The Cursed (Vampire Huntress) [Mass Market Paperback]

L. A. Banks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Vampire Huntress | Publication Date: June 3, 2008

The Chairman has been slaughtered, along with Hell’s first almost-successful attempt at creating an Anti-Christ, using Carlos Rivera’s body-double. Dante’s son has also been vanquished. Now the evil Lilith sits on Dante’s old throne, a prize won in her negotiations with Cain. She is The Vampire Council’s new Chairwoman—and Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

All Lilith needs is Damali’s newly discovered angelic powers to allow her evil progeny to walk through the veil between worlds and usher in the true Anti-Christ. Damali and her crew enter a desperate race against time to stop Lilith—even if doing so brings the Neteru Councils out of the clouds and into the Biblical Holy Lands…and kicks off the Armageddon.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Banks's sexy ninth Vampire Huntress novel (after The Wicked), the first seal has been broken and Armageddon has begun. Lilith and her husband, the Unnamed One, are caught unawares while awaiting the birth of their angel-hybrid heir. Installed as Vampire Council chairwoman, Lilith calls on vampires, witches and warlocks (including Machiavelli, Jezebel, Genghis Khan and Medusa) to combat the forces of the Covenant, the Guardians, the Neterus and both Neteru Councils. She attacks her enemies Damali and Carlos Rivera where it hurts the most: their libidos. Soon the battle involves a Valkyrie, the Ark of the Covenant and bootleg music downloads. This end of days scenario is a wild amalgam of Christianity, vampire lore, world myth, functional morality, street philosophy and hot sex. Three double-page line drawings by Eric Battle perfectly illustrate Banks's over-the-top supernatural characters and scenes. As long as neither the world nor the series is ending, fans couldn't ask for more. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

“Stunning.”—Publishers Weekly on The Damned 

“Each book in this. . .series gets harder and harder to put down.”—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312947720
• ISBN-13: 978-0312947729
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Me, I'm a bit out there, I guess you can tell by the books:) I like keeping some things close to the vest--my favorite things to do among them... guess it's that whole mysterious author groove, LOL... but I like the good guys to win in the end.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Saga Continues..., July 12, 2007

By 

Phyllis Rhodes (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cursed (Vampire Huntress Legend) (Paperback)

The Cursed, ninth in the Vampire Huntress Legend series by L.A. Banks, finds Carlos, Damali, and the Guardian team returning to the battlefield waging war against The Darkness. In this episode, Lillith is elevated to Councilman replacing Cain and enlists the aid of Sebastian, Machiavelli, Medusa, Genghis Khan, Siren, and Jezebel, using their evil prowess to create a spell designed to weaken the Neturu and Guardian's confidence, trust, and libidos to the point of team implosion. She also plots to ensure Lucifer's heir, the Anti-Christ will mature to fruition. One refreshing angle in this release is that Damali and Carlos proactively (for a change) plan an attack against Lillith with the assistance of the King and Queen councils. What ensues appears to be the catalyst to Armageddon which leaves Damali and Carlos more determined that ever to rid the world of the Unnamed One and Lillith.

Old and new friends and foes also make an appearance -- we see the return of Fallon Nuit, Yonnie, a Valkryie, and a sexually transmitted demon. The team continues to roam globally with this jaunt culminating in the Middle East in the holy city of Jerusalem. Not only is it a battle site, but it serves as a much needed source for spiritual replenishment, emotional grounding, and renewed hope evidenced in the team's return to music.

Fans of the series who prefer the more action-based novels will be pleased with this offering because it seems like the team (including Damali and Carlos) have finally found a rhythm and the inner-relationship drama (and what at times seemed like endless bickering) is kept at a minimal. Everyone seems comfortable in their roles, are in tune with their "gifts," and are more focused on the tasks at hand. As one can surmise, there is a lot of action, backstabbing, and plotting to keep the pages turning. Banks does a great job staging the series for the final three installments; in fact it seems like there is no end to her creativity when blending cultures, myths, religions, and beliefs. No doubt, fans will yearn for the next release.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
Nubian Circle Book Club

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Legend Continues!, July 10, 2007

By 

Urban Reviews "Your Source for the Best in AA... (Online) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Cursed (Vampire Huntress Legend) (Paperback)

Honeymoon bliss for the Guardian Team is short lived in The Cursed, Book 9 of the Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) Series. While Lilith is making up with the Unnamed One, he tells her some very interesting information about a secret that she thought she was hiding from him. While this is going on, every male Guardian gets weird vibes that something is going on in hell and knows that it has something to do with Lilith. So, against the female Guardians pleas, they go down to Lilith's lair to try and stop any madness before it begins. In the aftermath of the battle, the first seal is broken and the Armageddon has been accidentally started. To keep the Neterus and the Guardian team occupied while awaiting the birth of the unholy offspring, Lilith gets appointed chairwoman and is given permission to reform the vampire council. To help her in her evil crusade, Fallon Nuit has been reinstated as a councilman. Also, Lilith resurrects some of the most evil and nastiest beings who weren't beheaded by an Isis blade. Those resurrected help to put an evil curse into motion against Damali. Will the curse hinder Damali in performing her Neteru duties?

Meanwhile in Nod, with Cains absence, the land is in chaos. Lilith promised the dark hybrids that they will be free to fight on her side once the Armageddon comes, so the darker hybrids are no longer hiding in the dark side of Nod. They are actively at war with what's left of the good hybrids in Nod, led by a hybrid named Valkyrie. Will the good hybrids succeed at keeping the darker hybrids from escaping?

I read this book and it had my head spinning! As usual, L.A. Banks hits us with a splendid tale that brings together action, suspense, mystery, mind-blowing battle scenes and love scenes. The love scenes are vivid and tasteful. For those of you who love the Neteru Queens and Kings, you're in for a treat because they also make several appearances throughout The Cursed. In this book, you will be happy to know that everyone on the Guardian team steps up their game when it comes to fighting for the LIGHT. Even though it didn't have as much drama as the previous title, I really enjoyed this installment of the VHL. This book also has a sneak peek at Crimson Moon: Bad Blood, L.A. Banks' new werewolf series that is sure to be a hit! If you're a big fan of this series, then I highly recommend that you read The Cursed...especially if you want to find out what happens to Yonnie.

Reviewed by Lashonda Bates
for Urban Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OH yeah Hell is going down, August 11, 2007

By 

kayomavoro "kayo" (baltimore, MD U.S.A) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cursed (Vampire Huntress Legend) (Paperback)

I thought she continued to perfect already well written legend. Go girl with her great imagination.