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"The fates of a warrior reborn and a seductive Dragonseeker are irrevocably entwined in the new Carpathian novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, "the queen of paranormal romance" (J. R. Ward). At long last you are truly back with us... Zev Hunter was an elite warrior, a dark-blood dealer of death to rogue Lycans who preyed on mankind. He was a loner, never given to personal attachments, and damned fierce at his job. But Zev begins to question his past and his purpose when he awakens in the darkness of the sacred cave of warriors and is soothed back to consciousness by the sensuously familiar voice of one woman, the woman who has haunted his fantasies for centuries. She was Branislava, member of the Dragonseeker clan... Mother Earth called the ancients to witness your rebirth... For this half-mage, half-Carpathian temptress, the ritual of awakening Zev to the council of warriors was the only way to save him. Locked away for his own protection, the time has now come for his rebirth, for his blood to stir with that of the ancient warriors before him. He has been assured by Branislava that their fates are entwined, that their spirits are woven together for eternity and that his new purpose in life is beyond imagining. Now, with a blood-sworn vow of honor, mercy and endurance, and under the influence of a siren as bewitching as Branislava, Zev begins to wonder what his purpose is, what it means for the future of the Carpathians and what it is about his rebirth that he has to fear... "--… (meer)
In the twenty-third book of the Dark/Carpathian series, Branislava Dragonseeker has tied her soul to an injured Lycan warrior on the verge of death. The connection between her and Zev is earth shattering, and she can’t live without him. He’s her lifemate, but she doesn’t understand how that could be since he’s Lycan and she’s Carpathian. As an elite Lycan pack alpha, Zev Hunter has guarded and advised the Lycan council for centuries, and now he’s acting as their liaison with the Carpathians. He and his pack often kill rogue werewolves and sometimes the rare Sanga rau (mixed-blooded werewolves and vampires). Lycans believe all mixed bloods should be exterminated, but Zev is siding with the Carpathians over the Guardians (mixed-blooded Lycans and Carpathians). After he’s terribly injured protecting a Lycan council member, he’s fed Carpathian blood and put to ground to heal. When he rises, he’s more than just Lycan—he’s Carpathian. Unbeknownst to him and everyone else, he’s also the last of a long dead bloodline. A new lineage is introduced in this book, and apparently, the Dark Blood line is much stronger and more revered than the Dragonseekers, the Dubrinskys, and the Daratranzanoffs. Also, the Dark Bloods can walk in sunlight and the women were allowed to fight with their men, which doesn’t align with the established history and genetic make-up of the species. I liked Branislava and Zev. She was trapped with her sister Tatijana in the ice caves for countless centuries, but she learned all sorts of dark magic from her evil father, Xavier, and from his vicious brothers. Zev was rougher and more controlling than Fen and Dimitri (the heroes from the previous two books), but he still respected Branislava as a woman and a warrior, even though his possessive inner wolf demanded he keep her out of danger. Zev was often compared to Gregori, but I didn’t see many similarities. Sure, Zev is demanding and bossy, but he’s not a male chauvinist like Gregori. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Gregori a lot—he’s a kickass secondary character—but in his own book, Dark Magic, he was way too controlling of his lifemate Savannah. Luckily, Gregori has calmed down over the years and now treats all women with more respect. This book is the last of a trilogy within the overall series. Multiple sex scenes, drawn out fight scenes, repeated information, and detailed chants and rituals affected the pacing and padded the narrative. After reading so many books in this series, those types of scenes just blur together in my mind since they’re all very similar. On a side note, I don’t understand why Natalya wasn’t there. She’s a powerful Dragonseeker and should’ve been fighting alongside her kin to save their people. Anyway, Mikhail, Gregori, Fen and Tatijana, Dimitri and Skyler, and Razvan and Ivory returned and added a lot of humor, emotion, and depth to the story. The best thing about this series is the secondary cast of characters. I’ve read several reviews for this story and even though some of those readers weren’t happy with Ms. Feehan’s choice of villains, I actually liked that Xavier was a triplet and his two evil brothers masterminded the plot to pit the Carpathian and Lycan races against one another. Overall, I liked the H/h and their friends and family, but the slow pacing kept drawing me out of the book. 3 Stars ( )
I listened to the audio version, narrated by Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross. I'm not sure if I would have noticed it, if I was reading this book but I noticed a lot of repetition. I did like the male and female narrators, I thought they did a good job. This story seemed more set up and groundwork for the new enemy the Carpathians and Lycans must fight for future books. I liked that this couple worked together, even in the beginning, both were obviously trying to understand each other and accepting of each others nature. There seemed to be a LOT of the chanting and spell casting/countering. At the end I felt like the book was 3 parts, one part chanting/spells, one part sex, one part story, my problem was I wanted more story. The story that was there was great, I just wanted more, liked the ending and future story set up from the ending. ( )
Christine Feehan, often spoken about as the queen of paranormal, has a HUGE fan club, even a page of groupies on Facebook. Read book one in the series, Dark Prince (usually found in libraries) and you’ll be hooked, that is, if you love the paranormal, stories where good usually conquers evil, stories where women are revered, and best of all stories where your heart is totally, absolutely, and irrevocably engaged with a community desperate to survive extinction.
I don’t read many erotic books, they aren’t for me. This series, however, has so much more to it than some extremely hot passionate scenes which can last for several pages. Don’t tell anyone, I skim read those!
The community of Carpathian people, created by Feehan, presently spans over 30 books. Feehan superbly ratchets up suspense and fear truly taking you over the edge when the it-can’t-possibly-be-happening happens! Consequently, it makes a very edgy read. Frankly, I cannot finish the book fast enough (burning up the pages), yet not want it to finish! Through this series, the characters have become so real, many of them return in each book--making you feel like you’ve just made contact with a good friend. Feehan writes her characters with memorable personalities making me really care about what happens to them.
The Carpathian people are evolving since they are marrying into the Jaguar and Lycan communities and with this they have saved their own species. Carpathians live for more than a thousand years. Unless they find their true lifemate, they become more susceptible to giving up their souls, hence becoming vampires. Vampires in some books we read are wimps, but Carpathian vampires are your worst nightmare!
Dark Blood is an exciting read. No vampires in this one, but perhaps something far worse await you! Dragonseekers, an ancient bloodline of the Carpathians, are known for fighting skills. They shape-shift to dragons. An ancient bloodline, Dark Blood, thought to be extinct is discovered to yet survive. This story introduces us to the last surviving Carpathians of this lineage.
I recommend the Dark series and loved this read. I’ve read many of the first 18 books three times. It’s a fascinating world and one I love to return to, over and over. ( )
Had I not already been a long time reader and fan of Feehan this book would have made that choice very simple. The last of the trilogy set in the Lycan world was truly inspiring and quite surprising...leaving you only with the need for more as it always is, and should always be, with the Carpathians....
So I love Branislava. She is able to overcome a so much in this story despite her fear. She draws on her knowledge and strength from her sister-kin and her life mate to battle her greatest foe. Zev is a good, strong male with a kind heart. He might be a well seasoned warrior but he has such great compassion.
I love that we see a lot of the others in this book. Dimitri, Skyler, Fen, Tatijana even Mikhail and Gregori. I especially loved seeing the kids. I really enjoy Carpathian family time. Would it be wrong of me to plead for Ms Feehan to write a book about just that?
The Story
This story was not bad, in fact it was quite good. HOWEVER, I think some of it went on for too long. The final battle scene in particular. I mean I know hurdles have to be thrown at our H/h to test them but it seemed never ending. Overcome this, overcome that, oh wait there are still 7 other things to deal with.
Also the repetition, sweet baby jesus the repetition. I just can’t stand it. But I know it’s a pet peeve of mine and I swear we could probably cut 20 pages of unnecessary repeats. Which would again help with the fact that I think the story went on too long.
I wasn’t all that impressed with the XXX storyline but I guess we had to do something different. I’m curious to seeing what happens with last X now that he is on his own.
Informatie afkomstig uit de Engelse Algemene Kennis.Bewerk om naar jouw taal over te brengen.
For my sister of the heart, Anita. Thank you for being in my life. We may not have the same birth parents but that has never stopped us from our fierce love and loyalty to one another. We may have lost Mom and Dad, but we've got our family and we'll always be strong as long as we're holding on to one another.
Eerste woorden
Informatie afkomstig uit de Engelse Algemene Kennis.Bewerk om naar jouw taal over te brengen.
Sound came to him first.
Citaten
Informatie afkomstig uit de Engelse Algemene Kennis.Bewerk om naar jouw taal over te brengen.
(page 47)
That which is torn, raw and gives pain, I draw upon fire to heal and reclaim. Light that is life, fire that seals, I cast forth your power to each vessel seal.
(page 135)
I call to thee with in mind the three, O feed your life blood, three must be. Children of air, earth, fire and sea, I call you into our world to be.
(page 166)
We call to the powers of the East, Air. We call to the powers of the West, Water. We call to the powers of the North, Earth. We call to the powers of the South, Fire.
(page 166)
Hear our prayer, Great Mother, We call upon you to protect us in our hour of need. Thrice around this circle bound, All evil sink into the ground.
(page 166-167)
I call upon that which is fire. I bid you to build a wall a spire. Breathe forth your breath, Make it burn so that none may enter and away must turn.
Current of air that breathes, Great goddess Hera, let your gales now blow. Bring forth your winds, let them howl and sing, Protecting your daughter and all within this ring.
(page 167)
I call to water, blood of life, Fix your gaze upon this sight. Let water drop and lightning strike, Keep evil out, protecting those inside.
(page 172)
Valerian, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, I call forth your essence to calm and wile. Lavender, Catnip, heed my call, Bring peaceful sleep so evil may not call.
(page 174)
Spirits I call you, twist and unbind, That which was born of gray magic, To entrap and entwine. Dark is to light as light is to gray, Each strand I unwrap, To send darkness away. Future to present, present to past, Unwrap that which was woven, So no more shall it cast.
(page 175)
Seven points you have woven, Seven points I unwind. With each flash of light, I unravel, I unbind.
(page 180)
Hail grandmother, spirit of the North, I call upon thee to defend me this night. Hail grandmother, spirit of the South, I call upon thee to attend this rite.
(page 180)
Hail grandmother spirit of the East, I call upon your forces to protect me with might, Hail grandmother spirit of the West, I seek your wisdom and quittance this night.
(page 181)
I call to tee Hecate, triple goddess above, Maiden, mother, crone, see my plite. Hecate, dark mother who heals the rights and wrongs, I call forth your power so that I may remain strong.
(page 181)
I seek the power to cast lightning's blast, So that shadow may burn, undoing that which has been cast. Twist and turn, heal but burn, Peeling shadow away, let life now return.
(page 190)
Thunder roar bring forth chains of light, Clout to ground let lightning strike. Arch to channel magnetic field, Current run so shadowed flesh does feel.
(page 193)
I call to thee Air which propels and blows, I call to thee Fire which burns below. I call to thee Water, send forth your gales, I call to thee Earth that brings forth a mist that cloaks and veils.
Cleanse and clear, Seal this pass. Closing all, After all here have passed.
(page 211)
Cells to neurons interact and flow, Carrying messages that I must know. I see you stimuli, I know your game, reveal to me what is hidden so there will be no pain.
(page 212)
Current to neuron cells to grow, Provide me with knowledge so I may know, I take what is hidden and make it mine.
(page 212)
Let there be no barriers, Let there be no lies, As I came, so now I must return, Taking these memories so no other may learn.
(page 248)
I call upon Thursaz, that which reacts, I call upon Kenaz, that which gives vision and insight, I call upon Algiz, that which gives protection and safe harbor, I call upon Ansuz, that which reveals what is unseen.
(page 256)
Thurisaz, I call upon thee, That which can bring chaos, instinctive will, Help me to draw forth that which will draw forth the darkness of demons, Born of blood, by the blood I command thee to come forth.
(page 257)
That which comes form the dark, I see you, I know you, I take back from you the spirit and energy that was stolen, I call upon Hagalaz, that which can be destructive uncontrolled, I call forth your energy now, Hagalaz, to use your forces of control.
(page 257)
I call upon thee spirit of air, Winds that blow freely, Bring forth your gales, Cleanse and seal this place, So that which would do harm may not leave this place.
(page 258)
That which is bound by darkness, I call forth light. Fire that burns and cleanses bright. I call forth your energy, separate and dispel, That which would be bound, sending it back to hell.
(page 258)
As fire burns and ashes fall, I call forth the abyss, hear my call. Open your maw so that I may return, That which was born of blood and must be returned.
(page 261)
That which is marked, drawn in black, I call forth tour energy to send you back, Twist and turn, swirl and burn, I draw forth your power, which now I return.
(page 262)
That which is silver, born of fire I call back your essence, drawing back your power. As fire burns, so water cools, I call to water, release evil's hold.
(page 262)
That which is woven, Reveal to me, That which is evil, So I may see.
(page 262-263)
That which would harm, I dispel your power. I take what was woven, so these threads have no power, As you were woven, so now I unweave, Each particle I harvest so no death may there be.
(page 266)
That which was shadow, Now must take on form. From gray existence, A body be born.
(page 274 & 275 & 275)
That born of blood and earth, I call your name. To me you must crawl, Hearing no others' claim.
(page 276)
Of blood you were born, I call your spoor. I see that which is hidden, May your path be no more.
As you were made, So shall you die. That which was created, Shall now be untied.
(page 308)
That made of lead, Fired to kill, I remove your force, Now shall you be stilled.
(page 311)
Creatures of earth, Warped in design, As your voices are raised, Let earth take your bite.
(page 312)
That which is cold-blooded, Dwelling beneath the soil, I call to you, snake, Come forth and clear this peril.
(page 318)
Choices have been taken, No will is left to see, I call to that which is hidden deep inside of thee. I call to the fire of passion, I call to the spirit within, Break these bonds that bend, Allowing free will to reign again.
(page 318)
Time that is movement, Root them, Hold each within their place, Let all now be frozen so no further harm may take place.
(page 325)
To those that are filled with venom, A healing charm I apply, I call you forth with music, hear my healing rhyme. Each serpent I now call, return to what you were, Releasing that which would harm, Banishing that which is fear, Dissolve that which is poison, Let all that is venomous disappear.
(page 326)
I call to the power of earth, Mother who created us, I call to the power of air, Lend me your force. I call to the power of water, Protect me from that which can burn, I call to the bower of fire, Bring forth through me, your explosive blast.
(page 326)
Twist and turn, spin and churn, Into this fog you must now return, Let what is within not be seen, So that you wanter sightless deep within.
(page 327)
Giant worm underground, I call you forth from your mound, Encompass all, leave none behind, So from your core our magic may be entwined.
(page 328)
I call to alder, Battle witch, Isa's calming treacherous ice, Focus my will, Hear my call, Fox of the wood, it is our day to battle, Move silently following this unknown path. I call to that which is unseen, Guide me through this web of darkness, Crystalline essence light my way, So that I may unbind that which has been bound.
(page 329)
Alder protect me as i pass from one form to another, Fire, I call your spirit, be mindful of my call, She who bleeds feeds forth your fires of life. As a spider spins her web, I now unweave this charm. That which was woven in darkness, I bring forth light's fire to encompass and disarm.
(page 333)
I call to the element of air, used for sound, Drum to the heartbeat of evil that digs thorough the ground. Pitch, harmonics, combine and align, Fight by attacking the warp evil's mind.
(page 339)
I call to the decil of lack rock's depth, Let these souls travel the devil's spine. Let them be the offering to all that is dark, So that none may undo this time.
Let these souls serve as fodder, As hunger feeds. Let their blood see the bond, Let their blood seal this need.
(page 340)
Each soul I send, I exchange for life. I sign with you now with blood and life, From this day forward I am bound to serve.
be ever to be immortal, For what has been served. From spirit and blood, flesh and bone, O sigh this pact now with immortality won.
(page 343)
Alder, battle, witch, heed to my call, It is time for battle,evil must fall. Cedar known as the tree of life, I call to you now as the gates of hell come to life.
(page 343)
Blackthorn straif, Dark Crone of the woods, I have need of your power, stand and slay that which must be undone, Ancient oak Dagda, Dominion of power I call to you now, fest on this blackest of powers.
(page 345)
I call to wind chaos and destruction, Phlegmatic energy of air, Blow through that which is shadow, Dispersing all with marked protective care.
(page 346)
For those wo list will, Let it now be returned, Taking back their power, So freedom may be earned. Your evil will not prevail. These men no longer belong to you, Just as my mother never belonged to you.
(page 347)
Waters chemical, acid rain, I drink your strength having no pain. You quench my thirst, revive my will, I transmute this water making it evil's swill.
(page 347-348)
Born in fore, honed in ice, I call to the four corners. Make your energy mine, I call to fire, sister kin, I absorb your abilities, taking all within.
(page 348)
I call to Pisionics swinging blades, Spontaneous combustion, Magick is made. Take that which is evil, Return it to realm, Encasing all in your fire, So none may return.
(page 353)
Chains of silver bedded within, Chains of silver under tissue and skin, Chains of silver connected to bone, Chains of silver now may you be undone.
(page 353)
I call to valerian to relax and release, White willow I send you to embrace and ease, That which is silver, toxic to bone, I bid you toe cease as goldenseal roams, That which is natural and of earth's healing core, I bid you to ease that which is tattered and torn.
(page 354)
Chains of silver buried deep within, Chain of silver wrapped like a percent's skin. Chain of silver that cuts to the bone, I seek you out your making so that you will now be known.
(page 354)
I trace your pattern and follow tour path, Removing your roots as I seal and cast. In each valley and burn I insert a balm, So that your poison is ceased and can do no more harm.
(page 356)
I call to water's life source pay heed to my call, I bid you to bend and reform to my will, I take that which is lifeblood and turn it aside, So that air may now flow giving peace to this life.
Laatste woorden
Informatie afkomstig uit de Engelse Algemene Kennis.Bewerk om naar jouw taal over te brengen.
"The fates of a warrior reborn and a seductive Dragonseeker are irrevocably entwined in the new Carpathian novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, "the queen of paranormal romance" (J. R. Ward). At long last you are truly back with us... Zev Hunter was an elite warrior, a dark-blood dealer of death to rogue Lycans who preyed on mankind. He was a loner, never given to personal attachments, and damned fierce at his job. But Zev begins to question his past and his purpose when he awakens in the darkness of the sacred cave of warriors and is soothed back to consciousness by the sensuously familiar voice of one woman, the woman who has haunted his fantasies for centuries. She was Branislava, member of the Dragonseeker clan... Mother Earth called the ancients to witness your rebirth... For this half-mage, half-Carpathian temptress, the ritual of awakening Zev to the council of warriors was the only way to save him. Locked away for his own protection, the time has now come for his rebirth, for his blood to stir with that of the ancient warriors before him. He has been assured by Branislava that their fates are entwined, that their spirits are woven together for eternity and that his new purpose in life is beyond imagining. Now, with a blood-sworn vow of honor, mercy and endurance, and under the influence of a siren as bewitching as Branislava, Zev begins to wonder what his purpose is, what it means for the future of the Carpathians and what it is about his rebirth that he has to fear... "--
As an elite Lycan pack alpha, Zev Hunter has guarded and advised the Lycan council for centuries, and now he’s acting as their liaison with the Carpathians. He and his pack often kill rogue werewolves and sometimes the rare Sanga rau (mixed-blooded werewolves and vampires). Lycans believe all mixed bloods should be exterminated, but Zev is siding with the Carpathians over the Guardians (mixed-blooded Lycans and Carpathians). After he’s terribly injured protecting a Lycan council member, he’s fed Carpathian blood and put to ground to heal. When he rises, he’s more than just Lycan—he’s Carpathian. Unbeknownst to him and everyone else, he’s also the last of a long dead bloodline.
A new lineage is introduced in this book, and apparently, the Dark Blood line is much stronger and more revered than the Dragonseekers, the Dubrinskys, and the Daratranzanoffs. Also, the Dark Bloods can walk in sunlight and the women were allowed to fight with their men, which doesn’t align with the established history and genetic make-up of the species.
I liked Branislava and Zev. She was trapped with her sister Tatijana in the ice caves for countless centuries, but she learned all sorts of dark magic from her evil father, Xavier, and from his vicious brothers. Zev was rougher and more controlling than Fen and Dimitri (the heroes from the previous two books), but he still respected Branislava as a woman and a warrior, even though his possessive inner wolf demanded he keep her out of danger.
Zev was often compared to Gregori, but I didn’t see many similarities. Sure, Zev is demanding and bossy, but he’s not a male chauvinist like Gregori. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Gregori a lot—he’s a kickass secondary character—but in his own book, Dark Magic, he was way too controlling of his lifemate Savannah. Luckily, Gregori has calmed down over the years and now treats all women with more respect.
This book is the last of a trilogy within the overall series. Multiple sex scenes, drawn out fight scenes, repeated information, and detailed chants and rituals affected the pacing and padded the narrative. After reading so many books in this series, those types of scenes just blur together in my mind since they’re all very similar.
On a side note, I don’t understand why Natalya wasn’t there. She’s a powerful Dragonseeker and should’ve been fighting alongside her kin to save their people.
Anyway, Mikhail, Gregori, Fen and Tatijana, Dimitri and Skyler, and Razvan and Ivory returned and added a lot of humor, emotion, and depth to the story. The best thing about this series is the secondary cast of characters. I’ve read several reviews for this story and even though some of those readers weren’t happy with Ms. Feehan’s choice of villains, I actually liked that Xavier was a triplet and his two evil brothers masterminded the plot to pit the Carpathian and Lycan races against one another.
Overall, I liked the H/h and their friends and family, but the slow pacing kept drawing me out of the book.
3 Stars
( )