Customer Reviews

Night of the Huntress

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the second installment of Kathryn Smith's foray into the paranormal with her "Brotherhood of the Blood" series, she continues to delight this fan with distinctive prose along with a dazzling sensual action romp.

In NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS, Bishop comes face to face with the Halfling vampire Marika whose sole passion is to slay all vampires in her quest to find the one whom she's been told killed her mother. Initially, Marika thought of Bishop as just another monster to be rid of. While Bishop who thought to have buried his heart 300 years before, was moved by the beauty and courage of the little dhampyr, so much so, that when Marika was threatened, it would be he who would save the vampire slayer. Later they would both discover that the bigger monsters would prove to be human with very evil intent.

Kathryn Smith has been an auto buy for me for some time now, to a certain extent because she knows how to really write some very HOT and sensual scenes. That is only part of the reason though, as she exemplifies these scenes with terrific action, fully developed characters whose emotional struggles give credence to their purpose in the story. Marika was torn wanting to have the love of her father and though she was half-vampire herself, deep down thought to gain his love by slaying the monsters that she was told had deprived him of his beloved wife. Discovering the care Bishop had given to the grave of his long dead wife, Marika began to rethink her assessment of the soullessness of the monster she had intended to slay and realized there was more to him than she realized.

Having read several vampire stories before, I am always amazed at the creativity of the spin Smith put out of how these six soldiers were originally turned into vampires. Additionally, setting the story in the period of 1899 with references to Bram Stoker's Dracula certainly made for entertaining reading. While this second book has been my introduction to her paranormal series, I definitely see myself going back to pick up the first volume BE MINE TONIGHT, and look forward to enjoying the entire series as it is released. Always entertaining Smith has hooked me again with this new series. Very much recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau, for CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

This second book in Kathryn Smith's highly acclaimed Brotherhood of Blood series does not disappoint! Night of the Huntress is absolutely fabulous!

** He is Bishop, a vampire. She is Marika, a vampire huntress. Bishop is looking for a friend while the Huntress is looking for him. When Marika captures him, she learns that he is not only a vampire, but also a man. They soon realize that they must work together to defeat a common enemy: the Order of the Silver Palm.**

This story is full of sizzling passion, heart-stopping emotion, and edge-of-your-seat action. Bishop and Marika are strong, admirable, memorable characters who are absolutely perfect for each other. Kathryn Smith's writing is flawless and is well on her way to becoming one of the greatest romance authors of our time!

Marika Korzha has dedicated her life to eliminating any vampire she can find. She seeks one in particular- the vampire known as Saint. She is unable to resist a deal to capture a vampire named Bishop, as she is told he will lead her to Saint. Little does she know that her meeting with Bishop will change her life....

Bishop is not like the other vampires Marika has met. Instead of seeking to attack and kill the innocent, he seems to want to protect. Is he playing a game with Marika or is he truly different? Bishop will have to do everything within his power to demonstrate to Marika that he isn't the monster she envisions all vampires to be.

NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS is the second book in a series. It is easily read as a stand alone as the circumstances of Bishop's conversion are explained through the eyes of Marika, who is unaware of his history with the Blood Grail.

Kathryn Smith really hits her stride with NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS as she begins to fully flesh out the hints of a conspiracy first seen in the first book. The background behind the individual who hires Marika is fascinating as it unfolds and kept me riveted to the pages of the book. The conclusion is powerful in its intensity and leaves me wanting to read more of this series just to see where Ms. Smith intends to go with it.

Kathryn Smith takes the vampire legends and puts her own clever spin to them. Unlike the first book which focused more on the romance aspects, NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS features more about the vampires, particularly focusing on the vampire slaying and the secretive association opposing Bishop and his friends. NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS is easily recommended for fans of the vampire paranormal genre.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

This is the second story in Kathryn Smith's vampire series. Bishop is one of the five original vampires to drink from the Blood Grail, and is a direct descendent of Lilith. Because he drank directly from the grail, he is considered a pure-blood and is very powerful. This makes him very valuable to a sinister organization known as the Order of the Palm.

Enter Marika, a half-vampire/ half-human(dhampyr)huntress, who's hatred of her vampire half fuels her desire to destroy the undead. She's been hired by the Palm to capture Bishop. The Order of the Palm ultimately wants Bishop to lead them to the other pure-blood vampires. In fact, they already have one of the vampires (Temple) in custody.

Marika's encounters with Bishop ultimately leads her down a path of love and self-acceptance.

This book was amazing! It was a huge change from Chapel's story (Be Mine Tonight,) which in my opinion, was a bit dry. I get this impression that Kathryn Smith completely re-worked her blueprint for this series. The change from Chapel to Bishop was amazing.

In Chapel's story, you are under the impression that the idea of vampires are largely folklore by scholars and people with huge imaginations. You somewhat suspected that the only vampires are the five or six knights who drank from the original Blood Grail, and whoever they chose to turn. In this story however, there are LOTS of vampires. Not only do people not know they exist, but several times in this story, vampires attacked whole villages. And, there are vampire hunters, attempting to destroy them.

You also discover that vampires are NOT the only "otherworldly" creatures in this world. In Bishop's book, we discover, that there are werewolves, faries and heaven knows what else. Who knows whatelse may pop up in Kathryn Smith's next story!
While I considered Chapel's story dry and predictable, Bishop's story was anything but! I read it in a day and a half. I couldn't put it down!

There were some minor inconsistincies.

1)How could Bishop's blood cure Marika of Nosferatu, when Nosferatu was able to change Dreux?
2)It was mentioned several times in this book that Bishop is one of the strongest vampires due to his pure blood. Yet he was afraid of a Nosferatu who was only just created? I would have thought experience (Bishop is 600 years old) would have come into play here. It seemed a little preposterous.

Still, this was a great story. While there are lots of paranormal stories, there aren't a lot of good authors to pen them. Lately, I've been avoiding them, but I'm so glad I didn't pass on this story.

Kathryn Smith is now one of these authors that I'll be on the lookout for.

Marika Karzha, a vampire slayer, has taken on the task of finding a certain vampire for pay, but in reality she has her own personal agenda clearly in mind when she find this vampire. When she does capture him, the lines between captive and captor will become blurred. He is more than he seems, much, much more...

NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS is by author Kathryn Smith. This is one of those very rare historical paranormals that are far and few between. Not only are they hardly seen on the store shelves these days, then combined with exceptional writing, you have a winning novel in NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS.

Ms. Smith wrote from the heart, giving her characters mobility and a full range of emotions that pull at the heart. You will find yourself lured into this tale of revenge and love without effort. The love scenes are sensual and moving. This is one of the best historical paranormal novels this reviewer has read this year!

Marika has lost so much to the evil vampires that it has hardened her heart toward them. She kills them without thought or care. With each one, she hopes to find the remaining clue to end her search, and it seems she is very, very close. When she captures Bishop, she just knows the final clue is close at hand. What she doesn't see coming is that he is more than a hated vampire, but a man with heart and feelings--a soul...

Bishop has lived way too long, losing a mortal wife to the prejudices of mortals, yet he has managed to keep to himself and survives. Then he comes home, home to the place his buried his wife, he is captured by a fiery woman that claims he is a killer. She couldn't be farther from the truth. What neither know is something much more sinister is lurking within the shadows of their lives. They will end up having to work together or parish. What they uncover destroy them both.

Historical paranormal novels so rare, and you will not be disappointed when you buy a copy of NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS. It is ever thing you look for in a historical paranormal romance tale. One filled with danger, love, longing, seeking and lasting fulfillment. This reviewer highly recommends this undeniably superb novel.

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2007
Courtesy of Love Romances and More

The story is set within the Fagaras mountain region of Europe. The year is 1899.

Bishop has not always been a vampire. He was a soldier, a human, long ago. But that was before he and a few others drank from a cup that Lilith, a demoness, had placed a curse upon. Bishop has had centuries to get used to being one of the Shadow creatures. When Nycen, a fairy, disappears, evidence points to the woman called The Huntress. Bishop decides to hunt down this vampire huntress after a brief visit to his long dead wife's grave. However, unknown to Bishop, the exquisite Huntress is already hunting him.

Marika Korzha is no ordinary human. She uses her special talents and combat training to slay any vampire she can find. Her true target is the vampire called Saint. Saint is the one Marika believes killed her mother.

When a secret society wants to hire Marika to capture Bishop and bring him back alive, she refuses. But when they inform Marika that Bishop knows Saint's location, she simply cannot refuse. Capturing Bishop does not take long. Yet when he figures out her big secret, Marika must change her plans.

**** The good news is that this IS a stand alone story. The bad news is that there are many strings left dangling. If you do not like beginning a novel, knowing that you must buy the next whenever it is finally released, then I suggest you wait for the entire series to be released and purchase them all at once. The story is well written, though slows down at times. Yet the author makes the vampires seem more realistic by adding little touches, such as their hearts still beat. Very good reading! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

After having given up on historical romances quite a few years ago for various reasons, I'm almost reluctant to admit that a few very pleasurable reads in the historical paranormal romance/fantasy genres have dragged me back into the fold of late, despite myself. The blame lands partial on Kathryn Smith's shoulders, as her Brotherhood of Blood series is one of those responsible for my return. I found Night of the Huntress, the second book in this series, to be even better than the first, with more a far more enjoyable female lead, the Huntress Marika Korzha than the one in Be Mine Tonight (Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1), Prudence Ryland, who I found to be a bit too whiney and too much a lady of her age. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed Marika so much more, actually, for although the series is set just before the turn of the 19th century, Marika is a woman far ahead of her time. She's a dhampyr - half human, half vampire - and on a mission to hunt vampires and track down the murderous monster responsible for her mother's death, the elusive Saint. The job offer to track and catch his longtime friend and brother in blood, Bishop, comes at a fortuitous time, and she takes the job...then manages to capture the vampire...but before turning him over to the people who hired her, she's got to get whatever information Bishop has about Saint's whereabouts from him. As Bishop is more than reluctant to betray a friend, she'll do whatever necessary to...convince him - after all, he's a bloodthirsty killer. A vicious murdering monster. A soulless fiend.

Or is he?

That question starts to torment her as a lifetime of prejudice smacks up against six centuries of strength and honor, and Bishop starts to get under her skin before worming his way into his heart. Unfortunately, when you're blind to the prejudice of monsters in vampire form, you miss the machinations of monsters far more humanly cloaked. Marika and Bishop become hunted by the very people who originally hired her, and the conspiracy goes far deeper and is far more wide spread than either are aware. It'll take both of them - their strength and intelligence - just to keep themselves alive.

Night of the Huntress is cleverly plotted and after a bit of a slow start, where Marika's clinging to prejudice and spouting groundless vitriol started to wear on me, it really took off nicely. The development of the relationship between Bishop and Marika was well done and the depth of each character surprisingly nuanced and realistic. There's a wealth of subtly spectacular world building in this series, because not only does the author have to write a convincing paranormal romance, but she has to blend in realistic historical cultural issues relevant to the time to really make the plot work - and she does so quite deftly. The deepening conspiracy and danger of the group out to bring down the Brotherhood of Blood is also well told, and manages to threaten and entice without overwhelming the romantic aspects. Very nicely balanced. This book and this series will be a huge hit for fans of historical and paranormal romance genres and even for those NOT so fond of historical romances...if they're fans enough of contemporary paranormal romance, this book in particular and the series as a whole is well worth your time (trust me, I'm one of you).

To be honest I really didn't like the first book in this series, Be Mine Tonight, because I didn't care for the characters and I felt the plot was slow. I read this, the second book, out of sheer determination to give the series a second try. I am glad that I did.

First, the characters are quite interesting. Marika is particularly engaging--she is strong, fierce, and full of heart. Furthermore, she grows significantly over the course of the book. The plot was much more well balanced with action and romance. It is slow in a few places but really never enough to be boring. I really enjoy the 1899 setting--it adds to the richness of the tale. I recommend this book to anyone looking to continue with a dramatic romantic series.

Night of the Huntress by Kathryn Smith is a nicely done different take on the world of vampires. Action from beginning to end, wonderful romance and a more Holy background on the beginnings of these vampires is what makes this book worth the read.

Marika Korzha is a Romanian vampire slayer. She's tough, ruthless, beautiful and schooled but what is different about her is she's a half ling vampire. Unsure of her complete background history because of her mother's death during childbirth and her father's and grandmother's unwillingness to discuss the matter, Marika seeks out to destroy the Vampire who is supposedly responsible for her childhood misery.

Bishop is a six hundred year old vampire who is handsome, kind and not at all the stereotypical monster that people think vampires are. He is one of five vampires of the true blood and is hunted by a religious order set to see just what makes him so special.

The story centers around Marika and her village as they slay these monsters with a vengeance. Her band of men do not realize that she is half ling and thus proves to be a problem much later in the story. Unfortunately for Marika, she is being duped as a decoy for the real vampires by a religious order with a twisted background.

Bishop is drawn to this town per request that he look for a friend who has disappeared without a trace and it is being blamed on the Huntress. Caught unaware by Marika, he is captured, tortured and questioned about another one of his brothers named Saint who is the one that Marika is really trying to destroy.

The religious order involved is twisted, evil, destructive and will do anything in it's power to try and reclaim the Blood Challis of Lilith. What makes this item so desirable is the power that it provides to those who drink from it.

I found the author quite inventive with this storyline and I love the use of a religious icon in the developing of a pure breed vampire. Even though this is quite a bit of romance here, the delightful background history makes the story enjoyable enough to zip right through the book.

This is the second book of the series and I am not quite sure that it is a stand alone as I haven't even looked up the first book to see what it is about. Will check it out one of these days when my tbr pile dwindles.

I absolutely love this series. This is the second of five in this series. This book is about Bishop and Marika. Marika is a vampire huntress with supernatural speed and strength, making her deadly at her job. Bishop has returned to his old home to help a friend who's brother has gone missing. The sister thinks it was the huntress. Before Bishop could even began his search he is ambushed by the huntress, 4 men and a poison meant to knock him out. Chaining him in her basement the huntress demands to know where Saint his. His long time friend is being falsely accused by this huntress, he'll die before he gives him up. Marika and Bishop talk, Bishop pitying Marika's blind hatred of that which she doesn't understand. Markia calling Bishop and 'it' and a killer. Certain circumstances bring in a bigger threat to the both and they are forced to join forces. This is a past paced fantastic paranormal romance. I couldn't put it down, it was over before i knew it, leaving me wanting more! The story will continue in the next installment for the silver palm fanatics want Temple, Bishop, Chapel, Saint and Reign all under their control. They have 1 only four more!
Only one complaint.... Wasn't Marcus taken in the end of the first novel?? Cause he wasn't in the second and I was confussed.
Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1) Chapel
Night of the Huntress (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 2) Bishop
Taken by the Night (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 3) Saint
Let the Night Begin (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 4) Reign
Night After Night (Brotherhood of the Blood, Book 5) Temple