Dark Prince (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 1)

Alina

** spoiler alert **
           Mikhail Dubrinsky is the leader of the Carpathians, an ancient ethnic group whose female population is rapidly shrinking. After helping catch a serial killer with her telepathic skills, Raven Whitney, a human, is vacationing in the Carpathian Mountains. Raven sensed Mikhail’s distress, and the two realize they share a connection. In Mikhail’s eyes, Raven represents hope for the Carpathians, as she may be the life mate he thought he’d never find.

Despite being aware of Christine Feehan's books, I wasn't impressed with the Dark Prince.. Narrative style was the first problem.I’ve had trouble understanding endless text on more than one occasion. Dark Prince is crammed full of emotional descriptions, and it repeats itself endlessly. It forced readers to sit through repetitive scenes in the emotional recount.. They used stock phrases every time. I started thinking the book would never end.

Mikhail’s treatment of Raven was another issue. The situation was infuriating. If he continued to infantilize her, I would accuse him of pedophilia. He calls her “little one,” as if she were a toddler. The sex scenes make her sound like a child, with her “soft whimpers,” “keening cries,” and “sobbing breath.” He sometimes speaks to her in a childish tone, and she fills his mind with childlike laughter. 

Raven objected to Mikhail's attempt to intimidate her. Although she's called smart, she doesn't see through Mikhail's seductive talk.

There was also the whole issue of the men lacking emotions. Though it’s an interesting twist, I don’t buy it. Without feelings, how can men feel loyalty or honor? Without emotional bonds, they would all be psychopathic loners.

Although I’m aware of how popular this series is, I don’t think it’s for me. Mikhail and Raven’s twisted relationship does not appeal to me, and I don’t want to read any more about it. It’s hard to imagine how any woman would find this sexy.

Lover of Romance 

First off I want to talk about the cover, I absolutely adore the older covers more than Feehans more modernized cover for Dark Prince. This cover show more sensuality and connection between Raven and Mikail. I have always chosen to listen to Dark Prince, since my local library has most of the Carpathian Series on Audio form, and I prefer it that way. It is read by Juanita Parker, which she has such a great way about her in that she portrays the emotions so well. The story literally comes alive for you as you listen to it. I strongly recommend listening to this in Audio form, you won't regret it.

It starts out with Mikael who has lived hundred of years, and is a Carpathian. Carpathians are very different than vampire although they have similarities, but the big difference is that Carpathians are good, and Vampires are evil and have no soul. Mikael is the prince of his people, who are a dying race, with not many Carpathian women around, and with only sons being born to the women they are literally going extinct. Once during the time of the Crusades, many of their people defended the humans that were being threatened but in doing so many of them were slaughtered, since they become weak during the day. Some of the Carpathians were able to flee and escape. Those included in the slaughterings were Mikael's parents, his father being the leader of his people. Mikael has always taken huge responsibilities on his shoulders. In present day, he is tired and exhausted and wants to seek the sun and end his existence. Without a life-mate, he fears the darkness within him with take over his soul and he will turn into a vampire. He refuses to let that happen. However, when he is feeling desolate, he hears a womanly voice in his head comforting him. He is amazed to find that it is a mortal woman, and he seeks her out. Raven has always had psychic abilities, she comes to the Carpathian Mountains to find peace, she has recently hunted three killers using her psychic ability. She feels drained and at a loss. She is in pain when another touches her physically, and she yearns for solitude and peace among the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. However, hearing Mikaels bleakness she calls out to him, offering aide, knowing she couldn't refuse doing so. Upon talking with Mikael she finds him arrogant and Alpha Male 100% all the way, but she can't refuse him. Upon seeing him, a connection surges between them and neither one of them can resist. Raven is Mikael's life-mate, he starts seeing colors, when for hundreds of years he has only seen in grey. He also starts feeling emotions again, which are clear signs in finding one's life-mate. A journey begins, with Mikael and Raven finding their way, making mistakes along the way, but finding true love and a sensual passion that neither one of them can control or deny.

The Carpathian series, is my up most favorite paranormal series of all time. It always has been since I have started reading from Christine Feehan. The first book I read from her was Dark Challenge, which is my favorite in the series. However, I really have fallen in love with Dark Prince, I have loved reading Mikael and Raven's story. I have fallen in love with both characters. Mikael is typical Alpha Male (Which I love) and he is the leader of his people, and at the beginning of the book is very arrogant and believes everything he says is law. However upon meeting Raven, he finds himself at odds, having met the one person who has no problems with arguing with him, much less a woman. No one ever argues with him, apart from his best friend Gregori who has been at his side since they were young. Raven has lived in solitude most of her life, except when she hunted the killers. But ever since she was little, she has been despised for her gift. Once she comes to the Carpathian Mountains, and meeting Mikael, who is the one person whose touch doesn't cause her pain but pleasure and the likes of which she has never known. It has truly been a pleasure to listen to Dark Prince I can never get bored with Feehan's books I could read her over and over again. I truly loved the characters, the plot and the witty come backs in the conversations, also there was some suspense and mystery has well toward the end, which definitely made it a astounding and enthralling read.

Kirsten Simkiss

I found this book to be simple and morally repulsive with unrealistic characters and chauvinistic attitudes. Sorry guys, I'm out. I rarely quit books because I don't like to give unfair reviews for not giving something a chance, but lord have mercy this book is bad. I made it to page 58 of my 314 page paperback and I really wish I hadn't even bothered to read that far. One star is generous. I had hoped since the series has 30 books in it that the initial one would be good. Boy oh boy was I ever wrong.

The characters are shallow and vapid. The main female character, Raven Whitney, tries to help a guy out when he was feeling low and depressed and he winds up mentally sexually assaulting her without any sort of consent. Mikhail, leader of the Carpathian clan of not-vampires who are still basically vampires, takes a shine to a woman who by all accounts, is a very successful woman. She's been using her psychic powers to catch serial killers and meets Mikhail while on a vacation in the Carpathian mountains. Mikhail then proceeds to stalk her and monitor her every thought in case there might be a man who's encroaching on his territory. As problematic as that is in theory, having him choke a guy nearly to death who just asks her to go for a walk is even more so. (The choking victim later proves to be a douche too and Mikhail chases him through the woods by essentially siccing a bear on him.)

It's totally okay to think the new American tourist in town is hot. It's not ever at all okay to behave like Mikhail does. I get he's way older than the average guy, but lord have mercy, you gotta get with the times. If you think this behavior toward any person is okay, you have a problem. And, despite her protests against the shitty behavior of who I assume comes to be her beloved, Raven never seems to see him as the pig he is and just gives into his every whim for the most part. 

If abusive and possessive male roles turn you on or if you enjoy the concept of men ignoring the word "no" when they're coming onto you, this book will be great for you. Otherwise, stay far, far, FAR away from it. This book is incredibly chauvinistic and I just don't understand the appeal.

Otherwise, I thought the writing technique was kind of boring. I saw other reviewers mention this as well, but Feehan repeats herself often. The words are simple and the scenes that are supposed to be romantically enticing fell flat for me. There was no chemistry for me. The author keeps saying, "She felt this and that! He felt this way!" But based on their combined interactions, it didn't make a damn lick of sense that she would be turned on by Mikhail at all. I hope the mystery of who beheaded the Carpathian lady is more compelling than the romance, because I feel that would be the only thing to even partially save this book. Even then, I don't think a good mystery could fix how I feel about this book.

Kelsi Proulx

I really enjoyed this book. The concept was very cool. In this world male vampires lose touch with their emotions and lose the ability to see any color in the world, hence the "Dark" series. However, once they meet their true love, the one they are meant to be with, they are saved and become human again. If they don't meet that person, they turn and become the evil vampires of legend. I could sense a real Dracula influence in the story which I liked, despite the fact that I absolutely hated Dracula when I read it!

The relationship between Mikhail and Raven was deep and developed well. I appreciate that despite Mikhail being a true old-world male vampire who believes that he should be able to control Raven completely, she still manages to keep hold of herself and convince him that she has a right to think for herself. They are complete opposites but they balance each other perfectly. I usually don't like alpha males too much but when they are met with a strong female that brings them down to earth a bit I don't mind so much.

Looking forward to the next one!

Samantha Emery

★Book Basics★ 


  Genre
: - Paranormal Romance

  Series
: - Book 1 of The Dark Series about the Carpathian Race.

  Writing
 - Third Person Dual POV 

  Main Characters
: Raven Whitney, American psychic who in the past has used her talents to track down serial killers at great cost to herself. On holiday in the Carpathian Mountains to recover after tracking a particularly depraved mind.
Mikhail Dubrinksy, Prince of the Carpathians, a species of immortals, who need blood to survive and cannot be out in Sunlight. Centuries old, and no longer feels emotion or sees in colour, as is normal for Carpathian Males after so many centuries of living. They need to find their one true lifemate to fight back the darkness.

  Love triangle?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  Cheating?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  HEA?
 - (view spoiler)[Yes! (hide spoiler)]

  Would I read more by this author?
 - Yes and have done so.

★Review★

I read this book years ago, it is worth it to remember this was first published in 1999. I think it is certainly one of the first of this genre to be published, before many many "vampire" romances came out in the last decade! 

At the time, it was hugely original.

The Carpathian race is a dying race, the Men need to find their lifemates, to save them from the darkness in their souls. After centuries, they no longer feel emotion, see in colour and the lure to "turn" feel at least something in the rush of power from a kill can prove too much for some, and they become the true Vampire of legend.

Mikhail Dubrinsky is the Prince of his people, centuries old, and burdened with what he sees as his failure to those people! More and more males turn, and with only one female having been born to them in the last 500 years, and births being rare and only boys when they are successful, he is full of despair and at the beginning has lost all hope.

Raven Whitney, shocks him, by connecting with him on a psychic level, and as a human, to bring him comfort in his hour of despair. He is intrigued and goes to her, and is shocked to find he can see in colour and is battered by emotions he had no idea he could feel.


  "Shocked at the erotic twist his thoughts began to pursue, Mikhail imposed rigid discipline...He was shocked to find he was a possessive man, deadly in his rages and protective beyond measure..This kind of passion could not be shared with a human...better to keep his distance and satisfy his curiosity on an intellectual level"
 

But, he is unable to resist the lure of her and finds himself unable and unwilling to let her go.

They find themselves battling vampire hunters and a master vampire while trying to get to know each other and deal with the unbreakable bond and connection they are feeling.

The chemistry between the two is sizzling and Raven sees Mikhail for something better and more than he sees himself, while not willing to completely give away everything she is.

Mikhail is at times overbearing, almost unbearably so, yet, I find myself able to overlook this, as this is a man, who is centuries old, and dealing with all new emotions and a possessive love so powerful he can and does take over protective to the extreme! Would I accept this if reading a book about Mike the Dentist, no, but this is a paranormal romance, and for myself I can go with it in a way I would not a contemporary book about a truly modern couple!

I believe this was the first book Christine Feehan wrote, and I have re read the series many times.

Reading it this time, and having started writing reviews, I feel I read it with a more critical eye.

Raven and her history could have more page time given to it, and maybe a bit more of their relationship after all the drama, just a hint to see how they settle and truly begin a life together could have added something more.

But, as the first book in the series(which imo gets better with each book) and an introduction to characters that are very intriguing, Jacques and ofc Gregori, it is a brilliant start to a series.

Not much world building in the first book imo, but as each books goes on, the author pulls in more characters and adds more history and the world building continues as the series goes on. 

The very first paranormal series I ever read, and I still love it now.

lilreaderSakura

okay I can both understand why people have given this both 1 and 5 stars , I really don't know why our main man could frankly just listen to his woman and relent for just a few moments to listen to her. granted he sometimes did listen but his overbearing attitude was irksome. I gave the book 3 for a overall interesting plot ,and the different twist to the vampire story ,am sure since this was such a early book that things have changed or that the other book will hold better

Dark Prince (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 1)

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