Dark Curse (A Carpathian Novel)

by Christine Feehan

Book Overview

Lara Calladine is haunted by childhood memories of being held prisoner in an ice cave and kept sane by the whispered stories told to her by her imprisoned aunts. They instilled mage and Carpathian... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515146994
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.2" x 1.2" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

Did we all read the same book?

This book was a fabulous addition to the Dark series! Dark Curse was different from other books in this series, and I found those twists both interesting and refreshing. The role of women began to shift. Feehan's female characters have always been strong matches for their highly protective and frequently overbearing mates; however, in this book they came together and joined those strengths to help solve the crisis of extinction facing their race. The cause of high infant mortality rates and miscarriages that has been a common thread in this series was finally identified by Lara (the female protagonist)who is instrumental in saving a number of babies in utero including the soon to be born son of the Prince. Lara is an extraordinary character of strength and courage. She has faced horrors that would completely crush all but the strongest of individuals, yet she is a survivor who doesn't indulge in self pity. Because of what she has faced, and all that she has accomplished, this character would not be believable had Ms. Feehan not exposed some of the emotional struggles and flashbacks that would certainly accompany such a traumatic past but they are not a central focus. The love story between Lara and Nicolas de la Cruz is passionate and steamy. It is accompanied by many of the struggles Carpathian men have with their mates. When Nicolas first sees Lara he is so close to turning vampire that he has determined to deliver a crucial message to his Prince and then meet the dawn. It is literally to be his last night and he is on the way to meet the Prince when he sees Lara. Their initial meeting is not as smooth or complex as many others in the series but it serves to demonstrate the desperation and critical point Nicolas and many other Carpathian males have reached. I have only two complaints. I would have enjoyed more character development where Nicolas was concerned. This was more a story about Lara than Nicolas. I also found the frequent use of the Carpathian language irritating. I skimmed over it where possible. All the pages at the end of the book devoted to the language, in my opinion, were wasted. Before reading Dark Curse I was worried about the Dark Series. It seemed to have lost much of its momentum and direction. Dark Curse has brought new life to the story line and I am optimistic we may see progress and victory for the wonderful Carpathian race.

Superb!

I read this all the way through the day I received it - wow, great entry in the Dark series! Nicolas has been a fave of mine since I read about him in Colby's book, so it was good to see him get his own story. Love Lara, too. This must be the Summer for Heart-Wrenching Childhood Stories. First Acheron and now this. Fortunately, the emotionally difficult sections are shorter in Dark Curse than in Acheron, but still... it was a tough read for a little while, but it does let us see Lara's reasons for doing what she does. It also lets us see how Nicolas helps her cope and begin to move beyond it (after his being an *ss to begin with). While I understand the dismay of another poster about the lack of a solid ending, for me the whole story opens up so many new possiblities in this series that I just can't reduce my rating over it. My only dismay is that we're getting just one book a year! Dark Curse offers both classic Dark as well as a whole new horizon for the series. I'm excited about where CF is taking the series. Great "re-boot"!

Different but wonderful

I'm going to be completely honest, I was a little taken back after I finished this book. It certainly takes us on a different track than the one we have been on with the Carpathians and it has all the romance, conflict, and fights that we would expect. But it is also poignant and rough to read at certain points. In the end, we are given a happy ending but with a twist I hadn't expected. I highly recommend it but it is not the Carpathian novel that its predecessors were. I think its probably the beginning of a new arc in the story and I can't wait for more.

One of the better "Dark" novels

After last year's Dark Possession, I was leery about reading Dark Curse. Perhaps not the best of the "Dark" novels, Dark Curse is definitely one of the contenders for that distinction. Yes, we have the Alpha male and the strong female totally at odds. He is determined to claim her, she is equally determined to flee. Her desperate attempt was heart-wrenching for the reader and eye opening for Nicolas. Feehan artfully includes lifemates from previous novels as she relates the story of the Carpathian's fight for their survival. We learn more about the Dragonseekers (first introduced in Dark Demon) and the role they play. Although there are the requisite fights with vampires, this story masterfully deals with the deeper evil facing the Carpathians. I cried through much of the book, and so now begins the long wait for the next installment in this series. Thank you, Christine Feehan!