The Hunger
Susan Squires
St. Martin's Press
ISBN 0-312-99854-6

Beatrix Lisse was born of the blood, but had no idea what that meant until puberty hit and her mother abandoned her to deal with the hunger alone. She was found and mentored by a knight who would show her another way, one that didn't kill those who sustained them. Stephen also mentored another -- one who was made, not born, and taught them to learn and love as sisters. And Beatrix fell in love with her mentor. When the girls later learned that they were Stephen's experiment, one to prove that made Vampires could learn and behave just as born vampires did--that they weren't abominations that should be instantly killed, the girls left him, and all his teachings behind. Together, they disobeyed every rule--compelling men to service them sexually as they drained every last drop of blood from their bodies. After time, Asharte became more and more depraved, where Beatrix just couldn't do it anymore. It all felt wrong. Maybe the rules were there for a reason. Leaving Asharte lost her a sister's love, but gave her some piece of mind.

Some six-hundred years later, Beatrix has given up on sex and love. Sex only leads to the violence the hunger brings, and love only leads to betrayal. Still, she must feed. As a courtesan, she has men clamoring to be invited to her private, by invitation only, gatherings and to be invited to spend the night. She takes what she needs, and they leave with vague memories of a night of passion. Meeting John Staunton, Earl of Langley, changes everything -- she sees in him the same things she recognizes in herself -- secrets, heartache.

John is an undercover spy for England and has been assigned to find out who is behind a sudden shift in power over in France. Thus far, all the agents sent there have been killed, and a new plague is showing its face--ships are being found with their whole crews dead, drained of blood. His mission weighs heavily on him, but Beatrix offers a spark of something else. He
recognizes in her the same things he sees in himself -- secrets, heartache. Though she's a courtesan, he's intrigued, yet also leery. She seems to know so much about what's going on in the world. Could she be a spy for the French? He owes it to his country to find out.

Though the second book in the series, The Hunger actually takes place before Susan Squires' The Companion. Asharte, who appears in both books, is one of the most vicious female villains I've read in a long, long time. The Hunger also offers something we don't see too often in vampire romances -- a female vampire heroine with a human hero. Usually it's the woman who has a problem dating a blood-sucker and later becoming one. It was interesting to see it from the other point of view. It was also very interesting to see the whole thing set in Regency England. Well-written, with fully-fleshed three-dimensional characters set in a vivid well-drawn world. Whether you enjoy Regency romance, vampire romance, or both, The Hunger is a must-read. Don't forget Squires other book The Companion. Excellent.

Reviewed by
Lisa Ramaglia

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