CHRISTINE FEEHAN:
I
have decided to start my new section with Christine Feehan an author
whose books I have been unable to put down from day one.
I
came upon Christine’s first book Dark Prince accidentally.
If memory serves me, I happened to be browsing a bookstore when
the book cover drew my attention. From reading it until now she
has kept me riveted to my seat. When Dark Prince came out Christine
was virtually unknown to me as well as many others. This was her
first book.
Dark
Prince was the beginning to a series that
is now known to most vampire book lovers and I suspect all romance
lovers. In this first and personally my favorite book to the series
we are introduced to the Carpathians and their prince.
The Carpathians are a race similar
yet unlike humans, they are able to shapeshift and have powers we
normal humans do not. However, these same Carpathians are a dying
breed, the men must find a life mate or chance turning rogue/vampire.
Thus being hunted and killed for the safety of both human and Carpathian
alike. It was up to the Prince Mikhail to try to find a way to keep
their species alive. Which he did by accident when he came to love
a human with psychic abilities, this led them to the realization
that human women with these special gifts could be converted to
Carpathian and thus possibly save them from becoming just another
extinct civilization. This book just wet my appetite for more from
this author.
Which
lead me to book two: Dark Desire,
which was the story of Jacques and Shea. Jacques was very close
to turning in this book. He had been tortured and entombed under
ground, with not ability to reach his friends he almost went mad.
This book was just another step to my becoming a life long fan of
Christine’s. I then read book three: Dark
Gold, a bit unlike the first two books
but just as well written. This was the story of Aiden Savage a vampire
hunter and very dangerous man among human and Carpathian alike.
However the only ones that truly had to worry were those Carpathians
that chose to turn vampire. Aiden saves Alexandria from a vampire
and she in turn saves Aiden from a fate worse than death, the possibility
of becoming like those who he hunts.
Of
course I did not stop there, I of course read book four: Dark
Magic, which was the story of Gregori,
a most renowned and feared vampire hunter. Gregori was also a
very favorite character amongst Christine’s fans. In this
book Gregori must finally claim his lifemate the daughter of his
prince. There is no more time left to allow Savannah her freedom,
Gregori must claim her or turn vampire. This story was one of
my favorites and kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning.
In book five: Dark Challenge,
we meet Desari. This is the reader’s first touch of the
power of a Carpathian female. In past books we met truly powerful
male Carpathians, but in this book we finally meet the power of
a female Carpathian. We also get a look into just how well Julian,
one of the most powerful Carpathians alive is handled by one of
the most powerful female Carpathians, and his lifemate.
We
then head onto book six: Dark Fire,
in this book we meet the long thought dead Carpathian children.
These children were long thought killed in the great wars many centuries
ago. They are now grown and living a life of their own as a traveling
band of performers. Desari, Julian’s life mate is part of
this little band. While traveling one night they break down that’s
when they hire a woman mechanic to maintain their vehicles. Unknown
to any this woman named Tempest turns out to be Darius’s lifemate.
Darius was the protector of the lost children during the years they
grew up even though he was just a child himself. This in my opinion
was one of the most unique stories in the series so far.
Dark
Fire was follow up by book seven: Dark
Legend, I soon found when reading this
book I couldn’t wait to get more. I loved the book and finished
it in record time. We met Garbriel and Lucian, two of the most ancient
and powerful vampire hunters yet. All Carpathians thought these
hunters were dead and many even thought them to be a myth of their
kind. There were many that never thought they were real, but they
were real and not dead just underground sleeping. They are awakened
though one it seems has turned like those he hunted for many years
and despised. We are also introduced to Francesca a female Carpathian
and healer, she becomes the savior and lifemate to one of these
Carpathian hunters. Which one I will not tell otherwise it may ruin
the story.
From
Dark Legend we are led to book eight: Dark
Guardian, we are introduced to Jaxon Montgomery
in this book. Jaxon is a human female living a sad and lonely life.
Jaxon’s stepfather killed her family just to be with her.
In addition he has either killed or threatened to kill anyone that
may become close to Jaxon. Due to this, Jaxon has been unable to
life a normal life, she has been unable to have anyone close to
her or be close to anyone. In this book Lucian one half of the dark
twins may just be her savior and possibly someone very important
to her. I loved this book and enjoyed the progression to the end.
We
were led from here to book nine: Dark
Symphony, we get to meet characters in
this book from the Scarletti family as well. As a matter of fact
I had not had the chance to read Christine’s gothic: The
Scarletti Curse yet and found before I
could even go more than a chapter I needed to read the story of
the Scarletti family. I had to read this book, which told of the
deaths and curse they lived under before I could even continue with
Dark Symphony. Dark Symphony is the story of Byron Justicano and
Antonietta Scarletti. Byron has appointed himself protector to Antonietta
when he must save her and her grandfather from those who wish them
harm. From there what was once just a small relationship grows much
more substantial. While this is just the latest installment to the
Dark series I am sure it is far from the last.
In
addition to these books there was one short story called Dark
Dream in the After
Twilight anthology, and one called Dark
Descent in The
Only One anthology with Christine and Susan
Squires, both of which if I am correct are Carpathian stories. Then
there was also a story called After
The Music in the A
Very Gothic Christmas anthology and The
Awakening in Fantasy
another anthology.
Unfortunately
I have not been able to read these stories due to time constraints
with my reviewing schedule. I did have the pleasure of reading for
review however, Lair of the Lion. Lair
of the Lion is very similar to a unique
retelling of Beauty and the Beast, however this book had a lot more
depth. I found it one that I would also love to see become a series.
In this book we meet Isabella a woman looking for help to free her
brother. Then we also meet the Don Rivellio, the one who has the
power to grant or refuse Isabella’s request. The Don agrees
to help Isabella for a price. The price being she is to become his
wife. What to do? Does Isabella chance her death as so many other
wives of previous don’s or does she let her brother die? The
unraveling of the story the true curse and the true culprits in
this book is very interesting. I found it to be a great read.
In
ending let me say I am by far only one of Christine’s growing
fans. Christine’s fans have a devotion to her rarely seen
with fans of other authors. They have created t-shirts for the Carpathians,
they have created Carpathian guides for those who need a handbook
to keep things in order as well. They even speculate as to if a
movie is ever made Christine herself is also a very nice person,
she is an online friend as well as a favorite author of mine. She
is more than happy to sign an autograph and never seems to let her
success go to her head as many authors do.
I
expect we will be seeing Christine’s books for quite some
time. I for one am very glad of it. |