williaab's review against another edition
2.0
Not a hard read, but not a real story to it. Its more about the two main characters having sex to learn and establish a link with each other. Ends kind of predictably.
22wolflovers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tiamariatamera's review against another edition
Um. Scared. Grossed out. Lost. Confused. Kinda fun?
Don’t at me. I read like 60 pages and just could not.
I apologise.
Don’t at me. I read like 60 pages and just could not.
I apologise.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
2.0
Dark Prince
3 Stars
Dark Prince is my third attempt at reading a Christine Feehan book. Although her plot premises are usually good, the execution leaves much to be desired as her writing style tends toward telling rather than showing, and this results in endless pages of unnecessary description.
Feehan’s book was originally published in 1998, however, reading it now means that there is nothing truly original about the story as, these days, the paranormal romance genre is inundated with dark, tortured and suicidal vampires who can only be saved by their fated mate.
Mikhail and Raven’s romance is the focus of the book and is quite entertaining as they have an interesting dynamic and solid chemistry. Many reviewers have taken objection to Mikhail’s sexist possessiveness. However, this type of behavior is not uncommon in the genre so it is easy to just go with the flow. Raven’s passivity and TSTL behavior is far more annoying as my preference is for kick-ass heroines who don’t wander into danger and then wait for rescue.
The secondary story element revolves around a group of fanatical vampire hunters who have targeted Mikhail and his fellow Carpathians. There are some good action scenes, but the villains are on the stupid/incompetent end of the evil scale and it is difficult to take them seriously.
In terms of the world building, the concept of the Carpathians has potential but there is insufficient background on the origins, natures and abilities.
All in all, there are better written vampire series out there such as Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed and Tina Folsom’s Scanguard’s Vampires.
3 Stars
Dark Prince is my third attempt at reading a Christine Feehan book. Although her plot premises are usually good, the execution leaves much to be desired as her writing style tends toward telling rather than showing, and this results in endless pages of unnecessary description.
Feehan’s book was originally published in 1998, however, reading it now means that there is nothing truly original about the story as, these days, the paranormal romance genre is inundated with dark, tortured and suicidal vampires who can only be saved by their fated mate.
Mikhail and Raven’s romance is the focus of the book and is quite entertaining as they have an interesting dynamic and solid chemistry. Many reviewers have taken objection to Mikhail’s sexist possessiveness. However, this type of behavior is not uncommon in the genre so it is easy to just go with the flow. Raven’s passivity and TSTL behavior is far more annoying as my preference is for kick-ass heroines who don’t wander into danger and then wait for rescue.
The secondary story element revolves around a group of fanatical vampire hunters who have targeted Mikhail and his fellow Carpathians. There are some good action scenes, but the villains are on the stupid/incompetent end of the evil scale and it is difficult to take them seriously.
In terms of the world building, the concept of the Carpathians has potential but there is insufficient background on the origins, natures and abilities.
All in all, there are better written vampire series out there such as Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed and Tina Folsom’s Scanguard’s Vampires.
bmzhang's review against another edition
I know it's an older book but the tropes were painfully toxic and the love story unrealistically bad. Couldn't do it.
saraa_98's review against another edition
3.0
Ich habe das Buch sehr spannend gefunden. Die Geschichte um Mikhail und Raven ist sehr spannend, geprägt von Höhen und Tiefen. Ich konnte mich auch sehr gut in die Charaktere einfühlen.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist flüssig und gut verständlich. Womit ich allerdings mühe hatte waren die Bettszenen. Ich habe fand die irgendwie nach den ersten 2-3 mal nur noch langweilig weil es fast immer gleich ablief. Ich liebe Bettszenen eigentlich aber hier konnte ich mich einfach nicht wirklich hinein versetzen. Warum auch immer. Ich werde aber trotzdem die Reihe weiter lesen.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist flüssig und gut verständlich. Womit ich allerdings mühe hatte waren die Bettszenen. Ich habe fand die irgendwie nach den ersten 2-3 mal nur noch langweilig weil es fast immer gleich ablief. Ich liebe Bettszenen eigentlich aber hier konnte ich mich einfach nicht wirklich hinein versetzen. Warum auch immer. Ich werde aber trotzdem die Reihe weiter lesen.
onlyfictionsworld's review against another edition
1.0
Mikhail Dubrinsky is the leader of the Carpathians, an ancient ethnic group whose female population is rapidly shrinking. After helping catch a serial killer with her telepathic skills, Raven Whitney, a human, is vacationing in the Carpathian Mountains. Raven sensed Mikhail’s distress, and the two realize they share a connection. In Mikhail’s eyes, Raven represents hope for the Carpathians, as she may be the life mate he thought he’d never find.
Despite being aware of Christine Feehan's books, I wasn't impressed with the Dark Prince.. Narrative style was the first problem.I’ve had trouble understanding endless text on more than one occasion. Dark Prince is crammed full of emotional descriptions, and it repeats itself endlessly. It forced readers to sit through repetitive scenes in the emotional recount.. They used stock phrases every time. I started thinking the book would never end.
Mikhail’s treatment of Raven was another issue. The situation was infuriating. If he continued to infantilize her, I would accuse him of pedophilia. He calls her “little one,” as if she were a toddler. The sex scenes make her sound like a child, with her “soft whimpers,” “keening cries,” and “sobbing breath.” He sometimes speaks to her in a childish tone, and she fills his mind with childlike laughter.
Raven objected to Mikhail's attempt to intimidate her. Although she's called smart, she doesn't see through Mikhail's seductive talk.
There was also the whole issue of the men lacking emotions. Though it’s an interesting twist, I don’t buy it. Without feelings, how can men feel loyalty or honor? Without emotional bonds, they would all be psychopathic loners.
Although I’m aware of how popular this series is, I don’t think it’s for me. Mikhail and Raven’s twisted relationship does not appeal to me, and I don’t want to read any more about it. It’s hard to imagine how any woman would find this sexy.
Despite being aware of Christine Feehan's books, I wasn't impressed with the Dark Prince.. Narrative style was the first problem.I’ve had trouble understanding endless text on more than one occasion. Dark Prince is crammed full of emotional descriptions, and it repeats itself endlessly. It forced readers to sit through repetitive scenes in the emotional recount.. They used stock phrases every time. I started thinking the book would never end.
Mikhail’s treatment of Raven was another issue. The situation was infuriating. If he continued to infantilize her, I would accuse him of pedophilia. He calls her “little one,” as if she were a toddler. The sex scenes make her sound like a child, with her “soft whimpers,” “keening cries,” and “sobbing breath.” He sometimes speaks to her in a childish tone, and she fills his mind with childlike laughter.
Raven objected to Mikhail's attempt to intimidate her. Although she's called smart, she doesn't see through Mikhail's seductive talk.
There was also the whole issue of the men lacking emotions. Though it’s an interesting twist, I don’t buy it. Without feelings, how can men feel loyalty or honor? Without emotional bonds, they would all be psychopathic loners.
Although I’m aware of how popular this series is, I don’t think it’s for me. Mikhail and Raven’s twisted relationship does not appeal to me, and I don’t want to read any more about it. It’s hard to imagine how any woman would find this sexy.
sunnydee's review against another edition
1.0
Ich bin ehrlich gesagt sprachlos. Das Hörbuch habe ich bis zur Hälfte gehört, immer in der Hoffnung, dass es doch noch besser wird. Dann habe ich es abgebrochen, da mir meine Zeit zu kostbar dafür ist.
Es geht hier um einen Vampir, der eigentlich am Verzweifeln ist. Seine Rasse stirbt aus, weil keine weiblichen Karpathier mehr geboren werden. Dann spricht plötzlich eine Frau mit ihm via Gedanken. Sie ist ein Mensch und warum sie mit ihm spricht, fragt mich nicht. Es war eine von vielen Stellen wo ich mich fragte, „Wo kam das jetzt her“ oder „Wie bitte kam das zu Stande“. Aber das waren nicht die einzigen Fragen, die immer wieder in meinem Kopf schwirrten. Meist fragte ich mich „Wie bitte kann man so doof sein“ oder „Wer zum Teufel würde so reagieren?“. Nun ganz offensichtlich unsere Protagonistin. Ich konnte eigentlich gar nichts in diesem Buch nachvollziehen.
Sie redet mit ihm, obwohl er mega creepy ist, lässt sich entführen und hat ein Verhältnis mit ihm, das von Anfang an einfach merkwürdig war.
Verschlimmert wird das ganze dann noch durch die Sprecherin, Suzan Amir Gusorius, die das Ganze sehr schwülstig liest. Allgemein ist der Schreibstil sehr altbacken und wie gesagt, wird kaum etwas wirklich erklärt und alles wirkt unnatürlich.
Naja, wie gesagt, habe ich es nach der Hälfte abgebrochen und werde um die Autorin wohl auch eher einen Bogen machen.
Story 1,6/5
Emotionen 1,0/5
Charaktere 1,0/5
Sprecher 2,4/5
Lesegefühl 1,0/5
Gesamt 1,4/5
Es geht hier um einen Vampir, der eigentlich am Verzweifeln ist. Seine Rasse stirbt aus, weil keine weiblichen Karpathier mehr geboren werden. Dann spricht plötzlich eine Frau mit ihm via Gedanken. Sie ist ein Mensch und warum sie mit ihm spricht, fragt mich nicht. Es war eine von vielen Stellen wo ich mich fragte, „Wo kam das jetzt her“ oder „Wie bitte kam das zu Stande“. Aber das waren nicht die einzigen Fragen, die immer wieder in meinem Kopf schwirrten. Meist fragte ich mich „Wie bitte kann man so doof sein“ oder „Wer zum Teufel würde so reagieren?“. Nun ganz offensichtlich unsere Protagonistin. Ich konnte eigentlich gar nichts in diesem Buch nachvollziehen.
Sie redet mit ihm, obwohl er mega creepy ist, lässt sich entführen und hat ein Verhältnis mit ihm, das von Anfang an einfach merkwürdig war.
Verschlimmert wird das ganze dann noch durch die Sprecherin, Suzan Amir Gusorius, die das Ganze sehr schwülstig liest. Allgemein ist der Schreibstil sehr altbacken und wie gesagt, wird kaum etwas wirklich erklärt und alles wirkt unnatürlich.
Naja, wie gesagt, habe ich es nach der Hälfte abgebrochen und werde um die Autorin wohl auch eher einen Bogen machen.
Story 1,6/5
Emotionen 1,0/5
Charaktere 1,0/5
Sprecher 2,4/5
Lesegefühl 1,0/5
Gesamt 1,4/5
kleedc73's review against another edition
3.0
I have read and enjoyed the GhostWalkers series by Christine Feehan and thought this series looked interesting too. I enjoyed this book (the first in the Carpathians series) but thought it was perhaps a little bit over the top, even for paranormal romance. But it had all of the elements you look for in a traditional romance novel so if you are looking for a good beach or vacation read, this is a solid bet.