Wishing you a stunning 2026. Let’s start the year with a series I began reading a loooong time ago: Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series, also known as the “Dark” series. It has been a staple on my shelves for years. I first discovered it as a teenager. Even then, the series had already reached Book 20. Now it’s up to Book 39, which is quite a journey.
The Carpathian books can be read as standalones, but there’s also an underlying progression of events that carries from Book 1 all the way to the newest entry. In short, the Carpathian series is one of the granddaddies of paranormal romance, and it still delivers a satisfying read no matter where you begin.
Snapshot
Title: Dark Joy
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Carpathian / “Dark Series” Book 39
Genre: Paranormal romance • shapeshifters • vampires
Vibes: rainforest danger • fated mates/lifemates • ancient protector • found roots • high-stakes supernatural conflict
Heat Level: High (typical of Carpathian romances)
Dark Joy (Book 39) by Christine Feehan
Sarika Silva has come to Peru’s rainforest to learn about her family’s history and her own capabilities as a jaguar shapeshifter. What she finds is a dangerous world out of her nightmares, where jungle shifters and ravenous vampires vie for dominance and a gorgeous, lethal predator is waiting to claim her for his own.
Tomas Smolnycki and his brothers have hunted vampires for centuries. As some of the oldest Carpathians, they are accustomed to seeing the world in unfeeling gray. So Tomas is ill prepared for the emotions that rise like a tidal wave when he hears Sarika’s voice. As his world bursts into color, he knows he has finally found his lifemate—a woman he’s compelled to protect whether she likes it or not.
Despite an attraction to Tomas that defies logic, Sarika has no interest in being bound to anyone. But as an ancient enemy gathers power in the darkness, Carpathians and their lifemates from around the world must come together to fight back. And Tomas and Sarika’s bond could be the one thing that will save them from total destruction….
Why it worked for me
Dark Joy is a delight because it brings you back to the De La Cruz line of the Carpathian series, characters first introduced during the South American arc. Sarika is reconnecting with her past, uncovering her family roots, and coming into her own after being raised by adoptive parents who gave her a good life. She’s passionate about environmental conservation, dedicated to protecting jaguars, and fiercely independent.
I enjoyed returning to the Carpathian world through Sarika’s eyes, especially after taking a break from the series. It was satisfying to see what familiar characters are doing now, how they’re living, and what new possibilities might be unfolding for the future of this world. In Dark Joy, Sarika meets Tomas Smolnycki, an ancient Carpathian warrior, and together they must navigate the dangers of the Peruvian rainforest as vampires and jaguar shifters threaten their lives. Sarika and Tomas begin to explore their lifemate bond.
Read if you enjoy
- Long-running paranormal worlds with deep lore and recurring characters
- Fated mates where the bond is overwhelming and complicated
- Jungle settings, predator energy, and survival-driven romance beats
- Heroines reclaiming identity, family roots, and personal power
- Vampires + shapeshifters in a high-threat supernatural ecosystem
Content notes
Violence and predation themes, supernatural horror elements, peril in the wilderness/jungle setting, coercive “fate” pressure typical of fated-mate frameworks, sexual/romantic intensity consistent with adult paranormal romance.
Your turn
If you’ve read the Carpathian/Dark Series: which book pulled you in the hardest, and do you prefer the earlier “classic” entries or the newer era of the world? For me it would be Dark Guardian, which is a bit dated at this point (hahaha).
Stories and Book Talk 
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