Rating: 
Summary: The Most Gothic Of The "Dark" Series & A Good Read!
Review: "Dark Symphony" is the most Gothic novel in Christine Feehan's highly original Carpathian series. Carpathians are a unique race of beings, originating in Romania's Carpathian Mountains, who have existed since humans first inhabited the earth. 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 Carpathian males lose all human feelings, unless they have 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.
Byron Justicano, a Carpathian male, left his homeland to repent for betraying his best friend and to heal, in body and in spirit, after having been captured and tortured by humans and a vengeful vampire. He is an artistic, talented being who works with gemstones and creates beautiful jewelry. One night, while in Italy, he hears Antonietta Scarletti's music, which brings light to his dark world of exile and pain. He stays near her to listen to the soothing music of hope, which she brings to his life when she plays the piano. He knows that in Antonietta, an accomplished concert pianist and composer, he has found his lifemate at last. Byron easily meets her and soon becomes a trusted and beloved companion. He is determined to court her slowly, so that she has time to accept him and understand who and what he is. He wants her to choose him, and his way of life, of her own free will. Carpathian males have been known to take a more forceful approach to wooing their mates.
Antonietta was blinded as a child in a terrible explosion that killed her parents. She is a strong, independent career woman, heir to the Scarletti fortune, who assists her grandfather in running the family business. They live together with other members of the Scarletti clan, cousins, spouses and children, in a beautiful, palazzo by the sea, complete with gargoyles, secret passageways, and a mysterious killer jaguar. There, in Palazzo della Morte, age-old family secrets are hidden from the outside world - secrets which are every bit as implausible as those of the Carpathians.
Byron saves both Antonietta and her grandfather from kidnappers and almost certain death. She begins to turn to him more and more for assistance, as she and her family are threatened by deceit, poisoning and finally, murder. Someone is stealing ancient family treasures and trying to kill the Scarlattis.
I really enjoyed the characters of Byron and Antonietta. The development of their relationship makes for some wonderfully romantic reading. However, other Scarlatti family members are some of the most obnoxious fictional folks I have met in a long while. There were instances when I wished someone would murder them! The plot has some unusual twists and surprises, which makes this novel just as unusual as Ms. Feehan's earlier ones.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: a great read!
Review: From the back of the book....
He was Carpathian,a species as old as time. He could shift shape and soar high, run with the wolves, yet without light to his darkness, he could so easily give in to the whispers of temptation, the call for power and turn wholly evil-to become the undead, as many of his kind had chosen to do. He traveled the world, hunting the vampire, seeking to maintain a balance of life in a world of bleak loneliness. And then he heard the music...Blinded and scarred in a terrible accident, Antonietta Scarletti made music that thrilled the world with its beauty and passion. Descended from a long line of psychics, Antonietta has learned to rely on her other senses to "see" the world around her, but nothing could have prepared her for Byron. he came to her, drawn by her music, and became her secret obsession. Others fear him, sensing that he is dangerous-a preadtor-but for Antonietta he is her ultimate fantasy, her dream lover. He woos her with kisses full of erotic allure, whispering that she is his light, his salvation. Byron has waited an eternity for her, and he will let nothing stand between him and the woman born to be his lifemate...
Rating:
Summary: I love the change....
Review: I agree with a few others that it was time for a change in the Dark Series. I really thought that CF did a great job of adding a new twist. I don't dare mention that new twist due to the fact that it's not told in the description or on the cover - it doesn't show up for a little while in the book. So you'll just have to read it to find out! The fact that is was more of a suspense thriller instead of just an action packed plot did not take away from the enjoyment for me. It still had enough action to keep my eyebrows raised but it also constantly kept me guessing about who was doing it (not simply another ancient vampire). The added humor to this story was a refreshing relief also - that has always been a personal preference of mine. As usual Byron was enough to take my breath away & I even thought more of him than some of the other Carpathian males because although he was still just as protective of Antonietta he was not as overly dominating and borish as some of the others. (Although, honestly, how could a girl hold Mikhail's borishness against him!) I also enjoyed Antonietta - she was a highly intelligent & strong woman. I'll have to admit though that I would probably NOT be as understanding about her family as she had been all those years! lol It did explain her compassion quite well towards the end though. I liked the off and on contact that Byron had with other Carpathians through out the book - that always adds something to it for me. That bond between them all is just so fasinating. I personally thought that the story was nicely tied up at the end - it didn't feel rushed or left hanging. All in all another excellent read by CF.
Rating: 
Summary: Least Interesting of Carpathian Series
Review: I am a big fan of Christine Feehan and was aboslutely thrilled when I learned the newest book was out. Unfortunatley, I wasn't as thrilled after I read it. Dark Symphony is Feehan's attempt to blend two series together, the Scarletti's (Lair of the Lion, the Scarletti Curse) and the Dark Series. It doesn't work. The characters don't play well off each other. Byron, the Carpathian, is not as strong a character as those in the other Dark books. Whereas Antonietta Scarletti overshadows the Carpathian, and all other characters. It's more of a play off of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" with a tad of darkness thrown in. Wait for it to hit the library, [...].
Rating:
Summary: Not for Feminists
Review: I have a *huge* problem with Feehan's work - I hate how she writes her women. Her entire series is based on the theory that men know best and women need to shut up and obey. Honestly, if you're looking for romance, her series might not be the best place to go since rape and non-consentual acts abound, all deemed OK by applying the term "soulmate" to it. I will say this...if you dig through the dreck, some of her work can be tolerable (such as "Dark Symphony"), but the writing is trite and be warned of the overuse of "lightening" and "spicy" in every love scene. You'll begin to wonder if the love scenes are photocopied, with only the names changed from book to book. You won't find anything terribly new here, but if you like vampires and macho, overbearing men who don't actually listen to what women say, then go for it. The heroine actually has some backbone in this one!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT READING ON COLD NIGHTS
Review: I loved this book of all Christie Feehan's Dark Series books. I loved the way how the main characters developed, fall in love (lust), mated, and interacted with other humans in the book. I especially love the hot steamy love scenes and the tender moments between the lovers - Makes me want to have my own Carparthian man. Since other readers have given the summary of the book, I will not bore readers. I will recommend this book highly for those readers who like to read some magic and romance plus lots of steamy sex. The ending is off course predictable, but then, what else is new? It's what's in the middle of the book is important.
Rating:
Summary: Dark secrets and mysteries abound.
Review: I must admit that this is only the second book I've read from the Dark Series... or Christine Feehan for that matter; the first one being Dark Prince. These books were recommended to me, so after loving Dark Prince I was eager to read more and was ready to get my hands on any of the series. Dark Symphony didn't disappoint me. Antonietta Scarletti was blinded in a boating accident as a child, the same accident that killed her parents. Since the lose of her sight she has only had two passions - her family and music. It was the music that drawed Byron to her and in her he found his life mate, the woman who restored colour to his eyes and made him love again. But someone is stalking the Scarletti family and Byron is determined to save Antonietta and the rest of her family from whatever evil is lurking at their door. A story full of mystery and a family's dark past, Dark Symphony keeps an avid reader all night reading.
Rating:
Summary: LEGENDARY MEN,LOVE THEM
Review: I was introduced to these books by my sister and I have loved everyone of these stories. The men are masterful and loving in the true sense of the word. I would recommend this series to anyone,(my true love is historical romance). I am up to reading
Dark Melody which is the 12th book of the series and I am not tired of them yet. I have read every book in order to get the whole story from the beginning to current. Thanks Christine Feehan, and I thank my sister(Laura).
Rating:
Summary: Dark symphony
Review: I'm a big fan of Ms. Feehan's books since first reading the Dark Prince. This long awaited installment of Bryon's story was much anticipated by me. I must admit I was't sure if I would enjoy Bryon's story as much as some of the other ones, but, I was very impressed with the unique differences. Bryon's story was more on a human scale. His interaction with his life mates family, his desire to allow her choice in accepting him was sensitive, and very endearing. Also, his lifemate's age and disability were a plus. No whimpering innocent, but a full rounded woman with a career and high family values. In my thoughts, Bryon's story was told with less redunancies, less descriptive language. His reason for leaving home and seeking redemption for an assumed wrongness was heartfelt. As was his reunion with his sister and her family. I am a mother, and with the introduction of Josef, I could't stop laughing over his stages of growth, from his "wanna be a rapper" (please, couldn't you have done more in describing Mikal's reaction) to his attempts at finding his true Carpathian talents. This book has everything worth keeping your interest. Humor, mystery, love, intrigue and the reuniting of old friends. Please buy this book, you truly won't be disappointed. I certainly was'nt. I look forward to all future books on the dark series and I'm still trying to persuade others to give in to their 'darker sides' and hop on board the Christine Feehan Train. They won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Stick with it...it gets better
Review: If you can make it through the first 100-120 pages...it's worth it. I had a hard time getting into Dark Symphony as I see many other readers had as well. This book does seem a 'Scarletti' book with a little Carpathian thrown in but it gets better the more you read. The beginning is the most difficult part to get through. I happened to like Byron as an artist and not a hunter. I hardly think all male Carpathians exist solely to destroy vampires...these people have lives and some even have careers...why not have a few artisans? Yes, there is a lot of Scarletti in this one but even greater than the number of Scarletti pages is the number of orgasms Antonietta has! That is my only complaint...that woman spasms too often and too easily...I was tired of reading it. Honestly though..this one isn't as bad as these reviews portray...Josef is hysterical and there is a lifemate story, and Byron's determination to court Antonietta and have her choose his way of life is endearing. And whoever wrote the Editorial Review from Publishers Weekly above...might I suggest you actually read the books you are reviewing? I quote..."Carpathian males can mate for life only with mortals who are psychic, and if they don't mate, they lose their emotions"...I had tears running down my face I was laughing so hard as I read that. Even people who get paid to review books don't always know what they are talking about!
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