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Jan112011
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Dark Slayer’ by Christine Feehan
by Carolyn • Posted in 3.5 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Christine Feehan, Paranormal Romance, Reviews by Laura
Title: Dark Slayer (Carpathians #20)
Author: Christine Feehan
Publisher: Piatkus (UK) | Penguin (US)
Publication Date: September 2009
Ebook: 416 Pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Own Copy
Reviewed by: Laura
RATING: 7/10 – Very good, would definitely recommend
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
A rumour has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer — a woman — who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.
She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived centuries without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by preparing for one purpose — to destroy her greatest enemy. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.
He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised — and captive — enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.
In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other.
For as long as they dare to live.
REVIEW:
This is the best Carpathian novel that I have read for a while. Of late I’ve found they’ve become very repetitive with the characters lacking originality, seeming more like copies of one another. But ‘Dark Slayer’ really picks up the pace and is more rounded and engaging.
If you have not read any of Christine Feehan’s Carpathian books, they are about a race of people – Carpathians – a paranormal species, think good vampires. The men live forever seeing only in black and white, unable to feel emotion until they find their ‘lifemate’, the other half of their souls. The Carpathian men must bind themselves forever to their lifemate in order to see in colour and restore their emotions and survive. The bond is a very special one, the women are coveted and protected and the men usual epitomise the meaning of alpha male. Without their lifemate, the temptation to turn evil is great, when they cannot take it anymore, the men often decide to meet the dawn or turn and become vampires.
Ivory has had a brutal life. Betrayed and tortured it took her centuries to recover from her horrendous injuries. Ever since then she has lived alone, avoiding other members of her species, most of whom believe her to be dead. She has trained herself to become a powerful and feared slayer of vampires and a talented Mage. Her mission to kill the terrifying vampire Xavier.
Razvan has been Xavier’s prisoner for years, forced to commit horrific crimes against his family and against his will, he has been tortured beyond endurance. The Carpathian race believe him turned, a vampire, a betrayer and evil.
When Razvan manages to escape he thinks only to meet the sun and end his painful existence. But, he ends up at Ivory’s home. As soon as Ivory sees him she knows he is her lifemate and despite her reluctance she knows she must save him.
Ivory and Razvan are very different characters than we have previously seen in this series. Ivory is the stronger warrior of the two and must teach Razvan to fight and survive. This turns the relationship on its head and dampens down the usual alpha-maleness. Razvan lacks the massive ego that the Carpathian males normally have, and lets Ivory be who she is, rather than dictating to her. Making them more like partners which is sometimes not quite the case in some of the other books. This adds more integrity and strength to their relationship.
The action scenes are excellent and it was these pages the sucked me in. I had a strong picture of Ivory as she fought and I loved her interaction with her pack of wolves. We also see a lot of characters from previous books. As a big fan of Gregori, it was great to see him and Savannah again.
The one thing I do struggle with in Feehan’s books is her fifteen page love scenes. I find them boring and repetitive, so often skip over them until we’re back to the main story. Some of the more recent books have tended to be scene after scene of them. But this book has really stepped up the story, leaving behind a lot of that repetition.
VERDICT:
One of the best Carpathian books for a while, there’s some great story continuity between each of them now and you’re under no illusion that this is a race fighting for survival. There’s something about those tough Carpathian males that just sucks me in.
Books in Series Order
| 1. Dark Prince | 12. Dark Melody |
| 2. Dark Desire | 13. Dark Destiny |
| 3. Dark Gold | 14. Dark Hunger |
| 4. Dark Magic | 15. Dark Secret |
| 5. Dark Challenge | 16. Dark Demon |
| 6. Dark Fire | 17. Dark Celebration |
| 7. Dark Dream | 18. Dark Possession |
| 8. Dark Legend | 19. Dark Curse |
| 9. Dark Guardian | 20. Dark Slayer |
| 10. Dark Symphony | 21. Dark Peril |
| 11. Dark Descent |
11 Comments
Wonderful review. I'm with you. This was quite different from the other Dark series novels. The characters had grown rather stale, and this one offered something different. The overall story line continues to intrigue me. Hope she brings a freshness to the future works.
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Yay! Thats awesome to hear. I finally got this one of my wishlist and I havent read it yet, but i agree that they have gotten repetitive. I almost considered taking it off my wishlist now Im glad i got it. Ill have to get it out and put it in the TBR pile for my paranormal romance challenge.
Thanks and great review!
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Oh! I saw this book the other day and debated whether I should pick it up. I knew it was part of a series, but I wasn't sure which, so I left it.
I've yet to read a Christine Feehan book, and I really don't know where to start. Anyway, great review!
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Great review Laura, I've notice this series about but never picked it up. I will definitely give them a go now
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Thanks for giving us the list of books in order. I keep seeing some of the books but never know where to start.
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Hi Laura! I also thought this was a great and unexpected addition to the Dark series. I was about to give up on CF…her books were becoming increasingly violent and disturbing, and moving too far away from the romance genre for my tastes. This book was a breath of fresh air…the hero was so unlike the other Carpathian men…I thought he was awesome, and the book was wonderful. When CF is on, she writes very romantic books.
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@reena thank you
Yes this book was a refreshing change as you're right they had become very stale. Let's hope it continues!
@Brandi it is nice as the earlier books were lovely & romantic, so it's nice to see her back to form
@Dazzling Mage I don't think you necessarily have to read these books in order. But there is continuity between them – I hope you enjoy
@Jo – hey Jo – great let me know what you think!
@Vivienne I actually didn't start this book in order, I think 'Dark Melody' was first I read which I picked up in a bookshop and I loved it and started reading other books in the series
@Penelope hello! This book was like a breath of fresh air, it was nice to have a good plot too. And you're right some of her good romance books can make your heart melt
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This is the book that I am on in the series. I can't wait till it comes up on my TBR list!
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I have an award for you here: http://simpleloveofreading.blo.....award.html
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Thanks for the award, Amy (A Simple Love of Reading)!
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@Felcica I hope you enjoy it
@Amy A Simple Love Of Reading thanks for the award from me too
and congrats to @bookchickcity
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