Shannon C.’s review of Dark Hunger (The Brethren, Book 2) by Sara Reinke
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Zebra 2 Sep 08

There was a lot of discussion about this book when Gwen reviewed it. I don’t feel like I have a whole lot to say that’s different from what has already been said, but that has never stopped me before. I do tend to agree with Azteclady when she says this is more “urban fantasy” than “romance,” and I think that’s an important distinction to make going in. And while I did not love this book to pieces the way I loved the first book in the series, I can appreciate what she did, and I loved how subversive it all was.

Since all the reviews I’ve read have touched on the ending, I’ll bring it up first. At first, I hated it. Hated it a lot, because it seemed like a dirty, cowardly thing to do, and because I love the person that Rene sacrificed to bits. I hated it so much that I not only ranted at Holly through e-mail, but expressed my ire to the rest of the duckies using four-letter words that I, in my pure and sweet innocence, would never use. I also kind of whinged about it to some other non-romance reading buddies, which probably won’t help in my evil plans to raise an army of newly converted romance reader minions and take over the world. (Which is neither here nor there, and I’m drifting off track again.)

I didn’t feel like the ending provided much of an HEA or even a HFN, because we’re just left with the ending and no mention is made of the fallout, so I felt left hanging. But then, I started thinking about it, and questioning exactly what I want when I read a romance vs. when I read some other genre of fiction, and being made to think is never a bad thing.

Rene and Tessa were interesting characters. I liked that they had very distinct personalities, and I could hear Rene’s voice in my head as I was reading. I liked that they were allowed to feel some pretty ugly emotions. Sure, Tessa’s a bit spoiled, but her reactions as a former battered wife rang true for me, and I confess that I liked her a lot more than I did Rene. Rene spent too much time being emo and angsty and tortured, and if there is one genre convention I hate with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, it’s emo heroes. I can deal with it to some extent, but after a while I really wanted to cut Rene a slice of get-over-yourself cake.

I do like that this is a dark book with villains that are seriously creepy and evil. I’m finding my tastes are drifting more to dark storylines lately, and Ms. Reinke does a great job at piling on the suspense. I also like that her characters are all allowed to be unapologetically violent. No heroine shrinking away from killing someone at the last minute for Ms. Reinke.

In the end, what I liked (the world-building, the dark setting, the storytelling and the truthfulness of the characters) I really loved, and what I hated (Could Rene be more emo? Could Tessa be more shrill? That fucking ending!) I really really hated. So the C grade is definitely the average of those two extremes. At any rate, this may be the first C book I’ve read ever that makes me want the next book. Like, right now.

Grade: C

Read more reviews by clicking on the Brethren series tag.

Summary:

Tessa Noble-Davenant will do anything to protect her brother, Brandon, even if that means traveling across the country with Rene Morin. A cynical, brooding, yet startling sexy vampire, Rene seems to take pleasure in finding fault with Tessa’s every move. Despite this, a sensual attraction begins to develop between the two, one to which neither can afford to succumb. Rene and Tessa are being followed — and a single misstep will put them at the mercy of forces more dark and powerful than they can even imagine…

Read an excerpt.