Review: A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Title: A Hunger Like No Other

Author: Kresley Cole

Publisher: Pocket Star

Published: March 28, 2006

Purchase: BookDepository

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?

Series: Immortals After Dark Book 2

***I would like to thank Kresley Cole and her assistant Brooke Meyer for providing a copy in exchange for a honest review! :D***

It’s no secret that I became a huge fan of author Kresley Cole after reading her YA debut novel, Poison Princess. At first, I was hesitant to start reading her Immortals After Dark series, but after hearing high praise – and some heavy consideration on my part – I finally gave it try. With her first installment in the series Ms. Cole, once again, proved that writing to her is child’s play. A Hunger Like No Other is the epitome of why we should kick our hesitations to the curb. A dark and seductive storyline driven by brilliant characters and a passion-inducing romance, this book was far from disappointing.

Vampires and werewolves are nothing new to the paranormal genre, but when coupled with a brand new twist on mythological legends surrounding them; the paranormal takes on a whole new meaning. By mixing vampires, lycans, witches, valkyries and even wraiths, Ms. Cole created a vivid and dynamic world in her book, called the Lore. Right from the gripping and sensual opening of the story, you can’t help but appreciate the rich world-building. Unfortunately, the events that occur, (in the next 2 chapters) after that, are undesirably drawn out and the characters’ first meeting offensive (for lack of a better word). Aside from that, the plot is exceptionally enchanting. Full of intense action scenes, brilliant dialogue, shocking revelations and beautiful imagery of Scotland, A Hunger Like No Other had me glued to it’s pages. And albeit it’s few and far between short-comings, I can’t wait to explore and learn more of this fascinating world.

The main aspect of this book is the romance. The story is heavily focused on this, and while it may come as a hindrance in books such as this, where the world-building should be at the forefront, Ms. Cole managed to keep a perfect balance between the two, and keep a smooth plot-line. Lachlain’s hatred for vampires put a strain on the relationship between him and Emma, but it also made it very interesting and fun to watch his character overcome that and accept Emma for who she is – a half vampire half valkyrie. On the other hand, Emma’s more confused attraction towards Lachlain (insistent to push him away in the beginning and then giving in way to easily) was less appreciable. It would have been nice to have her one-minded and then come together with a notable flow rather than in a rush. Thankfully, the chemistry and steamy love scenes were a great distraction for that minor issue.

Lachlain and Emma are both easily likable characters. They compliment each other in every way –  Lachlain is tough, attractive and an alpha male, whereas Emma is feisty, witty and timid. Their interactions with one another are entertaining and provide just the right amount of light moments in the story. They made a great pair, and despite the sudden change in Emma’s romantic decision, it was nice to see them together in the end. Ms. Cole did a brilliant job in developing well-rounded characters, and by adding unique history to their heritage (Lachlain’s lycan heritage and Emma’s valkryie), only made them more intriguing. It was very easy to fall in love and connect with the characters and appreciate them both individually.

Another aspect I truly enjoyed, was learning about the valkyries. It was a new experience, and what mind-blowing creatures they are - strong, independent women all tagged with their own afflictions – Nix seeing the future, Lucia cursed to feel pain if her bow misses a target, Kaderin the Cold loosing all emotion – it was simply fascinating and I hope to see more of them in the next books.

With A Hunger Like No Other getting my interest right from the start, and providing an addictive escape from reality, I am anticipating the next books in the series, of what I am positive will be more pleasant surprises.

My Rating: