Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan

Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan

Standalone: Dark #5
Release: November 27, 2000
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Multiple POV: 3rd person
Heat: 3 out of 5
Length: 390 pages
Publisher: Avon Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback borrowed from my local library

WAS SHE MORE THAN HIS MATE?

Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, always alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect...

When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness... or save his soul?

Buy this book: Amazon US * Amazon CA * B & N * Kobo

My rating: ★★★1/2

Sensual and evocative, full of unique characters and magic, DARK CHALLENGE made for an entertaining read! Julian Savage was an ancient Carpathian who was at the end of his rope. Many males when they reached this point in their lives either chose to give into the darkness that dwelled within them, becoming a vampire, or they walked into the sun and welcomed death. Julian was ready to walk into the light. But when his friend tasks him with a mission, to protect an unknown woman from evil, he couldn't say no. So off he goes to do his duty, not knowing that his reason for living was within his grasp.

From finding color and experiencing emotion again, fighting the undead, protecting his newfound family, and learning not to be his loner self, Feehan put Julian's character through the wringer. With the help of his new love, Desari, he was introduced to a new way of thought and living. He had finally found his other half and she was no pushover. She was all about asserting her rights and being respected for her own brand of power and he had to get with the program. All of this made for some humorous scenes.

Aside from how repetitive this story could seem, I enjoyed it. It was sexy and gave me more of the Carpathian story I've come to love. I'm extremely interested in reading Darius's story. He's Desari's brother who is battling the darkness just as Julian was and I can't wait to see him find his light.

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads