Dark Shadows : Angélique's Descent (Mass Market Paperback)

by Lara Parker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Two of the most popular Dark Shadows characters, Barnabas Collins and Angelique, were eternally bound by love and hate. Now, actress Lara Parker, Angelique herself, tells how it all began.

A passion born in ecstasy...

The dashing heir of a New England shipping magnate, Barnabas Collins captured the heart of the exquisite, young Angelique amidst the sensual beauty of Martinique, her island home. But Angelique's brief happiness is doomed when Barnabas cruelly deserts her and becomes engaged to another. Little, though, does Barnabas know of the evil his betrayal will unleash...

And destroyed by jealousy and betrayal

For Angelique is no ordinary woman. Raised in the mysterious black art of voodoo witchcraft, she has long ago pledged her soul to darkness and become immortal. Vowing to torment and destroy Barnabas, a vengeful Angelique damns him to eternal life as a vampire--a companion to accompany her forever. Little, though, does Angelique understand the depth of Barnabas's fury...

Vividly imagined, grippingly written, each Dark Shadows novel is filled with the eroticism, supernatural suspense, and spellbinding storytelling that has made this classic daytime serial a timeless hit.

About the Author
Lara Parker was born Mary Lamar Rickey, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended Vassar College and University for Iowa Graduate School where she majored in drama. Shortly after arriving in New York City she was cast as the with, Angelique, on the classic cult soap opera Dark Shadows, a role she played for five years. Since moving to Los Angeles she has been a successful film, television, and stage actress and has begun a new career as a writer. She is pleased to be launching this new series of Dark Shadows novels. Lara lives in Topanga Canyon, California, with her husband, Jim, and her daughter, Caitlin.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061057517
• ISBN-13: 978-0061057519
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #262,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, November 1, 1999

By	Matthew D. Hydeman "voyage" (Tucson, Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first book in the long-awaited DARK SHADOWS series is here and it's worth the wait! Actress Lara Parker, the original Angelique, writes an intriguing, erotic tale of betrayal, occultism and secrets with the first family of Collinsport in a time long ago. I won't say I'm a die-hard fan, but I do know Angelique's story was one of the few things that captured my attention about this series (and which continues to intrigue me). Parker's writing style is lush and fluid, with an amazing ability to capture the essence of the actors who played those fantastic characters every DS fan has come to love (or hate, as the case may be). I've read some of her work before (she contributed to INNOVATION Comics' DS comic book series) and I was pleased -- she's outdone herself here with this excellent first novel of a (hopefully) long series of DS novels. Don't be afraid of the dark -- try this one!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Persephone Unhinged, September 8, 2002

By	Bruce Rux (Aurora, CO) - See all my reviews

Only a Scorpio or the woman who originally played the central character of the deranged witch, Angelique, on the original Dark Shadows soap opera could have written this fabulously demented story of mad revenge - and, happily, Lara Parker is both.

The first half of this novel is invented out of whole cloth by Parker, since the supernatural soap opera never delved that deeply into Angelique's beginnings in the late 18th century, and is surprisingly clever and interesting. Angelique is taken from her nature-healing mother by her cane plantation-owning father in Martinique, who correctly surmises that if he can convince the slaves his young daughter is really the voodoo goddess Erzulie - when she is in reality, of course, nothing but his own mouthpiece - he can get them to do anything he wants, and bear increasing hardships. Angelique, however, has a genuine knack for true witchcraft, which manifests itself over time and ultimately foments an uprising of the very slaves her evil father wished to subdue.

The second half of Angelique's epic story is already familiar to fans of the series, though they will no doubt enjoy reading Parker's well-written rendition of it: Angelique escapes the chaos of Martinique, becomes personal maid to the spoiled young French society darling Josette Dupres, and falls in love with wealthy adventurer Barnabas Collins - who, after a passionate affair with Angelique, ends up betrothed by circumstance to Josette, initiating an increasingly ugly vendetta-by-witchcraft that ultimately costs both Barnabas and Angelique their lives.

Parker is not the most polished of writers - she is an actress, by profession - but her style is smooth and easy, and the story is well thought-out, well told, and genuinely exciting and fascinating. It's also surprisingly well researched, only off on one or two minor historical points that are really of no consequence.

Hopefully, this series will continue - and, if it does, hopefully Parker will write another. This book is currently out of print, but is well worth searching out, both for fans of the original series and for fans of Anne Rice-style supernatural/historical romances.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read for horror fan & DARK SHAOWS fan alike., May 22, 1999

By A Customer

I truly expected this book to be bad. However, I was surprised at how entertaining it actually is. Lara Parker, who played Angelique, sets out to tell the story behind Angelique's fall and her relationship to Barnabas Collins. What could have easily been a cheap attempt at a romance novel is rich with history and facts on the colonial period on Martinique. Angelique's origins have mythological overtones, influenced by the beliefs of voodoo. She tells the through the eyes of the residents of Collinwood Manor as they read Angelique's unearthed journal. Parker has a firm grasp of the character, instilling traits that will appeal to both men and women. She does a brilliant job of plotting out the story in a gothic fashion, seamlessly weaving in elements of the supernatural. The narrative is rich with details and descriptions of colonial Martinique, plantation and life on the high seas. Parker never allows the narrative to get bogged down with the details, allowing the story to unfold at a good pace. It is epic, grand, and in many ways transcends both series and previous novels. ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT is an uncommonly entertaining read that fans and newcomers alike can applaud. A fabulous book to read on the beach this summer. However, be careful not to get so caught up that you get a sunburn.