karen chance standartında bir kitaptı. yazar louis sezarı (böylesi daha kolay :P) başlarda konu mankeni seks aracı gibi kullandı ama sonrasında önemli birkaç rol vermeyi akıl etmişte sinirim yatıştı dory sürekli hengamedeydi. kaç kere öldü öldü dirildi sayamadım. karen chance serilerinde şu sıralar fazla dozda aksiyon yazıyor buda kafa karıştırıcı olabiiyor. bu yüzden 5 yıldız vermicem . kafamdaki 3 yıldızdı ama son hamlesiyle 4 yıldızı kopardı benden :=)

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial thoughts before review: OMG! YEEEEESSSSSS! I love me some LC!

Review

Rating: A

The Dorina Basarab series is a spin off from the Cassandra Palmer series and I’m a huge fan of both. They are both unique and exciting in their own way. But, Fury’s Kiss just blew me out of the water and is now my most favorite book in both series so far!

Fury’s Kiss is an incredible mix of explosive action, mystery, humor, and lots of personal changes for Dorina Basarab. The mystery was twisty and kept me in suspense the entire time. I never once predicted what would happen next. And before I could catch my breath, I was thrown into another wildly crazy action scene. This is Karen Chance at her best. Superb.

Dory has taken a job, assigned by the Vampire Senate, to uncover the smuggling ring that is bringing illegal goods through portals from Faerie to our world. When something goes wrong on the job, Dorina wakes up in a lab in a full-on berserker rage. Fighting against Louis-Cesare, who is trying to rescue her, she doesn’t even remember who he is. When Dorina wakes up the next day, she has no memories of the night before. The Vampire Senate then realizes her memories are the key to finding out who is behind the smuggling ring and who is taking out Master Vampires.

I wasn't the kind of gal who wore designer and knew what all the forks were for. I was the kind of gal who thought the nightgown drawer was where old T-shirts went to die and who had only started using forks in the last century. And who frankly still thought them kind of a waste when there were perfectly good knives handy. -Dorina

Dorina Basarab is one of my absolute favorite female urban fantasy characters. She lives in a world where vampires fear her because of her deadly rages. It’s amazing she's survived for five hundred years when there is always someone in the supernatural community threating to kill her. But Dorina takes it all in stride and does the best she can to survive in a world where being a Dhampir is is not accepted. And now that Dory is working for the Vampire Senate, the vampires who have always feared and disrespected Dory are starting to see her for the warrior she is.

The best part about these books is the rocky and crazy relationship between Dory and Louis-Cesare. In book one, they started out not wanting anything to do with each other and now their feelings have grown. Since the beginning, I have cheered for this relationship. And I’ve also formed a huge crush on Louis-Cesare. The man is so damn sexy with his long auburn, girlie hair and French accent. Ooh la la! I’m so glad Chance has taken her time to let this relationship manifest slowly but not too slow to be frustrating.


“Mine, I thought deliriously, as a shadow swept over us, like a cape had been thrown over the sky.
Mine, as my hands stroked up that strong back, velvety and warm, where every dip and line of muscle fit sweetly into my palms.
Mine, as the storm trembled in the air around us, and shook the earth beneath us.
“Mine,” I murmured, as blue eyes met mine, wide and startled. And then closed again as he took my breath in a kiss so consuming that I barely noticed when the storm continued on toward the horizon, the midnight wings showing vague starlight through in patches as it passed overhead.
As it missed us.
“Yours,” Louis-Cesare groaned.

And now these two have formed a type of relationship, a relationship that Dory doesn’t quite understand. She’s confused as to why the Senate’s prized dueler would want to be with a crazy Dhampir. She has been considered an outcast her whole life and Louis-Cesare is the Senate’s golden boy. Dory’s insecurities come to the surface and this keeps her from completely opening up to Louis-Cesare.

Luckily, Louis-Cesare has the patience of a saint. His persistence and loyalty keeps Dory from walking away. I like that Dory is not a too stupid to learn heroine. She makes smart decisions and doesn’t let her insecurities rule her. She makes up her mind and that’s that. But what also makes this couple so awesome is the incredible support they have for one another. This dynamic duo is a force to be reckoned with. If a bad guy sees them coming, they should run, because heads will roll.

I love all the supporting cast of characters. Radu, or as Dory calls him ‘Du, cracks me up with his high and mighty, no blasé attitude. He really stepped up as a powerful vampire in this book and the reader will see a different side to Radu. Ray, who is introduced in Midnight’s Daughter, reappears in this book and plays a large role in the story. I love that he has sort of become Dory’s side kick.

“But you were Mine. My child. And I would not give you up.”
- Mircea

And then there is Mircea, Dory’s father. There is a lot of character growth between Mircea and Dory in this book. Since the beginning, they’ve had a tense relationship. Dory has never really thought of him as her father. He is simply a ruthless and powerful vampire that she doesn’t trust. Yet there has always been a sense that there is more to this relationship. I have always enjoyed seeing the flashbacks to Dory and Mircea’s history since Midnight’s Daughter and, in Fury’s Kiss, we get more glimpses and information. Lots of things are revealed that help Dory see beyond Mircea’s masks. These two actually might have a chance to have a real father/daughter relationship one day – however dysfunctional it might be. I’m still waiting for Dory and Cassie, from Cassandra Palmer series and Mircea’s girlfriend, to finally meet. That will be an interesting meet and greet. Someone has some explaining to do. *wink*

So much happens in this book… lots of twists, turns, and revelations. Not to mention, the HUGE game changer at the end. I can’t wait to see what happens next. My only complaint is that the book ended and Miz Chance is known for making us wait. I think I might cry if it’s another two years for another Dory book. At least we get another Cassie book in 2013.

Side note: Fury’s Kiss is not a stand-alone. I do suggest starting with Midnight’s Daughter or go as far back as starting with Touch the Dark (Cassie Palmer series). It’s a fun ride, so put your seatbelt on!

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review

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[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I keep giving each book in this series 3 stars, I somehow find myself just barrelling on.

This one is particularly interesting because Dorina starts developing amnesia regarding the moments her vampire self is in control. I quite like this trope of 'heroine who blacks out while she's being evil', and it produced some entertaining moments - such as Chance's running gag about being saved by the boyfriend. Whatever other problems this book has, the dialogue is sharp and funny.

I also like the exploration of the father-daughter relationship between Dorina and Mircea. Seeing a powerful man as a father (with his daughter being the heroine) is catnip in my reading. She doesn't recognises his protectiveness, but it's there and bone-deep, and I loved seeing more of it.

As for Louis-Cesare... same problem as last book - when he's there, he's brilliant. Ferociously loyal, honourable, aristocratic, hot. Unfortunately he keeps taking unexplained absences at crucial moments.

The action is also weirdly boring because I didn't understand most of what was going on, despite being the sort of person who regularly reads court intrigue. Admittedly I didn't expend a ton of effort on figuring it out, but the book should still have been easier to grasp than it was.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally we get some answers about Dorina and her dhampir nature, ones that I’ve been wondering about since the first book.

Dorina, who in joined the Vampire Senate task force in the end of the last book, seems to have been captured during one of their missions when they were trying to find out who has been smuggling magical items and weaponry from Faerie. But when the wounded Dorina was saved she had no memory of what happened to her and who captured her and killed her partner. And in order to find out the missing memories, Mircea, her father, will have to navigate her mind, which seems to have become a ticking time bomb because her human and vampire sides do not get along and lately things has become unraveled. And if that’s not enough Dorina has to face fallen angels, an an enemy set on starting a war and vampire zombies.

Dorina as always was fantastic. I love that we got so much insight into her past, especially her past with Mircea, and her vampire side which has so far only come out to fight during her rages.

“Then what am I?” I challenged, staring up into blazing sapphire eyes.
“A joy.”

I love the romance between her and vampire Louis-Cesare, and that they finally settle things between them in this book. Louis-Cesare is such a great hero, and I love how he’s always there for Dorina, how much he cares for her and never tries to hide his feelings for her, even though dhampirs are hated and looked down upon by almost all vampires.

The secondary characters are amazing, and Ray whom we met in the previous book is definitely a favorite of mine. His interactions with Dorina was hilarious. Mircea is also another interesting character and it’s so interesting learning more about him and his past with Dorina. He’s definitely made mistakes in his past, but always with the intent on protecting his daughter.

The plot had many confusing points but this was part of the storyline, wondering what exactly happened to Dorina, why she can’t remember and getting pieces of the puzzle as the story progresses. And after everything that happened in this book, I really wonder what is going to happen next and I hope we get another installment soon.

This is a fantastic UF series with a captivating world, a kick-ass heroine, a slow-burn romance and great secondary characters. A definite must read.

[♥ Ashleigh ♥ Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually mad! · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Review
A lot better than I remember, much of which I don't.
Easily 4 stars

2012 update
Holly Crap!

i just read the first 2 chapters from Fury's Kiss and they were Awesome! i cant wait to get my hands on this book!

link for the first 2 chapters
http://www.karenchance.com/books_fury...

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2012 Review:
It took me ages to finish this book it was that big!! I loved it!! haha, otherwise I'm not sure what to say about fury's kiss.
hmmmm.... actually I didn't like this book as much as the others, it just seemed to be off.... not sure if Chance had less time than she liked to finish this one or what... maybe its just me...? anyways I know this book will be even better once Cassie's side comes out - love the fact that they will tie into each other!! and I can't wait to see what Cass thinks of Dory!!! XD

it was great that we got to find out more about Dorina, I'm hoping Dory will find out even more about her in the next book hopefully even "join" her beyond that not sure what to say besides you should read this series!! the characters are always FANTASTIC!! (we got to see a lot more of our faves in this book which was awesome) and the action is always supremo kick-butt!! and there's plenty of humor which I think is highly important.

the ending was a bit weird and rather abrupt, but it deff has the "WTF just happened!!!" factor which Chance seems to be loving at the moment (poor us readers. lol)

not much else to say beyond U should read it!!!!! ur missing out!!

[Lannister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Chance simply gets better and better as a writer. This book is the best thing she's ever written (and I thought her last book, Hunt the Moon, was her best too).

The books clock in at 536 pages, and none of it feels like padding or filler. Everything builds toward a conclusion that I never saw coming in a million years (though thankfully no cliffhanger ending!) The pacing of the book is perfect too. It doesn't quite have the frantic, rollercoaster-ride feel of some of the Cassie books, but it never drags either, which is impressive for a work of this length.

The story is set amidst the ongoing war with the Black Circle and the challenges for the empty seats on the North American Senate. Dory is working on the Senate task force in trying to stop the smuggling of weapons and other even less salubrious items from Faerie. Familiar characters from the previous books pop up again, including Ray (now with his head firmly attached to his body) who plays quite a large role in the story (who knew Ray was a 'hacker' LOL!) The luscious Louis Cesare is there too of course, and he has made his mind up on what he wants in his future, even if Dory is not so certain. There were a couple of quite lovely moments between them, including one where he is 'little spoon' which I thought was so poignant.

We also get much more information on Dory's history with Mircea, and some details are quite revelatory. I usually look at Mircea's actions with a very cynical eye, but he was everything a father could be in this book and I felt quite warm towards him by the end. We learn a lot about Dory's two 'sides' and I'm really interested to see where Karen Chance will take this in future books (especially given the ending!)

There's tons of humour throughout the book, as usual, with several laugh out loud moments. (And *spoiler alert* a very amusing little scene with a certain lady friend of Mircea's!!)

A lot of questions about Dory were answered in this book, but it also sets the scene for the ongoing war, which I assume we'll pick up on in the next Cassie book. I cannot wait!

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

With two new releases in this series recently I thought before grabbing them it was time to give this another read. I love the way these books happily go alongside the Cassie Palmer books but I'm a little perplexed at just how little Dory knows about her father's love life and in this book it clashes with hilarious effect.
What this story really does though is escalate the war that's brewing meaning it's high time for the Vampire Senate to make hard choices. Best of all though is that Dory starts to fill in the blanks about her life , her past and exactly who she really is. As usual it's complex and a story that runs at breakneck speed and absolutely absorbing. This author can do no wrong and I highly recommend this book and series.

[Mitticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorina Basarab is the niece of Dracula, she is damphir. Half vampire and half-human. A despised half-breed, feared, and vilified . Because the vampires are the natural prey of damphirs. Dorina is the oldest in existence, because the others ... get rabid mad and are killed by vampires. So, Dorina is always in the edge, fearing insanity.

And now she had blanks.

The vampires are in the middle of conflict with mages and necromancers, the Consul is looking vampires to fit the vacant posts at the Senate.

Not a good time to became a liability. Specially when sensitive information could be hidden in her mind.

----

Since the begining, not even Dorina knew much about her past - Mircea happens to gloss over those years. And now we will able the understand many things about it.
All this over great action scenes, new beings, new hate for Kit and stargates , i mean, Portals


More fairys. And warriors.

And strange powers.

Love the look in the past.

And after many sighs over Louis-Cesare. (insert one here, please)

But when flying gory bits of bodies made me laugh histerically ... well, I know the book is really something. (b/c i hate undead gory bits)

Recommended.

Dear Author: WHAT YOU MEAN THE NEXT BOOK DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DATE????

[Ferdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars — spoilers

Dory is determined to help the Senate uncover the truth behind the murders of several powerful vampires that she was working with in what should have been a simple mission. As the only survivor, Dory is key to the investigation. However, Dory doesn't remember what happened, so she must risk her life to retrieve her memories and stop any further deaths.

The Good

-Dory was as likeable and fun as ever. She's a far more interesting heroine than Cassie. I did find it a little odd that Dory was so eager to work with Mircea and the Senate, when they've treated her like crap for centuries. I don't fully understand why she felt the need to find whoever was responsible for the vampire deaths, it's not like she was friends with any of them. I'm glad she's got over most of her daddy and vampire issues but it's a bit hard to believe that it's happened in a space of a few months.
-There was finally some answers about Dory's past, her memories and her dhampire nature. I'm happy that Dory won't be moaning as much about her dad and all the secrets he's kept from her.
-The development in Dory's relationship with both Mircea and Louis-Cesare. Mircea is far more endearing as a dad to Dory than as a love interest to Cassie. The flashback of Mircea with Dory as a child was perfect, the best scene by far — it was adorable. I wish there'd been less overly long action scenes and more memories of Dory's childhood with Mircea.
I loved how devoted Louis-Cesare has become to Dory, he's come a long way from book 1 when he initially hated Dory. It was awesome that he had Dory's back when she started fighting against the Consul and her guards, he didn't try to stop Dory, he just joined in even if meant he would get in trouble with the Senate and Consul. I didn't find him all that swoon-worthy in the last two books but I do now.
-Ray and Radu were still hilarious. It was cute how Ray kept a granola bar in his wallet in case Dory had forgotten to eat. Ray is a brill sidekick.
-Marlowe and Dory's kiss and their general interactions, they're just so entertaining. As much as I love Dory and Louis-Cesare as a couple, I can't help but want a Dory/Marlowe romance as well, even though they hate each other.
-I always thought the Consul was a dumb bitch but she surprised me with the whole Senate and Lady Dorina thing. I'm liking the Consul now.

The Bad

-The biggest letdown was the poorly written action scenes and flashbacks. It wasn't very clear what was going on most of the times because the writing was all over the place.
-Ray was a tad overused. Mircea and Louis-Cesare weren't in it as much as I would have liked.
-Cassie's reaction to Dory - it was so immature and bitchy. She had no right doing what she did even if she did think Dory was Mircea's lover. I hate women that blame the 'other woman' for their man cheating on them when it's their guy that's cheated on them, not the other woman..ugh. My opinion of Cassie has seriously plummeted.
-I was annoyed when Dory said she only has sex once a decade, why does every heroine have to have either be a virgin or have very little desire for sex until she meets the hero, especially when the heroes never tire of sleeping around?! I'm so sick of this trope.

This was really enjoyable but not quite as good as I thought it would be due to the number of poorly written action scenes. There was still a lot of good stuff — the plot, the characters and the romance were all spot on. After the events at the end, I'm excited for the next Dory book more than I am Cassie's. It should be interesting to read about Dory being on the Senate with Mircea, Louis-Cesare and Marlowe.

[The Flooze · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been quite some time since the last Chance book, but I find her writing just as engrossing as ever.

Chance creates fabulous, fully-realised characters. It makes re-visiting her world a remarkably easy feat. There's always some scene - either insanely funny or heart-stoppingly emotional - to associate with her leads and secondaries, branding them unforgettable.

Those touchstones are necessary, because Chance's other trademarks are whiplash-inducing action and brain-frying plots, both of which are evident in Fury's Kiss.

Oh, the action scenes. Fast-paced and dizzying, yet I can envision every aspect. I can feel the terror and the adrenaline coursing through the characters. I get punch-drunk with them. And when Chance throws a moment of the mundane or ludicrous against that flashy backdrop it's brilliant. Brilliant, because I believe real people caught in vulnerable situations would see and do things, have random thoughts, just as dopey as these characters do. Surviving true chaos is not slick endeavour. It's personal. It's desperate. And sometimes it's bizarrely funny.

When it comes to the plot, Chance enjoys throwing in lots of seemingly disparate events. It can be maddening trying to sift through it all and find the connecting pieces, but I like it nonetheless. It keeps my brain whirring, and I have faith that Chance will pull it all into cohesion by the end. It allows me the satisfaction of guessing some elements while still leaving room for surprises - and I was certainly surprised towards the close of this book. I was also excited at the new developments and I'm so very eager to see how they'll shake up both this series and Cassie Palmer's.

Apart from the familiarity and hilarity, separate from the fighting and politics, there's another aspect that draws me into Dorina's world: the emotion. Chance likes things messy and raw, and Fury's Kiss treats us to many gut-wrenching moments: Horrible, hysterical fear for loved ones. Impotent rage at dwindling hope. Desperate, soul-dragging loneliness. Fierce pride and speechless wonder at a friend's devotion. And the bittersweet, shattering, strengthening realisation of love.

It all packs quite a whallop.

And it guarantees I'll keep coming back for more.


One issue: LC, Dorina, and the child escaped the lab together. The child was separated from her when they were all blown free of the portal. Why wouldn't LC have looked for it? How did it scramble off that fast with so many vampires around?

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorina Basarb, Dori, wakes up in a strange lab….with a vampire standing over he...she doesn’t remember how she got there, who this vampire is and why she is fighting for her life. It seems Dory has had something happen to her memory and the only way to find out what happened to her and 12 other top level master vamps is to allow her vampire father Mircea into her head.

It seems Dory was sent on a mission by the Vampire Senate and to find out what happened Dory will have to battle through zombie vampires, crazy necromancers, zealot fey, old enemies and Dorina (her vampire side).

Death’s Mistress was a roller coaster of excitement, adventure, mystery, steamin’ hot vampires, friendship, fun, romance and magnificent witty banter and internal dialog that had me cracking up. I absolutely loved this book. I am fascinated by the fact that so many main characters from the Cassandra Palmer series play prominent roles in the Dorina Basarab series. I also love the short cameos played by other Palmer characters. Now all we need is the Cass and Dori collision!

[JB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, I love this series! :)

Fury's Kiss starts off with a bang, throwing us straight into the action. Dory is in a dhampir rage and is unable to separate friend from foe. The next morning, she wakes up, back at home and covered in the evidence of a fight, with no clear memory of what happened. Before she has time to figure anything out, she receives a visit from Mircea, Radu and the vampire spymaster, Kit Marlowe, who are all full of questions and, in Marlowe's case, suspicions. It seems Dory was part of a mission that went horribly wrong, and everyone is looking for answers - from Dory, the only survivor.

There are other problems as well, closer to home. She is still wary of Daddy Mircea, and she hasn't fully come to terms with having Louis-Cesare in her life. Even her relationship with roommate Claire is feeling the strain after everything that's happened in the last two books. Oh, and let's not forget the joy of being a dhampir, the constant tug of war between her human and vampire natures.

Now imagine having all of that on your plate, and having to deal with it all at once. Things are bound to get crazy. But then, crazy is sorta Dory's MO, isn't it? lol

As with any Dory book, there is plenty of action and plot threads to keep the story moving, but I'll admit, I was at times overwhelmed by everything that was going on. On top of the usual vampire politics, Dory had to contend with smugglers, the Fey, portals, a mysterious Irin (think fallen angel), and her vampire nature acting up/taking over. In short, a lot to keep track of! I've never been on a roller coaster (my poor stomach can't handle it, lol) but I imagine the experience is a lot like reading a Karen Chance novel - a high-speed thrill with constant twists and turns. So strap in good, because you're in for the ride of your life.

There are plenty of funny moments. Radu always cracks me up, and vampire Ray was an absolute scene-stealer. They had some of the best lines in the whole book, I think.

Where Fury's Kiss really shines, though, is the development of Dory's relationships with both Mircea and Louis-Cesare.

I've said before that the Mircea we see in the Dory books is a far cry from the Mircea seen in Cassie's world. Though the two series take place in the same world and feature overlapping characters, they couldn't be more different. In no case is this more apparent than with Mircea. In the Cassie books, his role has been steadily reduced, and there's very little focus on his character development. By contrast, in Dory's world, Mircea is well-rounded and fully utilized. He gets the chance to be more than a wily politician - he's both friend and father, a man with heart and intelligence. He and Dory share a couple of truly poignant scenes in Fury's Kiss and I think - I hope - they have finally turned an important corner in their relationship, one that will allow them to really become father and daughter.

With Louis-Cesare, Dory can't get past their obvious differences. He's a powerful vampire and former Senate member, and she's a dhampir who is both feared and hated. He's polished and sophisticated and likes elegant, expensive things, and she's, well, rough around the edges. As much as Dory wants LC in her life, she doesn't believe they have any type of future. She also has little to no experience with real relationships. For her, lovers are temporary, and that's the way she likes it. But LC is persistent. He doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks - he has decided Dory is the one for him, and that's that. Throughout Fury's Kiss, he proves, over and over, that he's here for the long haul. If there's a bridge, he will cross it. If there's an obstacle, he will find a way around it. Whatever it takes. He is, in short, everything Dory needs and secretly wants, someone who understands and accepts her, just as she is. It takes Dory awhile to admit to herself just how deep her feelings for LC run, but she's a smart girl - she gets it eventually, lol.

Favorite Dory/LC scene: Tough to choose - they have some really hot great moments, but I think my favorite was the little spoon. You can find that scene around the 300-page mark.

The book ends on a very satisfying note....in more ways than one (ha!). When I finished it, I sat back and grinned like an idiot. It was that good.

I have no idea if Karen Chance is continuing the series but I certainly hope she does. Dory-land is one of my favorite places to visit and I would hate to say goodbye to it.

My Rating: This series is a must-read for urban fantasy lovers, and Fury's Kiss is no exception. 5 stars.

[Kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Being a dhampir, half-human, half-vampire, Dorina Basarab has lived a very long and rough life. Hated by vampires due to her uncontrollable and deadly rages, it's a miracle she wasn't killed long ago. Even so, she had finally started to gain some control over those periods of rage, but her latest case working for the very creatures that despise her must have tipped the scales. She wakes in a unknown lab with the rage consuming her, almost costing Louis-Cesare his life. After calming her down, the Vampire Senate realized that the answers they so desperately need are hidden behind that rage fog, and they would do anything to get them, for it could mean the difference between victory or defeat in the war.

Prior to reading Fury's Kiss, out of Karen Chance's two series set in this world, my favorites were definitely Cassie's books. However, now that I have finished Fury's Kiss, I have to say that the scales have tipped in Dory's favor. Granted I realize some of that is probably due to the fact that Dory is fresh in my mind while the last Cassie book was released over a year ago, but there is more to it than that. Dory has grown so much from the angry and bitter woman we first met. She's still rather wary of most of the vampires (completely understandable due to her terrible history with them), but she also has made great strides in learning to work with them. Between her father, Radu, Louis-Cesare, and even Ray, she makes great inroads in this book towards opening herself up. Now, instead of blind mistrust standing in her way, it is more her own insecurities that seem to be her biggest road block. Of course, when you have been treated a vile thing your entire life, and are terrified of yourself because you hurt others in uncontrollable rages, it would be rather hard to have a good sense of self worth. That being said, Dory seemed to slowly be opening up to the idea of accepting and hopefully embracing both sides of herself, which will go a long way in overcoming those insecurities.

Another thing that makes this series so great is the dance of a romance between Dory and Louis-Cesare. Perhaps a more apt description would be a game of cat and mouse now that Louis-Cesare has made it rather apparent where he stands on the issue. Dory, isn't so certain, but a lot of that is due to insecurities, which like I mentioned previously, she has made great strides in that area. I really enjoyed the steamy moments between them, even as the sexual tension was ratcheted up several knots leaving me more than a little frustrated at times as I just wanted them to finally get their groove on. That being said, I really feel like they have finally started to settle things and head in the right direction, making me one very happy camper.

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by the size of this book as the ARC copy I read had 536 pages. Whenever a book goes over 400 pages (and sometimes even when the page count is less), there always is that concern that parts will drag as it hadn't been condensed down enough to its best form. That wasn't even a possibility of a concern for Fury's Kiss as it was non-stop from start to finish. Seriously, I cannot even begin to express how impressive it was to read a book of that length without having a single dull moment. Even if I wasn't already incredibly satisfied with all the other elements of the book, that feat alone would have earned it a high rating. So when you add in the yummy romance, the great character growth, and the heart pounding action, Fury's Kiss more than earns a resounding five star rating. Seriously, run, do not walk to your nearest book store and snatch this puppy up as it is an absolute must buy!

[Karina Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me to have to give this 3 stars instead of higher, but ultimately it fell a little short of the greatness the first two books have. Still a very high 3, more like 3.85...

While Fury's Kiss still has the amazing characters i've come to love over the series along with the wonderful snappy dialogue, the plot isn't as cohesive. While the majority of this book is great, (and trust me, it is) there were sections where I had no idea what was going on. It was action action, action, following one plot line then, action, action, action, following another, and while a lot of it came together and made sense at the climax of the novel, a lot of questions remain unanswered. It feels almost like the author got a bit too excited trying to weave all her plots together and hit us with all the action sequences, she forgot to slow down and show us why these sequences are important in the overarching plot. As I mentioned, some of the sequences made sense towards the end and I understand that the parts that weren't cleared up are obviously going to continue in the next book(s?) but I just don't think Chance executed her ideas as well as she did in the first two.

Saying all that, I still really enjoyed riding this whirlwind of a novel. I really, really like Ray and Zheng-Zi. They are so much fun and their friendship really makes this series. Dory and Mircea's relationship gets deeper and tugs on the old heartstrings. She has so much love in her life, why can't she just see it? Naturally we get more Radu, Marlowe and Louis-Cesare who remain wonderfully complex and brilliant. The one set of characters I was sad to see less of was Claire's fae family. Sure there was a funny interlude over condoms with some of the light fae guards looking after Claire, but there was a lack of Caedmon and much less Æsubrand than I would have liked. Considering the big revelation before the climax kicked off, you'd think Caedmon would have had a bigger role, especially as he popped up regularly enough in Midnight's Daughter. I found that absence strange. I also enjoy Æsubrand's character and we definitely need more of him going forward.

I'm excited for the next instalment, and the wait will feel like forever for me, but I'm sure it'll be worth it. So many exciting things were revealed in Fury's Kiss and I can't wait to see where Chance takes Dory & co next!

[Choco Con Churros · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pesar de que es la novela más esclarecedora de ambas series unidas y de que en ella ha habido grandes avances desde el punto de vista argumental, la habitual acción imparable, esta vez se sustituyó con batallas mentales que para mí fueron un aburrimiento tremendo. Así que tuvo momentos excelentes, pero todas las partes de andar dentro de las mentes, que fue un porcentaje grande de la novela, fueron un sopor. Autores en GL Bis

[Literary Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Fury's Kiss is gut-bustingly funny, dominated by a super kickass female character and demonstrates in-depth character growth and development, I've finally deciphered what bothers me about works by Karen Chance.

When I look back at all of the books I've read, even ones from years ago, I notice that I can tell you something about what went on in that particular book, even if it's general. With Chance's books I struggle to remember why I've given them all high ratings because I draw a blank when I poke my memories of them. That in itself gives me pause, instantly devaluing my ratings. Reading Fury's Kiss after the author's 3-year hiatus (I haven't read Hunt the Moon yet) has made me realise why.

From the get go it's action, action, action! Any lulls in the high octane speed are filled with funnies and perhaps angst. The adventure zips all over the place, jumping from one line of thought, or POV, to another. Questions I have about what's happening aren't always answered and I frequently find myself at a loss as to what's going on and why, and explanations given can be mind-bending and brain-breaking. Frustration bubbles and I found myself frequently putting the book down. In the end, I decided to turn the brain off and go along for the ride, but I was still left flummoxed with unanswered questions and a desire to have read more about some things and less of others.

For example, the child Vampire Dorina chose to protect from LC in the beginning, what happened to it once they made it through the portal home? What's the story behind the golden Irin child Vampire Dory cried from the past? Was there any connection between the Irin Vampire Dorina met in the past and the Irin Human Dory met in the present? As for desires, I wished for more interaction between Dory's two halves, but what I was really waiting for was their merging. This is what I was desperate to read and I resented everything else for preventing me from doing so. Impatient, I know.

So much happened between cover to cover it's almost sensory overload. Exhausting, for 500+ pages. Focus is appreciated, so is knowing the who, where and when of the differing POVs and thoughts Dory reads via telepathy.

Again, hilariously funny, great characterization and development, but things were ignored or merely sidelined, as Sandra mentions Claire gets little page time.

Fury's Kiss while enjoyable, eliciting many a laugh, is jam-packed, stuffed to the gills, and still doesn't manage to incorporate everything. Priortization and simplification, of the plot and magic mechanics, probably would've helped my understanding, digestion of information and future memory of the book itself. Forgetting 99% of this one by the time #4 comes out is likely. But the most important things to remember are:


❶ Vampire Dorina and Human Dory will one day merge.
❷ Dory is now a (temporary) senator, for politcal reasons. (I sympathised when she fell on her face and fainted when her Consul announced it. LOL)
❸ Dory and LC are now a couple.
❹ Dory is Ray's master. She has more respect for him than most senators and consuls.

Hopefully, typing those out and my status updates will jog my memory.

3.5 stars.

[Joana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, let me just start this blubbering mess review by saying that I immensly enjoyed this book, if it wasn't already obvious by the rating.

Talk about an upgrade. This book really took this series to another level. The first books were so much fun but I feel like this book finally gave me that one tiny little thing that I was looking for.

And what was that thing, you might ask?
DORY'S DHAMPIRNESS. And, you know, the fact that it was finally explained in this book. It was always hinted at in the previous books, but it was never really explored enough for my taste. UNTIL NOW. This was probably one of the main points that kept me hooked. I can't wait to find out even more, because I definitely feel as if there is still much more left to be explored in the next books.

Another element that I found really well done was Dory's developping relationship with her father, Mircea. I like how long of a process it has been because it added a realistic touch and made it feel so much more deep.

Dory, in general, is still just as much of a smartass, and I couldn't love her more. She really comes into herself in this one, since a big part of the story was discovering her own mind.

Louis-Cesare is still on that book boyfriend list. STill as awesome and supportive as ever. Amd guess what? He doesn't try to stifle Dory. He knows she's capable of looking out for herself and he never gets in her way (like a lot of love interests tend to do in this genre). He's just prefect, ok? Next point.

As for their relationship, it definitely was not at the forefront, which I actually liked. The only thing I could complain about really is that he and Dory don't really work together to solve issues anymore, at least not like they did in the first book. That isn't to say that he wasn't present; he was still there for her and their realtionship really progresses throuhgout the book, but I miss that partnership. This really changed toward the last half of the book though, so I wasn't really bothered that much by it.

Let's just talk about Ray for a sec. When he was first introduced in the second book, I didn't think I would see him again and honestly, I wasn't too upset about that. BUT THEN. Around came this book and all I can say is I'm so glad Chance decided to make him a more central character this time. His banter with Dory had me laughing out loud more than once and I loved his and Dory's friendship. He was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. Serioulsy, though, some of his lines were perfect.

The general plot had much higher stakes this time, with some new mythical creatures being added to the mix, and I'm so so ready to read more in this world. It was fast paced and action packed, with Dory almost never catching a break, poor girl. It kept me hooked till the end, which is quite a feat for a book that is over 500 pages long.

OK I'M DONE BEING COHERENT NOW. READ THIS SERIES IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME ACTION-PACKED FUN WiTH AMAZING KICK ASS CHARACTERS.
-------------------------------------------------
FAVORITE BOOK IN THE SERIES SO FAR. ASDFGHJKL BYE FOR NOW

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A dhampir has no standing under the law. She is neither vampire nor human nor mage nor any other recognized creature...she would never be allowed to testify. Under vampire law, she isn't a person...

That's what Kit Marlowe, "dreaded spymaster for the North American Vampire Senate," says about our main character, first-person narrator Dorina (Dory) Basarab, whose third full-length adventure is immersed in the vampires' conflict with fey and mages, with pulse-pounding action scenes on a large scale with lots and lots of killing--just what a dhampir like Dorina does best.

As a dhampir (a human-vampire hybrid), Dorina has heightened senses, rapid recovery from injury, superhuman strength, and longevity (she's 500 years old) and she sees vampires as her natural prey--but at the same time she has a yearning for sex with them. And she doesn't have some of the vampires' vulnerabilites, like sensitivity to sunlight.

So far, both vampires and dhampirs in this story match the folklore traditions of southeastern Europe. There's a twist, though. In Dory's world dhampirs quickly become insane slaughterers and have to be put down, so they're pretty rare and none of them are very old. Dory is a mystery. How did she survive? What is special about her besides the prestige of her protective father Mircea, a powerful vampire senator? This turns out to be the central theme of the book. Without going into spoilers, Dory's peculiar nature begins to change, fall apart maybe, and her ability to overcome her internal problems will be the key to the wider conflict in a dramatic way.

Unlike other dhampirs, our main character is two beings in one body, reminding me a little of Jane Yellowrock and Beast in Faith Hunter's series. The insane killer that other dhampirs become is sealed off from Dory and only takes over when her life is in immediate danger. And then--

I'd always blacked out during my little episodes. Always. I'd wake up, sometimes weeks or months later in different freaking countries, with no idea where I was or how I'd gotten there. Or what I'd done in the meantime. And that was scary; that was bad. But I'd just discovered something worse...staying awake for the whole terrifying scene, knowing just how out of control I'd been...

A great deal of this book happens inside Dory/Dorina's mind, including tremendous battle scenes; and anyone who dies "in mental combat" is dead for real. Not just Dory but other characters, like her father Mircea and her lover Louis-Cesare, enter her mind. And in that mental universe there's full sensory perception, with movement and actions. The only thing that's more or less dreamlike is sudden changes of scene, and even those have to be balanced against the outside world with all its dimensional portals (it turns out that someone has made a "Frankenportal system all over the city" of New York).

Rich narrative with vivid descriptions, but confusing at times, not least because Dory is seriously confused about who she is and whether people have been entering her mind and doing things to it. Enough said! I certainly enjoyed the ride.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even with a longer page count the story did not drag while not featuring the frantic drama of her Cassie Palmer series. The story picks up with the ongoing war with the Black Circle and the challenges to fill the empty seats on the North American Senate. Mircea has managed to employ Dory with the Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie. Obviously nothing is as it seems and a few wrench es are thrown in everybody's perfect plans. Ray turned from only a comic relief to an important character that pulls his own weight in the fights.

Louis Cesare's character has undergone some changes that I was not really happy with but he is as ever determined to win Dory's heart even if she does not want to give it away. It creates lots of tender moments that I treasure.

As if there were not enough drama, we get treated to many more glimpses into Mircea's struggle with having a father-daughter relationship with Dory. In many respect, a lot of loose ends are tied up to explain their current problems and it is a delight to wonder where those revelations will take the story to.

[Hippiehello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so i just finished the book and all i can say is....wow....like...wow....i loved it! First of all, it was a billion pages! This book was so thick and there was so much information provided. I loved seeing Mircea and Dory's relationship when she was younger. I knew that he cared about her, but just didn't know how to show it. Another great part was Ray. He was hysterical and DEF was the Robin to Dory's Batman. Of course i loved the scenes with Louis-Ceasar...he's....just made for Dory and there scenes were hot, hot, hot! lol Overall, well done Karen Chance, but now you better start writing faster because i NEED MORE!

[Keziah · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY!!! I thought she forgot about us fans

[VampireNovelFan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fury’s Kiss – I *might* just have a new #2…favorite series that is

“We got unfinished business,” he reminded me.
“My name’s not Bill.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I loved that movie. Shoulda brought a katana, but it seemed like an unfair advantage.”

- I love that movie too!

"I wasn't the kind of gal who wore designer and knew what all the forks were for. I was the kind of gal who thought the nightgown drawer was where old T-shirts went to die and who had only started using forks in the last century. And who frankly still thought them kind of a waste when there were perfectly good knives handy."

Dorina is awesome. Yeah, yeah, I know that's not news, but we could SO be besties if it weren't for her little quirk of blacking out into nasty dhampir rages that can level a whole village (think Saya from Blood+).

Though Dorina's dhampir heritage has made her the pariah and enigma of the paranormal community, her skills are still quite useful to the Vampire Senate. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. While working with them to smuggle magical items and weapons out of Faerie, the operation hits a snag that leads to Dorina's capture. Though eventually saved by master vampire Louis-Cesare, she has no memory of what happened, but she has to find out fast or else the vampire community and herself will be dangerously vulnerable. This leads to new enemies, new revelations about her past, and ultimately a war residing completely within...herself.

She did make readers wait two years for it, but this is definitely the longest Dorina book to date! Karen Chance doesn't let up when it comes to the twists, turns, and action sequences that you wouldn't believe. Chance proves herself to be a master story teller with the continuous world building, complex plot, and super fast pace; it makes me wonder how she keeps up with it all. There HAS to be a secret.

For the most part I was really with it, but I did have a couple of annoyances. I sometimes felt like I was reading about a character with ADHD because there are a number of times when she doesn't complete a thought before something else happens. That felt a bit unnecessary because the books are fast paced enough. By the 80% mark it sort of hit a wall, though it didn't last for very long because the end was beyond stellar.

As much as I love her Louis-Cesare (they are probably in my top 3 ships now), the developments with Mircea were probably my favorite parts of this book. Chance's love of time travel is as present as ever. She skirts the time travel idea often used in her Cassie Palmer books by pretty much turning Dorina's mind into a time machine. Being 500 years old, she has a lot of memories she can recall.

We see romance all of the time in this genre books, but so rarely do we see such a the delicate father-daughter relationship like theirs develop and evolve over the course of a series. Absolutely it is unconventional, but at the root of it, we are seeing a bond that is unbreakable, as it should be. They are both hundreds of years old, so it's hard to navigate their relationship in a convincing way, but Chance does it and it works so well. I got some serious warm fuzzies and my only complaint is that I wish we got a little more. Though I would have liked more, what I want to see is probably more suited for the last book...woohoo for 4 more years! That's assuming she ends this series at 5 books.

I would say that slightly less action, more Mircea, more Louis-Cesare, or just less pages would have put this book on the path to perfection. These little things took it from perfection to NEAR perfection. It was definitely one of my most satisfying reads of the year!

*Review also posted to Amazon.

[Zeenat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: Dorina Basarab, the dhampir daughter of the Great Mircea, woke up not remembering much of anything. But inside her memory is information on how a group of level 1 masters died. Marlowe, Senate member and spy extraordinaire, is going to get the information out of her head no matter what, much to the chagrin of her father and boyfriend. Especially since there is something far more dangerous locked away...

Review: I wasn't a fan of Dory in the first couple of books, even though the books themselves were entertaining. But in this book, the girl had grown leaps and bounds into someone I actually like.

The heart of these books (at least to me) is the relationship between Dory and her father, Mircea. As a vital character in the original series, the Cassie Palmer books, I find Mircea to be just as important of a character as Dory. Father and daughter have a tenuous relationship at best, and we find out a lot more of the why in this book. We learned more about Mircea's manipulations; however, you can't be mad at them for him. Dory grows more into her daughter role, but she also learns about her heart.

Her heart also is evident in her growing relationship with Louis-Cesare. Their relationship is something sweet that she doesn't trust, due to prejudices around her.

As usual, Ms. Chance crafts characters who are utterly unique and stand out very well independently as well as bloom in their relationships. We not only see Dory grow, but we see other characters around her grow, change, and layers peel off. Louis-Cesare, Radu, Marlowe, Zheng. My favorite character in the whole book is Ray. He is as cowardly as he is brave, a loyal servant who knows when to "strong arm his master". If Ray were on the page, you were guaranteed some laughs. And Mircea, I am finding him sexy one minute, annoying the next, wonderful a few hours later, wanting to punch him, and then back to being starry-eyed. He is probably the most complex character I have read in urban fantasy, yet.

As usual, the action, plot, and world building is packed into this novel; never slowing down and keep you hooked till the last page. Between the two books before this and the Cassie Palmer series, the world and mythology is pretty much set. Yet our author created more life that fit into her already established world, seamlessly. One word: Zombies. Just like the other Dory books I did get lost a couple of times, but I picked it up rather quickly. And we do see a small glimpse of our favorite Pythia.

I am beginning to see how these books and the Cassie books will merge. Mircea will probably play a prominent role, as does gods of both our world and Faerie. With the changes that happen at the end of this book, I bet there will be some Dory and Cassie clashing, and Mircea has a lot of 'splainin to do (when doesn't he?).

I was surprised by how amazing this book was, but I shouldn't have been. Karen Chance's world and characters are charming, enjoyable, and multidimensional. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Sex: Sexy and steamy scenes, and some unexpected kissing between... well, you'll find out. ;)
Violence: Blood and gory zombies and bits and pieces of flesh flying.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quote: "But you were Mine. My child. And I would not give you up."

Next Book: Not sure when the next Dory book will be, but the next Cassie book is supposed to be sometime next year. Let's hope for sooner rather than later!

[Edensbookshelf.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Without a doubt, Karen Chance has delivered her magnum opus with Fury’s Kiss. My ARC was composed of 536 pages of non-stop action, multiple complex story lines, and thrilling romance. The book is massive. None of it is filler. It could have easily been divided into two smaller books. It is to Chance’s credit and of course her publisher, Signet, that she did not shy away from the magnitude of this project.

Chance writes with a skill level that is rarely challenged in this genre. Intense, detailed, and intelligent scenes that demand an involved reader. At the same time, her characters are robust and sympathetic.

Dory is notoriously stubborn and emotionally detached – most times causing herself more harm than good. She carries the proverbial “chip” the size of a boulder on her shoulder. In Fury’s Kiss, fans will be pleasantly surprised to see Dory finally make breakthroughs in several key relationships. Without giving too much away, Dory and her father Mircea will break new ground in their strained relationship in the most unexpected of ways. This story line allows Mircea to evolve from a secretive diplomat senator into a protective dedicated father.

Ever stalwart, Louis-Cesar also plays a huge role in this novel. Dory is finally forced to decide if she will commit to Louis-Cesar and the risk of being hurt both by him or by others using him to get at her.

Claire is back along with a detachment of randy elf soldiers to protect her. This story line goes into some very funny places.

Fury’s Kiss brings back several characters from her previous novels and introduces Ray, a seemingly third rate vampire trying desperately to stay alive (relatively speaking). Ever scheming, slippery and the punch line for every joke, Ray is the comic relief and Dory’s Ace in the hole.

When a seat becomes available in the Senate during the investigation, all hell breaks loose as contenders fight each other in open season style combat. Last man standing wins the Senate seat.

The villains have new toys including vampire zombies, ice rays, and illegal ley line portals. But most of all – the villains have powers that no one has ever witnessed before making Dory and the rest of the crew feel completely at a loss. A mysterious winged stranger saves Dory from the zombies and introduces a whole new group into the mix – fallen angels.

Do not be diverted from this novel if you are new to Chance’s works because she will give you enough background to keep you afloat but you will miss out on the inside jokes (including a short scene between Dorina and Cassie from Chance’s other series The Cassandra Palmer Series).

Fury’s Kiss is a game changer. Forget everything you ever knew about Dorina Basarab because a new Dorina is in town and she is larger than life.

This review will also appear on paperbackdolls.com and edensbookshelf.com

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

2012: 3 stars
2018: 4 stars

I liked this a lot better the second time around. This is my least favorite book in the series. The plot is really good. The end was great and completely unexpected. There were a lot of action scenes. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but these dragged out way too long, to the point where they became slightly boring. This happens in Karen Chance books sometimes, but I'm willing to overlook it because I love the characters.

Dory did a job for Mircea. Something went horribly wrong but she didn't know what because her vampire side took over. This lead to Mircea finally telling Dory some important info about herself and what has been done to her. Part of me thinks he is an ass for doing what he did. OTOH I understand why he did it. I liked it when Dory was protective of Mircea. She doesn't often show it when she cares.

Ray is growing on me, which is good since he'll be around Dory more. He's annoying sometimes but makes things fun. I love where Dory and Louis-Cesare's relationship is going. They had a few sweet moments together. The twist at the end of this was awesome! Definitely a game changer.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Chance delivers a stellar addition to the Dorina Basarab series! The world Chance creates is so easy to lose yourself in. With her detailed world building, interesting politics and tons of humor, Chance has the unique ability to take readers into her world for a whole new thrill ride with each book!

Readers will be please to discover that Chance also explores Dory's relationship with Louis-Cesare in greater detail. Adding another intricate layer to their relationship, Chance builds on their witty back-and-forth to further solidify the fact that Dory and Louis-Cesare are the perfect pair.

Though Dory and Louis-Cesare are fantastic in this book, Ray had some amazingly memorable scenes as well. The fact that Chance has more than one character I care about proves just how endearing and well-rounded her characters are.

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction

[Sarah ♥ dog crazy ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the book.

It had lots of action, character develpment and humor.

I like Dory more and more and started to really feel for her and her situation. But there was a lot of progress over the book and things seem to get better for her at the end.

As a die-hard Mircea fan, his scenes were my faves. I love the two sides of him we get to see in KC's series. The flashback to Venice and the scene with him nearly dying are by far my faves.

Zheng is awesome! I developed a soft spot for him when reading "In Vino Veritas" but I really like him now.

I have to admit that some scenes were dragging and confusing and the whole Irin storyline was WTF to me. But the rest was awesome enough that it didn't bother me too much.