*UPDATED* Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

Ok, this is my first attempt at an objective book review. I will admit it’s going to be hard as I just love reading and I love books, but I will certainly give it a go.

Dark Prince is a novel written by the wonderful author (see? failing at objectivity already) Christine Feehan. Within this novel Ms Feehan successfully combines aspects of the real World with detailed fantasy and an intense passion. We are introduced to Prince Mikhail Dubrinsky immediately. His despair and belief in his abject failure in leading his people are almost palpable and as a result he has decided to ‘end it’ the next morning. Just as his determination becomes resolute a soft and inviting female voice enters his mind. He doesn’t quite know how to take it but he does feel desire stir within him and he can see colours for the first time in centuries…

What follows is a story filled with fantasy and adventure. Mikhail presents himself as a determined leader ready to do anything for his people but also a passionate, almost obsessive partner willing to do anything for his lifemate. Within this series a lifemate is born to each Carpathian that will restore colour and emotion to them and are the other half of their souls. There is only one lifemate for each Carpathian and if they do not find them they are doomed to an unhappy lifetime (which is substantial) or the male’s are doomed to give into the darkness in their souls and become vampire. Raven Whitney (the female voice entering his mind) is Mikhail’s lifemate and Ms Feehan combines her modern World with his old world outlook so well that along with the trials they encounter throughout the book they must overcome their obvious difficulties for their love to work.

The writing itself is detailed and wonderfully imaginative. The tempo of the book never lessens any. You are introduced to the characters directly, given the first trial they must face and they go on from there. It’s almost a rhythmic bounce to the writing itself, letting you get completely encompassed in the World that Ms Feehan creates. The tone of the book is wonderfully multifaceted as well. You begin wondering if you are reading a romance but soon discover that there are fantastical overtones and dark, dark mystery to the World they inhabit. You cannot help but just be overtaken by this novel it is so well written.

I cannot begin to describe the wonderful aspects of the story and how well you will get lost in it. The characters become almost real to you in that you must read all the way to the end just to find out what happens, you feel the need to and it ends in such a way that you know their story completely but must read the others book in the series because you HAVE to know the entire Carpathian World. Please read this as it will not disappoint you.

Now, painfully aware that I failed at objectivity, what do you think? Would you read the book? Is there anything I could have put into the review to make it better? Please don’t hesitate to let me know 🙂