I have read Feehan over the years, and as I read Dark Carousel, I felt that it felt old not new. After a promising start with Charlotte and Tariq, the plot was taken over by a carousel of secondary characters. Issues of consent, which are ever more popular took me out of the story. How can a woman say give consent, if she is not aware of what is happening. It did offer a new American chapter for the Carpathians, giving them more of a hip vibe. I give this a solid C, with the hope of a better story next time.

Feehan is known for her ultra-alpha heros, and Tariq Asenguard is no exception. If you are a fan of paranormals, or of Feehan in general, this is definitely up your alley. I particularly enjoyed Charlotte as a heroine - she's a bit sassy, which is a good foil for Tariq's more old-fashioned ways. That said, I am beyond tired of the ultra-alpha hero who requires everything to go his way. Charlie pushes back on a lot of things, and takes a step back herself when in an arena she knows nothing about (she's not a fighter, and has no problem following someone else's lead). In the end, though, it's a decent book, but not for me.