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FAVORITE AUTHORS:

AUTHORS I JUST CAN'T PUT DOWN

 
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 just by chance.   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 other readers.   This is 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 Carpathian race 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 lifemate or chance turning rogue/vampire.   Thus being hunted and killed for the safety of both human and Carpathian alike.   It is up to the Prince Mikhail to try to find a way to keep their species alive.   Which he does by accident when he comes to love a human with psychic abilities, this leads them to the realization that human women with these special gifts can be converted to Carpathian.  Thus possibly saving 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, this is the story of Jacques and Shea.  Jacques is very close to turning in this book.   During this story has been tortured and entombed under ground, with no ability to reach his friends he almost goes 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 is the story of Aiden Savage a vampire hunter and very dangerous man among human and Carpathian alike.   However the only ones that truly have to worry are those Carpathians that choose 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 couln't stop there, I had read book four: Dark Magic, which is 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 is one of my favorites, it 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 previous books we meet truly powerful male Carpathians, but in this book we finally taste 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 has been from day one, and still is the protector of this little band of lost children.   This, in my opinion was one of the most unique stories in the series so far.

     Dark Fire is followed 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 meet Garbriel and Lucian, two of the most ancient and powerful vampire hunters yet.   All Carpathians believe these hunters to be dead and many even think them to be a myth. But these men are no mythm they are real, not dead either just underground sleeping.   They are awakened by something and the adventure begins.   It seems as though one of them has turned like those he has hunted and despised for more years than he can count.   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 demented stepfather killed her family when she was a child just to be with her.    In addition over the years he has either killed or threatened to kill anyone who becomes close to Jaxon.   Due to this, Jaxon has been unable to life a normal life. She can have no friends, husband or even children for fear of what her stepfather may do.   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 are 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 had to put the book down and read the story of the Scarletti family.   This book tells of the deaths and curse the Scarlettie family has been forced to live under.   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 to be something 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 is 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 is 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 Lair of the Lion for review, however.  Lair of the Lion is very unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast, however this book has 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 what actor would play what character.

     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.