Veena’s review of Dark Ghost (Carpathian, Book 27) by Christine Feehan
Urban Fantasy published by Berkley 01 Sep 15
This is a stand-alone book with a host of new characters set in the Carpathian mountains. Teagan is on an expedition to search for healing crystals unique to the region, when her college friend cum guide turns out to be a serial rapist and killer. Escaping from him she finds herself in a protected cave where Andre Boroi, an ancient Carpathian in his sunset years, is healing from a battle with a master vampire. The rest, fellow readers, is history following the rote formula of a Carpathian male with ancient words who can see colors after thousands of years.
Teagan brings so much to the table. She effortlessly unweaves the protection weaves that protect the cave where Andre is resting and she can hear melodies that help us track and unveil evil. I feel that all these fantastical skill sets could have made this an unforgettably powerful story that the author really failed to exploit.
Andre also, for all that he’s an ancient on the cusp of walking into the sun to protect his honor, tries to give Teagan time to adapt to the new world that she’s walking into, unlike some of the earlier characters who simply dominated their life mates into converting.
Of course, we do learn a few new things about the Carpathian males as they battle vampires and educate themselves in sexual techniques, preparing for the day they can find their life mates and can see in colors.
I know when the author is 27 deep in a series how hard it is to keep each story fresh and new, but I find this one very formulaic with the conversion, the battle with the vampire, and the defeating and defanging of the serial killer who preyed on women in the mountains.
Grade: C
Summary:
In the new novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling “queen of paranormal romance,” (J.R. Ward) a wounded warrior and a woman on the run find salvation, passion and unimaginable danger in the ghostly darkness of the Carpathian Mountains…He wasn’t civilized or tame. He had his own code and he lived by it.
Monk. Bounty hunter. Vampire slayer. Andre Boroi has spent centuries battling the undead, holding out against the dark with honor. But now, gravely wounded by master vampire Costin Popescu, Andre will be easy to track—his spilled blood marking the killing trail for Popescu and his hungry band of underlings. Andre’s only chance is to disappear into the gray mist of the Carpathians. To wait. To hope.
She had a healing touch and a scent that was his lifeblood.
In the mountains in search of a precious crystal, geologist Teagan Joanes suddenly finds herself hunted by those she once trusted. Then she comes across the warrior—wounded, wanting and irresistible. Andre has been craving her for an eternity: his lifemate. Her warmth envelops him. Her scent pulsates. And with every beat of her heart, Teagan surrenders to a passion she can’t possibly comprehend.
Now they are bound by destiny, but is it enough to keep them safe from a stalking, relentless darkness that threatens to swallow them alive?
Other books in this series:
