Why I am Breaking Up with the Carpathians (C.Feehan’s Dark Series)
8 Sep, 2009 in All Reviews, Paranormal Romance 22 Comments
Like any relationship that is on the precipice of making the change of moving on or staying together for the kids, you begin to examine the pros and cons of staying together. I think back to our honeymoon stage. When I was excited to pick you up and read just what was going to happen next, reveling in the newness of it all. And after 4ish years of fond memories, we both started to change. I was looking for excitement while you wanted to stay the same. I was ready for a new adventure while you wanted to ‘stay the course’ and after this last installment, I am sorry to say that I need to ‘take some space’. It’s time…(gulp) to separate.
The latest installment of Ms. Feehan’s Carpathian series made me realize that maybe I have changed and just need to move on. It saddens me as the Carpathians were my first introduction into the genre of paranormal romance but something has changed. Maybe it’s me? Maybe I’m the one that needs more. But for the life of me I can’t figure out what went wrong. Am I just tired of the Carpathians? (Was it something they said?) These are the questions I began to ask myself when I had a hard time finishing the first chapter of the book. The major issue I see is the problem of stagnation. This series has had problems evolving from it’s original concept. We know that the Carpathians are dying out and that mysterious ‘parasites’ are infecting their women and keeping them from being able to conceive. Other than this problem, after 30ish books, this is the only development that has happened. With such a long-standing series, it has to be incredibly difficult to keep the storyline in motion, one of the biggest downfall’s of most series. Rather than go out with a bang, they fizzle out with little care or consideration of their characters. It’s better to keep the masses wanting more than it is to have utter disinterest and apathy. So this is the quintessential problem. I guess I just don’t want any more.
My Break-up List, The “Cons”
- Characters are often one-dimensional and lack originality.
- Too many damn Carpathian chants.
- If I have to read about a character sending ‘love and affection’ through their life-mate mind link, ONE MORE TIME I’m going to be sick. I have a rather big suspension of disbelief but when I am rolling my eyes at the overly dramatized romantic dialogue something has to be wrong.
I’m sorry Carpathians but it will take a lot of romancing and a proven commitment that you will change before I let you back onto my bookshelf again.
What are your thoughts? Is it just me, am I the only one who has “fallen out of love”.???
P.S. If I see the word life-mate one more time I’m gonna chuck my book against the wall.
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Hi
I feel the same way.
I was wanting more resolution to the over-arc story.
It’s gotten a bit same-old same-old for me.
Thank you for sharing,
all the best,
@RKCharron
xoxo
This is one of those series that came highly recommended and I could not finish the third book. I thought about giving the series another try but maybe not…
I tried the Dark series this past January and I made it to the fourth book, I couldn’t finish it and the third book had a few rough patches. I think my problem was I didn’t care much for the women “life mates” *ducks for cover from the flying book* they were too resistant, to the point they rubbed me wrong in a bad way. Enjoyed Dark Prince, I thought I was on to something good so bought as much of this series that I could. Saddly they are going to remain unread.
I cleaned up my tbr shelves last weekend, so they are going on Paperback Swap this weekend.
It is sad though when something like this happens with a series you enjoy so much, much disappointment.
I’ve read the first three books. And, just… no. They’re so goddamn repetitive! It’s the same story in all of the books (or at least in the ones I’ve read) with only minor changes. Does it ever get any better?
And maybe I’m prejudiced but I feel very tentative towards authours who have published more than say, 30-40 books. I can’t really see how it’s possible to keep up with a standard or come up with new creative, fun and smart plot ideas. I just don’t.
After the third book I broke up with this series. Of course my guest review today is of this book and she loved it!
I will just re-read Dark Prince over and over again.
I love paranormal books, but I’ve never been able to get into the Carpathian books of hers. It’s always sad when you break up with a series.
I loved this series until about 4 books back but realized that I just couldn’t do it anymore- the characters I had loved so much and felt a connection to became mundane. I truly despised the ‘life-mate thing’ repeated over and over, one thing that really annoyed me was/is the tugging of the woman’s hair. I stopped before I hated those that I loved. I will say this Mikhail and Gregor will forever be some of my favorite heroes as well as Jacques. (I do intend to re-read and keep those.)
Yep – So on ya with this one. LOL @ chanting
If she shook it up a bit it would be better. I broke up and did not feel the need to eat a gallon of ice cream. It must have been time!
I applaud you for lasting this long.
I feel like you’ve reached into my brain and seen my naked Carpathian series thoughts! Well, ya know…not naked, but…ya know.
I was trying to participate in a re-read challenge earlier this year and I spied my Carpathian collection and grabbed by fave – Dark Fire. Whoa buddy on a stick, talk about infuriating. Yes, it’s because I’d changed as a reader. Suddenly what seemed mysteriously forbidden and all was more stalker than anything else. The dialogue was hokey and the prose pretty overdone. The dram! Oh, the messy drama. Which in turn all made the smexylicious sex of yore feel about as sexy as one of them there mountain cats in the story scratching my back.
You’re not alone. I’ve felt this way about the series for years now.
BTW, I’m pleased to meet your blog.
I couldn’t agree more! I will ‘quit you’ Carpathians!!! (said with a Montana accent complete with cowboy boots and stetson). It seems that a lot of people feel let down by the series, makes me feel co-dependent that it took me so long to say NO! I’m moving on, you won’t change.
I will say that her Ghost Walker series (at least the first couple of books) is pretty good. Seems that as her series lengthen she has a hard time keeping them interesting.
Hi RKCharron
I’m glad I’m not alone on this whole “break up,” sometimes you gotta walk away.
Hi Patti
I really like Feehan’s Game series and her latest leopard book (Wild Series) way better plot lines, action, and sexiness. I do feel that Feehan could perhaps infuse a little more humor into her stories…but as my English pro said it’s much harder to make someone laugh than cry…so maybe she just can’t write humor.
Hi Donna,
I think you are on to something. Her female leads are really quite weak in the Dark Series IMO and if I read lifemate one more time I was going to throw all my books against the wall…not a good idea as I just painted.
Shishi
I feel like maybe she should have pulled a Sienfield/Sex and the City and went out with a bang on this series and focused her creative juices on another series. LOL with the GD repetitive comment.
Hi katiebabs
There are some die hard and I mean die hard CF Carpathian fans out there…I’m just not one of them anymore. I will have to stop by and see your guest blogs POV for this book, maybe she’ll inspire another romantic spark
Colette
Thanks for the condolences *whisper* I was this close to reaching for the ice cream.
MarnieColette
I didn’t want to say anything, but I think I counted at least 10 lifemate reference on one page.
Hi Mandi,
It was almost comical the mother earth references, the chantings that literally took up half a page for each “battle scene”. I’m a huge fanatic of living green, but seriously how many times can you mention Mother Earth in one book…
Hi KMont
BTW pleased to meet you
Hokey is a very apt word to describe the dialogue, let me give you a visual, it was like watching Chris Angel (in my head) do his little ” you’ve just been mind freaked” for every dramatic scene… hence not so dramatic
Marie K
As always your insight is impeccable RE “wish I could quit you reference”
As I said on Twitter, I quit the series midway through Gregori’s book. That was the book I was looking most forward to, and it sucked. Why? Because all the stories were the same! “Depressed-on-the-verge-of-turning-carpathian finds silly half-human girl to mate with, thus thwarting the change.” Gregori’s story was just so…oh, I don’t know…BORING for me to continue with. Each story involves the previously mentioned silly girl getting involved in a dangerous plot, thus prompting He-Man-Carpathian to go all out-angry and save the day.
Ugh. No more, please. The series sucked. It’s kind of a feat that you lasted so long with it. Kudos to you for hanging in there so long!
Oh, and-ahem- LIFE-MATE.
Ha ha.
*throwing hands in the face* No more lifemate! I tend to agree with you on the sameness issue with her Dark Series, I would have liked to have seen more character differentiation at least with the female leads.
I tried to hang in at least until Gregori’s book but I just couldn’t do it. I think it was the same formula, different names that eventually put me off. That and the overly needy Carpathian males, “Love me, please. Please love me, please?” Maybe I prefer something like, “You ARE my life-mate now yield to me dammit, YIELD!” LOL just kidding. Oh and that creepy “heh, heh, heh” laugh the life-mates always hear in their heads. Ick. Anyway I was so convinced I was going to love the series after I read the first book, I ordered several more on Amazon. Sadly, they have now taken their place on my paperbackswap.com bookshelf awaiting new adoptive families. I wish them well.
You’ve made me laugh out loud with your post KC andI’ve reached book 10 with ups and downs in this series. Some where fantastic, some were so-so and others were making me frown eyes brows *blech* I just can’t seem to get past the 10th book, everybody tells me that with book 11/12 some new things are getting introduced and it gets better again but they sit on my dust bunny shelf. I have up to Dark celebration before I stopped buying…don’t know if I’ll make it that far :S
I agree completely. I enjoyed the first few Carpathian books, but after a couple it seems as though the characters and storylines are basically the same. Male faces darkness. Male finds female. Female rebels against the system. Female gets converted and eventually learns to love the old ways. The books aren’t bad, but they are getting a little stale for me.
Sorry for the belated commenting!!!
Fiction Vixen-
I so agree with the needy Carpathian males, how can one be both dominant AND needy?? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Leontine-
I too have heard that there is a short spurt where books 11 and 12 get better, but *whisper* I don’t really think that’s true. I’m considering making a ‘donation’ to a used book store with any books after 10.
Jennifer-
Welcome and thanks for commenting! I agree there is nothing worse than stale stories. I refer to this ‘taming of the shrew’ character interactions as the Danielle Steele effect. I can’t STAND, the love you, no I hate you dialogue, it’s so cliche!! Come back and see us again!
Are they not going to change the cast of Sex and The City ? the girls in there are getting old already.–;