I enjoyed reading the story and felt like the author really mastered the tone of the game setting. It is also however, very much a product of its time and a few elements have not aged well, or at least end up conveying something different than when they were written. Like another commentor mentioned, it doesn't follow a coterie so that wasa slight disapointment as well, but I think the author suggested it with the power politics between some characters. Otherwise I really liked the book and will be buying the other two to find out what happens.

This was a fun book to read. It provided me a look into the world of the Requiem, something I've craved as I love the game, but have never had an opportunity to play it. The politics were interesting if at times a little difficult to follow. My only complaint is that the book doesn't follow a coterie, so it doesn't serve as a How-To when it comes to playing Vampire: the Requiem. It does, however, inspire a ton of story ideas.

A Flames Rising Review:

The first fiction novel for Vampire: The Requiem, a game line produced by White Wolf, A Hunger Like Fire sets the tone for some colorful characters and intriguing plot twists.

Written by Greg Stolze, the novel begins with a character narration by Bruce, a newly-changed vampire. New to being an undead, but not authorized by the Prince of Chicago, Prince Maxwell. After reading the first two pages, I felt compelled to read further. While first person narration can get tricky, Stolze handles it well by adding some interesting character quirks. For example, the undead Bruce Miner has an attachment to his dog, Peaches. Of course, he has to use his special vampiric ability to get close to animals, but nonetheless it’s a good tie-in between game mechanics and a fictional character.

As I read further into the novel, I was challenged by the constantly changing character point-of-view. In order to keep up with the intensity of the characters, I treated the novel like a bar of fudge. Have a little bit at a time to enjoy it fully. The novel is easier to read as time goes on, and once you get used to what makes these characters tick, you want to know what they’re thinking. Characters like Persephone Moore, Solomon Birch, Prince Maxwell, and Scratch (a vampire with a penchant for zoot suits) move the plot just by their being in the right place at the right time.

In Vampire: The Requiem, there are four ways for vampires to “socially belong.” Clans, Covenants, Coteries, and Courts. In “A Hunger Like Fire,” Stolze presents all four of these methods. While he did not delve deeply into Clan affiliation, he did so with the others. Covenants, like the Lancea Sanctum, were prominently displayed. Solomon Birch, for all his hard ways, is a prime example of a vampire belonging to this covenant. As a result, you feel both repulsed and compelled by his character. There are two primary examples of Coteries in the novel. The first is a small, unaligned Coterie that bands together around Bruce. The second is the primogen of Chicago. Both groups band together for different reasons; one for camaraderie, one for politics.

The last, but most important, way for vampires to socially interact in Chicago is the Court of Chicago, or Elysium. Stolze sets the stage for other books by locating the Court at Chicago’s Navy Pier; Shedd Aquarium. If you’ve ever been to the Aquarium, it’s an unsettling thought to think of vampires haunting its halls. Darker still, is the honor for a vampire to decorate for the Court. Stolze’s attention to detail in this area sheds an intimate light on the true nature of being a vampire. We can only hope that the Court will continue in this vein.

As the first for the series, Stolze did an excellent job of both creating characters and setting for Vampire: The Requiem in Chicago. I felt the book was definitely money well-spent; it was refreshing, comical, and dark. Perfect for the World of Darkness.

Review by Monica Valentinelli

Read the full review at FlamesRising.com: http://www.flamesrising.com/a-hunger-like-fire-book-review

I enjoy the white wolf world of darkness novels, they are surprisingly well written for "pulp" fiction and really capture the essence of the games. I play Requiem primarly and one of the problems I had with the core book is that they give you great details about the behaviors and abilities of Vampires but it alwasy seemed kinda detacthed and clinical. This novel and the other two that have been released really get you into the setting and show you the "life" of a Vampire and the endless plots they find themselves caught in. All in all a worthy read.