A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance; Valkyries, Vampires, Werewolves, Immortals After Dark

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her… After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find that predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie /half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him. A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy… Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents – until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae – and their notorious dark desires – ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings. An all-consuming desire. . . Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desires deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

This adds a new element to the paranormal, the Valkyries. Emma goes in search of her parents but what she finds is Lachlain. There is a lot of action going on as vampires are trying to get to Emma so they can claim leadership. The Valkyries are involved as Emma is their niece. It’s one of those books that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. I found the story to be very inventive putting together different paranormals that we haven’t seen together. The way Emma matures from being a very sheltered individual to someone who takes charge of her own life was brilliant. I enjoyed reading this book very much.

Publisher: Pocket Star Books

ISBN: 1416509879

Pages: 384

Series: Immortals After Dark

Volume: 1

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Paranormal Romance; Tarot, People with Abilities, Post Apocalyptic, Arcana

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: She could save the world—or destroy it. Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux. But she can’t do either alone. With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him? Who can Evie trust? As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

This is the first young adult book in Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles. The book starts with Evie telling her tale pre-flash and post flash. The story is set mainly in a post-apocalyptic time. While we learn of Evie's story, we meet some great supportive characters. Jack who is kindhearted but has a rough exterior and is hard to read. Matthew with his odd ways and his prophetic site. Selena and Finn round out the group quite well. Arthur is a creepy addition to which Evie is telling her tale. But the mix of going from real time to the tale is very well written. I loved watching Evie grow as a character. Whom could do little to help herself to being able to protect herself. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Endless Knight.

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 1442436646

Pages: 386

Series: Arcana Chronicles

Volume: 1