In the eighteenth book of the Dark/Carpathian series, Solange Sangria is fighting a war against her own people. For years, the Jaguar men have been kidnapping, raping, and killing the women, and Solange’s own father, Brodrick the Terrible, is leading the charge. She’s lost her mother, aunt, brothers, and several friends. Only her cousins Juliette and Jasmine remain, and Jasmine isn’t the same woman she once was after her rape. Anyway, as a royal pureblooded Jaguar, it’s her duty to protect the women and end the male terror. Planning one last battle, she intends to kill her father and likely die along with him.
Dominic Dragonseeker ingested parasitic vampire blood in the last novel and infiltrates the South American vampire camp. The vampires there believe the strong Carpathian warrior is slowly turning into a vampire, which he is, and they want him fully on their side. Instead, Dominic plans to steal information regarding psychic human females from them and send it to the prince. Then he plans to end his life. After all, he’s a Dragonseeker, and no one in his prestigious line has ever given up his soul and turned into a vampire.
I liked Dominic and Solange in the previous books, but I just couldn’t connect with them in this one. Dominic was very patient with Solange and didn’t bind her to him without her approval—which was great—but there wasn’t much strife or animosity between them. Little drama. They got along too well, which didn’t make since she supposedly has a hard time trusting men. Even though he found her beautiful, he didn’t understand why she was ashamed of her scars and that she didn’t feel comfortable being naked in front of him. Of course, that didn’t stop him from undressing her, watching her bathe, or telling her to wear sexy dresses. In order to please him, she did as he wanted and felt beautiful because he approved of her actions. Though I appreciate him trying to help her embrace her femininity, he did so too quickly in their relationship. Dominic’s attempts to change her and Solange allowing it to happen didn’t befit their characters and seemed at odds with his approval of her as a warrior.
Besides that, I enjoyed the fights with the vampires and Jagaur men. Those parts of the story were interesting. I also loved the scenes with Zacarias and the introduction of Marguarita. Like with Manolito and MaryAnn from Dark Possession, Solange isn’t the only one doing the converting. Dominic becomes part Jagaur and can miraculously walk in the sun. That was awesome.
Though I liked the overall plot, the story is slow and repetitive with lots of description and flowery prose. I love the ritualistic lifemate bonding words (it’s so romantic), but in the newer books these words are spread out over several paragraphs with descriptions and thoughts mixed in. It’s frustrating and difficult to read.
3 Stars
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Dominic, del linaje Dragonseeker —uno de los más poderosos de los linajes carpatianos— está desesperado por llegar al corazón del campamento enemigo y enterarse de sus planes. Solo hay un modo de hacerlo: ingerir la sangre parasitaria de un vampiro. Sabe que es una misión de la que no regresará. Sin apenas tiempo antes de que la sangre surta efecto, conseguirá la información que necesita, se la entregará al líder de los carpatianos y morirá luchando. No hay modo más honroso de morir.
Solange Sangria es uno de los últimos miembros del clan de los jaguares, pura sangres reales, una especie en vías de extinción que no puede recuperarse de las malas decisiones tomadas cientos de años atrás. Lleva muchos años sola, luchando para salvar a los teriántropos que quedan de las garras de Brodrick el terrible: su propio padre, que asesino a su familia y a todos aquellos a quienes amaba. Herida y cansada, planea participar en una última batalla con la esperanza de detener al hombre que ha formado una alianza con los vampiros, aceptando que no saldrá viva de ello.
Son dos guerreros que han vivido en soledad. Ahora, cuando sus días tocan a su fin, se encuentran… un obstáculo que ninguno puede ignorar.

I'm pretty sure I had a review for this here on GRs. It seems to have disappeared. So here it is again.

This was okay. It wasn't as good as the earlier books in the series. I think maybe she is running out of ideas and maybe (gasp!) CF needs to wrap this series up. This book just seemed really slow and not a lot actually happened. The characters were okay but I didn't fall in love with them. The hero was a little too alpha for my tastes. And I like alpha heros. There were a couple of places where he was pretty bossy and not in a good way. For instance he asked her a question and when she didn't answer right away told her that when he asked a question he expected an answer and that just hit my feminist bone. Don't tell me that just because some man asked I have to answer. But he was serious and she rolled over. Ick.

Only one other Carpathian made an appearance in this story and it was one of the De la Cruz brothers. I kept waiting for Mikail to show up or Gregory etc., but no. I guess I am used to the new lifemate being introduced to the Prince in these books and for the Carpathians to have to come together somehow to solve the big problem or fight the big battle and I like that. But here Dominic and Solange do the whole thing by themselves. How you ask? Why with the aid of deus ex machina of course. Apparently Dominic can create multiple copies of himself. No other Carpathians are needed! Plus he can breathe fire! Here is yet another series falling prey to exponentially expanding powers. Got a problem that there is no way your hero can solve? Give him a new and super power! Never before seen or even hinted at in previous books!

I'm sorry. I think that once you have created your paranormal world you should stick with the rules you have developed. Show me your writing chops by getting your characters out of a sticky situation using the magic you have already set in place. No fair just making them spontaneously have just the power they need to get out of jail free.

Other differences, good or bad, you decide. No chanting to save a life. I'm thinking mostly good on that one. No endlessly repeating love scenes. There were two I think but they were not the derivative love scenes that have been recycled throughout this series. He didn't bend her over a rock or log or what have you for some doggy style for example. So good on that one for me since I've read her love scenes so many times I can repeat them. He didn't quote the lifemate pledge verbatim. Bad for me. Where's my comfort food? ( )

Another vampire/ werewolf / shapeshifter kinda story - similar to Twilight/ Mortal Instruments... so not my cup of tea... again... here's my blog post:

http://www.sholee.net/2017/03/mpov-dark-peril-dark-carpathians-21.html ( )

Rich details, some repeating patterns of all Carpathian books
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