DARK BLOOD is Book twenty-six in Christine Feehan's Dark series, but it's also book three in her werewolf-centered trilogy. I think Christine Feehan has outdone herself with this exciting and sexy trilogy. It's not absolutely necessary to have read all of the previous books in this series to be able to follow DARK BLOOD. However, I think it's a good idea to at least have read the previous two books in this trilogy to get a better understanding of the main characters and the current environment the story takes place in.

Two things stand out in DARK BLODD -- the romance between part Lycan/part Carpathian Zev Hunter and part mage/part Carpathian Branislava, and the battle of good versus evil. The romance and the battle against evil both have a wonderful complexity. I love the way Zev starts his relationship with Branislava in DARK BLOOD. Even though he is a total alpha male and his dominant nature comes to the forefront at times in this story, he starts out his new relationship with Branislava in a very positive and respectful way. Rather than try to make her bow to his will, he goes against convention for a man like him, and takes great care to impress upon her that she has just as much say in their relationship as he does.

Because Zev and Branislava are both two very powerful individuals, their intimate moments are at times exercises in exerting dominance. I don't usually care for that in a romance. However, I never thought Zev demeaned Branislava in any way. On the contrary, one of the things I love about this book is all the girl power. Branislava is one of many extremely powerful and magical women in DARK BLOOD who fight alongside their male counterparts and demand respect. The strong female characters are one of the highlights of DARK BLOOD.

I like that the struggle against evil doesn't obscure the romance. Zev and Branislava have great chemistry together and keep things extremely hot. I love that they draw strength from each other and work together in such a cohesive way. The devotion they display is beautiful to read about and only highlights the strength of their relationship and commitment to each other.

The bad guys in DARK BLOOD are like toxic sludge and I loved the way the good guys all work together in the effort to vanquish the villains. Dark Blood is definitely a romance but I think it also has many of the same elements as a good epic fantasy story. The variety of magic and magical creatures is intriguing. DARK BLOOD had me hooked and kept me reading from beginning to end.

DARK BLOOD is thrill-a-minute fantasy with complex characters, and a story that captivates from beginning to end. Fans of the series will love the appearances by familiar characters from past books, but those characters don't clutter the story. I think the appearances of fan favorites add to the overall storyline, rather than detracting from it. If Christine Feehan keeps creating books like DARK BLOOD, I will be eagerly awaiting her next one!