Rating:  Summary: A Real Letdown Review: I have read all of the Dark series and loved every one. I was hoping that this would continue to excite me and keep me enthralled. Not only could I put this book down, I could hardly pick it up again. Why in the world would someone write such trivial dialogue and take the the usual sexy carpathian and turn him into a boring character. Where is the lust, love, sex and especially power. Where is the lifemate that is more than just a sex object. How did Byron become so tame? Was it his torture in Dark Prince that did it? A very sad commentary on the Dark series and a great disappointment. It is just a set up for future books in this series at the expense of the characters and plot. I wouldn't mind another book on Byron from a different approach. Say one that recovers the raw power, dark mystique and steamy sexuality of the true carpathian hero-lover. I hope we find it again in the next novel. Don't buy this one. Borrow it from a friend or from the library, because you will never want to read it again.
Rating:  Summary: Really Boring Review: I was so looking forward to Byron's story, but this book is hardly about him. It spends too much time on the Scarpetti family whose escapades are really ho hum, silly and boring. I barely got through the book with a sigh of relief hoping I never see this family again. My advice, read all the other dark books and skip this one. You won't be missing a thing.
Rating:  Summary: Reads Like A First Draft. Review: I was interested by this idea originally, but the story just didn't do it for me. The story begins where the hero and heroine already know each other destroying any build up of tension or conflict, any explanation for Byron's actions or physical reactions are "I'm a Carpathian," and the characters are so one dimensional it wasn't even funny. This read like a first draft and I'm suprised it made it past the editors! I forced myself to finish this book, waiting for it to get better, but it never did. This book is a real bomb. Pass this one by.
Rating:  Summary: Great Characters and Story Review: I loved the blending of the "Dark" series with the "Scarlatti" book. I like Byron. It was nice to see the woman more self-confident than the man (particularly a male Carpathian) for a change. I also enjoyed the emphasis on music in this book. And it was fun to find out what the men can do when they aren't born to be kick-butt warriors. The series keeps getting better.
Rating:  Summary: Awful!!! Review: This was a awful book compaired to the others. I havent even finished it yet. The charecters and the story were boring. This one can definatly be missed.
Rating:  Summary: Enjoyable -but not worth the wait Review: Christine Feehan has created a race of Carpathians - vampires- who have powers to change their shape etc. The first volumes of this series were strong in their exploration of different facets of the race and combined with a solid love interest. Each had a new aspect of the race - old vampires/ young vampires/sick vampires/female vampires. This book was not in the same vein. It is more akin to Feehans previous book set in Italy. Sadly, I don't think the author got an Italian 'feel' to the story. The people react and behave like Americans. I also think there should have been a better exploration of the female characters career. The setting is almost one dimensional and lacks the space and area that were common for other books. I read the book but must admit that unlike most of the others it took some concentration to get involved in the book and complete it. Christine - we expected to see more about the lost children perhaps more female Carpathians and some exploration of the family with children. I think this lacks the zing that you had before.
Rating:  Summary: Another winner for Christine Feehan Review: Courtesy of Love RomancesByron Justicano has been alone for many years, living in a world without color or emotion. He is hanging on by a thread, in the hopes of finding his one true lifemate who will bring emotion and color back to his world. He condemned himself to a life alone, hunting the dreaded vampire, evil beings of his kind, when a huge error in judgment almost cost his Prince's lifemate her life. Until the day he heard the call of music... Antonietta "Toni" Scarletti is a world famous concert pianist and composer, living in Italy. She was blinded when a young child, by an accident that took her parents' lives. She feels an emptiness in her soul, that even her close relationships with her grandfather and cousins cannot fill. Her music is all she has that sometimes makes her feel whole and complete again. Then one day Byron enters her life. When Byron finds Toni, his world explodes with color and emotion. He knows immediately she is his lifemate and like all of the males of his kind, can do nothing but protect his other half from the moment he finds her. She is very independent however, in spite of her lack of sight, and does not exactly appreciate Byron's over-protectiveness, in spite of her great attraction to him. Some of her family also are suspicious of his attention to her, so begin questioning the strange attraction between the two of them. When strange accidents start happening at the palazzo, accidents that make it apparent someone wishes to kill Toni and her grandfather, Don Giovanni, Byron is all the more protective, wanting to keep her from harm. In addition, a dangerous predator is on the loose, a wild cat, killing townsfolk and trying to get members of the Scarletti family. Now Byron must make his move, binding Toni to him forever, as one of his kind, to keep her and her family safe. Who is the person trying to kill the family, and why? What is Toni's unique link to the jaguar stalking their home? Mysteries will be solved and answers revealed. Ms Feehan has done it again! She has written yet another brilliant addition to her Dark saga. Her loyal fans finally have one of the most breathlessly anticipated stories, that of Byron. He struck a chord with many of her fans upon being first introduced in her first book, and many have been waiting for his story. At last they have it! Byron and Toni's story will reel the reader in from the first page and never lets up its hold. Their passion is limitless, electrifying, in spite of their weaknesses. Toni has a hard time believing anyone could possibly want her for herself and not her money. After all, she is blind and believes she is ugly, so who could possibly want her? Byron needs her and loves her for herself, but Toni has to learn that for herself. Also of note in this story, Ms. Feehan seamlessly weaves three different worlds she has created into one, her gothic stories, her Carpathian stories, and her fantasy stories all come together in this story, making it memorable and showcasing her amazing talent. Very few authors could pull off such a feat, but she does it brilliantly. She also introduces readers to some new characters, and a new line of Carpathian blood, which will likely come into play in future books. And who can resist a chance to visit some beloved characters from past books? Ms. Feehan is a phenomenal writer, with lots of talent and skill for weaving worlds that will keep one entranced from the first to last page. It is no wonder she is one of today's most loved paranormal romance authors. If Dark Symphony is any indication, she will continue to keep her huge following on the edges of their seats, eagerly anticipating each successive book in this series, or any others she chooses to write. There is a reason her books continue to be bestsellers, and this book is no exception. © Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2003. All rights reserved.
Rating:  Summary: Much better than the last few Dark Series books.. Review: I give this five stars when I normally would have given it 4. Reason being, I'm a great fan of the Dark Series but the last few books of the series have been disappointing and this one seemed like such a step up from the "dry spell". In the previous books, there was so much repetition of the same love/sex scenes, many of the Carpathian males all seemed to run together into the same character. There wasn't much seperating the characters. I loved the twist of the lifemate being blind. It left for more description of surronding events, etc. I did enjoy this book much better than some of the others, although Dark Legend was a recent one of the series that I also liked. It's a great series but if you read all the books, you'll notice the repetition.
Rating:  Summary: Not the usual... Review: from Feehan's "Dark" series. I like this new take she has - having more types of villians, rather than sticking to the human vampire assassins and vampires themselves. It was getting a little old, and I love the new variation. This new race, also, could make things interesting in future books. Unusually, it was actually Antonietta's family that intrigued me. I usually can't wait for all the Carpathians to band together, as their interactions are always top notch. There was less of that in this book than of the leopard family, hopefully to make the reader as comfortable with them as you have invariably come to be with the Carpathians. As far as characters go, half the time, I forgot that Antonietta was blind, and I REALLY liked that. As much as I love her, the very subtle reminders that she was handicapped were quite enough, and if she wasn't blind, I might have gagged at the perfection. Okay, not really - she's probably the best human character since Raven, and she is remarkably capable, running her entire (very large) family despite her lack of sight. Byron isn't typical, either, he being the first we meet as a hero who is not born a warrior. In my eyes, this made him stand all the taller, because he fights anyhow. The way he handles the situations that arise with Antonietta's family is entertaining and intriguing, and his cleverness and understanding is a wonderful addition. The family dynamics here are ore than worth the read, complicated and intense, and I hope we see more of them!
Rating:  Summary: This came to life and it was magic! Review: I will read anything that Christine Feehan writes. She has never let me down. Each book is magical and I really care about the characters. I was so thrilled to see the video of Dark Symphony. The Dark Series is truly one of a kind and I highly recommend them all. Dark Symphony was compelling and mysterious. I loved the relationship between Byron and Antionetta and I love the action and suspence of their story. Read this book and you'll be so glad you did. Of course, then you'll be hooked like the rest of us!
|