"Susan Squires' vampires really rock!"
After reading THE COMPANION, I could only
fervently hope that Susan Squires would deign to write
more of her historical vampire stories. She gives a
fascinating take on vampires and how they came into being.
So it was with great pleasure that I opened the first page
of THE HUNGER. Of course, this book immediately swept me
away yet again into the spellbinding world of regency
vampires. In this story we get to learn about Beatrix Lisse.
We were first introduced to Beatrix in THE COMPANION.
She's a 600 year old vampire who has had nothing but
heartache her whole life. She had fallen in love with her
savior, Stephan Sincai until she found out that she was
only an experiment for him. He is the one who also saved
Asharti. The difference between Beatrix and Asharti is
that Beatrix was born with the Companion in her blood and
Asharti was made by another vampire. Stephan needed to
know if there were differences in both. Now six hundred years later Beatrix has settled in
England and entertains nightly supposedly as a courtesan.
She meets a most captivating man one evening at a soirée,
John Staunton, Earl of Langley. She knows nothing can come
of it but she is extremely intrigued with him and would
like to get to know him better. She feels as if he has
some secrets. She had thought that she'd never become
enamored of another man again. Then Asharti makes an appearance into both of
their lives wreaking havoc as usual. She is making
vampires left and right and something has to be done about
it. Is Beatrix strong enough to take on Asharti? This book is a must read. I had a difficult time
concentrating on other things such as work, housework,
family, etc. while reading this book. All I wanted to do
was read just one more chapter. I highly recommend this
one and am looking forward to more glimpses into the lives
of Susan Squires' vampires!
Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted September 28, 2005
SummaryDiscover a realm where anything is possible. Where peril
and passion collide. Where a woman is tempted by a man she
wants but can never have. A man she could destroy with just
one kiss. Discover THE HUNGER...
Beatrix Lisse, Countess of Lente, is the toast of London and
the most fascinating woman in Europe. She has been
fascinating men for a thousand years, for Beatrix was born
vampire. Over the years, she has tried everything to fill
her life with interest or purpose: social and spiritual
causes, creating and collecting priceless art, controlling
empires through her consorts. She has sipped from countless
strong male throats, and indulged in passionate sexual
affairs. But she has never let herself truly love another.
Now she is bored, jaded, and ultimately weary. There is
nothing she desires. . .
John Staunton, Earl of Langley, has the reputation of being
the most debauched man in England. What no one knows is that
Langley is cultivating his worthless reputation in order to
conceal his real activities as a volunteer spy for his
government. Over the years he's been very successful, but
killing and deceit has become a trap. His life is missing
some vital spark.
Beatrix and John are attracted to each other in London, and
they can see through each others' deceptions. But when they
discover each others' true secrets, and when Beatrix
accidentally contaminates John's blood, turning him into a
vampire, they must overcome past scars and fears to defeat
Asharti. And, together, they must find new purpose for their
lives and an eternity together.
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