Insatiable (Insatiable, #1)

by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is my go-to-author when I want a book that will bring sunshine into my dreary life. After reading a bunch of deep, dark contemporary novels, I was looking for something humourous and fun. I expected a novel full of over the top vampire satire. Unfortunately, I got a vampire novel that tried and failed to be mysterious and dark.

The vampire lore and world-building felt underdeveloped. I wouldn't have noticed this if the characters were able to grab my attention, but more on the main characters later. All I know about this book is that it's set in New York, its about vampires, it's related to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Don't get me wrong! There was enough world-building to make sense, but there were so much that I felt was unanswered. These were things were: How do the Palatine Guards get chosen? What other superpowers do vampires have? How the hell can Lucien Antonescu turn into a freaking dragon while the other vampires cannot? (and the fact that he is the prince of darkness is not a good enough reason!)

The characters and their relationships made me want to put a stake through someone's heart. Meena, the main character, is psychic. She can tell when people are going to die. Meena has one cool ability and the potential of this ability felt wasted. She also has two people, a vampire and vampire-hunter attracted to her because there is something different and fierce about her. I would have found this reasoning fine, provided that I believed it. I felt as though Meena was stupidly unable to see the signs of the reality that vampires that were "hiding" in plain sight.

The romance made me want to behead the undead. Usually, Meg Cabot writes the most amazing hate-to-love, slow-burning romances that are easily ship-able. In Insatiable Meg Cabot unfortunately decided to rely on the dreaded insta-love. Even although this book is 452 pages, the events in it span over 3-4 days. This means that Lucien and Meena profess their undying love for each other after two brief encounters in a space of 2-3 days. Another unfortunate thing is that insta-love was used not one, but twice, between Alaric, the vampire hunter, and Meena. However, this insta-love attraction did seem one-sided.

From these two insta-love attractions, a love triangle is created where a vampire and vampire hunter are both madlly in love with the psychic. This would have made for an interesting read provided that I actually liked Alaric and Lucien as characters, which I didn't. Lucien is one of those typical gentlemanly, tall, dark, mysterious and brooding vampire love interests. Alaric is a sexist and chauvinistic pig who enjoys showing his masculinity. They both might show a vulnerable and sweet side at times, but I was unable to buy it due to their awful personalities.

I do have to admit vampires aren't shown as anything but evil, with the exception of Lucien, Emil and Mary-Lou and I do admit that this book managed to shock and confuse me at the same time.How the hell does a vampire turn into a dragon?!?

Even although I disliked the characters and the romance, I do have to admit that Insatiable managed to keep me entertained.