Christine has been an auto buy author for me for almost 15 years.

I've closely followed and read all the Carpathian novels.

The world building continued to be fabulous, Adalasia and Sandu were hot with a caption T and the spicy romance scenes were very Feehan and I enjoyed them immensely. I will continue to read any and every Carpathian novel that comes out!

I loved the newest installment in Feehan’s Dark series. Her new direction plot wise keeps things from getting stale and I am loving the ancients. We saw some old favorites in this book and the illustrations of the tarot cards made the story richer. Sandy and Adalasia were a great couple and I loved both their relationship and their relationship with the ancients, their guardians. Highly recommend this one.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't realize when I requested Dark Tarot it wasn't the first book in the series. If I had read the other 30 titles in the series I might have enjoyed the book.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Adalasia Ravasio is a tarot card reader living in San Diego where she has her shop hidden away in one of the many lively alleys of the city. One night, uneasy of what the future holds for him, Sandu hears Adalasia’s voice comforting him, resembling that of Raven’s in Mikhail’s mind. He is intrigued by the voice who was able to reach him and immediately searches for it. When Sandu finally finds her, he encounters a side of humans that he hadn’t experienced in a long time, a busy night in a street market: live music, restaurants, and art. Among this colorful scene, Sandu finds Adalasia’s tarot shop along with trouble.

Adalasia’s tarot abilities have caught the attention of men working for enemies of the Carpathians. Sandu warns Adalasia, who recognizes the men as the potential people behind her mother’s death. After fleeing the tarot shop, Adalasia learns more about Sandu and his connection to her cards, which have been handed down throughout the generations from mother to daughter. The tarot cards were specially marked by a mysterious Carpathian woman and given to the Ravasio family to protect, along with the task of guarding an intradimensional door which stops demons from entering this world.

With Adalasia’s help, Sandu realizes that early memories of his younger years have been erased from his mind, but doesn’t know why. As they journey to find answers to Sandu’s past and the mysterious woman from the tarot cards, they enlist the help of other Carpathian men from the monastery who are also trying to find their lifemates.

I did not expect to feel so much nostalgia from reading this book! As Sandu and Adalasia travel in search of clues to their pasts, the couple comes across previous books’ characters. It almost felt like a Dark celebration part two. To mention a few, they meet Gabriel and Francesca, Dominic and Solange, and Dax and Riley. But not just couples, we also get individual past characters from which we learn interesting information. And any glimpse into what Josef is up to, is always a plus. He’s a celebrity in his own way. I can’t wait for those future books.

Something I really enjoyed about this story was Adalasia being a female warrior capable of fighting side by side with the boys. She’s a strong warrior princess like some of the previous Carpathian female fighters. The jungle scene in South America definitely showed how capable she is to fight alongside Sandu and become part of the Carpathian couples that team up to go against vampires. But she’s not the only female warrior! Eventually, we find out about more women that have become strong over the decades fighting demons.

There were so many unexpected surprises and nostalgic moments in this book, it’s making me want to reread some of the previous stories. There’s also so many potential characters for a following book, it makes me feel so excited for new stories. If you’re a fan of the Dark series and want to revisit memorable past characters in a Carpathian tour around the world, then this is the book for you!

In the 35th book in Ms. Feehan’s Dark series, we are taken on a world wide journey with one of my favorite Brethren from the monastery, Sandu Berdardi. Believing he is at the end of endurance Sandu is contemplating meeting the dawn before he is unable to make that choice when Adalasia touches his mind and brings color back to him! He has found his lifemate!

Adalasia reads tarot cards, living her life by the cards direction while working to complete her mission. Aware that Sandu is her lifemate, but not fully understanding what that actually means they both struggle to bring their individual expectations into their new reality.

In typical Feehan style, the story continues with a strange new danger, so powerful it has been held under lock and key for centuries unbeknownst by current generation of Carpathians. Adalasia’s family has held the secret for generations, waiting for the right soul to be reborn and she and Sandu are the ones!

Sandu’s past is the key and in a special treat Ms. Feehan takes the story on a journey back through several past couples trying to piece together the clues that are missing. The other best part is Benedek ,Petru, Nicu and Siv, monastery brethren travel with them as protection and bring the whole story laughter and the sense of family that I love in all Carpathian stories.

I really enjoyed the new story line introduced in Dark Tarot, the clues given for future stories and as always the HEA ending!

I really tried to like this book because the blurb is super exciting and the themes sound really cool, but it was SUPER complicated, I assume if I had read the rest of the books (I think 30+? I would have understood what was going on?) but this was kind of slow, with a really strange insta-love vibes and was also confusing because of the lack of me reading the backlog. The cover is gorgeous though.

Dark Tarot…this 31st book in the Carpathian series is beautiful. The cover, the story, the characters and couple are pure magic.

These Magnificent Seven Monastery ancients have brought such depth and gravitas to this transformative series. Sandhu Berdadi is the ultimate Carpathian male…loyal, devoted, and protective of his one and only.

The heroine, Adalasia Ravasio is so richly developed as an intelligent, compassionate woman who is also a well-trained, kick-ass demon killer. I adored her.

Their destined journey goes beyond being lifemates, theirs is an ancient connection which leads them to the homes of several beloved characters, seeking answers to contain a most dangerous and evil enemy.

I loved how Sandu called upon his trusted brethren’s to help with safeguarding Adalasia, who in turn find a talisman in this protection to keep holding on.

There are so many phenomenal moments that just took my breath away and I don’t want to give too much away so others can fully savor this book. I would give Dark Tarot a hundred shining stars if possible. Well done Ms. Feehan.

A sweeping quest full of adventure and magical romance…

Whether the first or the thirty-first (wow!), each read is a new piece to a sweeping, complicated puzzle. Much-loved characters, intriguing new ones, they all add to the mystery and magic. This time, Sandu and Adalasia are surrounded by friends, and enemies, as they search for truth, and love…

In recent reviews, I mentioned some repetition in the stories, where long-known information about the Carpathians were repeated often. That is not the case here at all. Every page is new information, intriguing knowledge and insight into the survival of my much loved Carpathians. Sandu and Adalasia were brought together for a reason. Whether it was in the cards, whether destiny or fate, they came together in a quest to look for answers. And they found them, revealing secrets, vanquishing enemies, and finding truths, and love, along the way…

A huge step in this ongoing journey, and another great read to add to this magical series, this quest is far from over. I couldn’t be more thrilled about what is yet to come!

✦Review: DARK TAROT by Christine Feehan https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bTe
Publication Date: 11/9/2021
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4.5 Stars

I truly enjoyed this installment in the Dark series. It gave a nice angle to the normal Carpathian male finding his life-mate and dealing with the vampires. Lasia is a human with psychic abilities and training that make her a force unto her own. She fights demons and has been prepared for a lifelong quest to guard a portal. She is strong and intelligent, yet kind and compassionate. Just like a kick-ass heroine should be. Sander is an ancient, and if you’ve read the series, you know what that means. I love that he isn’t as pushy as some in the past stories. He appreciates her strengths and abilities, letting her do what she must to get the job done. Of course he has a hard time with it….but he does it.

This book also has a group of ancients along with them as they travel. They are mentally linked and manage to share in a small bit of emotion due to Lasia. During their journey, they meet up with other Carpathians and give the reader a fun ride through all the danger with their camaraderie. Some of the location shifts seemed a bit abrupt, but I was able to immerse myself into the new location and characters. I enjoyed this long book. It was filled with a nice group dynamic, a lovely romance with super sexy times, intricate battles, and a possible lead-in to a new branch to the Carpathian saga.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle https://amzn.to/3CS8ssm

While, this is the first book I’ve read in this epic universe, I have to say I enjoyed it!

What could have been better?
The over use of the word suicide was very triggering and seemed like I was getting hit over the head with a bat about it in regards to life mates. Also, the shifting into molecules references weren’t great, but that may just be because my boyfriend is a chemist and I could hear him ranting in my head about it. The book’s ending also seemed a bit abrupt.

What I enjoyed?
Even though this is book 31, I didn’t feel lost at all. The author did an excellent job of describing this world of ancients and psychics and other mystical characters!

I loved the building of the relationships and the MCs together. I also loved getting to see so many different characters and all the life mates there.

I loved how the storyline progressed, until the last few pages. I thought it was very well done, particularly all the meetings and histories of characters.

I would recommend this to people who like tv shows like Vampire Diaries, The Originals, or Charmed!

3.75/5 rounded to 4 for netgalley

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2021
Christine’s Dark series just keeps getting better and better. I love these Monastery ancients slowly finding the life mate they thought lost to them. Holding onto their honor year after endless year.

Sandu was such a one who thought his time has passed. Imagine his shock when a voice reaches out to him. Adalasia has known her destiny is to be a life mate to a Carpathian. Watch and see the dangers they endure as they journey together.

This installment has readers seeing characters from previous books, which I think long time series fans will enjoy. I would recommend this book to fans of the series but I don't think it will bring in many new readers. I think if a reader has gotten this far in the series they aren't going to stop now.

Wow, this was such a fantastic read! I was planning on reading this book next month, since I'm doing an ARC reading month, and then I got approved for this book as an ARC, so I just had to read it! And I'm so glad that I was, because this was such an excellent story!

Getting to meet Sandu and Adalasia was really great! They have a such a great story, of her being of a line where the mother holds Sandu's lightness until she gives birth and passes it to her daughter. As well prophecy and the cards, and the history there. And Sandu, who is utterly linked to them, with a history that he doesn't remember. I just loved their story!

This is the first book in a while that leaves the compound and I loved the traveling! And if that wasn't interesting enough, we got to see couples we haven't seen in a long time, and that was so great! There were a some really great life updates that I loved to see, like Jasmine and Jubal!

This does set up for like 4 more books, between the other gates that need to be replenished, as well as the ancients that made up the guardians in this book. We got the tarot readings of their lifemates, so we'll get those stories, it's just a matter of when and I'm so excited!

This was an excellent book, and I can't wait for more!

4.5 stars--DARK TAROT is the thirty-fifth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult DARK/CARPATHIAN erotic, paranormal romance series. This is Carpathian ancient Sandu Berdardi, and tarot reader Adalasia Ravasio’s story line. DARK TAROT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul, eventually turning the male vampire or forcing him to greet the dawn.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sandu and Adalasia) DARK TAROT follows the building romance and relationship between ancient Carpathian warrior Sandu Berdardi, and Tarot reader Adalasia Ravasio. Sandu Berdardi is one of the ancient warriors who had left the monastery in search of his lifemate but Sandu was considering greeting the dawn until a feminine voice in his head restored emotions and colors. Searching for his lifemate, Sandu finds Tarot reader Adalasia Ravasio, a young woman of immense power, trained as a warrior, but a woman who has spent her entire life on the run, trying to escape a mythological evil connected to Lilith, the wife of Satan. Throughout her life, Adalasia has known that Sandu would be making the journey with her, a journey where the past meets the present leading towards a future together. As Adalasia continues to avert the danger that is ever present, Sandu and the others must battle the master vampires, their minions, and a new evil that has attached itself to the woman he loves.

Sandu Berdardi is a man in search of his past, a past he can no longer remember but a past that may be connected to our story line heroine. Sandu, Adalasia and several ancients launch themselves on a journey around the world, a journey wherein Sandu discovers the truth about his life, and his family, but a journey wherein Adalasia’s ablities reveal a powerful woman, an warrior equal to the power of the ancients, themselves.


As Adalasia, Sandu and his fellow ancients embark on their search for the truth, the reader is reunited with several Carpathians and characters introduced previously in earlier stories: Dominic Dragonseeker and Solange, Solange’s cousin Jasmine, Jubal Sanders and Jasmine’s now six year old child Sandrine, jaguar turned Carpathian Luiz De La Cruz, Lucian Daratrazanoff and Jaxon, Gabriel Daratrazanoff and Francesca, Danutdaxon ‘Dax’ and his lifemate Riley. There are mentions of Josef, Joie and Traian Trigovise, and the De La Cruz’ brothers, Trixie and Fane, Gabrielle and Aleksei, as well as a little more information about Xavier and the parasites that have always been attributed to the high mage. Although not a reunion story line, the author does reveal some history, some back story and updates about the characters we have previously met.

DARK TAROT establishes the Dark series new arc wherein Sandu, and his fellow ancients Afanasiv ‘Siv’ Belan, Nicu Dalca, Petru Cioban and Benedek Kovac must find their lifemates or greet the dawn. Adalasia Ravasio’s ability to read the Tarot cards reveals the legitimacy of the ancients’ search for the other half of their souls, and whether their journeys are fruitless and unkind but Adalasia’s abilities do not end with the Tarot, as our heroine is a fighter, a capable warrior who alongside the ancients, is able to take down the malevolent and creatures that threaten their lives. A new battle has begun, a battle that pulls the Carpathians into a war with demons from the Underworld, where the four portals or gates to hell, have been protected and guarded by four woman, ancient Carpathian females who have yet to find a lifemate of their own.

DARK TAROT reestablishes and reinvigorates the Dark/Carpathian series. A new path, a new evil, a new war wherein the ancients find the other half to their souls, while protecting the people they know and love, revealing more of the history and back story of the Carpathian people. DARK TAROT is a lengthy, complex and detailed storyline wherein the world building is intricate and thorough: the premise is intriguing and intense; the characters are inspiring and energetic; the romance is seductive and passionate.



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I am so happy that Sandu finally has his own story. He has always intrigued me. Having been around for centuries, and then coming out of the monastery with many of his brothers to assist in fighting the war with the vampires and hoping to find his mate.
Sandu Berdardi was certainly an ancient and in prior books I have come to love his attitude. He does not understand the new world, and really doesn’t want to. I remember he was fighting learning how to use electronics and broke a tablet or two. Very stubborn man.
But now Sandu is at a major crossroad. He feels that he has reached the end of his usefulness. He is tired of fighting. He has upheld his honor to his people for centuries, having to chase down men he had known prior that gave in to the thrall and turned vampire. Even with no emotions, he was tired. He was searching for an answer, either go back to the monastery and try to hang on longer to his honor or meet the dawn with dignity.
Adalasia Ravasio felt the major conflict of a mind, reaching out into her universe. She felt this person in her realm, and reached out mentally, letting them know they were not alone and that sometimes talking to someone else helps resolve troubling issues.
A feminine, gentle voice filled Sandu’s mind, asking if she could help with his conflict. And suddenly, Sandu realized that his life mate had just contacted him as color returned to his world. As they spoke through their minds, Sandu focused on finding Adalasia. She was his other half, the light to his dark, and he must protect her at all costs.
Sandu finds Adalasia and together they realize that they are meant to travel together on a dangerous journey. Adalasia is an intuitive tarot card reader, as all her family has been.
They don’t understand why their lives are intwined and they must take this journey together, but Sandu knows he will go anywhere and do anything to protect his mate. He reaches out to four of his brethren to join him on this journey as he knows there is going to be trouble. Each one agrees to join them on the journey. Even if he doesn’t know where to start. Through reading her cards Adalasia knew their pasts were somehow connected and they needed to figure out how the connection happened, and when.
Sandu has no recollection of his past, his family, his childhood, nothing. But together, this small group begins a journey to learn Sandu’s past and unravel the mystery of how Sandu and Adalasia are connected, beyond being life mates.
I really enjoyed the steps in their journey. We got to revisit some of the other Carpathians and their life mates as each Carpathian they visited was able to help Sandu recover his past.
We got to visit Lucian and Jaxon in Montana. While the “guys” took on some troublesome Vampires, Jaxon began to help Adalasia understand the depth of the relationship between lifemates. Adalasia knew she was meant to be with Sandu, no matter her fears or worries.
Their next stop was in The Cascade Mountains where Adalasia met Andre and Teagen. Again, Adalasia learned more of the Carpathian traditions and what being a Carpathian would mean to her future. While they were there, they completed the third exchange and Adalasia came fully into the Carpathian world.
Now, on to France to meet up with Lucian’s twin brother Gabriel and his lifemate Francesca. There they were able to relax for just a bit and learn a bit more of Sandu’s possible childhood. Each family they visited had information that could perhaps lead to where the two of them were connected.
Next they went to the rain forests of South Africa to meet Dominic and Solange. Each Carpathian they visited gave a little more information to Sandu, helping him to remember his family. While visiting, they also helped Dominic and Solange deal with some people from the past, trying to get to Solange and her family.
Then they were off to Peru to visit Danutdaxton and Riley. They ended up in a fierce battle before they could visit Dax and Riley, and ended up staying there for awhile to recover from the battle. One of the awesome De La Cruz family members also showed up and assisted after the battle. Luiz was a wonderful healer and was very helpful.
Adalasia got a full taste of the Carpathian life when she had to enter the shadow realm to help Sandu. I found that section fascinating!
And then Sandu and Adalasia were at their final destination. A battle to the end.
I will not spoil the story, but will say I absolutely could not put this book down once I started it. I am on my 4th reading of it now, and discover things I missed the first 3 times I read it. #DarkTarot #CarpathianSeries #DarkSeries

Book 35 in the Carpathian series pivots into an interesting story arc featuring the ancients that have survived the monastery but are now teetering at the edge of the darkness hoping to find their life mates before they end it all by walking into the Sun.
This is Sandu's story. He has reached the end of the line and despite the many years of battle and hope for a life mate of his own is ready to call it a day before he's forced into becoming the monster he hunts when a voice speaks in his mind encouraging him to hold on and suddenly he can see in color and smell the fragrance of the night.
Adalasia who is is Sandu's life mate has her own ancient and secret lineage. Even more surprising she knows about the Carpathian hunters and the females of her lineage have spent lifetimes waiting for their life mate. Each one birthing a daughter before passing. It is Adalasia's time and her destiny to find the soul mate and embark on a quest with him to end an evil that her line has been guarding for centuries.
I have to give Sandu credit for trying to be a true partner to Adalasia but their relationship is rocky at times until he figures it all. Interestingly his brethren who embark on the quest with them to guard them seem to adapt more quickly. Clearly that might not be the case when they find their own life mates but we'll wait to see how their stories play out.
The quest requires the team to visit many characters throughout the series which is a nice trip down memory lane for readers who have been reading all the books in the series. Each stop comes with it's own action adventure and a snippet of memory that Sandu recovers. Of course at the end of the road is the major battle against evil forces and a surprise ending to the quest that Sandu had never anticipated.
All in all I like this new pivot because it freshens up the story though I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt and there were quite a few gaps in getting from point A to point B.

DARK TAROT is the thirty-fifth book in Christine Feehan’s “Carpathian” series. I love the opening of DARK TAROT. This hero and heroine communicate telepathically before ever meeting in person. When they finally do meet, there are no histrionics from the heroine, even though she is human and not Carpathian like the hero. Adalasia turns out to be human, and yet a little more extraordinary. Over the course of the book, Sandu and Adalasia travel to several different countries and mystical places in their quest. As they travel, the bond between them increases.

There are several things I like about this heroine, and this couple in general. I like that Adalasia has a background in the supernatural, and therefore Sandu’s “otherness” doesn’t freak her out as much as it would if she had the experience of an average human woman. She is cautious about some things but trusts her instincts and her magical tarot pack to lead her. Sandu is immediately intrigued and captivated by Adalasia when he meets her. Unlike some other heroes in this series, he does not demand submission. Although Adalasia is momentarily miffed when Sandu seems to tell lies by omission and acts before discussing things with her first, they soon reconcile their issues without and toxicity. Adalasia is a mix of pragmatic and romantic. I prefer stories like this in which the hero and heroine are on the same page and work together without constantly battling each other. It’s clear to Adalasia right away that she and Sandu are destined to complete some sort of hero’s quest. It’s been foretold to her by her late mother’s stories and by reading her tarot cards. The details are a little murky at times, but Sandu never doubts or discounts her. They must try and figure out where to find what they seek, as well as what their goal is. They take a huge leap of faith, but they take it together. As the trust between this couple builds, the emotional and physical intimacy does as well. As they follow clues in various exotic locales, they meet up with Carpathian couples and other characters from previous books in the series. As a longtime fan of the series, it’s nice to check in with these other characters, as well as get some varied perspectives. The cameos by familiar characters added an extra fascinating layer to the story, without things feeling cluttered.

DARK TAROT has a hero’s quest complete with a mix of mystery, magic, and romance, with tantalizing possibilities for the future. In addition to the romance and elements of mystery in DARK TAROT, I think it’s very much a story about sacrifice. There are several incredibly noble and strong-willed characters who sacrifice or are prepared to sacrifice for the greater good. This is both tragic and awe-inspiring at times. I look forward to Christine Feehan’s next paranormal romance.

4.5 Stars

Dark Tarot is the story of Sandu Berdardi and Adalasia Ravasio, and Feehan has delivered yet another emotional, steamy, action-packed paranormal romance. Sandu is one of the Carpathian ancients from the monastery who came to the United States to help those residing in Tariq Asenguard’s stronghold and find his lifemate. He is nearing the end of his endurance and considering meeting the dawn or returning to the monastery when his lifemate shocks him by reaching out to him telepathically. Adalasia is a powerful psychic who uses a family deck of tarot cards to do readings on people, and her reading on Sandu has told her that their futures are intertwined and fraught with peril and danger. Sandu and Adalasia quickly learn that their fate is connected by more than just the expected lifemate bond, as her tarot cards have set them on a path that has been foretold for centuries.

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the Dark series is how there’s no risk of cheating between the couples (like ever). While the ancient male Carpathians have certainly accumulated a lot of knowledge over the centuries in the hopes of being able to pleasure their future lifemates when they find her, they don’t acquire the knowledge through untold numbers of sexual conquests. When the lifemates have sex for the first time, it is almost always the first time for both of them.

For those who are interested in seeing how some of the couples from previous books are doing, you’re in luck! Dark Tarot takes Sandu and Adalasia on a journey where they meet with many different Carpathians around the world. From the legendary Daratrazanoff twins to Danutdaxton and the formidable de la Cruz brothers, it’s practically a world tour. I’m always happy to see couples from previous books in a series living out happily ever afters, and it was intriguing to see how each Carpathian has set up their homes (some are very comfortable living in cities while others live practically in the middle of nowhere in the forests).

This is the thirty-fifth book in the series, but it still feels fresh and unique with the introduction of the ancients from the monastery and each female having very different powers (no ones ever wielded tarot cards in the previous books). The secondary relationship in Dark Tarot of brotherhood between the ancients of the monastery is encouraging. I love how each male gives their “brothers” purpose and a reason to keep enduring by having them help protect their newly discovered lifemate (as all females are sacred in the Carpathian culture). The ancients may not be able to connect to their emotions yet, but it helps to be a “protector” rather than just a “hunter” or a “slayer of the undead”.

There are a lot of ancient Carpathians still without their lifemates (and who got hints on where to find them in this book), so the possibilities of who will be featured in the next book are endless. I can’t wait to see who will find their lifemate next in Dark Whisper when it comes out in 2022!

CW: DEATH OF A PARENT (HISTORICAL)

DARK TAROT is indeed a journey of epic proportions.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=75661

Wow! Once again Christine Feehan amazes me! What an fantastic read! I don’t know how she manages to have a story flow so beautifully and have it so full of information. This is book 35 of the Dark series and she’s magically breathed new life into it. Old threads are revisited, like mini stories throughout, and new dangers and antagonists introduced. The transition is smooth and still whispers of connection to old villains, leaving the door open to danger possible from all directions down the road. If you’re not yet addicted to this series, this is a great jumping in point. If you’ve been reading, this book is so much fun. And either way, you can’t help but fall in love with so many characters. I’m going to write a vague review because I do not want to spoil it for anyone.
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The Ancients sacrificed so much to keep their kind and humanity safe from not only the undead of their kind but the demon growing powerful inside them. Time has taken its toll on Sandu and he is questioning the best way to hold on to his honor, ending his existence or returning to the Monastery, away from others, when the light, the other part of his soul calls out to him and he knows his salvation his lifemate is near. Through the messages in the Tarot cards, Adalasia knows he is meant to be her partner, to work by her side to stop a threatening danger. This is the story of two bloodlines, alludes to possibly more, who’ve sacrificed much more than we know to protect the world. He’s gone centuries without the memories others have to help hold onto honor and keep the demon at bay and still had the strength of character to do so. She’s part of a bloodline who’s trained generation after generation preparing for this fight.
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Adalasia is a fantastic character and her story tugs the heart strings as much as Sandu’s. She is a pleasant surprise! The cards bring them together. She knows in order to be victorious they need to be partners, but can they be? Both have different ideas of what partner is, and fears of how to trust and succeed. Afraid to share because the other is withholding something and withholding something because the other won’t share was a hard wall to crumble. However, The cards tell them their success depends on discovering how to be partners and to recall the memories he has blocked…so off on a quest, 4 brethren along to protect and fight at their sides, to find the information they need from old friends from past books who may know.
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Each stop brings the reader information of past threads with a lot of well explained Oh Wow! revelations and discoveries needed to help defeat the danger, the enemy, they face and learn where the journey needs to take them. And through the visits, and the adventures that happen during them, lessons are learned on how to be the lifemate, the partners, they need to be. Its not a 50/50 a childhood fairytale ideal would have her believe. It’s knowing each other’s strengths, when to step back and let the other lead, when to let the other shine and support lend help when needed when to ask for help and when to even sacrifice. Of course, this includes amazing action, sweet bonding and love, and a bit of butting heads and heart stopping moments. Of course communication is key!
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The Fellow Ancients play their parts beautifully, too. Becoming family to Adalasia, there is banter, action and so much more that helps us get to know them more. Of course, we also get to learn what the cards have in store for them, as clearly as the future can be seen, that is. The end is an amazing happily ever after for the couple, with their quest ending in love we got to see grow and more so for Sandu, definitely a lump in throat happy! And so many possibilities for the series!