Dark Hope

Slow building, action packed

DARK HOPE is the 38th instalment in Christine Feehan’s adult DARK /CARPATHIAN erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on a group of powerful warriors known as Carpathians. This is ancient Carpathian Benedek Kovak and demon slayer Silke Reinders’ story line. DARK HOPE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul, eventually turning the male vampire or forcing him to greet the dawn.

Told in several parts from several omniscient third person perspectives (Silke and Benedek) and the occasional tarot card, DARK HOPE continues to focus on a new direction for the series with the inclusion of dragons, serpents, demons, vampires, mages (from the Underworld commanded by Lilith), and a new character – witte wieven (wise woman) aka spirit walker aka healer. Silke Reinders is a demon slayer, and Lilith has commanded her demons and followers to destroy our story line heroine. Carpathian warrior Benedek Kovak knows Silke Reinders is his mate but as he journeys towards the woman who carries the other half of his soul, he, along with Nicu Dalca, Tomas, Lojos and Mataias encounter an uprising of demons and vampires, signifying the threat of war.

The world building focuses on Benedek’s search for his lifemate; Silke’s need to protect her mother; and the encroaching demons and vampires commanded by the underworld. The action packed story line follows the take down of a powerful demon and his minions with another protracted fight scene wherein our couple must fight separately and apart.

The relationship between Silke and Benedek is one of fated mates. Silke has been taught by Carpathian female Tora that she hold the other half to a warrior’s soul but Silke has no intention of taking orders from an ancient male. The lone $ex scene is intimate.

We are introduced to Carpathian female Tora Kros, one of the guardians of the gate; Silke’s mother and healer Fenja; ancient dragon Szelem, as well as the return of Nicu Dalca, Tomas, Lojos and Mataias. The requisite evil has many faces.

DARK HOPE, once again, focuses on the continuation of new story line arc: from Tarot cards that tell the ancients of the existence of a mate, gate keepers, demons and demon slayers, hellhounds and the Underworld, as well as the woman in charge, who perhaps has the assistant for a powerful vampire and mage. The arc also renegotiates the scarring of a Carpathian, and vampires that continue to work in tandem with someone else. The slow building, action-packed premise is engaging but familiar; the romance is fated and seductive but limited as our couple spend most of the story line apart. The characters are desperate and powerful.