Rating: 
Summary: Dark Destiny--be cautious
Review: I am an avid fan of Christine Feehan. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book of her's I've ever read..and that's MANY! This is the first time I have ever been compelled to write a review.
I'm not going to retell her storyline, but just write a commentary.
It seems to me as though "Dark Destiny" was written by two different authors. The second half of the book by Christine Feehan and the first half by someone else.
I was negatively overwhelmed by the first half of the book. I would CAUTION anyone who has ever had any experience with or dealt with child abuse, especially sexual abuse. This is a very serious issue and can be devistating to anyone who has had any experience with it, either personally or professionally.
I put "Dark Destiny" down several times while reading the first half vowing not to continue on. I read to be entertained, not to be "grossed-out". The first half of the book was too graphic for me and I had a difficult time remembering I was not a member of a child abuse therapy session.
I am glad however, that I persevered as I really enjoyed the second half of the book.....in true Christine Feehan fashion.
If Ms. Feehan's next book is written in the same style, that will probably be the last of her books I will read. That is disappointing as I truly have loved her other books.
Rating: 
Summary: Just like the others . . .
Review: and that's the problem. I've probably read all of the Carpathian books, but I'm now finished with the series. So many of the characters are the same, especially the men. For the women, different things may happen to them, but I feel like I'm reading about the same people over and over. I was really looking forward to this book recapturing what I liked about the first few in the series, but it didn't. If you haven't read any of Feehan's other novels then you'll probably enjoy this one, but otherwise just avoid it.
Rating: 
Summary: The book was great but. . .
Review: I will refrain from reviewing the plot since it has been so adequately done by previous posters. My only problem with this book is one of the subplots. A theme of violence by hypnosis is introduced--only it is well known in psychology circles that just being hypnotised will not cause a person to be exceedingly violent against a loved one on command or even against total strangers. The kind of violence described in the book (as going against the natures and personalities of the participants) as introduced via hyponosis is so incredible that it could only be done through extensive conditioning after the breaking of one's will--as in prisoner of war camps or maybe nazi camps. The almost dismissive explanation of some doctor visits a couple of days a week just wouldnt do it. I write this as a fan of the series, one who knows that the Carpathian males do have different personalities, as do the heroines. I am not bashing the author but even a cursory reading of the relevant material in a first year psych text would have given her enough information to keep this glaring inconsistency out of an otherwise wonderful novel.
Rating: 
Summary: The best so far
Review: I've read all of Christine Feehan's books, and this was, in my opinion, the best. For once, instead of a dark, tortured hero, you get a dark, tortured heroine Destiny who kicks butt (her action moves remind me of Selene in the movie Underworld). There's no issue about acclimatizing the human heroine to the world of the Carpathians, because Destiny has already been "turned". The secondary characters are not the usual young humans or Carpathians, but rather interesting members of a vibrant community. The best parts for me are not only having a female vampire hunter, but also the neighbourhood mystery (which is nicely solved) and Velda's (zany-dressing old lady) secret. Those two elements really made the book stand out in the series.Yeah, the heroine is traumatized and has trouble adapting to relationships - but that's no surprise - being tortured from the age of 6 to 14 is bound to be hard on anyone's life. The fact that she's still in terrible pain every single day from the blood in her veins just makes it more reasonable that she's still very close to her ordeal. Stories of tortured heros who learn to love easily are easy to believe because a) they've had a lot of sexual relationships/vices/friends since to wash the pain away, b) they were older when it happened, or the torture was only for a short time, or c) they have had more time to deal with it, or more time to learn control themselves. Destiny doesn't have any of these advantages. If I'd been beaten, raped, tortured and mutated by a crazy vampire for 8 years and thought I'd caused my entire family to die I wouldn't fall in love with a handsome Carpathian so quickly either (this is all in the first few chapters, so I'm not giving anything away). As for the hero Nicolae, he was already ancient and strong, secure in his abilities. He had nothing to prove. He was strong enough, controlled enough, and smart enough to know that Destiny needed to heal before being rushed into a life-bonding relationship. Readers who want an alpha male to rush his mate into a relationship at the cost of her mental health are asking for a guy with big muscles but tiny brains. Remember? Carpathian males do what's best for their mates, even if that's not what their mates want (Gregori and Savannah, anyone?). Nicolae is smart enough to know that what's best for his mate is to give her some time and patience to get used to him before claiming her. (It just happens that giving her time was what was best for her AND also what she wanted. Giving her time didn't make Nicolae submissive, it made him intelligent enough to do what was best for her in spite of his own desires.) So this book was everything I'd hoped for and more. The secondary characters really grounded Destiny in a warm loving community with interesting characters, there was an actual mystery (not just the usual vampire-conspiracy storyline), Feehan gave Destiny a realistic reaction (based on her past) to Nicolae, and Velda's secret had me crying at the end. So run out and get this book. But if you just want another book like Dark Prince, Dark Challenge and Dark Magic, you may not like this, because it doesn't follow the old formula.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Dark entry, just not the best
Review: If we're really being nitpicky about how many female Carpathians have been featured as leads, there have been more than two: Francesca, Desari, Syndil (not necessarily a lead, but she had her own story) and Savannah. I don't think Destiny really counts, since she was born human and was converted. I had mixed feelings about this book. I would of course recommend it to anyone who's a fan of the series already, because while Feehan does tend to go off on her "cause" tangents, Dark Destiny still works well as part of the series and furthers the storyline of the Carpathians in general. I'm not sure anyone reading this as their first "Dark" book would be all that impressed though, and that would be a shame since there are some really wonderful books in the series, books that are better than this one. The pluses: Destiny has more backbone than nearly all the previous female lifemates combined, although we have to rely on Feehan telling us so every few paragraphs rather than on any actions she takes. We see very little of Destiny's hunting skills, although there are a few scenes where it's refreshing that the hero actually lets her fight. Of course, as per the usual, in the end, the heroine needs to be saved by one of the menfolk (rolling my eyes here), but up until that point, Destiny has more autonomy than any other Carpathian woman except maybe Desari and Francesca. I wasn't even remotely attached to any of the human pals this time around and found the whole lost lifemate story thread to be a snooze. We already heard what happens when a lifemate goes unclaimed in Shea and Jacques' story with Shea's mother; rather than feeling any sadness for the lifemate here, I thought the character (and her sister) were unnecessarily corny and cliched. The priest was a yawner too, despite what we find out he knows - if the intent was to create a new Father Hummer, Feehan failed. The biggest quibble I have with Dark Destiny is introducing a character like MaryAnn and then doing absolutely nothing with her. Let's face it, we read these books not for the sidekick humans but for the Carpathians - why bother shoving a character on us as hard as Feehan does MaryAnn and then have it utterly fizzle out because there aren't enough pages to tell two stories? I only have one thing to say about the choice of names for Nicholae's brother - Vikirnoff? Surely Feehan realized that the name was close enough to a brand of vodka that it would induce giggles? The other irritant was having Feehan introduce a "new" line of ancients and have us believe none of the rest of them knew about it, not even the other ancients. I realize Feehan's running out of characters mentioned in previous books, but there still has to be more than a dozen Carpathians running around; I'd rather hear about them than have her make up more ancients just because they're the most powerful (and I guess she thinks that makes them more interesting). The romance between Nicholae and Destiny is sweet and given her issues, proceeds in a believable way. I didn't find the whole victim mode Destiny keeps going into as annoying, given that she's been basically alone her entire life. I'd be more unhappy if she turned out to be well-adjusted and fell into her lifemate relationship easily. Ultimately, this isn't the worst book in the series (that honor goes to Dark Gold) or the best (three way tie between Dark Prince, Dark Magic and Dark Fire). It falls somewhere in the middle, probably close to the Carpathian/Scarletti hybrid, Dark Symphony.
Rating:
Summary: read!
Review: If you like romance with action, this is for you. I love books that have kick ass girl moves with passion and undying love. This book contains action, martial arts, love, horror and the paranormal. One hell of a book. You must trust me when i say you'll love this book! please just read it, then you will understand.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome book
Review: In this book, Mrs. Feehan has shown that even through the toughest adversity the goodness of a persons heart and soul shine through.
The Heroine of this book, Destiny, underwent physical, mental and emotional abuse throughout her childhood and was still able to show an inner strength and a will to survive. Once again Christine has given us a strong hero who knows that with true love all things can be conquered and a heroine who has to learn that being strong sometimes means needing someone to lean on.
This book has action, romance, suspense and even small amounts of comedy. For the first time in her Dark series Christine has given a woman the role of a hunter, and she has done so with a beautifully written story that takes you further into the shadow world she started in Dark Prince.
Destiny is a woman who thinks she is doomed to spend her life alone because of a horrible attack by a vampire when she was a child but Nicolae is determined to win her heart and prove to her that they belong together not just now but for eternity and he will do whatever it takes to make her understand that. The secondary characters in this story make it even better as you get caught up in their world and what happens to them and how Nicolae and Destiny will do anything to protect them from harm.
If you enjoy action, romance and suspense pick this book up and give it a try..you will not be disappointed. You might actually find yourself entering another world, full of shadows, night creatures and those who call that world home.
Rating:
Summary: Lile 5-minute Coffee
Review: OK, I am anavid Feehan fan and will read and buy anything she publishes. But be warned that Dark Destiny is not what the first "preview" chapter makes it out to be.
First, the book deals with issues that are more disturbing than informative. From child rape...to more sexual intense moments this book was gory to take for something that could entertain you.
Secondly, after the 5th chapter the book goes into a depressing and repetitive tone that is just boring...the love tangle between the two characters does not seem authentic, more like forced by the author.
I was really disappointed by the book, and will be more careful when choosing books in the future before reading reviews like this.
People easily jump into conclusions that this is the greatest read in the world...but to be honest I put the book down too many times to allow that statement.
I recommend that you BORROW or get the book from the library and preread some chapters to see where you stand...good luck.
Rating:
Summary: the story of the first female vampire hunter by Ms. Feehan
Review: Review courtesy of LoveRomances.com
This, the latest book in the Dark saga, will reel readers in, be they new or old fans. Also, Ms. Feehan introduces a new kind of heroine, her first ever, female vampire hunter.
Destiny is a rarity in the Carpathian world. She is a female vampire hunter, which before now was absolutely unheard of in their society. At a very young age, her family had been horrifically murdered by the hated vampire, and she was kidnapped, brutalized and converted by him. As a result, she has always felt alone in the world, soiled and ruined as a result of her experiences. Except for him...
Nicolae is an ancient, sent out centuries ago to hunt the undead, the vampires, those of their race who lost all hope and turned to the bad as a result. He was on the brink of losing his hold in the world and turning himself, when a powerful connection to a young girl in agony saved him. He taught her everything he knew about hunting vampires, giving her the power and control she needed to keep herself alive and sane.
Nicolae and Destiny finally come face to face when he finds her and rescues her from a vampire ambush. As a result of the tragedies she lived through as a child, Destiny trusts no one, especially Nicolae, whom she at first believes to be a vampire. He can do no other then protect her, his lifemate, as it is ingrained into all Carpathian men from birth. When it becomes apparent that Destiny's town is about to become a battlefield between Carpathians and vampires, Destiny and Nicole have to fight what could very well be a fight to the death, to rescue the people they have come to love. Will they succeed and will Destiny finally be able to overcome her past?
This story is different then the previous books in the series, with a darker feel. Destiny is mentally and physically scarred from her conversion by a vampire and her battles to destroy them. She believes she is unclean, contaminated, and will never be good enough for her kind. Nicolae has always been powerful and never loses a battle. It tears him up inside that he can't help Destiny win her emotional battles, or take them upon himself and spare her the misery. Though it contradicts his very nature, he knows what she needs to be whole again.
As always, the author expands on the world she has created, introducing new aspects previously unknown to readers. There are even a few sideline stories, which will interest, and maybe even answer a few questions, fans have long wondered about. One will experience many different emotions while reading, from tears of happiness to tears of sorrow, pleasure and pain, anger and joy. One will also love to see new characters who may later get their own stories?, as well as some returning favorites.
However, for this reviewer, in spite of some appealing details and plot lines, this story just did not captivate as previous books have done. There were a couple sub-plots, which felt unnecessary to the story, though their intended purpose was evident. It just seems the reasons for them could have been handled in another way through the main story line. It felt like this particular sub-plot could have been completely removed and the story would have been no worse off for it. Also, some of the new details and vivid descriptions of some aspects of Destiny's conversion and subsequent suffering were too unbelievable for this reviewer to fully appreciate them.
One other thing about this story which didn't sit well with this reviewer, was some of the writing itself. There were so many sentence fragments and one-word sentences through the entire book that it became very distracting. Whether this is a new situation or an old one that was not really noticed before, or just the need for more editing, it took away from the story. It is apparent that this writing style was used for a reason, possibly to give the feel of stream-of-consciousness and thoughts of the characters. Where this worked fine for the dialogue and for the internal thinking and conversing of the characters as it suited how they'd be thinking, it just did not work at all for the narrative portions of the story.
All in all, a passable story for the series, and likely it was just a "bump in the road" for the author, with future books to be back to what one has come to expect from a story by Ms. Feehan.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2004. All rights reserved.
Rating:
Summary: Cheesy, crappy, cheesy- a lifetime movie for bored women
Review: This book is very very cheesy, it has no twists whatsoever, the plot formula is really lame and too cheesy and straightforward. The chapters lack a prettiness to them in that descriptions aren't really there. The descriptions other than the sex parts which are actually quite good, are like very watery ketchup or a pinch of whisky in a gallon of water, the whiskey being what u want and the water is what u want NOT!.
Overall i would not recommend this book at all because u have seen and heard and dreamed of it. The writer is a novice, she's rich because ppl are stupid to buy the book (i too fell there, but never again!). You cannot have a scene and a chracter who added a very poor intrigue that lures u to a promise die and never give a good description of the hospital or what was the purpose of his deed.
This book lacks in everything from chracters to description. It is absurdly retarded and the vampires are like those we saw in BLADE and the hunters are stupid ppl with powers that go beyond magic and make u laugh out loud instead. Again, the 1 i gave it is for the sex scenes, which was good but u will find better and plenty more in real erotic books.
Again this is a cheesy, absurdly ridiculous excuse for anything. It is suitable for 13-15 year old girls and even then the book still fails horribly. It is too cheesy and blatantly pompous in that the there are poor attempts to make a contrast and conflict between chracters but it IS NOT BELIEVABLE AT ALL!! If u cannot create rich conflict like a woman in love with her son who struggles with psychosis, then the conflict must be left out. It is in or it is out but never a mockery to here it is very poorly and then there it is not and ever poorer in horridness.
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