In the wildly popular Carpathian series, Christine Feehan weaves tales about vampire-like heroes who must find their lifemates if they are to avoid turning evil. Carpathian lifemates are not chosen, but are mysterious assigned by some aspect of destiny. Each novel chronicles the journey from lifemates' first meeting to the point where they are madly in love for the remainder of their immortal lives.

In "Dark Demon," Carpathian male Vickirnoff finds his lifemate in the rambunctious Natalya. A vampire hunter and mage by trade, she makes little distinction between vampires and Carpathians. Natalya possesses a multitude of secrets, which could mean the downfall of not only Vickirnoff, but the entire Carpathian species.

Natalya is convinced the pairing is a mistake and seeks to find a way out even as she begins to trust the mysterious stranger who claims to be hers forever. To find out if they're compatible, they first have to survive adventures, ambushes, and betrayal.

After some controversy over "Dark Secret," in which there was a strong, rape-like theme, it seems that Feehan has listened to her readers' concerns. "Dark Demon" responds with more respect between lifemates, but also with very real emotional impact. This romance takes a more natural course, and when it blooms, the characters are ready, and the love scenes deliver.

Aside from the romance, the adventure is enthralling. Secrets are exposed that will change the Carpathians forever, and other revelations will grip the reader. Better yet, Feehan accomplishes this without overwhelming the love story.

There are a couple drawbacks to this novel. One is the inclusion of previously named Carpathian characters, which may be confusing to new readers. However, this is somewhat relieved by the family tree lines depicted at the front of the book. The other drawback is that Natalya wavers from Xena-type warrior woman to unsure girl. This is explained in the plot, but it could have been cut down somewhat.

If you enjoyed previous Feehan novels, then this is a must-read, and probably one of the best. If you enjoy paranormal romance, but haven't read Feehan, it would be good to read the books in order. Good hunting!

-C.W.
4/14/2006

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