Customer Reviews

Eternal Hunger (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 3)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

First of all I want to say I really liked this series. All three books were hard to put down. I liked Candace and I liked Ash. The sex scenes were hot and so was the action. Everything that happened in this author's vampire world seemed plausible to me. That being said I have to say I really HATED the ending. I also hated that whenever Ash & Candace split up she always slept with other guys. What's with that?! I rushed to read Eternal Hunger because I couldn't wait to see these two finally together. I figured the only way was for Candace to bite the bullet (or should I say vein?) but so be it. I knew they loved each other and I wanted them to have a happy eternity. Well it didn't happen and I am PO'd!
I don't really care if she felt his "presence" at the end. He wasn't there!!! I assume since this is a trilogy that this is the last. What a letdown. Was this suppose to be a romance. Not to me when the lead character is left alone in the end. I doubt if I will read anymore of this author's work. Too bad since I thinks she writes well but I just don't like to be strung along and wind up ending depressed. I kept thinking Ash would come back as Thoth's right hand vampire or something.
Anything to bring them together. Sorry if I give to much away but I just want to warn you this doesn't end up all warm and fuzzy.

I purchased and read this trilogy this past weekend. I found the first two books well-written and fast-paced if a tad shy on character development. However, I have to agree with some of the other reviewers in that this book, the final installment, is the weakest of the three. While I will not reveal any spoilers, I was extremely disappointed in how the series ended. But the ending alone is not why I believe this book was the poorest installment. Ultimately, this book felt rushed; the author took more time in the first two books to set the stage -- a confrontation between the two main characters and the triumph of good over evil (to use a stock phrase) -- that the reader knew would occur in the third installment. However, there wasn't enough room in this third book to satisfactorily tie up the story with the attention it deserved. Moreover, the main character never really "grew" as much as I expected (and hoped for) in this novel. While the first two books were strong enough for me to keep this series, I can't help but hope that the reader will see Ash again (I found him to be the most engaging character in the trilogy). Despite this hope, I liked the ex-boyfriend enough not to be too disappointed in his return to the protagonist's life. Ultimately, this trilogy was very romantic, but with a very sad ending -- perhaps a too "realistic" ending in an otherwise fun and escapist trilogy.

I loved this set! It was and intriguing and captivating story line with good character development. I loved the first two and was loving the third until she shattered the entire experience. I do not want to write a spoiler here so I will be a bit vague...

Some of my favorite books, the Black Dagger Brotherhood & Anita Blake for example, have some very saddening events that bring a sting to my eyes and tighten the back of my throat, but there is always *something* to replace the pain.

I understand there will be good with the bad; happy with the sad etc., but you do not betray your fans by ending the way she did here. She ripped my heart from my chest and stomped upon it then made the feeblest attempt to soften the blow. The last third of the final book made me regret reading any of them and I have no intention of reading anymore of her works!

So, really the only thing good that can be said about this series in the end is that it was a quick read. The ending truly was awful for anyone who is a romantic, and let's face it that's going to be most of Ms. Dean's target audience as this was marketed as a romance. This series isn't a romance. You have an only semi-likable character in Candace, to be frank she always thinks she's right and isn't very likable. The hero waits patiently for her for over two years at great cost to himself, gets used for her own purposes, and eventually murdered.

The writing in between characters was hardly any better. And whenever the author seemed in doubt as to what to write she just through another sex scene in. Candace has to have been the slutiest leading lady I've read about, far far surpassing even Anita Blake.

The series had moments when you honestly were curious to see what would happen, but nothing ever really pans out. The casino con in book two is the best part and after that I wouldn't bother with any of the books in hind sight. I borrowed these books from a freind and boy am I relieved I didn't foolishly spend the money to buy them!

I have to start by saying I enjoyed the books. They are a fast read while still managing to create a bond with the main characters. (as a side note, I think that Nerves over-reacted in the first elevator situation, really she only hurt herself more, the scar is partly her own fault!) I digress... As for the series, I hated the ending, pure and simple. There is no sence of closure for me here, there is no defined explanation as to what happened in with the Board and Ash and the ritual.. she blacked out and that's all we get? That's not enough to leave me sated at all. I want to know. I agree the author needs her own website so she can give me a reason why she ended it the way she did, I need for her to explain to the readers why she felt a tragic ending was the right direction for the series. Just need a reason here.

I totally agree with the reviewer below, what an ending!! I'm not sure if the author will continue the storyline or not (hopefully she will). If I want to read not-so-happy endings I go and read Romeo & Juliet. But this was touted as a romance, right? So this "spiritual" happy ending didn't do if for me, sorry.

I sat and read all three of these books within a weeks time, I just could not put them down. But let me tell you the way she ended the story was just awful, yes I know it was the "right" thing to do, but come on, I'm reading a romance and I want a romantic ending... What a let down. I hope she writes another one because Ash, Candace and we as readers deserve better than that.

I truly can't say anything nice about this trilogy. I can say with all honesty, I will NEVER read this authors EFFORTS again.
The main female character (Miss Vampire Killer) Candace is a hypocritical tramp that would open her legs at the drop of a hat. The concept of killing vampires that only drink living blood. Give me a break. Her male character Ash was good, but weakened by the female character and her stupidity. The love/hate relationship between the two main characters reminded me a little bit of another authors slutty vampire slayer and her vampire lover, an all her other lovers(LKH). How can a vampire killer with normal strength tussle with vampire with super strength? The ending of this trilogy absolutely enraged me. I wasted a weekend and my money on such dissappointment. I wouldn't recommend this read to newby just starting to read the genre, it would ruin them for good authors. Don't even consider this trilogy for your keeper shelf. If you must read these books, borrow them. I always wonder if I'm reading the same books as the other reviewers.

Plot Summary: Candace Steele dresses up like a cocktail waitress at a Las Vegas casino, but she's really undercover security. After being bitten by her ex-vampire-lover, Ash, she can now sense the undead by a cold chill running down her spine. Candace's official job is to chase vampires out of the casino; she's made it her hobby to kill them in her spare time, which isn't much, since she spends a lot of time rolling between the sheets. I wish I could say I liked her, but I don't. I swear she's bipolar and needs meds.

In the third and final installment, "Eternal Hunger," Ash's arch enemy drains Candace dry, until she's like an empty Capri Sun juice pouch. With her last breath, Candace gives Ash permission to (finally!) make her a vampire. Then she spends the rest of the book refusing to drink anyone's blood and forces Ash to become her personal bloody Big Gulp. I guess in her fight to survive, Candace conveniently forgot that pesky drinking blood thing that vampires do. Or, I'm right, and she really is bipolar. It's utterly frustrating watching her vacillation, and Ash is a freaking saint to put up with her whiny butt.

***SPOILER ALERT***
Okay, I'm not gonna say exactly what happens, but I will say that it does not end happy. For a romance fan, that's like a cold slap in the face after sticking with these characters for three books. It's up to you whether that bit of knowledge alone rules this series out.

Ok so it took me ages to read all three of these books because right from the getgo I just didnt' like vampire hunter, Candace Steele or Vamp Man Ash. They both seem very 'cookie cutter'. The coolest thing was when Candace would put a silver hair barrette in a vamp's eye and swoosh they died. The 2nd book was slightly better than the first, as it had a tolerable plot line. The third installment, just hurt to read. The first thing that bothered me is that there was NO kind of recap whatsoever on what happened previously. I don't need pages, but give me a paragraph or two. Candace immediately turns, goes to an auction and an orgy (I had no idea she was going to be another Anita Blake- with no sexual discretion at all), watches the one half way decent character in the series kick the bucket, and then the ending. Wow. You have to give Dean credit for having nerve here. I personally was so over the series, I kind of thought the ending was mildly funny. Candance really ended up in a place she almost deserved to be...Nevertheless this doesn't make up for the fact that this series and this book in particular, is highly unsatisfying and there are tons of books out there more worthy of your valuable reading time.