Customer Reviews

Dark Magic

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

I had the same feelings as Ketsia as I picked up this book. All of the previous books were so wonderful, but I had been waiting for Gregori's story and was really afraid Ms. Feehan would not be able to pull it off. Boy, was I wrong!

First things first - don't read this book if you are expecting a vampire tale a la Ann Rice or even Amanda Ashley - there are elements both of those types of stories in Feehan's books, but they really are their own genre. Vampire purists will not enjoy these stories, but if you like a book heavy on romance and intimacy, with a paranormal twist, you'll absolutely love Feehan. As purely escapist fiction, I rank the Dark series at the top of my list! Very much like J.D. Robb's Death series, these are characters who are larger than life and stories that will have you reading the books over and over.

I won't summarize the storyline, because the book reviews have already done it, and the overall plotline really isn't what makes these books anyway. The interplay between Gregori and Savannah is the focus, as each comes to terms with living in the other's world. Gregori rivals Robb's Rourke as male perfection - no woman (or reader) could resist either of them, and it's so moving to read of him finally discovering his emotions again; Savannah is one of Feehan's better heroines, feisty and strong, much like her mother Raven.

If you decide to read this series, it really does help to begin with the first book, Dark Prince, and work your way through them in order (Dark Gold was my least favorite, and pretty much could be skipped). It builds familiarity with the characters, and in each of the books you'll find glimpses of all the Carpathians that help flesh out the characters - when you do finally get to Gregori's story, it will be much sweeter for having met him in earlier books.

I'm already anxiously awaiting Julian's story in November (the first chapter hints that maybe his lifemate is someone very close to Gregori), and hope Feehan continues the series for a long time.

I am an absolute fanatic over that bad boy Gregori. I have BURNED for this book since April. DARK MAGIC is the fourth book in the Carpathian series written by top notch author, Christine Feehan. For nearly a thousand years Gregori, the relentless hunter of the undead and the most powerful of the Carpathians has struggled with the darkness. He is teetering on the brink of madness. The beast within him strong. He can wait no longer and seeks out his lifemate. Savannah Dubrinsky, daughter of the Prince of the Carpathians (Mikhail & Raven) is a world famous magician. More than anything she desires her own independence and does not want to be a lifemate to anyone. Especially to one as powerful and menacing as Gregori. She runs from him. From his dark sensuality and the intensity of her feelings for him. Years before, he came to claim her as his lifemate. Right away she notices how very different Gregori is from the other young men. He is much more powerful and very, very frightening. As his cold silver eyes glided over her, she feels an awakening within her body as if something wild within her longs for him. He speaks to her mind that she BELONGS to him and no one else. With a kiss that scourches her soul, her fate for all time is sealed. Savannah's life changes in that very instant. She fears not only the total control Gregori would have over her but also the intensity of her feelings. In desperation, she pleads with him to give her her freedom. Very reluctantly, he agrees giving her five years. But in the waiting there is much danger. Now the vow he has made to her is at an end and so is his control. He is very close to turning and is now unable to seek the dawn to kill himself. He knows how incredibly powerful he is. Knows that there is no one who could defeat him. Not Mikhail or even Aidan could hope to destroy him. He knows that if he should turn vampire, he would tear the world apart. Gregori can no longer trust himself and seizes Savannah. But it is too late. Having her presence near him sends him toppling over the edge. The struggle between man and beast is AWESOME and totally believable in one who has struggled with insurmountable darkness for endless centuries. Savannah merges her mind with his and "feels" the suffering he has endured for her. For the first time, she understands Gregori's plight. The five years of freedom he had given her had been so very horrible for him to endure. She is consumed with guilt for it is her fear and young age that have brought so powerful a man to such a pitiful, horrible state. She reaches out to him despite her fear, offering herself to him. That acceptance slowly allows the man to gain control over the beast. DARK MAGIC is brimming with dark emotions, incredible sensuality and violence. All of us who have read the very first book in the series knows that Gregori is a hard man. He has suffered more than any other Carpathian for he is called upon to dispense justice and all of that killing has taken its toll. His own people fear him and the immense power he possesses. Knowing this, he willingly isolates himself even though he is aching for acceptance. He believes his soul is forever lost and in a desperate bid for salvation, he tampers with nature. He agonizes over Savannah one day discovering how he had manipulated their chemistry many years before. Agonizes that there very well might be her "true" lifemate waiting for her. Agonizes that her heart will never be his! DARK MAGIC is definitely a KEEPER. Christine, girl, you did an OUTSTANDING job with my bad boy's story. THANK YOU! Carolyn

I must admit that it was with some apprehension that I purchased Dark Magic. Oh,I've enjoyed the three previous books, and consider myself both a fan of Christine Feehan and her Dark Saga, but having waited for Gregori's story for so long, I was afraid that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. I'm happy to report that my fears were unfounded. Dark Magic was all that I expected and more. Dark, Erotic, Funny, and touching, this story grabs and holds ones attention until the end.

After years of darkness, Gregori, legendary healer and hunter/killer for the Carpathian race finally claims his life mate. Believing that his years of killing, and his tampering with nature (In Dark Prince and Dark Desire, Gregori, through knowledge attained over the centuries, manipulates events to ensure that Raven gives birth to his life mate) have stained his soul and made him unworthy and incapable of attaining the love of the heroine, Gregori refuses to believe and trust in the gem he has been given. It is up to Savannah to prove him wrong. Strong and with the blood of the ancients (Prince Mikhail, the leader of the Carpathians is her father) running through her veins, Savannah is more than a match for Gregori. She challenges him, gives him fits, and teaches him to laugh and trust.

A must read for paranormal romance fans. Bravo Christine! So happy to hear that more stories of the Dark Saga are planned.The Carpathian addict that I have become is doing back flips as I type. :-)

Also, recommend Dark Prince, Dark Desire and Dark Gold.

This is what was going through my mind as I opened the book: While I waited for this 4th book ( I read Feehan's first 3 books months ago) I had worried that I may have anticipated the wait too much and now the book would never meet my forever increasing expectations. Expectations which seemed to heighten the longer I waited. At this point, I felt bad for the book since unless it was going to be the perfect book, it would surely disappoint me. I also worried about the heroine. I've know Gregori through the first 3 books and knew this hero would need a strong heroine (i.e.: non-whiny). Nothing ruins a good book like an ill-matched couple. You know the kind. You'll be reading a book w/disbelief that the hero can be attracted to such a helpless, whiny, always breaking out in tears kind of annoying female. On top of that, the day I got the book, I wasn't in the mood to read another bloody vampire novel. I'd just gotten through reading a mediocre vampire/wolf book (not Feehan obviously) and was in the mood for a different genre. (or so I thought)

Sigh, all my worries were for naught. She did not disappoint. And that's as understating it as if I had said Gregori could do a few slight of hand tricks. Feehan surpassed all my "hard-to-live-up-to" expectations and erased all the useless worries from my mind as easily as Gregori could to any mortal.

Savannah is a perfect match for Gregori. The discovery of how good a match they are is revealed in a timely manner to both Gregori and the reader. Her strengths aren't just her determined spirit and nature but best of all, her sense of humor. This book instills at the right times, a sense of humor which is not at all out of place. I want to give examples but I want you to discover every one of them yourself. I want you to enjoy as I did how they each compliment the other as no one else can. How they become better people...oops, I meant, Carpathians by having the other in their immortal life.

And whether Carpathians or mortals, isn't that what it's all about? Two that become better as one. Why else team up? I wish this book had been hundreds of pages longer. I could go on reading about this new side of Gregori now that his light beacon (lifemate)by the name of Savannah has transformed him by giving him hope. I won't ask if there will be a next book to this series but instead hope the next book is going to be about Julian and that professional singer. My canines are already itching to bite into Feehan's next book.

I wanted to give this story less stars because of the repetitive use of adjectives, the redundancy, and the plain cut and paste fight scenes (the fight scenes more so in this book then others), and the over use of sex (okay maybe not so much in this story as in some of the others). The repetition is the worst offense though as far as I'm concerned, with the redundancy coming in second (it comes across as padding to cover a lack of material). I mean I get it, Savannah has blue-black hair and Gregori's eyes turn to molten mercury (Don't get me started on this metaphor); that it's like white-lightning when they drink each other's blood; and any other number of over-told descriptions.

I'm also not a fan of overly-macho men, but I can over look that to a degree as long as I sense some respect from the man towards the woman (which I did feel more from Gregori then some of the other of Christine Feehan's characters *cough* dark secret *cough*). Yes, I know that the men supposedly gain respect over the length of the novel, but it doesn't always come across that way in this series. And I thoroughly dislike when a woman starts out as perky and becomes some simpering stupid girl (Again *cough* dark secret *cough*).

The reason I gave this story as many stars as I did, is I happened to like the story (mainly the concept) and the characters. I liked how Gregori evolved, how he became more "human", and I liked the rhythm he and Savannah got into. Hell, I liked the fact that the man gave her five years to do whatever she felt she needed, despite the fact he was so close to turning. Now, I didn't quite like the feeling that Savannah was making excuses for him in the beginning. BUT I'm not sure that's exactly what Christine Feehan was going for, I think she was trying to have Savannah come across as the compassionate person the Carpathian women are supposed to be, and that she wanted to show Savannah coming to understand the sacrifices Gregori made for their people. But I've only come to this conclusion, what CF was trying to get at, after long discussions with my mother after she's read each of the books.

I'm going to go off on a bit of tangent here. From the earlier novels, I came to the conclusion that when Raven discovered she was pregnant she had been a Carpathian for 25yrs, then add the 18yrs of Savannah growing up before she left and I want to know what the hell was up with Mikhail not having straightened Raven out (man I hate saying it like that) on how things were? Seriously, I think that was enough time for Raven to understand how the men fanatically protected their women (almost to the point of negating the women's abilities, powers, etc...). Raven did a major disservice to her daughter because of her refusal to understand just what the Carpathians were going through. Yes, she wanted her daughter to be independent thinking, which is fine and I applaud her, but at the same time she let Savannah think that there was actually some choice, which with the way CF has written her characters and story, there wasn't and never would be.

And that last thought leads me to this opinion: I don't think that CF has a complete handle on how to tell the story she wants to tell. I think she has a great concept and the characters are interesting which is why I have continued reading the Dark Series despite my earlier complaints (which I have for all of her books--some more then others. And in the later ones she doesn't seem to have a handle on her time line). In the end though, I think this series could be a lot better if the repetitious adjectives and the redundant explanations were to be eliminated.

I, like most of the previous reviewers, have been hooked on Christine Feehan since the first page of the first book (Dark Prince). I was also worried that Dark Magic could not live up to my expectations. NO NEED TO WORRY! This book is terrific! Gregori is more powerful, compelling, and dangerous than ever. Savannah is completely overwhelmed by him at first. She has lived a life of love and happiness with Carpathians and humans alike. She is terribly frightened of Gregori (as any sane being would be) but is more frightened by her own INTENSE feelings for him. Gregori, on the other hand, has always been alone. He has been waiting centuries for Savannah and literally CAN NOT wait any longer. They need to overcome her fear and his desperation, quickly! Savannah eventually realizes her own power and worth in the fact that Gregori absolutely NEEDS her to survive. Meanwhile, Savannah slowly draws him back into the world of, emotions, colors, humans, laughter, and life! Another fabulous book!

Isn't it extraordinary that an author can write four such outstanding books without losing any intensity! They are each incredible, and so is Christine Feehan. I sincerely hope the next book arrives soon, and that it's about Julian. I can't wait!

In the fourth book of Christine Feehan's Dark series, the powerful character of Gregori is the central figure. Gregori is a healer as well as one of the hunters of vampires. The beings that Feehan has created, the Carpathians, are similar to vampires in that they have to drink blood, can shape shift, and have telepathic powers. However, Carpathians do not kill their prey and otherwise are an interesting, productive species. They are not human though and their relationships with one another are an interesting part of the series. Males loose the ability to feel at about the age of 200 if they don't find a lifemate. Once a male reaches this point he can turn vampire at any time, naturally the males are very agressive about finding mates. Unfortunately, there is only one female who has the necessary chemistry to match any male. Gregori is an ancient and close to the end of his endurance of the loneliness resulting from his lack of feeling. His lifemate, Savannah is very young, independent, and not at all interested in being overpowered by a lifemate who is so much more powerful and wise than she. Gregori has waited as long as he can and when he claims Savannah things do not go well. He has to deal with his overwhelming desire to protect her and she is too immature to understand how to manage such a male. In this book, the characterization is superior to the others. Savannah grows considerably during the course of the book and Gregori has to adjust to life in the 21st century. Fans of the series will love this book and new readers will find plenty of action as well as very hot romance.

Christine has proven once again that she stands in a class of very rare writers. Very few writers can put out books that are consistent page turners, especially (gasp!) sequels, and each of her four in the "Dark" books have definitely been page turner, 'don't you dare put me down' books. If you have not read her previous books, don't despair, this book stands alone (making breif references to the previous three).

This is the story of Gregori, known as the 'Dark One' to his people, who is probably the strongest of his kind, though there is some question as to whether Mikhail from "Dark Prince" is actually stronger. It is also the story of Savannah, daughter of Mikhail and his lifemate Raven. This story shows the power of love, the power of sacrifice, and the power of the Carpathians (who become vampires if they succumb to evil).

Gregori, the healer and the hunter, has a rigid code of honor which he believes that he has compromised in manipulating things so that Savannah becomes his lifemate. He believes that he has obtained her unfairly and it colors his perception of her through much of the book. Only when Savannah stands up to him and teaches him what love, trust, and laughter are about does he begin the long road back to the light.

Maybe I have a warped sense of humor, but I would love to see a scene where Mikhail and Gregori meet again. I would imagine it would be quite amusing when Gregori, who is not much younger than Mikhail, now has Mikhail for a "father-in-law" ;-D .

This book is highly recommended and a keeper. I would highly suggest it for all those who read paranormal romance.

Ms. Feehan weaves a great legend, interlocking this plot with her previous tales. I really enjoyed reading Gregori and Savannah's story. Although Dark Magic could be read on its own, I think the average reader would start to get a little lost and would appreciate the story more if they read Dark Prince, Dark Gold, and Dark Desire first. It is a hard balance trying to explain what our characters are (as Carpathians and vampires) and not completely bore the reader who has been following the series while at the same time not confuse and loose the new reader. Ms. Feehan does a decent job of accomplishing this.

Gregori is the epitome of the Carpathian male (maybe even more so if that is possible, since he is one of the oldest and strongest), being arrogant, over protective, and over bearing. Savannah, a young, though very competent lead, is able to work through these problems her lifemate possesses and build a truly wonderful bond. I was a bit worried at how their relationship was going to be resolved, they had some pretty big "issues" to hurdle over, but they do so admirably. Gregori is an immovable object and an unstoppable force all in one, against a young novice. With a great deal of humor (a new found trait for Gregori, compliments of Savannah) and help from a new human friend, they are able to do so. I was vastly relieved that although this story had the potential for the "big misunderstanding" plotline, Ms. Feehan deftly avoided this trap. These two characters talk through their problems and don't let them fester. (Of course it is hard to NOT discuss them when you can read each other's minds.) Like her previous stories, Dark Magic leads the reader into the next book, keeping them on the edge of their seat waiting for the next in the series (a great selling device because it works!).

I have but a few small criticisms (and wonder if they are worth mentioning). The first is, although we are given a few glimpses into the previous characters, I didn't feel like there was enough interaction with them. I really liked their stories and appreciate the little tidbits we are given of them in Dark Magic, but we rarely SEE them again. My other criticism is the abundance of times we get to see Gregori's "mercury eyes". I suppose we do need the description, but I think we see through or into those "mercury eyes" every other page. Ok, a petty thing. I LOVED this story and the whole series and am impatiently awaiting Julian's story (which I assume is next).

I was introduced to Christine Feehan's Dark Series about a week ago. I read Dark Prince and then was forced to get Dark Magic because I was so captivated by Gregori's character, like so many other readers. The Carpathian world is too detailed to go into in a short review, so I'll the other reviews speak to that. I wanted to touch on something else, which applies to Dark Prince and Dark Magic especially:

It appears that Feehan has found an original way to solve the dilemma that romance writers face: how do you strike that delicate balance between wanting the man to take of you (security) yet at the same time not wanting to be constantly dictated to (the feminism)? Easy -- just invent a race where the women are genetically "okay" with being dictated too. Even if that doesn't solve the dilemma, Feehan has a backup plan: put the woman in constant danger from vampires. (It helps that the paucity of women makes them natural targets.) Then, make sure the woman is young, stupid, or human, so that she has no knowledge or experience at being Carpathian and protecting herself from vampires. That way, the man is FORCED to order her around. Gregori isn't dictating that Savannah bring him coffee -- he's just making sure she's protected from vampires, or is well fed, well-rested, etc. Within the Carpathian universe, the whole control thing actually comes off as being reasonable.

Once you get past this premise, Feehan is rather consistent. I can't criticize Dark Magic for making Gregori, the hero, a controlling figure, because that is consistent with the Carpathian world. I can't criticize the Dark Series for being repetitive, because this is the romance genre, where women eat up repitive plotlines with a spoon. I can't criticize Savannah for being a stupid brat, because most romance heroines are stupid brats. And come on, she's a 23-year old without much practical education with vampires, and he's a vampire hunter with a 1000 years of experience and power. Compared to him, of course she's going to look stupid. The text of the book is well-written, and Gregori is so well developed that I wanted to take him home myself. The whole plot with the wolf-pup is what romance is made of (for me, anyway.)

So why did I not give this five stars? Because this book falls apart after the first half!! I was so captivated by Gregori's character in Dark Prince. I was pretty much gone for him after the first half of Dark Magic, when I read more of his background. I was so happy that he found (yes, even subdued) his lifemate, that he was able to avoid turning.

Then, right when they move to New Orleans in mid-book, Gregori and Savannah start trading wisecracks as if this were an episode of Seinfeld! I guess at some point she taught him how to love, but we get zero exposition on how she did that. Maybe it was all that sex. Then Gregori starts giving Savannah her freedom and letting her take chances "just to make her smile," even when the vampires are STILL after her. He's lucky those vampires didn't get her. Maybe readers liked that she was being feminist and taming him, but this is NOT the Gregori I bought the book for. I was attracted to Gregori for the powerful man he was before, not the limp cupcake Savannah whips him into. I took off a ratings star. Then at the end Feehan throws in some really cheesy elements straight out of the "Thriller" video. I took off another ratings star.

Then I took off another star for the repetitive phrases. I got tired of "white heat" and "licking flames" and "lightning bolts" and "molten mercury." But by FAR, the worse offender was "[character's] HEART SLAMMED AGAINST [his/her] CHEST." If I had a nickel for every time I read that....

Then I felt bad for Feehan, because this is better than a two-star book. So I put in a star for Gary. That's how I arrived at three stars. Sorry all, the Dark Series is a great universe, but I bought the book for Dark Gregori, and Dark Gregori loses too much of his darkness.