Book Review of Dark Challenge (Carpathian Series)
Title: Dark Challenge
Series: Carpathian Series
Author: Christine Feehan
Date Published: November 27th 2000
Date Read: June 2012
The Blurb:
WAS SHE MORE THAN HIS MATE?
Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, always alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect...
When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness... or save his soul?
Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, always alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect...
When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness... or save his soul?
My Review
4 New Family Stars
*Spoilers*
Sing for me, cara mia. I love the sound of your voice. It is a miracle. You bring me peace and joy when you sing. You make my body burn as it never has before. Sing for me.-Julian
First read June 2012
Reread January 18, 2016
Reread January 27, 2017
Reread Nov 2, 2020
Dark Challenge the 5th book in the Dark series by Christine Feehan was a nice read. But for me a little slow which is why it's a 4 star and not 5. Julian and Desari are a very sweet couple and I enjoyed reading about Desari's family. There is just something I love about the Carpathian series. It's my Happy Zone. The whole lifemate thing is so sweet. I love the idea of one soul mate fated forever. Though a few things happened in this book for the most part it was a more laid back easy read and focused more on Julian and Desari's relationship.
You seem to forget I am no fledgling but your equal. Do not waste your energy attempting the impossible. Destroy this vampire if you must, then return to me quickly. We will discuss your conceit on the next rising.-Desari
"I want you so much, Desari, just like this, so wild with need you cannot be without me. Feel it, the fire between us, my body in yours where I belong. I am part of you like your heart, like your breasts." He bent to lavish attention on her nipples, pulling strongly with his mouth. "I never want this to end."-Julian
Julian was a very laid back chilled kinda guy. He had a very sarcastic sense of humor. Julian could be pretty caveman in his thinking but most of the Carpathian men are. Julian had a very lonely life. He had a secret that he was deeply ashamed about. Julian was a quick learner when it came to women, his lifemate in particular. He gave up his idea of women listening and obeying for the pipe dream it was, and learned to compromise. Desari was very independent and confident in herself. Desari loved her family and career and had no plans of giving them up. She was an ancient like Julian so she had her own power and good control over it. Desari was a bit of a trouble maker, she didn't like being dictated to. Desari fought her relationship with Julian for a very short time, but for the most part jumped right in.
"I believe in God, Julian. I always have. Living through the centuries as we have, I have witnessed many wonderful, miraculous things he has wrought. I believe we were created two halves of the same whole. I had no idea this was so until I met you, but I am now convinced. I would never want another, never fit with another. I can feel that we are right together, and I do not believe God would put together two creatures who did not suit one another." -Desari
"Then I will have to be more careful the next time to be slow and thorough. I want you to be completely satisfied in all things, lifemate." Her slender arms circled his neck. "You know I am. And if you were much more thorough, we might both be dead."-Julian and Desari
Both Julian and Desari were pretty accepting of finding their lifemate the bumps in their relationship were more from learning to live together. There was a lot of steamy hot sex in this book as our couple couldn't keep their hands off each other. Julian and Desari got along well together and Julian fit in nicely with Desari's family.
You are the lifemate of a sensitive, modern male. Julian's lazy amusement warmed her further, confirming what she already suspected, that he often stayed a shadow in her mind. How fortunate for me.-Julian and Desari
"The way you love me, Julian, so beautifully, so much, that is the way I love you. You are everything to me. If only we have the next few moments together, everything that came before was worth the time we have had."-Desari
I really loved getting to know the members of Desari's family Darius, Dayan, Barack, and Syndil. Barack is a bit of a playboy. He is the only Carpathian male in the whole series where they tell you he messed around with other women, not that other Carpathian males are virgins the books just don't talk about it. You don't have to see it but,Syndil is his lifemate so she had to watch for years while he ran around with human women. But to Barack credit he didn't know Syndil was his lifemate, They didn't get raised with other Carpathian's. They didn't know what lifemates were and they were raised as babies together. So for a long time he thought his feelings were because they were raised like brother and sister. When he figures out she is his lifemate he doesn't touch another. Syndil was attacked by a vampire so she was very withdrawn, and fearful of men. She carries shame feeling like she somehow caused the attack. Dayan has a poet soul. Dayan is more of a lover not a fighter kind of guy. Darius is my favorite of the group. He is a lot like Gregori which is understandable since him and Desari are Gregori's lost brother and sister. Darius is very powerful. He has a lot of honor and raised all the others since they were babies when he was only 6. He is bossy, and arrogant of course. I can't wait for Darius's book! Overall a great read and a nice addition to the series!
"You have a perfect mouth, Julian. An amazingly perfect mouth." He arched an eyebrow at her. "Just my mouth is amazing?" "You are such a man." Her eyes laughed at him. "You need constant reassurance that you are magnificent." He nodded. "Magnificent. I like that. I could live with magnificent. Good choice of words, lifemate."-Desari and Julian
I really loved getting to know the members of Desari's family Darius, Dayan, Barack, and Syndil. Barack is a bit of a playboy. He is the only Carpathian male in the whole series where they tell you he messed around with other women, not that other Carpathian males are virgins the books just don't talk about it. You don't have to see it but,Syndil is his lifemate so she had to watch for years while he ran around with human women. But to Barack credit he didn't know Syndil was his lifemate, They didn't get raised with other Carpathian's. They didn't know what lifemates were and they were raised as babies together. So for a long time he thought his feelings were because they were raised like brother and sister. When he figures out she is his lifemate he doesn't touch another. Syndil was attacked by a vampire so she was very withdrawn, and fearful of men. She carries shame feeling like she somehow caused the attack. Dayan has a poet soul. Dayan is more of a lover not a fighter kind of guy. Darius is my favorite of the group. He is a lot like Gregori which is understandable since him and Desari are Gregori's lost brother and sister. Darius is very powerful. He has a lot of honor and raised all the others since they were babies when he was only 6. He is bossy, and arrogant of course. I can't wait for Darius's book! Overall a great read and a nice addition to the series!
"You have a perfect mouth, Julian. An amazingly perfect mouth." He arched an eyebrow at her. "Just my mouth is amazing?" "You are such a man." Her eyes laughed at him. "You need constant reassurance that you are magnificent." He nodded. "Magnificent. I like that. I could live with magnificent. Good choice of words, lifemate."-Desari and Julian
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