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The Human Cure
Kate Plesser is leading a dead-end life as an office assistant with a penchant for bad relationships. She is lost. When Kate is kidnapped by Hunter, a gorgeous stranger, she assumes he is just some sick psychopath. She never suspects he is actually a vampire, and that she is about to be plunged into a world stranger than her wildest dreams. In the underground city where Hunter lives, she encounters his otherworldly cousin Chase, who holds the key to her freedom. She is thrust into a village where humans are farmed for feeding and breeding. In this mysterious new world beneath Queens, New York, Kate finds something she never expected.
- GenresVampires
167 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2011
886 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Auerbach
5 books119 followersTracy Auerbach is an author of science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. As an avid reader with a vivid imagination, she chose to study film, English, and education, and went on to teach and write STEM curriculum for the New York Department of Education. This helped to polish her writing skills and ignite her passion for science fiction and fantasy.
Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science.
On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels, the "Fragments" trilogy, "The Human Cure," and "Sons of Fire."
When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or trying new adventures (escape rooms, axe throwing, etc.). She lives in New York with her family.
Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science.
On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels, the "Fragments" trilogy, "The Human Cure," and "Sons of Fire."
When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or trying new adventures (escape rooms, axe throwing, etc.). She lives in New York with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 7, 2017
“What you’re doing right now is telling the boogeyman that you’re afraid of the dark.”
I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this story! I didn’t felt bored in any part of the book, the plot was fast paced and it kept me entertained from the beginning to the end. "The Human Cure" might have vampires in it but it uses this theme in a unique way and gives its own twist for these creatures.
I loved all the main characters, Hunter’s kindness and altruistic personality was so touching, he might be the one who kidnapped Kate but as we read on and learn more about him it is obvious that he was one of the better characters in the underground village. We see the way he sacrificed himself for the happiness of other people in many parts of the story and I think it was such a shame we couldn’t see more about what he was thinking and feeling when he made those sacrifices especially a very important one. Thankfully we see a bit about his emotional turmoil in the very end of the book.
A nice contrast to Hunter’s character was Chase, he really didn’t fit in the vampire community and that is evident when we see that the only person who is spending time with him is Hunter. His interactions with the heroine were very entertaining to read and I loved his cynical and a bit bitter personality.
“There was something special about endings, even bad ones. In his own life, nothing ever ended.”
Kate was also an enjoyable heroine, her life was a dead end but we experience through her how some people have the biggest improvement in their lives after ending up in an environment with even harsher conditions than where they lived before. I was afraid after reading the premise of the book that this story would have a love triangle were Kate would be confused and would love two people at once but I was happy to see that the story didn’t take that direction instead, Kate was always clear about who she had feeling for.
One thing I would have liked to see was more world building, this story was a bit short and I think it still had some space for world exploration without losing its fast pace. I would have liked to see the main characters interact with other vampires and witness what kind of similarities and differences they had compared to Hunter and Chase.
I would have also liked to see how everyday life is in the underground village, beyond the few scenes where we see the villagers run away when the vampires enter the village we don’t see any interactions between them when they are all by themselves, without the presence of their masters. If the author had added more details about the life in the underground village, the world in “The Human Cure” would have felt a lot more complete.
I voluntarily reviewed the free copy that i received via Reading Alley.
July 8, 2016
4 Stars
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was such a pleasant surprise!
I have to admit, the cover didn't give me the highest of hopes, and I try to stay away from books with less than 200 pages as it's usually just not enough time for me to connect to the characters or really get into the story. But I am so glad I gave this book a chance.
First of all, it was funny, mostly thanks to Chase. He killed so many people, being a vampire and all, and pretty much just thought of humans as food or slaves, but it was because of those things and his general irritability and disgruntled-ness that he and his POV were so funny.
Second, I don't normally go on about vampire books being "different" because I read vampire books for a reason---I like the tropes, some of them at least---but this book really did manage to put a unique and different twist on the usual while still not straying too far. The underground village was kind of inspired, and the octopus theory (though maybe a tad too literal) was original, but it was the romance that really took me by surprise. *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT* Also, just a note, there were no sexy, intimate biting scenes; there was an off-screen sex scene, but the biting was all about feeding for these vamps.
Third, that ending was also not what I expected, but I liked that the author stayed consistent and true to the story and went in that direction rather than forcing everything to be perfect. I also liked how it kind of brought things full circle in a way. It made me see the whole vampire village differently and actually understand the burden of the leader (the antagonist).
But ugh, the book was too short! I really liked it, which is why I would've liked to spend more time with the characters, gotten to know them better, delved deeper into their emotion, etc. It's like the depth was there, but I was only allowed to swim at the surface rather than dive all the way to the bottom. And there's no sequel as of the day I'm writing this, but that ending had so much potential for an intense sequel. Really I just wanted more of this book, and that's my only real complaint.
(Ok, maybe the love happened rather quickly, but I honestly can't call that a complaint because it still worked well enough and didn't actually bother me.)
So overall, though this was a very short read, it was funny and a refreshing, unique twist on usual vampire romance tropes. I really enjoyed it!
Recommended For:
Anyone looking for a quick, fairly clean vampire romance that's funny and unique.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was such a pleasant surprise!
I have to admit, the cover didn't give me the highest of hopes, and I try to stay away from books with less than 200 pages as it's usually just not enough time for me to connect to the characters or really get into the story. But I am so glad I gave this book a chance.
First of all, it was funny, mostly thanks to Chase. He killed so many people, being a vampire and all, and pretty much just thought of humans as food or slaves, but it was because of those things and his general irritability and disgruntled-ness that he and his POV were so funny.
Second, I don't normally go on about vampire books being "different" because I read vampire books for a reason---I like the tropes, some of them at least---but this book really did manage to put a unique and different twist on the usual while still not straying too far. The underground village was kind of inspired, and the octopus theory (though maybe a tad too literal) was original, but it was the romance that really took me by surprise. *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT* Also, just a note, there were no sexy, intimate biting scenes; there was an off-screen sex scene, but the biting was all about feeding for these vamps.
Third, that ending was also not what I expected, but I liked that the author stayed consistent and true to the story and went in that direction rather than forcing everything to be perfect. I also liked how it kind of brought things full circle in a way. It made me see the whole vampire village differently and actually understand the burden of the leader (the antagonist).
But ugh, the book was too short! I really liked it, which is why I would've liked to spend more time with the characters, gotten to know them better, delved deeper into their emotion, etc. It's like the depth was there, but I was only allowed to swim at the surface rather than dive all the way to the bottom. And there's no sequel as of the day I'm writing this, but that ending had so much potential for an intense sequel. Really I just wanted more of this book, and that's my only real complaint.
(Ok, maybe the love happened rather quickly, but I honestly can't call that a complaint because it still worked well enough and didn't actually bother me.)
So overall, though this was a very short read, it was funny and a refreshing, unique twist on usual vampire romance tropes. I really enjoyed it!
Recommended For:
Anyone looking for a quick, fairly clean vampire romance that's funny and unique.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
October 5, 2020
This is the most unique vampire story I’ve ever read or seen on the screen. Without spoiling anything, the principle vampire characters, Chase and Hunter Bardock, are part of a vampire family living in an underground compound in Queens. Both have traits that make them unusual among their kind, and that bring them closer to humans. Meanwhile Kate, a human woman, is drawn into their world, and into their lives. The internal and external struggle for each of the three main characters is fascinating and well-written. This is a story about the characters and their feelings and relationships. It’s a horror story and a romance, and it’s well worth the read.
Ms. Auerbach has constructed a unique universe, with its own rules for being a vampire. Here, vampires don’t burn up when exposed to sunlight, and don’t shy away from mirrors or crosses. They do, however, have a burning need to feed on human blood. They also have a need for a human woman. Kate has a dreary life and few friends. Her family is far away. She won’t be missed if she is whisked away into the realm of Chase and Hunter. The entire vampire ecosphere is well thought-out and provides for some interesting scenes and situations. There’s a twist in the end that I won’t spoil, but which I’ll say is incredibly original and unexpected.
The story is compelling and moves along quickly. It’s a satisfying read. There are, however, a few loose ends and a few jumps in the plot that aren’t fully explained. The reader is surprised at the end rather than feeling like there was a build-up of anticipation to the final confrontation. I would have liked to get a more detailed peek into the lives of the other vampires aside from the two protagonists and the one villain. But these are minor concerns that prevent the book from achieving the highest possible level, while still being an entertaining read that will draw you in and keep you wanting more – just like Chase keeps wanting more blood.
I recommend this book for any vampire fans who don’t mind having some classic vampire dogma twisted, and for romance fans who don’t mind a little blood spilled and a lot of action/adventure elements. For any reader, this is a fun ride.
Ms. Auerbach has constructed a unique universe, with its own rules for being a vampire. Here, vampires don’t burn up when exposed to sunlight, and don’t shy away from mirrors or crosses. They do, however, have a burning need to feed on human blood. They also have a need for a human woman. Kate has a dreary life and few friends. Her family is far away. She won’t be missed if she is whisked away into the realm of Chase and Hunter. The entire vampire ecosphere is well thought-out and provides for some interesting scenes and situations. There’s a twist in the end that I won’t spoil, but which I’ll say is incredibly original and unexpected.
The story is compelling and moves along quickly. It’s a satisfying read. There are, however, a few loose ends and a few jumps in the plot that aren’t fully explained. The reader is surprised at the end rather than feeling like there was a build-up of anticipation to the final confrontation. I would have liked to get a more detailed peek into the lives of the other vampires aside from the two protagonists and the one villain. But these are minor concerns that prevent the book from achieving the highest possible level, while still being an entertaining read that will draw you in and keep you wanting more – just like Chase keeps wanting more blood.
I recommend this book for any vampire fans who don’t mind having some classic vampire dogma twisted, and for romance fans who don’t mind a little blood spilled and a lot of action/adventure elements. For any reader, this is a fun ride.
March 15, 2016
Welcome To A New Vampire World Created From the Imagination Of Tracy Auerbach
How Do You Like Your Vampires?
Loving, Kind, Scary, Cruel?
Author Tracy Auerback has created a vampire world I have never seen before. This is a tale of vampires in the down and dirty world they occupy below New York and the world where they hunt. It is raw, gritty, gory, and filled with monsters. It also a story of love and sacrifice.
STORY LINE:
Kate Plesser is an office assistant that can not seem to find her niche in life or a boyfriend worth his salt. She drinks too much, has no friends and drifts through life.
Hunter Bardock, given orders by Vampire Master Jonathan Bardock to breed, has kidnapped Kate. Hunter would be considered the good vampire of the story trying to eat human food and be more human. His back story was so sad and sweet.
Chase Bardock is Hunter's vampire cousin and body-guard for Kate; handsome, compelling, unfeeling, and revolting. Chase is not the vampire you have seen in other book vampire novels. He is not the compelling, come here and kiss me vampire, while I gently feed from your throat, and promise to protect you forever as we walk off into the night; he is a down and dirty feeder on humans. His feeding habits are gross and disgusting; his emotions are nonexistent. Humans disgust Chase.
What follows is a journey you will not forget. It is addictive, intriguing, and leaves you wanting more. You will enter a vampire world I had not seen before; full of monsters. Kate enters a world of nightmares and so will you.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
Ms. Auerback created a dark world filled with dark complex characters; from Hunter trying to be more human, the farming of humans, Hunter's theories of vampirism, and the complex relationship between Jonathan, Hunter, Chase, and Kate; this novel will hold your attention.
Kate's character is developed skillfully from a down on her luck girl to a confident woman. I loved watching Kate become a secure person of her own, ready to fight and not give up.
Chase is one of the biggest character developments in the novel. It was wonderful to watch Chase develop from an unfeeling, human hating creäture to...., well I am not going to tell you. You must read the novel to follow this wonderful story of monsters, family, underground breeding farms, sacrifice, and love. This novel is a wonderful story, well written, paced well and developed skillfully by Tracy Auerback.
The twists and turns in this story will hold your attention, and the presentation of the vampire world is definitely unique as it dispels vampire myths of old as you enter the raw world of the vampire. It has a bang up ending. It actually left me a little sad.
RECOMMENDATION:
This novel contains gory descriptions of vampires and violence. I would recommend this novel for young adult to adult due to violent content. I hope Author Auerback has plans to expand this into a series, I enjoyed my journey into Tracy Auerback's vampire world and was sorry to come to the end of the novel.
I received this book from Readingalley in return for an honest book review.
Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
How Do You Like Your Vampires?
Loving, Kind, Scary, Cruel?
Author Tracy Auerback has created a vampire world I have never seen before. This is a tale of vampires in the down and dirty world they occupy below New York and the world where they hunt. It is raw, gritty, gory, and filled with monsters. It also a story of love and sacrifice.
STORY LINE:
Kate Plesser is an office assistant that can not seem to find her niche in life or a boyfriend worth his salt. She drinks too much, has no friends and drifts through life.
Hunter Bardock, given orders by Vampire Master Jonathan Bardock to breed, has kidnapped Kate. Hunter would be considered the good vampire of the story trying to eat human food and be more human. His back story was so sad and sweet.
Chase Bardock is Hunter's vampire cousin and body-guard for Kate; handsome, compelling, unfeeling, and revolting. Chase is not the vampire you have seen in other book vampire novels. He is not the compelling, come here and kiss me vampire, while I gently feed from your throat, and promise to protect you forever as we walk off into the night; he is a down and dirty feeder on humans. His feeding habits are gross and disgusting; his emotions are nonexistent. Humans disgust Chase.
What follows is a journey you will not forget. It is addictive, intriguing, and leaves you wanting more. You will enter a vampire world I had not seen before; full of monsters. Kate enters a world of nightmares and so will you.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
Ms. Auerback created a dark world filled with dark complex characters; from Hunter trying to be more human, the farming of humans, Hunter's theories of vampirism, and the complex relationship between Jonathan, Hunter, Chase, and Kate; this novel will hold your attention.
Kate's character is developed skillfully from a down on her luck girl to a confident woman. I loved watching Kate become a secure person of her own, ready to fight and not give up.
Chase is one of the biggest character developments in the novel. It was wonderful to watch Chase develop from an unfeeling, human hating creäture to...., well I am not going to tell you. You must read the novel to follow this wonderful story of monsters, family, underground breeding farms, sacrifice, and love. This novel is a wonderful story, well written, paced well and developed skillfully by Tracy Auerback.
The twists and turns in this story will hold your attention, and the presentation of the vampire world is definitely unique as it dispels vampire myths of old as you enter the raw world of the vampire. It has a bang up ending. It actually left me a little sad.
RECOMMENDATION:
This novel contains gory descriptions of vampires and violence. I would recommend this novel for young adult to adult due to violent content. I hope Author Auerback has plans to expand this into a series, I enjoyed my journey into Tracy Auerback's vampire world and was sorry to come to the end of the novel.
I received this book from Readingalley in return for an honest book review.
Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
February 21, 2016
I got to read this book in return for an honest review so here goes my first R2R experience :)
Kate thinks her life is going nowhere until a one night stand with Hunter, a vampire, lands her in an underground world of darkness beyond her wildest imagination. Circumstances throw her together with Chase, Hunter’s cousin, and she starts to feel a strange empathy towards him. Expect the unexpected with this book.
This is not your average vampire book as a lot of people will tell you and that’s what I loved most about it. From the very first page I could see that the author had a unique refreshing style of writing and I was just pulled into the story instantly.
We are introduced to four characters from their POV, one of who is not from the three main characters. The introductions were just too good. I got to know each character properly even though their deepest secrets are revealed later. Rarely do I connect with characters the way I did in this book. That’s all because of the way their thoughts and emotions are delivered to the reader.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Two men and one woman sounds like a love triangle but it is and isn’t one. On one side we have Hunter, who was raised by humans and doesn’t feed on them, and on the other hand we have Chase, who feeds on homeless people because he finds the human cattle they breed for food don’t taste good enough. Kate, being a human, would be expected to go for Hunter but she never gets over the fact that he kidnapped her even though he chose her because he really liked her. Meanwhile, he tries everything in his power to save Kate from the fate of a breeder. Kate feels more empathy towards a vampire who can’t help but drain humans dry and eat them than she does for her fellow human beings. Chase was helpless against his hunger but he enjoyed it and felt no sympathy for humans. I will admit his bloating and burps made me queasy.
I loved the story until Kate and Chase fall for each other. Then it just felt like someone had thrown me down a hill because their love was the one thing that didn’t make sense. Things move really fast from there as Hunter simply gives them their blessing and makes a plan to overthrow their leader, Jonathan, and help the human villagers and the lovebirds escape. There are some excellent well timed revelations along the way. I loved being shocked on this wild adventure and I couldn’t predict what happened next. We get to know that Jonathan was just trying to do the best he could for everyone and the cycle continues with Hunter as he lets Jonathan’s demon inside him. What I don’t understand is why Jonathan or Hunter didn’t commit suicide and end it all and where the demon came from and what it really was.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for a short and exciting vampire read with none of the typical features overdone in other such books then do give this book a go
Kate thinks her life is going nowhere until a one night stand with Hunter, a vampire, lands her in an underground world of darkness beyond her wildest imagination. Circumstances throw her together with Chase, Hunter’s cousin, and she starts to feel a strange empathy towards him. Expect the unexpected with this book.
This is not your average vampire book as a lot of people will tell you and that’s what I loved most about it. From the very first page I could see that the author had a unique refreshing style of writing and I was just pulled into the story instantly.
We are introduced to four characters from their POV, one of who is not from the three main characters. The introductions were just too good. I got to know each character properly even though their deepest secrets are revealed later. Rarely do I connect with characters the way I did in this book. That’s all because of the way their thoughts and emotions are delivered to the reader.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Two men and one woman sounds like a love triangle but it is and isn’t one. On one side we have Hunter, who was raised by humans and doesn’t feed on them, and on the other hand we have Chase, who feeds on homeless people because he finds the human cattle they breed for food don’t taste good enough. Kate, being a human, would be expected to go for Hunter but she never gets over the fact that he kidnapped her even though he chose her because he really liked her. Meanwhile, he tries everything in his power to save Kate from the fate of a breeder. Kate feels more empathy towards a vampire who can’t help but drain humans dry and eat them than she does for her fellow human beings. Chase was helpless against his hunger but he enjoyed it and felt no sympathy for humans. I will admit his bloating and burps made me queasy.
I loved the story until Kate and Chase fall for each other. Then it just felt like someone had thrown me down a hill because their love was the one thing that didn’t make sense. Things move really fast from there as Hunter simply gives them their blessing and makes a plan to overthrow their leader, Jonathan, and help the human villagers and the lovebirds escape. There are some excellent well timed revelations along the way. I loved being shocked on this wild adventure and I couldn’t predict what happened next. We get to know that Jonathan was just trying to do the best he could for everyone and the cycle continues with Hunter as he lets Jonathan’s demon inside him. What I don’t understand is why Jonathan or Hunter didn’t commit suicide and end it all and where the demon came from and what it really was.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for a short and exciting vampire read with none of the typical features overdone in other such books then do give this book a go
February 5, 2015
I like the fact that for the most part the book took on what we know about vampire without making it sound to far fewer fetched , well almost all of the book.first it begins with Hunter finding a breeder. in his world , the world of the vampites they breed with humans. so he's picked his human and kidnaps her taking her back to this underground world they live in. He has his cousin Chase. bodyguard her even though she wears his crest to protect her. she's brought to the part of the humans living underground where she choses to stay instead of with Hunter. she hates him for kidnapping her but she does come to understand why and that it's really not his choice it's his master's. Jonathan was the o my made vampire not born as was. Chase and Hunter.
Hunter was raised by humans so he's been taught to feed on animal blood and human food so he kills no humans. Chase on the other hand kills constantly. even though Hunter has been trying to teach him to feed as he does and not kill.
when Kate is brought I to this world Chase hates that he's her babysitter so to speak but then he finds he's attracted to her ,they have a lot in common and he feels himself changing. Plus Kate's accepts her fate and quits whining which he finds he likes. they fall foe each other which puts them in danger of Jonathan because she's Hunters mate so to speak. but then all goes crazy and Jonathan trucks Chase . it turns out a bit different then he thought but for the good.
the real story is the secret how Jonathan was turned and who is son is that lived but no one knows what became of him
soon this is all revealed but it's a theory from Hunter. he's right though. I don't want to give away the ending or all the good stuff but it's a vampire , Human romance that's sweet . I gave it a four star only because I think the thing that made Jonathan what he was just seemed abit ridiculous and I don't no kinda weird and totally off base for vampirism. but the book has its own unique story line with it and i did like the love story .
not a bad read at all just different.
Hunter was raised by humans so he's been taught to feed on animal blood and human food so he kills no humans. Chase on the other hand kills constantly. even though Hunter has been trying to teach him to feed as he does and not kill.
when Kate is brought I to this world Chase hates that he's her babysitter so to speak but then he finds he's attracted to her ,they have a lot in common and he feels himself changing. Plus Kate's accepts her fate and quits whining which he finds he likes. they fall foe each other which puts them in danger of Jonathan because she's Hunters mate so to speak. but then all goes crazy and Jonathan trucks Chase . it turns out a bit different then he thought but for the good.
the real story is the secret how Jonathan was turned and who is son is that lived but no one knows what became of him
soon this is all revealed but it's a theory from Hunter. he's right though. I don't want to give away the ending or all the good stuff but it's a vampire , Human romance that's sweet . I gave it a four star only because I think the thing that made Jonathan what he was just seemed abit ridiculous and I don't no kinda weird and totally off base for vampirism. but the book has its own unique story line with it and i did like the love story .
not a bad read at all just different.
February 9, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author via LOP for an honest review.
I have been looking for something that is different from my usual hot Vampire reads. This was it. Nice sweet romance with a fast paced and well written plot.
This is not your typical Vampire romance novel. There is a lot of ripping, tearing and eating. No hot lovey dovey stuff here.
The plot revolves around three main characters.
Kate Plesser. An office assistant who always falls into bad relationships. She gets kidnapped by Hunter and put into the underground village or farm as I liked to think of it. Which was created for breeding and feeding by the vampires.
Kate starts off as a wreak but quickly turns into a strong character. I really liked this, it made the story more enjoyable.
Hunter isn't a typical vampire. He's never killed anyone and learned to live off of human food and animal blood.
Hunter is ordered to find a mate by Jonathan and poor Kate was who he chose.
I loved Hunter he was so sweet. He really tries to do right by Kate and I was sad at what happened to him at the end. He assigns Chase as Kate's bodyguard whilst she is in the village.
Chase. I didn't know if I loved or hated him.
He kills every few hours to satisfy his hunger. And it's getting worse.
Chase absolutely hates humans who are beneath him only good for one thing and that's food. Needless to say he is not happy to be assigned as Kate's bodyguard. At the beginning he is always fighting the urge to eat her. But the more time he spends with her the more he starts to develop feelings for her. Even knowing touching a crested human can have dire consequences.
I didn't like how it ended. I felt it was a bit rushed and a lot of information was crammed into it. I would love a follow up book.
If you're looking for something different that's not mate, me take, with a meek female then this is your book.
I have been looking for something that is different from my usual hot Vampire reads. This was it. Nice sweet romance with a fast paced and well written plot.
This is not your typical Vampire romance novel. There is a lot of ripping, tearing and eating. No hot lovey dovey stuff here.
The plot revolves around three main characters.
Kate Plesser. An office assistant who always falls into bad relationships. She gets kidnapped by Hunter and put into the underground village or farm as I liked to think of it. Which was created for breeding and feeding by the vampires.
Kate starts off as a wreak but quickly turns into a strong character. I really liked this, it made the story more enjoyable.
Hunter isn't a typical vampire. He's never killed anyone and learned to live off of human food and animal blood.
Hunter is ordered to find a mate by Jonathan and poor Kate was who he chose.
I loved Hunter he was so sweet. He really tries to do right by Kate and I was sad at what happened to him at the end. He assigns Chase as Kate's bodyguard whilst she is in the village.
Chase. I didn't know if I loved or hated him.
He kills every few hours to satisfy his hunger. And it's getting worse.
Chase absolutely hates humans who are beneath him only good for one thing and that's food. Needless to say he is not happy to be assigned as Kate's bodyguard. At the beginning he is always fighting the urge to eat her. But the more time he spends with her the more he starts to develop feelings for her. Even knowing touching a crested human can have dire consequences.
I didn't like how it ended. I felt it was a bit rushed and a lot of information was crammed into it. I would love a follow up book.
If you're looking for something different that's not mate, me take, with a meek female then this is your book.
November 25, 2011
The Human Cure is a fun fast-paced paranormal romance. The anti-legends that Auerbach added about vampires and vampirism were awesome. She added a new twist to the world of vampires which was consistent in her created universe. This is the best part for me. I always love seeing people’s takes on vampirism and other old legends.
The book revolves around Kate Plesser–an office assistant who tends to fall into bad relationships– as well as the vampire cousins Hunter and Chase. Kate meets Hunter in a bar. They have a one night stand and she is kidnapped. She assumes he is a psychopath until the truth of his existence is thrust upon her.
This is not meant to be a negative comment, though it may sound that way: The vampires are the true main characters of this book. The book becomes alive during the descriptions of Hunter, Chase, Jonathan and the underground village where humans are farmed for feeding and breeding.
Kate is a bit dull in comparison, however, that is just because she’s more of an “everywoman” type of character–which I love! I love that she has true emotional responses to the crazy events that are happening in her life: disbelief, rage towards Hunter for kidnapping her, etc. She cries at times in fear. She is not a superwoman or even idealized. And in my opinion, this made the book worth reading.
Oh one more thing: this is a sweet romance–not a hot romance. Though it was written for adults, I would say this is pretty safe for a young adult audience.
The book revolves around Kate Plesser–an office assistant who tends to fall into bad relationships– as well as the vampire cousins Hunter and Chase. Kate meets Hunter in a bar. They have a one night stand and she is kidnapped. She assumes he is a psychopath until the truth of his existence is thrust upon her.
This is not meant to be a negative comment, though it may sound that way: The vampires are the true main characters of this book. The book becomes alive during the descriptions of Hunter, Chase, Jonathan and the underground village where humans are farmed for feeding and breeding.
Kate is a bit dull in comparison, however, that is just because she’s more of an “everywoman” type of character–which I love! I love that she has true emotional responses to the crazy events that are happening in her life: disbelief, rage towards Hunter for kidnapping her, etc. She cries at times in fear. She is not a superwoman or even idealized. And in my opinion, this made the book worth reading.
Oh one more thing: this is a sweet romance–not a hot romance. Though it was written for adults, I would say this is pretty safe for a young adult audience.
February 17, 2015
This story revolves around Kate, Hunter and Chase. When Kate is kidnapped by Hunter and taken to an underground city, she finds out vampires are real and need to breed. She of course hates Hunter so he puts his "cousin" Chase in charge of protecting her.
Hunter isn't a typical vampire having been raised by humans until he was 16. He's never killed anyone having learned to live off of food and animal blood. This is something he's been trying to teach Chase to see if it can be done. Chase on the other hand kills every few hrs to deal with his hunger. Chase absolutely hates being Kate's bodyguard but he starts developing feelings for this human after spending time with her. Not only is he confused by this it's dangerous since she's technically betrothed to Hunter.
I liked how this took normal vampire lore and did the complete opposite. Other than blood drinking nothing was the same. Also Kate wasn't the normal heroine, she was completely down to earth and realistic with dealing with her situation.
I received an ebook from the author through Book Buzz Review in exchange for a honest review. Thank you.
Hunter isn't a typical vampire having been raised by humans until he was 16. He's never killed anyone having learned to live off of food and animal blood. This is something he's been trying to teach Chase to see if it can be done. Chase on the other hand kills every few hrs to deal with his hunger. Chase absolutely hates being Kate's bodyguard but he starts developing feelings for this human after spending time with her. Not only is he confused by this it's dangerous since she's technically betrothed to Hunter.
I liked how this took normal vampire lore and did the complete opposite. Other than blood drinking nothing was the same. Also Kate wasn't the normal heroine, she was completely down to earth and realistic with dealing with her situation.
I received an ebook from the author through Book Buzz Review in exchange for a honest review. Thank you.
February 9, 2016
What a unique approach to vampires, quite different from anything I have read or seen to date. Tracy has a lively writing style that is pleasant to read. Her story telling has a great faster pace to it that keeps the reader drawn to the book.
Kate is an interesting character. She appeared like not much at first but slowly turns into an unexpected heroine. She is actually rather likeable! Hunter, can't do anything but really like him. Even with what he has done, you can't help but really like him. He is trapped in his own prison and all considering is a real great character. Chase, now this one is also interesting. He started of as someone I was like "why is he in the story" to someone the story wouldn't be the same without.
The plot and concept were actually very good. My only criticism, in the end, during the unraveling of the plot, I felt a bit rushed. A lot of information was thrown at me at once. The conclusion for it all left me sad yet hopeful for some of the characters.
All in all a very entertaining read that I would recommend to people who love the paranormal.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
Kate is an interesting character. She appeared like not much at first but slowly turns into an unexpected heroine. She is actually rather likeable! Hunter, can't do anything but really like him. Even with what he has done, you can't help but really like him. He is trapped in his own prison and all considering is a real great character. Chase, now this one is also interesting. He started of as someone I was like "why is he in the story" to someone the story wouldn't be the same without.
The plot and concept were actually very good. My only criticism, in the end, during the unraveling of the plot, I felt a bit rushed. A lot of information was thrown at me at once. The conclusion for it all left me sad yet hopeful for some of the characters.
All in all a very entertaining read that I would recommend to people who love the paranormal.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
February 8, 2015
Let me preface my review with the fact that I don't generally follow the vampire genre. I purchased this book upon the recommendations from several friends but after reading the first few pages, I was hooked! I found myself feverishly reading page after page and could not put it down! I loved the humor the author used and the engaging way the text was written. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. Although I am an avid reader, I find very few books catch my attention longer than the first chapter. The Human Cure kept me enthralled and entertained for the entire length of the book! I was anticipating a predictable storyline and ending that I find with a lot of popular fictional texts. However, the Human Cure was refreshingly different! I have already recommended the book to several friends!
February 7, 2015
This book is a fast paced sit on the beach kind of read! Without giving anything away, it is not your typical vampire novel! I can't wait to see what Tracy Auerbach has in store for future novels!
December 4, 2015
A great debut novel. The Human Cure takes the vampire romance trope and transforms it into something unique and exciting. I can't wait for the next book!
November 16, 2018
Really really good. I didn't think the vampire genre could offer anything new, but this book proved me wrong. A fun read that had depth and complexity.
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March 15, 2020This book is phenomenal ! Great job
October 22, 2015
Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review
Summary: The Human Cure
Kate Plesser is leading a dead-end life as an office assistant with a penchant for bad relationships. She is lost. When Kate is kidnapped by Hunter, a gorgeous stranger, she assumes he is just some sick psychopath. She never suspects he is actually a vampire, and that she is about to be plunged into a world stranger than her wildest dreams. In the underground city where Hunter lives, she encounters his otherworldly cousin Chase, who holds the key to her freedom. She is thrust into a village where humans are farmed for feeding and breeding. In this mysterious new world, Kate discovers she is capable of feelings and strength that she never could have imagined.
Review:
Very intriguing take on vampires, it’s a very fast passed story, which flows great. You quickly connect with the three main characters Kate, Hunter, and Chase. This is, one of those rare books, which once you start you can’t put it down. The overall development of the characters and plot is very well done.
The reason for the three star rating is this; there are some grammatical errors, which made me have to reread sentences a few times in order to understand them. Anytime I have time I run across grammatical errors it takes the story down to three stars sometimes lower if the editing is horrible. This only had two or three spots, but still they take away stars because to me published, books shouldn’t have any errors, I wanted to read stories with grammatical or punctuation errors in them; I’d read online stories through many different sites, with just as many genres to choose from.
Conclusion:
Would you recommend this story to others? Yes, but I’d warn them of the grammatical errors, so they aren’t surprised by them.
Would you read other stories written by this Author? Yes
Is this story a full length novel or a novella? Novel on the shorter end, but novel.
Is this story priced correctly? The ebook price is in the correct price range, but the paperback is over priced.
Summary: The Human Cure
Kate Plesser is leading a dead-end life as an office assistant with a penchant for bad relationships. She is lost. When Kate is kidnapped by Hunter, a gorgeous stranger, she assumes he is just some sick psychopath. She never suspects he is actually a vampire, and that she is about to be plunged into a world stranger than her wildest dreams. In the underground city where Hunter lives, she encounters his otherworldly cousin Chase, who holds the key to her freedom. She is thrust into a village where humans are farmed for feeding and breeding. In this mysterious new world, Kate discovers she is capable of feelings and strength that she never could have imagined.
Review:
Very intriguing take on vampires, it’s a very fast passed story, which flows great. You quickly connect with the three main characters Kate, Hunter, and Chase. This is, one of those rare books, which once you start you can’t put it down. The overall development of the characters and plot is very well done.
The reason for the three star rating is this; there are some grammatical errors, which made me have to reread sentences a few times in order to understand them. Anytime I have time I run across grammatical errors it takes the story down to three stars sometimes lower if the editing is horrible. This only had two or three spots, but still they take away stars because to me published, books shouldn’t have any errors, I wanted to read stories with grammatical or punctuation errors in them; I’d read online stories through many different sites, with just as many genres to choose from.
Conclusion:
Would you recommend this story to others? Yes, but I’d warn them of the grammatical errors, so they aren’t surprised by them.
Would you read other stories written by this Author? Yes
Is this story a full length novel or a novella? Novel on the shorter end, but novel.
Is this story priced correctly? The ebook price is in the correct price range, but the paperback is over priced.
November 23, 2015
Not your normal vampire story
*SPOILERS*
Kate has a boring sad life until an attractive man starts hitting on her, which was definitely unusual for her. After a night of great sex, she ends up drugged and kidnapped. She eventually discovers that her kidnapper (Hunter) does not want to rape and kill her, but rather is a vampire and wants to breed with her. Hunter is not your typical vampire, as he grew up among humans and does not drink human blood. He has figured out how to live on human food and animal blood. His cousin Chase has no use for humans except as a source of movies (he loves to watch movies) and a source of food. He is given the undesirable task of guarding and protecting Kate. Over time, his feelings for Kate and Kate's feelings for him change, causing problems for all. You will have to read the book to find out what happens next.
This is definitely not your typical vampire story. The author has created an interesting concept that sets the book apart from other vampire stories, although it still contains some of the typical vampire characteristics -- feeding on humans, superhuman strength and speed, etc. If you like the vampire genre, but want something a little different, this book is worth checking out.
The only downside is that I read an eBook version and the formatting was messed up so that there were numerous instances of words running together, making those portions difficult to read.
I received a copy of the eBook from Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
*SPOILERS*
Kate has a boring sad life until an attractive man starts hitting on her, which was definitely unusual for her. After a night of great sex, she ends up drugged and kidnapped. She eventually discovers that her kidnapper (Hunter) does not want to rape and kill her, but rather is a vampire and wants to breed with her. Hunter is not your typical vampire, as he grew up among humans and does not drink human blood. He has figured out how to live on human food and animal blood. His cousin Chase has no use for humans except as a source of movies (he loves to watch movies) and a source of food. He is given the undesirable task of guarding and protecting Kate. Over time, his feelings for Kate and Kate's feelings for him change, causing problems for all. You will have to read the book to find out what happens next.
This is definitely not your typical vampire story. The author has created an interesting concept that sets the book apart from other vampire stories, although it still contains some of the typical vampire characteristics -- feeding on humans, superhuman strength and speed, etc. If you like the vampire genre, but want something a little different, this book is worth checking out.
The only downside is that I read an eBook version and the formatting was messed up so that there were numerous instances of words running together, making those portions difficult to read.
I received a copy of the eBook from Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2016
One of the more original vampire interpretations that I've read. And if you are like me who appreciates deadpan and monotonous humour, you'll love one of the main characters. But it was too short. I liked the length because I was able to finish it (and I'm still 4 books behind on my GR challenge) but at the same time it needed the extra length for development.
Full review on my blog.
Full review on my blog.
March 28, 2016
Compelling and insightful story which takes the reader on a journey filled with a full range of emotions . . . those you are familiar with as well as those from a world yet to be traversed. I highly recommend The Human Cure by Tracy Auerbach as a book which will lead you to explore possibilities and what-ifs.
January 30, 2017
Weird
I'm completely confused and still trying to figure out what I just read. It started off okay but got strange. Never read about vamps feeding like this. It was captivating to the point that I read it in a couple of hours but what did I read. I truly don't know but still liked it. Strange days...
I'm completely confused and still trying to figure out what I just read. It started off okay but got strange. Never read about vamps feeding like this. It was captivating to the point that I read it in a couple of hours but what did I read. I truly don't know but still liked it. Strange days...
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