DARK TAROT is the thirty-fifth book in Christine Feehan’s “Carpathian” series. I love the opening of DARK TAROT. This hero and heroine communicate telepathically before ever meeting in person. When they finally do meet, there are no histrionics from the heroine, even though she is human and not Carpathian like the hero. Adalasia turns out to be human, and yet a little more extraordinary. Over the course of the book, Sandu and Adalasia travel to several different countries and mystical places in their quest. As they travel, the bond between them increases.

There are several things I like about this heroine, and this couple in general. I like that Adalasia has a background in the supernatural, and therefore Sandu’s “otherness” doesn’t freak her out as much as it would if she had the experience of an average human woman. She is cautious about some things but trusts her instincts and her magical tarot pack to lead her. Sandu is immediately intrigued and captivated by Adalasia when he meets her. Unlike some other heroes in this series, he does not demand submission. Although Adalasia is momentarily miffed when Sandu seems to tell lies by omission and acts before discussing things with her first, they soon reconcile their issues without and toxicity. Adalasia is a mix of pragmatic and romantic. I prefer stories like this in which the hero and heroine are on the same page and work together without constantly battling each other. It’s clear to Adalasia right away that she and Sandu are destined to complete some sort of hero’s quest. It’s been foretold to her by her late mother’s stories and by reading her tarot cards. The details are a little murky at times, but Sandu never doubts or discounts her. They must try and figure out where to find what they seek, as well as what their goal is. They take a huge leap of faith, but they take it together. As the trust between this couple builds, the emotional and physical intimacy does as well. As they follow clues in various exotic locales, they meet up with Carpathian couples and other characters from previous books in the series. As a longtime fan of the series, it’s nice to check in with these other characters, as well as get some varied perspectives. The cameos by familiar characters added an extra fascinating layer to the story, without things feeling cluttered.

DARK TAROT has a hero’s quest complete with a mix of mystery, magic, and romance, with tantalizing possibilities for the future. In addition to the romance and elements of mystery in DARK TAROT, I think it’s very much a story about sacrifice. There are several incredibly noble and strong-willed characters who sacrifice or are prepared to sacrifice for the greater good. This is both tragic and awe-inspiring at times. I look forward to Christine Feehan’s next paranormal romance.