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The Vampire Defense Agency #2
Dark Hunger
His to protect. His to love. His to guide through the darkness.
Nox is well aware of the effect he has on females—and it's not a good one. He's too big, too intense, too dangerous. Hell, even males avoid him.
But Claire may need just that: a big, dangerous male. Because she's in a bad place. Unaware of her vampire heritage, she is on the verge of awakening into her new life—and she's tight in the clutches of a corrupt vampire eager to prey on her vulnerability.
Nox will do anything to find her. And when he does? When that blood hunger strikes her, and him? Nox may discover, for the first time in his long, violent life, how to love the dark—and find the light in it.
Nox is well aware of the effect he has on females—and it's not a good one. He's too big, too intense, too dangerous. Hell, even males avoid him.
But Claire may need just that: a big, dangerous male. Because she's in a bad place. Unaware of her vampire heritage, she is on the verge of awakening into her new life—and she's tight in the clutches of a corrupt vampire eager to prey on her vulnerability.
Nox will do anything to find her. And when he does? When that blood hunger strikes her, and him? Nox may discover, for the first time in his long, violent life, how to love the dark—and find the light in it.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2020
181 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Diane
9 books168 followersKatherine Diane loves intense, complex heroes and fascinating worlds. She likes her romances a little dark, a little raw, and suffused with erotic realism.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 6, 2020
An interesting second book in The Hush series, well written, with intriguing characters with brilliant chemistry and a suspenseful storyline. Dark Hunger follows Nox and Claire and the story is filled with action, mystery, intrigue, romance and sexy scenes. Vampire books are my guilty pleasure and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in this series!
*Arc received in exchange for my honest review.
*Arc received in exchange for my honest review.
July 28, 2020
Finally! Nox has his story! I've honestly been waiting for this book since I finished the Passion Awakened: A Vampire Romance.
As always, I am blown away by the author's world-building abilities. I am constantly in awe as to how these stories and universes come out of someone's imaginings and are then actualized and translated onto the page. There are so many little teases that hook you in for more!
Passion Awakened ended with our missing vamp's being found. The white knight's (metaphorically) rode in to storm the castle and saved the day. BUT, one of the "missing" was bought or traded or whatever just before the cavalry arrived. Nox found the pictures the creepy demon thing took of the captured and he focused in on our now missing kidnapee.
In Dark Hunger: A Vampire Romance, our Hush team is really not in a great place. Kyr is distracted. Nox is on a mission, sanctioned or not. And the rest are all up to their mysterious coping ways that I am hoping (finger-crossed) will all be divulged soon. Gah, the tension. The waiting! (Can you tell I have no chill?)
So, Claire- well, Claire is pretty much a crazy shit-show for like 90% of the book. I mean she's really pushing the wrong side of the spectrum of the hot/crazy mix. You know what I'm talking about.
And, no one can really blame her. She was kidnapped by some scary not-men with evil faces plus she's feeling all weird and then she's saved and just... No wonder the girl takes a little break from reality.
I will say I was pretty disappointed in Mira. She's recently been awakened herself plus she a friggin' psychologist. You would think she'd be all up in helping Claire after her ordeal. Poor Nox has his own very serious (metaphorical, again) demons and he's flying blind. (Think Zhadist from BDB- not 100% but in the same line as seriously tortured hero) Especially after the whole strangling thing between Claire and Nox. Homegirl seriously needed a crazy intervention.
And maybe a couple slaps to the face. (No? Just me then. I'm ok with it)
And while I'm on it, Kyr's sister needed one too.
I am a pretty big consent person. I do not like reading about drugs or chemicals that take your ability to make choices for yourself or people themselves being forced into doing things they don't want. I will warn that Dark Hunger does rub up against that line pretty hard. So just a little warning there.
In the end, Claire redeems herself and starts to act a little more normal and Nox is safe and they are beginning on their journey together. I wish we had more on them (C+N) developing as a couple and sooo much more about Nox's past. Maybe get in on him working trough some of his past traumas. Bottom line... I want more! I definitely recommend for those into paranormal/vampire romances. Absolutely a series with much potential.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
As always, I am blown away by the author's world-building abilities. I am constantly in awe as to how these stories and universes come out of someone's imaginings and are then actualized and translated onto the page. There are so many little teases that hook you in for more!
Passion Awakened ended with our missing vamp's being found. The white knight's (metaphorically) rode in to storm the castle and saved the day. BUT, one of the "missing" was bought or traded or whatever just before the cavalry arrived. Nox found the pictures the creepy demon thing took of the captured and he focused in on our now missing kidnapee.
In Dark Hunger: A Vampire Romance, our Hush team is really not in a great place. Kyr is distracted. Nox is on a mission, sanctioned or not. And the rest are all up to their mysterious coping ways that I am hoping (finger-crossed) will all be divulged soon. Gah, the tension. The waiting! (Can you tell I have no chill?)
So, Claire- well, Claire is pretty much a crazy shit-show for like 90% of the book. I mean she's really pushing the wrong side of the spectrum of the hot/crazy mix. You know what I'm talking about.
And, no one can really blame her. She was kidnapped by some scary not-men with evil faces plus she's feeling all weird and then she's saved and just... No wonder the girl takes a little break from reality.
I will say I was pretty disappointed in Mira. She's recently been awakened herself plus she a friggin' psychologist. You would think she'd be all up in helping Claire after her ordeal. Poor Nox has his own very serious (metaphorical, again) demons and he's flying blind. (Think Zhadist from BDB- not 100% but in the same line as seriously tortured hero) Especially after the whole strangling thing between Claire and Nox. Homegirl seriously needed a crazy intervention.
And maybe a couple slaps to the face. (No? Just me then. I'm ok with it)
And while I'm on it, Kyr's sister needed one too.
I am a pretty big consent person. I do not like reading about drugs or chemicals that take your ability to make choices for yourself or people themselves being forced into doing things they don't want. I will warn that Dark Hunger does rub up against that line pretty hard. So just a little warning there.
In the end, Claire redeems herself and starts to act a little more normal and Nox is safe and they are beginning on their journey together. I wish we had more on them (C+N) developing as a couple and sooo much more about Nox's past. Maybe get in on him working trough some of his past traumas. Bottom line... I want more! I definitely recommend for those into paranormal/vampire romances. Absolutely a series with much potential.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
December 2, 2020
I really liked this book. I loved watching Nox learn to love and be loved. He is such a wonderful hero. It was hard to read about some of the things he went through. He was so sweet and caring towards Claire. We are told about how difficult it is for the newly awakening vampires in the first book and in this one we see how difficult it is. Claire’s emotions are all over the place and sometimes she comes off as childlike and mean. She could be really mean. I was glad to see this go away by the end. This book takes your emotions for a ride. One moment you are happy, the next sad, then disturbed and back to happy. I loved hearing from Kyr and Mira again and getting into other characters heads, besides the two main characters. If you love reading about a scarred/traumatized hero finding love and peace with himself you should enjoy this book. If you are ok with some violence and sexy scenes you should enjoy this book.
January 7, 2024
**4 1/2 stars**
I loved this one!! Total Zsadist vibes in this book!!! And that just so happens to be my favorite book in the BDB series. A sweet and very tortured hero won’t stop until he finds the heroine, who was a kidnapping victim in the first book. So good!!
I loved this one!! Total Zsadist vibes in this book!!! And that just so happens to be my favorite book in the BDB series. A sweet and very tortured hero won’t stop until he finds the heroine, who was a kidnapping victim in the first book. So good!!
August 24, 2020
So book 2... Oh my poor broken characters. *sigh* I truly thought it would be difficult for Katherine to top the brokenness of Mira but between Nox and Claire they've gone and done it.
Between their horribly tragic pasts, the current circumstances they find themselves in and what seems like an impossible future together Nox and Claire had the stakes stacked against them.
I really enjoyed their story and the lite bits of the other team members lives. I'm excited to seen where book 3 takes us. Bravo!
Between their horribly tragic pasts, the current circumstances they find themselves in and what seems like an impossible future together Nox and Claire had the stakes stacked against them.
I really enjoyed their story and the lite bits of the other team members lives. I'm excited to seen where book 3 takes us. Bravo!
August 7, 2020
This is the second book in this series
I loved this one Nox and Claire are wonderful characters loved the way the author brings them together. Plenty of action and romance kept me reading until the end look forward to more books in the series
I loved this one Nox and Claire are wonderful characters loved the way the author brings them together. Plenty of action and romance kept me reading until the end look forward to more books in the series
October 6, 2025
I understood Claire, the trauma she went through, that she’d be all about her. Syren should have minded her business and not involved herself. She had zero information on what was going on and she decided to cut Claire’s hair in a manner that was not one bit good and take Claire to a club where demons seek victims?! Then butts in again and suggests Claire go stay with another victim? And how does Syren know how to cut hair? Knowing her mother, I doubt that was something she allowed her to do, go to cosmetology school.
Again with the theme of the woman with idiotic thoughts though. Claire shoots a demon and thinks she’s supposed to be applauded for her actions, which had her in danger and placed Nox in compromised position. She has zero fighting skills, has zero knowledge of what she’s up against and got a luck shot off on a gun too big for her and had strong kick, no realization or acknowledgment that her lucky point and shoot was nothing but that, luck. Everyone reacts to trauma differently, but Claire was unrealistic. She was turned from sympathetic to annoying, almost making the TSTL list. Is this going to be a theme throughout all the series, the women act stupid, before they realize how stupid they were acting, it taking something dire for it to occur?
The VDA headquarters not having cameras monitoring every bit of the area surrounding outside their building makes zero sense. So why was that not looked at from the first? The Hush are top notch, Rhys is. So why would it take so long to look? The cliche Nox being taken is unimaginative. With how stupid Claire was acting and Syren’s actions with her, Claire should have been the one at least nearly retaken.
Where’d Claire get her ability to play piano? There was no backstory given.
And Zara being stupid enough to walk into the VDA and no thought to being monitored when she knows Gideon’s suspicious of her? Uh huh.
Gideon made me laugh, he was so delusional, always talking about how he was going to wipe the vampires off the planet. Sir, you are a vampire too. Something he never acknowledges. WTH?
Super issue I have with these, the resemblance to J. R. Ward’s BDB, too much so. Feel this author read BDB series and modeled the stories after them. While I would like to know the others stories, I’m not really inclined to continue with this series based on what I read in the first two books. I’ll have to step away and try coming back, though I will skip book four, not interested.
Again with the theme of the woman with idiotic thoughts though. Claire shoots a demon and thinks she’s supposed to be applauded for her actions, which had her in danger and placed Nox in compromised position. She has zero fighting skills, has zero knowledge of what she’s up against and got a luck shot off on a gun too big for her and had strong kick, no realization or acknowledgment that her lucky point and shoot was nothing but that, luck. Everyone reacts to trauma differently, but Claire was unrealistic. She was turned from sympathetic to annoying, almost making the TSTL list. Is this going to be a theme throughout all the series, the women act stupid, before they realize how stupid they were acting, it taking something dire for it to occur?
The VDA headquarters not having cameras monitoring every bit of the area surrounding outside their building makes zero sense. So why was that not looked at from the first? The Hush are top notch, Rhys is. So why would it take so long to look? The cliche Nox being taken is unimaginative. With how stupid Claire was acting and Syren’s actions with her, Claire should have been the one at least nearly retaken.
Where’d Claire get her ability to play piano? There was no backstory given.
And Zara being stupid enough to walk into the VDA and no thought to being monitored when she knows Gideon’s suspicious of her? Uh huh.
Gideon made me laugh, he was so delusional, always talking about how he was going to wipe the vampires off the planet. Sir, you are a vampire too. Something he never acknowledges. WTH?
Super issue I have with these, the resemblance to J. R. Ward’s BDB, too much so. Feel this author read BDB series and modeled the stories after them. While I would like to know the others stories, I’m not really inclined to continue with this series based on what I read in the first two books. I’ll have to step away and try coming back, though I will skip book four, not interested.
December 10, 2023
Heartbreaking In It's Rawness!💔😭🫂💘
(Read Using Kindle Unlimited)
Dark Hunger (The Vampire Defence Agency Book 2)
Nox is climbing the walls looking for the female that had been taken before they'd been able to rescue her! It's triggering a lot of his past trauma - being held captive for 40 years, tortured and made to fight to stay alive, etc.💔
Claire is with a vampire that intends her complete harm. There is no escape for her. She's trapped.😢
This is an emotionally raw read, as Claire goes through her awakening, not really understanding what's happening but refusing to talk about it. Nox is in full protector mode and only wishes to give her whatever she needs, regardless of the consequences to himself! It becomes unhealthy for them both until a devasting event brings everything to an explosive conclusion that will determine which direction, if any, they forward in!💥
Debbie, 1970, UK
(Read Using Kindle Unlimited)
Dark Hunger (The Vampire Defence Agency Book 2)
Nox is climbing the walls looking for the female that had been taken before they'd been able to rescue her! It's triggering a lot of his past trauma - being held captive for 40 years, tortured and made to fight to stay alive, etc.💔
Claire is with a vampire that intends her complete harm. There is no escape for her. She's trapped.😢
This is an emotionally raw read, as Claire goes through her awakening, not really understanding what's happening but refusing to talk about it. Nox is in full protector mode and only wishes to give her whatever she needs, regardless of the consequences to himself! It becomes unhealthy for them both until a devasting event brings everything to an explosive conclusion that will determine which direction, if any, they forward in!💥
Debbie, 1970, UK
December 5, 2022
Scarred, traumatised hero rescues kidnapped woman
2nd book in Vampire Defense Agency series.
Quite a dark series with all five members of the Hush team having tortured pasts.
Nox' story follows on directly from Kyrs and is both moving and dark. He rescues Claire from captivity and realises she's his mate whilst trying to help her with her Awakening (humans can have dormant Vampire genes that are triggered or awakened by proximity to other Vampires)...
Sweet, funny in parts, dark and frightening in others.
A new author to me and one I've enjoyed discovering. Thoroughly recommend!
2nd book in Vampire Defense Agency series.
Quite a dark series with all five members of the Hush team having tortured pasts.
Nox' story follows on directly from Kyrs and is both moving and dark. He rescues Claire from captivity and realises she's his mate whilst trying to help her with her Awakening (humans can have dormant Vampire genes that are triggered or awakened by proximity to other Vampires)...
Sweet, funny in parts, dark and frightening in others.
A new author to me and one I've enjoyed discovering. Thoroughly recommend!
January 18, 2024
I don't like people being abused...
My trigger- abusing people is not entertaining. Especially people who have been abused already. I like that Nox got a mate (I wished they had verbally expressed that), though she was horrible at first. No, i don't care that she was awakening. Gideon and Malotov were killed - yay!!! The story was good, which is why I gave it 4 stars.
I guess the other books will deal with Rhys, Luca, and Ronan
My trigger- abusing people is not entertaining. Especially people who have been abused already. I like that Nox got a mate (I wished they had verbally expressed that), though she was horrible at first. No, i don't care that she was awakening. Gideon and Malotov were killed - yay!!! The story was good, which is why I gave it 4 stars.
I guess the other books will deal with Rhys, Luca, and Ronan
July 25, 2021
Even better!
✔ Character development
✔ Plot
✔ Good continuation from book 1
✔ Some Humor
✔ Intense Steam (🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥)
✔ Heart
✔ Storyline you think about even after reading
✔ Spelling and Grammar 😁
Looking forward to book 3 - waiting on news about it. This book didn't provide a hint on who it would be next, like the first book did.
✔ Character development
✔ Plot
✔ Good continuation from book 1
✔ Some Humor
✔ Intense Steam (🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥)
✔ Heart
✔ Storyline you think about even after reading
✔ Spelling and Grammar 😁
Looking forward to book 3 - waiting on news about it. This book didn't provide a hint on who it would be next, like the first book did.
January 16, 2024
fans of the Black Dagger will love this
This series very strongly reminds me of JRWArds black dagger books. The heroes are strong characters with tortured backgrounds killing demons. The heroines are strong but a bit broken, if you like that plot line you will enjoy these stories. They are well written, tense, and exciting
This series very strongly reminds me of JRWArds black dagger books. The heroes are strong characters with tortured backgrounds killing demons. The heroines are strong but a bit broken, if you like that plot line you will enjoy these stories. They are well written, tense, and exciting
April 1, 2025
The writing is immersive, the world-building is rich, and the romance? Utterly addictive! If you love protective heroes, darkly enchanting lore, and a story that keeps you hooked until the last page, this is the book for you.
Highly recommended for fans of vampire romance with high stakes and deep emotions. You won’t be able to put it down! 🖤🩸✨
Highly recommended for fans of vampire romance with high stakes and deep emotions. You won’t be able to put it down! 🖤🩸✨
September 29, 2023
Not vampire book
This is the second book of the series featuring Nox and Claire. This is a dark book as vampire are missing and VDA is taking them. Dragged in places but enjoyed the book.
This is the second book of the series featuring Nox and Claire. This is a dark book as vampire are missing and VDA is taking them. Dragged in places but enjoyed the book.
November 21, 2023
Intense and complex heroes
Easy read with lots of angst as the hero comes to terms with his past and future. Action, hotness overload and all in all an easy read if you like vampires who are trying to protects humans from evil.
Easy read with lots of angst as the hero comes to terms with his past and future. Action, hotness overload and all in all an easy read if you like vampires who are trying to protects humans from evil.
August 2, 2025
captivating
This book was thoughtful and captivating! I read it straight till the end. Love how you tied all the characters into a loving family in their own way. Can’t wait to read the next one either Lucas or Rhys love mate match.
This book was thoughtful and captivating! I read it straight till the end. Love how you tied all the characters into a loving family in their own way. Can’t wait to read the next one either Lucas or Rhys love mate match.
September 8, 2020
Great continuation to the series.
Looking forward to next book.
Looking forward to next book.
June 28, 2021
Good book
Claire and Nox has such a good moving story. The reader could relate to all the characters with different problems. I loved the vampire demon twist. Good writer
Claire and Nox has such a good moving story. The reader could relate to all the characters with different problems. I loved the vampire demon twist. Good writer
June 13, 2023
The best depiction of love
I could actually feel the love between them . The way they accepted each other, scars and all. So well written. Just amazing.
I could actually feel the love between them . The way they accepted each other, scars and all. So well written. Just amazing.
June 25, 2023
I loved the story line. The redemption of two people who have seen more than their fair share of the ugliest life can have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Steamy Vampire Romance
I really enjoyed this book. I felt Box and Claire were relatable and I loved the story.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I really enjoyed this book. I felt Box and Claire were relatable and I loved the story.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
April 10, 2024
Good continuation of the story.
June 1, 2024
I liked the second book even though some of the content was darker than I expected
July 8, 2024
Actual star rating 2.5
October 11, 2024
I like this book and series, but it seems to be a lot like BDB.
November 8, 2024
I’m enjoying this series - but gotta say: the smut is lacking - it just doesn’t have the extra hotness to the point where I skim the scenes
September 13, 2025
good read
Lived the books so far . A little too sexually explicit for me , but story line is really good .
Lived the books so far . A little too sexually explicit for me , but story line is really good .
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews