30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Feehan's best!!, September 10, 2002
I know everyone utterly adore's Christine Feehan's Carpathian Saga's, and I am a fan as well, but I think she really shows her true talent in The Scarletti Curse and now this this one.
She single-handedly brings Gothics back into fashion with an updated style, giving us the brooding hero, the fearless heroine and all the spooky shadows guaranteed to keep the readers on the edge their seats.
The story is basically a beauty and beast redo...the cursed Don Nicolai DeMarco doomed to destroy the woman he marries and Isabella Vernaducci defying everything to save, first her brother, and then the man she loves.
Feehan breathes life into the faded Gothics and Faerytales alike and I say MORE MORE MORE!!
So fans of the old series Beauty and the Beast - here is a treat for you!!
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Overwrought and Disjointed, September 4, 2002
By A Customer
I enjoy Christine Feehan's books, but this was not one of her best. To describe it as overwrought would be an understatement. The heroine, Isabella Vernaducci feels "evil" and "chills up her spine" at least twice in every chapter. She breaks down in tears or is near tears regularly. I suppose though, that tears would be warranted since she is stalked, attacked, and/or injured in practically every chapter. Honestly, the beginning of each chapter became a guessing game: "How Will Isabella Get Hurt/Trapped/Attacked This Time?" I don't mind heroines in danger, but this was ridiculous.
Another aspect that hurt this book was lack of clear storytelling. The vagueness of "the curse" for instance. The explanation of why and how it originated was clear enough, but how it worked with the hero, Don DeMarco was not. First, only Isabella can see him as a man (not a beast). Then others can see him that way as long as she touches him. Later he explains that he can sometimes control his own image as a beast or a man. It seemed to change constantly and was unnecessarily confusing.
Also, the time frame for this book was never given, much like in Feehan's other (but unrelated) Italian palazzo book (The Scarletti Curse). It's obviously historical (despite some characters' annoying use of contemporary phrases like "going berserk") but a time period would have been nice.
Christine Feehan is an engaging author, and while the characters in this book were interesting, they couldn't overcome the heavy handed treatment in the book. Feehan seems more in her element with her vampire novels.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting, Erotic, Memorable Gothic Romance!, January 3, 2003
"Lair of the Lion" by Christine Feehan is a compelling gothic romance perfect for curling up with on a cold winter night. I became utterly absorbed in the story right from the start, and Feehan's passionate storytelling kept me turning pages well into the night. The main characters are intriguing and well matched, and Feehan's take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale becomes something original and wickedly enticing under her talented hand. "Lair of the Lion" is an all-around solid effort that is sure to be enjoyed by a wide range of romance readers.
Isabella Vernaducci is a courageous young aristocrat who has had everything that once belonged to her family stolen away by the ruthless and power-hungry Don Rivellio. On top of that, the pitiless Don has imprisoned her brother Lucca and sentenced him to death. Desperate to save her brother, Isabella makes the treacherous journey to the home of the powerful and mysterious Don Nicolai DeMarco in the Italian Alps. Don DeMarco is the only man who can save Lucca's life, but no outsider has ever survived the journey to his palazzo. Supposedly the victim of a terrible curse, Don DeMarco is rumoured to have the ability to control the heavens and to make the beasts on earth do his bidding.
But when Isabella arrives at the palazzo of Don DeMarco, she meets a man unlike any other she has ever met. His intense tawny eyes, flowing mane of hair, and devilishly handsome face make her heart pound double time. Though his commanding presence fills Isabella with fear, she is undeniably drawn to Don Nicolai. And she does not see the monstrous and heartless beast of legend when she looks at Nicolai, but a dedicated and compassionate man who has worked tirelessly for his people.
Don Nicolai DeMarco promises to save Isabella's brother on one condition, that she becomes his wife. Though the palazzo is a less than hospitable place, with huge lions roaming all around and permeated by a dark and malevolent presence, Isabella is captivated by Nicolai. But she soon finds out that the DeMarco curse is no legend, but a grim reality. Though she can see Nicolai as a handsome man, all others see him as a beast, a beast that is destined to destroy the woman he loves. But Isabella won't give up so easily on the man she has fallen in love with, and resolves to find a way to break the curse. Nicolai and Isabella's romance is portrayed in typical Feehan fashion, it's incredibly erotic, passionate and beautifully tender (and you may need to open a window to cool off while reading the love scenes).
Unfortunately, danger awaits Isabella at every turn and she's going to need every ounce of courage she possesses to save both herself and the man she loves. Unexplainable "accidents" occur almost daily, and they're all directed at Isabella. Feehan builds the suspense very effectively, and Isabella and Nicolai must stand together against the evil that seeks to destroy them, and hope that their love will be strong enough to triumph. Will Isabella find a way to defeat the curse and banish the evil that haunts the valley? Or will she end up sacrificing her life and Nicolai's soul?
"Lair of the Lion" is a wonderful historical romance filled with passion, thrills, chills, and intrigue. The atmosphere is unabashedly dark, brooding, and, well, gothic, so if you are not a fan of gothic fiction this isn't going to be your cup of tea. Personally, I thought it was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the gothic flavour of it all. Feehan has created a fascinating cast of rich and vivid characters, from the irresistible and charismatic hero, Nicolai, to his misunderstood and charming sister, Fransesca. The palazzo itself is a fabulous labyrinth of hidden passageways and shadowy corridors, providing the perfect setting for this riveting tale. "Lair of the Lion" is a tantalizing and suspenseful tale of first-rate gothic romance, and I recommend it whole-heartedly.
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