A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Narrator: Robert Petkoff
Series: Immortals After Dark #1
Published by Simon and Schuster
Published on: October 11, 2011
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Length: 11 hrs & 33 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Amazon | Book Depo | Kobo | B&N | GoodReads
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?
 |
 |
 |
Thank you Melanie from Hot Listens for the recommendation!
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.
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
||
Was this review helpful to you? If so, please vote for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads!
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Well, a narrator you swoon with? Now that’s something I might just have to sign up for too! Scottish brogue is something I do not mind and actually love listening to, so maybe I’ll just have to give this series a try!
Great review Carmel!
Pili recently posted…Friday Reads: Fire Study by Maria V Snyder!!
This is my favorite author/narrator pairing EVER. Immortals After Dark is by far the best written paranormal romance series out there and Robert Petkoff gives me a raging case of the swoons with his brilliant narration. Just make sure you read the first in the series, The Warlord Wants Forever. You really don’t want to miss out on Myst and Nikolai’s story. It is important to the rest of the Wroth brothers whom you’ll see later in the series.
I’m really happy you’re starting this series! You’re going to love it, especially the audio format. Petkoff is brilliant.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) recently posted…But Cage Gets it Right! Dead Wrong by Stacy Green
Watching you go through this series reminds me that I skipped one. Shadow’s Claim. The next time I have a listening slumping I’ll dusting it off and listening.
arghhhh bad internet! Dunno if my post went through or not
blodeuedd recently posted…Harrison squared – Daryl Gregory
God, I wish I had the patience for audiobooks. You constantly make me wish I had the patience for them, lol.
I actually haven’t read this series, but have been meaning to for too long. I did read The Warlord Wants Forever which is like #0.5 (or something) of the series and was kind of underwhelmed, so I indefinitely postponed going on with it. Maaaaybe I should give this proper #1 a shot though before finally deciding?
Livia recently posted…The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris
This is the only one in this series that I have read, although I own more. I haven’t continued on, but maybe I should listen to the next one-you certainly make me want to!
Lorna recently posted…Early Review and Character Interview with Celia Breslin, Author of Diamond Moon
Now this sounds hott! 🙂 I love narrators who can do good accents. To me the Scottish accent is definitely one of the sexiest accents out there. This book sounds like it has a good balance. Brilliant review Carmel! :]
Whoa. I don’t really read paranormal romance, but your review makes me curious. Really curious 😉 I haven’t listened to a lot of male narrators, and one that would tell this particular story, in a Scottish accent no less, could turn out to be quite the experience. Great review, Carmel, and have a great weekend!
Ramona recently posted…Sarcasm in YA Books: Sarah Rees Brennan
Another series I have seen so much about but have yet to try. We readers really do need at least a 26 hour day. 😉
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
I am halfway through the series and I love IAD. I forgot why I stopped probably some silly reason like life and then forgot because I am old. I need to get back to it 🙂
Felicia The Geeky Blogger recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Thrill of the Haunt by E.J. Copperman
Well, that cinches it. I so need to start this one from the beginning. I’ve read a couple of books in the series but it was out of order. Need to fix that.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Challenges Progress: Audiobook and Library
I read this book and absolutely loved it. Her series are so good. Dang, she’s a really good writer.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Review: K2R-803 Cell Phone Portable Charger with Flashlight
I’m with you in that if given a choice I’d pick action over romance ANY DAY!
I haven’t read this because there’s a LOT of books already and just thinking about it is making me panic. Maybe I can work my way slowly. I am impressed that she made a decades old virgin (I agree, that’s unbelievable esp around immortals. They’re always impossibly gorgeous!) likable is a good thing. Also orgasm inducing narration? Yup, WIN WIN WIN!
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Quick Hits: Tiffany Reisz, Kate Meader & Molly Harper
YAY!!!!!! I’m so glad I converted you. I know there are some stories you haven’t liked as much as others, but that is to be expected in a 13 book series. They can’t all been 5 star reads. I’ve started picking up other books that Petkoff narrates. I got one that isn’t even paranormal and I still loved it.
Melanie recently posted…Review: The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Yes! I’m so glad you love this one Camel, these books are audiobook heaven to me 🙂 And Robert Petkoff is amazing! I like this book when I read it well enough to continued the series (no audio then) but I LOVED it when I listened. Petkoff took these novels to a higher level.
Great review!!
Lupdilup recently posted…2015 Audiobook Challenge First Quarter Update.
Yay!! I love this series. SO glad she did some arm twisting 😀
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…Rock the Blog– Creating Unclickable Images
LOL! Well then, I guess I shall give this a go.
Christy recently posted…The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
I am officially the ONLY person who did not like this book. lol
I keep meaning to try another book in the series to see if I like it more. My friend says each book gets better.