Dark Guardian (Dark Series)

He is Lucian, both he and his twin Gabriel, were legendary warriors, who had been fighting the vampire before Mikhail Dubrinsky became prince of the Carpathian people. Now that his twin has found his lifemate Francesca, Lucian now looks for his own. He has been warned that she is young and has been subjected to much emotional pain, and he must find her, or she will suffer even more in the future.

She is Jaxom Montgomery, a young, petite police officer, who takes her duty to protect very seriously. Set up on a raid, she is seriously injured, and finds herself in Lucian's care. Jaxom has deep feelings for him, and she is terrified because every person she has ever cared about has been murdered. A psychopathic killer, from her past, is growing ever closer.

With both the vampire and the killer stalking them, their love will be tested. Can Lucian truly protect them both as he promised?

This book is one of my favs in the Dark series. I do have a few. Ms. Feehan's earlier Dark novels were her best in my opinion, and this one deserves very high marks. I do hope you try this one.

P.S. Gabriel's story is 'Dark Legend'. I highly recommend both books.

From the prologue to the end, this novel will surely keep you hooked. The dark sensuality of Lucian is simply enticing. It is so delicious and, not to mention, envy-worthy, to witness his possession, as well as need of Jaxx.

Lucian is a very powerful Carpathian, well-respected by his own kind as well as feared by the darker creatures of the underworld. He has lived for about two thousand years, but now has come the time when he has to find his mate so as to not be converted into a vampire--the race of evil that he has unrelentingly fought and hunted for the entirety of his existence. Seeing vivid color for the first time in his life upon meeting Jaxon made him realize that, at last, he has found his lifemate.

Jaxx is a cop who has made it her life's aim to protect people. The traumatic events in her childhood has made her strong--and the last thing she wanted was to be dependent on anyone else. So it came as a surprise when Lucian comes into her life and starts to make her feel that she needed this man. Lucian subtly and steadily broke down her defenses, overpowering her with his fierce possession and unconditional love.

The beauiful facet of this story is that, Lucian was prepared to wait until Jaxx realized that she loved him as much as he loved her. I enjoyed the encounters both Jaxx and Lucian had when Jaxx finally became a Carpathian. Of course, the steamy love scenes were an added bonus!

This is simply one of the most romantic, sensual, and exciting stories ever written. It has the elements of passion, humor, action and suspense. After you read this book, im sure you're gonna yearn to have someone like Lucian in your life! :p

Dark Guardian is a great entry in Feehan's unique, sensual and highly compelling Dark series.
Jaxon (Jaxx) Montgomery, a tough young police officer, has already endured a life of misery in which she's lost everyone she's ever cared about to her murderous stepfather, Tyler Drake, an ex-Navy Seal who's still at large.
Lucian Daratrazanoff has been a powerful guardian of his people, the Carpathians, for thousands of years. He uses his enormous supernatural mental and physical powers to hunt and destroy vampires and to protect the weak. However, his emotions have withered so he lives a bleak, soulless life-until he meets Jaxx.
Lucian is convinced that Jaxx is his lifemate. After he saves her from an ambush, her real adventure begins. She discovers a secret, shadow world of unimaginable power and danger as she fights by Lucian's side. In the meantime, she begins to discover the inner secrets of the enigmatic and fascinating Lucian-a male of intense power, confidence and utter devotion to her. Under Jaxx's influence, Lucian is able to recover his emotions-and they are as intense as any romantic hero in all of literature.
This is one of the best romances I've ever read. The tender and highly erotic relationship between Lucian and Jaxx is developed in such detail and with such an excitement of discovery that the book is impossible to put down. It is a steamy, wild adventure ride that will utterly entertain any romance reader. Author Christine Feehan is truly a master of exciting erotic prose and deep character emotion. I can hardly wait to read all of her other books!

"Dark Guardian" by Christine Feehan is the 8th instalment in the wonderfully sensual and intriguing "Dark" series, and once again Feehan does not disappoint. With fresh and likeable characters and a storyline filled with passion, danger, and suspense, "Dark Guardian" will leave readers cheering Feehan's remarkable talent.
Lucian, one of the legendary ancient Carpathian twins, has spent the last several hundred years pretending to have turned vampire in order to keep his beloved twin (Gabriel of "Dark Legend") from turning vampire himself, knowing that Gabriel had a lifemate out there somewhere. And now that Gabriel has found his other half, Lucian feels his mission has come to an end. For the years he has spent hunting and killing the undead have left a stain of darkness on Lucian's soul, and he has grown weary of his endless colourless and emotionless existence. But Gabriel's lifemate, Francesca, insists that she knows of Lucian's lifemate, and that this woman desperately needs Lucian's help.
And indeed Lucian does find his lifemate, feisty lady cop Jaxon Montgomery, who has dedicated her life to protecting others. But Jaxon has had a nightmarish start in life, with a crazed stepfather who murders everyone who gets close to her, including her biological parents and little brother, and her beloved foster parents. As a result, Jaxx lives a solitary and lonely life, never getting too close to anyone for fear that it will get them killed. So when Lucian appears out of the night to save her from a bust gone wrong, she immediately fears that Lucian will become the next target of her stepfather Tyler Drake's bloodlust.
Recuperating in Lucian's huge and lovely home, Jaxx becomes aware that Lucian is no ordinary man. But though she witnesses some of his remarkable powers, she still fears for his safety. Lucian, on the other hand, is not at all concerned about one mortal man, ex-Navy SEAL though he might be, but he is incredibly touched by Jaxx's concern for him. Jaxon fears the deep connection she feels between herself and Lucian, and doesn't know how to live as one half of a couple after a lifetime of being utterly alone. But Lucian is remarkably gentle and understanding with Jaxon, giving her time to adjust to all the changes in her life. Because Lucian knows the one thing he will never do is let Jaxon go, for she is the light to his darkness, the very air he breathes and the other half of his soul.
But Jaxx is like a beacon of light drawing the soulless undead to her, as they all know that a human woman with psychic powers can be converted into one of them. Indeed, Lucian makes the decision that the only way to keep Jaxx safe is to convert her into a Carpathian, and it was a refreshing change to have a heroine who simply dealt with the change and moved on, rather than agonizing over it. Together, Lucian and Jaxx formulate a plan to draw out the undead hunting Jaxx and Tyler Drake. And there is no chance that Jaxx will sit back while Lucian fights her battles, so she and Lucian become true partners, another refreshing change from previous books. This book builds the suspense effectively to a thrilling climax, and will leave readers utterly sated and satisfied.
"Dark Guardian" is another fantastic entry is Feehan's "Dark" series and it is not to be missed. The romance between Lucian and Jaxx is passionate and intense, and it's wonderful watching them find happiness and eternal love in each other's arms. Amidst the affecting romance of Jaxx and Lucian, Feehan seamlessly mixes in a tale of danger and excitement that will keep readers turning pages. "Dark Guardian" was a truly enjoyable read and it comes highly recommended.

Jaxon "Jaxx" Montgomery has survived domestic violence though her brother and mother died at the hands of her stepfather. Now she is a highly regarded police officer with quite a reputation for success. On the current case she senses a deadly trap and aborts the mission. However, a macho rookie Craig Benton ignores her order to retreat and charges inside the building setting off the ambush. Jaxx and her partner Barry Radcliff place themselves in danger to rescue Craig. Only the work of a wolf saves their lives.

The wolf Lucien takes Jaxx to safety because he knows this feisty human is his life-mate. After living on the edge of the dark, he, like his twin brother before him, has finally found the woman that enables him to see colors in a world of black and white. Though Jaxx is drawn to the Carpathian she wonders if he is the magnet that brings the monster back to finish the incomplete slaughter he started years ago or is he the monster?

The latest Carpathian vampire romance is an exciting entry that employs a human to refresh the tale of Lucien. The return of Lucien's sibling Gabriel and soul mate Francesca add a nice touch, as the audience will relish seeing them support the lead characters. Lucien remains a powerhouse of morality and Jaxx is a fine intrepid individual who is his perfect foil, but seems more Carpathian than human. DARK GUARDIAN is a wonderful novel that enhances the Christine Feehan universe completing the twist from DARK LEGEND with the strong story of one of the darker Carpathians.

Harriet Klausner

It amazes me how Christine Feehan has created a race of people called the Carpathians, developed several books about the different characters in this race, and still manages for each book to be refreshing, sexy, and suspenseful. Where does this woman get her inspiration for her leading men?
Dark Guardian is Lucian's story. He is the most powerful, elite warrior of the Carpathians. In fact he is the guardian of his race. Now he has met the woman who can change his existence. She can give him back his emotions, sense of color, and ability to love. She is Jaxon Montgomery, a police officer who has spent her life trying to survive the destruction of her childhood, the death of not only her family, but her adopted family, on the constant lookout for the man who will kill anyone who gets too close to her-her stepfather.
Lucian, in order to protect Jaxon, makes her into a Carpathian. He takes away her ability to be in the sun, take nourishment from foods. She must now exist on blood like him, but in return gains powers she never knew existed. Together they learn to coexist while taking care of the bad guys.
This is a pretty neat story and like all of Feehan's books, almost impossible to review because you just have to read them to get all the details. Ms. Feehan writes one of the most complex series in paranormal romance. If you haven't tried one of her books, grab one and I really feel you'll be searching for all of them. Ms. Feehan has it all in her books--paranormal, excitement, sex, suspense, gorgeous leading men-everything.

I am a big fan of Christine Feehan, and I love her "Dark" series. Overall, I really enjoyed her newest installment in Dark Guardian. But there were a few quibbles that I had with the book that prevented me from giving it a higher rating. Mostly they centered around Jaxx, the heroine. When we first meet her and read about her life in the first chapter, I was looking for a completely different human heroine than what we have seen in the other Dark books. Since she was a policewoman, trained by the Navy Seals as a child, I thought she would be more centered and mature as a character. While there were some instances she displayed this throughout the book, overall I felt she was not as "fleshed" out as she could have been, especially considering her profession. At times I felt she was not deserving for the hero.
However, Lucian was great. Perhaps it is because he is a true ancient, but he was very mellow and understanding, and allowed Jaxx more freedom than some other Carpathians we have read about. And I really was moved by the part were he tells Jaxx about the "man" who told him about Gabriel's lifemate. The end was also moving, in which we see a reunion of sorts with most of the Carpathians. As said before, overall I enjoyed this book, although not as much as Dark Legend, which was the story of Gabriel, Lucian's twin brother.
But it kept me entertained and I look forward to the next one.

Ms. Feehan is a great author and I have all her books. Dark Magic is my favorite. The unique thing that I have always loved about the Dark Series is that the male, although very dominating, he does not wait until the end of the book to express his feelings for his lifemate and does everything he can to win her love which is so unlike the typical romance story.
Lucian's story was a little different because this was the first time a Carpathian male agreed to allow his lifemate to hunt vampires with him. I was glad to see some interaction with Gabriel and his family and the mention of several others I've read about previously. I would love to see Ms. Feehan bring everyone together and update us on how they are doing.
I did not give this book 5 stars because: I felt there was too much unnecessary killing done my Jaxon's stepfather and when he finally surfaces to kill Lucian, Jaxon just brushes off her "internal alarm system" and they never even get to confront "Uncle Tyler". A few more paragraphs on the wedding day scene would have been nice. I was disappointed that we did not get to witness Francesca and Jaxon's time together before the wedding.
All in all, I still think this is a good book and I'm looking forward to Bryon's story in "Dark Symphony".

Dark Guardian is the latest in Feehan's Dark Series, a great set of romance novels about an "Old World" immortal, primarily nocturnal species called Carpathians who remain mostly unknown to humans. After a few centuries, the males lose all feelings of emotion, ability to see color, and risk losing their souls by turning into vampires (undead beings without conscience, seeking the thrill of the kill)... unless the men find the light to their darkness... their lifemates (female Carpathians, or psychic human females who can safely be converted to Carpathian without the risk of becoming vampiresses).
I love this book --so far my favorite in the series--, but recommend starting at the beginning and moving forward in order: Dark Prince, Dark Desire, Dark Gold, Dark Magic, Dark Challenge, Dark Fire, Dark Legend, Dark Guardian (and the Dark Dream, which is one of three stories in an anthology book entitled After Twilight).
My one and only complaint about this whole series is that Ms. Feehan over-uses a favorite catch phrase: He took her breath away... or She took his breath away... or He tells her, "You take my breath away." Variations pop up repeatedly in each and every book! After reading 9 books, it gets old quick. But, I've learned to skip it and go on, because the rest is great!

Jaxon Montgomery has spent her entire life looking over her shoulder, waiting for her stepfather to strike once again. He'd murdered everyone she'd ever loved or let herself get close to, and she never knows when he might strike again. She has spent her life training to be a protector.
Lucian Daratrazanoff is Carpathian. He's the Carpathian that their own people whisper about in awe, that even while they depend on him for protection, they fear. He's the greatest, strongest in existence. He's walked the Earth alone for over two thousand years, and thought never to meet the light to his soul, his lifemate. And then he meets Jaxon.
After suffering horrendous injury in a set up, Jaxon awakes to find herself in the most incredibly beautiful home, with the most luscious man she's ever laid eyes on. She immediately fears for him, that her stepfather will be hunting him for having helped her.
Lucian has to teach Jaxon about Carpathians, about their ways, and that he fears no humans. And that they are destined to be together for all time...
Ms. Feehan has penned the most wonderful love story!! Lucian is the alpha male, the greatest of his race, yet it's wonderful the way he adjusts his thinking for Jaxon. He understands her enough to be willing to step back in his beliefs at times, to let her be her own person. Jaxon was someone I felt sympathy for in the beginning, and had tons of respect for by the end. The two of them together were the perfect match, and the humor and wit that Jaxon abounds with in the story are not to be missed.
Every time I think she can't get any better, she amazes me and does! DO NOT miss this book!!

I have to admit I am new to the dark series but that takes away from none of the fun. if your new as well this book is a great place to start since it doesn't have that many references to the other books.
Lucian is one of the most powerful carpathian's in the world. So powereful that he sacrifced himself and pretended to be a vampire so that his twin brother wouldn't turn into a vampire (Dark Legend). Carpathian's are a race that drink blood but don't kill. There good but if they don't find there lifemate they either turn into a vampire or decide to go into the light. They need a lifemate because they shed light into there souls.
Lucian finds his lifemate in Jaxon a strong ladycop who can take care of herself. He recuses her from a fire and takes her back to his mansion to protect her. When Jaxon wakes she tries to get Lucian to let her go. Throughout her life everyone she has come to care about has been killed by her stepfather and she knows that it's not possible for her to have a normal relationship in her life. ...
There's plenty of danger and suspense as well. For anyone into the supernatural or the romantic the book. The whole series (which I am starting to read) is a great read!

Christine has done it again with another superb installment to her DARK SERIES... This time she has two very strong characters.. Jaxon and Lucian. Jaxon is a women tormented by a her deranged stepfather.. she is a lonely woman who's had everything she's ever loved taken from her.. she is frighted to form friendship incase they are taken from her in the most brutal fashion. Lucian is the twin brother of Gabriel DARK LEGEND.. He is an Ancient everyone had thought turned Vampire those of you have read Dark Legend know different.. he has finally found light at the end of the tunnel.. but he must persuade Jaxon that he really can protect her.. which in its self is funny.. to him.. she is his other half.. their personalites suited... Many of the reviewers mentioned the fact that she did not complain about being made Carpathian.. she is matter of fact.. its done.. and nothing can change that so she must go on... reveling in the comfort and strength she finds in Lucians arms.. She reminds me in many ways of Sarah in Dark Dream
which is not mentioned nearly anough as featured in Christine's edition in the anthology AFTER TWILIGHT..Christine's way of drawing the read in continues with every story she writes.. whether its the Dark Series.. her Gothics or Paranormal or Contempory.. Christine's work continues to get better..ever sensual bringing us into a world of fantasy few capture..
I say thank you Christine for the many hours on wonderful entertainment you have given me...

As a rule, I am loving the Dark series and am thrilled there are so many of them. I started with this one (number 8) but wasn't at sea at all.

However, the descriptions of how small Jaxx is borders on the ridiculous, and I've noticed this in many other Dark books with the exception of Dark Symphony. Jaxx sounds like a child midget. I got very tired of the constant repetition of how tiny she was, how small, how frail, how petite, etc. etc. This has been repeated with Dark Prince and Dark Desire, where the heroines are also miniature pixies, and it's annoying.

That said, these are wonderful books and I love the old-world machismo. For those who get upset that the men are overbearing, look at it from their point of view - look at their lives without their lifemates (bleak, empty, with the horrifying temptation to turn vampire unless they commit suicide) and look at what these women can give to these men. These books raise the loving sacrifice of self for another to a high art, and that's a really beautiful thing.

Dark Guardian is Lucian's story. He is one of the legendary twins who was brought forth to our attention in Dark Legend as he played a cat & mouse game with his twin (Gabriel), hoping to prevent him for turning to the dark side. You see, long ago, a "man" unlike he had ever encountered, a man of peace and gentleness, told Lucian that there was a lifemate for his twin. Cleverly, unselfishly, he sets upon a path that insures that his beloved twin will never turn vampire.
Ms. Feehan's adaption of Lucian was breathtaking. He was extremely brilliant, powerful and very, very menacing. Clearly, he was the strongest and most powerful of the Carpathians. He had defended his people for endless centuries and his struggle with the dark side was evident from the start of DL. This Carpathian was definitely an alpha male and one that I eagerly awaited to read about.
Onto the story: Jaxxon Montgomery's young life has been spent in fear and in horror. Her stepfather, Tyler Drake, a former SEAL, has killed anyone that has gotten close to her including her own parents & foster parents. He is clever, cunning and clearly deranged shaping Jaxx into a heroine who is determined to protect herself. She becomes a cop forever knowing that her stepfather is out there waiting to strike again.
When her life is in peril, Lucian saves her and her partner. He brings her to his mansion desperate to heal her ~ to claim her. He is clearly gentle, tender and their love senes are incredibly hot. But . . . (*Don't hate me here*)
For me, Lucian didn't seem as powerful as some of the other males (Mikhail, Gregori & Darius). He seemed, well, rather mellow and that aura of menace that I thrilled to in Dark Legend was gone. I expected Lucian to be more like the males mentioned above. Since he had existed for endless centuries without a lifemate, constantly battling the darkness, I thought that his aura of menace would be much more evident as it was in DL.
Despite my crazy quirks, Dark Guardian was a good read.

...If you are wondering about the Dark series, and whether to start, here are some tips:
1) Christine Feehan writes about vampire-like beings, the Carpathians... Feehan creates an entire society - the Carpathians - whose original homeland was in what is now Romania, Moldova, (and perhaps part of western Ukraine).
3) Carpathians have their own biological laws of existence...
4) To add to this, new facts are discovered in almost every book, with the discord between old facts and new being explained by the failure to pass on knowledge between generations, thanks to a massive catastrophe...
5) The balance of power between males and females is very uneven, partly because of the highly skewed sex ratio (a premise that I find fascinating), and partly because of the nature of male Carpathians themselves. This is shown in the relationships of males and females in each and every book, except in DARK GUARDIAN which is a bit unusual. [And of course, if you cannot stand the thought of vampires or vampire-like creatures, or intensely purple love scenes, avoid the entire series].
Now to the review of this title proper:
DARK GUARDIAN is the latest of the Carpathian (or Dark series) books to hit the shelves. Further books are forthcoming for those completely addicted, although they come out only once a year. The series starts with DARK PRINCE (where we meet the leader of this people), and is currently at the 8th book (not including a novella "Dark Dream").
The hero of DARK GUARDIAN is highly unusual. Lucian is one of twin ancient Carpathians who have hunted vampires (male Carpathians who have "turned", or started killing their victims) for about 2000 years. It was far more fun reading about [Lucian] and speculating about his actions and motivations, than reading Gabriel's story. How does Lucian then fare in his book?...I have to confess that I ended up skipping the love scenes because they were too many, and too purple.
The book disappointed me in the end, because of the ending...
I have mixed feelings about the Dark series, after having read just about all the books (DARK GOLD aside). Some are clearly better than others, notably this one. Some are far more moving than others, and you feel that the hero and heroine are genuinely matched, as in DARK DESIRE. But as a whole... discrepancies between what was believed and what is now known are explained away too easily. There are also major discontinuities in chronology between the books (and the lifespans of the characters who appear in them).
... In the Dark series, we are limited to about one hundred years (with the occasional unreliable flashback to some 500 years back). Feehan does American settings well, but she Americanizes her foreign settings (with no allowances for history, geography or local customs). I was attracted to the series by the idea of a society with a skewed sex-ratio, but Carpathian society and its mores is not exactly what I was looking for.
Rating for this book = 4.3 (B+), deduction of 0.3 for the ending.
Rating for the series as a whole = 3.3 (C+)
Comment = series addictive on first couple of reads, but does not stand up well to close scrutiny.

Ok I have loved every book in the Dark series but I really think that this one may have been the best. I couldn't put it down. I usually like to spread these books out so that I don't have to wait and wait for the next but after I read Dark Legend which is Gabriel's story and found out that this was Lucian's story I had to read it as soon as I got it.
Lucian is the twin to Gabriel and is one of the very ancient ones. He has lived for over 2000 years as the greatest hunter of the Carpathians. He has a voice that can make even the most evil of vampires do whatever he wants. He soon finds though that his voice, although compelling, cannot easily command his lifemate. After centuries he finds her. She is human but has special abilities that allow her to be his true lifemate. Jaxx has had a horrid childhood and is a loner because of it. She is haunted by a evil past that has stalked her and everyone deer to her for years. Lucian has vowed to protect her but she is a cop and can protect herself. She fears that she will put Lucian in danger so she fights what her heart and soul are telling her. She decides that she will protect Lucian and fight alongside him in his battles. This is the first time the heroine has taken such a strong role in protecting her lifemate. I really enjoyed how she could be both strong yet vulnerable at the same time.
The love scenes are hot and so wonderfully written. The whole book is just so good that I was both happy and sad at the end because I knew I'd have to wait awhile for a new book. I would recommend these books to anyone, not just because they are romances but because the stories are so well written that you feel like the characters are actually real.

I anxiously awaited Christine Feehan's latest Carpathian novel, Dark Guardian. I devoured the book in one night - reading until the wee hours of the morning. But I have to say that while I enjoyed Lucian and Jaxx' story, it wasn't my favorite. I found Jaxx's character to be a bit powerless. Someone who had survived the horrors of what she lived through, I thought, would be incredibly strong willed. Instead it seemed to me that she spent a lot of time stomping her foot, rather than taking action.
Lucian on the other hand...wow! His character is incredibly kind and generous with Jaxx. He allows Jaxon to do things that no other Carpathian male would allow.
Feehan does a great job of building the tension between the two characters, culminating in her trademark *steamy* scenes. I really enjoyed the book, I just wasn't completely sure that I felt that Jaxx deserved Lucian.
That being said, I'm already ready for Christine Feehan's next "Dark" book and realize that I have at least 8 months to wait.

I just finished Dark Guardian and once again I am emotionally moved by Lucian's & Gabriel's love for each other. It is especially meaningful in these modern times where a lot of siblings are often at each other's throats and forget the true meaning of family and loyalty.
My religion is Buddhism, yet I felt it was very clever how Christine Feehan had written the passage about Lucian meeting a man "who some say is the son of God" so that it is left to interpretation. What a true artist she is!
Gabriel loved his brother so much and it was breaking his heart to face the fact that he must destroy Lucien when he thought he had turned into a vampire. Because through it all, he also knows how much Lucien has loved and sacrificed for him. And he was right, Lucian was granted one wish in his life, and he unselfishly used it to bring a Lifemate for Gabriel.

Christine F. has a true gift, her novels are not only getting better & better, but they also spiritually move you as well. She gives us hope that Good will always triumph over Evil and sooner or later if we haven't already, we all will meet our own lifemates.

Dark Guardian presents Lucien who for the last several hundred years has pretended to be a vampire in order to safeguard his brother, Gabriel. Lucien at Francesca's (Gabriel's lafemate) word, searches out Jaxon Montgomery, a cop who is haunted by an abusive step father. He had killed her family and foster family, and anyone else who he percieved as being a threat to his relationship with Jaxon (this being anyone she grows close to.) Jaxon is afraid for Lucien despite his tremendous abilities, fearing he will be overconfident that no human could be a threat to him. Lucien is determined to help Jaxon move beyond her past once he finds her.
If you are new to Christine Feehan, I recommend you start with Dark Prince because these novels have an overarching storyline that holds them all together, and characters from earlier novels tend to pop up.

Lucian should be called Lucious Lucian. He is hot & I mean steaming. I don't know how Chris does it. Her Dark men just get better. I know I always say that after reading every new book she brings out, but this time I mean it. I can't see how she can better this one, but I am sure she will, somehow.
Jaxon, his lifemate is so different from all the other lifemates. She is a little bundle of dynamite & is absolutely perfect for Lucian. I can't wait to see them in future dark books.
My only one complaint is that I have worn out 2 paperback of this one with all the rereading of it & I am desperately waiting for it to come out in hardback along with all the Dark series. So please publishers hurry & bring the whole series out in H/B soon.
Well done Chris & keep them coming. You have a fan for life.

I think all of Ms. Feehan's books are a cut above others & in particular, her dark series. I personally found Dark Legend to be the best of the dark series ever (although previously Prince, Desire & Magic were neck in neck for that distinction). Dark Guardian rated 4 stars because it was a little different start this time - interesting, as the prologue really grabbed you. If you've read Legend than you know who Lucien is - the guardian of his people, alone for centuries until he meets Jaxon - she is the light to his darkness. While there's is a loving & extremely torrid relationship (as they all are), for some reason it just didn't have the strength of Gabriel & Francesca's & as I read Legend just a couple of months earlier, I couldn't help but compare the two. Again, this book is very good and the storyline of Jaxon's stepfather was eerie & truly gripping at times and I do recommend it; I just didn't think the relationship was as intense as some of the others.

Like many readers, I was sorely disappointed with the heroine. Jaxon Montgomery started this journey as a warrior. She finished as a whimpering, fainting damsel in distress.
Her character is established early on as a firery, seasoned soldier turned supercop. Why then, was she so willing to surrender her fate to a man who thought little of her 20 years of training (she was a military brat trained from early childhood by her father and stepfather)? Where was her rage when the pain started and she woke up no longer human, but a full-blooded Carpathian who has to drink blood to survive? Lucian never even asked what she thought about conversion. She should have made good on her threat and shot him--just once. It would have been more believable than what we were given.
To make things worse, when the moment of truth comes and she has to face off with her nemesis...she faints. Lucian delivered the smack down Jaxon had been holding in all her life. "Oh, save me mighty man; I'm just a girl trained to kill by the US government. I can't possibly defend myself with the many guns and knives I own. They're mostly for decoration."
Add the fact that the formula has grown stale and boring, and I don't see any reason to read on. Just one time, I would love to see the heroine rebel openly and agressively against this situation. I want her to refuse becoming a lifemate and stand her ground. Why shouldn't he have to work for it?
The steamy love scenes just weren't enough to hold my interest this time around.

Jaxx is the strongest female character that Ms. Feehan has created. Instead of the other character who simper about being independent Jaxx is... she doesn't whine about things that are inconsequential.
Lucien is the most unforgettable of the Carpathian males to date. He does not apologize repeatedly for who he is like Gregori. He does not condescend to her. He teaches her how to be a carpathian by letting her do and be.
This book is quite different than the rest. Enjoy it. Also if you liked this you might like. Passion by Donna Boyd and the Anita Blake Series by Laurell Hamilton
If you are looking for the same story line with different character names, look for books by Johanna Lindsey.

I waited for what seemed like a long time before Lucian's story came out. I have thoroughly enjoyed these 'Dark' series of books. Those Carpathians are the ultimate warriors and lovers. This tale of Lucian is, in my estimation, one of the best of the 'Dark' series. Jaxon, or Jaxx, as she is called, is one of the most complicated of the heroines in these books. She is strong, compassionate and feels she must protect everyone in her small world. I discovered the answer to one of my questions in the book 'Dark Legend', the story of Gabriel. Lucian told Gabriel that someone he trusted not to tell an untruth had said that Gabriel had a Lifemate somewhere in the future. That person is revealed in this book. You have to be quick to catch it, don't try to skim through the pages. Jaxon needs someone strong to protect her from all the horror that is going on around her. I did feel that Ms. Feehan had a bit too much horror and death going on in this story, and even Jaxon, strong as she is, would have gone over the edge, Lucian or no Lucian. We all have known that Lucian was one of the strongest of the Carpathian males, and it is only right that his Lifemate is one of the strongest of the human psychic females. My only concern is, whose story will be next? And when will it be out so I can read it!

All of Feehan's Dark Series is excellent. Dark Fire, Dark Legend, and Dark Guardian are by far my favorite. Those three rank on my all time favorite romance list. Very sexy. Feehan now seems comfortable with her creation and has move on to start to write really strong FEMALE characters (the males were always strong). The main reason I fell in love with these books is the need and feeling of the male characters. While the first book's ladies can hold their own they seemed to me to get a touch whiney after a while. These are the first and only Vampire books I have ever read. Before these I could not fathom why there was even a sub genera like this. While it is not necessary to read all the books in order, most of the males carry over form previous books. I for one love to revisit couples I have read about before. Not for the faint of heart, blood shedding, and blood drinking play a heavy role in these books. All in all excellent, truly wonderful story line. Christine Feehan could not possibly write fast enough for me. *****

I love Christine Feehan's books and this was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel. The suspense of when Jaxon's stepfather was going to strike and who he would kill was built up throughout the book. The ending then disappointed me. The suffering that the stepfather had inflicted on Jaxon was so great that I felt he should have had a battle with Jaxon or a more gruesome ending than how he was dealt with at the end. My friend who read the book also agreed with me. The book was great until the ending. It disappointed me so much that I am only giving this 3 stars. The book is worth reading but readers will find the final battle a disappointment.

"Dark Guardian" is the story of twin Julian and his desire to find his lifemate before he succumbs to the dark in his soul that he has been keeping at bay for his brother's sake.
Still filled with steamy scenes; this book left me unfulfilled. The ending was anti-climatic. What is supposed to be a major setup for justice was fizzled out. The issue could have been addressed much earlier; instead of stringing along the reader. As the reader I anticipated much more to the face-off between Julian and Jaxx's stepfather and was bitterly disappointed.
My biggest irk was the domineering ways of Julian in "converting" Jaxx. For an incredibly independent and strong (both physically and mentally) woman, she capitulated rather easily. No major histronics or displays of anger. The character of Jaxx could have been done so much better. Instead it left me wanting more.
It must be tough for an author to continue to make the storylines fresh and interesting for the reader. How many ways can a Carpathian meet his lifemate and bond her? With this book it seems she has run out of the ways. Since I have gone this far in the series I have purchased the next one and hope it redeems it self. On the bright side it can't be much worse than this one.

It's important to read Dark Legend before reading this book. Some books in this series can be read as a stand alone but if you try that with this one you'll be missing something special.

This was my second favorite book in this series. A few of the ones in the middle felt redundant to me but this one was fresh and fun again. Strangely I stopped reading the series after this one. Maybe I just wanted to end on a good note.

I have read all but the last two in the Dark series, and I have to say at first I was captivated by Dark Prince and Desire. Her vampire concept and sex/love scenes sizzled, and I do think Christine Freehan is one of the best writers for this. But, after a few novels, as others have said, the whole repetition of basic characters, themes, words, antagonists gets tiring. Feehan puts teasers in each novel for expansion of concepts in this series, such as development of the ongoing interrelationships between all the Carpathians and their lifemates, but she never flushes it out, other than between Darius and Julian. Readers become attached to all these hero/heroine characters and want more interaction from them than just seduction, sex and vampire combat. This particular novel started out great because I liked Jaxon's fight for others and her interactions with Lucien. I thought they were the most descriptive of a true relationship between partners. But the end fell flat and ridiculous except for the wedding, which all readers would have liked to attend(Hint Hint Feehan). And I must say that as a writer, I couldn't believe that she had Lucien describe to Jaxon, the incident which gave him hope to live for the next 2000 without a lifemate. The incident where he sacrificed his needs for his brother's. In these powerful passages, Lucien describes meeting the Son of God, which is Jesus, who gives him hope for his brother and him to continue their fight by Jesus's radiating compassion, light, goodness, etc. Jesus gives Lucien a wish, and Lucien asks for a lifemate for his brother Gabriel. Now hearing this moving event of Lucien's sacrificial love for his brother, Jaxon, who wants a church wedding, so we know that she obviously has at least some Christian upbringing, merely states "And you believed him?" He responds that he does and the subject is dropped. Come on!!! Anyone, Christian or not, would want to know about this historical figure, something other than "and you believed him?" And what does this statement of hers mean anyway? Is she asking did Lucien convert to Christinity? Does she doubt Jesus's abilities herself, although for some reason, she wants a church wedding. Lucien must obviously have believed Jesus since his wish for Gabriel had already came true, and Lucien is alive with a lifemate of his own after 2000 years of sacrifice for others. It was ridiculous dialogue for Jaxon!!! How interesting it would have been had she explored a Carpathian's idea of God and how he relates to God. This is typical of my frustration of Feehan throughout this series. She'll put out an interesting concept(such as Shea's search for the cause of the Carpathian's infertility, female babies) and only superficially develops it, if she even develops it at all. In an interview, she stated she cannot write about family reunions as it takes up to much of the book and she is limited to a word count. She is so repetitive in all these subsequent books, sometimes paragraph per paragraph, that of course she has room for new words. She just won't do it. She states this is a romance series nothing else. Whether she accepts it or not, this creation of hers has taken on a life of its own, and it's as if she is scared to delve into something other than her formula. She could be a great writer, but will never be as long as she has this attitude. And now I realize that reading the first two or three books over and over is just as good as buying the series.

I like Ms. Christine's work, specialy her " Dark.." ones. This one is one of my favorte. Lucian is a lovely charactor. He is handsome, powerful, more powerful than some Carpathian men I had read yet he love and treat his lifemate so loving and gentle. Jaxx is a nice character too. As a police officer, her job is to protect people. However, her life had never been at peace since a mad man, her step-father, doged after her and killed people she loved: her mother, her brother, her co-worker.... She'd never allowed hershelf to love or be in love with anybody because she didn't want that person to die. When she met Lucian, a stranger who saved her and her co-worker from a set-up, she always tried to protect him, warned him of the danger he is in. His heart melted for she tried to protect him, yet never he worried about the mad man because he has come to protect her, his lifemate. He is her dark guardian, also a famous vambier hunter of his people...What will happen? Read the book and find out by yourself. This one have a happy ending, as most of Ms. Christine's books. The only thing that I don't like about it is it seems like Lucien didn't have to court or woo Jaxx. He just simply bind her with him by the ritual. Anyway, that's nice too.

What a person has to go thru to even exist in this world is getting harder and harder. I know most people are never touched by this much horror, but there are many that are. I wish there were people like Lucian and all the rest of the guardians to make this a better world

I have read and keep all of the Dark Series. Although Jaxon was raised to be the ultimate weapon, needing only herself for company; she fails as the story unfolds. She is bound to Lucian before she even knows what that means...but, when she does find out she takes the attitude as long as she doesn't think about it, it didn't happen. The whole build-up in the prologue makes you believe this woman will finally see what it means to be a Lifemate. This heroin is definitely different but entirely disappointing as Lucian's Lifemate. He deserved so much more!
So once again we have the heroin trying to protect her "Carpathian Lifemate" who in all his centuries of living only comes close to death trying to save her from her bumbling interference and distracting inabilities. This time by not handling her nemisis who she has been aware of since age 13. I wonder at the constant necessity of repeating her superior abilities throughout much of the book.
Well, I think I shall return to reading Amanda Ashley, Linda Lael Miller, and, of course, the wonderful Maggie Shayne. These authors do not disappoint.
Whatever you do, do not write to the author and give any criticism as her only suggestion is for you not to read her. It is such a shame as the idea of a Carpathian versus a true vampire had such potential and the Carpathians in her books are really quite good...it is the heroins which disappoint.

Christine Feehan continues to develop her characters and give us more to enjoy. I liked Jaxx and the fact that she had a career and was able to kick [...]. The only disappointment was the ending. I can't believe she allowed the stepfather to badly wound Lucian. Lucian says over and over what a danger he is to mortals and immortals alike and then the evil stepfather shoots him and almost kills him. I was disappointed in this part of the plot but still gave the book a five. I hope her next book has a heroine we admire and can root for.

All I can say is I hope Ms. Freehan keeps writing I am waiting for the next installment to this series. If you have not read them try it! I did and now I am hook. Even if you have not tried vampire romances try this series you will not regret it! In this book two strong characters come together. Lucian who has been hunting for his people for centuries and of course Jaxxon who is use to being on her own and getting her way. (not taking orders from anyone) It was great to see the chemistry between the two. Although you do have to feel for Lucian as he struggles on how to deal w/ Jaxxon. It was a great story my only complaint would be that it ended to soon. This book will leave you wanting more.

I have read every single book in the Dark series and have liked most of them, especially the later ones. The one thing that bothers me the most about each female is that they have a tendency to dwell on the actions of their Carpathian lifemates and retain anger about them, thereby extending needless conflict. I prefer Jaxon's character because, once converted, she accepts Lucian's action. She can't reverse the process, and there is no point in railing at him because she loves him and knows the reasons behind what he did. More to the point, I love the fact that she learns to control her new powers and not fear being a Carpathian (extremely unlike Raven from Dark Prince, whose constant irrational fear sets my teeth on edge). She is strong in her own right and fights by Lucian's side, which in itself sets this book apart from the rest of the series. Perhaps her best characteristic is her sense of humor, which is only shared by one other female character, Tempest Trine from Dark Fire. Levity is important in any book, and Ms. Feehan acheives it here in moments that should be serious but end up being delightfully captivating because of the interaction between Lucian and Jaxon. I prefer Jaxon as a female character because she has what most other romance heroines lack: common sense.

I am a fan of Christine Feehan's books. I looked forward to this book but found it fell a little flat. Jaxxon started as a very complex character with tremendous potential but by the end of the book as flat and defined by one or two traits no where near as interesting as Destiny in Dark Destiny or Natalya in Dark Demon.

Lucian had no challenge worthy of him to really push him to grow, although how you would do that with the greatest known Carpathian is a true creative challenge for Ms. Feehan. I would enjoy to see a challenge worthy of getting the twins back together. Seeing the interchange between the brothers shows a side you rarely get to see of the Carpathians. I would like to be a fly on the wall for a Daranatoff family reunion.

Enjoyable read but she has not yet begun her major story arc with the mages and the Morrison institute. It is a stand alone work. Helpful to read Dark Legend first but not essential.

From the back of the book...
He was the dark guardian of his people. So how, after centuries of a bleak, soulless existence, had he, Lucian Daratrazanoff, suddenly come to crave petite, curvy, colorful lady cop Jaxon Montgomery, who foolishly made it her life's work to protaect others from harm?
Fiercely daring, Jaxx would sacrifice anything to shield others-particularly since a deadly menace dogged her every footstep, threating all who got close to her. And strangely seductive, piercingly erotic Lucian was no execption. Lucien was powerfully, perilously mesmerizing-oddly gentle yet clearly a born preadtor. He had vowed to posses her, to guard her for all time. Yet with his every thirsty kiss, was he drawing Jaxon more deeply into danger... and his dark, mysterious desires?

Lucian has lived for thusands of years and has finally found is life mate in a Navy SEAL trained, detective that is as tough as nails. I think that Lucian is probably the most understanding of the Carpathian males. He understands Jaxon's need to be involved with what he is doing, even though he doesn't like it, and allows her to help. She actually does a pretty good job to. He also helps her overcome the evil Uncle that has terrorized her for years. This is my favorite book of this series.

Wow! Not be as serious as some of the reviews, I found the storyline fun and exciting. I definitely prefer Lucian over his twin, Gabriel. Lucian is so hot that he does kind of make Gabriel look like a married old man. LOL. Yes, the storyline is a bit crazy, but many of them are. I just really enjoyed the chemistry between Jaxon and Lucian and thought that it was well done.

I enjoy the Carpathian world Christine Feehan has created, and Lucian waited centuries to find his lifemate in this installment of the series. As a human she proves to be the strong partner he deserves. Another exciting paranormal romance!

The world of Christine Feehan brings to us the story of Lucian and Jaxon. Lucian is one of the most powerful Carpathian male to hunt and find his lifemate. Jaxon is a wonderful, adaptable character that makes me proud to be a human woman. They have the right mix that gives a delicious balance to the story. I enjoyed the clashes between them. The fights and opinions remind me a lot of Mikhail and Raven in Dark Prince. This story has just the right amount of suspense and love. Once you began reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. It is definitely a keeper. I can't wait for the next installment in this saga. Keep writing Christine Feehan.

I have enjoyed reading this series even though I didn't start with the first one. It is unique to find a series that builds on itself enough to to maintain it's status as a series but also leave enough individuality that they can be read out of sequence. The back story to vampires and how they came to be is also much more believable than anything else that I've read/seen.

this installment has lots of action, Great Storyline!! kept me intrested thru out the whole story...."Dark Guardian" is another fantastic entry is Feehan's "Dark" series and it is not to be missed. The romance between Lucian and Jaxx is passionate and intense, and it's wonderful watching them find happiness and eternal love in each other's arms. Amidst the affecting romance of Jaxx and Lucian, Feehan seamlessly mixes in a tale of danger and excitement that will keep readers turning pages. "Dark Guardian" was a truly enjoyable read and it comes highly recommended.

...Don't miss it!

The Dark Guardian was well worth the wait,it answered some questions on why the brothers didn,t turn evil like the others of their era. Reading though has put more questions and hopefully answers in following books. Do they find a formula that will save the young carpathians, will there be a story where the twins meet up a do battle with their younger siblings. I'm totally hooked on the series and have gotton my son's girlfriend hooked when I knew Gabriel's story was coming out I reread the intire series and was finish just in time to read about Gabriel and waited some what patiently for Luscian's. To the author Ms Feehan Bravo!!! and I hope you don't get tired of these fasinating people so we may enjoy more stories of them. Thank you.

Okay, i've basically read this series from the begining and this is as far as i've got. I realise that it's gotten a bit monotonous; that caracters eventually say exactly the same thing, using exactly the same dialogue. I gave this book 4 stars however, because i thought the battle scene was well written compared to others, Jaxon's role in it was unusual because Carpathian females do not fight vampires period. I was also pleased with the idea of the kind of wedding/family reunion at the end though i'm ticked that we don't actually get to 'see' the gathering. I get the feeling that a book where they all get together would be fun and funny. In any case, i got a nice warm and fuzzy feeling after reading this one, i strongly recommend it.

Lucian, the legendary twin Carpathian warrior over 2,000 yrs. old who has sacrificed over time for his people and his brother...selfless, intelligent, creative, warrior, unsurpassed by any other...How could he possibly find his match in a young teenage girl type pixie cop from america who scales walls to "protect" Lucian and kicks him in the knee like a child to get his attention? really? after the masterpiece story and novel his brother Gabriel (book 7) was given I expected Lucian's to be a masterpiece as well. I have read ALL the Carpathian novels and this was the most dissapointing and not deserving of Lucian's legendary status. Skip it and make up your own story/fantasy about Lucian anything would be better than this one.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is Christine Feehan and she has a wonderful imagination and great sensual scenes... BUT... I felt that the writer, either ran out of words or just had to fill up the pages to meet the requirements for a longer romance than was necessary... It seemed to me that every love scene was filled with tired clichés, like "...He took her breath away..." or "... She took his breath away.." to the point that I felt like the characters were on the verge of chocking and collapsing from lack of oxygen... If you've never read any of Christine Feehan's romances, you will probably enjoy it, but I would suggest her first few Dark series romances (Dark Prince; Dark Desire; Dark Magic) or The Scarletti Curse... Still, all Christine Feehan's books have wonderful characters and unusual settings. Hope next books will be more imaginative and less repetious...

I am a fan of Feehan and her Carpathian's are usually entertaining enough but in this book I found that the heroine, Jaxon, is a rather simple minded and has no common sense or sense of self-preservation. Lucian talks to her as if she were a mental deficient and she is OK with that. The most annoying thing about the book is that for the first half of it, Jaxson spends her time with Lucian refuting his claims and basically acting like a twelve year .."no, don't keep saying that"..or "stop lying, I must be hallucinating". This since of disbelief is ok for a chapter or a few pages but certainly not for half of the book. 170 pages of Jaxson continually denying all evidence, inlcuding feats of magi that she witnesses, feels and experiences in many ways. And Lucian...what can I say, I felt sorry (for a bit) for him being stuck with this idiot for the REST OF HIS LIFE.

and then there'll be the other ones you read afterwards.
Well this is just how I feel.

I picked up "Dark guardian" without knowing that it was the 8th book in a series, but as it's happened to me in the past it didn't surprise me too much:)
Anyway I have to say I was memerized by this book, I couldn't put it down, I felt it was really well written and so fascinating. So the few days it took me to read it, I really enjoyed it immensely.
Afterwards, I sought to get more books from the same series... and I've been hugely disappointed. It feels to me like it's always the same basics. Different characters, different bad guys, but same storyline all the time. I'm on my 4th book and I'm not sure I'll be reading any more after that.
Dark Prince was great because it was interesting to discover Mikhail and Gregori... but I'm currently reading Dark fire and it's just "same old, same old". Yeah, the characters are new, but the story is just the same. Beautiful girl found by equally handsome Carpathian guy, who makes her his lifemate, bla bla, bla bla.
Dark guardian stood out in the way that it was a whole new universe for me. I found the sex scenes well written too. But then again, I skipped most of them in Dark Prince, there were just too many!!!
I don't know, I'm not sure I'll read more.
My advice if you're getting started on this series: choose your first book well, as it'll probably end up being your favourite. and you don't need to read all the books in order, because you'll get all your explanations in whatever book you choose.
I thought the Anita Blake series (Laurell K Hamilton) was becoming a bit.. boring, but each book is still very different from the previous one. And sadly, it's not the case for Christine Feehan's books. A shame.

I want you all to know this is not the only vampire romance series i have read but by far it has been the best. For those of you who don't like it when the women are treated as these helpless creatures than this is a series that you should read. Christine Feehan has a way of making the men and women equal without losing the story in it.

I have just fell in love with the writings of Christine Feehan, dark fanstay,romance and adventure at the time. The Carpathian males never give up, "they always get their woman". It took me 2.5 days to finish reading this book. I would have finished it sooner if not for having to go to sleep and going to work. Lucian is everyone woman dream. Sexy, protective, tall dark and handsome and not afraid to tell or show is true feelings. I like the fact that Lucian's lifemate was different than the typical Carpathian females (tall, slender w/dark long hair). Jaxon had blonde hair, short, and a career (cop), which meant she could face just about anything. Jaxon stared fear in the face, now thats "Girl Power". After reading this book I wanted more.

I have read almost all of Christine's books, I really like her books. This is one of the few I have not reread, it is not my least favorite but close. My least favorite was Water Bound, actually I didn't like it at all. Lucian's story was one I anticipated, the previous books painted a very alluring character. Lucian being such a legend, and brother to Gregori, I expected him to be more heroic and powerful. I guess I can't say I disliked it, I was just disappointed because the character didn't live up to the hype.

Many of the elements of this book are good, like the details about Lucian, his many abilities to shape shift, become mist, and the descriptions of 'Carpathian' life in general. However, this book is really more of a romance novel than a diehard vampire novel, and it seems to get somewhat sappy at times, especially the parts about the 'delicate, fragile, vulnerable' Jaxon (female lead)and her quote unquote 'savior' Lucian. In truth it almost reminds me of daytime soaps. The romantic scenes are also quite repetetive in nature. If you like that type of romantic novel, this may be for you, but if you prefer heavier on mystery/vamps and slightly less on romance, I would recommend Blackwood Farm(Anne Rice) or Crimson City (Liz Maverick).

This was the first book I read in the Dark series and it's still my favourite. I love the way Christine writes and the characters and plots are very original and engaging. I highly recommend all of Christine's books!

I would have to say that Dark Gaurdian is definately my favorite so far in the carpathian series. I loved the characters Lucian and Jaxon. I have not been disappointed yet by Mrs. Freehan. I enjoyed all of the books so far in the series and rate them all as 5 star reads.

Loved this book solely because of Lucian, and thrilled he had not turned, but geez Christine's heroines are all beginning to sound like broken records. Different story, same constant blah, blah by these women. I'm sorry Jaxon got tiresome with her constant complaining, and stupidity. I mean there is stupid, but this one got stuck on stupid. Sorry folks, if I were Lucian I would have kicked her to the curb after ten minutes with her.

On an individual Basis I absolutely love every single one of the books in the Dark series. But once you have read one, you have read them all. The plot has only minor and insignificant changes from one book to the next. The studly, manly, overly protective Carpathian male must either fight an ancient and powerful vampire after his woman, or protect her from a fanatical group of vampire hunters. After the fifth book with the same plot I was totally fed up. The stories are fantastic, just read at least 4 non-vampire stories in between each of the Dark Books.

It is a good book. It follows the series well, the plot stays with the ones that come before it.

The sex scenes are too drawn out, the story line is good though. I have become accustom to skipping the 3-4 page long sex and then starting to read again.

I'll continure to buy the dark series, just because I like the stories.

This was my favorite of her books in this series for a long time. I think I have read it 6 times now and it never loses it's allure for me. I have read the entire series in order and then buy favorite books and then starting all over again.I never tire of her books.

Dark Guardian is an improvement over its predecessor in the series. Feehan was able to add some variety in characterization, but the premise is getting old. Maybe it's time for a super FEMALE Carpathian?

Yes, yes, yes, we get it. Lucian is dark and brooding and handsome and powerful and dangerous and yada, yada, yada. We only have to be told about 15 times before we grasp it, 150 times is just overkill, not to mention ANNOYING The book would have been about 100 pages shorter and a lot less clunky without the unnecessary repition of details. Somebody get this girl a better editor.

Knowing me to be a lover of vampire-fiction, a friend recommended these books ... Spurred by this recommendation I actually went out and BOUGHT two of them (a student's income usually relegates one to digging them out of bins at Woolies).

Not my smartest move.

Predictable plot lines, characters that were like cardboard and had all the spirit of drugged garden snails. Sex scenes that were trite and wouldn't steam sweating and dumped on a Swedish pavement in January.

A shame considering that her premise had promise ... !

Get this one from the library - or better yet, don't get it at all.

I adore this entire series and I have just finished Dark Guardian and I'm on to the next one. I have to say that I get a little annoyed by Jaxxon and all the women like her who are all "Sex me Sex me" but then two seconds later are like "I want my freedom ya' BIG Jerk" It frustrates me to no end.
I loved Dark Legend and Aiden's story as well. I recommend these to everyone just maybe not so much Dark Guardian.

If you read no other book in the Carpathian series, you must read this one. Lucien is the finest of all the heroes introduced in this series. His humility, compassion, humor and understanding of others is without equal, perhaps because of his meeting with a very special person 2,000 years ago? This book is a treasure that I will reread many times and keep forever till it finally falls apart.

As part of a series, most of these "Dark" books are very similar. Carpathian males searching for their lifemate to keep them from turning into Vampires. However, it is a fun and quick read. It definately gets the blood flowing with the sexual content and at the same time is written with a romantic side. Good for a quick, fun read without having to think to much.

From the start of reading Dark Guardian until the last page, you're intrigued by the colorful personalities portrayed in this wonderful read. Of all Ms Feehan's Dark Series books, Dark Guardian continues to invade my mind. What a great book! Hats off to Christine Feehan!

I have every single Dark series and I was very surprised at how boring this one was. It doesn't even seem like it was written by Christine Feehan. The two main characters had no depth. I was really looking forward to Lucian's story but it was a disappointment.
I will keep it because it's part of the series but I doubt I will be rereading this book like I have the others.

i enjoyed the twist in this novel, where Jaxon is haunted by a very menacing human terror rather than just a vampire terror. This book also has the first real castle in the series, yet Christine Feehan makes it sound very home-like.

I HAVE READ EVERY ONE OF CHRISTINE FEEHAN BOOKS AND I MUST SAY THAT THIS WAS MY FAVORITE. I LOVED IT BECAUSE HE TREATS HER LIKE A EQUAL. HE EVEN LETS HER HELPS WITH VAMPIRE HUNTING. AND I MUST SAY OUT OF ALL THE CARPATHIAN MALES LUCIAN WAS THE MOST ROMANTIC.

Finally Lucian (probably the most powerful carpathian) & Jaxon's story!

After reading the 9 first books in the series, i'll have to say that this one is one of the best along with dark magic.

a must read!

This is the book that got me hooked on Christine Feehan. Although I had read After Twilight, I didn't like her books until now. Mrs. Feehan is a great writer, and thanks to her, I veiw people in a very different way.

I have started reading her Carpathians and fell in love and when I say these on CDs I just had to have them, They will be here soon and I will be lost to the world till I hear everyword ...love Christine Feehan