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Awakening #1
Vampire's Hunger
THE AWAKENING
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, civilization no longer exists, and only the strongest survive. The few remaining humans must band together with supernatural beings to battle unspeakable evil—or all hope will be lost.
Kimber Treat is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift: she can raise the dead. As a necromancer who works with the police, she communicates with murder victims to bring their killers to justice. But after a normal session goes horribly wrong, Kimber realizes she's summoned something dark and sinister. She's unwittingly unleashed the apocalypse, and everyone blames her . . . except Duncan MacDonnough, the devastatingly handsome vampire she can't stop fantasizing about.
As society shuts down and flesh-eating hordes close in, Duncan vows to protect Kimber. He can keep her safe from others—but not from the insatiable carnal hunger he feels for her. Now racing to reverse the chaos she's unleashed, Kimber can't afford any distractions. But even as she succumbs to Duncan's seduction, she fears that he has a hidden agenda. And with the line between life and death starting to blur, his secrets might kill her-or worse . . .
Approx. 50,000-60,000 words.
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, civilization no longer exists, and only the strongest survive. The few remaining humans must band together with supernatural beings to battle unspeakable evil—or all hope will be lost.
Kimber Treat is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift: she can raise the dead. As a necromancer who works with the police, she communicates with murder victims to bring their killers to justice. But after a normal session goes horribly wrong, Kimber realizes she's summoned something dark and sinister. She's unwittingly unleashed the apocalypse, and everyone blames her . . . except Duncan MacDonnough, the devastatingly handsome vampire she can't stop fantasizing about.
As society shuts down and flesh-eating hordes close in, Duncan vows to protect Kimber. He can keep her safe from others—but not from the insatiable carnal hunger he feels for her. Now racing to reverse the chaos she's unleashed, Kimber can't afford any distractions. But even as she succumbs to Duncan's seduction, she fears that he has a hidden agenda. And with the line between life and death starting to blur, his secrets might kill her-or worse . . .
Approx. 50,000-60,000 words.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Garner
12 books112 followersCynthia Garner discovered her love for making up stories at the age of twelve when her teacher told her to write a story that started “It was a dark and stormy night…” But she didn’t think about making it a profession until 2005, when she began entering—and winning—writing contests.
Under her alternate ego Sherrill Quinn she has three Kensington Brava paranormal romance books and a novella as part of the Belong to the Night anthology, as well as several erotic romance novellas published electronically with Ellora’s Cave and Amber Heat. Her writing has been consistently rated with 4 and 5 stars and called “thrilling”, “imaginative” and “fresh.”
When she’s not working her day job, you’ll find her at her laptop writing. Or watching too much TV. Keep up to date by visiting
Under her alternate ego Sherrill Quinn she has three Kensington Brava paranormal romance books and a novella as part of the Belong to the Night anthology, as well as several erotic romance novellas published electronically with Ellora’s Cave and Amber Heat. Her writing has been consistently rated with 4 and 5 stars and called “thrilling”, “imaginative” and “fresh.”
When she’s not working her day job, you’ll find her at her laptop writing. Or watching too much TV. Keep up to date by visiting
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews
November 21, 2018
Book source ~ NetGalley
Kimber Treat is a necromancer of some skill and power and in high demand. One night when doing a routine raising to find out who killed the victim in front of her, something goes horribly wrong and the zombie apocalypse begins.
I have to tell you, this story sorta feels like Anita Blake fanfic. A powerful necromancer with a vampire admirer and cop friend plus zombies. There’s just enough different to set it apart, but the writing could use some work and the characters are pretty shallow. Plus, they do really stupid shit. Writing up this review a week after reading it and I can’t remember anything outstanding about the book. It’s only so-so.
Kimber Treat is a necromancer of some skill and power and in high demand. One night when doing a routine raising to find out who killed the victim in front of her, something goes horribly wrong and the zombie apocalypse begins.
I have to tell you, this story sorta feels like Anita Blake fanfic. A powerful necromancer with a vampire admirer and cop friend plus zombies. There’s just enough different to set it apart, but the writing could use some work and the characters are pretty shallow. Plus, they do really stupid shit. Writing up this review a week after reading it and I can’t remember anything outstanding about the book. It’s only so-so.
April 13, 2014
Originally reviewed on
Romancing the Dark Side:
4.5 stars
Necromancers…vampires and zombies, oh my – a sexy start to a page turning series!
VAMPIRES’S HUNGER introduces us to a fascinating new paranormal world where necromancers work with the police using their talent of raising the dead (usually temporarily) to question the deceased and solve crimes. Kimber (Kimber) Treat is one of those necromancers. When she’s called in to bring murder victim Richard Whitcomb back from the dead, Kimber uses her ability to tap into the magic of the Unseen but something goes terribly wrong. A darkness attaches itself to Whitcomb’s soul as he’s reanimated and before Kimber can send him back he attacks the medical examiner in the room jump-starting the zombie apocalypse.
Fast forward to six months later where Kimber and her BFF Natalie are living in an apartment with vampire Duncan and his fae friend Aodhán in order to survive in this new and dangerous world. As independent as Kimber is, she knows there’s safety in numbers and together their chances of survival are greater. Duncan has always had a soft spot for Kimber and suggests moving to his Queen’s fortress with Natalie where they will be granted saftey, but everything comes with a price. Maddalene wants to resurrect her vampire consort and will stop at nothing to bring him back but Kimber refuses to help the vampiress who had her parents murdered. When she refuses to aid Maddalene…Kimber, Natalie, Duncan and Aodhán must face a threat far worse than the zombie apocalypse..a powerful vampire Queen.
The author’s candid voice immediately draws you into her paranormal world of magic and the undead. Kimber is a strong and fun heroine, she never wastes an opportunity to make a smart ass comment and I love her for it. I enjoyed her personality but it did take me a bit to warm up to her completely, once she realized she needed her friends and quit the “I can do it all by myself” attitude she grew on me.
Even with her necromancy abilities, Kimber’s still vulnerable and has no love for vampires which I understand after learning what happened to her parents, she has her reasons. She has a few self-loathing moments because she feels the outbreak is essentially her fault and is trying her best to make things right, even sacrificing herself at times. Her attraction to Duncan is evident but she’s hesitant to pursue anything because of his vampire nature. At first this bothered me because Duncan has given her no reason not to trust him, but I admire Kimber for never forgetting a vampire is a vampire, even if he’s a hot one! She has more self control than I would have in her situation, but it was great to see that she just didn’t throw herself at Duncan.
Duncan is as yummy as vampires get, he’s smoking hot, an alpha male, a protector and he has a great sense of humor. He doesn’t fall into the brooding vampire category (even if he rarely smiles) but he believes himself unworthy of love because of his dark past. The intense chemistry and flirty banter between him and Kimber is one of my favorite elements of this story, it sheds some light on the lurking danger. He knows Kimber has reservations when it comes to getting involved with him and he gives her space when she needs it. I wasn’t expecting too much sex in this book because of zombies and all but Ms. Garner pleasantly surprised me with a few that left me in need of a cold shower! What I enjoy most about Kimber and Duncan’s relationship is that it starts off friendly and doesn’t instantly become love, they do care about each other but are getting to know one another throughout the story. Natalie and Aodhán are great supporting characters with their snarky comments and obvious flirtations, I can’t wait to see more of them in future books, their interactions where fun to read and helped diffuse some of the tension between Kimber and Duncan.
Zombies are the initial threat in this world story begins but it soon becomes apparent that it’s the vampires who pose a greater threat. This twist was a little confusing to me being that they’re in the middle of the zombie apocalypse and all but I hope it’s fleshed out more as the story unfolds. As a first installment I expected a little more world building but Ms. Garner focused more on character development and their relationships which I didn’t mind, I’m just left with some questions I hope are answered as the series progresses. The ending wraps up too quickly for me with a cliffhanger feel that left me wanting more…in a good way. VAMPIRE’S HUNGER is a fun and sexy start to a series that has left me anxiously awaiting its sequel!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Necromancers…vampires and zombies, oh my – a sexy start to a page turning series!
VAMPIRES’S HUNGER introduces us to a fascinating new paranormal world where necromancers work with the police using their talent of raising the dead (usually temporarily) to question the deceased and solve crimes. Kimber (Kimber) Treat is one of those necromancers. When she’s called in to bring murder victim Richard Whitcomb back from the dead, Kimber uses her ability to tap into the magic of the Unseen but something goes terribly wrong. A darkness attaches itself to Whitcomb’s soul as he’s reanimated and before Kimber can send him back he attacks the medical examiner in the room jump-starting the zombie apocalypse.
Fast forward to six months later where Kimber and her BFF Natalie are living in an apartment with vampire Duncan and his fae friend Aodhán in order to survive in this new and dangerous world. As independent as Kimber is, she knows there’s safety in numbers and together their chances of survival are greater. Duncan has always had a soft spot for Kimber and suggests moving to his Queen’s fortress with Natalie where they will be granted saftey, but everything comes with a price. Maddalene wants to resurrect her vampire consort and will stop at nothing to bring him back but Kimber refuses to help the vampiress who had her parents murdered. When she refuses to aid Maddalene…Kimber, Natalie, Duncan and Aodhán must face a threat far worse than the zombie apocalypse..a powerful vampire Queen.
The author’s candid voice immediately draws you into her paranormal world of magic and the undead. Kimber is a strong and fun heroine, she never wastes an opportunity to make a smart ass comment and I love her for it. I enjoyed her personality but it did take me a bit to warm up to her completely, once she realized she needed her friends and quit the “I can do it all by myself” attitude she grew on me.
Even with her necromancy abilities, Kimber’s still vulnerable and has no love for vampires which I understand after learning what happened to her parents, she has her reasons. She has a few self-loathing moments because she feels the outbreak is essentially her fault and is trying her best to make things right, even sacrificing herself at times. Her attraction to Duncan is evident but she’s hesitant to pursue anything because of his vampire nature. At first this bothered me because Duncan has given her no reason not to trust him, but I admire Kimber for never forgetting a vampire is a vampire, even if he’s a hot one! She has more self control than I would have in her situation, but it was great to see that she just didn’t throw herself at Duncan.
Duncan is as yummy as vampires get, he’s smoking hot, an alpha male, a protector and he has a great sense of humor. He doesn’t fall into the brooding vampire category (even if he rarely smiles) but he believes himself unworthy of love because of his dark past. The intense chemistry and flirty banter between him and Kimber is one of my favorite elements of this story, it sheds some light on the lurking danger. He knows Kimber has reservations when it comes to getting involved with him and he gives her space when she needs it. I wasn’t expecting too much sex in this book because of zombies and all but Ms. Garner pleasantly surprised me with a few that left me in need of a cold shower! What I enjoy most about Kimber and Duncan’s relationship is that it starts off friendly and doesn’t instantly become love, they do care about each other but are getting to know one another throughout the story. Natalie and Aodhán are great supporting characters with their snarky comments and obvious flirtations, I can’t wait to see more of them in future books, their interactions where fun to read and helped diffuse some of the tension between Kimber and Duncan.
Zombies are the initial threat in this world story begins but it soon becomes apparent that it’s the vampires who pose a greater threat. This twist was a little confusing to me being that they’re in the middle of the zombie apocalypse and all but I hope it’s fleshed out more as the story unfolds. As a first installment I expected a little more world building but Ms. Garner focused more on character development and their relationships which I didn’t mind, I’m just left with some questions I hope are answered as the series progresses. The ending wraps up too quickly for me with a cliffhanger feel that left me wanting more…in a good way. VAMPIRE’S HUNGER is a fun and sexy start to a series that has left me anxiously awaiting its sequel!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A necromancer, vampires and zombies make for a dark and somewhat depressing tale about a woman who starts the zombie apocalypse and the vampires who want to use her for their own gain.
Opening Sentence: Kimber Treat, one of only a few necromancers licensed by the county of Summit, Ohio, pushed open the door to the Medical Examiner’s lab.
The Review:
I had a little trepidation before I started this story. Kimber Treat is a necromancer and from the synopsis, I just kept thinking of Anita Blake and if there would be any parallels. I really shouldn’t have worried. I felt that Vampire’s Hunger was more like The Walking Dead with vampire politics. The vampire politics almost outweigh the zombie part of the storyline because there is zombie fighting but overall it seems that the zombies are just a setting of this world.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off with Kimber bringing back a murder victim to find out his killer but what should have been a routine reanimation ends up bringing about the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Kimber shares one really hot kiss with a vampire before cutting to six months later when the world has been overtaken with zombies. Kimber was once sure of her necromancy powers is now quite scared and tentative to use her powers. She is, however, resilient and a survivor. She does whatever it takes to survive. Kimber and her friends are holed up in an apartment complex that has been safeguarded to keep away zombies.
Kimber’s roommates are her very human friend, Natalie, and two very extreme protectors, Aodhán, a fey and Duncan, a vampire. Duncan has declared himself protector of Kimber for more than one reason. His maker wants Kimber to raise a long dead vampire which could just worsen things with the zombie apocalypse. Duncan also knows, if the humans die than vampires won’t live much longer either. Kimber wants to find a cure to defeat the zombie virus but it is the terrible things a vampire queen wants her to do that take over the story.
Kimber begins the story quite sure of her powers but after “the end of the world” she questions her powers and refrains from using them. She is also understandably depressed for bringing about the deaths of so many people. She does wallow a bit in self-pity but her friends try to keep her from going too far. She eventually finds the strength she needs to live in this terrible world. One thing that did drive me crazy about her was that her parents were killed because of her association with Duncan. She brings this up a lot, often complaining about it to herself but then acting different from her thoughts.
Duncan is an incredibly hot vampire. He has been doing everything he can to keep Kimber alive. He does have an ulterior motive for keeping Kimber around so that did make me lose a teeny tiny amount of respect for him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and their sexual chemistry. Natalie and Aodhán are around for most of the story but it was Aodhán’s mysteriousness that really drew me in to this character.
Overall, Vampire’s Hunger was kind of like The Walking Dead with vampires added. The vampire element seemed to override the zombies so I was kind of left with a lot more questions than answers but hopefully the next book in this series, Vampire’s Thirst, will answer those and focus more on the zombie element of the story.
Notable Scene:
“If six months ago someone had told me I’d be into zombie bondage, I’d have punched him in the face.” He heaved a sigh and set about lashing the zombie’s ankles to the feet of the vending machine, this time using rope. “There. He’s as secure as I can make him.”
“Okay.” Kimber drew a deep breath. “You stand where he can see you and keep his attention on you. Maybe he won’t realize I’m down at his feet.” She dropped to her knees and sidled forward slowly. The zombie kept its gaze on Aodhán, hands grasping in the air as the undead thing tried to get hold of the fey warrior.
With trembling fingers, she slipped her hand beneath the zombie’s tattered slacks and rested her hand on his leg, just above where his sock had scrunched around his ankle. Closing her eyes, she focused inward, drawing on her ability to tap into the Unseen. After another moment or so she stretched out with her mind to the bit of the Unseen that animated the zombie. A few seconds ticked by and nothing happened. Then raw, black energy surged up, lunging for her just like it had all those months ago with Richard Whitcomb.
The zombie went crazy, jerking against his bindings, his mouth open, ferocious snarls coming from his throat. His teeth snapped together, the sound loud in the otherwise silent basement. She heard the rattle of chains, then a screech and a metallic moaning sound. It took a few seconds for her to realize the zombie was pulling free of his chains.
Just as Aodhán yelled her name, she scrambled away from the undead thing. The fey warrior pulled his sword and shoved the blade through the zombie’s mouth with an upward thrust. He twisted the sword and pulled it free, leaving the lifeless shuffler dangling from his remaining bindings.
She sat on the floor, dragging in air, and tried to calm her thundering heart. The coolness of the concrete bled through the fabric of her sweatpants.
“Well,” Aodhán said. He wasn’t even out of breath. “That went well.”
FTC Advisory: Forever Yours/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Vampire’s Hunger. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A necromancer, vampires and zombies make for a dark and somewhat depressing tale about a woman who starts the zombie apocalypse and the vampires who want to use her for their own gain.
Opening Sentence: Kimber Treat, one of only a few necromancers licensed by the county of Summit, Ohio, pushed open the door to the Medical Examiner’s lab.
The Review:
I had a little trepidation before I started this story. Kimber Treat is a necromancer and from the synopsis, I just kept thinking of Anita Blake and if there would be any parallels. I really shouldn’t have worried. I felt that Vampire’s Hunger was more like The Walking Dead with vampire politics. The vampire politics almost outweigh the zombie part of the storyline because there is zombie fighting but overall it seems that the zombies are just a setting of this world.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off with Kimber bringing back a murder victim to find out his killer but what should have been a routine reanimation ends up bringing about the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Kimber shares one really hot kiss with a vampire before cutting to six months later when the world has been overtaken with zombies. Kimber was once sure of her necromancy powers is now quite scared and tentative to use her powers. She is, however, resilient and a survivor. She does whatever it takes to survive. Kimber and her friends are holed up in an apartment complex that has been safeguarded to keep away zombies.
Kimber’s roommates are her very human friend, Natalie, and two very extreme protectors, Aodhán, a fey and Duncan, a vampire. Duncan has declared himself protector of Kimber for more than one reason. His maker wants Kimber to raise a long dead vampire which could just worsen things with the zombie apocalypse. Duncan also knows, if the humans die than vampires won’t live much longer either. Kimber wants to find a cure to defeat the zombie virus but it is the terrible things a vampire queen wants her to do that take over the story.
Kimber begins the story quite sure of her powers but after “the end of the world” she questions her powers and refrains from using them. She is also understandably depressed for bringing about the deaths of so many people. She does wallow a bit in self-pity but her friends try to keep her from going too far. She eventually finds the strength she needs to live in this terrible world. One thing that did drive me crazy about her was that her parents were killed because of her association with Duncan. She brings this up a lot, often complaining about it to herself but then acting different from her thoughts.
Duncan is an incredibly hot vampire. He has been doing everything he can to keep Kimber alive. He does have an ulterior motive for keeping Kimber around so that did make me lose a teeny tiny amount of respect for him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and their sexual chemistry. Natalie and Aodhán are around for most of the story but it was Aodhán’s mysteriousness that really drew me in to this character.
Overall, Vampire’s Hunger was kind of like The Walking Dead with vampires added. The vampire element seemed to override the zombies so I was kind of left with a lot more questions than answers but hopefully the next book in this series, Vampire’s Thirst, will answer those and focus more on the zombie element of the story.
Notable Scene:
“If six months ago someone had told me I’d be into zombie bondage, I’d have punched him in the face.” He heaved a sigh and set about lashing the zombie’s ankles to the feet of the vending machine, this time using rope. “There. He’s as secure as I can make him.”
“Okay.” Kimber drew a deep breath. “You stand where he can see you and keep his attention on you. Maybe he won’t realize I’m down at his feet.” She dropped to her knees and sidled forward slowly. The zombie kept its gaze on Aodhán, hands grasping in the air as the undead thing tried to get hold of the fey warrior.
With trembling fingers, she slipped her hand beneath the zombie’s tattered slacks and rested her hand on his leg, just above where his sock had scrunched around his ankle. Closing her eyes, she focused inward, drawing on her ability to tap into the Unseen. After another moment or so she stretched out with her mind to the bit of the Unseen that animated the zombie. A few seconds ticked by and nothing happened. Then raw, black energy surged up, lunging for her just like it had all those months ago with Richard Whitcomb.
The zombie went crazy, jerking against his bindings, his mouth open, ferocious snarls coming from his throat. His teeth snapped together, the sound loud in the otherwise silent basement. She heard the rattle of chains, then a screech and a metallic moaning sound. It took a few seconds for her to realize the zombie was pulling free of his chains.
Just as Aodhán yelled her name, she scrambled away from the undead thing. The fey warrior pulled his sword and shoved the blade through the zombie’s mouth with an upward thrust. He twisted the sword and pulled it free, leaving the lifeless shuffler dangling from his remaining bindings.
She sat on the floor, dragging in air, and tried to calm her thundering heart. The coolness of the concrete bled through the fabric of her sweatpants.
“Well,” Aodhán said. He wasn’t even out of breath. “That went well.”
FTC Advisory: Forever Yours/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Vampire’s Hunger. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 18, 2014
Oh Duncan you and your naughty little thoughts, "Kimber picked up the hot dog. She brought it to her mouth and her tongue came out to lick a drop of juice at the end. Duncan bit back a groan. There was another piece of meat he'd like to see her do that to. He shifted in his seat." I mean when Kimber wants something the girl leaves no room for argument, "take a shower with me." She pressed his hand harder against her. "Take me." I mean Duncan has to let the girl know what's up sometimes, "his eyes narrowed. "Kimber, I'm a vampire. Vampire's bite. You know this." When she didn't immediately respond, his eyes narrowed a little more. "You knew it when you told me to take you." This book had a lot of action, a lot of sexiness and I enjoyed reading it!
May 27, 2014
This was a really cool concept: A necromancer accidentally starts a zombie apocalypse after raising a dead man to find out who murdered him. Before he can be put back down, he bites a coroner who unwittingly becomes patient zero.
April 3, 2014
I was in the mood for a little vampire romance when I spotted this and thought it would be the perfect antidote to my recent reading slump. I really just wanted a book which would take me away from everyday mundane things and let's be honest that cover certainly promises delicious things! I've seen this authors work recommended and am always beyond impressed by her gorgeous covers so was extremely keen to see if the actual content would rise to meet my expectations . This is the first of a new series so seemed an ideal place to start.
Kimber is a necromancer , her ability to give life to the dead is put to good use by the police in solving murders but what should be a routine raising goes horribly wrong! There's something out there in the darkness and it's somehow found it's way into our world. Kimber just cannot understand what's happening but there's no doubt that something thoroughly evil and sentient has crossed over and is infecting people. An apocalypse of biblical proportions is upon the world as humans are turning into ravenous zombies and Kimber blames herself for allowing it to cross over but playing the blame game will not stop this war against humanity.
Duncan is a vampire who has vowed to protect Kimber, even if she thinks she doesn't need him! He realises that Kimber doesn't trust vampires as her parents died because of them but Duncan is not giving up easily if at all! Kimber is in danger not just from the zombies and surviving humans but from Duncan's own Queen. Duncan needs Kimber in ways he never thought possible but she's proving to be a tough nut to crack. The immense attraction they feel for each other is electric but tearing down Kimbers walls and gaining her trust is proving to be a monumental task. Time is about to run out for Kimber though and tough irrevocable choices will have to be made .
Well so not what I was expecting but in a good way. First it's not a one off type of story as the journey these characters are on is only just beginning and that's fabulous as it gives the author further opportunities to bring depth to these characters . A necromancer who can control the dead and a vampire who technically is dead in a relationship! The possibilities are mind blowing ! The heroine may think the only good vampire is a dead vampire but she's certainly invested in keeping one particular vampire walking around and that's where this story really takes off. The passionate relationship between these two characters made this reader invest in the story. What had seemed frankly preposterous worked quite well as Kimber and Duncan each let their guard down a bit more. Duncan is quite hard ass but when it comes to Kimber he seems to melt like butter.
I loved the secondary characters and their snarky interactions and would like to see more from them in future books. I think the world building is just getting started and I'd like to see it fleshed out a bit more but could understand quite easily what was happening . Now about what's happening, Zombies! It started great and then we didn't get anymore information really about them. I found that a little disappointing although I can see that Ms Garner is trying to establish her characters with this the first book and the intensity of their relationship.
At the end of the book Duncan's life has taken a huge turn and I'm not sure just how that will pan out with Kimbers strong feelings towards vampires but it should make for some interesting conversations! We are left with questions concerning the zombies and just exactly what is causing the infection so it's a dreaded cliffhanger. They have survived a battle but what about the war? I'm left needing more if honest and sincerely hope answers will be coming soon. It wasn't quite what I expected but I really did enjoy this book. The writing flowed easily and the dialogue made me laugh at times . I love a sexy fun read so this ticks those boxes and I'm really curious about the necromancy angle so will certainly read the next book. A good beginning and I will definitely read other books from this author .
Kimber is a necromancer , her ability to give life to the dead is put to good use by the police in solving murders but what should be a routine raising goes horribly wrong! There's something out there in the darkness and it's somehow found it's way into our world. Kimber just cannot understand what's happening but there's no doubt that something thoroughly evil and sentient has crossed over and is infecting people. An apocalypse of biblical proportions is upon the world as humans are turning into ravenous zombies and Kimber blames herself for allowing it to cross over but playing the blame game will not stop this war against humanity.
Duncan is a vampire who has vowed to protect Kimber, even if she thinks she doesn't need him! He realises that Kimber doesn't trust vampires as her parents died because of them but Duncan is not giving up easily if at all! Kimber is in danger not just from the zombies and surviving humans but from Duncan's own Queen. Duncan needs Kimber in ways he never thought possible but she's proving to be a tough nut to crack. The immense attraction they feel for each other is electric but tearing down Kimbers walls and gaining her trust is proving to be a monumental task. Time is about to run out for Kimber though and tough irrevocable choices will have to be made .
Well so not what I was expecting but in a good way. First it's not a one off type of story as the journey these characters are on is only just beginning and that's fabulous as it gives the author further opportunities to bring depth to these characters . A necromancer who can control the dead and a vampire who technically is dead in a relationship! The possibilities are mind blowing ! The heroine may think the only good vampire is a dead vampire but she's certainly invested in keeping one particular vampire walking around and that's where this story really takes off. The passionate relationship between these two characters made this reader invest in the story. What had seemed frankly preposterous worked quite well as Kimber and Duncan each let their guard down a bit more. Duncan is quite hard ass but when it comes to Kimber he seems to melt like butter.
I loved the secondary characters and their snarky interactions and would like to see more from them in future books. I think the world building is just getting started and I'd like to see it fleshed out a bit more but could understand quite easily what was happening . Now about what's happening, Zombies! It started great and then we didn't get anymore information really about them. I found that a little disappointing although I can see that Ms Garner is trying to establish her characters with this the first book and the intensity of their relationship.
At the end of the book Duncan's life has taken a huge turn and I'm not sure just how that will pan out with Kimbers strong feelings towards vampires but it should make for some interesting conversations! We are left with questions concerning the zombies and just exactly what is causing the infection so it's a dreaded cliffhanger. They have survived a battle but what about the war? I'm left needing more if honest and sincerely hope answers will be coming soon. It wasn't quite what I expected but I really did enjoy this book. The writing flowed easily and the dialogue made me laugh at times . I love a sexy fun read so this ticks those boxes and I'm really curious about the necromancy angle so will certainly read the next book. A good beginning and I will definitely read other books from this author .
June 4, 2014
Notes: I received and eARC loan from the publisher.
>>>>>>>>>>>>My Review:
"Hear me Richard Whitcomb. I call you from beyond. I call you to journey from the Unsee to the Seen. By blood and magic I summon you. Arise, Richard. Arise. Come to me now."
Kimber Treat is a necromancer who works with the police to solve murders which might otherwise go unsolved. She reanimates the dead and is able to gain the answers to questions no other person could know. Sometimes gleaning the motives and name of the killer. Once information is acquired, the dead are laid to back to rest. Reanimations are not always pleasant or easy as sometimes the dead have a hard time remembering what happened or dealing with their demise. With her latest reanimation, Kimberly immediately senses something isn't right. She feels a surge of power course into her from the Unseen, the shadowy place where all life begins and ends. She senses John Whitcomb isn't the only one residing in his body. With some extra help and effort from the Medical Examiner's staff Richard permanently enters his eternal slumber, but not before one of the doctors is bitten. What no one realizes at the time, however, is the beginning of a zombie apocalypse had just been set into motion. The world as we knew it has just come to an end.
>>>>>>>>>>>>My Review:
Awakening is an interesting new series, and I'm curious to see how it will evolve. From the first pages of the book, we get a first hand account of how the zombie apocalypse begins. Something in the Unseen is wrong and has brought darkness into the human realm via the reanimation of the dead. While a vampire can't become a zombie, no one is completely immune to the zombies. Vampires are the least vulnerable but can die a horrible death from whatever infects/possesses the zombies. Additionally, they are able to use their strength, agility and speed to their advantage. In a short period of time, the condition spreads as zombies bite and infect more people.
Kimber is put in a very difficult situation as Duncan, a vampire she's known for the past two years, tries to convince her to resurrect a vampire who's been dead for over a hundred years for the vampire Queen. Already knowing something isn't right with the Unseen and compounded with the fact reanimating someone who has been dead as long as Eduardo (the vampire Queen's mate) has been would not bring back the individual back as they once were, she refuses. Now Duncan will have to decide where his loyalties lie--with his Queen or with the woman who he feels strongly for and has let down in the past. He has a clear cut decision to make because most likely one will have to die.
Overall I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed the book, but didn't feel we got to know the characters as well as I'd like. The mutual attraction is very strong and I wish we'd gotten to see it develop from the very first moment these two met, or at least got the full story of what originally happened. I kept wondering if this couple were somehow connected to Cynthia's other series, Warriors of the Rift, but after racking my brain I couldn't recall them. I'd love to see a prequel novella about how these two met and what happened. Perhaps we'll learn more in one of the next books? On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning--make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol I felt the love scenes combined with the colorful language used had this one leaning toward an erotic read, but poised precariously on the fence.
>>>>>>>>>>>>My Review:
"Hear me Richard Whitcomb. I call you from beyond. I call you to journey from the Unsee to the Seen. By blood and magic I summon you. Arise, Richard. Arise. Come to me now."
Kimber Treat is a necromancer who works with the police to solve murders which might otherwise go unsolved. She reanimates the dead and is able to gain the answers to questions no other person could know. Sometimes gleaning the motives and name of the killer. Once information is acquired, the dead are laid to back to rest. Reanimations are not always pleasant or easy as sometimes the dead have a hard time remembering what happened or dealing with their demise. With her latest reanimation, Kimberly immediately senses something isn't right. She feels a surge of power course into her from the Unseen, the shadowy place where all life begins and ends. She senses John Whitcomb isn't the only one residing in his body. With some extra help and effort from the Medical Examiner's staff Richard permanently enters his eternal slumber, but not before one of the doctors is bitten. What no one realizes at the time, however, is the beginning of a zombie apocalypse had just been set into motion. The world as we knew it has just come to an end.
>>>>>>>>>>>>My Review:
Awakening is an interesting new series, and I'm curious to see how it will evolve. From the first pages of the book, we get a first hand account of how the zombie apocalypse begins. Something in the Unseen is wrong and has brought darkness into the human realm via the reanimation of the dead. While a vampire can't become a zombie, no one is completely immune to the zombies. Vampires are the least vulnerable but can die a horrible death from whatever infects/possesses the zombies. Additionally, they are able to use their strength, agility and speed to their advantage. In a short period of time, the condition spreads as zombies bite and infect more people.
Kimber is put in a very difficult situation as Duncan, a vampire she's known for the past two years, tries to convince her to resurrect a vampire who's been dead for over a hundred years for the vampire Queen. Already knowing something isn't right with the Unseen and compounded with the fact reanimating someone who has been dead as long as Eduardo (the vampire Queen's mate) has been would not bring back the individual back as they once were, she refuses. Now Duncan will have to decide where his loyalties lie--with his Queen or with the woman who he feels strongly for and has let down in the past. He has a clear cut decision to make because most likely one will have to die.
Overall I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed the book, but didn't feel we got to know the characters as well as I'd like. The mutual attraction is very strong and I wish we'd gotten to see it develop from the very first moment these two met, or at least got the full story of what originally happened. I kept wondering if this couple were somehow connected to Cynthia's other series, Warriors of the Rift, but after racking my brain I couldn't recall them. I'd love to see a prequel novella about how these two met and what happened. Perhaps we'll learn more in one of the next books? On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning--make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol I felt the love scenes combined with the colorful language used had this one leaning toward an erotic read, but poised precariously on the fence.
February 11, 2017
Originally reviewed at Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/review-vam...
Quick & Dirty: A necromancer, vampires and zombies make for a dark and somewhat depressing tale about a woman who starts the zombie apocalypse and the vampires who want to use her for their own gain.
The Review:
I had a little trepidation before I started this story. Kimber Treat is a necromancer and from the synopsis, I just kept thinking of Anita Blake and if there would be any parallels. I really shouldn’t have worried. I felt that Vampire’s Hunger was more like The Walking Dead with vampire politics. The vampire politics almost outweigh the zombie part of the storyline because there is zombie fighting but overall it seems that the zombies are just a setting of this world.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off with Kimber bringing back a murder victim to find out his killer but what should have been a routine reanimation ends up bringing about the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Kimber shares one really hot kiss with a vampire before cutting to six months later when the world has been overtaken with zombies. Kimber was once sure of her necromancy powers is now quite scared and tentative to use her powers. She is, however, resilient and a survivor. She does whatever it takes to survive. Kimber and her friends are holed up in an apartment complex that has been safeguarded to keep away zombies.
Kimber’s roommates are her very human friend, Natalie, and two very extreme protectors, Aodhán, a fey and Duncan, a vampire. Duncan has declared himself protector of Kimber for more than one reason. His maker wants Kimber to raise a long dead vampire which could just worsen things with the zombie apocalypse. Duncan also knows, if the humans die than vampires won’t live much longer either. Kimber wants to find a cure to defeat the zombie virus but it is the terrible things a vampire queen wants her to do that take over the story.
Kimber begins the story quite sure of her powers but after “the end of the world” she questions her powers and refrains from using them. She is also understandably depressed for bringing about the deaths of so many people. She does wallow a bit in self-pity but her friends try to keep her from going too far. She eventually finds the strength she needs to live in this terrible world. One thing that did drive me crazy about her was that her parents were killed because of her association with Duncan. She brings this up a lot, often complaining about it to herself but then acting different from her thoughts.
Duncan is an incredibly hot vampire. He has been doing everything he can to keep Kimber alive. He does have an ulterior motive for keeping Kimber around so that did make me lose a teeny tiny amount of respect for him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and their sexual chemistry. Natalie and Aodhán are around for most of the story but it was Aodhán’s mysteriousness that really drew me in to this character.
Overall, Vampire’s Hunger was kind of like The Walking Dead with vampires added. The vampire element seemed to override the zombies so I was kind of left with a lot more questions than answers but hopefully the next book in this series, Vampire’s Thirst, will answer those and focus more on the zombie element of the story.
Quick & Dirty: A necromancer, vampires and zombies make for a dark and somewhat depressing tale about a woman who starts the zombie apocalypse and the vampires who want to use her for their own gain.
The Review:
I had a little trepidation before I started this story. Kimber Treat is a necromancer and from the synopsis, I just kept thinking of Anita Blake and if there would be any parallels. I really shouldn’t have worried. I felt that Vampire’s Hunger was more like The Walking Dead with vampire politics. The vampire politics almost outweigh the zombie part of the storyline because there is zombie fighting but overall it seems that the zombies are just a setting of this world.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off with Kimber bringing back a murder victim to find out his killer but what should have been a routine reanimation ends up bringing about the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Kimber shares one really hot kiss with a vampire before cutting to six months later when the world has been overtaken with zombies. Kimber was once sure of her necromancy powers is now quite scared and tentative to use her powers. She is, however, resilient and a survivor. She does whatever it takes to survive. Kimber and her friends are holed up in an apartment complex that has been safeguarded to keep away zombies.
Kimber’s roommates are her very human friend, Natalie, and two very extreme protectors, Aodhán, a fey and Duncan, a vampire. Duncan has declared himself protector of Kimber for more than one reason. His maker wants Kimber to raise a long dead vampire which could just worsen things with the zombie apocalypse. Duncan also knows, if the humans die than vampires won’t live much longer either. Kimber wants to find a cure to defeat the zombie virus but it is the terrible things a vampire queen wants her to do that take over the story.
Kimber begins the story quite sure of her powers but after “the end of the world” she questions her powers and refrains from using them. She is also understandably depressed for bringing about the deaths of so many people. She does wallow a bit in self-pity but her friends try to keep her from going too far. She eventually finds the strength she needs to live in this terrible world. One thing that did drive me crazy about her was that her parents were killed because of her association with Duncan. She brings this up a lot, often complaining about it to herself but then acting different from her thoughts.
Duncan is an incredibly hot vampire. He has been doing everything he can to keep Kimber alive. He does have an ulterior motive for keeping Kimber around so that did make me lose a teeny tiny amount of respect for him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and their sexual chemistry. Natalie and Aodhán are around for most of the story but it was Aodhán’s mysteriousness that really drew me in to this character.
Overall, Vampire’s Hunger was kind of like The Walking Dead with vampires added. The vampire element seemed to override the zombies so I was kind of left with a lot more questions than answers but hopefully the next book in this series, Vampire’s Thirst, will answer those and focus more on the zombie element of the story.
April 13, 2014
2.5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, civilization no longer exists, and only the strongest survive. The few remaining humans must band together with supernatural beings to battle unspeakable evil-or all hope will be lost.
Kimber Treat is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift: she can raise the dead. As a necromancer who works with the police, she communicates with murder victims to bring their killers to justice. But after a normal session goes horribly wrong, Kimber realizes she's summoned something dark and sinister. She's unwittingly unleashed the apocalypse, and everyone blames her . . . except Duncan MacDonnough, the devastatingly handsome vampire she can't stop fantasizing about.
As society shuts down and flesh-eating hordes close in, Duncan vows to protect Kimber. He can keep her safe from others-but not from the insatiable carnal hunger he feels for her. Now racing to reverse the chaos she's unleashed, Kimber can't afford any distractions. But even as she succumbs to Duncan's seduction, she fears that he has a hidden agenda. And with the line between life and death starting to blur, his secrets might kill her-or worse...
REVIEW:
Kimber, a necromancer with the unique ability to raise the dead, frequently helped the police with their most unsolvable crimes. Only, the last case went horribly wrong...the corpse bit a human. Patient zero seemed fine, until one day he went crazy and started biting others. The last thing anyone expected was for that innocent bit to lead to the apocalypse. Blaming herself, Kimber would do whatever it took to fix the world and her mistake.
Duncan had been a vampire for close to a hundred years. During all that time, only Kimber made him feel human again and not a monster. His queen was determined to use Kimber's ability for her own agenda, not caring that the job would be fatal for any who attempt it. Duncan was willing to do whatever it took to keep Kimber safe, even if it meant going up against his own queen and maker.
This book was listed as a Dystopian Urban Fantasy. After reading it, I'd strongly disagree. It's Erotic Romance. The world building started out great, but never progressed beyond the initial setup. Everything was so focused on Duncan and Kimber hooking up, that little thought was given to the end of the world. It felt like we only skimmed the story and character's lives. I was never able to connect with either of them. I ended up skimming the second love scene and skipping the third altogether, trying to get back to the story. Only to be severely disappointed when the book just stopped abruptly. Warning: This books is part one, not a full story. I did enjoy some of the humor, flirtations and secondary characters, but there just wasn't enough to keep me interested. If you like erotic romance with unusual settings, you might enjoy this book. If you're looking for a gritty urban fantasy set in a dystopian world, I would pass.
Posted from my site: www.StaceyBrutger.com
DESCRIPTION:
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, civilization no longer exists, and only the strongest survive. The few remaining humans must band together with supernatural beings to battle unspeakable evil-or all hope will be lost.
Kimber Treat is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift: she can raise the dead. As a necromancer who works with the police, she communicates with murder victims to bring their killers to justice. But after a normal session goes horribly wrong, Kimber realizes she's summoned something dark and sinister. She's unwittingly unleashed the apocalypse, and everyone blames her . . . except Duncan MacDonnough, the devastatingly handsome vampire she can't stop fantasizing about.
As society shuts down and flesh-eating hordes close in, Duncan vows to protect Kimber. He can keep her safe from others-but not from the insatiable carnal hunger he feels for her. Now racing to reverse the chaos she's unleashed, Kimber can't afford any distractions. But even as she succumbs to Duncan's seduction, she fears that he has a hidden agenda. And with the line between life and death starting to blur, his secrets might kill her-or worse...
REVIEW:
Kimber, a necromancer with the unique ability to raise the dead, frequently helped the police with their most unsolvable crimes. Only, the last case went horribly wrong...the corpse bit a human. Patient zero seemed fine, until one day he went crazy and started biting others. The last thing anyone expected was for that innocent bit to lead to the apocalypse. Blaming herself, Kimber would do whatever it took to fix the world and her mistake.
Duncan had been a vampire for close to a hundred years. During all that time, only Kimber made him feel human again and not a monster. His queen was determined to use Kimber's ability for her own agenda, not caring that the job would be fatal for any who attempt it. Duncan was willing to do whatever it took to keep Kimber safe, even if it meant going up against his own queen and maker.
This book was listed as a Dystopian Urban Fantasy. After reading it, I'd strongly disagree. It's Erotic Romance. The world building started out great, but never progressed beyond the initial setup. Everything was so focused on Duncan and Kimber hooking up, that little thought was given to the end of the world. It felt like we only skimmed the story and character's lives. I was never able to connect with either of them. I ended up skimming the second love scene and skipping the third altogether, trying to get back to the story. Only to be severely disappointed when the book just stopped abruptly. Warning: This books is part one, not a full story. I did enjoy some of the humor, flirtations and secondary characters, but there just wasn't enough to keep me interested. If you like erotic romance with unusual settings, you might enjoy this book. If you're looking for a gritty urban fantasy set in a dystopian world, I would pass.
Posted from my site: www.StaceyBrutger.com
May 23, 2014
Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Heather
I’m not the biggest fan of zombies. This is the first one I’ve read that I’ve actually finished without losing my stomach contents. At times they seem an afterthought. But this does contain some high heat and teeters between romance and erotic romance. If you’re looking for a straight-up post apocalypse read, you won’t find it here.
I’m a romance junkie. Same love different setting type person so this one appeared right up my alley, and for the most part it was. I would’ve enjoyed a bit more world building. That was the first thing i noticed when I hit the 60% mark. We still didn’t know jack about the necromancers aside from that Kimber is one, the police used them, they are responsible for the zombies, and that she isn’t the only one in the world. … That’s all on the blurb. We learn next to nothing about the vampires or Fae too. I can see not going into extreme detail since this is more about the zombies and the necromancer, or is it? Hmm.
Okay onto characters … I didn’t dislike Kimber but I didn’t connect with her a whole lot either. I understood her hatred for vampires, but when it came to her and Duncan I questioned the reluctance. I don’t want to give anything away but I’ll say this. If you trust someone to protect you with their life, you cannot be afraid they will drain you dry, and then use it as your wall. Maybe it was wishful thinking. I mean there were tons of reasons to avoid romantic involvement and while some were mentioned, Kimber kept falling back on Duncan’s control without showing us a point when he lost control. He may have broken promises, but we were showed no past were his control harmed her. Maybe it’s just me, but that irked me.
Duncan is basically your standard alpha. I like alpha males and enjoyed his point of view. I didn’t really buy his reasoning for befriending Kimber. It was clear he liked her and the jealousy spouted here and there when she’d interact with another male.
Natalie and Aodhán interested me more. Their tension, albeit second hand, was natural and real to me. It was like having a porterhouse steak and a piece of chicken for comparison and they didn’t even take their clothes off.
I’m on the fence. I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either. Lovers of light fantasy or PNR would enjoy it, but I wanted more depth in the world oh and why do they whisper talk but have no fear of zombies breaking in when they’re mid coitus?
3.5/5 meh … I hate ratings.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Heather
I’m not the biggest fan of zombies. This is the first one I’ve read that I’ve actually finished without losing my stomach contents. At times they seem an afterthought. But this does contain some high heat and teeters between romance and erotic romance. If you’re looking for a straight-up post apocalypse read, you won’t find it here.
I’m a romance junkie. Same love different setting type person so this one appeared right up my alley, and for the most part it was. I would’ve enjoyed a bit more world building. That was the first thing i noticed when I hit the 60% mark. We still didn’t know jack about the necromancers aside from that Kimber is one, the police used them, they are responsible for the zombies, and that she isn’t the only one in the world. … That’s all on the blurb. We learn next to nothing about the vampires or Fae too. I can see not going into extreme detail since this is more about the zombies and the necromancer, or is it? Hmm.
Okay onto characters … I didn’t dislike Kimber but I didn’t connect with her a whole lot either. I understood her hatred for vampires, but when it came to her and Duncan I questioned the reluctance. I don’t want to give anything away but I’ll say this. If you trust someone to protect you with their life, you cannot be afraid they will drain you dry, and then use it as your wall. Maybe it was wishful thinking. I mean there were tons of reasons to avoid romantic involvement and while some were mentioned, Kimber kept falling back on Duncan’s control without showing us a point when he lost control. He may have broken promises, but we were showed no past were his control harmed her. Maybe it’s just me, but that irked me.
Duncan is basically your standard alpha. I like alpha males and enjoyed his point of view. I didn’t really buy his reasoning for befriending Kimber. It was clear he liked her and the jealousy spouted here and there when she’d interact with another male.
Natalie and Aodhán interested me more. Their tension, albeit second hand, was natural and real to me. It was like having a porterhouse steak and a piece of chicken for comparison and they didn’t even take their clothes off.
I’m on the fence. I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either. Lovers of light fantasy or PNR would enjoy it, but I wanted more depth in the world oh and why do they whisper talk but have no fear of zombies breaking in when they’re mid coitus?
3.5/5 meh … I hate ratings.
April 6, 2014
In Cynthia Garner’s new Awakening series, the police use necromancers in their murder investigations to question the deceased. Kimberly Treat has been brought in to see who murdered Richard Whitcomb. This time when she taps into the magic of the Unseen, something dark takes a ride with Whitcomb’s soul. Before she returns his energy to the Unseen, Whitcomb bites the M.E. and begins an outbreak of a zombie virus which takes over the world.
Our story fast forwards to six months later where Kimber, her friend Natalie, are hold up in an apartment building with Duncan and his fey friend Aodhán. Supplies are running low and Duncan’s vampire Queen will offer safety to Kimber and her friends in exchange for Kimber raising her murdered vampire lover from the dead. Kimber has no desire to live in a nest of vampires, even if it is more secure and lush than her current space. Especially not after Maddalene sent her vampires to kill Kimber’s parents.
Even if Kimber wanted to help the Queen, the Unseen hasn’t acted right since that fateful day six months ago. Kimber has tried again and again to pull the zombie virus from the infected and each time she feels the pull of something dark and evil when she touches the Unseen.
When Madeline threatens the life of her friends unless Kimber comes to her compound, Kimber might just be stuck between a zombie hoard and a hungry vampire army.
THOUGHTS:a
This was a quick story that draws you in and before you are ready, it’s over. Worse, when you think about it you still have questions. The good thing is that there is a Book 2, Vampire Thirst, coming out next month.
I also realized once we got to the end that there was probably as much sex as there were zombies in the story. When Kimber and the gang stayed in their apartment and kept quiet with the windows covered, they didn’t seem to be bothered by the zombies. We never saw them scouting for supplies, only traveling between the vampire compound and their apartment. There were a few zombie fights, but I never felt tension of any real danger.
There was also the added interest in blending vampires, fey, magic and zombies (but so far no sign of werewolves). Kimber and Duncan were interesting characters and we get a hint of sexual interest and snarkiness between Natalie and Aodhán.
It was a light read and I am interested enough to see where Book 2 takes us.
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
See more at
Our story fast forwards to six months later where Kimber, her friend Natalie, are hold up in an apartment building with Duncan and his fey friend Aodhán. Supplies are running low and Duncan’s vampire Queen will offer safety to Kimber and her friends in exchange for Kimber raising her murdered vampire lover from the dead. Kimber has no desire to live in a nest of vampires, even if it is more secure and lush than her current space. Especially not after Maddalene sent her vampires to kill Kimber’s parents.
Even if Kimber wanted to help the Queen, the Unseen hasn’t acted right since that fateful day six months ago. Kimber has tried again and again to pull the zombie virus from the infected and each time she feels the pull of something dark and evil when she touches the Unseen.
When Madeline threatens the life of her friends unless Kimber comes to her compound, Kimber might just be stuck between a zombie hoard and a hungry vampire army.
THOUGHTS:a
This was a quick story that draws you in and before you are ready, it’s over. Worse, when you think about it you still have questions. The good thing is that there is a Book 2, Vampire Thirst, coming out next month.
I also realized once we got to the end that there was probably as much sex as there were zombies in the story. When Kimber and the gang stayed in their apartment and kept quiet with the windows covered, they didn’t seem to be bothered by the zombies. We never saw them scouting for supplies, only traveling between the vampire compound and their apartment. There were a few zombie fights, but I never felt tension of any real danger.
There was also the added interest in blending vampires, fey, magic and zombies (but so far no sign of werewolves). Kimber and Duncan were interesting characters and we get a hint of sexual interest and snarkiness between Natalie and Aodhán.
It was a light read and I am interested enough to see where Book 2 takes us.
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
See more at
July 15, 2016
*ARC Supplied by publisher
Kimberley is a necromancer and works for the local authorities. She raises the dead, but only long enough to find out who murdered them then sends them straight back to their deaths again. But what happens when one refuses to go quietly? Her last dead man wasn't her usual text book reanimation, instead it seems as though something else came through with him which ultimately leads to Kimber, somehow, being responsible for the zombie apocalypse that has destroyed the world.
And there is Duncan, a dark, sexy vampire who is vying for Kimber's affections. But after her family was murdered by vampires she has big trust issues with vampires and Duncan's queen, Maddalene, doesn't do anything to help with that trust: Kimber's life is threatened when Maddalene decides she wants to use Kimber's gift for her own gain. But what the vampire queen wants Kimber to do will drain Kimber's powers too much which will no doubt kill her. Duncan soon has to decide if he can continue with his loyalty to the vampire queen, who is becoming increasingly unstable.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It's the first time I've read anything by Cynthia Garner, and generally I'm not too bothered about zombies. But the zombies weren't the main focus of the story which was fine by me. Instead, the vampires seemed to pose more of a threat which was also fine by me. I liked the characters and enjoyed Kimber and Duncan's relationship; in the beginning she was reluctant to allow herself to be with him properly due to the fact she didn't trust his control around her. When they do get together it makes for some pretty steamy love making scenes *wink wink*. Kimber's friend Natalie and Duncan's Fey friend Aodhàn were both entertaining and I enjoyed the camaraderie between the group. I liked the storyline. It was a little different to the norm and kept me nice and gripped. I was glad I chose to review Vampire's Hunger and, after being left on a cliffhanger - which doesn't bother me at all as I happen to think it's exciting waiting for the next book - I will definitely be reading book 2.
Kimberley is a necromancer and works for the local authorities. She raises the dead, but only long enough to find out who murdered them then sends them straight back to their deaths again. But what happens when one refuses to go quietly? Her last dead man wasn't her usual text book reanimation, instead it seems as though something else came through with him which ultimately leads to Kimber, somehow, being responsible for the zombie apocalypse that has destroyed the world.
And there is Duncan, a dark, sexy vampire who is vying for Kimber's affections. But after her family was murdered by vampires she has big trust issues with vampires and Duncan's queen, Maddalene, doesn't do anything to help with that trust: Kimber's life is threatened when Maddalene decides she wants to use Kimber's gift for her own gain. But what the vampire queen wants Kimber to do will drain Kimber's powers too much which will no doubt kill her. Duncan soon has to decide if he can continue with his loyalty to the vampire queen, who is becoming increasingly unstable.
The key turned in the front door. Kimber and Aodhàn both jumped up, he with his sword gripped tight in his right hand, instantly ready for battle.
Duncan walked in. He closed and locked the door behind him and quirked a brow at them. "You think zombies are going to have a key?"
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It's the first time I've read anything by Cynthia Garner, and generally I'm not too bothered about zombies. But the zombies weren't the main focus of the story which was fine by me. Instead, the vampires seemed to pose more of a threat which was also fine by me. I liked the characters and enjoyed Kimber and Duncan's relationship; in the beginning she was reluctant to allow herself to be with him properly due to the fact she didn't trust his control around her. When they do get together it makes for some pretty steamy love making scenes *wink wink*. Kimber's friend Natalie and Duncan's Fey friend Aodhàn were both entertaining and I enjoyed the camaraderie between the group. I liked the storyline. It was a little different to the norm and kept me nice and gripped. I was glad I chose to review Vampire's Hunger and, after being left on a cliffhanger - which doesn't bother me at all as I happen to think it's exciting waiting for the next book - I will definitely be reading book 2.
March 23, 2014
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley for review.
This is my first time reading a book by this author. I liked it, but didn’t love it. The writing was well done, plenty of drama and action to keep the story moving. Lots of steamy scenes too for those looking for that kind of thrill. The story started off really strong, but kind of fell flat for me in the last third of the book. Not sure what happen, maybe the sex should have been spaced out more for me, but after a while it just seemed that was all that was happening up until the last two chapters.
The story was an interesting premise and reminded me of the work of several other popular paranormal series; for example the Anita Blake Series, Sookie Stackhouse, Alexandra Ivy’s series, even the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. The twist on this world is there are Vampires, Humans, Fay and Zombies. The lead female is a Necromancer and has a problem with vampires, hence the Anita Blake comparison. The lead male is then of course a Vampire. I liked them both and enjoyed reading about them coming together. Duncan was a little edgier in the beginning of the book and I must confess I liked him a bit more that way. He softened up a bit towards the end and we see more of his humanity, although he can still kick ass. The supporting characters were well written and helped move the story along, I would have liked the opportunity to get to know them better, perhaps in future books. The bad guy or girl came off a little crazy and worked well for the story. The zombie story line is left hanging at the end of the book, but all evidence points to that being a reacquiring thread to be dealt with and resolved through later additions to this interesting new series.
I did like the book, haven’t decided yet if I will pick up the story with book two. Not a huge fan of Zombies. I am however going to check out the other series out by this author, Warriors of the Rift, book one is called Kiss the Vampire and see if that is a little more to my taste. It is a fast read that will entertain most paranormal readers and I recommend it to my friends and followers who enjoy those books.
This is my first time reading a book by this author. I liked it, but didn’t love it. The writing was well done, plenty of drama and action to keep the story moving. Lots of steamy scenes too for those looking for that kind of thrill. The story started off really strong, but kind of fell flat for me in the last third of the book. Not sure what happen, maybe the sex should have been spaced out more for me, but after a while it just seemed that was all that was happening up until the last two chapters.
The story was an interesting premise and reminded me of the work of several other popular paranormal series; for example the Anita Blake Series, Sookie Stackhouse, Alexandra Ivy’s series, even the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. The twist on this world is there are Vampires, Humans, Fay and Zombies. The lead female is a Necromancer and has a problem with vampires, hence the Anita Blake comparison. The lead male is then of course a Vampire. I liked them both and enjoyed reading about them coming together. Duncan was a little edgier in the beginning of the book and I must confess I liked him a bit more that way. He softened up a bit towards the end and we see more of his humanity, although he can still kick ass. The supporting characters were well written and helped move the story along, I would have liked the opportunity to get to know them better, perhaps in future books. The bad guy or girl came off a little crazy and worked well for the story. The zombie story line is left hanging at the end of the book, but all evidence points to that being a reacquiring thread to be dealt with and resolved through later additions to this interesting new series.
I did like the book, haven’t decided yet if I will pick up the story with book two. Not a huge fan of Zombies. I am however going to check out the other series out by this author, Warriors of the Rift, book one is called Kiss the Vampire and see if that is a little more to my taste. It is a fast read that will entertain most paranormal readers and I recommend it to my friends and followers who enjoy those books.
April 4, 2014
I gave it 3.5/5 stars
Cynthia Garner brings us a her take on the Zombie Apocalypse with the first book in her Awakened Series, VAMPIRE'S HUNGER.
Although I ended up really liking Kimber, it took me a bit of time to warm up to her character. She is very headstrong and although that is a good trait to have, I didn't agree with some of her thoughts and decisions. Once she got over some of her issues it was much easier to warm up to her. Kimber blames herself for the situation the world is in. There is way more to Kimber than meets the eye and learning about her powers not only scares her but opens her up to what seem to be danger. Kimber also refuses to get romantically involved with Duncan because of what he is even though she is very attracted and drawn to him. Duncan is a vampire and wants Kimber to help him for selfish reasons but he doesn't expect to fall in love with her along the way. No matter how much she pushes him away he still does everything to protect her and try to win her over. When she finally gives in, things are pretty fast and furious. His storyline brings him to a place of power by the end of the book. Kimber is by his side but anything could happen.
I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters. Kimber's roommates have their own roles to play but bring along a nice amount of interaction and entertainment. Their struggles to stay alive during hard times has brought them all close together and they are very protective of each other. By the end of the book they are all in a better place.
You are left with a lot of questions at the end of VAMPIRE'S HUNGER. You have a glimpse of what is to come but anything could go wrong and there are a few hints that things will not be easy. Of course this is the Zombie Apocalypse so do we really expect it to be? I enjoyed VAMPIRE'S HUNGER enough to read on to book 2 when it is available.
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cynthia Garner brings us a her take on the Zombie Apocalypse with the first book in her Awakened Series, VAMPIRE'S HUNGER.
Although I ended up really liking Kimber, it took me a bit of time to warm up to her character. She is very headstrong and although that is a good trait to have, I didn't agree with some of her thoughts and decisions. Once she got over some of her issues it was much easier to warm up to her. Kimber blames herself for the situation the world is in. There is way more to Kimber than meets the eye and learning about her powers not only scares her but opens her up to what seem to be danger. Kimber also refuses to get romantically involved with Duncan because of what he is even though she is very attracted and drawn to him. Duncan is a vampire and wants Kimber to help him for selfish reasons but he doesn't expect to fall in love with her along the way. No matter how much she pushes him away he still does everything to protect her and try to win her over. When she finally gives in, things are pretty fast and furious. His storyline brings him to a place of power by the end of the book. Kimber is by his side but anything could happen.
I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters. Kimber's roommates have their own roles to play but bring along a nice amount of interaction and entertainment. Their struggles to stay alive during hard times has brought them all close together and they are very protective of each other. By the end of the book they are all in a better place.
You are left with a lot of questions at the end of VAMPIRE'S HUNGER. You have a glimpse of what is to come but anything could go wrong and there are a few hints that things will not be easy. Of course this is the Zombie Apocalypse so do we really expect it to be? I enjoyed VAMPIRE'S HUNGER enough to read on to book 2 when it is available.
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2015
- 3 Vampire’s Hunger Stars -
Vampire’s Hunger is book one in the Awakening series by Cynthia Garner. As first books go in a series this one was ok. It didn’t wow me and I probably should have read the blurb before picking this up. I am not a zombie fan.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off a little slow. We have a verity of supernaturals from vampires, fae, necromancers and more. I enjoyed the verity of sup’s, but the world building was lacking. We don’t get much on the necromancers only that the police use them and that Kimber is not the only one… We also learn next to nothing about the vampires or fae too. Their is some action and it was enjoyable, but it felt to easy. What really got me was the vampire rebellion inside the vampire coven. Defeating the head vampire was too easy and if it was that easy what is to stop others from doing the same thing… It should have been harder to destroy ones enemies.
As for the characters I never really felt a connection to them. I did not dislike them, but I never could get into them. As for the relationship well I get why Kimber dislikes vampires, but I could not understand her reluctance towards Duncan. I did like Duncan. He is an alpha male and I liked his point of view, but I never understood why he befriended Kimber. Natalie and Aodhan are interesting. The tension was natural, real with some good banter between them. It does contain some high heat and sexual tension throughout the book.
I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either... It was not to my taste in books that I enjoy. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Vampire’s Hunger is book one in the Awakening series by Cynthia Garner. As first books go in a series this one was ok. It didn’t wow me and I probably should have read the blurb before picking this up. I am not a zombie fan.
Vampire’s Hunger starts off a little slow. We have a verity of supernaturals from vampires, fae, necromancers and more. I enjoyed the verity of sup’s, but the world building was lacking. We don’t get much on the necromancers only that the police use them and that Kimber is not the only one… We also learn next to nothing about the vampires or fae too. Their is some action and it was enjoyable, but it felt to easy. What really got me was the vampire rebellion inside the vampire coven. Defeating the head vampire was too easy and if it was that easy what is to stop others from doing the same thing… It should have been harder to destroy ones enemies.
As for the characters I never really felt a connection to them. I did not dislike them, but I never could get into them. As for the relationship well I get why Kimber dislikes vampires, but I could not understand her reluctance towards Duncan. I did like Duncan. He is an alpha male and I liked his point of view, but I never understood why he befriended Kimber. Natalie and Aodhan are interesting. The tension was natural, real with some good banter between them. It does contain some high heat and sexual tension throughout the book.
I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it either... It was not to my taste in books that I enjoy. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
April 3, 2014
This is definitely an adults only read! I loved this one. It was full of action and moved very fast.
I really liked Kimber. She's a very fun, sassy character who had me laughing out loud at moments. but also feeling very bad for her. She carries a lot of guilt from the apocalypse starting after she raised a man from the dead. What she thought was just a normal raising for her turned into something so wrong. Now everyone blames her for the start of the apocalypse. It wasn't in any way her fault. Something very wrong hitchhiked on her raising. So she very much wants to try and find a way to fix everything.
Duncan is tall, dark and, a very sexy alpha male, whose a vampire. Him and Kimber have this amazing chemistry but she's doesn't trust him since his queen really wants Kimber to work for her. Kimber doesn't trust the vampires since they got her parents killed. But since the apocalypse started Duncan has helped protect Kimber and her friends.
Kimber realizes that Duncan is different and really does care for her when he tries to protect her from his queen. She wants Kimber to raise her lover from the dead and is threatening Kimber and her friends lives if she doesn't.
I'm very excited to read the next in the series. This story focused more on the vampires then the zombies so I'm interested to see if Kimber can figure out what went wrong and caused the outbreak
I really liked Kimber. She's a very fun, sassy character who had me laughing out loud at moments. but also feeling very bad for her. She carries a lot of guilt from the apocalypse starting after she raised a man from the dead. What she thought was just a normal raising for her turned into something so wrong. Now everyone blames her for the start of the apocalypse. It wasn't in any way her fault. Something very wrong hitchhiked on her raising. So she very much wants to try and find a way to fix everything.
Duncan is tall, dark and, a very sexy alpha male, whose a vampire. Him and Kimber have this amazing chemistry but she's doesn't trust him since his queen really wants Kimber to work for her. Kimber doesn't trust the vampires since they got her parents killed. But since the apocalypse started Duncan has helped protect Kimber and her friends.
Kimber realizes that Duncan is different and really does care for her when he tries to protect her from his queen. She wants Kimber to raise her lover from the dead and is threatening Kimber and her friends lives if she doesn't.
I'm very excited to read the next in the series. This story focused more on the vampires then the zombies so I'm interested to see if Kimber can figure out what went wrong and caused the outbreak
September 29, 2014
3 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Necromancer Kimber Treat works with the police to communicate with murdered victims to solves crimes. Her last case goes terribly wrong and the Medical Examiner is bitten by the victim. Three days later the ME is dead but not before he has bitten someone else and spread the Zombie virus.
Six months later - Humans are trying not become zombie food and the only other creatures around are Vampires. The Vampire Queen needs Kimber to bring her twice dead lover back but this kind of thing is not done nor does Kimber want to do it. The Vampire Queen's second in command, Duncan has feelings for Kimber and is torn between loyalty and love.
Awakening is Cynthia Garner's new series and is well-written and while her world is easy to understand I did not find myself immersed into it. The books seem a bit quick and I didn't feel like we get that much information. I will read book two to make up my mind if I will continue the series.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Necromancer Kimber Treat works with the police to communicate with murdered victims to solves crimes. Her last case goes terribly wrong and the Medical Examiner is bitten by the victim. Three days later the ME is dead but not before he has bitten someone else and spread the Zombie virus.
Six months later - Humans are trying not become zombie food and the only other creatures around are Vampires. The Vampire Queen needs Kimber to bring her twice dead lover back but this kind of thing is not done nor does Kimber want to do it. The Vampire Queen's second in command, Duncan has feelings for Kimber and is torn between loyalty and love.
Awakening is Cynthia Garner's new series and is well-written and while her world is easy to understand I did not find myself immersed into it. The books seem a bit quick and I didn't feel like we get that much information. I will read book two to make up my mind if I will continue the series.
April 7, 2014
3.5 stars-- Vampires, zombies and necromancers seem like a great combination for a story, right? Well, this one is packed with all three. Vampire's Hunger is a unique take on the zombie genre. A necromancer, Kimber Treat, mistakenly summons a dark force during a routine job in the morgue. The result is a zombie apocalypse that devastates the world. Vampires and humans are both susceptible to the zombie's bite.
I enjoyed this book. I liked that the zombie's weren't initially made by a virus. I also liked that the vampires could die from the bite as well. It made them just as vulnerable as the humans. The characters were interesting and there was enough action to keep the story moving. I was sucked right in and read it very quickly. Of course, the chemistry between Duncan and Kimber was intense. I loved them together! The book left off in somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I look forward to reading the next book, Vampire's Thirst (May 2014) to see what happens!
I enjoyed this book. I liked that the zombie's weren't initially made by a virus. I also liked that the vampires could die from the bite as well. It made them just as vulnerable as the humans. The characters were interesting and there was enough action to keep the story moving. I was sucked right in and read it very quickly. Of course, the chemistry between Duncan and Kimber was intense. I loved them together! The book left off in somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I look forward to reading the next book, Vampire's Thirst (May 2014) to see what happens!
April 21, 2014
This was the first book in a new series that has humans, vampires, fey, and zombies. Oh yeah, some of the humans are necromancers. It was an alright story, nothing I haven't read before. It was a cross between The Walking Dead and Twilight. There were a few times the time line seemed off, once being the age of Duncan, the vampire. In the beginning he is telling his story and he's only been a vamp for a little over 80 years then towards the end he is said to have given his dedication to the Queen for over two centuries. I guess I'll try to read the next in the series, but it won't be a top priority. I just didn't really feel anything for Kimber. At times she seemed strong and able to kick-ass then she would seem almost juvenile. Maybe it was just me, but I just couldn't seem to care for her.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
July 16, 2014
This author is a amazing! I can't express enough how awesome she is. I love the twist on all her vampire books and this one is no exception. For someone to get me to read something with zombies in it is a great achievement. Her vampires are hot, sexy and complicated. And no doubt devoted to the people they love. The woman are strong, fiery and fun. These characters have so much character and dimension that I want to read about them all day. And the fae boy, yes, more of that one too please. I can't wait to start reading the next book in this series that is just inches away as I type this. Nope, can't wait, must start it now.
April 14, 2014
Another winner...this was a great start to a great new series...
Of course I expect as much from Ms. Garner.
The world building was easy to understand; no over done and she was able to tell Kimber and Duncan's story while making sure we understood how the world had become undone.
Duncan is definitely an alpha male but he let Kimber be the strong and intelligent woman she is.
He protected her without smothering her...no easy task.
They worked well has a team along with Kimber's besties...Nat and Aodhan...and let's not forget Atticus...Yummy!!!
Great read for PNR lovers...
Highly Recommend!!!
Of course I expect as much from Ms. Garner.
The world building was easy to understand; no over done and she was able to tell Kimber and Duncan's story while making sure we understood how the world had become undone.
Duncan is definitely an alpha male but he let Kimber be the strong and intelligent woman she is.
He protected her without smothering her...no easy task.
They worked well has a team along with Kimber's besties...Nat and Aodhan...and let's not forget Atticus...Yummy!!!
Great read for PNR lovers...
Highly Recommend!!!
August 14, 2016
OMG OMG OMG!!! I loved this! How can you not? Sexy Vampires and Zombies?! Eeek. It was great! Duncan, hot sexy vampire, wants Kimber. She's a necromancer and causes a zombie apocalypse. She has a human friend, a fey friend, and one nasty Queen vamp after her! The story is exciting, erotic (but not overly dirty) and keeps you glued page after page. This is one crazy exciting book and I'm anxious to pick up the next one!!
September 18, 2014
I won this book through the giveaways.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. I don't like reading about zombies, however, once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. i really liked everything about this book. I like the sexual innuendos throughout the book. I enjoyed even the zombies in the book, mainly because this wasn't the main focus of the book. I will read the other books in this series.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. I don't like reading about zombies, however, once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. i really liked everything about this book. I like the sexual innuendos throughout the book. I enjoyed even the zombies in the book, mainly because this wasn't the main focus of the book. I will read the other books in this series.
August 27, 2014
The relationships between the various "species" of people in this book intrigued me.I know much is said about vampires and sexuality but these relationships were shown to be erotic and constant.The things done to rid the world of zombies was imaginative and hopefully does have a far reached effect.All and all, a good read and one that keeps me thinking-where can I find one of these vampires?
April 7, 2014
(3.5 stars)
September 12, 2016
Review pending.
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