Review: Even Better the Second Time Around
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 13, 2014
This is a revised review of Dark Cravings, formerly published as Blood Lust Rising.Having had the opportunity to revisit this story for this review, two things struck me:1. This is an exciting ride.  It's like being dropped into the middle of a class 5 white water rafting trip.  It is fast with lots of twists and turns.  Yet, unlike other books, I did not feel lost, but rather connected to the characters.2. The new additions address my original critiques.  Madeline Price expands the early chapters of the book to include a flashback that connects two important points in the story.  It helps us visualize the extent of the connection between Ella and Micah following the encounter with the succubus.  She also flushes out the ending and it is satisfying.  There are deeper connections between characters making the conflicts and concerns more agonizing.IN A NUTSHELL:I again heartily recommend this book. It is a fun, fast and furious read.Original review on 1/9/12This book hit me like a Mac Truck and then I just hitched onto the back bumper and went along for the thrilling ride. From the moment it starts with a lust curse cast by a demon, Ella Gray and Micah MacGregor are never be the same. They are inextricably linked together as lifemates and literally need each other to survive. They are confronted by their overwhelming sexual need, a vengeful Queen vampire, werewolves, and a jealous alpha sire.This story hits all the right buttons:1. The sexually encounters are passionate. (I’m pretty sure my Kindle had steam rising off of it.)  2. The characters are memorable. Micah is an über alpha with a mysterious background who is both possessive and tender (the right formula for an alpha). Ella is a kick-ass heroine who follows in the footsteps of her family as a demon/vampire/shapeshifter/ Shadow Hunter. She struggles with her own transformation. 3. The action is thrilling. There are a few blood-spilling, Buffy-like fight scenesMy only critique is that I am left wanting more, which is not always a bad way to end a book. But in this case, I want more descriptions about Ella. I don’t have a clear picture in my head of what she looks like. And what kind of life was Micah living away from his duties as a Shadow Hunter? We only get a small glimpses into their history. Also, perhaps knowing a little more about the background histories of the characters (Uncle Roy, Eli, Castro) would add an additional layer of understanding to their motivations. Or, alternatively, this can be covered in the next installment -- of which I am impatiently awaiting!