#BookReview – “Dark Peril” by Christine Feehan

Blurb

There’s only one way for Dominic—one of the most powerful of the Carpathian Dragonseekers—to learn the secrets of the enemy: ingest their parasitic vampire blood, infiltrate the camp, and relay the information to the Carpathians before he goes out fighting. There is no more honorable way to end his life.

Solange is among the last of the dying species of the jaguar people—fighting to save the remaining shapeshifters from the hands of her own father, a monster who slaughtered everyone she loved. Wounded and weary, she plans one last battle, hoping to stop the man who has aligned with the vampires, and accepting her deathly fate.

Now, two warriors from different worlds will find each other at the end of their time, and discover a new reason to battle to the death—and against all odds, make it out alive.

Review

 

In the eighteenth book of the Dark/Carpathian series, Solange Sangria is fighting a war against her own people. For years, the Jaguar men have been kidnapping, raping, and killing the women, and Solange’s own father, Brodrick the Terrible, is leading the charge. She’s lost her mother, aunt, brothers, and several friends. Only her cousins Juliette and Jasmine remain, and Jasmine isn’t the same woman she once was after her rape. Anyway, as a royal pureblooded Jaguar, it’s her duty to protect the women and end the male terror. Planning one last battle, she intends to kill her father and likely die along with him.

Dominic Dragonseeker ingested parasitic vampire blood in the last novel and infiltrates the South American vampire camp. The vampires there believe the strong Carpathian warrior is slowly turning into a vampire, which he is, and they want him fully on their side. Instead, Dominic plans to steal information regarding psychic human females from them and send it to the prince. Then he plans to end his life. After all, he’s a Dragonseeker, and no one in his prestigious line has ever given up his soul and turned into a vampire.

I liked Dominic and Solange in the previous books, but I just couldn’t connect with them in this one. Dominic was very patient with Solange and didn’t bind her to him without her approval—which was great—but there wasn’t much strife or animosity between them. Little drama. They got along too well, which didn’t make since she supposedly has a hard time trusting men. Even though he found her beautiful, he didn’t understand why she was ashamed of her scars and that she didn’t feel comfortable being naked in front of him. Of course, that didn’t stop him from undressing her, watching her bathe, or telling her to wear sexy dresses. In order to please him, she did as he wanted and felt beautiful because he approved of her actions. Though I appreciate him trying to help her embrace her femininity, he did so too quickly in their relationship. Dominic’s attempts to change her and Solange allowing it to happen didn’t befit their characters and seemed at odds with his approval of her as a warrior.

Besides that, I enjoyed the fights with the vampires and Jagaur men. Those parts of the story were interesting. I also loved the scenes with Zacarias and the introduction of Marguarita. Like with Manolito and MaryAnn from Dark Possession, Solange isn’t the only one doing the converting. Dominic becomes part Jagaur and can miraculously walk in the sun. That was awesome.

Though I liked the overall plot, the story is slow with lots of description and flowery prose. I love the ritualistic lifemate bonding words (it’s so romantic), but in the newer books these words are spread out over several paragraphs with descriptions and thoughts mixed in. It’s difficult to read.

3 Stars