Review: Dark Dream

Reviewed by Jen
 

"Dark Dream" is one of a handful of novellas in Christine Feehan's Carpathian series.  And this is one that fans shouldn't miss. This one short story sets up several arcs for future books.

As the story begins, we learn that long ago, Mikail's father sent out several warriors of the Carpathian race to journey around the world and fight the vampire threat. No one knew about these men or their mission. Falcon was one of those warriors. He's been alive for more than a millenium and never thought he would find a lifemate, so far from his people. He feels like he is unable to fight the growing darkness within him for much longer, so he decides to return to the Carpathian Mountains one last time to see his homeland before he takes his life.

Just before that happens, he meets Sara. And suddenly, his world is in color again. Sara is on the run from the vampire who killed her family 15 years ago. She has the psychic ability to touch objects and see their history. So when she found a journal Falcon wrote hundreds of years ago, she saw his face, his struggle and his loneliness. And she knew he was destined to be her love.  She's carried him in her heart for more than a decade, as she's worked to elude the vampire stalking her.  Once she comes face to face with Falcon, there is no doubt for either of them that their destinies are entwined.

In addition to learning about the ancient Carpathians like Falcon, we learn more about lycanthropes and the jaguar people. (Females of both species eventually come into play as potential lifemates.) And for the first time we hear about the wizards and the existence of an ancient book hidden in the caves. This is a huge story arc in later books... and it all started here.

I like Falcon more than most Carpathian males. He is much less overbearing and pushy than a lot of the other heroes in this series.  The words "dark dream" give "velvet" a run for its money, with both appearing six times in the 70 pages. (Christine Feehan finds a phrase she likes and sticks with it.) One of the better stories in the series. 4 stars.

Dark Dream

by Christine Feehan

First Published in After Twilight Anthology

Release Date: September 2001

Publisher: Love Spell