This is that abusive-relationship-masquerading-as-a-love-story plot people complain about with Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey, isn’t it? The heroine actually tells herself she doesn’t have Stockholm Syndrome, then admits she does, then denies it because she is getting something she wants out of the relationship. Is this book intended to tap into a predilection that simply doesn’t work for me? Because this is a terrified 105 pound, 5’2″, young woman alone with an unhinged 250 pound, 6’6″ man putting his hands on her with coerced consent. More importantly, even with outdated gender stereotypes, the immortal heroines are badass powerhouses. What happened to the silly, sexy fun? The popularity of Cole’s campy Immortals After Dark series is built on silly, sexy fun. He’d never hurt her, you know, except all those times he tries to manipulate or control her. It does get less rage-inducing from there, but since “there” is a revenge fantasy set up and the heroine never gets around to curb stomping the hero, the so-called improvement is the most “relative” ever of the “all things being” variety. Two things about this abduction and seduction plot, Ms. When her family calls, she will lie, say she is fine, and then leave with him.

To make himself more attractive to her, he’ll use her credit cards to buy himself whatever he wants. To encourage him to be gentle, she’ll threaten to harm herself. When she tries to escape, he’ll stop her. She will fight only because she is confused by her arousal. After insisting she share his bed, he can wake her up with a sexual assault. Alone and defenseless in a foreign country, she’ll find herself becoming aroused when he rips off her clothes and paws her.

Although her abject terror is an inconvenience, and in spite of her offensive nature, he initiates a physical relationship. He will refer to her as “it” in his head and insult her for not being the mate he imagined. “You know what’s vile fun? Opening with an assault! A deranged man (werewolf) will sense a woman (vampire), decide she is his mate, chase and tackle her when she tries to flee, and then hold her against her will in a hotel room that he will slowly destroy. Kresley Cole’s apparent thought process for the paranormal romance A Hunger Like No Other –

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole