DARK CURSE – Christine Feehan
A Carpathian Novel
Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-22343-7
September 2008
Paranormal Romance

Carpathian Mountains – Present Day

Lara Calladine, an expert in the study of ice caves, comes with two collaborators to find an ice cave in the Carpathian Mountains that may contain healing microorganisms. What they find is danger, near death experiences, and a jolt bringing to the surface Lara’s deeply buried memories of her childhood. Lara was born in these caves, part of a horrible experiment, and tortured for years, used as food by the evil Xavier. Only the voices of her two aunts, also held in captivity, soothing and loving, saved her sanity and eventually made the opportunity to escape to the outside world before Xavier could discover the power in Lara’s blood. She returned with the secret agenda to find out what happened to her aunts. When a hybrid monster attacks and poisons one of her group, she seeks a local healer to save him. She meets a man on the edge, poised to become one of the monsters he hunts, and prepared to meet the dawn to avoid it.

Nicolas De La Cruz is part of a brotherhood of warriors who hunt the creatures of the night, those of his race who have turned vampire. He survived the centuries, losing all touch with emotion, on the brink of turning rogue himself when he meets his lifemate in Lara. Her distrust and reluctance tempers his joy -- even as he opens his mind and heart to her, she rejects the notion of fated lifemates. What is it about this woman that makes her distrust him so? Why does the exchange of blood so revolt her? Why does she put herself at risk, against the notions of Carpathian men everywhere in regards to their lifemates?

Both Lara and Nicolas have secrets. They are damaged souls and have a lot of work to do before they can enjoy trust and love. Ms. Feehan’s latest entry in the DARK series is a winner because of the new directions in which she takes the story: the war with the vampires, and the solutions to the problems of Carpathian women’s infertility. It added depth to an already vibrant world. The best part of DARK CURSE is that Ms. Feehan focuses on world building as much as the relationship between Lara and Nicolas. In fact, their relationship and the way they find solutions is a metaphor for changes in the modern DARK world. Lara’s intellectual and emotional strengths enchant me; she persists in spite of her fears, which represents real courage to me. The scene in which Nicolas finally understands what is behind Lara’s difficulties with trust is both powerful and moving. DARK CURSE is story not to be missed. Even if you have not followed the series, it is definitely worth the price.

Lisa Baca