A Hunger Like No Other (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 1)

I have to agree with Erskine, Emma drove me nuts until I wondered why I was reading the book. By dumb luck I had bought the second book in the series, No Rest For The Wicked, and it WAS the best book of the series. My heart ultimately belongs to Cadeon Woede, he gets his own book, the fifth in the series. 2,3, and 5 are GREAT reads, but this one was mediocre.

In the beginning, they seem unlikely. As the story wound on I kept waiting for chemistry between Emma and Lachlain. But he kept being forceful and she kept hating him. When I hear about relationships that are like this from friends I think "Those two need to break up...now!"

As I got deeper into the book it almost became Lachlain was the abusive kidnapper that "forced" heavy petting on her that she just couldn't help but like. That is so contrived! So basically when they're messing around, she likes him, all other times she hates his guts to the core and she's gotta go home to mom! haha. Whatever! Although the author wants to convince us that she really does hate him, I suspect on the inside, Emma really does want to be "forced" into finally becoming an adult and the responsibility having a relationship. The Valkyries have been babying her for too long and she's just one big baby! Wahhhh! I just want to slap some sense into her and say "Grow up!" As if it's Lachlain's fault that Emma has never had a date. Emma needs to own up for the fact that she's never dated because 1) she's scared and 2) she drives people off by being a psycho.

And Lachlain's a real find, too. 1,200 years without a mate. Is that even possible???? Please! And no talk of having to turn to prostitutes! I mean guys do not go 10 minutes without sex, much less 1,200 years! haha.

What really bugs me is if Emma can't lie and she's "the good one of the two" (if that's possible--they're both monsters!) why doesn't she give a damn that her people have tortured Lachlain for 150 years and that's the real reason he's been so gruff with her, because he's still hurting about that. And she's mourning the fact that she's an outcast hybrid breed. Both have parents that are dead, so, I guess that makes them even more of "headcases".

The bottom line is as the story goes on, your hope for these two fades faster and faster and by the time they actually "do it" on page 250, I really don't care anymore. The author has made it such an unenjoyable read and I don't believe that they'd want to "do it" at that point. Why??? What has changed so much by page 250? She just took his gifts (a locket and horse), and didn't even say thank you. What a spoiled princess! If it was me, I'd be highly insulted and would snatch the gifts back.

Honestly I might skim to the end, but after page 250, I set the book down and just want to go to her next book. I've heard that's the best one.

I've set this book down several times, though, and I'm a fast reader. I should have had this read weeks ago, but it's such an awful book I just can't get myself to finish it.

I will be the first to admit that I am experiencing Twilight Saga withdrawal and was looking for a little Vampire Romance. I am an old school Anne Rice fan from the 90's and hadn't read much in this genre for awhile. Well, this series is no Twilight and is certainly for mature audiences. But, I enjoyed the book. I also think she is a funny writer. Half-way through the book, I looked the author up to see how she looked because her writing was so humorous and contemporary. I am glad I found this series. She definitely has a new fan.

This was a good book read it in 1.5 days. Couldn't seem to put it down. I have already order the 2nd book in the series. At the end of the books Emma is strong and knows what she wants. Lacklain (werewolf) all he knows is he must have Emma no matter what it takes. Over all great book.

I have only 2 complaints. First my book is defective with parts of the printing missing and two, the glossary should have been in the front instead of the back of the book.
If the people who only gave this book 1 or 2 stars had read the glossary, they would understand why they were having problems with this book. They were reading it with the wrong prescription glasses.
I LOVED the characters. Different, new and interesting. It is a whole new fun paranormal world and with all the wild battles and illicit love affairs between the different kingdoms, vampires, werewolves, valkeries, demons, shapeshifters, wraiths and humans around, there is bound to be combustion and lots of fun fire and smoke.
Some of the complaints made me feel they did not really read the book.
Of course, our hero, is a crass, brutish bully in the beginning. Lachlain MacRieve is the king of the Lykae who are a race of Warrior werewolves. His father and brother are kidnapped by an evil Vampire King and are murdered, he is jumped and imprisoned in a catacombs where fire burns him to death every day for 150 years. The daily deaths, suffering and endless agony, who make a person a bit testy. The only thing that helps him escape, is his need to find his mate, whose scent he picks up above ground. In desperation, he has to saw off his leg in order to escape. I think that little bit of torture, might make him less than a gentleman when he crawls out and see his "mate" tiny Emmaline Troy, who is half vampire and half valkyrie. Yeah, she is a frightened little thing who is completely thrown off by Lachlain. Who wouldn't be? This tiny creature has been loved and loathed and babied by her "coven" of Valkyrie aunts who haven't told her much about her background except to yell epithets and curses about vampires right in front of her. So yeah, Emmaline she has a lot of self loathing, fear and confusion to get over. Goodness, critics, cut our hero and heroine a little slack here.
I loved how this unlikely pair, figure out their place in this deadly, terrifying universe and fall in love. They both "grow" up and grow in love with each other despite the fact that they are supposed to be mortal enemies. The scenes at the Castle Kinevane are great. Delicate political balances have to be made to explain how a halfling non Lykae will be the Queen. On top of all this, the evil vampire HORDE is plotting world domination and strange kidnappings and deaths have been going on all over, which has all the different "worlds" on edge that there is going to be a big battle bubbling up soon. Finally, when our heroine Emmaline comes into her own, knowing who she really is, what her family was and is going to be in the future, she shows herself worthy of the best of romance heroines. She is no longer Emma the Timid, but Emma the .... don't want to spoil the ending.
What is not to like about the book? Great fantasy world created. Fun side characters. Wonderful alpha male and a blossoming alpha female causing the sky to light up with multiple lightening flashes for their lovemaking. Yikes, grabbing the next book as soon as I can.