Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-guard"
The New Guard – Unsworn Ancient Warriors
In a monastery high in the Carpathian Mountains is a brotherhood of warriors. All they have left is their honor and each other. Unlike many others of their kind who were sent out in the world by their Prince in order to find their lifemates and protect the human race from vampires, they came here to learn how to protect the human race, from themselves. Time would take from them their ability to see in color, and once the pull of the darkness ended, leaving them without emotion, they’d become too dangerous to be among even their own kind, so they sought the monastery.
These ancient warriors had once sworn fealty to Prince Vlad and felt that Prince had betrayed them. So when a new Prince came they were not quick to swear an allegiance to him. It was the same family. Same blood. The same line that had betrayed the Carpathian people and lead them into the darkest time in their history. There was no reason for them to come out of their self-imprisonment and join the new Prince.
Vlad had known something horrible was coming. He had known his people were about to enter a war. Instead of looking to the protection of his people, Vlad hid a terrible secret and looked only to his own self needs. Vlad’s lifemate, Sarantha had hoped to find a cure for their son’s madness. Draven Dubrinsky was slowly going mad. Draven was dangerous and had he been the son of any other Carpathian, Vladimir would have had him killed to ensure the safety of others. But, Sarantha had held out hope her son could be saved and Vlad hadn’t the heart, or the strength to do what should have been done. Their daughter Noelle also suffered from madness. The Dubrinsky family, for as powerful as they were, seemed cursed. Madness and weakness had, in the eyes of the Ancients, infected the Dubrinsky line and the Prince couldn’t be trusted to do what was best for his people. The Prince’s son and the feelings and desires of the Prince’s lifemate was more important than the Prince’s people. And in that Prince Vlad failed his entire race.
Now the Ancients are the New Guard and they’ve left the monastery in search of the promise of lifemates in various parts of the world. They have lived together for so long it was natural for them to band together and remain close. When they find themselves needed by Tariq in San Diego, California they arrive to find an enemy too dangerous to ignore and their honor demands they remain to protect both humans and Carpathians alike.
Will this New Guard ever swear allegiance to Mikhail Dubrinsky? It’s hard to say, but they do stay and fight with Tariq who has pledged his fealty to Mikhail. They’ve not shown any outward disobedience to the Prince, but what happens if Mikhail demands something of them? There are a lot of questions about this New Guard, but in the end there’s no doubt that these warriors are a shield of protection against this new threat and each one an integral part of the future of the Carpathian race.
Dark Legacy
These ancient warriors had once sworn fealty to Prince Vlad and felt that Prince had betrayed them. So when a new Prince came they were not quick to swear an allegiance to him. It was the same family. Same blood. The same line that had betrayed the Carpathian people and lead them into the darkest time in their history. There was no reason for them to come out of their self-imprisonment and join the new Prince.
Vlad had known something horrible was coming. He had known his people were about to enter a war. Instead of looking to the protection of his people, Vlad hid a terrible secret and looked only to his own self needs. Vlad’s lifemate, Sarantha had hoped to find a cure for their son’s madness. Draven Dubrinsky was slowly going mad. Draven was dangerous and had he been the son of any other Carpathian, Vladimir would have had him killed to ensure the safety of others. But, Sarantha had held out hope her son could be saved and Vlad hadn’t the heart, or the strength to do what should have been done. Their daughter Noelle also suffered from madness. The Dubrinsky family, for as powerful as they were, seemed cursed. Madness and weakness had, in the eyes of the Ancients, infected the Dubrinsky line and the Prince couldn’t be trusted to do what was best for his people. The Prince’s son and the feelings and desires of the Prince’s lifemate was more important than the Prince’s people. And in that Prince Vlad failed his entire race.
Now the Ancients are the New Guard and they’ve left the monastery in search of the promise of lifemates in various parts of the world. They have lived together for so long it was natural for them to band together and remain close. When they find themselves needed by Tariq in San Diego, California they arrive to find an enemy too dangerous to ignore and their honor demands they remain to protect both humans and Carpathians alike.
Will this New Guard ever swear allegiance to Mikhail Dubrinsky? It’s hard to say, but they do stay and fight with Tariq who has pledged his fealty to Mikhail. They’ve not shown any outward disobedience to the Prince, but what happens if Mikhail demands something of them? There are a lot of questions about this New Guard, but in the end there’s no doubt that these warriors are a shield of protection against this new threat and each one an integral part of the future of the Carpathian race.
Dark Legacy
There's Something About Gary
Some of this blog has spoilers in it and I’ve tried to identify for you which books the blog may have spoilers for. So you’ve been forewarned! Read at your own risk!
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
Catching Up with News and Interviews
I thought I'd do a round-up of news to make sure you didn't miss anything fun!
RT Book Reviews – “Unbosoming” interview
The link text
Unbound Worlds – featured in “Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books of September 2017”
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Reading in Pajamas – excerpt
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Night Owl Romance – excerpt
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Book Binge – Sunday Spotlight exclusive excerpt
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PopSugar – included in “Must Read September” column
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USA Today/HEA – quoted in feature on authors’ favorite fall treats
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Buried Under Romance – review, excerpt & giveawayThe link text
I Smell Sheep – exclusive excerpt & review
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The Reading Café – review & excerpt
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Ever After Book Reviews – review
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Tome Tender – review
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Grave Tells – guest post on world building and expanding the mythology of an established series
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The Lifemate Mythology Blog -
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The New Guard Blog-
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There’s Something About Gary-
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What Has Happened to Aiden Savage?
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Sympathy for the Devil- Carpathian Villains-
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USA Today HEA Sharing Childhood Games-
The link text
BookBub Best Books of Summer 2017-
The link text
I'd love to know which of the articles you enjoyed most!
RT Book Reviews – “Unbosoming” interview
The link text
Unbound Worlds – featured in “Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books of September 2017”
The link text
Reading in Pajamas – excerpt
The link text
Night Owl Romance – excerpt
The link text
Book Binge – Sunday Spotlight exclusive excerpt
The link text
PopSugar – included in “Must Read September” column
The link text
USA Today/HEA – quoted in feature on authors’ favorite fall treats
The link text
Buried Under Romance – review, excerpt & giveawayThe link text
I Smell Sheep – exclusive excerpt & review
The link text
The Reading Café – review & excerpt
The link text
Ever After Book Reviews – review
The link text
Tome Tender – review
The link text
Grave Tells – guest post on world building and expanding the mythology of an established series
The link text
The Lifemate Mythology Blog -
The link text
The New Guard Blog-
The link text
There’s Something About Gary-
The link text
What Has Happened to Aiden Savage?
The link text
Sympathy for the Devil- Carpathian Villains-
The link text
USA Today HEA Sharing Childhood Games-
The link text
BookBub Best Books of Summer 2017-
The link text
I'd love to know which of the articles you enjoyed most!
The Last Hope for The Ancients
High up in the Carpathian Mountains is a monastery hidden away called the Retreat in the Veil of Mists. Until recently, this monastery was the last refuge for those ancient Carpathian warriors who hoped to keep humanity safe by locking themselves away and working to keep the darkness at bay.
These warriors are men of honor, suffering and in despair. They didn’t feel suicide was right and so they sought the company of others like themselves, looking for both sanctuary and camaraderie. Though, without the hope of ever finding a lifemate it was a lonely existence.
But, the outside world slipped in, in Dark Ghost, when Fane introduces himself as keeper of the monastery to Teagan and offers his assistance as well as the assistance of the warriors within the monastery. We learn much more about the monastery and its inhabitants in Dark Promises when Gabrielle follows Gary and finds, in a very horrible way, that Aleksei, one of the monk warriors, is her lifemate. Aleksei brings Gabrielle inside the monastery as he determines her fate, and his own. It is here in Dark Promises that two modern women are found to be lifemates; Gabrielle and Aleksei and then Trixie and Fane. The ancients can see for themselves that there’s hope out in the world now that they know psychic women can be lifemates.
With the ancients now aware that human women can be lifemates many of them join Tariq Asenguard in Southern California where he has set up a compound and monitors vampire activity, something that soon becomes an all-out war. More ancients join as the battle continues and we find in Dark Carousel that Tarqi has been chosen by Mikhail, the Prince, to represent him in the United States.
In Dark Legacy we discover that the vampires have a plan and are strategically working toward carrying out that plan, which includes killing Tariq and everyone who is helping him. Dark Legacy has a lot of action as the battle begins to spread and a huge twist leaves the danger growing more than the Carpathians realize. Dark Legacy also has some surprises that readers will be excited about and this revelation will reverberate throughout the next several books.
Dark Sentinel brings the New Guard together in a new way. And, we’re re-introduced to the human society of vampire hunters that have joined in the fray. Andor, one of the ancient warriors, is attacked on several fronts leaving him to die, which he is ready for. In order to save him it will take his lifemate and the New Guard of ancient warriors to ban together along with Gary Daratrazanoff, a great and powerful healer. But, they have to completely trust in each other, because there’s only one way to save Andor, and it’s never been tried before. If something goes wrong, some, or all even all of them, could die.
These ancients have suffered a long time and finally have a shot at finding a lifemate. They have hope for the first time in centuries. They just have to hold out a little longer. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Chapter 1 of Dark Legacy
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My Official Website
These warriors are men of honor, suffering and in despair. They didn’t feel suicide was right and so they sought the company of others like themselves, looking for both sanctuary and camaraderie. Though, without the hope of ever finding a lifemate it was a lonely existence.
But, the outside world slipped in, in Dark Ghost, when Fane introduces himself as keeper of the monastery to Teagan and offers his assistance as well as the assistance of the warriors within the monastery. We learn much more about the monastery and its inhabitants in Dark Promises when Gabrielle follows Gary and finds, in a very horrible way, that Aleksei, one of the monk warriors, is her lifemate. Aleksei brings Gabrielle inside the monastery as he determines her fate, and his own. It is here in Dark Promises that two modern women are found to be lifemates; Gabrielle and Aleksei and then Trixie and Fane. The ancients can see for themselves that there’s hope out in the world now that they know psychic women can be lifemates.
With the ancients now aware that human women can be lifemates many of them join Tariq Asenguard in Southern California where he has set up a compound and monitors vampire activity, something that soon becomes an all-out war. More ancients join as the battle continues and we find in Dark Carousel that Tarqi has been chosen by Mikhail, the Prince, to represent him in the United States.
In Dark Legacy we discover that the vampires have a plan and are strategically working toward carrying out that plan, which includes killing Tariq and everyone who is helping him. Dark Legacy has a lot of action as the battle begins to spread and a huge twist leaves the danger growing more than the Carpathians realize. Dark Legacy also has some surprises that readers will be excited about and this revelation will reverberate throughout the next several books.
Dark Sentinel brings the New Guard together in a new way. And, we’re re-introduced to the human society of vampire hunters that have joined in the fray. Andor, one of the ancient warriors, is attacked on several fronts leaving him to die, which he is ready for. In order to save him it will take his lifemate and the New Guard of ancient warriors to ban together along with Gary Daratrazanoff, a great and powerful healer. But, they have to completely trust in each other, because there’s only one way to save Andor, and it’s never been tried before. If something goes wrong, some, or all even all of them, could die.
These ancients have suffered a long time and finally have a shot at finding a lifemate. They have hope for the first time in centuries. They just have to hold out a little longer. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Chapter 1 of Dark Legacy
My Official Website
