Book Review-Dark Prince

Dark Prince
The Dark Series- Carpathians # 1
Christine Feehan
Leisure Books,
314 Pages,
Published April 2005
Paranormal Vampire Romance
ISBN: 0843955287

Synopsis:
He came to her in the night, a predator -- strength and power chiseled his features. The seduction was deep and elemental; he affected her soul. His need. His darkness. His terrible haunting loneliness. Her senses aroused, she craved the dangerous force of his body. Burned for him. And he had only touched her with his mind.


She came to him at dawn, his bleakest hour. As the beast raged inside him, threatening to consume him, he vented his centuries-old despair in an anguished cry that filled the waning night. And she answered, a ray of light, piercing his darkness. A beautiful angel. Her compassion, courage, and innocence awakened in him an exquisite longing and tenderness. He knew he must possess her, for only she could tame his savage side and lift the dark shadow from his soul. Apart they were desolate, bereft. Intertwined physically and spiritually, they could heal one another and experience an eternity of nights filled with love.

My Review:

First off I want to talk about the cover, I absolutely adore the older covers more than Feehans more modernized cover for Dark Prince. This cover show more sensuality and connection between Raven and Mikail. I have always chosen to listen to Dark Prince, since my local library has most of the Carpathian Series on Audio form, and I prefer it that way. It is read by Juanita Parker, which she has such a great way about her in that she portrays the emotions so well. The story literally comes alive for you as you listen to it. I strongly recommend listening to this in Audio form, you won't regret it.

It starts out with Mikael who has lived hundred of years, and is a Carpathian. Carpathians are very different than vampire although they have similarities, but the big difference is that Carpathians are good, and Vampires are evil and have no soul.  Mikael is the prince of his people, who are a dying race, with not many Carpathian women around, and with only sons being born to the women they are literally going extinct. Once during the time of the Crusades, many of their people defended the humans that were being threatened but in doing so many of them were slaughtered, since they become weak during the day. Some of the Carpathians were able to flee and escape. Those included in the slaughterings were Mikael's parents, his father being the leader of his people. Mikael has always taken huge responsibilities on his shoulders. In present day, he is tired and exhausted and wants to seek the sun and end his existence. Without a life-mate, he fears the darkness within him with take over his soul and he will turn into a vampire. He refuses to let that happen. However, when he is feeling desolate, he hears a womanly voice in his head comforting him. He is amazed to find that it is a mortal woman, and he seeks her out. Raven has always had psychic abilities, she comes to the Carpathian Mountains to find peace, she has recently hunted three killers using her psychic ability. She feels drained and at a loss. She is in pain when another touches her physically, and she yearns for solitude and peace among the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. However, hearing Mikaels bleakness she calls out to him, offering aide, knowing she couldn't refuse doing so. Upon talking with Mikael she finds him arrogant and Alpha Male 100% all the way, but she can't refuse him. Upon seeing him, a connection surges between them and neither one of them can resist. Raven is Mikael's life-mate, he starts seeing colors, when for hundreds of years he has only seen in grey. He also starts feeling emotions again, which are clear signs in finding one's life-mate. A journey begins, with Mikael and Raven finding their way, making mistakes along the way, but finding true love and a sensual passion that neither one of them can control or deny.

The Carpathian series, is my up most favorite paranormal series of all time. It always has been since I have started reading from Christine Feehan. The first book I read from her was Dark Challenge, which is my favorite in the series. However, I really have fallen in love with Dark Prince, I have loved reading Mikael and Raven's story. I have fallen in love with both characters. Mikael is typical Alpha Male (Which I love) and he is the leader of his people, and at the beginning of the book is very arrogant and believes everything he says is law. However upon meeting Raven, he finds himself at odds, having met the one person who has no problems with arguing with him, much less a woman. No one ever argues with him, apart from his best friend Gregori who has been at his side since they were young. Raven has lived in solitude most of her life, except when she hunted the killers. But ever since she was little, she has been despised for her gift. Once she comes to the Carpathian Mountains, and meeting Mikael, who is the one person whose touch doesn't cause her pain but pleasure and the likes of which she has never known. It has truly been a pleasure to listen to Dark Prince I can never get bored with Feehan's books I could read her over and over again. I truly loved the characters, the plot and the witty come backs in the conversations, also there was some suspense and mystery has well toward the end, which definitely made it a astounding and enthralling read.


My Grade For This Book:
5 Blossoms


Other Books In The Series:
Dark Desire
Dark Gold
Dark Magic
Dark Challenge
Dark Fire
Dark Legend
Dark Guardian
Dark Melody
Dark Dream
Dark Symphony
Dark Destiny
Dark Hunger
Dark Secret
Dark Demon
Dark Celebration
Dark Possession
Dark Curse
Dark Slayer
Dark Peril