Dark Lycan (Dark Carpathian #24) by Christine Feehan – a dual review

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Dark Lycan (Dark Carpathian #24) by Christine Feehan-a dual review

Dark Lycan Cover

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ABOUT THE BOOK:September 3, 2013

Tatijana of the Dragonseekers spent centuries encased in ice with her sister, trapped in limbo between life and death, never speaking to a soul other than those who tormented her. Now, she has been freed from her frozen prison by an unknown descendent. Awakened in human form, Tatijana yearns to explore the modern world in which she now lives—a world with more mysteries than she is prepared for.

Fenris Dalka has returned to the Carpathian Mountains after a long absence to be with his brother. He is scarred by centuries of battle, and every hard-won victory. But the real reason for his return home could prove deadly if discovered by the wrong man—or woman. Upon his arrival, he is compelled by a beautiful and enigmatic stranger who carries the scent of fresh earth, of forest, of the night itself.

In time Tatijana and Fenris will discover all that unites them—their secrets and pasts, their predators, and the hot flush of passion that stirs their souls. Yet just as surely, seduced into the silvery darkness of a full-moon night, they’ll also discover everything ancient and evil that exists to destroy them

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Barb’s Review

Dark Lycan is the 24th book in Christine Feehan’s wonderful Dark series. The Dark series has always been one of my top favorite series for many years. I would always look forward and anxiously await the next book. However, the three books that followed Dark Slayer were somewhat of a disappointment for me. I thought the three books were ok, but not up to the standard I was used to for Feehan. Well, I must say that in Dark Lycan….CHRISTINE FEEHAN is back. I loved Dark Lycan. It had the same exciting and adventurous storyline we loved, with a wonderful couple; a major villain, and many of our favorite characters from earlier books. It was like a homecoming, and I am happy to say this series is back on the front burner for me.

Dark Lycan is Tatijana Dragonseeker’s story, and I for one have been waiting for her and Bronnie’s story since they were rescued. Fen Dalka, who is Dimitri’s brother, is the hero in this book, and he is awesome. Finally a hero who treats his mate as an equal partner, not just a sex slave. From the start, this story kept my interest, and it was just great to watch both Tatijana and Fen’s romance build.

The crux of the story is a new breed of vampire & wolves, who have mixed blood of both, and are stronger and better then even the Carpathians. The new breed is a mix of vampire (or Carpathian) and werewolves, creating a breed called Sange rau Fen having just recently returned to the Carpathian Mountains to be with Dimitri, is both Carpathian and Werewolf, and hides that he is Sange rau, even from the elite wolves. He knows that the wolves kill the Sange rau, even if some of them are not bad, like Fen. But the wolves fear them as too dangerous, as they are so much stronger then anyone.

While Fen hides what he is, he helps Tatijana, and immediately realizes she is his lifemate. At first Tatijana does not want anyone to control her, as most lifemates will try to do, but she begins to fall hard for Fen. Together, they are in the middle of this fight of the wolves and the Sange rau, against the Carpathians. This new breed has a hidden agenda that threatens them all.

It is an exciting story, filled with action, bloody fights, and danger, with Fen, Tatijana, Dimitri and many of our Carpathians in the middle of this war. The main villain is someone new to us, but another vampire, who is the strongest one yet, with Mikhail constantly in danger.

Dark Lycan was non stop entertainment all the way through. You could not put this book down, as it went from one action packed moment to the next. The romance between Tatijana and Fen was great, and their chemistry was very hot sexually. Again, I absolutely love when Christine brings in many of her other recurring characters that we have come to love, and they play a major role in this book…Mikhail, Gregori, Dimitri, Vikornoff, Natalya, Destiny, Nikolae, Falcon, just to name a few. We get to see an older and stronger Skyler for a short period, but we all know the next book, Dark Wolf belongs to Dimitri & Skyler, as the end of this book leads to that. Can’t wait.

Copy supplied by the publisher

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Sandy’s Review

DARK LYCAN is the 24th installment and the first of a three part trilogy in Christine Feehan’s paranormal Dark Carpathian series focusing on the lives and loves of the supernatural beings known as Carpathians. Dark Lycan advances the series timeline two years.

Some background about the series: All Carpathian males, must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul.

Fenris Dalka knows he has found his lifemate in Tatijana of the Dragonseekers but he also knows that her life is at risk as the lifemate to a Carpthian male who is something much more. Living with the elusive Lycan for centuries, Fenris is hiding in plain site and one wrong move could put him in the path of a hunter who is bound to destroy everything that Fenris has become.

Christine Feehan has gone back to the stylings of some of her original storylines. For those of you who have read Dark Celebration, Dark Demon or Dark Slayer, you know that many of the previous storyline characters played a major role in these three particular novels, and with Dark Lycan, Christine has woven another tale of vampire, Carpathians, Lycans and something new. The secretive Lycans have resurfaced and there is a ‘new species’ of hybrid more powerful than anything the Carpathians have every seen. Looking to the future, there is a definite war on the horizon as the battles have already begun.

The relationship between Fenris and Tatijana is loving and sensual but more of a surprise, there is almost an equal partnership, which is odd, considering the protective alpha that is bred into every Carpathian male. For two ancients, Tatijana and Fenris readily accept the world and all of its’ quirks, but Tatijana is the biggest surprise of all. She is a Dragonseeker female who had been imprisoned for centuries and with her latest bid for freedom she has enmeshed herself into the real world with very little difficulty. She is a proud female of the species and a competent warrior in her own right. After all, she is Dragonseeker and we all know what Natalya is capable of when pushed to her limits.

For those who anticipate Dimitri and Skyler’s story in Dark Wolf, Dimitri is featured prominently alongside his brother Fenris in Dark Lycan and in doing so Christine begins to build on his upcoming story. Although Skyler is not physically present in Dark Lycan, she is with Dimitri, none the less.

If you are a fan of the older Dark Carpathian storylines, Dark Lycan will have a familiar feel. We welcome back many of the previous storyline characters as well as get a glimpse at the next generation of Carpathian warriors and potential mates. Poor Gregori has his hands full.

And of course, I am looking forward to Dark Wolf-Skyler and Dimitri’s storyline-January 2014.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Christine Feehan

Vladimir Dubrinsky shares visions of the future with a Lycan seer he’s never met. Blood, war and something more sinister haunt their visions. With only flashes of the future to help solve the mystery they must learn to trust each other, share their visions and try to find a way to stop what could be the end of their race. But, not everyone wants to see peace between them. And as Vladimir’s son, Draven begins to show signs of madness Vladimir may have to choose between his son and his people.

Before The Dark, a Carpathian video series prequel to the bestselling novel Dark Prince by Christine Feehan.

Watch all 12 episodes which will be released one at a time each month. The Carpathian series trilogy; Dark Lycan, Dark Wolf and Dark Blood tie in to the webisodes so be sure to read the books and watch the series again to help solve the mystery at the end!

Reading Order

Dark Carpathian Series

1. Dark Prince
2. Dark Desire
3. Dark Gold
4. Dark Magic
5. Dark Challenge
6. Dark Fire
7. Dark Dream
8. Dark Legend
9. Dark Guardian
10. Dark Sympathy
11. Dark Descent
12. Dark Melody
13. Dark Destiny
14. Dark Hunger
15. Dark Secret
16. Dark Demon
17. Dark Celebration
18. Dark Possession
19. Dark Curse
20. Dark Slayer
21. Dark Peril
22. Dark Predator
23. Dark Storm
24. Dark Lycan (September 2013)
25. Dark Wolf (January 2014)
26. Dark Blood (September 2014)

About the Author

Christine Feehan and Dog#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan has over 40 novels published, including four series. Each of her four series has hit #1 on the NY Times. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature for 1999. Since then she has been published by Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards.

IN HER WORDS:
I am a mother, first and foremost in my life. Family is very important to me. I have several children all of whom drive me crazy on a daily basis. And I have four Maltese that are even worse. LOL! I love living in the country and I find that it continues to inspire my writing.. which is my ultimate passion in life.

I am a writer and have been almost my entire life. I have to write every day or I’ll drive my family crazy. I first became a published author in 1999 with the release of Dark Prince. Before that I had a wide variety of jobs including being a full time mom, a martial arts instructor, a telephone operator, and I even worked for a newspaper. Now I’m able to write full time. I usually have four new books released per year. (www.christinefeehan.com)

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47 thoughts on “Dark Lycan (Dark Carpathian #24) by Christine Feehan – a dual review”

  1. Great reviews, Sandy & Barb. I love dual reviews. It is fun to see different perpectives. I love this series, and cannot wait to read this book. I will start it tonight.

  4. Wow, you guys got an early release? Way to go!

    Great double review. Love the sound of this new instalment. A friend got me started on Christine’s books but I was disappointed with the last few. I am so glad she went back to the Carpathian Mountains. And I love the sounds of a new hybrid species. I can’t wait for my copy!

  5. Ooh, I haven’t read Christine Feehan. I think I am a bit behind 🙁

    This sounds like a great series. Um, should I start at the beginning? I know, always start at the beginning. I will have to check my local library. I don’t know if I can afford 24 books all at once!

  6. Sorry ladies but I couldn’t read your reviews , I am sure they rocked but until I get DARK LYCAN and read it your reviews will just have to wait . I won’t even read the back of some books that have there next read in it . But I am so excited and can’t wait for my books to be delivered . So until then I salute you both with your great reviews.

  7. Terrific reviews ladies. So honest and just well done. Not gonna lie…..I started jumping up and down with excitement like a little kid when I read Gregori and Mikhail make appearances in Dark Lycan. *laughing*

    While having read Christine Feehan for 11 years, I must say, I cannot remember the last time I was THIS excited for a Dark book. I am unbelievably intrigued by this new race of part wolf/carpathian/vampire–Christine is introducing. I love complex, multi-layered plots with many details and lore. Sounds like this book is going to be similar to her earlier work that we all fell in love with. Exciting!

    CF was the first author within the paranormal romance genre, to keep me coming back for more. I am happy to learn that she has returned in all her formal glory. Again, superb job ladies!

  8. I’m sure your reviews are wonderful, but I am NOT going to read them yet!! I am going to start reading soon and read until I am done!! I will comment later!! It’s a happy day for me!!

  9. Great reviews… Mine is in the mail and I am anxiously awaiting its arrival… I have been following CF for a long time and have never been disappointed with any of her books, those that seemed a little different I took to be series builders because you get that in every series that goes past 3 or 4 books. The Skylar and Dimitri story has been one that everyone has been screaming for since their names were first linked and I can imagine no one who follows this series who will not be counting down the days until January. lol. Again, great reviews

  10. Awesome reviews ladies!!! I have been dying to talk about this book!! I loved reading and reviewing early, but the downside is that you can’t really discuss it because it ruins it for the masses!! LOL!!!

  11. What can I say. Great reviews. Make me sad I have to wait for mine but at least it will count toward TBL’s. I have only been disappointed in one book and that was Dark Storm but since I have reread it twice I really like it now. I just love her books. This whole trilogy has made my year LOL At my age I shouldn’t be wishing the months away but I have, to get this book.

  12. Great reviews. I enjoy reading these dual review format. I have not read this series, but knowing many people here are big fans, I wish I did read it.
    But 24 books is too much for me to catch up on.

    • I am always amused when I read someone state that a series is too long. 🙂 For me, I can polish off a 400 page book in under 4 hours. Because I read so fast, and am such a picky reader, I get really excited when I discover a series to my liking that is longer than just a few books.

      Last Year it was the Psy-Changeling’s series by Nalini Singh. (Now among my top favorites like the Dark series) I finished the first 4 novels, all over 400 pages long, in under ten days. Too soon I found myself all caught up to book 11, and suffering in agony waiting for the next installment like everyone else! *laughing*

      Doesn’t 24 whole books to read at your leisure without suffering the long wait in between; sound appealing Mercy? Heehee

  13. The VIDEO blurb says…Vlad had visions of the future…which we all knew….that is why he sent out his warriors to protect the race and find mates.

    The blurb says he saw something more sinister in their future which is probably the Sange rau

    I think CF is trying to connected the past with the present…she is also trying to change up the storyline to some degree and head in a different direction.

    Xavier is dead and NOW there is a new enemy on the horizon

    She obviously has someone NEW working on promotions and this is their way to pull in readers or get the old readers back.

    And since we do not know anything about Vlad or Draven…CF is connecting them to the series this way and we will probably find out that Draven is behind this new species…

  14. I’m sure these were great reviews Sandy and Barb but I haven’t read the book yet so I’m staying away from spoilers. I’m glad to hear old favs r back though, caught a glimpse of that as I scroll over your reviews. Can’t wait to read this one, been too long since I read a Carpathian book

  15. I’m pretty much with Julie and Marcie: Haven’t read it…skimmed over your reviews, not as an insult of course!, but freaking SWOONED when I read Gregori, Mikhail, Vikirnoff and Falcon…oh, my….

    I am getting more and more jazzed over Dark Lycan. Don’t get me started on Dimitri and Skyler, WOW!

    Curious, though: Can I just skip Dax’s book and jump to Dark Lycan????

  16. I admit I am ignorant to this series .. I have only read the first one! I do love the enthusiasm many of the members here have for it though and also admit it’s time I check it out seriously! 😉 LOL

    Rachel 🙂

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