Review: Dark Storm by Christine Feehan

Dark Storm is the 23rd book in the Dark or Carpathian series by Christine Feehan.  It seems hard to believe that I have read all 23 books, and more will be released in the foreseeable future.  I remember discovering this series back when there had only been about 4 books released.  It was such a fresh take on the vampire sub-culture.  Plus all those really hot men who once they found their lifemate could never stray and treated them as though they were spun glass, evert want and need catered to. It was pretty heady stuff.  But 23 books later and I was starting to get tired of the same ole, same ole. 

Happily, this book did manage to change things up a bit.  First off, the female lead, Riley, was more accepting of both Dax and his claim.  She didn't spend the entire book fighting him or freaking out over the whole vampire versus Carpathian thing.  This was a refreshing change.  Also, Dax introduced us to some new rituals of the Ancient Carpathians.  Additionally, the amount of follow up we got on previous characters was tremendous.  I am getting to the point though, that I really want Gary's story.  He has played a secondary role in so many books in the series, that I really think he deserves his own book.  So I was glad that he played a large part in this book.  

Overall it was a solid book in the series.  The only thing that I could really complain about was the ending.  Yes, the bad guy is vanquished and they saved the day, but I wanted a little more.  It just kind of.... stopped.   I kept looking for another chapter or at least a few more pages to wrap things up a little neater, but nuthin.  I was disappointed in the ending.  I am giving the book 3 stars on Goodreads.  Mostly for the ending, but also because I am getting to the point that I am about done with the series, even if the author isn't.

Goodreads:

Return to the seductive world of Christine Feehan's New York Times bestselling Carpathian novels as roiling passions collide in a perfect storm of dangerous desire that only a precious few can hope to outrun . . .

Awakening after all this time in a world of absolute darkness and oppressive heat, Dax wonders in how many ways the world above must have changed. But it is how he has changed that fills him with dread and loathing. Buried alive for hundreds of years in a volcano in the Carpathian Mountains, Dax fears that he has become the full-fledged abomination that every Carpathian male fears, a victim of the insidious evil that has crept relentlessly into his mind and body over the centuries. But there are some things that never change.

His name is Mitro, the vampire Dax had hunted all these long centuries. Second in command to the prince of the Carpathian people he is the epitome of everything malevolent, and perpetrator of one of the most shocking killing sprees known to man - and beast. Even his friends and family weren't safe from Mitro's bloodlust. Neither was Mitro's lifemate, Arabejila, an extraordinary woman with extraordinary gifts. But now that Dax has re-emerged, so too has Mitro. The ultimate battle between good and evil has been re-engaged. Between Dax and Mitro, a violent game has begun - one that has marked Riley Parker, the last descendent of Arabejila, as the reward.