Men of the Monastery: Dark Promises

High up in the Carpathian Mountains sits a monastery that is both sanctuary and self-imposed prison to ancient Carpathian warriors. These men know they are dangerous. They hope to keep others safe and prolong their existence by remaining within the walls of the monastery and keeping their darkness at bay. They are men, not of humanity, but of honor; not of this world, but of one long gone. The ways of the world are not known to them. Their savageness, needed to protect the world from evil vampires, is now their downfall. Who could love them, even if a lifemate was found? Who could overcome their savage nature, understand their break from humanity, accept their darkness enough to bring them into the light?

I created the monastery and the Carpathian warriors in it because I thought it would offer a unique hero, or heroes, to the Carpathian world. These are men who never served the new Prince. We don't know how old they are and how they felt about Mikhail's father. All we know is that they served as warriors who fought evil and kept us safe. They gave of themselves knowing it could kill them. Knowing they could be sacrificing their chance at finding a lifemate. And to ensure they remain honorable now that they have slipped into such darkness they are nearly savage, they shut themselves away to protect those around them.

I know there will be some people who will not care for the monastery Carpathians. They are too savage, too primal and lack even empathy. They feel nothing. They go entirely on instinct and what they remember of feelings. And therein lies the opportunity for me to create amazing heroines. The women who become lifemates to these men will have to have great courage and selflessness. They will need to be strong in ways they never imagined.

Dark Promises gives us a look at some of these men. We get a chance to look within the walls of the monastery. We have an opportunity to see the struggles of these men and just how far outside humanity they have come.

Who will save these men? Who would care for such savage warriors? Who would give of themselves to bring them back from the darkness. And if they cannot be saved, what should be done with them? It's these questions that I think make the monastery and its inmates so intriguing.

Dark Promises
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Published on March 14, 2016 10:54 Tags: carpathian-series, carpathians, christine-feehan, dark-promises, dark-series, monastery
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message 101: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I'm reading alot of her old stories right now at this moment plus I'm reading another author, can you believe that!!!


message 102: by Janice (new)

Janice I wish that Jasmine could be Luiz's lifemate, and Ginny could be Joseph's. Being human, I could easily identify with Ginny, as... like her, I'd be scared to death if Zacarias had been my uncle. But in that "dropped scene" that's still one of my favorite to read --I thought Ginny showed a certain amount of spirit, when she came very close to stabbing Zacarias...the tiger, with that marshmallow stick. I don't think...I would.


message 103: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I need to ask you a question, who is Joseph??? I have another question, have you'll figured out where Trixie Joanes lives with her granddaughters at. The story is very intriguing!!!


message 104: by Janice (new)

Janice Misspelling, as I meant the Carpathian Josef that did the comical "Vampire Rap" that drove Mikhail, and his own family "crazy'. As far as Trixie and her granddaughter, I guess they're heading for California. Good thing, not Charlotte, nc.


message 105: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I liked the "vampire rap song" I thought it was beautiful!!!
But what really brought tears to my eyes was the way all 3 of them helped rescue Dimitri, that was so touching the way they'd rescued him, they'll always be heroes in my book!!!


message 106: by Janice (new)

Janice I agree, but ... poor Skyler --and Dimitri, of course-- really had it hard.


message 107: by Christine (new)

Christine LOL So glad you liked the vampire rap song.
I love Josef and eventually he will get his own book.


message 108: by Janice (new)

Janice That's great news! I love Josef's fun sense of humor, and I think Ginny would be perfect for him, yet...I doubt Zacarais would approve.


message 109: by Becky (new)

Becky Layman I'm looking forward to this new book and the characters' stories
it will lead to.


message 110: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I'm looking forward to the newest books as well Christine Feehan, can't wait to see what you turn out next. I'm sure Josef will be very,very funny and very,very exciting to watch!!!!


message 111: by Janice (new)

Janice Josef is such a fun...mischievous character, that I think he would be a good lifemate for shy Ginny. Of course, living with Raphael De La Cruz... and having Zacarias De La Cruz for an uncle would make her more nervous and unsure I would think. At least Paul had strong male role models in his life.


message 112: by Janice (new)

Janice Sorry for another misspelling, as I know the name is Rafael, rather than Raphael.


message 113: by Janice (new)

Janice I keep wondering how Ginny might feel about her De La Cruz uncles, now. If she--still being human-- loves them, much less trusts them.


message 114: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I think Ginny would be a great lifemate for Josef because she has a gentle kind nature, but she would get fiery when she gets angry, she would make her voice heard!!!!


message 115: by Janice (new)

Janice I agree, though Ginny better not get too fiery with her Uncle Zacarias, or her other De La Cruz uncles. I wonder how she feels about living with her Uncle Rafael.


message 116: by Christine (new)

Christine I love all the matchmaking going on here! LOL Romantics at heart!


message 117: by Janice (new)

Janice Even thought I never have had a lifemate, and don't have a boyfriend, I think I do have a romantic view on life, and almost run from conflict.


message 118: by Tina (new)

Tina Laws I love your Carpathian series. In fact I read them voraciously whenever I can get them at my public library whether they are in "e" format or the old fashioned book. I even dowload the audio versions of the books so that when I am on my road trips I never leave home without them.


message 119: by Janice (new)

Janice I wish I could find all of Christine Feehan's series, and all of Lynsay Sand's Argeneau series in CD format. I would have been nice to have had Kerrelyn Sparks's Love at Stakes series in CD format, as well, but since the ...seemingly...last book in the Love at Stakes series was written in 2014, I guess that won't happen...oh well.


message 120: by Janice (new)

Janice Can hardly wait for Dark Carousel, though I guess I'd better re-read Dark Crimes, first.


message 121: by Janice (new)

Janice Starting Dark Crimes tonight, as I don't want to finish Shadow Rider...too fast.


message 122: by Christine (new)

Christine Janice wrote: "Can hardly wait for Dark Carousel, though I guess I'd better re-read Dark Crimes, first."

Did you get to see the book trailer? USA Today featured it the other day.


message 123: by Janice (new)

Janice Afraid I missed It, as I almost never read a newspaper. I'm glad to hear that Dark Carousel got such good coverage, as...to me...all of your novels deserve to be #1 on the bestsellers's lists.


message 124: by Janice (new)

Janice Just finished re-reading Dark Crimes. Hope to see Emeline, again.


message 125: by Janice (new)

Janice Just read that little sample of Dark Carousel...counting the days...


message 126: by Janice (new)

Janice Just bought Dark Carousel this morning. Already started...


message 127: by Janice (new)

Janice Love Dark Carousel, and would love to see Mikhail, Gregori, and even...Zacarias in America, in the sequel.


message 128: by Amanda (last edited Aug 20, 2016 11:52AM) (new)

Amanda Ritter-Martinez Christine love your books and have plowed through Dark Carosel like a woman on a mission. Have to ask as several of the girls obviously are sensitives can we expect more of them to actually be lifemate to the men from the monastery? I was caught up with Emeline she strikes me as a perfect lifemate for Gary as dark as he went so fast that tells me he would need someone just as strong like her. Am I getting ahead of myself here? She or Vi strike me as very much monastery men lifemates.


message 129: by Janice (new)

Janice I really hope that both Gary, and Luiz, can find the right lifemates very soon... Gary was such a gentle soul. Also, I hope that both Jubal, and Paul, become Carpathian...one day.Emeline could be a good lifemate for Gary, as...after all she's been thru, she needs a gentle mate.


message 130: by Bernadett (new)

Bernadett I agree along with Janice and Amanda, I believe Emeline would make a wonderful lifemate for Gary because she's been through so much already, she needs a gentle Soul like Gary, and Christine needs to find a lifemate fast for Gary, so he doesn't go to the Dark side as a Vampire, I think all of us here at Christine's fan-based wall would be really,really,really angry if Gary should become vampire and All He's been through would be for nothing, He deserves somebody like Emma, beautiful fragile, strong Emeline to see him through!!!!!! And she's gorgeous as well, He needs a beautiful strong dark lifemate like Emma; they would make a Sexy,HOT,HOT,HOT,HOT,HOT,HOT couple, they'll be guaranteed to make the pages Smokin Sexy,HOT,HOT,HOT,HOT On FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!


message 131: by Kim (new)

Kim I think Emeline is destined for someone else guys, if you remember back in Dark Promise, Gary was sent to Paris and in Dark Carousel Viv I think says she feels she needs to return to Paris as she left something important there. Sooooo she might be destined for Gary.


message 132: by Mary (new)

Mary I think Jubal is destined for Jasmine; and since they're both jaguars, neither of them need to be converted.
I think Emmeline would be perfect for Gary. He has done so much for The Carpathians, he deserves someone special like Emmeline.
Don't you all think Grace would be perfect for either Tomas, Lojos or Matias?


message 133: by Janice (new)

Janice I hope that Luiz gets Jasmine, But Gary and Emmeline might be a good match.


message 134: by Mary (new)

Mary Christine wrote: "LOL So glad you liked the vampire rap song.
I love Josef and eventually he will get his own book."

Yay! I love Josef! I'm happy to hear he will have his own story some day.


message 135: by Janice (new)

Janice I agree with Mary. Josef is such a fun, yet caring Carpathian male. I...might...want to meet him --in real life-- yet at 54, I'd be the one "robbing the cradle", and...maybe...not find him...too...scary...


message 136: by Janice (new)

Janice Kim might be right in her theory about Gary and Emmeline, and I hope that could work out.


message 137: by Millie (new)

Millie Really love the Carpathian series! Can't wait for the stories for the monastery Carpathians. Seeing a glimpse of Dragos,Siv and Nicu in the last book just made me want to read their stories right now!


message 138: by Janice (last edited Dec 06, 2016 04:26PM) (new)

Janice Same here. I'm very curious about them, especially Dragomir.


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