Mark of the Vampire Series: Eternal Kiss

I was a little wary when I started this book. I was hugely disappointed by Eternal Hunger so I was on guard with Eternal Kiss. But I needn't have worried. The second installment of the Mark of the Vampire series totally made up for the first one. 

This is Nicholas' book and I actually liked him. He was working the whole "tortured hero" thing and, unlike with Alexander, we actually got a glimpse into his past. This poor guy had a really rough childhood and it still has a ginormous impact on his adult life. You just want to give the dude a hug.

I also liked our heroine a whole lot more in this book. Kate is a survivor. She's managed to live through a ten year stint in a vampire prison and she is determined to stay free no matter what. Her plans are shot to shit when she's witness to the murder of a female vampire and the attempted kidnapping of a vampire child. Before the vampire dies, she begs Kate to take the child to his father. No prizes for guessing who the baby daddy is. 

Kate and Nicholas have some serious trust issues in the beginning. Nicholas is convinced that Kate is in league with the dastardly Ethan Dare, and Kate just wants to get the hell away from Nicholas. 

I liked the fact that these two weren't immediately goo-goo eyes over each other. Yes, there was attraction but they weren't declaring their undying love for each other from the get go. 

We also see more of Dillon, Lucian, Bronwyn, Gray, and the evil "Supreme One". First, let me say that I totally saw the identity of the bad guy coming. Seriously, Wright wasn't even subtle about it.

Gray was an interesting character. He was just about catatonic in Eternal Hunger, but he's snapped out of it now. I have to be honest, I don't think his being up and about is an improvement. This boy has one hell of a bad attitude. Lucian is particularly keen on beating some manners into him. I have a sneaking suspicion that something's going to happen between Gray and Dillon, which is weird because I thought Dillon was gay. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens there. 

We also saw the story for next book being set up. Eternal Captive will be Lucian and Bronwyn's book. It's already looking to be one of those "forbidden love" things. 

I don't think this series is ever going to be one my favourites, but I do think I might carry on with it.

Mark of the Vampire Series: Eternal Hunger

I saw that this book had received rave reviews so I was really excited to read it. I mean, if the likes of Larissa Ione and Nalini Singh love your book then you have to be pretty awesome, right?

But I just was feeling it. The world that the story was set in was pretty cool, but I found the main characters frustrating. I initially thought that I was going to love Sara Donahue, our leading lady. She's a psychiatrist and seemed to be the sensible sort. Granted, she let this huge scary stranger into her house, but he seemed to be in need of medical attention and she's a doctor. So I could deal with this. I also liked that when Sara was attacked by a loony ex-patient, she wanted to call the police. Very good. The police are seriously undervalued in the paranormal romance universe. 

Then it starts going downhill fast. Sara has the appropriate "eeeek!" moment when Alexander, our hero, shows her his fangs. But then she goes wondering around with him like she's known him forever, without having that very important do-you-promise-not-to-eat-me conversation. 

In addition to dealing with a serious lack of self-preservation, we read about how these two are feeling intensely possessive of one another. Now, I know that things happen fast in the land of romance. I have read tons of books where, after a week, the lead characters decide that they can't live without one another. I usually suspend my disbelief. But in Eternal Hunger this was happening after one day.

One Day!

Sara wasn't the only character I was rolling my eyes at. Alexander is all "oooh, I just want to protect you", but then he takes her into a credenti (a vampire community) where humans are considered the lowest form of life. Hmmm... I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound terribly safe to me. He tells Bronwyn, a vampire who is under the impression that they're true mates, that he doesn't believe in love. But then he starts mooning over Sara like a starstruck Justin Bieber fan.

Let me throw out a few of my, ahem, favourite unlikely quotes from these two pea brains.

"This woman ruled his heart while the Order ruled his mind."

Excuse me? According to my mental calculations, you have known this chick for a day!

"It was utterly impossible for her to deny her attraction to him, her desire for him now, and she wasn't even going to try."

So far as I've been able to tell, you have made very little effort so far. Why start now?

It wasn't all horrendously bad though. There were some characters I kinda liked. There's Dillon, the fierce body guard, who had an inexplicable crush on Sara. We see quite a bit of Alexander's brothers, Nicholas and Lucian. Nicholas is the serious sort, whereas Lucian seems to be a bit of a loose cannon. Bronwyn is a vampire genealogist, and she doesn't take Lucian's crap. Looks like something is going to happen over there. 

There is some good news: I read the next book in the series (I'd already bought the damn thing) and it was much  better.