Customer Reviews

The Shadows: A Vampire Huntress Legend

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First let me state that I have been a fan of the Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) series from the beginning and I have posted reviews on randomly selected books in the set. I truly admire the author's ingenuity and seemingly limitless creativity as she takes the reader on an action-packed, mystical ride to Armageddon one book at a time. She filled a much needed void in the speculative fiction genre when she gave us Damali and friends.

That being said, I found The Shadows, the eleventh installment, to be a weaker link; hence the three-star rating (I would give it a 3.5 star rating if I could). There is no doubt that dedicated fans of the series will enjoy this book as it provides a necessary "breather" between battles (aka the systemic breaking of the doomsday Biblical seals). The team's pace is slowed but their attempt at rest and relaxation is foiled by the Darkness (again). Fallon Nuit is back and he is flooding the global airwaves with subliminal negativity. Through mass media, he is brainwashing the masses robbing them of their joy, hope, love, and light and replacing it with self-destructive thoughts; inspiring murderous and heinous intentions against mankind. In an attempt to draw the Guardian teams out of hiding to finish them while they are battle fatigued, the Darkness is scorching the earth with uncontrollable forest fires, flooding cities, destroying lives and farmlands with volcanic eruptions, tornados, tsunamis, etc.

In the meantime, it seems like Carlos and/or Damali will never learn from their previous mistakes - and it is Carlos (again) that blows their cover. Carlos's well-intentioned blunder compromises their location and they are soon on the run (again) seeking safety in Detroit with civilians (children and elderly) in tow. Meanwhile, Lilith nurses the damaged Anti-Christ chrysalis back to health. Elizabeth Bathory resurrects her first husband, Dracula, to exact revenge on Sebastian for causing her horrifying disfigurement. Dracula, instantly celebrated and elevated to a day-walking Councilman, leads the affront against the Neteru team. The direct and indirect results are devastating for both sides, particularly for Carlos; but it does nothing to stop the prophesies as the infamous and dreaded Pale Horse emerges from the depths of Hell. The End of Days is quickly approaching and the team is scrambling to regroup (again).

At its core, I found this book to be yet another episode where the Neteru team appeared to be clueless and in a reactive stance for most of the novel. It is a familiar scene that we have seen repeatedly before -- they are either under-equipped, outnumbered, and/or experience an epiphany at the VERY last minute - just in the nick of time to save themselves. At best, Carlos and Damali's leadership abilities are still questionable (my opinion only): Their overactive libidos have resulted in an "unplanned" pregnancy at what appears to be the worst time ever (however, I'm sure the Light will prove otherwise). They appear to have no proactive plan and continuously rely largely on instinct (and luck) to save their team -- they just seem to be fumbling and stumbling; making it up as they go along. The rebuilding of the Neteru team literally introduces so many new characters that I am finding it difficult to keep them (and their abilities) straight. Honestly, in this episode, I found Damali and Carlos's drama and angst well, quite frankly - boring. Sorry - but the pregnancy subplot is not working for me and there were just too many pages of team member introspection and their personal reflections. These elongated passages of "fluffy" dialogue really did not seem to advance the story. It was the "bad guys" that kept me turning the pages. Lilith, Elizabeth, Dracula and the others were much MUCH entertaining and easier to follow in all aspects -- they are a smaller, devious group which makes it easier track their interrelationships and group dynamics. Their endless bickering, twisted (but clever) antics, and ruthless plotting (against the Light and each other) along with their uncanny resourcefulness kept me engaged.

Readers: Fear not -- there is enough of the fan-pleasing elements of steamy sex, urban grittiness, and diabolical plotting to keep die-hard fans happy. Despite the shortcomings I noted, I enjoyed the book; but compared to others in the series, it was more of a challenge for me to complete. As mentioned earlier, I was and I am still a fan of the VHL series - I am looking forward to the next release to see where we will go next because I am committed to the series until the end.

Reviewed by Phyllis
June 19, 2008
APOOO BookClub

This book was so good that I just don't know where to begin. *sigh* So, I guess I'll start at the beginning and try not to give away any spoilers. The Shadows is the 11th book in the 12-book Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) Series written by L.A. Banks. The Dark Realms are hiding out after the angels from On High put them in their place; however, don't count them out yet! The fourth Biblical seal has been broken and the team doesn't know it, but the Anti-Christ isn't dead. He's recovering under the watchful eye of Lilith and the one who shall remain nameless. The Darkness leaders are still recovering from their wounds, but in due time they will heal and one will seek revenge. Their deceit and treachery will lead to the resurrection of one of the most infamous vampires of all time.

Yonnie and Val are now a part of the Neteru team. With their special powers, it is hard to keep anything from these two...which is why they will soon discover a hidden secret that the Neteru's are keeping from the Guardian Team. However, their powers will come in handy in the next battle. Yes, the one who shall remain nameless is still fuming over his latest defeat and is out for revenge. He's planning to bring the battle topside, unleashing a full-frontal assault on mankind for the offenses committed by the Vampire Huntress team. This time, Damali and Carlos must address serious human casualties and collateral damage...all while Nuit rebuilds Blood Music to become a record label that will unleash media brainwashing on everyone that hears or watches anything by them. Will the Guardian Team be victorious in the end?

The Shadows is a must read for all VHL Fans. This book is good from the beginning to the end! I'm already crying because this is book 11 in a 12-book series. The Shadows was a real rollercoaster ride! It had me high and giddy at times, only to bring me down and then take me up again. This book had me going so bad that I was talking to the characters in this book as if they were real people. Also, Carlos really impressed me when he went into battle to protect his own. I got an adrenaline rush just reading about the battle. The battle scene was described so vividly that I honestly thought that I was there viewing it! The only thing that I didn't like about the book was that it ended. Believe me when I say that T he Shadows truly deserves 5 stars and is a must read!

Reviewed by LaShonda Bates
for Urban Reviews

I love the VHL series, but I have to admit... this one was a little shaky. The Shadows suffers from being the bane of any good story - the set up for the finale. Yes, we are treated to several action sequences, but the ending is very abrupt, a giant neon "To Be Concluded..." sign in the dark.

My one complaint, other than the fact this is a setup book for Book 12, is she has a little too much of the back and forth "meanwhile, in hell... meanwhile, with the crew..."; enough to make one a little dizzy.

All in all, a good book in the series, but not one that can truthfully stand by itself. Left me wanting for a LOT more - hopefully, Book 12 won't be delayed too much by the new werewolf series.

With rapt anticipation, I've read the Huntress series much like I watched the Chapter pictures back in the day, always a battle of good versus evil. And after eleven books I am still anxious. Banks keeps bringing the drama, keeping the series informative, pulsating and irradiating. Regardless of the many victories, readers have learned evil is ever present. Can you imagine no more attempts to overthrow good? Admittedly, there are times when the team seems to fallback, and I've wanted to collar them and ask 'aren't you there yet'? But, life is a recurrence of actions and reactions, some good, some not, so I ask why not so with the Neteru team?

- These are strange times, Carlos and Damali are more vulnerable and, at times, their humanness overshadows their specialness. They share a secret that could reshape the team, in fact several in-house issues have them all a little tense. And while the team should be tight, they are wigging-out.
-Much is going on in the seventh realm. Lilith is trying to nurse the chrysalis back to health; Councilmen have been severely wounded; Lucifer is in a rage, and there are no dark warriors.
-The Unnamed One is blackmailing the Catholic Church to endorse the Antichrist as a unifying world leader, or face the pontiff's assassination.
-Count Dracula has been resurrected and elevated to a day-walking Councilman.
-Fallon Nuit has Bad Blood Records label back in operation and has assaulted the human spirit with shadow elementals and demon principalities; he has put phantom realms in the airways. If the fifth biblical seal is broken, His Darkness will release the 'pale horse', and mankind will be susceptible to every plague. The dark side must bring the Neterus out of hiding.

The Huntress series still hinges on profound religious mysteries and conversely, obsessive carnal lusts, but the center of gravity is the advent of The Apocalypse. This time the battle lines have all been erased, nowhere is sacred. Devastation will befall both sides and Carlos will be the cogent.

Banks has consistently gone to her creative blood bank to bring a series that offers celestial hierarchy, world myth, the realms of hell, vampire lore, human morality and a hip street philosophy. THE SHADOWS is no different; the fight is not over, and the team needs new strategies. The portal is open and we take a roller-coaster ride to hell and back. Readers will be suspended as the battle becomes epic. After eleven books the series is still ingenious, inventive, unrelenting, multi-dimensional, AND much more than a tale of vampirism. In this eleventh outing, Banks cleverly sets the stage for the future.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

All of L.A. Banks' Huntress series is exciting, but ... The Shadows was so action-packed that I could not put it down at all!!! In fact, I was so engrossed in what I was reading that I was searching for more pages at the end of the book! My suggestion is to read the whole series, but in case you have already... look forward to an excellent read in The Shadows!!

The Guardian team is on the move again, doing what they do best. Only this time, the game has changed and expanded to include one particular bad guy that fans of the series have been whispering and wondering about.
There's a little more at stake this time: the team itself is expanding and about to produce new fruit, while a beloved member of the Guardian team is lost.
He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is hard at work creating chaos with Lilith and the rest of the Vampire Council. The action scenes are off the chain, as usual. What else can you expect with the Armageddon at hand? More seals are broken and all hell is breaking loose--literally.
I'm being deliberately vague. Nothing I say here even compares to the breath-holding, page-turning drama that unfolds in this book. Mama Banks outdoes herself yet again in this prequel to the last book in the series. I'll be sorry to see it end, but know that there's more in store for this fantastic author and ALL of her work.

This is definitely a bridge book. If you have not read any other book of this series, this is not the book to start with. You won't understand the love, the battles, the characters, the sacrifies, the pain, etc. I will try not to give too much away to spoil the book for anyone else. I just wanted to say that I'm going to be so sad when this series ends. What am I going to do without Carlos, Damali, Val, Yonnie, 'Bazz, Mom Mar, and the rest of the Neteru and Guardian teams. It's bittersweet but then maybe it won't end, there is a baby or maybe two or 6 in the mix. hahaha.

Love you LA Banks. Thank you for writing these great stories I'm an addict. When I pick up a good book I can't put it down. I can always finish a Banks book in 1 sitting.

This series is a great...

THE SHADOWS is the eleventh book in the Vampire-Huntress series and this time LA Banks turns up the heat a notch on both sides of the playing field. LA Banks continues to take readers on the fight of all humanity.

Carlos & Damali Rivera has inherited two more Guardians to their team. As it grows, it becomes a truly unique scene now that the Neteru team has made a direct hit to Lucifer himself as well as taking out quite a bit of the Underworld's team. However, nothing comes with such a reward that drama could not follow. The Unnamed One is so furious that he has taken the broken seal and made it worse determined to make the Guardian team respond because he wants revenge. With daywalkers walking around and two ex-master vampires on the other side, the dark side finds itself fighting the battle that matter most. The light side has made some revelations in reference to the Million Neteru team that has all the males on point as well as all the females accurately aware of the fight that matters the most THE FINAL BATTLE.

L.A. Banks is an author who mesmerizes you with her novels that brings you to look at present day problems as well as to connect with the various characters in her books. LA Banks has given us nothing but winners since THE MINION. This book is defiantly a must and if your picking up this book and haven't read 1-9 STOP don't even open the cover don't read the back cover don't look at the reviews click back and start at The Minion and get the series and then begin you will never regret it.

Yes, The Shadows ended too soon. The action was just starting! I'm really sad to see the VHL come to an end with the next book. I collect a lot of dark fantasy books and this is the best series I have come across so far. I like the idea of the multiple pregnancies and a possible new guardian team forming through the children. With all the steamy sex it was bound to happen sooner or later. Keep up the good work LA Banks.

L.A. Banks has by far strected your imagination in this latest installment. This book has more twists than you could ever want. I will miss this series when it ends... Can't wait for the final chapters!!!