Dark Slayer

Title: Dark Slayer

Author: Christine Feehan [Website][Facebook][Twitter] 

Publisher: Berkley Books

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: September 2009

ISBN: 9780425229736

Pages: 361 + a couple Appendixes (Appendices?) regarding Carpathian Healing Chants and Language

Series: 20th story (including some shorts) in the Carpathian series

Book Description (from dust jacket):

The dark destiny of a betrayed woman. The terrifying fate of a cursed man. Now, after a century of longing, the instinct for survival united them. Prepare yourself for the new Carpathian novel by "the queen of paranormal romance," #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan (USA Today).

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer — a woman — who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived centuries without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by preparing for one purpose — to destroy her greatest enemy. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised — and captive — enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.



Comments:

I'll begin by saying, Christine Feehan is one of my favorite authors. She wrote a couple books I don't care for so much (and one that made me absolutely sick to my stomach for weeks after reading it...still does when I remember it), but in general I really like her books.

I was hesitant about this one once I saw who the hero is, but that turned out not to be an issue. As usual I liked the story and the characters. That is not to say I didn't have a couple issues. Primarily, I found all the translations to be incredibly distracting.  Write in English or write in Carpathian. But please, please, please do not write in one and translate to the other every single time certain words or phrases are used. The characters don't need the translation which means it just became an interuption to the flow of the story. I'm sure readers can learn or figure out such repeated phrases as Lifemate, Beloved, Keeper of my soul, etc. without it being translated every time.

I'm looking forward to the next story, but hope the translation thing isn't going to be continued.