A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #1)

by Kresley Cole

After 150 years of hellish torture at the hands of the vampire horde, Lachlain, king of the Lykae (werewolf) clan, escapes his captors. He's disoriented and full of hatred, and yet he finds the mate he's been longing for for 1200 years in a small, delicate vampire. Desperate to find information on her parents, Emmaline Troy, a timid, overprotected half vampire/ half valkyrie, had travelled to Paris away from the protection of her valkyrie aunts for the first time in her young life (she's only 70), but she manages to be kidnapped by a raging Lykae who's tender to her one minute, though-if he is reminded she's a vampire-furious the next...

• ISBN10: 1416523006
• ISBN13: 9781416523000
• Publish Date: 1 April 2006
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Books
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

After my stint with the novella, The Warlord Wants Forever, I eagerly dived into A Hunger Like No Other. I was hoping to get this one on audio, as I looked forward to hearing Robert Petkoff’s voice again. However, it was not meant to be leaving me stuck with reading the ebook. I had a good reading experience, but I am sure the audio would have delivered a better one.

 

In A Hunger Like No Other we meet Lachlain MacRieve and Emmaline Troy. Lachlan is the leader of the Lykae Clan in Scotland. Emmeline is a one-of-a-kind Immortal, half vampire, half Valkyrie.

 

Lachlain had been imprisoned by an evil vampire for 150 years. His many attempts to escape failed. However, when he scented his mate, he made a last-ditch effort to escape his chains. Emmeline, raised by Valkyries, lived a sheltered life. At 70 years of age, she is what one would consider a baby in the Immortal world. She was in Paris searching for information about her biological father when Lachlain captured her.

 

Despite the dark and edgy start, A Hunger Like No Other delivered an entertaining story and the ending made the journey worthwhile.

 

Emmeline and Lachlain shared a tumultuous yet scorching romance. Emmaline had a hard time accepting that she was the mate to a werewolf. Werewolves and vampires hated each other. It took some time for Lachlain to come to grips with this.

 

Lachlain went through hell at the hands of vampires, but I didn’t appreciate his initial treatment of Emmaline when he discovered her vampiric nature. One could understand the reason for his actions if it was any other vampire, but Emmaline was shy and innocent. Traits which were clear even to a blind person. However, as the story developed, he acknowledged his error in judgment and we slowly see his softer and endearing side coming to light.

The story portrayed Emmaline as someone who feared her own shadow. However, at the point when it mattered most, her true nature came to light and what a revelation. It shows when one has something worth fighting for, one will go above and beyond.

 

The story not only gave readers romance, but it also delivered suspense and action sprinkled with a dash of humour. The humour aided in balancing out the darkness. The supporting cast added to the excitement. I am interested in learning more about them and will definitely look to pick up their story.

 

A Hunger Like No Other satiated my need for an intense romantic adventure featuring strong characters. If you enjoy dark paranormal romance, then A Hunger Like No Other will make a great addition to your library.

[FranJessca @ A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog]

1st time read – (March 03 to 06, 2010)

2nd time read – (April 2014 to May 18, 2014)

3rd time listened by Audible – (December 2017 to January 5, 2018)

4th time read – (November 13, 2021 – November 16, 2021)

A Hunger like No Other is the first full-length novel in Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series. I’ve read this book four times now. Am I a little obsessed with this series? Yes, yes, I am. I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m re-reading it again since the next book releases in 2022. I thought it was time for another re-through so that I could get another refresher of one of my favorite series. 

Storyline/My Thoughts: After the fourth time around, I still love this book. Some readers may be bothered by it, but this book introduces me more into the world of the Immortals After Dark series. There’s also the issue of either loving or hating the protagonists in this story. In my case, I liked these two for different reasons.

Yes, the male protagonist is the CAVEman of all Alpha Males. Lachlain MacRieve has been locked and tortured for over 100+ years by the Horde (Vampires). Imagine being tortured for centuries! You would be a raging maniac just like Lachlain. He happens to finally escape the Vampires that tortured him for those centuries and ends up finding his mate, who happens to be the one creature he hates. (Queue instant hatred at first.) But he’s a male that finds his mate and ends up fighting that hatred. (Hello, the poor Lykae has been waiting for her for many, many centuries.) I felt terrible for him, even with his crazy ways.

Emmaline (I love her name) is the sweet petite halfling who is just minding her own business when attacked by the ruthless, possessive Lykae, Lachlain in Paris, France. (Imagine a caveman dragging off his cavewoman by her hair) Yup, that is precisely how Lachlain acted, but in the way of jumping her bones. She is trying to find out about her father, and when Lachlain captures her, she’s wondering what her Aunts are going to do to him. (I love every one of her Aunts, especially Nix). I mean, the Valkyries have issues with pretty much everyone in the Lore, especially Lykae and Vampires. Emmaline’s Aunts are not going to be friendly at all to Lachlain when they first meet in the book, but Lachlain holds his own and realizes how much Emmaline’s Aunts mean to her.

Both characters are dealing with their own issues in the story. Lachlain was dealing with getting his revenge. Emmaline was trying to figure out about her father and also about herself. At the beginning of the book, Emmaline is the sweet girl, but she’s a very intimidating character in the end. I loved how Kresley had Emmaline develop in the story and how Lachlain changed too.

Another thing I enjoyed about this series and why I loved it back in 2010 and still to this day is because Kresley Cole has a storyline going on throughout the books for the series. Here’s my question still, and it’s 2021. Will Nix ever get her book? She needs to find love. She deserves it even with her crazy funny self. I adore her, and I’ve missed her dearly, and I’m so glad I’m back in the IAD world.

Kresley Cole is one author who can world build like crazy in her books. She throws you into this fictional world full of mythical immortal creatures that you fall for head over heels. You want to know every one of them personally. That is how Kresley Cole is, though. She’ll give you bits and pieces of each character and leave you wanting to learn more about them. She even throws an action-packed theatrical adventure with the characters, especially in A Hunger Like No Other.

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Immortals After Dark series, and I highly recommend reading in order. (Start off reading The Warlord Wants Forever, though, first. (it starts off the series).

Steaminess: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers; Fated Mates

HEA: Yes.

Would I recommend this book? I give this book five stars and highly recommend it to paranormal romance readers out there. Kresley Cole will always be one of my favorite PNR authors, and her books will continue to be bought in paperback no matter what. I love looking at the covers, and I definitely will be reading this series repeatedly. =) I also enjoy listening to the audiobook version, which I did for the 3rd time around while at work.

[mayavswords]

Nevermind—

I sorta knew this book wasn’t going to be as great as the third one in the series which I’d read not too long ago. Not giving up on the series as a whole though, simply because there’s other parts of the Lore I wish to read about and I like Cole’s writing. I’ll just move on to the second installment instead.

In depth reason why I’m DNFing at about 20%: it’s not really the non con parts that bothered me, it’s rather the very weak personalities of both of the main characters. There’s nothing about Emmaline that makes me care or wish to read more about her and Macrieve is just your typical alpha male who has no redeeming traits. I do not care much for Cole’s werewolf race in these books tbh, but at least in the 3rd one, you see some more complex character with him and some persona from the MC.

[bookperson]

So... this was a wild ride.

I'll say that I started reading this series because of the Fated Mates podcast. Sarah and Jen are wonderful and hilarious, they talk about all the books with such love that I simply couldn't resist picking this one up.

Now, I gave this one 3 stars. Enjoyment - 4.5, actual contents of the book - 1.5.
I didn't like 1st half of the book because as heroine says herself it's Stockholm syndrome. He lies to her, he hates her kind and acts like a douche, but then he saves her and she does 180 from the person she was. I didn't liked how her character was explored (not). In a couple of pages she changes so much it feels unrealistic.
But sexy times were steamy and hot, humor - wow! - I don't remember a book where pop culture references made me laugh and not cringe, here they were actually funny and in place.

Overall, I'd say listen to the podcast, then read the book. You'll probably don't hate it.
TBH if I read this on my own I would've dnf'd it at 10 or so percent.

[Vicki]

Almost stopped after the first few chapters. The scene where Lachlain first meets Emmaline really bothered me. Not sure how she could get over that and it was almost too ridiculous to me. I stuck with it though and it did get better. Overall, not bad read but the beginning put a bad taste in my mouth.

[kimbacaffeinate]

A Hunger Like No Other shares Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan and a unique vampire named Emmaline Troy. Lachlain is from Scotland, and Petkoff delivered a beautiful brogue accent. Lachlain has been imprisoned for one hundred and fifty years when he scents his mate. Emmaline is a sheltered vampire who has grown up with the Valkyrie. She is abroad searching for information about her father when she is captured by Lachlain. The story grabbed me from within minutes and started on a dark note completely enthralling me.

The romance that unfolds is turbulent, humorous, and at times scintillating. I laughed, cringed and wept as we learn Lachlain's history and watch him adapt to modern times. Emmaline is such a unique, sheltered creature and Lachlain forces her to change, to demand more of herself and to question. I loved every dang minute. The heated romance built slowly until I thought I would burst with frustration. Lachlain is truly alpha, but Cole exposes his softer side allowing me to fall for the big bad wolf.

Cole weaves in suspense and danger from all sides. The coven who have adopted Emmaline, see Lachlain as nothing more than a dog. Lachlan's history has him repulsed by the fact his mate is a vampire. The author wove her magic, bringing the past into the present and reuniting me with characters from book one even as she hinted at things to come.

A Hunger Like No Other was equal parts light and dark. Battles, near death experiences, wraiths, demons and more rear their ugly heads, but Cole offsets this with family, humor, and banter. Listening was a pure pleasure as Petkoff gave each character their own unique voice. He performed the female voices surprisingly well and captured Emmaline's subtle snark. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[littleread1]

Ok ... if I ignore the first half of this book, then I like it ok. If I include the first half of this book it makes me rage. I don't like kidnapping, forced sexual encounters, coercion, and drugging of the MC by the "hero," and I use that term loosely. Did he turn out to be a good guy? Yes. Had he gone through some shit that made him an ass at the beginning? Yes to that too. But once he came to his senses, that shit should have stopped. I was ill. I didn't find the sex sexy. She had no effing choice in the matter, ever! How is that sexy? The ONLY reason I finished is because I have been told by several friends that I will love this series. So often that I already own them all on audio. If the next book follows this trend I will be attempting to return what I can of this series. I didn't like the first book either. This is not looking good.

Side note, the narrator does a great job! You all were correct there!

[Angie]

A Hunger Like No Other is infuriating like no other. This so-called romance is absolutely disgusting and I wanted to throw it into the fireplace after about 30 pages. I had enjoyed the previous book, although I did find some elements of it questionable, but had hoped the rest of the series wouldn't follow that pattern. Well, this one took all of the troublesome things and took them to the next level. This story is all about Lachlain, a werewolf who has been tortured by fire for the past 150 years, but manages to escape when he senses his mate, Emmaline, a half-vampire and sworn enemy of the Lykae. The prologue was actually pretty great and disturbing, but it's all down hill from there.

A Hunger Like No Other is 350 pages of romanticized rape, and no, I am not exaggerated. From the first chapter, Lachlain threatens to rape Emma multiple times. He touches her against her will and makes her touch him. She is crying and pleading, and is generally terrified out of her mind. He promises not to hurt her if she complies, but he continues to threaten to have his way with her for the first several chapters. He even molests her in her sleep! He says he continues to do these things because he can tell she's aroused despite her begging to be left alone. WTF is this!? He holds her hostage and makes her take him back to his home in Scotland, since he's been chained up for so long and doesn't get modern transportation, and promises again not to hurt her if she helps and stays with him until the full moon. Of course he's lying since he has no intentions of letting her go.

I totally get this whole alpha male, must claim his mate, old school male privilege nonsense, I do, but A Hunger Like No Other takes it to a whole other level. Lachlain repeatedly tells Emma that she has no say in what he does to her and takes liberties with her body that he has no right to. This is all excused away by the fact that she is his destined mate, and he can't control this side of him when it's close to the full moon. It is possible to be an alpha male who is totally enamored with his mate without threatening rape every few pages! Shouldn't he be more concerned with her well being and not wanting to cause her harm, since she is his one true love?! Everything about this relationship was total bullshit! It's not sexy!

There were points where I started to enjoy A Hunger Like No Other. Lachlain backed off a bit and actually started taking care of Emma, even though everything he still said was a lie or a manipulation. But then he gets her drunk and is all "I'm going to fuck you now!" But then he stops himself because he promised not to do that! Is that really a promise you need to make!? How about, just don't do it because it's wrong!

But then...oh...he rapes her. Yes, he does. She is literally running away from him. Like, she knocks him out, and RUNS! He catches up with her, tackles her, and forces himself in her! She screams in pain! She was a virgin, by the way, and he knew this. So, she screams in pain, but he keeps going, because eventually she starts screaming in ecstasy! This is blamed on the moon, because of some kind of moon lust or some such other bullshit, since she's been drinking werewolf blood. Never mind that she was LITERALLY RUNNING AWAY from him when he decided to do this. Do not write away rape as some kind of ritual! SHE DID NOT WANT IT!

Fuck this book. Fuck it all to hell.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[nitzan_schwarz]

I'm very conflicted about this book. I pretty much disliked the first half or so, found the other half better and the ending near perfect. So if I had to really rate this book it'll be like this:
First half (until Lachlain began acting like a freaking human being): 1 star.
Second half: 3 stars.
Ending(from about chapter 30 or so): 4 stars.

So, let's start.
At the beginning (first half) I pretty muchhated the characters.
I did not like the prologue, but it did set some promise about how Lachlain was supposed to behave toward his finally found mate - a promise that was not delivered. I love me an alpha male, but I didn't like him. He pissed me off with his attitude and the way he behaved toward Emma, as well as all his lies and hatred toward the person he claimed to have waited for for centuries. The way he kept threatening to hurt her put me off, big time. I admit, until he started acting with more kindness toward her, I simply thought that I'd hate Emma if she fell for such an abusive character. I know, I know, his torture made him insane... but either it wasn't written well enough to make me feel it justified it, or I just can't accept his behavior for any reason.
I did not like Emma, either. There wasn't something I could pinpoint as the reason, but she was just... not enough. Lacking. And downright contradicting.
On the one hand; she is terrified of him and fears for her life.
On the other; she talks about allowing herself to figure out things about herself and what she's missing (both emotionally and physically) with him (and by the way, who'd contemplate those things with someone you're scared off, just to know how it is?...)
On the third hand (I'm a third-handed alien, you see); she doesn't actually allow him to touch her (when she's clear headed) and doesn’t even allow herself to open up to him. Girl, either make up your mind or stop confusing me…
Also, I know all about insecurities—I'm a teenage girl, I master insecurities. But she was just so weak minded and freaking insecure, about everything. I'd be able to accept that—if she didn't seem to shake those insecurities quite easily in the second half of the book.
Also, I enjoyed the brief bits from the Valkyrie's POV much more than the actual storyline at the first half of the story, which means something.
In the second half, when Lachlain grew more kindly and Emma started to behave differently, I started enjoying this book. I even laughed out loud a good half dozen of times.
And yet, I found the changes – at least in Emma's behavior, too quick and kind of unreasonable and two swift. For example; she's spent 70 years not knowing how to fight or being able to hurt something, then suddenly, in a manner of a few days (two? Three?) she's suddenly able to battle Cassandra and win. How does that make sense? I mean, I know you're magical and all, but you were magical before, too, and you didn't know how to fight despite it…
And Emma, despite it all, is still so contradicting it makes my head spin. One moment she is escaping from Lachlain, the next (quite literally), she is having a mating ritual with him—you can imagine what that includes, right?... What is it with you?...
But toward the end, they were quite adorable and sweet. Loved Myth and her general, and the movie scene and the part where they fall to their bed—from a house countries away, of course
The writing was pretty great, and I liked that it took a long time for the sex, even though it was a major theme since the beginning (and I don't like that, by the way – relationship that seem to exist solely on sexual attraction…), they didn't actually commit the deed until much later, when they knew each other better, which I liked.
Not my favorite book and I won't be rushing to buy it, but I WILL look at more of this author's work and read more of this series (mostly interested in Lucia and Garret, to be honest).

[Amanda]

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2012/03/28/review-a-hunger-like-no-other-by-kresley-cole/

I have A Hunger Like No Other rated four stars on Goodreads even though it really translates out into something more like a 3.5 for me. Though there is a possibility the short story that comes before this would have oriented me better in the Immortals After Dark world, I felt like this book suffers from some of the same world disorientation that other beginning books in series suffer from (Dark-Hunter, for example). However, I suspect that, like many other series, the world in this series will improve with each book. But my point here was that it took me about 200 pages to feel comfortable with the story and characters, which didn’t matter in the end because the story was good (hence the four stars on Goodreads), but upon further reflection caused me to drop the enjoyment scale rating. Of course, even though it took me quite a few pages before I really felt comfortable with the story, it was hard for me to put down from the very start.

Though I was a bit disoriented, once I managed to sort out some of the world, I have to appreciate the uniqueness of the Immortals After Dark world. We were really only introduced to three distinct immortals in this book: vampires, Lykae (werewolves), and Valkyrie. The Valkyrie don’t make an appearance in many paranormal books that I know of, so their presence lent itself to the uniqueness of the world. The mythology surrounding the Lykae and vampires is different as well. Which is always a plus when one considers the onslaught of vampire and werewolf stories available to read. And the fact that each type of immortal has its own form of mate (well, mate for Lykae and Bride for vampires, and there is more, but I forget already) makes A Hunger Like No Other, and the Immortals After Dark series, one that is my kind of romance.

And speaking of the romance specifically, I have to say that the beginning made me a little wary. It straddled the line between insta-lust/insta-hate and something forced. If they had had sex at any point between Lachlain basically kidnapping Emmaline and their arrival at his castle, I think I might have put the book down and walked away. But, they didn’t. And the story backed off that line and slowly got really, really good. The second half of the book hit all the right notes for me when it comes to romance. The emotional push and pull with the characters, the intense attraction, and the overwhelming desire to do anything for one’s mate.

Like so many romance novels, the characters actually pale in comparison to the emotions evoked in the romance itself. Though I did eventually make a strong connection to Lachlain and Emmaline, the lasting impression of the book is their romance. And that is what a romance should be. For me, anyway. There was also a small focus on secondary characters. Enough so that I am already looking forward to the next books in the series.