"A Suspenseful and Spell-binding Addition to the Carpathian Saga"
Everyone knows what happens to a Carpathian male who lives
too long without a lifemate, but how does this lack affect
the female of the species? The women do not lose color or
emotion. There wouldn't seem to appear to be the same
desperate need to find a mate. But what if the female is
aware of her lifemate and he hasn't a clue? Hm. Gabriel and Lucian are the legendary twins, ancient
warriors who had been sent into the world to rid it of
those who had given up their souls to become the dreaded
vampire. The Carpathians believe them both to be dead, but
it is not so. For several centuries the two thousand year
old twins had been locked deep within the soil. Gabriel
had bound them both there. The twins had promised each
other that should one of them choose to forsake their soul,
the other would have the sole responsibility for destroying
him. Gabriel had yet to find the means to honor the pact
he had made with his brother. Was Lucien so much more
clever, or was something holding Gabriel back? Lucian had not been ready to leave this world and had given
Gabriel a merry chase. The game had often led them to
Paris. It is there that they are both awakened by the
activity of modern machinery. Gabriel emerged into a
strange new world, a world he would quickly have to
assimilate if he was to stay one step ahead of his deadly
brother. As he had not fed for a very long time, Gabriel
desperately needs blood to replenish his depleted cells
and recover his strength. The handsome warrior has the
appearance of a withered, ashen, old man when he stumbles
upon Francesca. She is a healer as well as a good
Samaritan. It is not unusual for her to aid one such as
he. Gabriel does not want her assistance. He knows that in his
current state he would kill her unintentionally, if forced
to feed on her. He does not wish to repay her kindness by
ending her life, however he is too weak to resist her
efforts. She offers food but this is not what he needs.
Intuitively she realizes what he truly needs, and offers
her life freely for his. He is shocked to discover that she is his lifemate, and
even more surprised that she had known long before he had.
She had recognized him the first time she had laid eyes on
him as a child, but he had been too absorbed by his duty to
notice her. Rejected, Francesca had gone on with her life
for centuries , believing that her lifemate had a higher
calling. To make her sacrifice as worthy of his, she had found a
noble vocation of her own. She had removed herself from her
people to spare other males the pain of her presence, and
had entered the human world. She had used her gifts as a
healer to aid the ill and abused. She had even discovered
a way to alter her own makeup in order to work during the
day. Now after many centuries she was tired, and had
determined to spend her remain years growing old in the
human way. She'd considered spending her final years with
the doctor whose patients she'd often aided, even though
she couldn't return his love. Giving her life so that her
lifemate could carry on with his duties would also be a
worthy end to her existence. Gabriel could not end her existence as she had hoped.
Francesca is the answer to Gabriel's prayers, but he is not
the answer to hers. Instead he had exchanged his blood for
hers, forever barring her from the human way of life, now
he expects her to rearrange her plans to suit his. She vows
that even the binding ritual will not sway her from her
chosen end. Although it is his duty as a lifemate to see to
her happiness, Gabriel is not about to let her greet the
sun. In the face of her determination, he commits what he
knows is an unforgivable act to force her to remain in this
world with him. In spite of her determination to remain independent, she
soon finds that she needs Gabriel as much as he needs her.
She should be furious with him, but the miracle he has
wrought has given her much to ponder. Love poses many new
problems for her. Lucien is on the loose and Gabriel is
determined to honor his vow. He expects to lose his own
life in the process. She admires his sense of honor, but
she can't bear the thought of losing him to his duty. Other vampires have become aware of their presence in the
city. The pair must deal with them in addition to Lucien,
a jealous suitor, their responsibility for a battered teen,
and newly acquired human servants. It would seem that they
have their hands quite full. Strangely enough, each time
Gabriel finds himself in an untenable situation, Lucien
comes to his aid just as he had all of their lives.
Gabriel begins to wonder if their close bond, or his own
new found emotions, have made him unable to carry out his
vow to his tainted brother. Who will prevail? Gabriel is an outstanding hero and Francesca is his equal
in every way. Their passion and compassion is truly
inspirational. It is interesting to watch Gabriel struggle
with his two inbred bonds, that of a twin, and that of a
lifemate, both warring for his loyalty. DARK LEGEND is a suspenseful and spell binding
addition to the continuing Carpathian saga. It teases and
tantalizes and leaves the reader craving the next piece of
the puzzle. Copyright 2002
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted December 23, 2001
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