In the sixth book of the Dark/Carpathian series, Tempest (Rusti) Trine has lived a hard life. From living in foster homes and on the street, she grew up fast and learned how to take care of herself. She’s always been alone, just trying to survive, and she’s hiding a secret gift. (She’s psychic and can speak with animals.) Desperately needing a job, she finds a want ad for a mechanic and seeks out the Dark Troubadours, a popular singing group.
Darius is the leader of his small family and will do anything to protect them. Even though all of them are Carpathians, who can fly and shape-shift into animals to travel, they need to keep up the appearances of being human, so they travel in vehicles when going on tour. Though he didn’t want to hire a human mechanic, he soon realizes Rusti is his lifemate.
I like Darius and Rusti a lot. Since he’s both a Carpathian male and the head of the family, he’s highly possessive and jealous, but very protective of the ones he cares for. Rusti doesn’t trust easily and fought her strange connection to Darius, but she needed to keep the man on his toes and prove she wouldn’t bow to his command. She’s strong and capable, a perfect for Darius and his stubborn ways.
Julian, Desari, Barack, Syndil, and Dayan return from the previous book. The society of human vampire hunters is again after the group. Cullen is a new human character and proves a good ally to the Carpathians.
Though Darius and Rusti’s romance is the main story, there’s a secondary romance between Barack and Syndil. I’ve always liked Syndil and was happy to see her growing stronger and more self-assured as this book progressed. I’m not very fond of Barack. Unlike Darius and Dayan, he didn’t lose his emotions centuries earlier, so he slept with various women over the years since he felt sexual desire. Syndil also felt desire, but in pure Feehan fashion, stayed a virgin (because most heroines are in this series). Only after their friendship takes a hit, do they realize they’re actually lifemates.
Despite the head hopping and passive voice, the plot and characters are strong. This book is one of my favorites in the series.
5 Stars ( )

Onestamente dalla Feehan mi aspettavo qualcosa di più dopo cinque romanzi sui Principi Vampiri. Non per essere pedante, ma alla fine la storia è sempre quella, cambia poco, molto poco.
Senza contare che, questa volta, fra Darius e Rusti non c'è neanche stato lo scontro tanto atteso, visto il carattere indipendente della protagonista femminile. Alla fine si è arresa a Darius, alla passione e a quel maschio egocentrico e maschilista qual è.
Mi sarei aspettata una resistenza più costruttiva da parte della ragazza, rispetto a "sono sola, sono sempre stata sola, me la cavo da sola e amo la mia libertà".
Te la cavi da sola? Ma se ti ficchi nei guai come quel povero cristo chiude gli occhi! E' ovvio che lui, e i lettori stessi, non ti prendono in considerazione quando batti e piedini a terra per essere lasciata libera. Donna, sei un cataclisma! Io ti avrei richiusa da qualche parte a priori!

Un bel romanzo, come sempre, che si lascia leggere con tranquillità e dai toni sensuali che catturano ma, cara Feehan, il rodaggio della serie te l'abbiamo scusato per i primi sei libri, ora dacci qualcosa di più da leggere! ( )

wrapped up too good for my opinion but i still enjoyed this book ( )

Darius, the brother of Desari from Dark Challenge, feels the darkness closing in on him until he sets his eyes on the petite, redheaded mechanic his sister has hired to make repairs on their bus. Suddenly, his dark life is filled with color and desire for the feisty girl. Instinctively, he knows she is his life-mate, and joins them with ancient words despite the ramifications of her being human and him Carpathian. I can't say enough about this book. I would say if you're a first time Christine Feehan reader, try this book. You don't need to read the other's first. ( )

Darius is a clumsy jerk with no social skills whatsoever, and communication issues. Tempest seems kind of dumb sometimes, and we wonder how she ever managed to survive as long as she has, because she always manages to wind up in the right place at the wrong time.

Another ex vampire hunter is recruited, and we get to see more of Desari and Julian, Syndil, and Barack, who always seems to do the wrong thing, even though he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

This is Darius and Tempest's story... not much goes on here. It's skippable. ( )