Welcome back to our Dark Hope Read-Along, where we’re diving into Part Three of Christine Feehan’s latest paranormal romance. I want to be as honest and respectful as possible here… I’m struggling.

Why I’ve Started Skimming

Let’s get real—I’m pretty much done with this book. 😬 I don’t like giving up, especially during a monthly read-along pick (which you can grab in our current Monthly Box), but Dark Hope is making it tough.

The main issue? Repetition. So much telling, re-telling, reiterating, and repeating.

We got to see Benedek’s death… again. We learned about Fenja’s past… through more telling. And while I appreciate deep character backstories, this could have been handled so much better.

How It Could Have Been Stronger: Use Flashbacks!

Instead of info-dumping backstory, Feehan could have incorporated immersive flashbacks, similar to how Carissa Broadbent structures Children of Fallen Gods. A dual timeline format would have helped us experience these past events instead of just being told about them.

A well-placed flashback would have added emotional depth, tension, and real-time stakes, rather than making me feel like I’m reading a history lesson.

Fenja’s Fate Feels Too Predictable

Finally, Fenja acknowledges her impending death. Yay. But here’s the problem:

We all know she’s coming back.
We all know they’ll both be immortal.
Which means? The stakes feel nonexistent.

A good paranormal romance—especially one set in a world of vampires and supernatural beings—needs tension and risk to keep the reader engaged. But when the outcome is so predictable, it’s hard to stay invested.

What Did Work?

I don’t want to just complain! There were a few solid moments that stood out in Part Three:

💉 The blood-sharing scene – A good moment! I just wish we had more tension and build-up.
⚔️ The meeting with Drakos – This was a well-done in-the-moment scene that built great tension.
🚨 The police showing up at the end – A nice touch that added conflict right when the story needed it.

Unfortunately, these moments felt too little, too late.

Final Thoughts: Am I Too Disengaged?

I’m not going to lie—I’m pretty checked out at this point. But I know some of you love this book, and I genuinely want to hear why!

🔥 Are you loving Dark Hope?
🔥 What do you think of Benedek and Silke’s story so far?
🔥 Are you excited for Part Four, or are you struggling like I am?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇

I’ll see you at next week’s finale! And don’t forget to subscribe to the Monthly Box to take part in our monthly read-alongs!