Hijack the Seas: Seismic

Cassandra Palmer #13

by Karen Chance

Once a down-on-her-luck clairvoyant, Cassie Palmer is now the supernatural world's chief seer. She’s overcome a lot to get where she is but may be facing her biggest challenge yet. Her lover, the part-fey war mage John Pritkin, is facing a battle for the throne of one of the great light fey kingdoms. Winning means gaining control of their army for the war with the gods that Earth is currently fighting. Losing . . .

Losing wouldn’t be a great idea.

In a race for a throne, there is no second place, and Faerie is not known for being forgiving. Cassie has to help her lover not only survive but come in first in a land that hates his human and demon blood and is determined to kill him rather than let him succeed. And as if that isn’t enough, an old villain from her past has a plan for revenge that might be even more dangerous than the fey.

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

438 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2024

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

[Bar]

2.5/5? I won't rate it until a series reread I guess.


Eh. I'm not even sure what to think about this book.

It's been 64 years and we're still in Faerie and all these fae names look the same to me. I really need to reread the series and finally read Dory's books because apparently some important Cassie stuff happens in latest Dory novel(la) - but still, I guess Chance gave us a decent recap...

First, the good.

Alphonse is back! After a while I even remembered who he was and I was so glad we finally get back some of the characters from the previous books.

We also got to spend lots of time with Pritkin, finally, although he did have some annoying stuff going on that made all of us I guess suspect character assassination until it turned out to be a curse. (I had a deja vu with that one. Didn't something like that happen before?) Also that Aquaman suit was actually explained later. Still, I can't wait for return of the classic war mage coat 😭

Turns out Pritkin still separates himself from his incubus - at least we might be there for all this character development unlike what #12 suggested.

And unfortunately, right now I can think of more bad than good stuff...

I did roll my eyes when I read in synopsis that there will be some fae-ruler-trials. This is such a Bad Romantasy Trope these days... I can't think of any good book featuring such trials that happened in recent years.

Not enough Pythian/time-travel. At this point even Cassie's visions are coming back because there's been no time for time travel... Until the last chapters which did have some potential, but for now it was mostly yet another chaotic battle sequence.

Lots of "tell instead of show" in the writing. I usually overlook it with this series, but too much is too much.

It's mostly in the first half of this book, but if I will never again have to read about "triumvirate" or have a war flashbacks from a certain awkward menage a trois... It will still be not early enough.

(I hope it was no foreshadowing for the future... Because if Chance does THAT as an endgame then this is the one thing that will make me quit the series. There are many characters in many fandoms that can work as OT3 - or more - but it will never be Cassie, Pritkin and Mircea. Please.)

One thing that nobody wants to hear from me but I still think so - the rape in #12 was completely unnecessary and #13 continues to prove it. During at least half this book I even started to doubt it happened at all - not that I want it to be some prominent feature in Cassie's overall trauma. I just think it had no place in this series at all.

I am guesstimating "Tsunami" will come out in January/February. Whenever it happens... I have no problem with author changing the release date and I wish her all the best. As much as I'm disappointed with the latest Cassie books, I will love the first eight/nine books forever.

----------------------

before reading:

after Inferno this cover hits differently O.O

My guesstimate for that one is January/February 2025. I'd say 2024 (one year for Dory and one year for Cassie) but... Lets not be so optimistic.

After ItF i am not that much excited for HtS... Still gonna read it tho. Maybe after my first solid reread of the series and finally picking up Dory, since i ve been totally neglecting her!

[Marielle Authier]

Expected publication January 1, 2022
Change to Published 2022
change to Expected publication: 2023
Change to Expected publication January 1, 2024

[Animemaniac001]

Can't find it anywhere.
Is it really published already?

I really want to read this volume!

[Kimi5564]

September 11, 2024
1. May we never forget ♥
2. Another cover? This one "Tsunami?" How about a book and NO cover? How about a book PERIOD!! Are there now (2)?????????
Tsunami | Seismic - How about some ADD medication!

August 21, 2024
So, yes, this 60-something full-time employee, who reads over 100 books a year shall continue to be critical, because Chance keeps queueing up fodder for me to react to. And yes, I understand about self-published authors as I read several. Since she maintains her blog and Facebook pages (I follow neither, but know they are there), an update over the last THREE years would have been respectful to her readers (you know, the paying customers).

I do visit this page every so often, and guess what? There is a new cover with the additional word "Seismic" added to the title for the Kindle version. First of all, "WHY???" Now I am wondering if this will be (2) books? On top of that, they both say "PUBLISHED 1 August 2024." Really??

Question for the Dorina people - Do I need to read Time's Fool or Fortune's Blade, because really, they never seem to cross over.

April 17, 2024 - Did you notice the date???????
I have officially taken her off of my prayer list - She fucking released "Fortune's Blade!!" FUCKING TOLD YOU 😤😤😤😤 Goodreads states that "Hijack the Seas" was published on January 1, 2024.
I guess Karen Chance has sent Cassie to the same abyss @LaurelKHamilton sent Merry Gentry - still so fucking angry about that one...

January 1, 2022 - What a joke! Why set us up like that? She left a major cliffhanger, gave us the cover and release date, then disappeared. We're human; tell us you're sick; tell us you're bored, tell us you are out of ideas, tell us something! On top of that, she published the first book of a new series - WHY? and I guarantee that "Fortune's Blade" comes out before "Hijack the Seas." Obviously, her publisher has a different set of rules that we readers have to just deal with. To be honest, I have not read "Junk Magic" or "Time's Fool" yet. I'm starting to get confused where everything is and how it all ties together.

[Lorre · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a wild ride!

Cassie and Pritkin went from one wild adventure to the next.
Loved the 2 blobby demons and I loved Alphonse and Enid. I hope we'll all see them in the next book!

[Tills B · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw that this book had been made into two parts I honestly just sighed. Whyyyyy???

Just to preface, I love this world. I’ve been following this series for years, and love both the Cassie and Dory narratives.

However, I feel like the last couple of Dory/Cassie books feel a bit directionless and untethered. While I know that it’s Karen Chance’s style to have lots going on, I don’t enjoy constant cliff-hangers and things being stretched out over multiple books. Sometimes it just feels like she’s making it up as she goes along.

Imo, by taking the story to faerie, we lose all the fun of the world that has been built at Dante’s and miss out on so many interesting characters. It seems like the next book will start on Earth though, so that’s at least something.

The last few Cassie novels were also very intense and quite controversial, and while I didn’t hate the decisions made (e.g. Cassie being raped, Cassie dying) it nonetheless made the series less enjoyable to read imo.

This one felt a little more like the older books in the series, and I enjoyed how Pritkin’s and Cassie’s partnership played out. Also, finding out that Pritkin’s soul has been split as well! KC loves a soul split, doesn’t she! I was getting flashbacks from the Dory books haha. Having said that, I do like the idea of Pritkin’s incubus, and think it’s a really interesting plot point.

Overall, I did enjoy this one, and I’m always impressed at how Karen Chance can make me invest in a whole load of new characters.

Things I particularly enjoyed:
- Cassie is still Pythia - I think a lot of us were confused about this after the last ending.
- Lots of Pritkin - big fan.
- A reappearance of Alphonse which was very welcome, and a new love interest for him it seems!
- Lots of quirky battle scenes which Karen Chance is known for.
- Æsubrand’s appearance - unexpected but enjoyed.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars I enjoyed it, even though it was chaotic at times. Ends with a cliffhanger.

[Susana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie and Pritkin are everything...
And we need more Alphonse scenes. He was amazing in this one.
I love this series so much, and I can't wait for the next book!!

[LoLo Viveiros · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️’s
This one honestly just felt like a jumbled mess to me. Hopefully part 2 is more smoother in the story telling. I feel like a lot happened but nothing really important until the End.

[Yackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love being in Cassie Palmer's universe. Ms. Chance has made another great book in the series. I love how badass Cassie has become. And I love any page Pritkin is in. Can't wait for the next book.

[Renee Barattini-Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hijack the Seas: Seismic

Another epic adventure in Cassie Palmer's world as she and her small group of heroes attempt to save the world- again. Excellent and action-filled!

[Cheryl Chapnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action, misses the humor And characters of the earlier books.

I have loved the Cassie Palmer series and was glad to see one of the earlier characters,Alphonse brought back in. I'm not a fan of the ending cliff hanger, but that's normal for these books. I miss the witty banter and humor of the earlier books. I guess I'm committed to the franchise though because I keep buying the books.

[Atrium-V · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half was very weird.
For one: i felt like a seventeen year old again. Are Karens readers suddenly small children? I mean stuff like this:' Pritkin said a very bad word' or 'the fey were typically a foot taller than humans, meaning that his stomach wasn't where my blow landed'.... Do we need that? Can't we deal with explicit words anymore?
And Pritkin. I was not sure if the character was ruined completely, but luckily his condescending behavior was apparently part of some curse. Puh.
But the second half of the book was also weird. Just in a very diffrent way. Idk idk what to think or feel about this.
Please dont turn the series into a kids story. Please don't. The fans this story has love 'the bloody' and 'the unexpected'. Everybody else already left the room. Don't make us leave. Please.

[Patty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated it. Maybe because of the length of time between books. I can’t remember what happened in the last book. I understand her need for Prinktin, but his response to her love goes back to Book one. Yawn.

Honestly, the writing is maniacal. I did not enjoy this book, and I marked it read in my Kindle within the first 100 pages.

[Tamara Rickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t get enough of this funky stuff

It may drive you crazy but it’s worth it to take this crazy trip with Cassandra, the Pythia; start at book or none of this will make any sense but when it does, wowza!

[Paku Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Every book takes you on a new ride and you still feel connected to the characters. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Piseog · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I am really worried the damage is already done with this series. The last two books were terrible in comparison to the earlier ones, and book 11 got my lowest rating of the entire series. It was unreadable, which was such a pity because I have been reading this series since 2009 and it was one of my favourites for so long, up there with Kate Daniels. Thankfully, this book was better than the last two, but I did struggle to get through the first 1/3. I actually contemplated making it a DNF and just giving up on the entire series. I'm glad I stuck with it, because it was exciting by the end. One huge positive with this book was the amount of Pritkin we got. He was actually present for the whole book, which is a rarity, and the Cassie/Pritkin coupling was my favourite for a long time. Karen Chance almost ruined it with the lack of commitment and never letting the Mircea torch die. Another positive, no Mircea in this one. I do think Pritkin should be allowed to worry and want to protect Cassie, and it was made into a big issue. UF MCs hate being protected, and Cassie was so likeable because she knew she was vulnerable and needed protection at times. I like the vulnerable Cassie and it was a little frustrating that she got so insulted that Pritkin wanted to protect her. But I will still take all that, as long as we have them together, and not separated for the majority of the book, like the usual.

I think the whacky, almost slap-stick, chaotic action scenes that go on for chapters have become so grating; I honestly skimmed them. When I was in love the characters and plots in the past I could look past the craziness and get over the fact I couldn't really follow everything going on, but now it's irritating and confusing. I realised that it's very strange that we never see Cassie injured. She goes through so many life or death situations, and she is either unharmed or just passes out just to wake instantly in the next chapter. Anytime there is a mention of her being injured it is quickly forgotten or sped through, and it's almost like it never happened. I want serious situations or injuries to be given their due time and treated with more importance. Cassie was raped and later murdered in the previous book and it's like it never happened. Karen Chance never fully acknowledged that Cassie was raped, not even using the actual word, and in this book it's referred to as Cassie got badly beaten. There needs to be an impact to all this drama, or otherwise what's the point. Everything needs way more breathing room and time, and when we got those moments in this book I really enjoyed it. No more flashback visions please.

I think if an editor was utilised more, and at least 100 pages were cut, the pacing and development would have been tighter and much better. From the beginning I loved Cassie and Pritkin, the Vampires and the storylines with the Pythain court, the witches and the Circle. I never loved the Gods aspect or Faerie. Unfortunately the last few books have focussed primarily on the latter, Gods and Fae. I want the good old days, but I know change is also needed in a series. So by the end of this book I did like it. There were some exciting moments and it's all building to an intriguing storyline.

[Laurla2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

-5 stars. kept and held my interest even though i've been having a difficult time reading lately. fast paced.

again the author had to split her book into 2 books, and this one ends on a cliffhanger. hijack the seas: tsunami will be the continuation of this one.

i know some people whine that the author can never finish a book on time, or without going over on length, but i REALLY enjoy her writing and don't mind long books at all. i love her stories and characters so much that i'm willing to accept cliffhangers and wait (impatiently) for more.

-*giggles* at the two blobbish demons being named Pinky and the Brain.

-this book's funny shirt: "i may look calm, but in my head i've killed you five times."

"Pritkin was usually tightly controlled, especially regarding physical actions, since war mages were essentially magical nukes. they could take out a building by a stray spell, especially those who had learned silent casting. i'd often wondered if that was where all the swearing came from; it was literally his only safe outlet."

"you came to rescue me, then?"
"i came to fight beside you. because i need you, in so many ways i've lost count. and because i love you. are you really going to turn me away?"

"i barely noticed because the rest of the room was... was... yeah. it was definitely yeah. and some uh huh. and a bunch of oh wow, and maybe a little damn. and then i lost words entirely because it hit like a blinged-out fist to the face, with all the mind-blowing colors and textures and people."

"i had assumed that, eventually, i would start to morph into one of those serene elegant, powerful women that the Pythian name evoked. and maybe i would, but it was taking its own sweet time."

"all the gods were related; they practically made incest a family pastime." [greek gods/olympians]

"i would have had a reply to that, but my brain was busy screaming."

"Enid had the bravado of someone who had almost been killed half a dozen times today and had already reached fuck it."

"i'm the only one talking sense! we're stuck in a horror movie with monsters chasing us. and i'm hanging around with the goddamned blonde!"
"what is wrong with that?"
"it means half of you are red shirts, and i'm starting to wonder about me!"

[Katharina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book set in fairy. Another book split into two installments.

To start with the things I liked: Alphonse is back! He brings much-needed emotional depth. Unfortunately, Aesubrand and Bodil barely mattered and needed only a reality check to be swayed.

Chance keeps repeating the same plot points in her books. Cassie meets a new faction of magical beings (Rosier, the Demon Council, the covens, elves) who don't trust her because Cassie's mother was Evil. Then Cassie does something heroic, and suddenly they are allies. But we never read about that new allyship or get a deeper understanding of the factions because Cassie is immediately thrown into the next scenario. And now the series has reached a point where it becomes repetitive.

Speaking of repetitiveness. Dory and Pritkin face the same problem with their "twins". As with Fortune's Blade, I am not sure how the story will be resolved. Mainly because, even though the problem is the same at the outset, I can't shake the feeling that the solution will be different. And I'm not sure whether it will be resolved to my satisfaction.

Additionally, I missed any plot progression. Chance is very good at writing action scenes, but lately her books are mostly fights without any story behind them. For once, I just wish that the characters would talk to each other before attacking.

On top of that, the way magic works in the world, especially Cassie's magic, is becoming too complicated. At several instances, I was confused about the rules of Cassie's powers. It is always conveniently explained, but there is a sour aftertaste that I can't get rid of. A slight feeling that Chance is still making up the rules as she goes, without paying much attention to whether it seems logical to the reader or not.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, I have been waiting for this book for what seems like ever. It took me a bit to remember exactly where we left off from the last book. However, the author did a good job of recapping things for me so I wasn't completely lost.

Leaving us on a cliffhanger was diabolical. I was listening while jogging and was like wtf and had to keep running and thinking what the heck did I just listen too. I need more of this as of yesterday 😩

I love the return of the characters I love and the incorporation of new ones I loved Enid. I hated how Cassie kept getting shaked almost every chapter and her power was kaput the whole book. I keep thinking can she get a break to eat, rest and replenish?

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a blast from the last. Had no idea Karen Chance was still writing and honestly kinda wish this series died 10 books ago 😭 I purchased it without thinking and instantly realized why I hated this series from the start. Karen Chance specifically this series made me first aware of the Too Stupid To Live trope. This was probably the first in an ever growing list of FCs I can’t stand. Was she the first to write the TSTL protagonist? No, but it’s damn near close for me.

Edit - reading some people’s comments on reviews it’s so wild to me that they are arguing how real the rape situation was in these books and how it’s relatable. That’s such a wild comment. Like my mind is blown.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie goes to Faerie to help Pritkin compete in the challenge contests for the Green Fey throne. The contests are being conducted in and near a palace under the sea. Then Alphonse joins the team just before everything goes crazy.

Several of the action scenes were so confusing (ex.: the retreat from the fae/kitchen help battle), I had to read them over and over again to make some kind of sense of what was happening and to whom.

Fave scenes: rotten seaweed & fish remains, Cassie trying to get a pie, the seahorse stables, starting the second race and Rask escaping in the bird.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put off reading this one because of my dislike of the 11th and exhaustion from the 12th; fortunately this one was better. It's calmer until the last quarter, we get Alphonse back for awhile (almost forgot about him and Tony). Pritkin plenty and only him, but I'm sorry to say the author is still having the separation of him and his other half and even makes it worse end of book. We stay in Fae constantly, which is not my favorite area. There's humor, there's romance - but there's also some confusing stuff and a few periods of dullness.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get that there is a war going on in the book, but it seems like things are even more frenzied than normal. There is no break. It's all action and near-death experiences. It's exhausting to read. I felt like I needed to take breaks just to get away from it. Hopefully, the next book isn't so bad.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

By my calculation the second half of this book should be the final one as KC said the series worked in 3 trilogies. Tbh that’s a relief. I will probably get it as I’ve got so far but the plot lines are getting increasingly confused, the fight scenes absurdly frequent and I’ve lost interest in the fae politics. The underwater fae world was one step too far for me. I feel the last few books have lacked tight editing. The first half didn’t feel like it was KC writing. Characterisation was lost to endless and increasingly absurd battles; I found myself skipping the second half of many paragraphs as it made no difference to character or plot. A shame as I really liked this series.

[Amber♡☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop wild action scenes and high stakes, plus Cassie and Pritkin together, made this a fast read. As the title indicates, this is just part one of a longer arc so don't expect an ending.

[PokoTaekwoonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beaucoup d'infos, pas mal d'action mais pas assez de moments romance avec Pritkin à mon goût. Par contre ça serait bien qu'on approche quand même d'un dénouement.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Waiting for the next book 😁📖

Always full of action from start to finish, can't wait to read the next one and find out what happened to Earth.

[Cynthia Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced action with a smarter of romance. I always have to read these again because there is so much going on that I miss some . But worth it.