After centuries as the Prince of the Carpathians Mikhail Dubrinsky fears he can't protect Dark Series, Book Latest Release: paperback. Latest Release Date : . To survive, to maintain honor, they had no choice but to find the one woman.
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I am always happy to see what characters from past books are doing so naturally I liked this book. However, two things irritated: I never before noticed how often Ms. Feehan uses the word "pleasure" until I read this on my Kindle and every time it was separated into plea sure. And every time I read over it - it jarred until I started thinking maybe she could use another word once in a while.
Secondly, I really didn't need a sex scene between each couple. We got how hot they were for each other in the original books. It was much more fun to see how Corrine loved to jog because she never could before and how Savannah turned her dad's joke on Gregori of being Santa into something he could live with and how the younger kids were playing games and staying in touch over the internet. I assume as much as the lifemates are in love with each other that they're having sex.
Let me know what else they're doing! Not as good as other of the Dark series but fun to revisit the family. I reread the 26 books in the series then read the "reunion" it made it that much more fun. What I liked best about this series is the family and friend loyalties. They were always there for each other. The female characters were strong enough to be the proper mates for the very strong males. The plots were strong and very well written. I like mystery, romance and loyalty in my books and where I found the sex play written from a man's point of view rather than a women's too be too graphic for my taste the rest of the story was so good I have reread some of them 3 or 4 times.
I try to live as normal a life as possible, but I cannot even now, when it is imperative to protect you, overcome my revulsion of sleeping in the ground. My terror of being buried alive makes us more vulnerable than ever. He bent his head once more to hers, his lips brushing hers with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.
You do not ever have to sleep beneath the ground. The earth rejuvenates us in our chamber and there is no need to feel you have in any way placed my life in danger. You are my life. I cannot allow you ever to be in danger. If I thought sleeping in our chamber was dangerous, I would find another way. Her eyes searched his, her mind sweeping through his at the same time, searching for the truth.
She knew he wove strong safeguards to protect them, but she still feared she placed them in danger with her strong aversion to going to ground. The rustle of leaves on the path to their home broke them apart, Mikhail shifting his body slightly to place his taller frame between the forest and his lifemate.
A young woman emerged from behind several leafy plants, looking frightened, but determined. She was average height with tousled, dark hair shimmering with red streaks. She had the skin of a young girl and the eyes of someone far, far older. Mikhail identified for Raven.
Gabriel and Francesca adopted her. Both Gabriel and Francesca have given her their blood. She is still human, yet carries a powerful bloodline. She is a very strong psychic. Raven smiled at the teenager. She worries about the Carpathian males wanting to claim her now that she is sixteen. How nice of you to come visiting. This young child represented hope to his race, yet she walked through the forest unescorted. Skyler stopped abruptly, her gaze shifting to Mikhail.
Gabriel and Francesca speak of you so often, I feel as if I know you. Forgive me if I showed my concern for a young woman I look upon as family. A shadow passed across the moon, briefly blotting out the light spilling down on the forest. Bats wheeled and dipped in a mad frenzied performance in the night sky. Mikhail stood still, searching the surrounding forest with his preternatural senses. He gestured imperiously toward the door Raven held open. They followed Skyler inside. The aroma of turkey filled the house and Mikhail hid his natural revulsion against the scent of meat cooking.
Smells from her past often comforted Raven. She was unaware of it, but he sensed her happiness, as if the turkey in the oven had been an important part of her life—a good memory of childhood—so he was careful not to ruin it for her. Raven sent him a small smile as if she might be reading his thoughts in spite of his thin shield.
Her skills and powers grew daily. Skyler looked at the high beamed ceilings and wide open space before her gaze settled on the three enormous stained glass windows. Her face lit up and she walked straight over to them.
I helped her with this one. I can do it in quilts, but glass is much more complicated. I had no idea you were helping her. I hope to be partners with her one day. She reached up to brush strands of dark hair from her face, revealing a small crescent-shaped scar on her temple and drawing attention to the white scars on her hands and forearms. Skyler seemed to be aware of her nervous gesture and folded her hands, her chin raising a fraction. If I go through the conversion I do not want someone trying to claim me. Raven put a restraining hand on his arm.
Can I get you something to eat or drink? We have juice in the fridge. Without breaking eye contact with Mikhail, the teenager sank into a chair with an almost regal nod. Raven poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of Skyler. He felt the presence of wolves and owls as they hunted for prey, but nothing that would cause the uneasy feeling twisting at his gut.
He glanced down at the defiant young teenager, gently probing her mind—and memories. Raven hastily crossed to the oven to check on the turkey. She trusts me to make my own decisions. They lose colors and emotions first. Over hundreds of years honor can fade and they become dangerous, especially the hunters, any who take lives. And eventually they can become the vampire, the most evil of all creatures.
You would be that cruel and inhumane? Should he suffer even more than he already is because you did? Giving our daughter to Gregori before she was beyond a fledging was bad enough but this child has suffered. And we have no way of knowing whether or not she is lifemate to one of our males. Skyler carefully placed the glass on the table and stood up, folding her arms as she faced Mikhail squarely. Male Carpathians are far too dominating and I would find myself slipping back into that dark place where Francesca first found me.
Is that how you see Francesca? Skyler shook her head. Gabriel promised me—as did Lucian—that they will never let another force my compliance, but I know a Carpathian male has the ability to bind a Carpathian woman to him. Mikhail reached out to Raven, suddenly at a loss as to what to do or say to this woman-child. Why would Francesca and Gabriel and even Lucian keep this information from her? He would see to your needs, have patience with you.
You are young yet. Our species is nearly extinct. We cannot continue to exist without women and children. One woman makes a difference. One woman can save a male and give birth to a child. Gabriel is very protective and dislikes her going anywhere without him. Mikhail slammed a barrier in his mind immediately to prevent Raven from reading his mind. Gabriel had to be concerned with their enemies striking at the women, yet he had allowed Skyler to go into the woods.
Skyler scuffed the toe of her hiking boot on the kitchen floor. If Gabriel and Francesca had thought about the potential risks before bringing Skyler to their homeland, they would have mentioned her maturity to him. She was only sixteen—a virtual baby by their standards, yet her experiences had aged her far beyond her physical years. She looked—and spoke—as an adult. Would her voice trigger the terrible needs of the Carpathian male? Often, being a lifemate—and intense sexual awareness and need—came before love or even affection. Raven touched his hand—a small gesture, but it was enough to lighten his spirits.
She smiled at the teenager. And I struggle with my own inadequacies. She smiled up at Mikhail. The stark love shining in her eyes put an unexpected lump in his throat. I think you underestimate your own abilities, Skyler. You are far too young to contemplate taking on a Carpathian male, but eventually you will come into your full power and potential. Of course he would notice—he always noticed. His gaze found hers—sharp—aware, sliding over her body with too much knowledge. Ashamed of being afraid, of the sorrow and grief that accompanied taking such a chance, Raven looked away from him.
Skyler, obviously an empath, moved closer to Raven, as if by her close presence she could reduce the sadness.
His voice in her mind was infinitely tender. Every Carpathian male knows when his mate can conceive. You are everything I have ever wanted. When you are ready—only when you are ready—do we try again. He smiled at Skyler even as his gaze caressed his lifemate. Dark clouds crossed the moon, momentarily darkening the skies and casting macabre shadows into the large kitchen.
The silhouette of a large wolf passed in front of the window, as if a large creature had crept onto the wraparound deck and paced just outside. Instinctively they turned toward the second window just over the sink. Skyler gave a muffled cry as a great shaggy head, fur black and eyes glowing nearly red, stared at them through the glass. As one after another of the Carpathian females falls under attack, the people must band together, lending their strength to one another, and work to identify and destroy their assassins.
Despite the malevolent forces that seem to constantly besiege the Carpathian people, this book is probably the "lightest" Dark book I've read so far. For the first time in centuries, there are children among the people and someone must play Santa Claus - think about that for a moment Nick - a much more cheerful and carefree legend.
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That alone is worth reading the book for - and I'm not going to tell you who receives this grand honor! There is also the small matter of the Christmas feast. As the Carpatians are sharing this holiday with human friends there must also be actual human food, and Raven Dubrinsky, lifemate to the prince, is determined that the women cook the food themselves. The fact that none of them has any real skill in the kitchen seems to have escaped them, and their are plenty of kitchen fires, blown up appliances, and messes in every Carpathian home in the mountains.
Even funnier, some of the men attempt to help - picture them in the kitchen with aprons on and flour all over the place! Dark Celebration is definitely a Carpathian book - with new beginnings for some lifemates, pregnancy and birth for others, and revelations about unknown jaguar people and Dragonseekers.
It was wonderful to see all the familiar beloved characters from all the other books, and Feehan did a great job of recounting each of their stories as the book went on, to trigger the reader's memory. I enjoyed reading it so much that it was hard to put it down and go the bed. I read it quickly, in less than 2 days, and I really want to re-read the entire series now! View all 7 comments. May 19, Erika rated it liked it Shelves: First, she added the world of the Jaguar. Then we got mages. And I see that in the next book, there are going to be werewolves.
I just feel like the whole world she set up isn't the same anymore. And I miss the gothic romantic feel of the older books. Really, with the exception of Book 11 where the whole mage storyline 3. Really, with the exception of Book 11 where the whole mage storyline came in , all the books up through Dark Destiny were pretty dependable for me. The heroes were men who had been celibate for years, and were amazing lifemates. Yes, they were controlling and ultra-dominant, but they were also extremely loving and affectionate. They put their mates above all else.
The heroines were at times annoying, but I liked most of them. With the De la Cruz brothers, I think my love for Carpathian heroes comes to an end. I don't like them at all and I have zero clue why they have Spanish names since they are from the Carpathian mountains. Maybe I missed some detail where they changed their names to fit into South America. Another negative for me: I get the sense that every upcoming heroine is going to be some kickass vampire fighter with some new type of paranormal background. I remember when I read Book 11 the first to bring up the mage storyline , I was reasonably bored at times.
It became more fantasy-action versus romance. At this point, I may just come back to the series in a few weeks to read Skyler and Dmitri's story in Dark Wolf, but that will probably be it for me for the Dark Saga. I am sad and would like to find another series or author who can give me that lifemates, sensual romance I have loved with Feehan, but I may just have to get that feel by re-reading her oldies.
View all 10 comments. In this reunion novel Mikhail, the prince of the Carpathians ponders upon their fate, as the enemies close in and their women struggle with fertility-either being unable to conceive or the baby isn't able to outlive the first crucial year of life. An update on the lives of our so many various couples, this book explores and gives us the "happily ever after? A "Dark Celebration" is the story of A special mention to Manolita-Mary-Ann as well as Skylar-Dmitri, as they form the basis for the upcoming books, along with answers to the questions regarding the survival of their species.
We finally get some unresolved scenes between Barack and Syndil, as well as the birth of Shea's child. The books ends with a ray of hope for the species, and a bunch of recipes! I absolutely love this book. I liked this book which touched on most of the couples that we have met in the other books. We also get a glimpse of two couples that I'm sure will be in upcoming books. There is a flurry of pregnancies, and alot of snow. The are alot of children to meet, including one that makes an unexpected appearance. There is treachery, bravery, and some unexpected uses of power. I liked the narrator of the audio book and hope to listen to more in the series.
Thank God for headsets during those sexy scenes!
Dark Celebration
My favorite, favorite, favorite Carpathian book ever. The thing I love about reading series is getting to revisit all my favorite characters. Many times it's only a peek into the lives of one or two characters, but here Feehan has caught us up on the lives of all the Carpathians and I didn't want the book to end. I loved seeing everyone again, most especially Barack and Syndil, who I wish had their own book. I enjoyed the setup for future lifemates, and am looking forward to Manolito and MaryAnn' My favorite, favorite, favorite Carpathian book ever.
I enjoyed the setup for future lifemates, and am looking forward to Manolito and MaryAnn's book, and absolutely can't flipping wait for Dominic and Skyler's book. Apr 26, IamGamz rated it really liked it Shelves: A reunion of all the characters from the first 13 books. They have all come together in the Carpathian Mountains for a Christmas celebration. There is LOTS of sex.
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Like everyone was bumping uglies. It was almost too much. But once they got that out of the way, there was a lot of humor. The women attempting to cook human style for the Christmas party. There were stoves burned, kitchens blown up, the use of hairspray and a lighter to caramelize sugar. It was a mess! The A reunion of all the characters from the first 13 books. There were also lots of renewed friendships between the men and new ones made by the women.
Two of the hunters found their lifemates but were unable to do anything about it within this book. And there were lots of children and love that helped the hunters see what they are fighting for. There were also attacks by the enemy. All in all, this was a really rich story. A lot of drama and hijinks to keep the reader engrossed. Sep 04, Delta rated it really liked it Shelves: Jul 27, Gardavson rated it it was amazing Shelves: I did this book as a playaway digital audio book.
I don't know who's brilliant idea it was, but they had a man narrate it. Not just a man, but a geezer sounding man. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Do you know how hard it was to listen to a geezer guy saying "he pulled her against the hard evidence of his bodies desires Then his female voices were pitiful. Never, never have a man narrate a romance book.
Who's brainstorm was that, I want to know. The guy Oh good glory. The guy sounded like the guy who talks at the end of 60 minutes. I may never be the same. It was a 5 even listening to geezer guy. I can't imagine how good it would have been reading it myself. It was a lot of fun, revisiting all the couples and characters introduced so far. Time was spent with each of them yet it all pulled together for one story. I really enjoyed it. All their individual stories pulled together to finally create a unified Carpathian world.
Mikhail realizes that there is much that needs to happen in regards to his people other than survival, that they need to recover as a culture. My only gripes with the book: First the minor one, Shea at the end in labor. The whole thing was weak and the things she had were retarded. I would have preferred she go into it strong and come out of it strong.
But that was just a very small portion of the book. I am so sick of all the abused suffering females. Seems like most of the female lifemates were abused and all of them turned then into either Sheera the vampire slaying machine gun weilding macho guys, or they are weak fetal position whimps. Can none of them be abused and come out psuedo regular people? Apparently that doesn't make good fiction.
But seriously, I don't know if I can read about Dimitri's lifemate.
Dark Celebration (Dark, book 17) by Christine Feehan
I hope to heaven she doesn't get her own book. Well, onward and upward people! I'm off to the next! And this time, I will be reading it myself. Jul 15, Lover of Romance rated it it was amazing Shelves: Dark Celebration is a bit different than the other books within the Dark Series. However I have read this book quite frequently from the library, and I thought it was about time to do a review on it.
For those of you who don't know much or really none about this series, let me explain it a bit for you. The Carpathian series, is a paranormal series, very similar to vampires, however Carpathians are a bit different from vampires. The Carpathian race is dying out, they are a honorable race, however Dark Celebration is a bit different than the other books within the Dark Series.