Dunkle Symphonie der Liebe

Dark #10

by Christine Feehan, Britta Evert (Translator)

Byron ist Karpathianer - eine uralte Spezies, die ihre Gestalt verändern, durch die Lüfte fliegen und mit den Wölfen jagen kann. Ohne das Licht in seinem Leben ist er der Versuchung der Dunkelheit gefährlich nah. Doch eines Tages hört er Musik – die schönste, die seine Ohren je vernommen haben, und er weiß, wo er das Licht finden kann ...
Antonietta Scarletti ist blind, doch die Musik hilft der jungen Pianistin über diesen schmerzlichen Verlust hinweg. Als sie Byron begegnet, entdeckt sie eine ganz neue Leidenschaft und ihre geheimsten Phantasien werden plötzlich Wirklichkeit ...

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Dark, Fiction

479 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2003

About the author

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 100 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series, Shadow Riders, Torpedo Ink and her Romantic Suspense novels. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...




IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Family Stars

First read July 2012 Reread January 30, 2016

Spoilers



I knew it the first time I heard your voice. I could just sit and listen to you forever. And after you leave, I hear the music playing in my head and through my body, and I know it's your music. It belongs to you more than it belongs to me.-Antoinetta

Dark Symphony the 10th book in the Dark series by Christine Feehan was a nice change of pace. There wasn't any vampire's or vampire hunts. In this book Byron finds his lifemate, Antoinetta Scarletti, a famous musician. What this book lacked in vampires it made up in family drama. Family can't live with them, can't get rid of them! Dark Symphony almost had a clue (the game clue) like feel to it. Someone is trying to kill off Antoinetta and her grandfather. The whole time I was reading this book I was like it was Professor Plum in the Study with the Poison lol.

"In my language, in my people's world, we refer to our other half as lifemate. Unlike the Jaguar, we mate for life and beyond. Not for momentary pleasure. We consider the art of making love and keeping our mate happy to be a lifelong commitment."-Byron



"I thought your work was taking care of me." Under cover of the nearest piece of furniture, Byron pressed her open hand to the front of his slacks. He was already as hard as a rock. Antonietta rubbed her palm over the thick bulge. "Poor bambino, so neglected. If you didn't keep running off to leave me to sleep alone, I might have more sympathy for you." Her fingers danced over the rigid length of him, a tantalizing promise. Her teeth nibbled on his chin. "As it is, I have... none."-Byron and Antonietta

I liked Byron. I enjoyed that he courted his lifemate for months. He gave her a choice on becoming like him. He respected her and he was very sweet. He took his time and was good to her and her family. So I have to be honest when I say I feel Byron got a little jipped when it came to his lifemate Antoinetta. Just sayin'! Antoinetta was older, with grey streaks in her hair, blind with scars on her face and around her eyes, fuller figured, and she has taken a number of lovers. Now don't get me wrong I liked Antoinetta, but really did she have to think of and bring up the fact that she has had other lovers to Byron. Antoinetta was likable and she had her sweet moments but it kinda bugged me that she just planned to take Byron as a lover and then get rid of him too.

"Do I feel afraid? I need this as much as you need it. I ache for you, Byron. I think about you every minute I'm awake. I want to know everything about you. I want to see what my life would be like. You're offering me things I can't fully comprehend."-Antonietta



"We will live in your house with your family. You will travel the world playing your music for people, and I will once again make art from the gems I call to me. Live your life with me. I cannot bear to be without you. lifemates are for eternity, Antonietta. We can be married in the way of your people and live and seem to age. At times we may have to go away, but we will always return if that is your wish."-Byron

At the half way point their relationship picked up and Antoinetta grew on me. Her and Byron did have a lot of passion and there was a maturity to their relationship that was nice. Almost all the drama in this book centered around Antoinetta's annoying family and my GOD her family was something. I wanted to slap her cousin Tasha so many times I lost count. I did love her grandpa Don he was a cutie. I loved Josef in this book. The things he did had me laughing so hard. The rap for Prince Mikhail...... PRICELESS!! I would love to someday see Josef get his own book, because he is so different and eccentric I would love to see what kind of lifemate he would get! A good read and a nice addition to the series.

Jacques suddenly laughed. "I will never forget his performance in front of my brother. It was all I could do not to fall down laughing watching Mikhail's face when Josef sang his rendition of rap." Vlad covered his face. "Do not remind me." Byron nudged Jacques. "Antonietta has a sound room. I bet we could persuade Josef to cut an entire rap CD for Mikhail. I would not mind a copy for myself, just to put on every once in a while to watch Antonietta's face when she hears his lyrics." "A brilliant idea," Jacques agreed. "Just the thing for that brother of mine." "Byron! Jacques!" Eleanor was horrified. "Do not dare encourage Josef."-Jacques, Vlad, Byron, Eleanor


https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Byron Justiciano and Antonietta Nicoletta Scarletti

"I have found her, Eleanor. At long last, I have found my lifemate. She is here, at this palazzo, the concert pianist, Antonietta Scarletti. She is an amazing woman."

The story takes place in Italy.
Byron who is an ancient Carpathian meets Antonietta a Scarlatti and realizes that she is his lifemate. Antoinette is not your normal heroine in this kind of novels. She is curvy, blind with scars, in her late thirties with white stripes in her hair and she had had lovers before Byron. Her family also is strange and is there is some shapeshifting going on apparently.

"I don't care if I am a cat in heat"

I loved this novel. It has mystery, crazy people, a castle with dark passages, steamy love scenes and it is a bit different from the previous novels in the series. Byron is your typically possessive Carpathian, but he is also kind and patient. Antoinette and Byron are wonderful characters and they form an intriguing couple.

They clung to one another, fighting for air, fighting to calm their pounding hearts. Byron didn't move, his body melting into hers. They lay locked together as they were meant to be.

Antonietta. My love. I love you very much.

[Penny Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Symphony by Christine Feehan (2007)

Although I am hugely disappointed in the violent turn of events Ms. Feehan has taken of late, her earlier Carpathian vampire novels are still among my favorites. This week, I decided to re-read Dark Symphony, one of my favorite books in the Dark Series. For those of you not familiar with Feehan's Carpathians, I'll give you a brief overview. These books are high on the melodrama, contain extremely long-winded, graphic sex scenes, and the heroes are super-alpha "vampire"-like Carpathians, who pledge undying loyalty to their "lifemates." Yeah, they are pretty much over the top, but if you buy into this whole thing (which I do), then they are extremely romantic. Dark Symphony is one of my favorites for several reasons.

First of all, this is one of the Dark Series with no vampire fight scenes. Most of the Dark books have a bundle of foul vampires, with their talon-like nails, rotting flesh, hideous teeth, etc etc. Basically, they're not pretty. It adds a whole different paranormal dimension to these books which is okay if I'm in the mood for a vampire fight scene...

Vampire: I'm going to kick your Carpathian butt.
Carpathian: You are an abomination, you must die to protect mortals and immortals alike.
Vampire: Come and get me, Skippy.

(Can you tell I'm sort of in a weird mood?) Anyhoo, the bad guys in Dark Symphony are humans and shapeshifters, not vampires. And it just goes to show that Feehan doesn't really need all that crazy paranormal business to write a great book. The Scarletti family is a hoot, and Christine Feehan's humorous side (which does not reveal itself very often in her ultra-serious, melodramatic books) is a breath of fresh air. There are several places where I actually laughed out loud while reading this book. Antonietta is a very original Feehan heroine...a blind and very talented pianist, she is confident and self-assured. (Most of the human heroines freak out when they learn their lifemates plan to "convert" them into Carpathians, but Antonietta was not hesitant. Her attitude...."Bring it on!") Love her! Also, I like Byron. Unlike some of the really intense heroes (Darius, Gregori, etc.--who I also love!), Byron is more understated and rational thinking. (Some of the Carpathian males are sort of like cavemen dragging their unwilling women folk home to their lair--not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that, mind you!).

And finally, there's a totally cool dog! Yep, that's right....I LOVE romance novels with cool dogs, and Celt, a borzoi, is loyal, fierce and protective of his charges. You can tell Feehan is into animals, and her description of Celt and all of the shapeshifting beings (owls, dragons, Jaguars, wolves, etc) are fascinating.

I have re-read Dark Symphony many times and it never fails to get me in a good mood. I highly recommend this classic Feehan, and pray that she returns to some good old-fashioned romance in the future. Grade: A

Penelope

[Beatriz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considero que la serie Oscura de Christine Feehan es muy irregular; he encontrado novelas maravillosas, así como otras que me han dejado bastante “mehh”. Por lo mismo, es una serie a la que vuelvo periódicamente con la esperanza de encontrar “la” entrega.

Lamentablemente, este no fue el caso; incluso podría decir que Oscura sinfonía es el libro que menos me ha gustado hasta ahora, casi como para tacharlo de un poco aburrido.

Creo que una de las razones es que la autora hace un cambio de estilo que es demasiado notorio al caracterizar a Byron. De no ser porque te lo va recordando la lectura, nunca habría pensado que él es un carpatiano; carece de esa personalidad magnética y posesiva de los personajes anteriores que son quienes realmente mueven la trama. Si la autora trató de mostrar un cambio porque Byron es un artesano de joyas y no un cazador, creo que se le fue la mano y desperfiló al personaje, a tal punto que Antonietta y Byron, como pareja, no me transmitieron nada.

Se queda en 2 estrellitas, porque tampoco puedo decir que el libro sea malo.

Reto #38 PopSugar 2021: Un libro sobre arte o un artista

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this seemed to drag at times, I quite enjoyed this installment of the Carpathians series. There is something very compelling and irresistible about the Carpathians. It's very romantic but in a dark and gothic manner.

I liked Byron a lot. He made me laugh at some of his antics, how he would let Antonietta's annoying cousing Tasha see his red eyes and fangs when she was being a pain. He was a bit of a rascal, but in a good way. I think that he was quite romantic and courted Antonietta beautifully. She was the more aggressive personality for the most part, although Byron was plenty manly. I think they were a good balance for each other, since she was pretty Type A and Byron is Type B, don't worry about it, just fix the problem so we can move on personality.

There were a lot of steamy love scenes in this book. I did like how Antonietta was very sexually free, since she was a woman in her thirties and knew what she liked, and was very attracted to Byron. (who could blame her).

Josef's (he is Byron's sister Eleanor's adopted son) antics kept me laughing like crazy, especially hearing about his rap phase, how he rapped for the big guy, Prince Mikhail, and how horrified Mikhail was. Josef really got on Byron's nerves, but you could tell he loved the kid.

Sometimes I got a little sick of Antonietta's family, except Don Giovanni. However, I did like how close her family was, dysfunctional and all. She was the glue in that family, and they would be in trouble without her. It was cool that Byron understood that and didn't try to separate her from her family. He embraced Antonietta for everything that she was, which is great in a hero. The jaguar aspect was interesting, and I liked how that was a bigger part of this story than the fight against the vampires (Carpathians who become evil and vicious murderers).

Although there are similar elements present in every Carpathian books, Ms. Feehan manages to keep it fresh, because each couple's courtship is different. I like how the heroine is the one who's commitment avoidant in this series. The hero is usually like, let's get married right now (in the Carpathian fashion and otherwise). Antonietta is more aggressive and worldly than the typical Carpathian lifemate (and I think she has a passion and an energy that feels very Italian to me), and I think it suited Byron. I liked the fact that she was very laid back about the whole Carpathian deal. But, I guess as crazy as her family was, she was kind of used to a high weird quotient.

I ended up giving this a 4.5 star rating because it made me laugh so hard, and I just really liked Byron a lot. There was a lot to like about this one, and I adored the Borzoi dog, Celt. I want one!! Antonietta isn't my favorite lifemate, but she ain't bad. I like that she's a strong woman and doesn't let her blindness hinder her. Oh, and it was neat to see Jacques acting sane after the hot mess he was in Dark Desire.




Casting options: I pictured Monica Belluci as Antonietta. I didn't really picture anyone as Byron.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t approach the Carpathian books like most series I’m into. I enjoy the storyline, but find the sequels can be repetitive. It’s a series that, while I like it overall, I have no interest reading all the books. I wouldn’t have thought that’d be the way I’d feel about any series, but this one proved to be the exception.

Dark Symphony made itself sound different enough by the description – the heroine is not perfect. She is blind and someone’s trying to kill her. Byron was a familiar name since he was around since book one. I don’t know or care about a lot of the future characters, I never saw their glimpses in the earlier books, but with Byron he was always there so I was curious what happened to him.

He doesn’t make as appealing and sensual a leading male as Mikhail, Gregori, and some of the others, but it was a good change to find he didn’t aim to be a hunter and had a skill with jewel crafting and was valued for something different by his people. He’s more laid back, less jealous (although that’s there in ways as well) and more reasonable.

I did dislike that in the beginning Feehan established that they had met and had those first introductions off page. I always liked the beginning of the Carpathian novels where the male finally realizes he has found his lifemate through some revelation, first introduces himself to her, and it unfolds from there. We miss that here and it’s sad. He’s already in her life and it’s from her POV.

Antoinetta was a surprise. She was strong, controlled everything, generous and caring. She was actually not a virgin, which was a change, and wasn’t repelled by other men prior to meeting Byron, another change. It also never bothered Byron she’d been with other people (wow if you consider the other Carpathians.) She was 37 and older than most, without the perfect shape and waspish waist (yay!). The scene where she’s grieving and filling the house with her music, pounding non-stop on the piano, making those around her shudder and feel the depression by her talent at music alone was nifty.

I didn’t care much about the rest of the family at first, but they grew on me as they showed different sides. For a change they were as big a part of the story as the leading couple. We delightfully get to see Eleanor, Vlad and their adopted son make a return.

There’s a little too much sex and I skimmed most of that, but the larger story was cool and it was tough figuring out who the culprits were. There is actually no big bad vampire fight scene at the end for a change. A new touch is introduced into the storyline with the Jaguar race and the potential this holds.

The main reason I enjoyed this one was the humor. It was spot on and Feehan always had a knack with it. Josef, the adopted son, is hilarious. Him scaling up the wall thinking he’s spiderman and constantly falling was too funny.

It’s hard to keep a series fresh after so many books, but somehow Feehan manages to do it through experimentation and changing things up a little. It makes me want to hunt down some of the other series books I’ve left behind over the years.

[εllε]

DNF ~22%

Every time I need to read a book of ultra super possessive/protective males, I pick up a Dark one and I know it will please me. But this one isn't doing it for me. It is slow and I really don't like the heroine. I'm not feeling the chemistry between the MCs and I see no reason to go on with this. I'm not giving up the series though. It has some very interesting and unique elements that I haven't found in other books. It's just this one.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had elements of a very good carpathian book. Unfortunately the heroine was not a favorite of mine and the secondary characters drove me crazy - in a bad way. Toni did not seem to want or need Byron and I wanted better for him. I felt little chemistry in the beginning. Even later I still felt Toni was way too comfortable with the concept of him leaving. I know she would have chosen her family over him every time. And in my opinion, except for her Nonna, they were not worth that choice.

There was loads of intrigue that kept me guessing. Much more interesting than the romance.

Overall this was not a favorite or a reread. But this series is so strong it can afford a few weak efforts and still be great.

[Monique Takens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een paar weken geleden heb ik The Scarletti Curse gelezen en dit verhaal gaat over dezelfde familie en speelt zich ook af in hetzelfde kasteel , er zitten alleen een paar eeuwen tijd tussen de twee verhalen .
Dit verhaal is anders dan de voorgaande delen in dat er nu eens niet op een vampier gejaagd hoeft te worden en ook de menselijke fanatiekelingen die op vampieren jagen zijn niet aanwezig .

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in modern-day Italy, this is book 10 in Christine Feehan's Dark Carpathian series. This time around the focus is on Carpathian Byron Justicano, a master craftsman capable of calling gems up from the earth. After unintentionally putting the life of his best friend's lifemate in danger years ago, he decided to exile himself form his homeland and family. He turned his back on his craft and put his own life in jeopardy hunting vampires - Carpathian males that have embraced evil and kill for pleasure, thus endangering all Carpathians.

He was not born to be a hunter however, and eventually he is drawn to the haunting music created by Italian concert pianist, Antonietta Scarletti. She is his lifemate - born to be the light to his terrible darkness, and destined to be bound to Byron for all eternity. Blinded and orphaned as a child by an explosion on the family yacht, Antonietta, a strong psychic, is heir to the Scarletti family fortune and the massive Scarletti palazzo, where she lives with all her relatives.

When Byron learns that someone within the family is siphoning off the family treasures and slowly poisoning Antonietta, her grandfather and her cousin, he draws upon his supernatural powers to catch the villain, but he soon finds out that the Scarletti family has a supernatural secret of their own.

From reading other people's review of this one, it seems that you either really like it, or you hate it. I liked it a lot. I found it to be a departure from the previous novels in the series. Unlike the women in the other books, Antoinetta was unafraid of her destiny. She was not running away from her fate and she "saw" Byron with perfect love and acceptance from the beginning of the story.

Byron also felt different than the other Carpathian males I've come to know and love over the past few months. He was not as rigid (pardon the pun)and demanding with Antoinetta as other males have been with their lifemates. He would have been perfectly happy to live with her as a mortal, and in the end, die with her. Bryon left the decision up to Antionetta completely, and she chose him.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read this book, 10th book in the Dark Series…although you won’t find any hideous vampires fighting the Carpathians but shape-shifters instead. I couldn’t make up my mind if I liked the book or not.
I began rereading the whole Dark Series this year and decided to give it another go.
The story is set in contemporary Italy where Byron, an ancient member of the Carpathians meets Antonietta, a Scarlatti descendant from one of her previous books, THE SCARLATTI CURSE, who he realizes is his lifemate.
I liked Byron Justicano. He has waited a long long time searching for her, the person who will bring light, color and love into his life. He is a charming, kind and patient man. Originally I was a bit disappointed in the heroine, Antonietta. She was so different from the previous females in the series…..she was blind, older…….yes in her late thirties - no virginal young inexperienced girl here….and overweight…and so bossy……okay she did play the piano beautiful…and yes she’s strong with a mind of her own….if she wants sex….and oh boy is the sex juicy and hot hot….she goes out and gets it!!!!! but I just could not imagine Byron going for her. I enjoyed reading it more this time and this little thing did not bother me as much.
She lives with her family in a castle…..geez talk about a crazy family….they could be the Borgias with all their secrets and devious plans, …..well if you lived in this place you probably would be mad too….dark passages , shape shifters all over the place…..the setting is just too bizarre!!!
Nice to see Jacques is now happy with his lifemate Shea. We learn more about the jaguar people and meet some new, weird and wonderful and not so wonderful characters….Antonietta’s crazy cousin Tasha and the weird Josef….he really is a strange one. I am sure he will appear in future stories.
This is not one of my favorite books in the series but I can’t say that I hated it exactly. I did enjoy some parts of the story and some of the characters.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edition of the Dark series finally broke the mold a bit with lead characters.

The male lead tried, more than all but Falcon and, later in the series Razvan, to let the female lead know that involvement with him was not something you could change your mind about later. He could have been more forthright, but comparatively he was more forthright than most of his predecessors.

The joy in this book, however, was the female lead Antonietta. Now this is a strong woman who makes her own choices, isn't a walking victim and not only is willing to jump blindly into the void, but accepts responsibility for having done so. This is a woman I can relate to and respect. Most of the humans-turned-Carpathian in this series are so insipidly juvenile, and set my teeth so on edge, that by the time the book is over I'm amazed I haven't thrown something. Not so with this female lead.

At the end of this edition I found myself wanting more rather than rolling my eyes or feeling disappointed.

[Delta · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a very long break, it is good to rejoin Feehan's Carpathian saga in the Dark series. Antonietta was such a strong and admirable heroine. Her fierce love for her family, in addition to her love for her mate, conquered all. I am curious whether the remnants of the jaguar shifter race will put in appearances in later Dark stories...

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryon Justicano is a Carpathian hunter and gem-caller. He hears music on the television one night and is drawn to Italy. There he finds Antonietta Scarletti, his lifemate. Antonietta is a professional pianist and composer, who is blind.

One night while Antonietta is playing the piano, she is assaulted. She pretends to faint. The assailant carries her outside. Antonietta hears a slurred voice and knows it is her grandfather, Don Giovanni Scarletti. She starts to fight her assailant and calls out telepathically to Bryon. When he arrives on the scene, Don Giovanni is in the sea, clinging to a rock. The waves drag him under. Antonietta is struggling with her assailant at the edge of the cliff. Bryon pulls the man off of Antonietta, breaking his neck. He commands her to not move. Bryon dives deep into the sea to save Don Giovanni. He lays her grandfather safely on the ground. He next carries Antonietta away from the cliff. Who tried to kill Don Giovanni and his granddaughter?

This book has animal shifters as the villains. There are no vampires or human vampire hunters. In this novel we learn the history of the Jaguar shape-shifters. We are also introduced to the Dragonseekers, an ancient Carpathian race. Antonietta is "a practical women, a successful pianist and composer, who poured all her dreams into her music where they belong." Bryon is a gem-caller who designs jewelry, but who has become a hunter of vampires because he nearly got Prince Mikhail's lifemate killed. We get to meet Bryon's family (his sister, Eleanor with her lifemate, Vlad, and her adopted son, Josef). The plot keeps the reader caught up in the jaguar mystery. Now for the next book.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really charming addition to the series. It was nice not to have the vampires and the stupid human fanatics to worry about, rather two delightful characters in Byron and Anoinetta front and centre. Byron was a very charming, manly yet romantic lead and Antoinetta a womanly, sweet but grounded life partner. How nice that she was curvy and mature, not one of those unsure, tiny ribcaged women that seem to litter the pages of these novels en masse. There was humour (loved Byron red-eyeing Tasha) shapeshifting, some mystery and extended (crazy) family members on both sides which I think should be capitlized on more in the series. I really liked Jacques and Shea so it was nice to hear and see them, especially as Jacques had suffered so much and now he sounds much more together. This book was also more mature in the sex scenes and they were hotter than usual as well, I guess it is to be expected as the series marches on into the 21st century (yay). There was less repetitiveness as well, hooray. These books are an addiction for me but I space them in between some urban fantasy or some psycholgically intense books so they are nice to add into the mix. This one is well worth a read and a definite keeper.

[Asounani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante inclusión a partir de este libro, puntos porque los malos sean otros y no los del mismo tipo que en los otros.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read - May 2024

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I keep reading these, and bitching about the writing, and reading them anyway, but hey, at least I know what I'm getting and I don't complain about that! ;) This was actually one of the better ones, if that's worth anything, though the usual flaws are there.

The beginning threw me at first, when I tried starting this a while ago - it reads like a continuation of a short story or something, but I don't actually think that's the case. All the other books have started the same way, with the Carpathian male on the verge of turning into a murderous vampire suddenly encountering his lifemate, seeing in colour and feeling emotions again, and beginning to possessively stalk the poor woman. Dark Symphony is quite different.

Byron, the Carpathian male, is a jeweller and artisan who started hunting vampires to atone for his guilt, which is how he ended up in Italy and saving the life of an old man whose car went off a cliff (as these things happen). The old man has a beautiful granddaughter, Antonietta Scarletti, a world-famous pianist who has been blind since the boat explosion that killed her parents at a young age. Byron quietly spends nights with her, listening to her play and getting her used to him. This all happens before the story here begins, which starts with Antoinetta being kidnapped from her home along with her grandfather, and taken to the cliff. Byron races to the rescue, kills the kidnapper, pulls the old man from the surf and takes them both back to the Scarletti castle. From there it is a fairly typical Feehan romance, spiced up with murder, intrigue and a secret race of jaguar-people, from which Antoinetta and her family are descended.

I liked both the protagonists in this one, which makes for a nice change - Antoinetta is strong and independent, and while Feehan's habitual prose does reduce her at times to yet another Feehan heroine, Antoinetta fights the author for the right to stand on her own two feet. Byron was also a bit different, being an artist first and much more patient that the other Carpathian males in the series. The mystery/murder side of it was quite well done, but Feehan does have a tendency to slow the pacing right down to freeze-frame speed at all the wrong moments, and to dwell on little details and things which makes the flow stumble quite a bit. Too much introspection and reflection and backstory in the middle of a conversation further interrupts the flow and pacing. But overall, a much more engaging and less annoying story in the series.

I did read The Scarletti Curse first, because I thought that would connect up with this and explain the beginning, but it didn't. It is a good idea to read it first, though, because it provide good backstory on the Scarletti family and sets the atmosphere for the spooky old fortress very nicely.

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is about Byron a Carpathian we meet in book 1 of this series, he was kidnapped and tortured by humans. Now we pick up his story in Italy he has found his lifemate. What I hated about the story was Antonietta was A BLIND, SCARRED FACED, GREY HAIRED, OVER WEIGHT WOMEN WHO HAS BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES WITH OTHER MEN. Why couldn't she just be a BEAUTIFUL BLIND Women!!!! If I were a blind person reading this book a might take offense. However later in the story we find out that she is not quite so unattractive, her cousin has been slightly lying about how she looks but the new description of her is not that much better. Byron I never could picture what he looked like at all. The Scarlettis have their own secrets being Shape Shifters and the two cultures Carpathians and Italians dont work!!! and if I heard GRAZIE one more time reading the story I thought I was going to scream, GRAZIE THIS GRAZIE THAT what was that about!!! I am Sorry I just did not like the story!!!!

[*CJ* · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Dark Symphony" is Byron and Antonietts story.
Byron is another age old Carpathian searching for a mate, and Antonietta is a musician.
Unlike other Carpathian book, this time we had a experienced, older and blind 37 year old heroine who's also a healer, a non overpowering hero who actually gave the heroine space and let her be for quite some time and that's why it excited me a lot- however for me it was the most disappointing of all the series so far.
I wasn't a fan of the Scarletti family dynamics, Tanya was way too annoying, Byron was judgmental and the story just wasn't engaging enough.
The only reason it gets two stars is
- Byrons ability to respect consent even when Antonietta was annoying
- Healthy love making scenes
Overall, meh
Safe
2/5

[Natalia815 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido, mejor que el libro anterior que no me engancho nada. Byron es un encanto, pero a veces no parece que sea carpatiano. Me ha gustado volver a ver a uno de los protagonistas de los primeros libros.

[iamGamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different from the other books in the series because the heroine was blind, she was part shifter and she was given the choice of conversion by her lifemate.

Antoinetta’s family made for an interesting addition to the “Dark” universe. I hope their jaguar history is built on in the series.

I enjoyed the relationship between Byron and Antoinetta. The way they worked together and the way she refused to let him wrap her in cotton. She was a brilliant musician and businesswoman. She had a strong, wealthy family. She didn’t need anyone and Byron respected that about her.

Another good book in the “Dark” series.

P.S. I was so tired when I wrote this review that I forgot to mention one of the most important bits - there was no vampire! Byron did not have to fight a nasty, master vamp! The evil was totally unexpected. It was guuuud! :D

[Book of the Universe · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilt over past mistakes, Byron Justicano sentenced himself to become a hunter, taking himself away from his home, his family and friends. Finding his lifemate and deciding on courting as a human would was a test in patients and control the Byron had to pass. Being blind and having to rely on others senses, Antonietta Scarletti could feel every time Byron came into the room, he made her feel safe. When an attempt on Antonietta’s life was uncovered, Byron knew his patience had come to an end, he could not wait any longer to claim her for fear of losing her completely. The difficult part was trying to find a way to merge Anonietta’s world with Byron’s, especially once their differences were fully known to them.

Book 10.…. Really great, more feelings with a little less action. No vampire fights (Byron is not really a hunter). Introduction to another species (jaguars). Reminders of many of characters from previous books. Not the same old Carpathian story. The ‘bad guy’ was not a vampire, but jaguars and humans, that made just as much trouble for the Scarletti family. The only problem I had with this story, Byron’s history, he says he left the Carpathian Mountains because of putting Mikhail, Raven and Jacques in danger (that was about 8 or 9 books ago). I would have liked a little more reminder than that, I don’t remember much of Byron’s role in trouble the Prince had, but I did like finding out what Byron’s talent really was.

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I liked this book at first. It took me over a hundred pages to really get into it, but then I figured the characters out. Byron is all old world gallantry and Antonietta is all strong independence. I like them as a couple, they make sense together.

The mystery in this novel didn't grab my full attention however. It was a little loosely woven I thought. But, I get the feeling it was contrived in order to push forth findings about what is going on with the Carparthian species, so yeah it works that way I guess.

My favorite moments on this novel involve Josef. I was glad for some moments of hilarity during this read. And I liked how Byron seemed to take on more human qualities when he was talking about his annoying nephew.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw, a little twist in the series! That's a wonderful surprise considering this is the tenth installment and a little mixing up was needed!

Byron, who was featured in the very first couple of books but then forgotten for a while, is now found in Italy wooing his lifemate, Antoinette, the gifted and famous concert pianist who is also blind. After the mistakes of his past, Byron is determined to be patient and allow Antionette the time and opportunity to choose him on her own before he binds her to his Carpathian fate and divulges his secrets. She, however, has secrets of her own and soon those secrets threaten not only their love but the future of two ancient races as well. Yum!!!

[L8blmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one - a bit different than the standard formula, as the villian wasn't a vampire and the heroine was blind. Still, a very sweet love story amidst the drama, and a colorful cast of characters with some interesting secrets of their own.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Pati Kantún · Rating 5 out of 5]

Byron Justicano ♡

[Analia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novelaza!