Rating-3.5 Stars

Received a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review

My Review:
First Impressions
Dark Memory is the 33rd installment in the Carpathian series (also known as the Dark Series), and in this one we get the story of Petru and Safia. I had been pretty excited for this one but honestly, I knew I wasn’t going into this one in the right mood to enjoy it fully. I did enjoy many aspects of this book though and it was intriguing to see that this book was set on an island and had some strong family aspects to it that I really enjoyed. There is something so endearing and compelling about the ways in which Feehan will create the atmosphere of her stories and it can immediately pull you into a story. The premise of this book was very intriguing and I was curious to see how it would be handled. And while it didn’t quite fully work for me in the ways that I would have liked, many readers of PNR and those that love kick ass heroines, will quite get a kick out of this one. Its also important to note that I recommend at least reading Dark Tarot and Dark Whisper before reading this one just due to some of the aspects of the world building that is implemented within this one here.

Summary
Safia Meziane was raised on an island with her family and her tribe. She has been trained almost since birth to be the fighter of her tribe. All she has really known is training and solitude. Even though she loves her family she has felt lonely. There has been some evil that has been spreading across their island, and she learns that her family has kept secrets from her and a destiny that she never knew existed. Safia is the “Chosen One” which means that she was born to be the lifemate to a Carpathian, which is unknown for any in their tribe. But she is learning she has been destined to marry a complete stranger and her family kept the truth of it from her. She has trained to fight demons and to be the cardholder. Then we have Petru Cioban, who is one of the older Carpathians and he lost his lifemate as a child but knew that she would come back to him and that rebirth has been done within Safia. Safia and Petru are complete strangers to each other. As they learn each other, they also have a growing evil of vampire and demons coming for them and Safia’s tribe. But there are secrets that will need to be revealed before Safia and Petru can find the destiny they are meant for…

What I Loved
There were so many aspects to this story that I truly loved. I really was curious to see where the author would take this story. The setting first off I was super impressed with. I am not sure I have read this author ever having such a setting and it felt so rich in culture and vibes of mystery and intrigue. This is also the perfect book to kick off my October month with. If you want some kick ass and spooky vibes, then look no further than Dark Memory. It was superb in delivering the right atmosphere that you can easily get behind on. I also adored the hero. He is so patient and understanding with Safia. For a man and immortal who has lived for centuries, he definitely delivered more grace than Safia deserved at times. And while he isn’t perfect, he is sincere and genuine with Safia. There were aspects of Safia’s character that I did like at times. She does have a caring heart and is devoted to her family even when they have kept secrets from her for years, she has a forgiving heart for them. She also is brave and willing to face whatever challenge that comes to her and I did admire her spirit in fighting evil.

What I Struggled With
There were some aspects to this story that I did struggle with. It wasn’t an easy read. And first off, I do recommend making sure you are in the mood for a kick ass type of heroine. Because if you aren’t, this might not be for you. I struggled with Safia’s character at times. I wanted to love her and I went into this story with an open mind but to be honest, she is one of my least favorite heroines that I have read from this author. She was a bit too modern for my liking. Some aspects of her character just didn’t quite fit and she was self-righteous at times which turned me off. She tended to be a bit naive when it came to the relationship with Petru and was not willing to take accountability for her own actions, but willing to place the blame on others.

Overall View
Dark Memory is a sensational tale that will keep you hooked. It’s a story of second chances, claiming your destiny, and moving forward with courage and zeal! AN ACTION-PACKED GEM THAT ONLY FEEHAN CAN DELIVER!