Book Review: Dark Nights by Christine Feehan

Title: Dark Nights
Series: Dark, #7 and #11
Author: Christine Feehan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: Edelweiss
Published: October 30, 2012 by Avon

DARK DREAM
Book #7 in Dark Series
Previously in After Twilight & Dark Dreamers

She’s known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon—the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate..

DARK DESCENT
Book #11 in Dark Series
Previously in The Only One

In this version of Dark Descent there is an additional hundred pages. I rewrote it from the original version as I felt it was too short. I do not plan on doing this for the other re-prints, but I hope you enjoy the newest version of Dark Descent.

In a cave of mystery and wonder deep in the Carpathian Mountains , bodyguard Joie Sanders encounters a most remarkable being. Proud, strong, immortal, he is called Traian - an ageless hunter, locked in a life and death battle with enemy vampires - and he will be her salvation in a labyrinth protected by the ingenious traps of a mysterious ancient race. What awaits them in the darkness is not known, and each step could be their last - as their destined path leads them toward a fiery passion that will illuminate the perilous dark night.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Tirade-inducing! This is the “Author’s Cut Special Edition” of a previously released novella, Dark Descent and includes another previously release story, Dark Dream. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is new material; it’s not.

The Set Up: Author “revisits and expands” the story of Josie, a bodyguard for the rich and avid spelunker who awakens the ageless Carpathian, Traian. The other story is also a rerelease about Sara who has dreamed of the Carpathian male, Falcon since she was a teenager when she found his diary.

Why I Read this Book: Because I’m a fool. Feehan’s Carpathian series was one of the first paranormal series I read when I jumped from historical romance. No matter how formulaic the romances are, I still read them and have a mindless enjoyment of them.

What I Liked: The second story here, Dark Dream, is my favorite Carpathian story but I’d read it before. In fact, I think the formula for these romances work best in novella format so there isn’t so much of the perpetual tension of the woman resisting the mating before capitulation. I like that Sara in this story is a strong woman who accepts her love for Falcon. And Falcon is the least chest-thumping He-Man of the series (other than the gravely injured Jacques whom I also really like). In fact, this romance is the most concise of the series and likely why this is my favorite of the entire series.

What I Didn’t Like: This is the second time Feehan has released an Author’s Cut of a previously released story (with book one being the first rerelease.) I think this is a cheap ploy to get readers to cough up money for new content when it’s not really new. Thankfully, the fact that this is a rerelease is made clear on the cover of this book but I suspect it’ll fool some readers anyway. Josie and Tarain’s romance was never my favorite since I didn’t connect with either lead when I first read their story and that held true here as well. In fact, I couldn’t even really tell what was added to the story, other than some fight scenes. The romance wasn’t expanded in my opinion so this isn’t anything readers should worry about missing.

IMO: The bonus story is a good one if readers haven’t read Dark Dream before but otherwise, this Author’s Cut Dark Nights is a waste of money and time.

J9’s Rating: