Two Carpathians find hope in the bond that ties their souls in this passionate novel in Christine Feehan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series.Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea … so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate—but the very thought terrifies her.
Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta’s fragile soul.
But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together.
more
Christine Feehan’s Carpathian novels are always gut-wrenching and filled with tormented characters that keep you riveted to each page. While I love all her series, this one holds a special place as one of my absolute favorites. Can’t wait for the next to come out!
One of Feehan’s most romantic books of any series she writes.
It’s taken me forever to write this review because Elisabeta and Ferro’s story is so amazing and the direction the Dark/ Carpathian Series is taking is so addicting I could write pages. So I believed I’ve narrowed it down and if you hadn’t realized it yet, I highly recommend this series and Dark Song! I Have been awaiting these two and their story since Dark Legacy. Wondering how they would navigate their journey after all they faced, and the dangers still coming for them, tormenting her… how and if Sergey would be destroyed.
Dark Song is such a beautiful story of strength and courage. Not just the strength of physical prowess and cunning in battle…although in a Feehan Novel that’s a given. But a true definition of strength of character and honor.
.
Ferro’s a hero who spent centuries fighting the vampire, protecting his people, all species. Then as the darkness, the lure of ending eternal emptiness, became too strong he secluded himself away in the Monastery with his Brethren, the Ancients. All determined to hold on to his honor, to remain strong, awaiting the one who could bring him his light, complete his soul. Returning to the world to help his people yet again and with the hope his lifemate may be within reach.
.
Elisabeta is a heroine who was stolen from her home, tortured and abused for centuries by Sergey Manilov, someone she once trusted, turned vampire who used her to gain power over others. She tolerated it all, yielded to him all she was, her memories, her physical and mental ability to function believing he was in complete control. But She refused to surrender what he wanted most, the one thing that she honored cherished most of all, the part of her Lifemates soul she carried. This strength of character gave her the ability to survive, to even find ways to manipulate her capture, doing the best to be strong for her lifemate even with the terror and restrictions Sergey submitted her to, made her believe was her whole life…until the day she is rescued.
.
Ferro and Elisabeta must learn to navigate this new world and the disconnect her years in captivity wrought on her. It is their strength of character and sense of honor, their belief in the lifemate bond that move them along their journey to love…and Christine writes this beautifully…
.
I love an Alpha Male that knows when to use his dominance and strength to protect and aid his lifemate and in true alpha form knows when to restrict that dominance and use his strength to allow her to, maybe stumble, but chose her path and learn to have confidence in her nature and her skills. Trusting that as lifemates they must do what makes the other happy and that Ferro is there for her and she has the ability to be there for him.
.
And as Elisabeta grows in confidence in herself, regains the most basic of abilities, grows in her trust of Ferro and the friendships she makes, she builds on her understanding of who she is as a lifemate and that she has a lot of amazing skills, intelligence and, all discover, a rare gift. It is their strength of character that helps them grow as individuals and from fated lifemates to lifemates in love. As she grows she discovers she has the ability, the knowledge, to help the Carpathians gathered to defeat their common enemy in the Manilovs, to defeat Sergey.
.
And through the difficulty of learning their new norm and what’s best for them, their story is filled with the most dreamy sigh moments of romance in its true definition. And the dangers they face, the healing support, both share, they find a path best for them, they find who they are to each other and the Carpathian people. Their story is masterfully woven through an amazing plot driving the series, danger from the Manilovs continues and reveals more threats to the Prince and Tariq, and secrets revealed. What an amazing leader Tariq truly is. Your heart routes for all to find their happy ever after someday soon due interactions with ancients and Carpathians we love.It is exciting to see the Carpathians leaving their isolated hunting ways and adapting to modern, new strategic ways to fight and to become more of a society. Can’t wait to see who is next!
Elisabeta is bent not broken…
Although imprisoned for centuries she never let the monster have his soul… Ferro is a worthy warrior and he shows her just how worthy he is in this newest book in the Dark World.
Do we have a traitor? Ferro thinks so until…
Action galore and what true honor and love are all about.
We get a little bit of everyone in this one and I thank the publisher for allowing me the honor of reading this truly amazing story. I have loved this author’s books from the first time I picked up book 1 many years ago.
Carpathian, Vampires, romance and love. As with most readers of this series I was not impressed with Ferro in previous meetings. Jerk covers it. In Dark Song, his and Elisabetta story, he is king. OK not title of King, but he becomes a king in my eyes. He sees his faults and does everything and anything to help Elisabetta come into her own. He also feels a threat to Elisabetta from Gary and Tariq!! Say what??? I love the mystery, the support, new friends and old. This was a winner for me.
Thank you Berkley and Net Galley for the arc. This is for mature readers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #DarkSong #Berkley # NetGalley
I have been looking forward to the story of Ferro, one of the ancieent Carpathian warriors, and Elisabeta who was held captive and tortured by the vampire Sergey. Christine Fehan does not disappoint. Gradually Ferro wins over Elisabeta and she opens to him and reveals her talent for giving peace and solace to those around her in need. Her powers of observation developed in self defense over the centuries give her insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the plans Sergey has to destroy the Carpathians. Sergey is desparate to retrieive Elisabeta who with her calming ways has kept him strong through the centuries.
What can possibly be said about another amazing, passionate book that draws you in and won’t let go. Two people could not possibly need each other more then Elisabeth and her lifemate Ferro. She had been a prisoner of an evil vampire name Sergey since she was a young girl. For centuries she took on all the evil and abuse to protect the soul of Ferro, her lifemate. Now she is free, or is she? She has never made a decision without permission, she can’t remember walking, and she is terrified of others. Ferro is an ancient, has been hunting the vampire for as long as he remember, now he has Elisabeth, to love, to protect, and to teach. They are meant for each other, two halves of the same soul. Elisabeth is getting stronger every day and the biggest challenge is yet to come. To go after and kill the vampire that will never let her go. This book is beautifully written, with in-depth characters, and passion that will make you burn. They will get their happily ever after, but so much is at stake to get there.
I was pleasantly surprised by Dark Song, as this is the 30th (!!) book in a series that I’ve not really enjoyed, as vampires are not really my thing (sorry, Carpathians, as they’re called in this series; the vampires are there, too, but they’re definitely the bad guys). In fact, I have only read a few in the series, so I am definitely joining the party late… I’m thinking I might need to go back to, say, #15 and try again because I am curious enough about many of the other characters mentioned that I might just do that when I have a lull in my TBR pile.
I’ll be honest, the first half of Dark Song was slow, and I found myself skimming quite a bit until the plot picked up. However, had it been paced any faster, some of the character motives and plot elements might not have been as believable, as there was trauma that needed to be worked through (slowly… that entire first half of the book). Clearly the author did a lot of planning and research to make the trauma recovery process believable.
I loved much of the imagery in Dark Song, even if some of the romantic Hopelessly-Devoted-To-You passages got a little long-winded.
It is not possible to fully express how enjoyable this whole Carpathian series has been, i anxiously watch for the next story.
A great paranormal romance series
DARK SONG is book #32 of the Dark Carpathian series by Christine Feehan. A dark tale about a Carpathian ancient warrior, Ferro Arany, protecting his mate, Elisabeth Trigovise, who, after years of torture by the last remaining Malinov brother, is terrified of freedom. Ferro teaches his mate the simple things like walking and dressing, but at each rising, he discovers the Elisabeth’s true nature which explains why the vampire is desperate to reclaim her. Outside of the repetitions about how the vampire abused her for centuries or how Elisabeth couldn’t make choices or decisions for herself, DARK SONG is an emotional romance filled with passion and suspense. Christian Feehan enriches the series with cultural background and details into the lives of the Carpathian people.
It’s been awhile since I’ve given a full 5 stars to a Carpathian romance but Dark Song finally reached the goal. Why? Because the plot and story had meat, and it had what I like – action, suspense and mystery.
What makes me like this book over the past couple is the balance of story over sex. When there are too many sex scenes, or pages upon pages dedicated to every conceivable step in the process, it bores me. It can drag down my enjoyment because there is no purpose. Dark Song gives me a story worth spending time with – the challenge to solve the mystery of a truly baffling illness that is creeping through the compound which is compromising everyone’s safety. An unseen, seemingly unstoppable evil that no one can figure out? That got my attention. The fact that it affects those that should remain unaffected? Fascinating.
Another reason I looked forward to reading Dark Song was the heroine, Elisabeta. She was rescued in one of the previous books and it’s taken a while to heal enough for her to even attempt to rejoin the living. Not that she knows what living really is because she’s been in a cage for centuries, tortured and deprived of all life experiences other than fear. What kind of life is that? How can a person even know where to begin to live again when every decision was made for her? All good questions and all are answered in good time. The catalyst is the hero, Ferro. He’s her life mate and he intends that the rest of her healing can only be done with him, out in the open so she can see him, smell him, hear him, taste him and know the man he is. The hero has a huge task in front of him – to get Elisabeta to trust him and in him.
One more element that made me like this book more than others is the fact that the author wasn’t as repetitive as she’s been in past stories – repeating a fact or excuse over and over so I end up yelling at the book “okay! I get it!” — I didn’t do that in this novel. Yes, readers are more than made aware that the heroine is fearful and ignorant of even the basic things, like walking. That the heroine can’t make decisions for herself because she’s been prevented doing so. The difference is – for every time this is stated, soon after the hero does something that helps her make a change, a choice, to encourage baby steps forward. It’s because of that continual forward momentum that I respected the characters, the plot, the writing and the overall relationship between Ferro and Elisabeta. He believed in the heroine, he respected her and never wanted to do or say anything that reminded her of the cruel vampire who kidnapped and kept her for so long. Ferro truly earned my respect. Ferro didn’t focus only on the lust aspect of his returned feelings and emotions. No, his goal was to earn what all solid, successful, good relationships should be based on – trust.
The discovery of what is attacking the people on the compound had a couple of levels that truly intrigued me. One was a modern issue and the other was ancient. It was a mesmerizing combination that I could never have guessed at or anticipated. I like being impressed.
The physical aspect of their romance, when it finally happens, stems from a slow, steady, sensual buildup of gentle touches, teasing kisses and languid gentle strokes. That build up is why I enjoyed the scenes so much. The sex scenes were powerful because they were a sign of healing, joy and a hint at a promising future. What’s not to like about that?
There were a lot of secondary characters, the two most prominent were Gary and Tariq. Both men present a new fact of Carpathian society I hadn’t known about. They know what they’re talking about but a reader isn’t quite sure of all the subtext and inferences of just how important this revelation really is. Ferro gets it, and Elisabeta is on the cusp. Even though I didn’t quite understand the whole of it, I think it’s a hook for a new plot twist. If so, it’s effective and it makes me want to know more and more and more. Call me impatient but I think Ms. Feehan needs to write faster.
Taking out all the glossary, chants and stuff, this story was about 386 pages and it took me 2 days to read. It would have taken me one day but I started too late the first day for me to finish in one go-round. I sure gave it a good try though. Staying up until 1 AM isn’t the best idea on a work night. The only author I seem to do that for on a regular basis is Ms. Feehan. There’s just something about those Carpathian men I can’t resist. I hope when you pick up your own copy of Dark Song, you’ll like it as much as I did.
Just finished it. The best she has written in years. I have given up on her other series as i find them repulsive. Ok I have not read any of the Game series , could not read the Shadow series and find the Russian motor cycle club SICK! I wonder if she even wrote them as they are warped and twisted. Anyway this book seems to be going back to her roots as it were and I enjoyed it.
This author is so hit and miss for me. This is a definite hit. Elisabeta has been mistreated so bad she never wants to come back. Once she comes out of her shell she proves to be have a very valuable gift.
Ferro is a ancient but he is so patient with her. I love how protective he is but not in a jerk way.
There are a lot of past characters that show up to help. Overall this was a great edition to this long running series.
Where do I start? Do I say that this has to be one of her better ones in a long time?
It felt like she’d lost her way for a while. But this book put her back on track, we now have a storyline to follow (nope can’t tell you)
Do I mention the fight scenes were amazing (if a little short in places) Do I tell you I loved Ferro and Elisabeta. They were perfect for one another?
Do I tell you that I devoured this book in almost one sitting?
We I did and I will.
Ferro has been in the last few books, he’s an ancient, and I don’t mean old, I mean ancient, older than dirt, he’s older than almost all of the Carpathian’s alive!
He wears a tattoo, in fact several (and it’s hard to tattoo a carpathian as they pretty much heal from most things) he swears to hold onto his honour for his people, he swears he will keep his honour for his lifemate. The ancients no longer feel anything, not even the darkness that waits for them (the darkness is the vampire waiting to take their soul) so if they turn, there will be no warning sign.
From the book Dark Crime, the ancients come into their own.
They are separate from the other Carpathians, they live in a monastery, praying daily and honing their battle skills, they cloistered themselves away to keep human and carpathians safe.
So from Dark Crime a new story emerges….
And now the ancients have a mission, they’ve been told they have lifemates out in the world waiting for them. And one by one they are finding them.
But they are coming into a new world, a works where technology is king. And lifemates aren’t just female Carpathians!
It’s been fun watching the ancients fall for their mates. But unlike most Carpathians, they seem to actually relish the challenge of modern women.
But Ferro doesn’t get a modern woman, he gets a bird trapped in a cage. A woman so cowed and scared that he doesn’t know if they will ever be a couple…..
Elisabeta was born to a normal Carpathian family, loved and cherished as all females of that race are.
Her gift like all females usual aid the race. She brings peace and calm to those who need it, older Carpathians would visit and she would soothe their soul.
Elisabeta but she was targeted by a close family friend to become his slave! Kept hidden from everyone for centuries! Verbally abused, beaten and tortured on a daily basis, until she complied with her master, she didn’t think for herself, she couldn’t, she wasn’t allowed to speak or move until told to!
But she had a spine of steel (even though she did to think so) being taught to be quiet, Elisabeta learned things that most Carpathian women wouldn’t have. Battle plans and strategy.
So the master in the end was degreased by his slave!
The story between Elisabeta and Ferro was lovely. He took his time with his new lifemate. Not really knowing how to handle her (but lifemates are put together for a reason) and they complemented one another. She didn’t want to be a modern woman, there was no way she would do battle with the vampires like some of the females demanded. And Ferro being an ancient didn’t know what to do with a modern woman anyway!
It was nice that we got a story and not endless pages of sex!
She needed a gentle hand and she got that with Ferro.
So where do we go from here? I’m hoping another great story with more battles and content.
It’s going to be a long wait as Ms Feehan only brings a Carpathian story out once a year!
So it’s back to the beginning, for me.
And possibly a trip back to the Carpathian Mountains for the ancients.
*4.5 stars*
Elisabeta’s story… finally!
Oh, I’ve waited for this story for a long, long time. This is the thirtieth book in the series – I know, how time flies, right? – yet it was (is) one of the best reads so far…
If you’re a fan, then Ferro and Elisabeta, and their families, are no strangers. They are Carpathians, slayers of vampires. They were warriors, defenders and, above all, lovers… Elisabeta’s story was heart wrenching. Crazy, melt your heart, wonder ‘how did she survive’ kind of stuff. Tormented for centuries, she knew Ferro was her lifemate but fear kept her from everything and everyone. Ferro knew her. How to soothe and allow her to heal, to give her space to re-learn her strengths and healing abilities. To cajole, encourage and command as needed. Together, they were love personified as they fought her demons, and soon for the survival of themselves and those they called family…
The series over-arching plot took a devastating and revealing turn as vampires, mage and destinies collided in a story that showed an incredible depth of emotion alongside the fiercest of battles. This was an intense, riveting read so if you want to get the most of it, and you are new to the Dark, be prepared for a lot of incredible catch up reading ahead…
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
**Thank you to NetGalley
This book is phenomenal! Highly recommend it!
When a series has been going on for over thirty books, it is hard to keep everything feeling fresh and new. Christine Feehan manages it skillfully with a unique couple, ratcheted tension, and plenty of action.
Read my full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-christine-feehan-dark-song/
My Review of DARK SONG:
I enjoyed reading DARK SONG. A beautiful, and well written romance. I loved the poetry at the beginning of the book. Simply beautiful. Ferro was a supportive male, that followed Elisabeta’s lead while she found her core of inner strength to face the world after being held captive for centuries by Sergey Malinov. Ferro has Elisabeta’s back, and became whatever she needed. She endured centuries of torture, and abuse, but with the support of her lifemate was literally able to face her fear, and her torturer. With the support of her friends, who are all strong women in their own way, Elisabeta’s slowly finding her place in the compound.
There was enough battle scenes to appease my need for action, and for the bad guys to get what they deserved. Unexpected plot twists involving the villains, who are brilliant, and deliciously evil. We learn more about the Carpathian history, and what should’ve been set in place regarding Draven, and passing judgement on him, that would’ve taken some of the pressure, and responsibility of making the decision off of Vlad, and Sarantha.
We saw many old friends return, to fight the good fight against their enemies. We get updates on babies, and see new characters introduced.
I’m looking forward to the next book. Maybe Sandu? If not, I’m sure Sandu, and Josef will bring some comic relief to Tariq’s compound.
3.75 stars–DARK SONG is the thirtieth instalment in Christine Feehan’s adult DARK / CARPATHIAN paranormal, erotic, romance series. This is ancient Carpathian warrior Ferro Arany, and Elisabeta Trigovise’s story line. DARK SONG can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Elisabeta is Traian Trigovise’s sister (Dark Descent).
SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul, eventually turning the male vampire or forcing him to greet the dawn.
Told from numerous third person perspectives including Ferro and Elisabeth DARK SONG follows the building romance and relationship between ancient Carpathian warrior Ferro Arany, and Elisabeta Trigovise. Centuries earlier a teenaged Elisabeta was abducted by a Carpathian male nearing the end of his life of honor but in the ensuing years the male would turn vampire using and abusing our heroine, starving her in the hopes of recapturing his soul. Upon her rescue and recovery in the healing soil, Elisabeta would trigger Ferro Arany’s emotions, and find herself waking as the lifemate to an ancient warrior but all is not well as Elisabeta’s rescue has angered the master vampire, the remaining Malinov brother, and his vengeance will target many people at Tariq’s Carpathian compound. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ferro and Elisabeta, as the master vampire enacts a well conceived and intricate plan of revenge against the Carpathian warriors.
Elisabeta Trigovise grew up never knowing how to be a Carpathian female. Stripped of her memories of a time before her violent abduction, a fragile and broken Elisabeta struggled to perform the basic of needs yet within days of her claiming, our heroine would become one of the Carpathian’s most powerful females. As an ancient warrior, Ferro Arany knew very little about the modern world and battled to accept the rise of feminism in the Carpathian community thusly, Elisabeta, from a time long ago, is the perfect foil for a man who prefers his woman submissive and meek.
The relationship between Elisabeta and Ferro is a fated mating. Elisabeta’s rescue and ultimately her voice would trigger Ferro’s colors and emotions, and in this there are no questions as to the reality and truth of who is her lifemate. Elisabeta struggled with her freedom, preferring or opting to have Ferro speak when spoken to including the inability to acknowledge her brother’s love. Ferro ids a warrior who never thought he would find his fated mate. His patience and need to protect the woman he loves manifests with songs of love, nature and a time long ago. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters. All of the Carpathians remain guarded at Tariq’s American compound. Several of the original Carpathians return to help fight the master vampire including Josef but much of the other’s presence is more by way of acknowledgement and mention. As to the master vampires, once again, Ferro recognizes a number of his former warriors and friends-the list of names and connections are many.
If you are a long time reader of the Carpathian series you will recognize a familiar format and pattern to the author’s latest story line-reminiscent of Xavier’s attempts to destroy the Carpathian’s and of one woman’s ability to heal the wounded. Saying that, when an author recycles and repeats a previous formula, I question the author’s lack of innovation and imagination as he/she is relying on the success of a former story line arc. I also struggled with the heroine’s earlier fragility and inability of comprehend basic personal needs and survival skills, yet within days she is one of the most powerful females with abilities beyond comprehension, and is able to direct the most skilled of warriors. The information she reveals and her competence and skill level is a complete shift in direction to her initial introduction and behavior yet there is no mention of hidden abilities that seemingly manifested overnight. She waffled between powerful or apprehensive on numerous occasions.
I would also like to note how Feehan’s vampires have evolved to modern day IT techs and wizards….something I didn’t see coming !
DARK SONG is an intoxicating tale. The premise is familiar yet captivating; the romance is seductive.