Veena’s review of Dark Lycan (Carpathians, Book 23) by Christine Feehan
Paranormal Romance published by Berkeley Hardcover 03 Sep 13
I would have bought this book if I hadn’t received it to review, because I’ve been intrigued with the dragon seeker Carpathian daughters of Xavier since I first met them imprisoned in the ice in dragon form. With this book Christine Feehan kicks off a trilogy which brings to life not just their story but also the long-awaited story of their human niece, Skyler, found to be a life mate to a Carpathian in her early teens. Using this book as a barometer for the future, I can tell you that I can hardly wait for the next two to be released. In Tatijana the author has created a fiery heroine who refuses to accept her fate as a treasured life mate living her life subservient and obedient to the male of the species. Full of a zest for living, she is fortunate that even though fate has cast an ancient Carpathian male as the other half of her soul, he is modern and free thinking enough to want a partner who will stand side by side with him and not sheltered beneath his armpit. Fenris Dalka has been gone from the Carpathian mountains for a long time, hunting and eliminating evil both vampires and an even more dangerous mix of vampire and wolf called the Sange Rau. However, fate has pulled him back to his homeland and to a tavern in the village, where he meets Tatijana. He is a wonderful hero with his mix of old-fashioned charm and modern thinking as he fights his own DNA to give his life mate the ultimate gift of choice.
He supports Tatijana in her quest to find herself and to explore this new world that she is exposed to on her own terms. But love and vampires and evil wait for no man and they are pulled along the lines that fate has in store for them. He is brother to Dimitry, which allows the author to pull in the threads to weave the Skyler and Dimitry’s story and set the stage for her next book, which I expect will be superb if what we’ve read in this book is a good omen of what to expect.
Since we are back in the Carpathian mountains and many of the warriors have migrated back there, we get to visit with a lot of the characters from previous books and see how their stories have progressed. Thanks to Lara’s efforts in Dark Curse, we are able to meet all the children who are now growing and thriving. It is very refreshing to see the softer side of the hard male warriors as they interact with their life mates and children as they remain alert and vigilant to the evil that abounds around them.
I guess the thing about evil is that as soon as we stamp out one branch of it, another one springs up. We have the inevitable battle with the mutated vampires and the wolves they lead. Ms. Feehan does a superb job of painting the various engagements between the wolves, lycans, Carpathians, and guardians. Clearly there is an even greater evil who is directing the activities while staying off the stage, but warriors are assembling in the Carpathian mountains from everywhere in preparation for the council with the Lycan people. I don’t know if we’re going to see an epic battle, but at the very least we’ll get to visit with the characters who we missed in this book.
Like an early Christmas present, Ms. Feehan whets our appetite for the next book by sharing the opening chapters. Grossly unfair, because now it will become really hard for the time to pass until release day.
Grade: A
Summary:
Dark Lycan”The erotic, gripping series that has defined an entire genre” (J. R. Ward) continues as #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan links the fates of two strangers bound by a secret in the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains…Tatijana of the Dragonseekers spent centuries encased in ice with her sister, trapped in limbo between life and death, never speaking to a soul other than those who tormented her. Now, she has been freed from her frozen prison by an unknown descendent. Awakened in human form, Tatijana yearns to explore the modern world in which she now lives — a world with more mysteries than she is prepared for.
Fenris Dalka has returned to the Carpathian Mountains after a long absence to be with his brother. He is scarred by centuries of battle, and every hard-won victory. But the real reason for his return home could prove deadly if discovered by the wrong man — or woman. Upon his arrival, he is compelled by a beautiful and enigmatic stranger who carries the scent of fresh earth, of forest, of the night itself.
In time Tatijana and Fenris will discover all that unites them — their secrets and pasts, their predators, and the hot flush of passion that stirs their souls. Yet just as surely, seduced into the silvery darkness of a full-moon night, they’ll also discover everything ancient and evil that exists to destroy them.
Other books in this series:
