Rating: 
Summary: !st Novel In The Carpathian Series
Review: "Dark Prince" is the first book in Christine Feehan's Carpathian series. Carpathians are a unique race of beings who have existed since humans first inhabited the earth. Their place of origin is in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. They are definitely not vampires. They are, however, a different race than man, gifted with the ability to change shape, fly, and move faster than the eye can see - and also able to communicate through both telepathy and language. Acquiring sustenance from human and/or animal blood, they do not kill or turn people into vampires. Carpathians mate for life but since the females rarely live to adulthood, and their childrens' mortality rate is high, not many males are able to find a female suitable for a lifemate....or any female at all. The women provide the light to the males' darker side. After 200 years, the Carpathian male loses all human feelings, unless he has a mate. The race is dying out and many males, having lived for centuries without wives, often choose to end their existence or turn rogue, (vampire), in despair.
Mikhail Dubrinsky is a Carpathian Prince. He is well over 500 years old, but you'd never know it to look at him. The man is a true hunk, in a sophisticated, European way. He has a "je ne sais quois "...that is irresistible. Mikhail lost his ability to experience human feelings centuries ago, and is disillusioned with life alone in a gray world. His people are tragically dying and he, their leader, has not found a way to save them. Then, out of the darkness he hears a voice that calls to him and speaks of hope - intriguing him and drawing him to discover who it belongs to.
Raven Whitney lives thousands of miles away from Romania, in America. She has powerful psychic powers and somehow has been drawn into Mikhail's wavelength. These folks do not need cell phones. After some soul-to-soul heart-to hearts, Raven discovers how despondent Mikhail is and is horrified at the thought he might end his life. She goes to Romania for vacation - and guess who she meets? Raven brings a world of color and feelings to her prince - but they are in terrible danger, as are the entire Carpathian people. This is an original romance-adventure-paranormal-mystery and a terrific read!
Ms. Feehan's world of Carpathians and their culture is an exciting and very sensual one. Mikhail's presence is powerful and he is most charismatic. Raven is his perfect counterpart. Together, they ignite - very hot and spicy! When she attempts to exert her 21st century independence, his traditional, protective male tendencies infuriate her, with comic results. Feehan also introduces the reader to an entire cast of characters that she will bring back in her later novels. This is not one of her strongest novels, but it is a good enough story, very imaginative, and a good introduction to the series.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: So Good I Had To Read It Again
Review: ...I just wanted to remind readers what a great book this really is to read, and where the Carpathian legacy began.Some readers will tell you that the characters fell in love too quickly; that there was no climatic "tug-of-war" of the heart... During these times of wars and rumors of wars, I will forever keep this book on hand to reread again and again on those days and nights when I need a reminder that the simple love between a man and a woman is the reason our existence continues; even as bombs are bursting, towers are falling, and mankind's hatred seeks to destroy anyone who is of a different race, religion, gender, sexual preference...A good romance novel is an interesting read. An excellent one touches your heart. However, a masterpiece is truly an unforgettable piece of art that will be forever etched in nostalgia like the Beetles, Woodstock, The Wizard of Oz...and anything written by the late Barbara Courtland. For me, Dark Prince is such a novel. One that takes you on a captivating journey into forbidden love, intrigue, history, and a sense of family. The characters are so powerfully depicted that you find yourself wondering things like: Do beings of this nature really exist? Are my partner and I true Lifemates? Preferring historic romance novels, I was not sure this book would appeal to me, but to my delight, I found myself eager to read page after page. Because of my preference, I was able to appreciate and admire the old-world traits in Mikhail. Also, I believe that only an independent woman of the 21st century like Raven could handle such a dominant albeit, loving male. Gregori is so compellingly mesmeric that you just know the author can not resist featuring him in a novel of his own....and of course, she does (Dark Magic). I look forward to reading all of the books in Ms. Feehan's "Dark" series and much more.
Rating: 
Summary: Great premises, but the author fails to deliver
Review: Brief summary: Mikaihl Dubrinsky is the leader of the Carpathians, a race that although they drink blood and need it to exist, aren't truly vampires (I'm still not sure how that works). Raven Whitney is an American in Mikaihl's country on vacation. Both Mikaihl and Raven have telepathic abilities. When she picks up his thoughts of suicide, she reaches out to him, and he immediately recognizes her as his `life mate'. As Mikaihl tries to `convince' Raven that they're destined to be together, he also has to deal with vampire hunters who are trying to kill off his race. The need to prevent any further deaths is made more urgent by the fact that his race is slowing dying off on its own, since there are very few females left and most newborns are males.
I am not a fan of vampire books, but so many people raved about this series that I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Thinking it was best to start at the very beginning of the series, I picked up the first book, and I was somewhat disappointed.
I loved the premises for this book. There was wonderful potential here for an excellent story, but in my opinion, the author failed to live up to that potential.
I didn't care for the author's style of writing. I found the overuse of adverbs irritating, and the constant point-of-view shifts made my head ache. I didn't like the hero. Now, I like alpha males, but I found this male entirely too alpha. Still, it is a vampire book, so I guess that is to be expected. I didn't like the heroine. Rather than finding her spunky and stubborn as others have, I found her immature. In addition, sometimes her actions were inconsistent with what the reader was told. For example: the reader was told numerous times how selfless and compassionate Raven was, yet when Mikaihl was injured and in desperate need of medical attention, she chose that moment to return his engagement ring and inform him that she was leaving him (and of course the medical attention was delayed so that this conversation could take place). That didn't seem very compassionate to me. The final straw was the constant repetition in the book--if the author told (and generally she did tell rather than show) the reader something once, she told them the same thing fifty other times, almost as if she didn't think they had the ability to remember it from one page to the next.
But I'm not ready to give up on this author yet. Maybe the writing improves as the series progresses, so at some point I do intend to pick up the latest book in the series (although it will come from the library--I won't be spending money on it).
Rating:
Summary: great new twists!
Review: ever read one of those annoying completely predictable vampire books? you know the ones with the suave, vampire with a heart of gold and all that crap? yeah i've dragged through my share to well thank god this isn't one of those. Christine Feehan has developed a whole new world with her dark series. One with heriones who can do more than swoon and flutter and heroes who can do more than smash stuff. Dark Prince is the story of Mikhail, the prince of an ancient race called carpathians. They live surprise surprise in the Carpathian mountains. After 200 years carpathian males lose the ability to feel emotions or see colors until they find their lifemate, in this case it a small fiesty american, oh aren't those the best? spunky, tradition snubbing american clashes with old world domineering male? if no lifemate appears the males can turn, turning into the vampires of human legend. anyway this woman, Raven is psychic and has been tracking serial killers when she takes a vacation to the carpathian mountains to rest. and meets the mysterious, dashing and dark mikhail. Mikhail doesn't know how but he does know for certain that Raven is his lifemate and will kill anyone who tries to take her away from him. you've got to love those possesive, jealous guys who can't help but give into their compassionate heriones. Mikhail completes the binding ritual of his people and so the problems begin. Mikhail knows he could conceiveable convert Raven to carpathian but most likely she would turn into a deranged vampiress and have to be destroyed. The problem also arises that Mikhail's people are being hunted by a secret society of vampire hunters and Raven is being hunted by vampires who are seeking a mate though they are beyond help. i loved this story for the unusal story line and devoured it in a single night and immediately bought the entire series. This story acts like a template for the other books of the series but if you are afraid you'll be reading the same story over and over again be reassured each story is different and something completely unto itself. definetly go for this book. something different with the strong, sure hero so absent in real life of late it seems and the herione who knows what she wants and isn't intimidated. a good read i would reccomend to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: a great read!
Review: From the back of the book... He came to her in the night, a preadtor-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, threating 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 darknss. A beautiful angel. Her compassion, courage, and innocence awakened in him an exquisite longing and tenderness. He knew he must posses her, for only she could tame his savage side and lift the dark shadow from his soul. Apart they were desolate, berefit. Intertwined physically and spiritually, they could heal one another and experince an eternity of nights filled with love.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the hype
Review: I found this book to be dark, the relationship bordering on coercion. But the story is gripping and the world uniquely drawn.
Mikail is certainly an alpha male, maybe too much of one, at least for much of the book. Then again, he's the leader of his people. But I thought he expected too much of Raven too soon. She, on the other hand, wavered between giving in too easily and pulling back at the wrong time.
Feehan's big problem as a writer is that she tells the readers rather than showing...and she tells it over and over and over.... Drove me nuts.
My thinking is that the others in the series could be better. Two & 1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: One One of The Best Ever
Review: I realize I am slow in coming to the folds, but I picked up my first Christine Feehan novel, DARK PRINCE, yesterday and could not put it down. Finally, there is a novel that feels well-rounded and complete. There is a spunky heroine who is not TSTL.
A sexy as hell hero, who is alpha, strong, takes charge and action, but is not a jerk. Ms. Feehan walks that thin line with grace and agility, making an action AND love story that keeps the reader turning each and every page.
Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: Suspend Your Disbelief And Just Go Along For The Ride
Review: I thought that this was an interesting series debut, though I have admit, being of Eastern European extraction, that using the term "Carpathians" for the dark and tortured heroes constantly amused me, because that's not what that term automatically brings to my mind. I guess it sounds suitably mysterious for people unfamiliar with that area of the world, but it just makes me laugh. If you like your heroes strong and possesive, your heroines feisty and stubborn, then this book is for you. Mikhail is the ultimate dark and dangerous hereo, about to allow himself to die because of centuries of loneliness. Raven is a human psychic who picks up on his distress, the first female in years to "touch his soul". Their meeting, their developing relationship, and the compromises that have to occur are the main focus of the book. The threat aspect is the fanatical hunters who view Mikhail as a vampire and want to destroy him, and by extension, his lifemate Raven. Ms. Feehan introduces the Carpathians as a completely different species, not just your run-of-the-mill vampires. Apparently, after age 200, the Carpathian males begin to lose all touch with emotion - their view of the world becomes literally monochromatic - and they slowly become more and more isolated. If they don't find a lifemate, they either commit suicide or turn into rogue vampires. Their species is slowly becoming extinct because there are very few Carpathian females, they breed slowly and tend to produce male offspring, and the babies usually die before their first birthday for some unknown reason. By the end of the book it all begins to make sense. She also introduces a number of the other male Carpathians, setting the stage for sequels of their searches for their lifemates. I was going to rate this book a bit higher but then I decided that I had to have a somewhat consistent standard for my vampire book reviews. I'm using Laurell K. Hamilton's books as my guideline, and this book doesn't compare to one of her four-stars. This is a fun book and a nice intro to a new series. I have no doubt that I'll be reading the rest of Ms. Feehan's books.
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING
Review: This book was not at all what I expected. I put off reading it because I did not think I would enjoy the whole vampire thing. I was wrong - the story is about MUCH more than that, and I absolutely LOVED it. Feehan is an excellent author, pulling you into a story so much that you feel like you are living it. I cannot say enough about her or this book. I just ordered the rest of the series, and I cannot wait to "devour" it!
Rating:
Summary: Only the beginning
Review: This book will be sure to hook you and there will be no escaping. These Carpathian men are hot, powerful, and the ultimate alpha males.
Raven is the perfect match for Mikhail, who just happens to be the prince of the Carpathian race. They are a proud bunch of immortals with a wicked way with women. They cherish and protect the females of their group-- to the point that it can be a bit cumbersome to an average independant american woman like Raven. But never fear she can handle Mikhail, and does! And she's quite sexy about the way she goes about it too!
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