"Another good entry in this series"

Something occurs that awakens Gabriel the legendary Carpathian hunter from his self-imposed grave. Gabriel knows whatever caused this has also awakened his twin brother Lucien the vampire. Gabriel remembers how Lucien hunted vampires for centuries before becoming one and how they vowed to kill one another if they ever changed. That is why he tricked his sibling and buried both of them in the Paris cemetery.

He feels old and knows he must feed soon. Francesca Del Ponce offers him aid and he cannot resist her soothing nature. She takes him to her estate and proffers her life to him. Gabriel takes too much of her blood before realizing he almost killed his lifemate. Gabriel realizes he must protect Francesca from his brother. Francesca explains that she is Carpathian, but hid that because her lifemate Gabriel rejected her centuries ago. Though upset with himself over rejecting her centuries ago, Gabriel must continue his vampire quest, stop Lucien, and persuade his lifemate they belong together, an impossible triad of tasks for anyone not Carpathian.

The latest Carpathian tale, DARK LEGEND, cleverly provides background information intertwined in the story of two brothers, a hunter and a vampire, battling while the former has found his lifemate placing him and her in danger. When the novel stays with its main theme, the plot is quite impressive and hooks the audience. When the novel takes detours down sidebars, these subplots never fully develop nor return to the main story line. Still, Christine Feehan has written another strong entry that entertain her fans while leaving readers looking forward to Ms. Feehan's next story.

Harriet Klausner - Copyright © 2001

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Courtesy PNR Reviews
Posted December 5, 2001

Author Interview

Summary

Gabriel wakes deep within the ground, and the first sensation he feels is an overwhelming hunger for blood. But as he hunts the dark streets of Paris for prey, a voice calls to him, soothing, calming, giving him the strength to control his craving. Francesca Del Ponce is a healer, a woman who radiates goodness as powerfully as the sun does light. Though Garbriel knows she will be like hot silk in his arms, though he knows the taste of her will be addictive, he fears for her life and his soul if he takes her. Then with one mind-shattering vow she gives herself-- I offer freely, without reservation, I offer my life for yours as is my right--and with a firestorm of long- forgotten feelings, he glimpses salvation.