Dark Promises
Dark Series, Book #29
By Christine Feehan
ISBN: 9780425277355
Author Website: http://www.christinefeehan.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
SPOILERS!
Synopsis:
Gabrielle has had enough of battles, of wars, of seeing Gary Jansen, the man she loves nearly lose his life when it isn’t even his fight. Once he was a gentle and very human researcher. Now he’s a fearless and lethal Carpathian warrior with the blood of an ancient lineage coursing through his veins—a man Gabrielle still needs and desires and dreams of with every breath she takes. All she wants is a life far away from the Carpathian Mountains, far from vampires and the shadows cast by the crumbling monastery that hides so many terrible secrets. But Gabrielle soon learns that promises made in the dark can pierce the heart like a dagger.
And she isn’t the only one in search of answers in the corners of the unknown…
Trixie Joanes has come to the Carpathian Mountains in search of her wayward granddaughter, fearing that she has been lured there by something unspeakable. Instead, Trixie has stumbled into the path of a desperate man and a woman in love and on the run. And they’re all fated for the lair of a mysterious ancient with revenge in his soul and the undying power to make bad dreams come true.
Review:
I’ve been waiting for Gary and Gabrielle’s story for so long!… Yet, I’ll have to wait for Gary’s a little bit more. Dark Promises has two main characters that have been there, throughout the Carpathian books, to which author Christine Feehan has been building up their back stories all this time. Gary has been helping the Carpathians ever since he met Gregori and has become like another member of the family. Gabrielle, not only lost her human life by trying to help a Carpathian, she has also been a great asset to finding a solution to the microorganisms destroying their race.
Both characters have become favorites within the fans. So much that we’ve been waiting years to finally find out if they are truly destined to be together… unfortunately it was not the case in this book.
The story starts off with Joie helping Gabrielle get ready for her wedding night. Gary arrives on a horse to take her away to this beautiful place he has prepared. But once he starts reciting the binding words, he loses all emotion and color, realizing that they are not meant to be. They are both devastated and Gabrielle blames the Carpathians for taking away her humanity and the love of her life, Gary.
Gary is sent to the monastery, followed by Gabrielle. There an ancient is woken up revealing himself to be Gabrielle’s lifemate. This is where Gabrielle’s pain towards her shattered dreams with Gary start a conflict on finding herself, what love is, and her new relationship with her lifemate. She was torn apart that everything she knew and had was taken from her, and felt that no one understood her. She felt as if she didn’t have a proper guide that could help her grow as a Carpathian.
On the other hand, Gary’s pain for losing his emotions and colors so fast, and Gabrielle not being his lifemate, is taken very calm and mature from his part. That is something I really liked because he didn’t go all maniac, like some of the turned vampires, and understood what was happening. Handled it like a true Daratrazanoff. There is still hope for Gary, and hopefully fans will get to read his story soon. There are still many mysteries regarding Gary’s past that need to be told.
This book catches the attention of readers instantly. It’s like a mystery to be solved, “who is whose lifemate?” and specially the other couple that we get to know about, which is found in a special situation. This is another aspect of the book that I liked, how Feehan can write about true love no matter the age!
All in all, an amazing book to the series to start off the year: old and new characters, hot scenes, fight scenes, and more mysteries. I can’t wait for Gary’s story and we have more coming this year with Dark Carousel.
