Dark Desire: A Carpathian Novel

By Christine Feehan

They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light...

The stranger silently summoned her from across the continents, across the seas, whispering of eternal torment, of endless hunger... of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish, sense his haunting aloneness.

Drawn to the far Carpathian Mountains, Shea found a ravaged, raging man, a being like no other. And she trembled. For in his burning eyes she recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her.

But was she to be his healer... or his prey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 20, 2010
• ISBN: 9780062024794

Christine Feehan

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, with over 90 published novels in seven different series: Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, Sea Haven Series, Shadow Series, and Torpedo Ink Series. All seven of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

Reviews for Dark Desire

[maita_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jaques Dubrinsky was trapped in a coffin and left to die but he lived and survived for 7 years. Shea O'Halloran finds him buried in the Carpathian Mountain. Could he be the missing link to her strange blood sickness or has she stumbled upon more than a coffin?Good book. Not one of my faves but it is ok. You need to read this before Dark Gold and Dark Magic.

[lacello · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was meh.

[stacej918 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jacques was my favorite from Dark Prince so when I seen that Dark Desire was his book I was so happy. I loved him and Shea together. I have read this book more than once!

[crazybatcow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ummm.... it's better than the first in the series, anyway. There's a bit of power-dominance-rape that the women like a LOT, but it's not nearly as annoying as it was in book one.There is also a lot of descriptions of the main character's 'masculine aggression' and 'masculine passion' and 'masculine power'... gag.Please, Feehan, can you SHOW us this passion and power and etc and stop telling us that it's so masculine?There isn't as much sex as in the first book either, but what is there is just as flowery (i.e. her velvety fire)... personally I like sex that is sex, not some adjective convention.Ultimately, though, it's only about half as 'eye-rolly' as the first book was.

[ladyisis_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the Dark/Carpathian series. This is a very dark story that will have some feeling uncomfortable. What Jacques endures and lives through for seven years is truly terrible. I love how he finds his way back and is able to carve a new life from all the destruction. I also love the way the Mikhail and Gregori snipe at each other throughout the book. It is a nice touch of humor in such a dark story. Shea is also a very troubled character. There is so little love in her life and she is so afraid of commitment. She and Jacques are actually perfect for each other. Shea also has a smart mouth and a very sharp sense of humor that holds her in good stead. This is a good book if those that are reading it for the first time will remember when it was written. Story were so very different 11 years ago.

[onyx95_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Seven years of nightmares, the pain, the visions of a haunted and tormented man. Surgeon Shea O’Halloran grew used to seeing this man, almost expected him. Jacques Dubrinsky saw a woman, he had lost his connection with his family, but he could see her, he could cause her pain. She was one of them, it was because of her that he was trapped and in so much pain, he wanted to cause her pain. Shea had no way of knowing that the man, the torment, the pain was all real until she went to the Carpathian Mountains to do research. Shea felt drawn to the old burned out house, to the cellar, to the man. Jacques madness and memory loss left him with only his anger, revenge and this strange desire to never leave Shea, she was his only connection to anything other than the pain. She could fix his body if he let her, she wanted to fix his head, his heart, and his soul. Jacques finally realized she was not to blame, but had he pushed her too far, would she ever forgive him for the harsh way he treated her?Book 2 - Such a harsh seven years for Jacques to endure, the madness could be expected, making him the typical tortured soul hero. He is a brute and Shea is ignorant of any of her connection to him and his race. Took me quite a while to figure out that this story takes place about 25 years after ‘Dark Prince’. Still never explained why the only connection that Jacques made during his paralysis was with Shea, across the ocean, I suppose it was a lifemate thing but I was never really sure. This is another good story to add to the depth of the characters of Mikhail, Raven, Gregori, Byron and Aidan but the romance between Jacques and Shea was predictable. I really hope that Jacques mind can return enough to go back to a little of himself from ‘Dark Prince’, can’t wait to see what happens next.

[kcoleman428 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THis was a great book...

[wingedwolf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the series, and this is definitely the point where readers will be split into two camps - those who understand that Carpathians are NOT supposed to be human beings, and those who are hazy on the concept, and will interpret this book to condone abuse in some way.Jacques Dubrinsky, brother of the Prince, has been horrifically tortured - beyond any reasonable expectation of sanity. He is, in fact, quite insane when his lifemate digs him out of the ground and sews him back together. As a result, he hurts her, several times. He's a huge threat to everyone around him - fortunately, he does get better, and proves to be a likeable character. People may think it's bad advice to stick with someone who's dangerously insane, and that's true - for humans. Remember that Carpathians aren't human, and they are incomplete without their lifemate - the literal other half of their soul. Neither of them has any choice but to either work it out, or both will die. That's incredibly important to remember, in this series.This is Jacques and Shea's story, and, much more than the first book in the series, sets up several important issues that will run through the series arc.Byron is also introduced, and the events in this book will be referenced in his story, later.Very important things also happen with Gregori and Mikhail's lifemate, Raven - and her unborn daughter.

[midnighttears · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is much different than I expected. To begin with our Life Mates, Jaques and Shea, aren't even on the same continent! Jaques is walled up in a coffin, and Shea is a doctor in the United States. Plus, she's only Half human, but she doesn't know that. Jaques is intent to just torment her. His mind has been shattered since the end of [The Dark Prince] and he has no idea who he is or who this woman is that he can talk to in his head. Shea has no idea that Jaques is real, or why she keeps seeing him and HEARING him in her head.A very interesting story that surprised me. I loved this book and have a feeling it will be my favorite of the series. Though I'm sure Feehan will continue to surprise me.

[deserie4comfort · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dark Desire is the 2nd book in Christine Feehan’s Dark (Carpathian) series. It picks up roughly 20-25 years after the events of Dark Prince. And this installment centers on Mikhail’s brother, Jacques.A quick review of the mythology of the series: There’s an ancient race of people who hail from the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. They drink blood; they can shapeshift and speak telepathically; they can’t go in the sun. And after about 200 years, their men lose their emotions and their ability to see in color. That is, until they find the other half of their souls… their lifemates. Over time, living without a lifemate leaves a Carpathian man with two choices: ending his life or turning into a vampire, an evil being who lives to torment and kills his victims.So, at the beginning of our story, poor Jacques has been kidnapped and tortured by some vampire hunters. Ironically, their strings are being pulled by a real vampire, and they are targeting the good Carpathians. Anyway, Jacques is tortured within an inch of his life, and is then buried alive in a coffin, where he suffers for seven years. During that time, his mind reaches out to Shea, the lifemate he has never met.By the time seven years are done, Jacques is just about crazy. He doesn’t remember who he is. And Shea is the only thing he knows, beyond his hate and quest for vengeance. He lures Shea from the US to Romania to free him. In all the years he had been making contact with her, Shea didn’t even believe he was real… until she found him.Once she comes to his gravesite, Shea frees Jacques and tries to heal him, as she is a doctor. He, not fully healed, ravages her and takes her blood. In fact, he goes on to perform the required three blood transfers required to turn a human into a Carpathian. Despite his brutality and his serious mental and physical problems, Shea feels connected with Jacques. She reveals that even before the conversion, she was different from most humans. It turns out her father, Rand, was Carpathian. She never knew him. In fact, he left her mother before she was ever born and the loss of him drove her mom crazy. Shea grew up basically alone and had to deal with her physical differences on her own.Jacques’ madness is very sad, since we knew him as a sweet and easygoing guy in Dark Prince (Book #1). And it’s wonderful to see Mikhail, Gregori, and others as they find the man they thought long dead.There’s plenty of action as the vampire hunters search for Shea and the other Carpathians. The love scenes are hot, and fortunately, not quite as flowery as in the previous book. And it’s high drama when the identity of the vampire is finally revealed.A great chapter in the Dark Carpathian series. 4 1/2 stars.

[klarsenmd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Better than the first in the series, and a decent read for he pure sake of entertainment.

[thehistorychic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that I like that the author is consistent with personality types but the one thing I do not like is the constant male domineering act. I think I remember that it gets less as the series goes on but in the first two books it was a little overbearing.

[fairypenguin_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a classic for a number of reasons. It uses unusual characters, settings, and plot to create a beautiful love story. Jacques is a member of the Carpathian race, a unique group of people with special mystical abilities. To humans he is seen as evil. He has been captured by human vampire slayers, tortured, and buried alive. Years pass before Shea, a human doctor with psychic abilities, discovers and rescues Jacques. Through his madness and rage he recognizes her as his lifemate. And she, against all odds, finds herself equally drawn to him. Shea is a likable character, and her development throughout the story is both interesting and realistic. Jacques is surprisingly romantic for a mad man. He tries to take care of Shea despite his pain. The story of their love overall is intricate and fascinating. Anyone who has read Dark Prince, the first book in this series, will really appreciate the return of past characters. They continue to grow and develop. I highly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance. In many ways it is the standard by which others are compared.

[susanbevans · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first in the series. The language was a bit repetitive. All in all it was a good story though. After book one, the story I was most looking forward to was Gregori's story. Now after reading this one, I'm even more excited to find out what happens to him. Unfortunately, I will have to wait for book four. Jacques was a great hero - very tormented but inherently good. This is a really interesting series

[flemmily · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Meh, again. I don't mind dark books, but I do mind dark and humorless. The characters aren't compelling, and their relationship is 1950s and not in a fun way (well, he's 1950 and she's 1970). I feel like this story could have been told in about half the number of pages, it's samey and stagnant.

[spurts-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

With more than 20 books in this series and interesting sounding plots I had high hopes but just did not like. Plenty of fans of these bestselling books so I believe I am in a minority so did force myself to read first few in series before making a judgment call. All the female characters are whiny, needy things and plots are rather predictable.

[msralways · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ok, here's the deal with this book: it was better than the first one and after you get over the world building and all the Carpathian's customs, you begin to see how things fall into place. That said, I was a little uncomfortable with the way Jacques treated Shea and how sometime their relationship blurred the lines of mind control. Despite that, things got into a good rhythm and there's also the problem with Jacques' memory condition after his imprisoment and how he sees things differently. Shea was a great addition to the Carpathian family and she brang a softness and some fun to the plot. Jacques was able to relax with her and I totally cherished their fun and cute moments together, seeing that Carpathians have this uncanny ability to be kind of dark and heavy sometimes. I really liked this book!

[cheriepie69_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this second book a little better than Dark Prince. I think it had a bit more of a story to it instead of just the romance, though I still got sick of all the flowery romance scenes and descriptions. I prefer my sex scenes to be a bit more graphic. I mean, I'd rather have Feehan talk about his "hard, thick penis" instead of "the hot, thick evidence of his desire". It's amazing how many flowery words and descriptions she can come up with to describe this part of the male anatomy!In this book, we re-encounter some of the characters from the first book, as well as meet a few new ones as well. I believe that in these first few books there's a lot of establishing of the characters and the Carpathian race in general going on, so I'm still hoping these get better as I go along (woosang said so LOL) so I'm going to continue reading. I'm looking for more story, more danger and intrigue, and if more explicit sex if it's going to be there anyway. I've got the next 2 of the series here on my TBR and book 5 is supposedly coming to me via bookring anyway. I figure by book 5, I'll have a good handle on this series, and know if it's going to simply be too romance-y for me or what.

[carolyn nowicki · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

LOVED IT

[SarahJones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didnt hate it, but it was a little rapey. He only did everything against her will in this book.

[Melanie Overton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

love this series. I have the mjority in paper back but reading on scribd is very convenient

[TheGreatWhiteFox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it! Cant wait to start reading another in the Dark Series!

[tanyapollard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good book

[Justina Gale Smith Taulbee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

love her. books