PNR Review: Dark Storm (Carpathian) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Dark Storm" the book in her Carpathian series by Christine Feehan.

Product Description

Awakening after all this time in a world of absolute darkness and oppressive heat, Dax wonders in how many ways the world above must have changed. But it is how he has changed that fills him with dread and loathing. Buried alive for hundreds of years in a volcano in the Carpathian Mountains, Dax fears that he has become the full-fledged abomination that every Carpathian male fears, a victim of the insidious evil that has crept relentlessly into his mind and body over the centuries.

But there are some things that never change.

His name is Mitro, the vampire Dax had hunted all these long centuries. Second in command to the prince of the Carpathian people he is the epitome of everything malevolent, and perpetrator of one of the most shocking killing sprees known to man — and beast. Even his friends and family weren’t safe from Mitro’s bloodlust. Neither was Mitro’s lifemate, Arabejila, an extraordinary woman with extraordinary gifts.

But now that Dax has re-emerged, so too has Mitro. The ultimate battle between good and evil has been re-engaged. Between Dax and Mitro, a violent game has begun — one that has marked Riley Parker, the last descendent of Arabejila, as the reward.

About the Author

Christine Feehan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many romance novels and novellas. She lives in California.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (October 2, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425255808
ISBN-13: 978-0425255803

My Review:

Many centuries ago Carpathian hunter Dax was in pursuit of a vampire named Mitro.  Mitro's lifemate Arabejila performed an ancient ritual approved by Dax that sealed both man in the center of a volcano.  This ritual must be performed every 5 years by a female descendant of Arabejila.  This ritual is handed down from mother to daughter and is a sacred duty for any Arabejila bloodline. 

The book opens with Riley and her mother traveling through the Amazon to get to the volcano where Dax and Mitro are sealed.  They are too late though because of the illness and death of Riley's father.  Mitro grows more powerful as the hour of the ritual expires and does everything in his power to stop them from performing the ritual.  As a result, Riley's mother is brutally murdered and both Dax and Mitro escape the volcano.  Mitro causes chaos wherever he goes and it's pretty brutal and painful.

It was great to see Jubal and Gary traveling on the same boat as Riley.  They are on a mission to find a flower that may have been used by the Carpathians centuries ago.  I really enjoyed their deep friendship, caring attitude and the way they both protected Riley against some savory characters.

Dax and Riley's relationship was very sweet and caring.  I really liked how they respected each others abilities and they both felt safe with each other.  Glad that Dax wasn't really an overbearing alpha male and made Riley do things she wasn't comfortable with.

4/5