Dark Shadows: Angelique's Descent: Angelique's Descent

To me it doesn't really follow the series. It was like reading a teenager girl's diary where she added vampires & monsters. So disappointing.

This book is a fantastic read! If you are a Dark Shadows fan (which I am), and even if you're not, you will enjoy this book. Lara Parker's writing style is quite impressive; the book is well written and true to the original characters of the Dark Shadows series. As I read the book I was transported right back to my teen years, when I would rush home aferschool to watch Dark Shadows. Angelique and Barnabas were as real to me in this book as they were years ago. This book is a real trip down memory lane! But it! I hope there will be many more books to follow in this new Dark Shadows series.

The first book in the long-awaited DARK SHADOWS series is here and it's worth the wait! Actress Lara Parker, the original Angelique, writes an intriguing, erotic tale of betrayal, occultism and secrets with the first family of Collinsport in a time long ago. I won't say I'm a die-hard fan, but I do know Angelique's story was one of the few things that captured my attention about this series (and which continues to intrigue me). Parker's writing style is lush and fluid, with an amazing ability to capture the essence of the actors who played those fantastic characters every DS fan has come to love (or hate, as the case may be). I've read some of her work before (she contributed to INNOVATION Comics' DS comic book series) and I was pleased -- she's outdone herself here with this excellent first novel of a (hopefully) long series of DS novels. Don't be afraid of the dark -- try this one!

I truly expected this book to be bad. However, I was surprised at how entertaining it actually is. Lara Parker, who played Angelique, sets out to tell the story behind Angelique's fall and her relationship to Barnabas Collins. What could have easily been a cheap attempt at a romance novel is rich with history and facts on the colonial period on Martinique. Angelique's origins have mythological overtones, influenced by the beliefs of voodoo. She tells the through the eyes of the residents of Collinwood Manor as they read Angelique's unearthed journal. Parker has a firm grasp of the character, instilling traits that will appeal to both men and women. She does a brilliant job of plotting out the story in a gothic fashion, seamlessly weaving in elements of the supernatural. The narrative is rich with details and descriptions of colonial Martinique, plantation and life on the high seas. Parker never allows the narrative to get bogged down with the details, allowing the story to unfold at a good pace. It is epic, grand, and in many ways transcends both series and previous novels. ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT is an uncommonly entertaining read that fans and newcomers alike can applaud. A fabulous book to read on the beach this summer. However, be careful not to get so caught up that you get a sunburn.

"Dark Shadows" fans have been anticpating this book for a LONG time. It's been 26 years since the last DS novel, and Lara Parker delivers book that was worth the wait. Angelique's Descent picks up where the series left off, sort of. Barnabas is cured, Angelique is a memory, and a measure of peace is evident at Colllinwood. This all changes when Barnabas finds Angeliuque's diary. Parker skillfully weaves her story back and forth between events in the present, to the untold story of Angelique's past and the genesis of the triangle between Barnabas, Josette, and Angelique.The book is compelling. Parker obviously researched the superstitions and customs of the slave culture of Martinique. At times one almost feels as if she is writing an historical novel; the settings and characters seem so real. More importantly, the reader can empathize with Angelique and understand her motivations. On TV, she was the witch you LOVED TO HATE. Rarely did the viewer truly sympathize with her. In her book, Parker evokes compassion for the abused child who strikes back the only way she knows how. If the book has a flaw, it might be Parker's choice to start the series with Barnabas cured of the vampire curse. It might be hard for those unfamiliar with the show to comprehend that this story is partly about a guy who USED to be a vampire. Those who vaguely remember the show might be disappointed that Barnabas is not what they remembered him to be. This is not an overwhelming obstacle. The meat of the book takes place in the past anyway. Fans of fantasy and gothic horror would enjoy this book regardless of whether or not they watched the show. Parker was careful to keep the plot self contained. Essentially, she is beginning the series anew. So sit back, relax and enter the world of Dark Shadows!