Customer Reviews

The Thirteenth: A Vampire Huntress Legend

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The best defense is a great offense... Wait a minute. Armageddon has begun, Level Seven has come "topside," toppled the Washington Monument, knocked on the front door of the White House with it, released the pale horse of the Apocalypse, and has the Neteru team labeled as the world's most wanted bio-terrorists. Pestilence, death, destruction, mayhem rule the day and night. The safest thing to do is stay under the radar. Right? Wrong. This is the Neteru team. Offense? Out of funds and on the run with babies on the way, our guardians take the battle to the darkside despite their losses, reunite with members, and make new friends to challenge the Unnamed One's greatest demon.

The Thirteenth is the twelfth and final story in L. A. Banks' Vampire Huntress Legends series. I know it's fiction (and I must admit that I was hooked from the moment I saw the Sankofa tattooed at the base of Damali's spine on the cover of Minion), but one look at CNN or FOX might cause you to question whether L. A. knows something most world leaders do not. This series has been an artful weaving of current events, world mythology, and impeccable research. The diversity, a thing to be celebrated and cherished. Let's be clear. My triskaidekaphobia was because the series was ending, not the emotional rollercoaster Banks delivered as the team took it to the streets in Jerusalem, dodging daywalkers and zombies. Having become personally attached to every member of the team, I tried unsuccessfully to read slowly, but the fast-paced action was right out of a Roland Emmerich or Jerry Bruckheimer film. Fallon Nuit, Sebastian, Lilith, and Vlad Dracula turn up the heat on the team once they realize Damali is pregnant. Seeking to exploit this perceived weakness, the One Who Shall Remain Nameless, breaks the sixth seal. Ride or die, the Neteru team, tried by the fire, comes out pure gold with the help from the council of Neteru Kings and Queens and Warrior angels. When the dust clears, Banks leaves it to Yaya to bring peace to the steadfast, but mystified adults (and I was one of them), making the words of Isaiah 11:6 ring clear: "and a little child shall lead them."

Not quite. This is the twelfth and final installment of the Vampire Huntress Legends. The Vampire Huntress Legends is a sprawling series. From the original conception of a one shot novel to 12 novel series. Change may be a constant, but so is the research and thought behind the various themes. The author could publish several research papers on the various themes is she was so inclined.

I give Banks a lot of credit for not trying to shy away from the self imposed Armageddon deadline. Instead of some obscure contrived divine intervention as many might have considered Ms. Banks actually goes through with Apocalypse as foretold in the Book of Revelations. We are now left with a stunned Guardian team in a post-Armageddon world. This deadline has been a driving force for the last few novels. This is also the most likely source of pacing issue some readers have voiced concerning the latter half of the book series. The timing of the battles in the novel do feel rushed at points, but with no more novels forth coming it is a now or never situation. Many high level demons need to be vanquished and so are done quickly and usually without much fanfare.

The expositions that have been a source of some complaints are muted and used sparingly. There is no need for additional world building as there won't be new extensions of the series that require them. This is the final novel there is no need to setup future story lines, just wrap up the current ones as best as possible.

Final thoughts:

I would have preferred longer action sequences. Overall the novel is a fine ending to the series and a proper sendoff of the Guardian team.

The Thirteenth (Vampire Huntress Legends)

What a spectacular ending to a wonderful series! However, I feel much like I did when I read the last Harry Potter book, that I was saying goodbye to some very beloved, old friends. I know I can always read the series again, but part of the joy was seeing what they were going to get into and out of, next.

I don't want to say too much about some of the things in the book because unlike some other reviews, I do not want to spoil anything for anyone. Especially since this is the last book. Like a very good Merlot, it should be savored. However, once you start reading, you can't help but to gulp it down. And reach for some more.

Once again, Ms. Banks has shown that she is at the top of her game and is an excellent storyteller. She is also one hell of a researcher. I tip my hat in awe and much respect to her for her wonderful gifts that she has so generously shared with her readers. This book reads like the movie it should be. I could see everything in my mind and at times had to put the book down to catch my breath. Things happen to some of the characters that made tears come to my eyes and near the end of the book, I wanted to stand up and shout YESSSSSS! Like all of the books in the series, there are some very thought provoking things; things that lingered with me long after I read the last page.

I am looking forward to Ms. Banks' young adult series that is supposed to be coming next. Maybe I can share them with my grandchildren. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I so anticipated this last novel and waited for such a long time until I was really let down with the results. I have really enjoyed this series and I anxiously waited for each new book and just knew that this last one would be astonishing but it wasn't for me. The fight scenes were lacking and the villians died to easily. The last battle should have been more exciting than the battle with Cain, after all, the Unnamed One was walking the earth. The ending was cute and predictable. All these years of build up for a let down and even though this was the last. I wanted it to leave me wanting more like all of those that preceeded it, instead it read like, I have to hurry and get this one out so I can concentrate on my next project.

L.A. Banks came from out of nowhere at a time when we needed an African-American heroine and gave us Damali. Damali brought with her a family of Guardians that fans of the series have fallen head over heels for. The Thirteenth, which is the twelfth and final book in The Vampire Huntress Legend Series, is not the end of a legend; but the end of a series. The Thirteenth picks up where the last book, The Shadows, left off with the Neteru Guardian team still hiding out in Bermuda. To their surprise, the tide quickly turns as they learn that they have been labeled as America's Most Wanted Terrorists because the authorities thought that they attacked Washington, D.C. The world is in turmoil as hell has unleashed plagues that is slowly turning infected people into the walking dead. Things get worse as the Vampire Council finds the hidden sixth biblical seal and position the Anti-Christ for one last battle. The team is in a race against time to try and find the tools needed to put a stop to the Vampire Council's plans. Will the Neteru Guardian team be able to win the final battle?

Twelve books and this series still isn't boring. In the last book in the series, Ms. Banks takes you on a journey that rivals any other Vampire book. You experience the love and comradery of the Neteru Guardian family and most of all, you experience how a group of diverse people can come together in a time of crisis; despite the differences in beliefs. The Thirteenth is a page turner and a must read book that I highly recommend. As with any L.A. Banks VHL tale, you get a dash of drama and awesome battle scenes. You'll laugh, cry, and rejoice in the end.

Reviewed by LaShonda Bates
for Urban Reviews

The ultimate showdown is at hand and there is no rest for the weary, especially for the chosen ones, Damali and Carlos. However, we all know that Evil won't rest or sleep. The Unnamed one is hastening the end of times, pulling out all the stops to be victorious over the "light".. Lilith (who is the consort of the Unnamed One) is trying to insure her husband heir's survival (the anti-christ) while trying to control the Vampire Council. Recently elevated, Fallon Nuit has the ear of the Unnamed one, and will stop at nothing to please him. Vlad, the Impaler makes a repeat appearance with his wife all too willing to do anything to gain back the wicked couple's favor. And Sebastian is still reanimating and raising the dead. In other words, the evil doers are trying to do everything possible to bring about the final days...plaques, poisons, chaos....literally unleasing the bowels of hell (the Pale Horse), to crush good, and hasten the end of times. Meanwhile, those in the light (the guardians) are dealing with their own issues, most are pregnant, some dealing with some of the most devastating casualties to date (the deaths of several key members in the group) and realize that if they give up, there would be nothing to stand between mankind and the end of the world as we know it.

Those who love the series will enjoy the "LA Banks" roller coaster ride as the forces of good and evil collide in a book that could only be called "The Thirteenth" (her 13th and final book in the series), and hopefully, seeing potential storylines and spin-offs will appease those fans disappointed by the ending of their much loved series. LA Banks has given us one of the greatest vampire series of all times, tries to resolve all issues and create hope for the future. And although the VHLS will be missed, we know and look forward to future Banks' works.

I was sad to see the series come to an end but I was not disappointed with this last book which eventually paves the way for the future of the Warriors of Light children. Ayana will be wonderful as the future mother seer and I can't wait to see what Carlos and Damali's babies will be like and the roles the children of the other Guardians will play. La Banks is so good at mixing Biblical theology, Greek mythology and vast numbers of religions and philosphies to weave her story of the end of days. Some people I was very sad to see go but they are on the side of the Light and I'm sure we'll see them again. Carlos and Damali's love for one another is intense, fiercely passionate and all-consuming. Pearl adds a nice touch of innocence, youthful exuberance and drama in her interactions with Carlos and Damali and I was soooo excited Father Patrick made an appearance. All in all this last book was pure genius, I could go on and on DO Not hesitate to buy this book you will be in awe of the gift of LA BANKS.

The final book in her 12 book series, the Vampire Huntress Legends, L.A. Banks concludes her vision with an "end of days" spectacular. I've read all twelve books. They are the best vampire books I've ever read. Banks' wrting is so tight it squeaks. Not a sentence is wasted and the action just keeps coming until you're breathless.
Her ability to weave world mythology, legends, religions and even symbols into a cloth that wraps you up is remarkable. Read any one of her books and you too will say "wow."
The story pulls many loose threads together finally and we witness the defeat of nearly the entire Vampire Council. Of course, Fallon Nuit survives. Evil may rear it's ugly head again. But hope is in the next generation of Neteru Guardians birthed by the team's women. Another series? We can only hope.

Having thoroughly enjoyed reading this entire series, I was quite disappointed in this last book. As mentioned in another review, all of the build up regarding the thirteenth and other key characters is ruined by the quick ending. Where are the detailed fight sequences that make the previous books so entertaining? The ease with which all the villains are beaten takes away from the strength of the story. Would an additional few pages of storyline really have been that difficult? I have to say this was a let down after all the other great books L.A. Banks has written.

As usual Carlos tips evil off because of his connection to them. Damili does no wrong in any of their eyes. And as usual it ends the same way except for in The Shadows. All of them end of pregant omg come on now. This book just seems rushed to me. I loved some of the earlier ones better.