| Title | : | A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1416509879 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781416509875 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 360 |
| Publication | : | First published March 28, 2006 |
| Awards | : | RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Best Paranormal Romance (2007), HOLT Medallion by Virginia Romance Writers Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy (2007), Maggie Award for Excellence (Georgia Romance Writers) Contemporary Single Title Romance (2007) |
After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. Emmaline Troy is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.
Sheltered Emmaline finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents—until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae—and their notorious dark desires—ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.
Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?
A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #1) Reviews
-
I DESPISE this kind of rape-glorifying bullshit! We have the innocent half vampire girl chased all over town by psycho madman who makes several starts to raping the terrified girl and has her crying and begging, then lo and behold just as he is about to 'do' her she suddenly feels desire for him and off we head to lovey dovey land despite him treating her like shit. This shit sickens me to the bloody stomach and I hate to see this kind of forced sex used as entertainment and wrapped up with pink bows and paraded as romance and seduction. If men on the street behaved like this I somehow doubt that we'd see it as fluffy bunny romance-we'd be screaming blue murder! I know this is fiction and the excuse is his tortured past but it still isn't the slightest bit erotic or romantic to me,just plain sick.
***Dec 2016 update...dear dear I was a bit irate when I wrote it but I feel strongly about rape being turned into love and romance. At the time I tended to vent rather than explain. However I am more measured in my reviews now and want to clarify a couple of things:
-I am not having a go at anyone who reads and enjoys these books as it is fiction and everyone has the right to enjoy their reading. So if you enjoy this kind of book I'm not trying to say there is something wrong with you! This is just my personal opinion on the plot.
-I don't mean this as an attack on the actual author, just the subject matter being used. I'm not trying to say there is something wrong with the author for writing this plot.
So there we are. If you like the author and the plot, please continue to do so and just ignore my venting!*** -
*review of audiobook*
Well I have really mixed feelings about this book.
His fantastic Scottish accent caused this:
The way the narrator did the woman's voice made me:
The sex made me think:
But overall I really did enjoy it. It was a different experience, that's for sure XD
The universe in the series
It has them all. Vampires, werewolves, demons, valkyries, shape-shifters, wraiths, witches and probably every paranormal creature ever mentioned somewhere.
I kind alike it :)
It's more focused on vampires, werewolves and valkyries, and not everything is explained yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out more about everything in the following books :)
The story
After being imprisoned and tortured for decades, Lachlain finally finds what he needs in order to escape.
His mate.
Emma is very gentle and fragile, definitely not someone he expected to be his forever, and especially when he finds out she is a vampire, his mortal enemy.
He plans his revenge against the people who imprisoned him, and the best way to accomplish that is through Emma...
This was a great intro into the series, not too overwhelming with information, and yet everything was explained that needed to be.
The beginning was very shocking, well at least to me because I started it without knowing a single fact about this, expect that it had vampires.
I actually thought HE was a vampire, so imagine my shock when I found out he wasn't :DDD
The ending was a bit eye-rolling, with the bad guy and so on, but oh well, could've been worse so I'm not complaining :)
But I want an epilogue or something :(
it ended too abruptly for my taste :((((((
Emma
She is shy, innocent, fragile little half vampire/half valkyrie.
So being kidnapped and treated roughly by Lachlain is not something she is good at handling.
She kinda got on my nerves in the beginning, with being so fragile and all, but as it went on, her personality changed as well and she grew on me :)
The big revelation in the end was a huge DUH! and totally not a shock XD
Lachlain
I love him <3
His Scottish accent <3
His uber-possessiveness <3
I even loved when he was an uber-jerk to her <3
He wants revenge against the vampires and figures Emma will be the best way to help him with that. Of course, when he gets to know her better, he realises he has to keep her as his own :D eheheheheheheh
I don't want to make this an uber-swoon-fest about him, but basically I loved the hell out of him and everything he did here :)))
The sex
This is the part that really, but really surprised me while listening.
Maybe it was the combo of the narrator doing freaky voices, for one creeping me out when he did him, and for two making me laugh like crazy when he did her.
BUT!
The first sex...
It was a total mood-killer for me, I didn't enjoy it at all :(
It actually made me drop a star because gah, I just hated it :D
Maybe because this is such a normal PNR, I just didn't expect it, but I'm thinking in situations like these it goes to the category of MONSTER-SEX!!!!!!!
Oh well.
Overall
3,5-4 stars for this one.
It kept my attention throughout the audio, I didn't want to stop listening even though it was funny at places it wasn't supposed to be, I didn't find it hot where I was supposed to, but the fact that I enjoyed the whole audio even with all of the things that bothered me says something.
I honestly have no idea how I would've liked this if I've read it.
For one, I could'be get his perfect Scottish accent <3<3<3
The shock value was huge because of listening to it.
But then the sex probably wouldn't be so creepy if not for the voices he did for the guy.
And I wouldn't laugh like a lunatic at everything the woman said.
Well, whatever :D
I just know I'm DEFINITELY continuing with the series and keeping my fingers crossed there won't be anymore monster-sex scenes XDXDXDXDXD
PS: And for all monster-sex lovers, give this a try ehehehehhehhehehheheh -
2.5 Stars simply for the inexplicable need the novel induced in me to keep on reading despite the many reasons not to. I actually find it quite surprising that I didn't abandon the book after the first few chapters featured numerous attempted rape scenes, a control freak of a man (or male, at least) whose violent tendencies are not only portrayed as acceptable, but highly desirable. But, though I was immediately horrified, the book also somehow managed to hold my attention and the writing style, a strange interest in the plot, and a morbid fascination in this destructive relationship forced me to read on.
I'm not at all in favour of this kind of unhealthy relationship where the guy relentlessly pursues a woman, scares her into submission, and attempts to rape her so many times that she eventually decides he's kinda hot. I do not find this an appealing romance story. If it was a cautionary tale of abusive relationships... well, then sure! But
Kresley Cole seems to celebrate the controlling personality of Lachlain and I find it rather disturbing to see how highly rated this book is. Apparently, he's so "gorgeous" and "sexy" and "protective" and these traits all make up for the fact that he repeatedly sexually assaults Emma, refuses to let her return to her family, demands that she sleep in the same bed as him (to her obvious discomfort as her kind are known for preferring to sleep on the floor), and even picks out the clothes she wears. He picks out the clothes she wears. This is not a romance, it's the story of one person completely taking over the life of another, refusing to let them make any decisions for themselves and calling it love.
Can someone actually let me know why so many rate this book highly? It's not much of an urban fantasy because there's just a random array of creatures that hate each other and no great mythological story going on... and it certainly doesn't work as a romance. Or do I not understand the idea of romance and love? Yeah, I'm 19, perhaps it's me who doesn't get it... but I thought it was about caring, compassion and mutual respect. I honestly want to understand why I read this book and saw abuse when thousands have read this and seen love and sexiness.
And yes, there were some attempts to redeem Lachlain... he began to understand that he had treated Emma badly and felt very guilty that he had nearly strangled her to death... aww, poor Lachlain... *rolls eyes* Whatever happened later, I never supported their violent relationship; plus, even though Lachlain experienced some minor guilt for the attempted rapes/choking, it didn't affect him enough to let Emma make any decisions for herself... nope, she must stay with him and she must sleep with him, but this time she must like it too! Good god. It was painful to read.
Why not 1 star? There were good bits amongst the annoying. I quite liked the scenes where they just talked in the car and he began to learn about the 21st century after being locked up for a couple hundred years; his reaction to the plastic card that has unlimited possibilities was funny, so was his repetitive opening and closing of the sun roof. But there was more of what I don't want to read than what I do want to. I can't and won't wrap my head around the idea of a guy finding his one true mate and treating her in such a cruel, violent and often openly humiliating way. There were times when he obviously enjoyed her discomfort and it infuriated me. For me, love isn't about being selfish and controlling; and for that reason, I won't be reading any more of this series. -
***Re-read 10/7/15. Rating bump from 3 to 4 stars. Original review below. ***
...meanwhile, inside of the Fetish Cafe...
Waitress : Miss? Are you ready to order?
Me : (clearing throat) Um, I think so? Can you tell me first if there are any off-the-menu specials tonight?
Waitress : Nothing extra tonight. Our supplier didn't deliver today, so we're running low on supplies. If you're looking for a fantasy involving props, chances are, it's not going to happen.
Me : It's fine. That's not really my thing. (pause) Uh...I think I'll take the kidnapping special. With an order of dominant male. Preferably tall, dark, handsome, and pushy...you know the drill. The alpha type.
Waitress : Big spender, aren't we? Anything else? (says sarcastically) Would you like fries with your order?
Me : Yes, please. Can I get some gravy with that on the side? Brown, not white.
Waitress : (appearing a bit confused) Whatever. It's your fetish.
Me : Oh no. The fries aren't part of it. I'm just hungry.
.....
Trigger warning : content borders on rapey (yes, it's a word, dammit)
Eh, what can I say? A Hunger was a fun and fluffy read. There's no real substance here, but when comparing this to other pnr, it's on par with others that I've liked. Which is not bad, considering I've been on a serious adult pnr break lately after trying a few I didn't like. They're all starting to read the same and I've passed on most of the ones which haven't had more of an urban fantasy bent. Straight-up adult romance novels (in most every genre) have been pretty disappointing to me lately, so I've chosen not to go there. Until now. I saw a few friends talking about this one and figured I'd give it a shot.
I find it funny that if this book were realistic fiction, I would rip it up one side and down the other for having such a horrible male lead. As in : NO ONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. The male lead is pushy, demanding, forceful, and about 20 other things which would have any female running for the hills in absolute horror. If some guy (or girl) pulled this act on me or anyone I know, I'd call the cops and have him (or her) locked up.
But of course, I tend to cave a little for fantasy based books. What can I say? I have a thing for alpha men in pnr and historicals. Plus, this one had an ancient scottish brogue! Well, hellooooo highlander. Thank you for showing up in my kidnap story.
At least, in this book, I get to give the double argument for his lack of decorum.
1. It's pnr. These aren't guys raised in polite society. They're driven by instinct that overwhelms them. Bad excuse? Sure. But hey, it's the basis for most pnr shifter stories. The devil made them do it, or some other nonsense. We laugh at it, we find it far-fetched, we'd hate it if any man in real life treated us like this, but darnit...it's fun to read about in books.
2. The dude is old. Like pre-dating historical bodice-ripping, non-con storylines, OLD. As in, "he came from the dirt" old. Historical fiction readers know that men from the past weren't as clued in to the equality of men and women. They always seem to need a woman to school them. And our heroine in this story did, in fact, school her man.
Who I'd recommend this book to :
People who don't mind aggressive alphas in their pnr and can forgive some serious bad behavior if the hero shows some sign of remorse or willingness to change later.
Who I'd warn away from the book :
Anyone who has a previous history of abuse, whether physical or sexual. The hero(?) did push the boundaries of sex and crossed some lines that he shouldn't have. The book danced that line of danger a little too close for comfort at times
Anyone who rolls their eyes at old stereotypes of cavemen-type males. I'm warning you - you will hate this book. It's okay to steer clear. In fact, why are you even reading this review? You might want to go shower all of the gunk off now. Hurry!
No, really. I don't blame anyone who would find this book distasteful. Only us fluff cravers are going to enjoy A Hunger. And enjoy, I did. -
Third Reread Completed in September 2020.
I listened to this on Audio, and I think I finished in a few days. That's just how fantastic this book is. This book helped get me into paranormal romance, and I haven't looked back since. The narrator, Robert Petkoff's work is a thing of beauty. His Scottish accent is flawless. His Eastern European accents are excellent. I found his accent for Emmaline interesting, almost like an 19th Century, highly educated Southern accent. That makes sense, she is chronologically 70 (although appears to be in her early twenties).
Although books are a lot edgier now than they used to be, this still feels edgy and new/exciting/distinctive to me, and this book is 14 years old. Super hot and steamy and wow. Obsessive hero, check. I had forgotten how borderline mean Lachlan was to Emmaline at first. I'm so glad Emmaline came into herself and learned to stand up for herself against an aggressive mate and overbearing and aggressive family members. I could definitely see myself in her (minus the aggressive mate). Kresley Cole really hit it out of the park with this series and this first full book in the series. It stands up just as well almost 20 years later. I will definitely be rereading the other books. I'm glad that I have fallen back into the Paranormal Romance Zone. It's helping me right now with escapism and helping to rekindle my book reading love. If you haven't read the Immortals After Dark series, what are you waiting for???
*********
2nd Reread Completed 8/1-8/9/13
Looking back at how much I loved this book when I first read it, and how much I loved it on reread, I can say most definitely that this book is an all-time keeper. For me, this story is magic. I didn't have a lot of time to read it, but I actually didn't want to put it down when I couldn't read it. Finally, when I was able to dedicate some time to reading, I more or less read it straight through, except for when I was busy with my review books and Vacation Bible School. At the end of the night, I was excited to get into bed and curl up and revisit Lachlain and Emma's love story, reading late into the night.
Lachlain
Lachlain remains one of my fall time favorite paranormal heroes (and probably of all time). Although I refuse to pick a favorite Immortals After Dark hero, Lachlain makes some steep competition for the following heroes. He starts out a bully, but I can understand why. He literally was insane after being tortured for 150 years. However, it is a testament to his force of will that he didn't do worse to Emmaline, not to mention the power of their bond. Even though he wasn't super nice initially, his charisma was undeniable. As time passes and he realizes who Emma is and how she means to him, above and beyond being his fated mate, he shows just how adoring and capable of caring for his mate he can be. By the time Emma starts to love him, you can understand why. Cole makes you want a Lykae mate of your very own.
Emmaline
Sometimes the heroine doesn't click with me in a romance. But this is not one of those times. I loved Emma. I appreciated her journey of self-identity and coming into her own. She had that awkward feel of a woman on the cusp of maturity in her early twenties. Away from home for the first time, exploring who she is, and finding love. Considering the force of nature that Lachlain is, I think Emma held her own against him, and eventually, she had him eating out of her hand.
I think Kresley Cole writes the best steamy romance out there. Blazingly hot, but not crossing the line into raunchy and distasteful (overshare) language that turns 'sexy' into 'gross' for this reader. Even on the reread, I was excited to see what happened next, and fanning myself with the incredible tension and fire between Emma and Lachlain. I wasn't a huge fan of vampire romance prior to reading this (this being one of the first I read at the time), but the scenes in which Lachlain feeds Emma show how powerful that is between a mated pair, and it's sexy, and not gross like I always thought it would be. I'm not saying I want to take blood or give my blood like in the book, but it's written well and beliveable in the context of the story. It's a very intimate thing, and you could see how it furthers the connection between them.
On top of the fantastic romance, the world-building is complex and fascinating, and I love the camaraderie between the Valkyries and the other characters. You can see the Lore factions aligning before your eyes on the one way march to the Ascension. And though the developing romance is fascinating, it's also great to get glimpses into the past of the long-lived creatures of the Lore.
There's a reason why Kresley Cole is in my top five authors of all time. She knows how to bring it. In the paranormal and historical romance genres, she kicks butt and takes names. You want to keep coming back for more of this wonderful world she has created. I'm glad I was able to revisit this fantastic book and I am jazzed to continue my 2013 reread of the Immortals After Dark series.
Check out my
Immortals After Dark Pinboard on Pinterest.
****Original Review Below*********
I bought this book because I had read "If You Dare," by this author and absolutely loved it. Well, lets just say, it made a steadfast fan of me. The Immortals After Dark is one of my all time favorite paranormal series, and part of the reason I'm so crazy about paranormals. Lachlain is kind of crazy, and who can blame him after being imprisioned horribly underground in a fiery pit, being drowned every day and consumed by fire for 150 years. One day he senses his mate, and he does something really painful and desperate to get free, to get to her. I was hooked.
Lachlain is what I call a Sexy, Scottish, Werewolf. What a great combination. His one shortcoming is that he is kind of snobby towards Emmaline at first. He's dismayed that this true mate (Lykae only get one) is a Vampire. Although she's really a halfling, half-vampire, half-valkyrie. Emmaline is as timid as you can get. She's been protected and coddled by her valkyrie aunts her whole young life. She's about 70 years old, which is very young for a vampire and a valkyrie. Despite her penchant for very sexy, expensive lingerie, she's an innocent virgin.
Imagine this crazed, beastly man tearing across a Paris courtyard, and dragging you off with him, and wanting to do things with you of a sexual nature? Very scary thought. This is how this book begins. Cole grabbed me as a reader and didn't let go. I wanted to find out how Lachlain would deal with the fact that his mate was not exactly what he wanted. Would he force her? Would she grow to love him and trust him? They go on a journey to get back to Lachlain's ancestral holdings in Scotland. He is the king of the Lycae and must go back to take his place as ruler of his people. Even though he isn't really happy with the mate that was chosen for him by fate, he's taking her with him. Lochlain has to get used to modern life. He finds he has expensive tastes, and charges up poor Emmaline's platinum card. He really makes the poor girl miserable. But she does manage to fall in love with him. She's not so sure about this Queen of the Lykae deal and having such a dominant mate, though. So it takes some serious wooing, Lykae-style, on Lachlain's part. And Lachlain discovers that having a vampire bride is a great thing, because being bitten by her is ecstasy. Plus, Emmaline is a sweet, loving woman who eases her way into his heart.
This was a fabulous book. I was already werewolf-inclined after reading the MaryJanice Davidson story "Love's Prisoner", Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, and Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon, so it really got my attention. This is a spicy read with very hot love scenes, that don't overshadow the growing love between Lachlain and Emmaline. I enjoyed the whole dynamic of reluctant mates, and the crazy, alpha werewolf hero really appealed to me. I loved how Lachlain's feelings towards his bride changed so that he came to adore her and appreciate her. She became his life. I also loved how timid Emmaline comes into her own. She was drifting because she knew neither of her parents. She was afraid and disliked her vampire nature, and had to come to terms with who she is. She becomes quite the warrior queen. Ah, this is a classic for me. It comes highly recommended.
Just a warning to readers. The first book in this series is the story in Playing Easy to Get, "The Warlord Wants Forever." I read this one first and I was scratching my head trying to figure out who Nikolai and Myst were. You can read this first, but you might be a little lost when they bring up Nikolai and Myst as a forgone conclusion. -
-
This book had a slow start, but finished with a bang!
spoilers
Lachlain was crazy out of his mind from years and years of being burned alive and tortured by a vampire horde so for about 1/4 of the book he was a asshat... but as his mind starts to heal and he starts to get to know Emma he feels guilt over the way he has treated her and starts trying to win her love and trust. Emma is super shy, timid, and lets people walk all over her. She was raised in a house that hates vampires and being 1/2 vampire it made her feel like a outsider and that she could one day turn evil.
She starts feeding from Lachlain and she starts coming out of her shell and because a stronger woman she learns to fight for herself and those she loves. It is nice to see the growth of emma from fearful to kickass. Someone who will be walked on no longer
Some of my fav quotes
“Was it just her, or did lovers look more adoringly at each other in this city? Especially in the springtime.
'Die, bastards.'
She sighed. It wasn't their fault that they were bastards who should die.”
"I followed you. Emma, I'll always come for you."
"Are you jealous, lass?"
"Yes!" she cried, as if she couldn't believe the question. "While you've been running around growling 'mine,' I've been silently saying it right back at you."
On to book 3 -
I’ve been Stockholm Syndrome’d. In the best way. Don’t question me, I loved this. Problematic content and all.
And when I say problematic, I mean there are issues of consent here. It’s dubious. But nothing that made me feel queasy. It made sense to this world, to these characters specifically. The story made sense.
There’s a character arc at play here and it worked out wonderfully. For both parties involved.
I loved the world and characters Kresley Cole crafted. And it was surprisingly funny.
I’m about to go on a binge and ignore the rest of the world. -
“When he watched her sleeping, he often thought, My heart lies vulnerable outside my chest.”
I've purchased this book again because of the stunning cover. I read A Hunger Like No Other first time two years ago. I was in awe then for the start that the hero, Lachlain, is chasing after the heroine with fury in his heart. Emma is very innocent, all her life she tries to find her lost father and she gets nothing from her search; however, she hardly wants to give up. Furthermore, Lachlain makes life a living hell of her, Emma haven't known what he wants even though the passion between is slowly building up, he confines her and has no plan to let her go.
“Emma turned to him, bottom lip trembling. “For me?”
“Always for you. All things for you. He coughed into his fist “All your own.”
I haven't known before that this book is good as this. The Beauty and the beast plot works so well with the dark tone of the story. While Emma is definitely Belle, I dare not say that Lachlain is the Beast for his actions that aren't heroic or highly appreciated at all. He tortures her, even when I saw her consent to his deeds, he still treats her as if she is at his disposal.
But Kresley Cole could redeem her book with the second half it. The developments of both Emma and Lachlain are visible there. Emma is so shy when I started reading this book, but in the end, she is brave and kickass and independent. Lachlain, too, he tries to be a better person and makes amends for what he's done. He has made mistakes and he wants to right it, that's exactly what he should do.
“Nix had told Emma before she'd left for Europe that on this trip she would 'do that which you were born to do.' Apparently, Emma was born to get kidnapped by a deranged Lykae. Her fate sucked.”
By the way, I loved this book because it's my very first experience for reading romance. It introduced me to the new world that I want to stay forever.
https://goo.gl/a48Gam -
Lachlain MacRieve(Lykae) & Emmaline Troy (half Valkyrie/half vampire)
"Vampires, Valkirie, and Lykae, oh my. The 'fucking monster mash'"
Lachlain has just discovered his mate in Paris and he is not sure if he wants her.
You see, his mate is a filthy vampire.
She is one of the revolting creatures that Lachlain has spent all his immortal life chasing and brutally killing without remorse. She is one of the malicious creatures that had him imprisoned and tortured with fire for centuries.
So, this is definitely a mistake. Fate cannot be that cruel. He cannot be the protector of someone so vile.
Emmaline is having a nice, relaxing time in Paris, while she is looking for her father who abandoned her mother before she was born.
That night she is sitting on the bench thinking that her trip was in vain and smelling the Paris air, when a brute madman suddenly appears and he starts approaching her.
Half-lit by the walk’s torchlights, a towering man turned over café tables, artists’ easels, and book stands selling century-old pornography. Tourists screamed and fled in the wake of destruction.
Of course Emma runs! And of course it is not really clever to run away from a wolf.
He pointed a shaking hand at her. “You,” he growled.
The setting is magnificent. It felt like Lachlain and Emma are part of a motion picture, something close to the “An American Werewolf in Paris” :)
Overall I enjoyed the story, although there were times that I was feeling frustrated with all the misunderstandings:
-Emma does not tell Lachlain that she is not exactly a bloodthirsty, sexthirsty vampire. But that she half Valkyrie/half Vampire. And a virgin.
- Lachlain does not tell her that she is his destined mate and he treats her like garbage because she is the enemy.
As a result there are two distinct parts in the book. The first part in which there are secrets between the two lovers. The second part where they both learn the truth, Lachlain deliciously grovels and Emma embraces her true destiny.
I loved the introduction of the Lykae and their castle in the Highlands over the grounds of Kinevane and I loved the Valkyrie family united looking out for each other. -
"Vampires, Valkyrie, and Lykae, oh my. Or as Regin calls it—the ‘fucking monster mash.’ Hilarity ensued."
I found myself in deep water: first I was confused by the many different creatures, their characterization and history. The story is fast-paced, and Kresley Cole’s wicked humor made me devoted to the series. So far, it was the most comical father-murder I’ve ever read. I was especially delighted at the appearance of Nïx, my most favorite character ever.
I really love this unique and complex world that Cole created. How she keeps the multiple story lines in hand is really fascinating.
Lachlain and Emma are bonded together by blood, fate and instincts.
Lachlain is infuriated by the fact that Emma is partly a vampire, but as the story progresses, he suddenly catches himself forgetting about it.
"He would use this against her, he thought hazily. If his blood on her tongue made her lose control like this, he would force her to drink him until she surrendered everything...
Force a vampire to drink him…what was happening to him?"
Lachlain’s desire for Emma is so strong that it helps him to stay sane after being tortured for 150 years. He is possessive and arrogant, but sometimes has really tender moments:When he watched her sleeping, he often thought, My heart lies vulnerable outside my chest.
Emma is a very young immortal. She is only seventy, overprotected by her Valkyrie aunts, delicate, shy and insecure. But she has hidden assets.
There is a beast not only in Lachlain, but in Emma as well. Her real strength breaks surface by drinking from Lachlain. His blood, memories, instincts are catalysts for her alteration.
The gentle, fearful Emma becomes a strong, confident, wily warrior.
Kinevane
Val Hall - Special thanks to
Stacia Villota for the picture.
My favorite quotes. -
When he watched her sleeping, he often thought, My heart lies vulnerable outside my chest.
Lachlain MacRieve
Lachlain is the King of the Lykae (werewolves) and has spent the last one hundred and fifty years chained under the streets of Paris by an open fire. He burns to death daily, only to regenerate and suffer that cruel death over and over again. His torture at the hands of the vampire horde has no end in site until he smells his mate. But Lachlain has gone insane and his only desire is to exact revenge on every living vampire.
Lachlain goes berserk when he discovers that his mate is a Vampire! How could fate be so cruel to make his one and only mate his mortal enemy? So what if she is weak, frail, small, and docile.
Emmaline Troy
Emma's mother was a Valkyrie and her father was a Vampire. She has been raised by her crazy ass Valkyrie aunts, who are mortal enemies of Vampires. With her genes, Emma should be fierce and strong, but she is afraid of her own shadow. Her motto is to keep her head down, avoid conflict, and if that fails, …RUN!!! In a brief moment of bravery, she travels to Paris alone hoping to discover the identity of her vampire father.
But Emmaline finds more than just the identity of her father, she finds her mate. And he isn't a nerdy, quiet, gentleman. He's a pissed off Lykae, insane from torture and wild with need of his woman. He's coming for her in full rage and it's a frightening sight!! Emma's instinct is to RUN
“Never run from one such as me, female. You will no’ get away - and we like it.”
This was a wonderful story of growth. Emma had grown up coddled, protected, and ashamed of being part vampire. She was literally afraid of her own shadow, and never spoke up for herself. I am usually not a fan of omega types, but I could relate to Emma for some reason. She was a product of her environment, and it took her leaving that cage, to finally become the fierce warrior she was capable of all along. And I loved it!!
Val Hall
Lachlain may be a badass werewolf, but his sole purpose was making Emma happy. At lease it is after he gets over her whole vampireism…LOL He hated her for the first half of the book, even though he wanted to bone her brains out. Oh, the angst!! Plus, I'm a sucker for a tortured hero. His attempts at seduction had me panting and ready, but Emma was not as easy as I am. Needless to say, I was BEYOND ready for these two to "seal the deal" by the time it happened.“Now, undress for me and let me see what’s mine.”
I am loving this series so far and can't wait to read the next installment. I love this world of Vampires, Werewolves, Valkyrie, and Witches…It's a Paranormal romance fan's dream come true.
My Immortals After Dark Reviews:
The Warlord Wants Forever
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Untouchable
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark
Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Lothaire
Dark Skye -
Wow I thought this was pretty bad. I know I am in the minority but I found the plot was really thin. I also felt all the characters were incredibly "thick"(except Bove) esp. Emma & her family. IMO, There are far better paranormal "romance" books. I just didn't connect w/the characters at all nor the author's justifications for their actions.
Basically the book followed the Romance formula authors are forced to follow by their publishers to a T:
Sexually experienced to the hilt, hung like a horse Alpha Male meets his true Virginal mate (or vice versa - apparently, these men are just as surprised at I am they these woman are still virgins.
One of them is reluctant & fights the attraction by usually believing something not true about the person, about 50% through the book is when something sexual happens - so they either have sex for the 1st time OR something big sexually happens but they don't have sex.
If they don't have sex @ the 50% mark - more misunderstanding high-jinks ensue until about 70-79% When the deed is actually done.
At 80% the big bad starts to be dealt with. By 90% is being confronted & by 95-100% the author ties up the happy ending.
In this book - The main character is an insecure, whiny, spoiled, cruel, shrew. The man is very Alpha & grunts his speech 1/2 the time but he is a hell of a lot better than her & her insane family. The plot is lame & the the formula is dog tired.
The worst part is that actually, the man from the beginning tries to find out more about the MC & explain himself but she won't hear it. The author's excuse? "She's secretive" & "she wants to protect her family." From what I don't know b'c they happen to be lethal - it's just all a series of excessively dumb assumptions.
I suppose I would say this is really technically "paranormal romance" & that's that.
I don't recommend unless the person is a hardcore romance junkie. -
Audio - 5 stars.
Story - DNF @ 58%
After reading two books with alpha female leads, I can't stomach this heroine. She is annoying AF!! And reminds me why I stopped reading M/F for the better part of 2 years. I'm annoyed enough that I'm going back on my practice of not leaving a rating on books I don't finish. 1 star!
Ugh!! I need to gorge of some M/M now. -
2nd read Nov 2021
Still just as rapey, but the worldbuilding was pretty cool? Read via audiobook this time or else I would've dnf'd again.
Rating: 1.5/5
1st read Oct 2020
DNF - Very rapey. I might revist another time. -
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
His voice gravelly, he answered, “I think you’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
Delighted to say that the Immortals After Dark series seems to be very promising and where was Kresley Cole and why did I only discover her books recently?! Although this novel was published in 2006 but it still holds up very well in our modern time.
A Hunger Like No Other is the first sizzling full-length standalone novel in the series following a turbulent and seductive forbidden romance between two strangers whose people are sworn enemies and are drawn to each other by their dark desires—as they are fated mates.
Note: each standalone follow a different couple but are connected with an overarching plot. There is a novella prior the first novel.
What to expect of this book?
— Dark Paranormal Romnace
— Enemies-to-Lovers
— Forbidden Romance
— Fated Mates
— Vampire x Werewolf (Lykae)
— Slowburn and Steamy
— Possessive Scottish Alpha Hero
— Relatable Heroine
— Forced Proximity
— Urban Setting
— Intriguing Lore
— Supernatural Creatures
Lachlain MacRieve, head of the Lykae clan (the werewolves), was captured and tortured by the Vampires and their leader for 150 years. Lachlain miraculously escaped but with his sanity hanging by a very thin thread. It wasn't his trauma that engulfed him with madness, but realizing that his long-awaited mate, the woman made for him and who he searched for without cease for a thousand years, was nearby.
The Instinct screamed inside him to touch her, to claim her. He’d waited for so long. . . .
Emmaline Troy is a 71-year-old immortal and a halfling as she is the product of a Vampire and a Valkyrie. She belongs to coven with her fiercely protective Valkyrie aunts. Although her Valkyrie aunts loved her, loneliness is a sharp blade that jabs at Emma's heart every single day. She longs to find an identity and to find a connection for something that feels like her. She is distraught that her Vampire side could turn into a mindless killer like them.
Emma embarks on a quest to Paris to uncover information about her deceased parents and her unknown father. She fails on her quest but the devastation was amplified by being taken away by a mad Lykae to his ancestral Scottish castle.
“Kiss me like you want to live.”
Kresley Cole constructed such a compelling supernatural world which she calls Lore. The world of Lore is the supernatural fabric in a mortal world where different creatures with powers and magic live among humans and this includes: Valkyrie, vampire, Lykae, ghouls, witches, wraiths, demons, shifters, fairies, and sirens.
The story is fast-paced and the writing style is quite immersive and even though it's cosndieted an old school paranormal romance but I would daresay it's still on par with the modern paranormal romances.
Lachlain and Emma's beginning is quite rocky and his posessive alpha behavior is not attractive at times because of how it seems he forced himself on Emma. It's not excused or covered up but I think it makes sense within context because these are supernatural creatures whose feelings and sexual appetite is amplified once they find their one true mate, plus Lachlain was descending into madness after being held prisoner and tortured for 150 years. So I have to point out that there is dubious consent and the hero forced himself on the heroine at the beginning a couple of times (but it didn't exceed beyond touching and kisses).
The romance I would say is slowburn with steamy scenes given as a treat to the reader every now and then. Lachlain yearns to claim his mate despite her status as a Vampire, marking her as a sworn enemy, but Emma is not so easily deterred by her desires and what she truly wishes to find when it comes to love. A maddened werewolf in the body of a man conjured by her wildest fantasies was not on her agenda, especially one so ill-mannered.
But the romance eventually blossoms beautifully and there are many romantic, steamy and tender moments that won me over. I wouldn't say they joined my list of favorite couples, especially not with how unbalanced their dynamic was at the beginning, but the author was able to redeem it.
And dear reader, bid farewell to your feminism because it will evaporate temporarily.
Emma was a special heroine to me because I found her relatable in so many ways. I love reading about heroines who are struggle with their identity and go on a journey to find themselves. Emma can come off as timid and sheltered but she is also passionate and kind. I love that she was afraid of Lachlain at the start but was never afraid to say "no" to him and draw her own boundaries. She was vocal about whenever Lachlain tried to make decisions for her and continue to challenge him. I think the author did a splendid job with her arc.
I think the conflict and the resolution was a tad underwhelming but everything else made up for it.
I'm eager to continue the series and explore more of the world of Lore and this could turn into a comfort series for me.
Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, dubious consent, sexual assault, death. -
I hate this book more than I've hated any other book in a long time.
At first I really liked the idea of a vampire character who is so gentle she refuses to fight or kill or drink from a live being. But then it turns out that not only is her Valkyrie family embarrassed she's a pacifist, they mercilessly make fun of her for it. But wait, they also tell her that she's not allowed to bite a human, because she might kill them. So, it's OK to kill in epic battle, but not for food? Apparently, Emmeline eventually get her I-am-Vampire/Valkyrie-hear-me-have-a-15-page-fight-scene on, but I wouldn't know, since I only read the first 40-or-so pages.
But here's the real reason I only read that far: I'm not really into romances that stem from attempted rape. In one of the more chilling encounters I've read, our heroine meets her "mate" when he's one a destructive rampage through Paris, looking for her. He finds her, rips her blouse and bra open to ogle her on a public street, and forcibly makes her take him back to her hotel. Once there, he kisses her, uttering such charming phrases as, "Kiss me back, witch, while I decide if I should spare your life," and "Kiss me like your life depends upon it." Then he makes her take a shower with him, during the duration of which he manhandles her, forces her to spread her legs and is about to rape her, which she only manages to circumnavigate by giving him a hand-job.
And then he steals her credit card to buy himself a new wardrobe. (Note: if you look really menacing, concierges at fancy Parisian hotels will let you use an AmEx Black card with a woman's name on it, even if you are a man who has been trapped at the gates of hell for a thousand years.)
And then he performs oral sex on her while she sleeps.
Did I mention that she's a 70-year-old virgin who's never even had a kiss?
But I guess the almighty mating bond (a trope I am so very tired of seeing) really does conquer all. Except my gag reflex. -
I am going to keep this short and sweet because I am eager to get back to 'KC-land'!!
Maybe because I've been craving something different or maybe because Kresley Cole has such excellent way with words but I love being lost in this magical world she created so masterfully and don't want to find my way out any time soon! The way this author tells stories ... GAH! I can't even ... Her books are PURE ENTERTAINMENT! They are a perfect mix of sass, macho, sexy and humor! They always leave me smiling like a lunatic during and after. At this point [in this series especially!] I don't even care WHOSE book it is - I just want to keep on reading! I love that she makes me love equally ALL of her characters who can't be any more different from one another. THAT, my friends, is talent!
If you haven't yet experienced the magic of Kresley Cole's writing, do it NOW! She has several genres/series to choose from and ALL of those are top notch, in my opinion!
Cheers!
-
Errrr not good. Wimpy main lady made me want to slap her around.
-
3 1/2 to 4 stars
Overall I really enjoyed reading A Hunger Like No Other, the first full-length book in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole.
I'm truly in awe of Ms. Cole's ability to create a complex and intriguing paranormal world full of Vampires, Lykaes (werewolves), Valkyries, Demons, Witches, Feys, Ghouls, and the list goes on and on. Although this paranormal world is complex, Ms. Cole has the ability to easily explain her intricate world to the reader, making this book an enjoyable read.
As much as I liked this action packed, intriguing, humorous, and highly sensual story filled with mostly likable characters, there were a few plot inconsistencies that bothered me. For instance, the Horde captures, imprisons, and tortures Lachlain, the hero, only to have him eventually escape decades later, then never bother to pursue him or even give him an afterthought. That does not make sense! Then we have the heroine, Emma, whom everyone considers meek, timid, and in constant need of protection. Yet, her Valkyrie coven allows her to travel alone and unprotected to Paris in search of information about her deceased mother and her unknown vampire father, though vampires are the Valkyries' known enemy.
I will also admit to being a little annoyed with the slow developing progress of the relationship between the hero and heroine and their constant bickering; however, I also understand that the author used their relationship as a tool to flesh out her world in this first full-lenght book of the series. Knowing that allowed me to get past my annoyance and to enjoy their relationship for what it was.
A special thanks to the author for include in the back of her book an easy to understand glossary titled From the Book of Lore, which made it relatively easy for the reader to comprehend her world.
A Hunger Like No Other was a fun, engaging and very sexy read. I very much look forward to reading this series. -
Love this book. It's probably my second best in the series (nothing can surpass Lothaire so far, maybe when Nix's story comes out).
Lachlain
Emmaline
Lachlain and Emma are so sweet together. Lachlain has that typical "prejudice against mate's species" that Cole is so fond of but he doesn't take it to the limit(and he definitely makes up for it IMO). Emma is cute and kind. She finds her badassness along the way but she doesn't lose her innosence.
The story is lovely. The Valkyries as awesome as always. I WANT NIX'S BOOK. I won't rest until I see it on the horizon.
I will be re-reading all my favs in the series in the near future because I missed them.<3
**************22/04/2014**************
Re-read it as part of the IAD series Read-A-Long with the
League of Lusty Ladies.
This book never loses its shine! xx -
This is the first full-length story in the Immortals After Dark series, following the novella
The Warlord Wants Forever that introduced the Lore, the mythical strata created by
Kresley Cole "where those sentient creatures that are not human live". You don’t have to read that short story to understand
A Hunger Like No Other, but I did and I think it helps to get a better grasp of the overall scenario as some events in the two stories take place at the same time.
Lachlain MacRieve is the Lykae King, a 1,200-year-old werewolf who’s been searching for his mate for a long, long time. For the past 150 years, he’s been imprisoned in the catacombs beneath Paris, where he’s been tortured by the Vampire Horde and subjected to die from the fires of hell only to be resurrected by his immortality - over and over again. The only thing that keeps him alive and somewhat sane is the thought of finding his mate, so when he unexpectedly scents her nearby one night, he finds the strength to break free from the bonds that keep him captive. When he finally escapes the catacombs and finds his way to the surface, then into a darkened alley, his mate is gone. He’s not defeated, though, because once a Lykae scents his mate, she’s his forever – and he will find her again… However, Lachlain has the shock of his life when he catches up with her one week later and discovers she’s, gasp!, a vampire. No, this cannot be! Lykaes and vampires are mortal enemies, so why would fate give him a vampire as a mate?
Emmaline “Emma” Troy is actually half vampire and half Valkyrie. Her mother Helen (of Troy?) was a Valkyrie who died when Emma was still a baby. As for her father, all Emma knows is that he is/was a vampire. Determined to finally find out his identity, Emma’s left the Valkyrie coven in New Orleans for the first time in her 70 years – wow, she’s almost a newborn compared to Lachlain! – and flies to Paris, where her parents are believed to have met and lived together for a while. Imagine her surprise when, one night, she’s kidnapped by a strange non-human male who seems to be a bit "deranged", to say the least.
Lachlain is torn between lust and disgust. His "beast" wants to claim Emma as his mate, but he’s having a hard time reconciling the fact that she’s a vampire. He ends up "convincing" her to travel with him to his home in Scotland, with the promise that he’ll let her go when they get there. He’s lying through his teeth, of course, as he has no intention of letting her go – ever! He’s only buying time, before she accepts her position as his mate. But there are people after her – not only her Valkyrie foster mother and aunts, but some bad vampires too – and Lachlain has to fight all of them to keep Emma safe. Not an easy task, when he has to woo her and convince her she belongs with him at the same time.
When I read the Prologue, I thought Lachlain would end up being one of my favorite heroes. I was sure he would be a dark, brooding and intense hero – come on, he severed one of his leg to free it from its bonds to get to his mate! – but that was not to be. He had a brief bout of "insanity" in the beginning, which was completely expected considering his 150-year imprisonment, but he recovered from it quite easily and I found it too unbelievable. Strangely enough, I wasn’t put off by his lying to Emma. I’m usually not a fan of deceitful heroes, but I was OK with Lachlain’s lying because it was consistent with his initial "madness". He kept lying later, when he was "sane" again, but that was another story...
As for Emma, she got on my nerves. She started out as a wuss – by her own words – and ended up as a strong and independent vampire/Valkyrie – kudos to her! – but the journey in between was uneven. I guess she was supposed to be funny and witty, but I found myself wanting to shake some sense into her a couple of times. Some of her conversations with her crazy Valkyrie aunts were hilarious, but I got tired of their antics after a while. There’s a time to joke around, and there’s a time to get down to business. JMHO.
I could have "ignored" Lachlan’s and Emma’s shortcomings if the plot had been engaging enough but, alas, that wasn’t the case. Some jarring inconsistencies kept pestering me while I was reading this book, and I just couldn’t get over them. A) Lachlain’s escape from the catacombs wasn’t as difficult as it should have been. I mean, not a single guard intercepted his way! B) Why did Lachlain waited 150 years to escape? Don’t tell me that he only felt compelled to do it when he scented Emma, because I can’t believe he didn’t find ending his torture as soon as possible compelling enough. C) Why didn’t the Vampire Horde go after Lachlain when he escaped? He couldn’t be that "insignificant", could he? D) Why did Demestriu, the Vampire King, … Okay, I’ll stop ranting now because I’m about to enter into spoiler territory.
All things considered, this was a fun read but, as it happened with
The Warlord Wants Forever, I wasn’t wowed by the story. I’m feeling kind of weird here, because many readers love this series and I just don’t get it. I do love the idea of having all kinds of non-human beings living together – mostly at war but some in peace – in the same universe, the Lore, but that’s all. Ms. Cole’s writing was humorous and easy to read, the love scenes were hot and the story was fast paced and entertaining despite its inconsistencies, but I’m still unsure about this series. Does it get better? Should I give the next book a try? Decisions, decisions… -
Basically I despised Lachlain MacRieve. He is an alpha character with no redeeming qualities. He treats Emma like crap for the first half of the novel. He takes her hostage, blackmails her into staying with him by threatening her family’s safety with his clan, lies to her about why he’s kidnapping her, comes within inches of raping her and that’s all within the first 100 pages or so. The author implies at some point that his treatment of her is justified because Lachlain hates vampires, but I never got the feeling he was reacting to Emma as a vampire. (Not least of which because even he keeps forgetting she’s a vampire because she doesn’t act *anything* like a vampire.) And hatred for someone’s race isn’t a good enough reason for behaving badly anyway.
Basically for the first half of the book Lachlain acts like Emma’s his sex toy or possession (*his* mate to do with as *he* wishes) rather a person who might have thoughts or feelings of her own. The second half of the book, after one of Emma’s aunts threatens him, he suddenly starts acting a little better. (More of just your typical macho-alpha jerk behavior. But his behavioral change didn’t seem to be accompanied by any deep or meaningful character change and he didn’t really express remorse for his behavior.)
Characterization: Stinks. Emma’s aunts are rather funny and zany, but very one-dimensional. The other Lykae are very stereotypical types, and so are the bad guys. Emma’s the only half-way original character and we don’t get nearly enough insight into her. -
Reviewed by:
Rabid Reads.
After a lot of arm twisting by fellow readers, getting hooked on Cole’s writing via THE ARCANA CHRONILES, and listening to a sample of Robert Petkoff’s orgasm worthy narration; I finally caved and committed myself to yet another series addiction. I enjoy Paranormal Romance, although somewhat sparingly because action is my one-and-only true love. Ok, that’s not entirely accurate, werewolves are but the two go hand-in-hand, and this audiobook has both AND toe curling hooks ups, so really A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER was win / win / WIN!
You know an author is truly adept when she manages to take two elements that rank fairly low on your list of awesome, and makes you love them. I strongly dislike immortal virgin heroines because honestly, how can one live for centuries and NEVER get it on? Granted, Emmaline hasn’t hit the 100 year mark, however Cole spun her innocence in such a way that even I was completely sold. And secondly, Valkyries have become more common in Paranormal than vampires and the female protagonist just so happens to be a mix of the two, and yet I couldn’t have cared less because her character was so well developed that I saw her as a person rather than just the sum on her preternatural parts.
Lachlain was barbaric, offensive, and presumptuous; he whisked unwitting little Emma away to his Scottish castle, tried to force himself on her, and strong-arm her into becoming his werewolf queen—I loved it! The chemistry between them was downright savage. MacRieve hates himself for being unable to resist his mortal enemy, Troy is repulsed by his Lykae nature, and yet they are inexplicably drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Their relationship and the mind blowing romp that followed were indeed show stoppers, however the praiseworthy world-building surrounding the Lore wasn’t too far behind. The plot wasn’t exactly cutting-edge, but enough secondary threads were brought in to keep IMMORTALS AFTER DARK going for a good long while.
As much as I enjoy Cole’s writing style, it was Robert Petkoff’s come-hither brogue that made thirteen+ IAD installments seem like a walk in the park. Yes, the number of pages involved is intimidating, but when you convert them into hours upon hours of listening ecstasy, the only conceivable answer becomes “Where do I sign-up?” His female voices were surprisingly genuine, and there’s no denying the sex appeal of his Scottish accents. Lachlain as a character was… abrasive, however Petkoff’s rendition made him ridiculously irresistible. Now I finally understand why all of my reviewer peers are fawning over this narrator; he truly is in a league all of his own.
A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER made me want to give real life the middle finger, and get drunk on IAD until I overdosed. ~4.5 stars -
3.5 stars
Reviewed by:
Rabid Reads
A Hunger Like No Other is actually the first book I read in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark (my favorite PNR) series. I went back and read The Warlord Wants Forever when I finished it b/c I wanted to know what was going on with Myst and Wroth (you could tell there was a story there, but had no idea what it was). For that reason, I recommend reading The Warlord Wants Forever first, even though it's a more of a short story than a full installment.
In A Hunger Like No Other, we meet Emmaline Troy, a Valkyrie/vampire hybrid, and Lachlain MacRieve, King of the Lykae.
Emma is in Paris looking for information about her father.
Her Valkyrie mother died of HEARTBREAK shortly after Emma was born, never revealing to anyone who the father of her child was. All anyone knew was that she had been in Paris with him until she returned to her coven in New Orleans with baby Emma in tow.
SO. Off to Paris Emma goes.
After spending a semester there taking night classes and researching, Emma has nothing to show for her time abroad except disappointment. She is about to be recalled home to Louisiana where she can be kept safe from some vague threat when she is attacked by a very large, very hot, very ANGRY man.
Lachlain MacRieve has been held captive and tortured for over 150 years.
The vampires have made the catacombs under Paris their very own personal prison where they subject their enemies to unbelievable cruelty. For Lachlain that means being chained in front of a roaring fire that waxes and wans, burning him over and over again, but never killing him b/c he is IMMORTAL. He simply burns until he passes out, only to reawaken when his body has adequately healed him only to endure more torture.
Until her smells her, his mate. The woman he has been looking for for nearly a millennia.
*rolls eyes*
I'm wracking my brain trying to come up with a way to make all of this sound less ridiculous, but I can't. Maybe it is ridiculous and I just don't care b/c I love this series.
Despite that love, I think this is my least favorite IAD book.
The Emmaline at the beginning of book is vastly different from the kickass Emma at end of the book, but end-of-book Emma can't entirely make up for the spineless ninny that is early Emma.
And Emma's little epiphany moment is both confusing, and once you figure out where she's going with it, hard to accept. She seems to mark, with pin-point accuracy, the pivotal moment that turned her into a big fraidy-cat, and this "aha" only served to make me have a, "sure . . . whatever you say, boss" moment of my own.
But, like I already said, by the end, Emma is straight-up kickass. Kicking lycae ass, kickass. And this happens slowly and incrementally enough that it's believable.
Lachlain, on the other hand, is a RAGE monster pretty much from beginning to end.
And I know that I said in my
The Warlord Wants Forever review that I am totally down with intensely sexually aggressive males, but Lachlain is a little bit OTT, even for me. His early interactions with Emma skate that fine line between aggressively hot and aggressively-bound-for-prison so closely that it's uncomfortable. Especially taking into consideration that early Emma was a spineless ninny. If she wasn't, and she gave as good as she got, then it probably would have worked for me, but as it was . . . Emma's fine line between arousal and terror . . . not a big fan.
But I do love this series, and once RAGE monster Lachlain starts controlling himself a bit better, and Emma grows a backbone, I remembered why. There is, however, no denying that the early stages of their "courtship" were rough. If you have a problem with that sort of thing, I'd skip this one, but if you're more of a "the end justifies the means"person, you should be fine. The uncomfortable part is fairly brief, and the rest of it is typical Cole awesomeness. Your call. But don't let one scary RAGE monster scare you off the whole series, b/c then you would be missing out.
My other reviews for this series:
The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) -
Apparently this series is all about the women being bullied into submission by the "hero" of the story. The first one is apparently a little "rapey" in that the sex scene starts off forced and then the woman eventually submits. But in this book the hero actually rapes someone and a popular reviewer/friend says the heroine doesn't have any ill effects or even a problem with it really. The rapey-ness is a common enough theme with were-whatevers and I have a problem enough with that, but out and out rape, by the hero no less, I can't stomach no matter how remorseful he may be later (I don't know if that's even the case, I'm just hoping it is because I have a friend who loved this book.)
Another friend who disliked the book described it this way,
"He practically rapes her, he threatens her life, he molests her, he forces her to perform sexual acts on him against her will, kidnaps her, steals her credit card and decks himself out like James Bond, trashes every hotel room rented under HER name, then holds her hostage in his castle....but she falls for him within a week! There is hope for sexual predators everywhere. Just growl that you're meant to be together, and every felonies you've committed just fades away. I can't wait for the wedding day film reel...so romantic."
Jenn (
see full review)
I'll admit I have a problem with this violent alpha male thing treating women like trash, even when the woman is smart and strong and doesn't let it affect her self-esteem. For example, I love the Mercy Thompson series except I just can't stand her tolerance for how the men treat her. I finally had to stop reading them. But the reviewer mentioned in the first paragraph above actually really likes that series so she isn't nearly as sensitive to this stuff as I am. And she still hated both the first and second (as did several people who agreed with her review.)
If you're interested in why I have such a problem with Mercy Thompson, here's an extract from my review of the second:
"This is the annoying Heinlein-esque sexism: you know the guy is a jerk and you know better but let's just humor him. The reality is that in by going along with him with his macho bullshit, he still gets all the power and control. Just because you're going along voluntarily doesn't make it equality."
This book sounds way, way worse. (Although I hear that later in that series it's really not so very different.)
BUT
This powerful, on the verge of violence, were-creature thing can be done right. The one example I'm familiar with is
Ilona Andrews's series beginning with
Magic Bites has an alpha were who is strong and scary and wants the heroine. While she thinks he's physically attractive, she refers to him as a psychopath and feels herself lucky when she leaves his presence with no bloodshed. They end pretty much every encounter in a fight because he's controlling. But although all werea are potentially very violent, alphas are both male and female. He of course is King of all of them because this is, after all, fantasy fiction. But the main character refuses to submit to his ways and makes him adjust to her ways as much as she can. She is also incredible strong and amazing with her sword and a fight would probably be almost an even match between the two. And he is still very much a sexy, powerful, leading man who allegedly hates it when she doesn't listen because everyone else does. And you still very much want them to be together because they are true equals.
I know it really isn't the same genre, it's not a romance series so the romance is spread throughout several books before culmination but the idea is that women don't have to be whipped into submission to be with a powerful man.
So that's a long review for a book I haven't read but I've felt the need to vent this for a long time and this was a good place to do so. -
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: It's no secret that I'm not completely sold on PNR romance. This, while enjoyable, unfortunately didn't sell me any more. It was a little bit better than alright. I felt like the sexy times were definitely hot, but the actual romantic chemistry was lacking. It felt like the shared "ILYs" were put in because it was something that felt necessary, but I never quite felt it. The world building felt a little too much, but I get that this is he first book in a series and it probably was necessary for the rest of the books...this is one issue I seem to have with the PNR genre in general. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the Valkyries and their brand of crazy and it was enjoyable at times.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emma and Lachlain's story. Lachlain, the Lykae (werewolf) king, has spent nearly a decade under the torture of the vampire king when he finally scents his mate and escapes to find her. Emma, a half-vampire-half-Valkyrie, is on the search for information about her heritage when she is found and held captive by Lachlain. Lachlain is surprised by who is mate is, but he knows it's true and must get back to his home to have her become his queen and start out his vengeance against the vampires. There are some hot sexy times, some big secrets revealed, and some funny family moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Emma and Lachlain's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Slow at first, but then it picks up to a good pace.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (other than lust)
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Lachlain. I liked him, but I did feel like we needed to get into his psyche a little more, especially because he was so old.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Emma. I liked her. She was sassy, strong (even when she viewed herself otherwise), and loyal.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes, but not in the relationship sense
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends so abruptly that I was confused tbh. I read it with my Scribd subscription and it ended on page 377 of 526. I still had unanswered questions and I feel like it's probably one of those that will revisit this couple in the books later in the series. But! So I'd probably call it a HFN ending because of everything else that wasn't addressed but I felt needed to be.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers -
Dear God, this book made me sweat like literally...
I mean I have read many, many books with anticipation in it...and this book over comes them all!
and since I am an anticiapation biatch (yeah, it sounds like a torture, BUT it 's a nice build up, you know! LOL) that was the GOOD thing about the book
I liked the hero/Lykae Lachlain (a scottish Lykae king) and I don't really favor those guys (I am a vamp guuurl and well, here the vamps are the bad guys...well, damn!) because of the accent...Jesus, oh mighty, at first I though it was funny BUT then it became his trademark and actually a huge turn on! YAY for the Scots!!!!
I liked the heroine, Emma - poor guurl, she was a mixture of God or the Devil knows what, but she was funny, snarky and sometimes annoying BUT over all I liked the chase stuff between them two.
and then FINALLY!!!! the sex scene - awesome! thank you!
the BAD things - half the book I was in pain from being sexually depraved (hahah, no I AM KIDDING!)
Seriously?!
there were too many creatures in there, terms i have never ever heard of (yeah sure it's a fantasy book, BUT still I mean I was fucking lost and in Paris, and in Russia and in Scotland
sometimes, the pacing was just off, the ratio between the building anticipation was just ruined with the sudden jump into the fantasy history 101 - sure that KILLED my frustration but it also made me wanna skim a little...
ah, it's more likely 3.5 star read for me! -
This book is beloved by many of my friends on Goodreads. I wanted to give it a chance since I didn’t like the first book in the series. I thought maybe I was too young to like it but here I am, reading this book after 3 years and I only like this type of stories less. I’m really sorry, I wanted to like this book. I really did but I just couldn’t.
It took me though over a month to finish. The story dragged and I couldn’t care about the characters nor sympathize with them. By the time events started happening (like the last 50 pages), it was too late for me and my i interest in the story was gone. I was so bored that Lachlain’s actions (which were forced and irrespecutful) didn’t frustrate me.. much. I usually like alphas but this one was too possessive, expecting her to understand everything on her own even when he lied, forced himself on her, and then suddenly she started having feelings for him. I just hated how he treated her.
This series isn’t for me and I’m not going to read its sequels. I gave it 2 tries and I think that’s more than enough. I know it’s many people’s cup of tea but not mine. I had some high expectations before reading this, dismissing the negative reviews... and while I’m not disappointed exactly, I’m sad for not liking it not one bit. -
I started reading this for the werewolves and vampires, but I'm continuing this series for the Valkyries. How am I supposed to get over these incredible, bad ass women, that are descendants (in this series) of Thor & Freya?!?! You can’t just tease me with a little Norse mythology, like that.
Although this book might be polarizing... and I fully believe consent is sexy. I felt the MMC explained and redeemed himself by the end, and I was able to get past his initial almost sexual predator vibe. There are a few situations in the beginning, that some readers might not be comfortable with.
I probably would’ve rated this 3 or 3.5 stars, but the world building, magical and mythical elements are amazing. Then when you combine the hilarious humor, and gorgeous characters, I had to give it 4 stars. This is a gigantic series, but I’m looking forward to a new PNR.
