Customer Reviews

Unknown (Outcast Season, Book 2)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cassiel, a Djinn-turned-human, is faced with a huge predicament revealed at the end of Undone: give in to Ashan's demands and thus, become Djinn again, or fight Pearl--a malevolent force she destroyed thousands of years ago--but as a human this time.

Paired with Luis Rocha, the duo are constantly attacked by child soldiers trained by Pearl. Not only that, but more and more reports of missing children are popping up everywhere they turn. Isabel, kidnapped in the prior installment of this series, is still missing. Perhaps there is a link between these children and Ibby's disappearance?


I am in love. I thought that I enjoyed the Weather Warden series, but Cassiel's story definitely beats Joanne's in my books.

The slow and steady shift from Djinn to human is what intrigued me the most with this newest installment. Djinn in Caine's universe are cold and calculating, yet we see such warmth in Cassiel's character. It is a sudden, significant shift that occurred in Undone, and one that was written beautifully and explored further in Unknown. It is important to note, however, that while Cassiel is human and acts more human with each and every page, the Djinn in her still pops up here and there throughout the book. Reintroducing the cold and calculating back into Cassiel's character added a new and interesting twist for me. The shift between the two is both subtle and smooth, and the reactions from all the secondary characters are amusing, to say the least.

The strange physical attraction Cassiel felt towards the Earth Warden, Luis, in Undone has sparked romance betwixt the duo now. Said romance is not only believable, but also charming, hilarious, and absolutely "aww!"-worthy. Unknown ended on such a beautiful note, I squealed in delight and hugged the book to my chest in glee.

Wondering if you should start this series by Ms. Caine? I highly suggest you do.

I love Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series - well, at least the first four or five books which I have read - but hadn't read any of her more recent offerings. When I picked up 'Unknown' I assumed it was a different series than the Weather Wardens, which indeed it is, but it has many links to that previous series and mentions many of the same characters.

I haven't read the first in the Outcast Season but that didn't appear to matter too much; I think I'd have found this book much more confusing if I didn't know of the basic structure of the Weather Warden series and some of the people in that. This book was rather darker and less character-driven than the others, focusing on Cassiel, a Djinn who is now something approaching a human, and who, with Earth Warden Luis Rocha, is trying to stop another ancient Djinn, Pearl, from destroying humanity (what else!)

This book is very fast-paced, like the Weather Warden series, with our heroine dashing from problem to disaster. Lots of people are caught up in the crossfire and she leaves a trail of dead bodies, most of whom aren't her fault. The book hints at a romance but this wasn't particularly developed. It was an enjoyable read but somehow I felt the action was taking over too much and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Cassiel is clearly developing but I wasn't entirely sure how it would play out, and I also felt that Pearl was a bit too nebulous an enemy, and not knowing the extent of her powers made it hard to gauge the real level of jeopardy for Cass and humanity.

Although I enjoyed the book I was a bit disappointed by the ending which left most of the story hanging. I will probably want to read the next in the series but I did find this book a bit too unfinished for full enjoyment.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2010

At the end of book one Cassiel had figured out and faced her ancient foe and almost died for it. The question now is how to stop Pearl and also figuring just what it is she is after and stop her. But it won't be easy. New players join the game, Rashid - a new Djinn with his own agenda; Agent Turner - FBI agent and Warden spy who seems to truly care about the children Pearl has taken; police and other government agencies - human groups that as a Djinn she'd never had to give a second thought to before.

Cassiel is learning more and more about being human, but instead of making things easier, they keep getting harder and more complex. And with her growing emotions towards Luis and humanity in general, and being hemmed in from all sides as each tries to push her to make choices she does not want, Cass has a long bumpy road road ahead.

As I do with just about everything from Rachel Caine, I tore through this book in just a few days. Fast paced, action packed, and full of subtle hints on both Djinn and human motivations, the plot gets deeper and deeper as more hints as to what might truly be going on are revealed. Watching Cass continue to try to deal with what she considers a diminished state is a lot of fun.

I must admit that I'm kind of a Rachel Caine junkie. I've read all of her wonderful Weather Warden books, all of her good Morganville Vampire books, and now, both of her Outcast books...and I can honestly say that of the three, I firmly believe the Outcast series is Caine's best work.
First of all, readers are given a very compelling lead character (Cassiel), a once Djinn (a race of uber powerful beings which readers have been introduced via Caine's Weather Warden series), now turning human due to her resistance to a commanding order by a head Djinn which would ultimately wipe out all of humanity. Even when Cass was fully Djinn, not feeling the vast myriad of emotions that humans do, she knew that this was not the answer to their problems. So, as a punishment (and as a way to force her compliance), she was turned human...complete with burgeoning emotions, weighing decisions prior to action, and the frailties of human physiology. In ways, Cass misses her former self, but in other ways she doesn't. Her newly made humanity is allowing her the opportunities to see things from other points of view besides the Djinn ways.
Paired with the mercurial Luis Rocha, a powerful Earth Warden, Cass works with Rocha to find missing Warden children, kids who are poised to become the next generation of Weather Wardens. One of these missing kids is Rocha's young niece Isabel, the daughter of Rocha's slain brother and deceased wife. Immediately they come to find that an insane and powerful Djinn (Pearl) has been taking these kids to train and use them in her machinations to wipe out civilization. By awakening their Warden powers too soon, Pearl is playing with these children's lives, sacrificing them for her goals. And it's ultimately up to Cass and Luis to stop her and save these children...before it's too late.

I don't wish to divulge any more of the plot, but I can say that the action in this book is amazing, it pulls you in immediately & doesn't let go. On top of that, the budding romance between Luis and Cassiel is something to look forward to as the series matures.

An all-around excellent read..."Unknown" will not disappoint even the most fickle urban fantasy fan!

I admit it. I'm a Rachel Caine junkie. i got hooked on the Weather Warden series and now I'm thoroughly hooked on the Outcast Season series. I think I might actually like Cassiel better than I liked Joanna. (I know, insert gasp here).

This is what I love about these books. I can expect for 300ish pages to get tons of action, steamy hot characters (with none of the smut that's typically accompanying said steamy hot characters), guns, crime-fighting, magic, fantasy and a story that has so many twists and turns it's impossible to see where it will end.

That's what Rachel Caine has given me in every single one of these Warden books I've read and she did it again in Unknown. So. Much. Fun.

Powerful djinn Cassiel has lived for countless millennia, but never cared either way about humans as she believed she is superior to these beasts. Pearl, once a djinn, but now so much more, was defeated thousands of years ago after she killed the first mortals who walked on the land. Cassiel defeated her, but failed to kill her and feeling the pain of all those she killed drove Pearl insane. She wants to kill all the djinn with her new power source being the mortals, Wardens and their oracles.

When Cassiel's master orders her to destroy humanity, she refuses. Her punishment is severe as she is turned into a helpless human, but adapts as Warden Luis Rocha mentors her as a Warden. Peal killed Luis' brother' his wife and kidnapped their daughter Isabel; just like she has abducted other warden offspring to serve as her foot soldiers in the war she plans against the djinn. Luis and Cassiel vow to rescue Isabel as they have seen what Pearl has done to other children. However, it is Cassiel who risks her life to rescue Isabel and the other children locked inside of Pearl's compound.

Unknown, the second book in the Outcast series (see Undone) reads somewhat like a middle fantasy tale as it sets up the final confrontation between the forces of Pearl and those with Cassiel. The heroine starts to have strong feelings about Luis; which frightens her because she is becoming too humanized and can never return to what she was as she never gave a damn about humans for the epochs when she was a djinn. Fans will root for her against Pearl and for her to make it with Luis as Rachel Caine provides another compelling urban fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Rachel Caine is a spectacular author. Not only is she incredibly prolific, but she gives each of her books the special attention needed to make them captivating and intriguing to audiences world wide. That said Caine did not disappoint with Unknown.
Unknown is set in the same universe as Caine's Weather Warden series and is the second book in Outcast Season series. Because of this I would recommend readers read the first book in the Outcast series and possibly the Weather Warden series as well before reading Cain's newest novel. While this seems like a considerable effort to read two series before reading this book, let me say it will be worth it. For while Caine does recap and give general descriptions of her characters and the situations they're in, one of the best qualities about Cain's books are their intricate plot lines which tend to build throughout entire series. These intricate plots also can't be fully appreciated in a half page recap of the story presented in the beginning of the book.

As for Unknown itself, it's full of passion, action, and memorable characters. And it's these gripping characteristics will captivate the reader throughout the entire book. Until Caine resolves the end in her customary cliff hanger, forcing the reader to remain in a state of constant anticipation until the next book in the series, Unseen, is released.

Unknown and the Outcast series are great books that are a must read for any fan of urban fantasy.
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Great 2nd installment in this new series spinoff. I am sad to see the Weather Warden series ending this year but hope this one has a long run.

Rachel Caine is one of my favorite authors so I was excited when I found out about this new series. An excellent spin-off from her excellent Weatherwarden series and a fascinating new character to get to know. Rachel Caine always takes us on an adventure that makes you feel like you are in a car chase in a whirlwind. Great stuff!!!!

Loved the follow-up book in the series. Lots of suspense, action, and tense/gruesome parts; but I was bit disappointed with the lack of promised romance/flirting. The couple in these books seemed a bit unnatural or forced, but I think I'm starting to warm up to them as a couple. Again, Caine's writing is on point, but I have to say the cover artist didn't seem to take the same care in relating the look to what is described in the book.