Dark Challenge (Dark, #5) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Apr 12, 2009 Netanella rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-christine-feehan, vampires, paranormal-romance, 2015-dangerous-heroes, 2015-may-reading-challenge

First paragraph: Julian Savage hesitated outside the door to the crowded bar. He had come to this city for one last errand before he would choose a Carpathian's eternal rest. Almost an ancient of his race, he was weary of the centuries of living in a stark, gray world void of the intense colors and emotions known to the younger males of his kind, or to those who had found a lifemate. Still, he had one last goal to accomplish, one more thing asked of him by his Prince, and then he could meet the First paragraph: Julian Savage hesitated outside the door to the crowded bar. He had come to this city for one last errand before he would choose a Carpathian's eternal rest. Almost an ancient of his race, he was weary of the centuries of living in a stark, gray world void of the intense colors and emotions known to the younger males of his kind, or to those who had found a lifemate. Still, he had one last goal to accomplish, one more thing asked of him by his Prince, and then he could meet the life-destroying dawn with an easy mind. It wasn't that he was on the verge of losing his soul, of turning vampire; he could hold out longer should he choose. It was the bleakness of his life, stretching an eternity before him, that had dictated his decision.

3 1/2 stars, and I'm not rounding up on this one.

"Dark Challenge" continues the tale of the Carpathians, an ancient race who must find their lifemate or forever be forced to live in an emotion-less, colorless world that necessitates a choice between suicide by sunlight or turning into an evil vampire. In this one, Julian Savage is our typical arrogant alpha Carpathian male. He's a twin, but twisted by an encounter with a vampire as a youth, he's chosen to stay apart from his brother and his family, hunting alone. Our light to this darkness is Desari, or Dara, a singer of unique talent and beauty who's been living with her family of mysterious Carpathians in America for many years, undetected. Thankfully, Desari does not suffer so much the Feehan-isms of the earlier books in this series. She is, in short, sufferable. Bearable, even. I kinda, sorta liked her. And that's saying a lot.

What I didn't like is the set up. Not sure how this band of lost Carpathians could go so long undetected in the States. Not sure about their travelling around on a rickety, broken down tour bus, with two leopards as companions. Where are the roadies? Where are the groupies? Where is animal control?

I liked the introduction of Darius, the brother. So, of course, now I must read further... ...more

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Feb 02, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was ok

Nothing happened! -or at least next to nothing, for the enter 300 and something pages. There were 4 scenes with action where the story actually moved foward - each were at most 3 pages long. The rest of the book was filled with either Desari or Julian admiring each others beauty, or discussing the need for relationships to be partnerships, or repetitive history lessons about the Carpathian male curse.
And really, Desari and Darius are Gregori's long thought dead siblings and there is no effort ma ...more

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