A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #2
Published by Pocket
Published on: April 1 2006
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 356
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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Acclaimed author Kresley Cole introduces a sizzling new series with this tale of a fierce werewolf and a bewitching vampire—unlikely soul mates whose passion will test the boundaries of life and death.
A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her...
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. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.
A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy...
Sheltered Emmaline Troy 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.
An all-consuming desire...
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 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.
Immortals After Dark Series:
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My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
I so love this series. It is another one I highly recommend on audio. Robert Petkoff is wonderful. He does great with male and female voices, plus with the Russian and Scottish accents. Great review.
Melanie Simmons recently posted…Shield of Winter Audiobook by Nalini Singh (review) #Audiobooks
I think I’ll have to give this one a shot just for the accents 😉 Thanks, Melanie!
I second Melanie it’s great on audio!!
Good to know. Thanks, Jennifer!
It actually does say a lot about an author and their writing that even though there were some rough spots and ridiculous moments that you still loved the books and the series. 😉
kindlemom1 recently posted…Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway: to Have and To Harm by Debra Doxer
You’re right it does. I avoided Cole for a LONG time for superficial reasons–stupid pen name, stupid book titles, stupid book covers, etc. But her writing blew me away. I don’t read much PNR, I prefer UF, but this is the exception. I don’t merely tolerate or only read this series when I’m in a “PNR” mood, I love it regardless.
GAH! This is your least favorite! I’m guessing I should pass on this one. I think because you still enjoyed it and gave it a decent rating. I’m so torn! 😉
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Actually, I’m pretty sure you’d be fine with this one. You don’t seem skittish around aggressive alpha-types, and I think you told me you already got The Warlord Wants Forever, which is technically the first book in this series–I say read that one, and then decide. If you like Wroth, I think you’ll like Lachlain too despite a few OTT moments.
Nice review Jessica, I do love this series, but it has been ages since I read the first books. I do remember not liking this hero very much, but the story a lot.
aurian recently posted…Recommendations from Peggy for June 2014.
Yeah, LOL . . . Lachlain had a LOT of anger to work through. I mean, I can’t really blame him–being burnt to death over and over again for 300 or so years is bound to put someone in a bad mood. BUT just b/c I understand that he’s not in the best place doesn’t make me like him more 😉
So Immortals After Dark is your favorite PNR? And I haven’t read it- ANY of it- yet? Seriously, I have some reading to do! Thanks for the heads up about the short/novella to read first! Going to go add to my list!
Berls recently posted…Sunday Post | 45th Edition
IAD is my favorite PNR series like Kate Daniels is my favorite UF series–ahead of the rest of the pack by LEAPS and BOUNDS (it’s nice to have a definitive favorite once in awhile). The Warlord Wants Forever (<------the 185 page short story) has been $1.99 on Amazon forever. Fyi 😉
I love the IAD series and it just gets better and better as you go along (I’m partial to the Woede brothers myself).
Traci recently posted…Character Interview & Giveaway ~ Fighting Fate ~ Carrie Ann Ryan
The Wroth brothers? Or am I forgetting people, LOL. I can’t help it—I’m with Carmel on these kinds of things (mostly)—werewolves (ESPECIALLY Scottish werewolves) will beat vampires for me every, single time 😉 BUT the Wroth brothers are pretty dang spectacular too.
Nope the Woedes…the demon brothers. Cade’s my favorite and his book is #6. Although the Scottish Wolves are pretty hot too 😉
RIGHT. Whoops. It’s been a couple of years since I read ALL of them. But yeah, they’re pretty hot too. And it may change by the time I finish this reread, but right now book 4’s my favorite–Mariketa and Bowen 😉
I read this one a while ago. It’s a nice series but not my fave. It’s always the same for me with PNR, I’m more a UF girl, but I like one from time to time. I’m glad you had a good time with this one and I’m curious to see you read the ones in the series I haven’t tried yet.
Yeah, I’m more of an UF girl too, but I make an exception for this series. I just love those big, Scottish werewolves 😉 ALSO—I’ve read all of this series with the exception of the latest one, which I’ve been putting off b/c the one before that was the Big Deal installment, so I’m trying let enough time pass. So if you have questions about any particular one . . .
If I went back just now and read this one, I’d probably give it the same rating, but I can stress enough how much better (even this one…My least favorite of the bunch)are on audio. And even when reading (which I did) they get better and better. I promised!
Lupdilup recently posted…Shield of Winter Audiobook by Nalini Singh (review) #Audiobooks
You mentioned too how much better they get, I was just emphasizing 🙂
Lupdilup recently posted…Shield of Winter Audiobook by Nalini Singh (review) #Audiobooks
I get you!
That’s what I keep hearing. I’m supposed to go to the beach in a few weeks, maybe I’ll have to listen to one of these on the way 😉
I love this series too, UT’s one of the best PNRs out there IMO! I also gave it a 3.5 because Lachlan made me uncomfortable at the beginning too, especially next too spineless Emma but there is character development for both of them which I like. There are flaws in this story but it opened us to this awesome world KCole created so this may also be one of my least favorite in the series but this is the first book I’ve read from it so it will always have a special place for me. Awesome review, as always, Jessica! Are you excited for Dark Skye???
Amir recently posted…Review: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh
Thanks, Amir! And SO excited!! I put off reading MacRieve b/c Lothaire, but I think I’m going to be ready this time *crosses fingers* And yeah, RAGE monster Lachlain + ninny Emma = uncomfortable, but I agree that the character development is pretty fantastic . . . you just have to be strong! LOL.
I have read a few and enjoyed them 🙂
blodeuedd recently posted…A hint of frost – Hailey Edwards
Yeah, they’re pretty good 😉
I think I tried to read the first book in this series when they were relatively new, and I just couldn’t get into it 🙁 I just don’t like that style of PNR although Immortals After Dark is HUGE!
kara-karina recently posted…The Postman Knock #83
Well, I hadn’t thought of that, but I can see how that would happen if PNR is one of your preferred genres—it definitely is different, so it makes sense that some readers could dislike the series for the very reasons that I like it. I’m sorry it wasn’t for you 🙁
I’m so happy I read your review!!!!
I read this first book a while back and thought a lot of the same things you mentioned in this review. I thought wow this is Cole! The author that people rave about, the series that people rave about! This is what I signed up for?!?!?!? I’m so glad to read the end of your review where you say this series gets better and to not judge the whole series on this book because I didn’t like this book that much and was worried the rest of the series was like this book. Now I can finally move forward with the series.
Thanks for the awesome review!
Alexa recently posted…Girl Behind the Blog: Do the Good Boys Ever Steal Our Hearts?
Thanks! And I’m glad too, Alexa. This series is FANTASTIC, and it would be terrible to miss out on the rest of it b/c of this one. Cole’s alphas are always big, aggressive . . . well, alphas, but Lachlain is the only one that I’ve had this kind of trouble with. I hope you give the rest of the series a chance some time 😉
Haha!! Spinless ninny!! Great description Jessica! Great to see that you grew to like the characters.
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Naomi recently posted…Review/Giveaway ~ Fall to You by Lexi Ryan
I am too, LOL. Emma was pretty ridiculous in the beginning, but she grew into herself and turned awesome 😉
Her mama died of heartbreak? Man.
I have never read a Kresley Cole adult romance (I didn’t love the Poison’s Princess YA book), but apparently I need to try one! for some reason I’ve been resistant to them, probably because of the cheesy covers, but I remember my co-blogger Tonya and Leigh Bardugo bonding over her books during our S&S interview last year.
Wendy Darling recently posted…Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda: Exclusive Cover Reveal + giveaway
Yeah, apparently that’s part of the mythology of Valkyries—not much can kill them, but sadness can. And I haven’t read Cole’s YA yet, but from what I’ve heard (especially from other IAD lovers) is that the style is completely different, AND I recently read her contemporary/erotica serial The Professional . . . well, kind of read it. I think I made it 60ish% before DNF-ing it, and I’m starting to get the idea that Cole is one of those authors who should stick to her main genre.
And LOL. YES. I wanted not one thing to do with these books, and not only b/c of the stupid covers—stupid titles, stupid pen name, etc. The only reason I started this series was b/c I had a bunch of leftover trade credit at the used book store. BUT. I love it 😉 The Kate Daniels books have pretty ridiculous covers too, but they’re my favorite UF series. Weird trend . . .
I read lothaire without reading the previous booksin that series . I gave it 4/5 even if I was lost and did not have the context of what has happened between some characters .
I have to admit that the only reason I got it was because of the cover . hahahahahahaha
The cover model is so HOTTTTTT
HAHA
.
I plan to read some of her books this summer. In order in this case ^_^
Roro recently posted…REVIEW: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
LOL. I could try to tell you how many times I’ve bought a book b/c of the cover, but yeah, we’d be here all day. And you are correct—that cover model is HOT. Did you know that he went on the book tour with Cole? B/c HE DID.
Yeah, if you liked Lothaire that much, even being lost, I’m pretty sure you’ll like the others. Cole’s style is pretty consistent.
ALSO–do you check out Top Off Tuesday? As much as I love lists (and I do), Top Off Tuesday is infinitely preferable, LOL. The Geeky Blogger (amongst others) host it every week 😉 There are THEMES.
I love paranormal romance, but there are so many of them out there, I screen them, trying to get the very best. ^_^
sherry fundin recently posted…Tour for Along the Watchtower by David Litwack – Guest Post & $100 Giveaway
Then I hope you try this series out some time, b/c I really haven’t found a PNR series that I like as much as this one 😉
This series sounds good! And I’m in love with the cover. I definitely want to read this one!
Bethzaida (bookittyblog) recently posted…Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst
I think you’d like it. This series has the same kind of brutes-for-alphas as KMM’s Highlander series, and I know that you at least like the first one there.
Great review Jessica! Ilove this series as well, and I need to read The Warlord Wants Forever. Poor Lachain, so tortured. I’m glad he got it under control, and Emma did toughen up in the end. I enjoyed this one as well, but they just get better. 🙂
kim { Book Swoon } recently posted…Book Review: Some Like It Wicked by Alexandra Ivy
Thanks, Kim! I think so too. I’ve read all the books except MacRieve, and while Mariketa and Bowen’s book (#4) is my favorite, I love all of them. Seriously—favorite PNR series 😉
“Maybe it is ridiculous and just don’t care b/c I love this series.”
Haha YES! I think that’s it exactly Jessica! There are a number of series I absolutely adore, but when I go to recommend them to people and start explaining what they’re about, I just sort of have to stop and say “the books are so much better than I’m making them sound”. 🙂
I agree completely on Lachlain and Emma in this one though – there were moments in the beginning where he was too much (and I’m a fan of the overbearing alpha male type), but I still so enjoy this series as a whole:)
Excellent, LOL. I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
And me TOO. You already know how I feel about Emma and Lachlain, but overall, I think the series is fantastic. It’s leaps and bounds above the other PNR series I’ve read IMO, and a lot of that has to do with Cole’s overbearing alphas . . . She just overshot a bit in this one 😉
Hey, who cares if some things are ridiculous as long as you end up loving the story.
That’s what I say.
Ok I’m with you – I always roll my eyes a little bit when something like INSTANT attraction that is beyond the norm is explained away because of the “mate bond” or something else like that. I’ve seen it happen a hand ful of times and it just screams convenience to me.
I’d still be interested in reading this series since you like it regardless.
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted…Review: Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer
If you had a hope of liking a PNR series, Tabitha, this would be the one. And don’t misunderstand—yes, there is a “mate bond” but it in no way equals insta-love. Instant attraction, well, okay, but they do NOT like each other, not one bit.
Alright I’m game – I’ll snatch up the first one and throw it on mount to be read
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted…Review: Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer
LOL. I have that same mountain 😉
I’ve been wanting to read this series since ever, I even have first books, but for some reason or another I haven’t read it yet.
The only books I have read (listened) by Kresley Cole are The Arcana Chronicles series and loved them. Now that I know this is your favorite PNR I think I should move it up on my TBR.
BookaholicCat recently posted…Review: Take Me On by Katie McGarry
I THINK SO TOO. *snickers* I know you like snark like I do, so as long as you’re down with the uber alpha, I’m pretty sure you’ll really like this series too. AND if you already have the first few . . . might as well 😉
Oh hybrids you say! I love hybrids. I have seen this series around and I really want to read it. I haven’t read anything by this author so I know I should. I know that this whole soulmate thing will get on my nerves, but still. Great review, Jessica 🙂
Tanja recently posted…ARC Review – The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor
Thank you, Tanja! And just b/c there are mate bonds in this series, doesn’t mean there’s insta-love. In MOST cases, one or BOTH of the bonded couple fight tooth and nail against the bond. AND there are LOTS of hybrids 😉
Yes it all is kind of ridiculous and typical but written by KC there isn’t anything better. I love how the books just get better and better. I have so much book boyfriends in this series.
Jenese recently posted…Audiobook Review: Of Neptune by Anna Banks
I’ll fight you over Bowen 😉
Holy crap, that guy has huge hands!
“His early interactions with Emma skate that fine line between aggressively hot and aggressively-bound-for-prison so closely that it’s uncomfortable”
Hmm, yeah, I that kind of stuff bothers me. It’s encouraging to know their dynamic changed over time, though.
Christy recently posted…Take Me On by Katie McGarry
He has huge, CREEPY hands. Those hands look more like the hands of a vampire than a werewolf to me . . .
Yeah, it bothers me too. I guess it depends on how much you like the uber aggressive alpha when the heroine gives as much as she gets—if you LOVE it (like me), then you’ll probably love this series, generally speaking. The problem with this one was that Emma was a bit too timid in the beginning, and yeah, like I said, uncomfortable. *shrugs*
Well Jessica, this is a series I’m going to have to check out. That this is still one of your favorite PNR series despite spineless Emmaline and RAGE Lachlain says a lot of the series. Fab review, girl!
Oh yeah, Brandee. This is my favorite PNR series like Kate Daniels is my favorite UF series—leaps and bounds above the rest. I’m pretty sure you would L-O-V-E these. You know, based on our mutual love of alphas 😉
This cover just doesn’t do it for me. ='(
Maggie recently posted…Review: Feather Bound by Sarah Raughley
ME either. And the book title and author pen name are pretty ridiculous too. However, the book (and series) are awesome 😉
haha Rage Monster! love the description! I’ve always been weary on starting this series, I’ve read such a mix of reviews but Im glad to see even the least favorite of yours has a high rating and you enjoyed it, so I might have to give this a try. Thanks!
Kristen recently posted…{Book Tour: Review + Giveaway} of Crave by Violet Vaughn
He really is one. I mean, he’s got a legitimate reason, but still. And as long as you don’t have a problem with super aggressive alpha males, this is one of the best PNR series out there IMO. I hope you check it out sometime.
OH yeah. I love the series but this was definitely my least favorite. I’m glad I kept reading though because I love most of them. He was way too much for me and yeah really really straddled that line of legal for me. Whew. I thought I was the only one who thought that. lol
anna recently posted…Hunter by Night (Chronicles of Yavn #3) by Elisabeth Staab
Nope, LOL. Not the only one. And yes, even with RAGE monster Lachlain, this is still my favorite PNR series, b/c as misleading as her pen name, book titles, and book covers are, Kresley Cole can friggin’ write PNR 😉
I read “The Warlord Wants Forever” a while back and I’m sad to say the chemistry between the main couple didn’t do it for me at all. I remember feeling there was this sort of dubcon kind of vibe to it, which I tend to enjoy (evil reader, always), and the worldbuilding was interesting, but the chemistry there just didn’t click.
If this couple, and maybe others have that same kind of chemistry, then I don’t really think I’ll have much love, but I wanna read the series anyway, or at least try out a couple more. This sounds good, but I’m getting the same feeling of no-click-ness which sort of scares me off 🙁
Awesome review though, as always!
Livia recently posted…Sandstorm Heart by Liv Olteano
Thanks, doll. And yeah, there is a general feeling of sameness in this series as far as the chemistry between the couples goes, so maybe this one isn’t for you. Which makes me sad, b/c FAVORITE.