Rating: 
Summary: Least Interesting of Carpathian Series
Review: I am a big fan of Christine Feehan and was aboslutely thrilled when I learned the newest book was out. Unfortunatley, I wasn't as thrilled after I read it. Dark Symphony is Feehan's attempt to blend two series together, the Scarletti's (Lair of the Lion, the Scarletti Curse) and the Dark Series. It doesn't work. The characters don't play well off each other. Byron, the Carpathian, is not as strong a character as those in the other Dark books. Whereas Antonietta Scarletti overshadows the Carpathian, and all other characters. It's more of a play off of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" with a tad of darkness thrown in. Wait for it to hit the library, [...].
Rating: 
Summary: Don't miss it!! :)
Review: Like one of the other reviewers, I also received this book yesterday in the mail and stayed up very late last night (I hardly slept at all). Now is the morning, and I've to go to work, but before I wanted to write this review, so you'll now what this book is about (and don't panic when you read some of the negative reviews I've read)."Dark Simphony" is the 10th book in Feehan's Dark series. This is the story of Byron, the Carpathian we've already met in "Dark Desire", where humans captured and tortured him. After what happened to him, Byron isolated himself, becoming a full time vampire hunter, and fighting everyday against the darkness gathering in him... That is until he heard a music so beautiful that enchanted him. Antonietta is the woman behind the music, a blind and thorougly renowned pianist, who belongs to the important Scarletti family (already met by us in "The Scarletti Curse", a book that isn't included in the Dark series but that is somehow related) and who also happens to be his life mate. Both Byron and Antonietta are alone, even it's for different reasons. And they are meant for each other. I love the way their story develops, and the other ingredients (beside their growing love for each other) that make it interesting : crime, the Scarletti's secret (we finally know why they are different), getting to know Antonietta'and Byron's family (includind Josef, a teenager adopted by Byron's sister, Eleonor, who fancies himself a rapper), a new species of Carpathians (dragonseekers, great wizards seemingly lost: Dominic). After reading the book, I think it was well worth buying it, and if I could give it more stars I'd do so. Yes, this book is different from the others in these series, but I don't pretend to read exactly the same each time I open a book (if I did, why on earth would I buy new books?). Feehan's keeps to her original formula, but introduces us to new characters and settings. I hardly think that's a crime, I rather believe it's likely to make her books even more interesting in the future. Why aren't more books of her Dark Series released every year (I don't like her other books nearly as much)?. I, like many other fans cannot wait for Nicolae's and Destiny's story ("Dark Destiny")and Skyler's and Dimitri's one, and I'm quite eager to know more about the dragonseekers, Dominic and his lost sister. Even if people have different tastes, I really cannot understand how anybody wouldn't love Dark Simphony. For me, it is another keeper in the Dark Series, exactly as special as the rest of those books. If you haven't read any book in the Dark Series yet, and are scared by the fact that they seem rather bizarre, or because they are a few (very few) negative reviews, remember that "Nothing risked, nothing gained". You are really missing something good!!.
Rating:
Summary: LEGENDARY MEN,LOVE THEM
Review: I was introduced to these books by my sister and I have loved everyone of these stories. The men are masterful and loving in the true sense of the word. I would recommend this series to anyone,(my true love is historical romance). I am up to reading
Dark Melody which is the 12th book of the series and I am not tired of them yet. I have read every book in order to get the whole story from the beginning to current. Thanks Christine Feehan, and I thank my sister(Laura).
Rating:
Summary: 6= Stars! Another great Carpathian Hero
Review: I love Christine Feehan's Dark series and look forward to all future releases. We met Byron in the the first book, Dark Prince. I was so happy to see that he came to a happy ending. I also met the ancestors of the Scarlottis in Feehan's other gothic novels, so it was a special joy to read their story here. Amazingly, there were no evil vampires in this story, but plenty of supernatural other evil characters. I wish these books were released more often. I hope Christine Feehan writes many, many more "Dark" Carpathian stories.
Rating:
Summary: a great read!
Review: From the back of the book....
He was Carpathian,a species as old as time. He could shift shape and soar high, run with the wolves, yet without light to his darkness, he could so easily give in to the whispers of temptation, the call for power and turn wholly evil-to become the undead, as many of his kind had chosen to do. He traveled the world, hunting the vampire, seeking to maintain a balance of life in a world of bleak loneliness. And then he heard the music... Blinded and scarred in a terrible accident, Antonietta Scarletti made music that thrilled the world with its beauty and passion. Descended from a long line of psychics, Antonietta has learned to rely on her other senses to "see" the world around her, but nothing could have prepared her for Byron. he came to her, drawn by her music, and became her secret obsession. Others fear him, sensing that he is dangerous-a preadtor-but for Antonietta he is her ultimate fantasy, her dream lover. He woos her with kisses full of erotic allure, whispering that she is his light, his salvation. Byron has waited an eternity for her, and he will let nothing stand between him and the woman born to be his lifemate...
Rating: 
Summary: New Light in the Dark Series
Review: Christine Feehan dispenses with the dewy virgin heroine of most of the previous 8 Dark books, and gives us Antonietta Scarletti, 37 year old concert pianist, composer, and business woman. She is strong, independent, intelligent and accomplished. Well, okay, the other heroines were also, but with the exception of the Carpathian heroines, they were all young. How does an established, confident woman approaching middle age interact with a domineering Carpathian man? Oh honey, just fine! We met Byron in Dark Desire. He was a nice guy (as Carpathian males go; basically they're all Alphas), friend to Jacques, but captured and tortured by human vampire hunters in a failed attempt to smoke out and destroy the Carpathian prince and his lifemate. Byron has become a vampire hunter as sort of compensation for failing to recognize evil and becoming an unwilling bait. He's a lot more interesting and attractive a character here. I liked that he wanted to court Antonietta, fighting down his natural inclination to claim his lifemate and carry her off to safety like a Carpathian cave man. Dark Symphony is bound to be more fun to read if you've read Scarletti Curse and Dark Desire. Since both are greatly enjoyable, it's no ordeal to put this back on the shelf till you do your homework. Although CF gives just enough history so you can read this as a stand alone, it couldn't be as satisfying. Either way, it's a keeper: book 9 in the series with plenty more room on the shelf!
Rating:
Summary: A refreshing new flavor!
Review: I received this book yesterday in the mail and stayed up late last night finishing this book. It was wonderful. Ms. Feehan has again pushed into new territory with her "Dark" series. This is definately not your same hunter/vampire conflict. In this book we meet Byron Justicano, a lonely Carpathian gem-caller who has cut himself off from his best friend Jaques (hero of Dark Desire). Byron was captured by humans and used as bait to try to destroy his people's prince, nearly succeeding in killing Prince Mikhal's life mate, Raven. Since that time, he has isolated himself from all Carpathians and gone against his natural artistic nature to become a hunter. His nights are spent in a desolate wilderness struggling against the temptation of turning vampire when he suddenly hears the music. He tracks the music to it's creator and finds Antonietta Scarletti, a brilliant blind concert pianist and descendant of the hero/heroine of The Scarletti Curse. He knows as soon as he hears her speak that she is his life mate and he will never be lonely again. Byron saves her grandfather from a car "accident" and becomes a familiar visitor at the palazzo where there are undercurrents of an ancient mysterious evil. Antonietta's family resent and fear Byron, but because Antonietta is the center of the Scarletti family try only subtly to discourage their association. When Antonietta and her grandfather are drugged and dragged off to be murdered, Byron sees that he has to take the relationship deeper, quicker to protect his lifemate. The refreshing change to this book, is that Byron has learned the hard way to be patient. So many other Carpathian Alpha males rush in and overwhelm their lifemates. Byron gently woos Antonietta even though his nature is screaming for him to take and possess her. Even up to the last critical moment, Byron allows Antonietta the final choice to convert and join him. As they work together to solve murder attempts to different family members, we see them forging a strong bond of the heart, not just of the compulsion of the mating of lifemates. Ms. Feehan mixes romance, redemption and suspence in a completely different way and the result is a fascinating journey of two people truly finding their heartmate and conquering many obstacles that they, themselves have constructed. If you have never read one of Ms. Feehan's novels, this is one to try. If you've read her work and been put off by the dominant Carpathian male, read this one and see a gentle, protective side of the powerful species. Byron will completely change your attitude and thinking about Carpathians. He is just as strong as any other Carpathian hero, but he has a sensitive, artistic nature, rather than the brutal by necessity nature of the hunters. You will absolutely love him! There is humor thrown in when you meet Byron's sister and her adopted teenager, Josef. Josef is Carpathian too, but very young. As a mother of a teen myself, I could identify totally with Byron's exasperation with Josef's Goth look, baggy pants and interest in rap. The song Josef composes for Prince Mikhal is a hoot! Byron's story is a totally new twist in the Carpathian legacy, introducing some provocative new pathways for the struggling Capathian society and I can't wait for the next book to see where Ms. Feehan will go with this captivating series!
Rating:
Summary: Not for Feminists
Review: I have a *huge* problem with Feehan's work - I hate how she writes her women. Her entire series is based on the theory that men know best and women need to shut up and obey. Honestly, if you're looking for romance, her series might not be the best place to go since rape and non-consentual acts abound, all deemed OK by applying the term "soulmate" to it. I will say this...if you dig through the dreck, some of her work can be tolerable (such as "Dark Symphony"), but the writing is trite and be warned of the overuse of "lightening" and "spicy" in every love scene. You'll begin to wonder if the love scenes are photocopied, with only the names changed from book to book. You won't find anything terribly new here, but if you like vampires and macho, overbearing men who don't actually listen to what women say, then go for it. The heroine actually has some backbone in this one!
Rating:
Summary: Stick with it...it gets better
Review: If you can make it through the first 100-120 pages...it's worth it. I had a hard time getting into Dark Symphony as I see many other readers had as well. This book does seem a 'Scarletti' book with a little Carpathian thrown in but it gets better the more you read. The beginning is the most difficult part to get through. I happened to like Byron as an artist and not a hunter. I hardly think all male Carpathians exist solely to destroy vampires...these people have lives and some even have careers...why not have a few artisans? Yes, there is a lot of Scarletti in this one but even greater than the number of Scarletti pages is the number of orgasms Antonietta has! That is my only complaint...that woman spasms too often and too easily...I was tired of reading it. Honestly though..this one isn't as bad as these reviews portray...Josef is hysterical and there is a lifemate story, and Byron's determination to court Antonietta and have her choose his way of life is endearing. And whoever wrote the Editorial Review from Publishers Weekly above...might I suggest you actually read the books you are reviewing? I quote..."Carpathian males can mate for life only with mortals who are psychic, and if they don't mate, they lose their emotions"...I had tears running down my face I was laughing so hard as I read that. Even people who get paid to review books don't always know what they are talking about!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Ms. Feehan is a wonderful storyteller, mixing romance and the paranormal into a wonderful, intriguing tale. I wish there were more authors as good as her and Sherry A. Mauro! Both of my favorite writers!
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