The Hunger

I could hardly wait to read this second book and I was not disappointed. If I had it to do over again(and of course I will!) I would read this book before The Companion. Mostly because I knew what happens to Asharti from the Companion but reading the Companion I didnt know who Beatrix(she plays a small part in the first book)was or where Asharti came from and why.Both are such great "escape" books. I didnt want them to end! I am more than ready for the next one Ms Squires-bring it on!

I LOVED THE BOOK BUT I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT ASHARTI WAS IN THIS ONE...WASN'T SHE KILLED IN THE COMPANION??? OTHER THAN THAT THE BOOK WAS GREAT. IT AD JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ROMANCE AND MYSTERY TO IT...RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!

I read "No More Lies" and "Body Electric" while anxiously waiting for the next vampire romance. I wasn't disappointed. Ms Squires novels are always different - what an imagination! And her characters are so well drawn, I feel like I know them. If you want to know what an author means when she says "show, don't tell" then read something by Susan Squires. She is amazing.

In the second stand-alone volume of her vampire trilogy, Susan Squires returns with another fabulously dark and grisly tale that goes back prior to the time period setting of the first book, THE COMPANION. It features the `born' vampire Beatrix Lisse who has spent the last six hundred years atoning for the sins of her `youth'. In trying to forget the one man, her mentor, whom she loved so many centuries before, she has remained celibate for six hundred years, all the while maintaining the facade to all and sundry of being a famous and much sought after courtesan. Bored beyond belief and in keeping up appearances she had challenged the many sycophants that surrounded her to bring to her the most debauched man in England. In somewhat similar circumstances, John Staunton, Earl of Langley cultivated a long held opinion that belied his true nature and the secret life he led as a spy for England and his latest mission of trying to ferret out the sudden shift of power that was backing Napoleon. After one meeting, neither would be ready for the fierce passion that enveloped each as John would see, and sense in Beatrix the innocence that she had long ago felt was lost to her. Even Beatrix would feel a disturbing need for sexual passion more compelling than any she'd felt for centuries. Though feeling as she did, Beatrix simply could not relinquish the truth of her true nature until fate stepped in and she discovered that John had put himself in harms way when his mission led him into the clutches of Beatrix's long time rival who threatened not only John but the very fabric of life as they knew it. As long-held secrets came to light, John and Beatrix united to battle a foe whose evil had long reaching effects. When Beatrix's life hung in the balance John would be compelled to risk all to gather together the participants needed to combat their common foe all the while knowing that should he save her life he just might lose her love. *** This was an amazing story that will capture the reader from the very first pages until the breath-taking climax. Utilizing flashbacks throughout the story, Squires handles these exceptionally well and so smoothly, that they in no way hinder the flow or continuity. The characterizations of both Beatrix and John are extremely well defined with, I felt, even more dimension and depth expertly drawn by the interactions of the secondary characters throughout the story. The historical aspect was more than adequately researched though a fair warning is needed that there are some very sexually graphic and grisly scenes that could be viewed as disturbing to the faint of heart. Having previously read THE COMPANION, and though considered the first book in the trilogy, if I were to make a recommendation, I would read THE HUNGER first. Whichever volume the reader does choose to read first though will certainly not decrease the overall thrill of this extremely enjoyable and marvelously gritty vampire series I found to be abso

Susan Squires has a new vampire trilogy going for St. Martins. The first, The Companion, was a knock out of a story that took you into sweeping locales and into the dark realm of the vampire. The second book in the series is out now, The Hunger, and she continues to the dark and oft gory vamp tales with all the power of the first. In the late Regency era, Beatrix Lisse has spent years atoning for her sins - literally six hundred of them. She is a vampire. Still, even though the centuries pass there is one man who stays in her heart and mind, a man she loved ages ago. However, when she crosses paths with John Staunton, the Earl of Langley, she is moved by him. John is a rake of the highest order, a notorious rogue. Or so he wants people to believe. Beatrix surrenders to the passion provokes within her, but she holds tight to her secrets of being a vampire. When John abandons her, she learns he was also holding a secret close to his chest. John is a spy for England, with a mission to find who is behind the sudden shift in power within the French government. John is drawn to Beatrix, seeing an innocence within her that pulls him, yet he knows he cannot keep her close or he would be risking her life. Soon he learns dark secrets about his love and that her centuries old rival, Asharti, is the one he seeks and she means to see both John and Beatrix destroyed. John and Beatrix must unite to defeat Asharti as the madness of the French horrors increases about them. It's beautifully researched. Squires brings the period to life. Be warned this is a very dark tale, so people wanting kinder gentler vamps need to know going in this is a very violent tale at times. People familiar with Squires previous writings in Historicals and Vamps knows she won't pull punches. Also, the focus is not really the romance, but the story. It's a vivid, passionate tale which is sure to please her fans and those readers looking for a stronger vampire tale, in the flavour of Anne Rice. Highly recommended for those wanting a dark, dark vamp tale that leaves you eager for book three in the series.