The Thirteenth: A Vampire Huntress Legend [Mass Market Paperback]

L. A. Banks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Vampire Huntress Legend | Publication Date: February 2, 2010

The entire Neteru Guardian team is on the run, having now been labeled as America’s most-wanted terrorists following the gruesome demon battle that felled the Washington Monument and crashed the front doors of the White House. The Anti-Christ is positioned for emergence, the powers of darkness have released the pale horse of the apocalypse, and half the Neteru team is pregnant. Plagues from hell that ravage the country are being cited as stemming from bio-terrorism. The nation is under martial law. The Neterus and their team are underground. If things weren't bad enough the Dark Realm breaks the sixth Biblical seal, which plunges the world into perpetual darkness…and irrevocably into the Armageddon.

Editorial Reviews

Review

THE THIRTEENTH

“Wow! As usual, Banks blows your mind. This book is exciting from the first page, as all hell has broken loose…World religions, vampiric lore, and myths come into play, and overlying it all is a wonderful spirituality, as people of different cultures join forces to fight a pervasive evil. This powerful story makes you watch current events and wonder.”— Romantic Times BOOKreviews (Top Pick!)

THE SHADOWS

“Steamy and chock-full of action.”—Vampirelibrarian.com

THE CURSED

“A wild amalgam of Christianity, vampire lore, world myth, functional morality, street philosophy, and hot sex…fans couldn’t ask for more.”—Publishers Weekly

THE WICKED

“A complex world of Good vs. Evil…The story is so compelling, the whole series must be read.”—Birmingham Times

THE FORSAKEN

“Readers already enthralled with this sizzling series can look forward to major plot payoffs.”—Publishers Weekly

“In the seventh book in her incredibly successful series…Banks presents interesting myths—both biblical and mythological…with prose that's difficult to match—and most certainly just as difficult to put down.”—Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 ½ stars)

THE DAMNED

“All hell breaks loose—literally—in the complex sixth installment….stunning.”—Publishers Weekly

“In [The Damned], relationships are defined, while a dark energy threatens to destroy the entire squad. Banks’s method of bringing Damali and Carlos back together is done with utmost sincerity and integrity. They have a love that can weather any storm, even when dire circumstances seem utterly overwhelming. Fans of this series will love The Damned and, no doubt, will eagerly await the next book.”—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

 

From the Back Cover

The final story in the cult-favorite series Vampire Huntress Legends

The entire Neteru Guardian team is on the run, having now been labeled as America’s most-wanted terrorists following the gruesome demon battle that felled the Washington Monument and crashed the front doors of the White House. The Anti-Christ is positioned for emergence, the powers of darkness have released the pale horse of the apocalypse, and half the Neteru team is pregnant. Plagues from hell that ravage the country are being cited as stemming from bio-terrorism. The nation is under martial law. The Neterus and their team are underground. If things weren't bad enough the Dark Realm breaks the sixth Biblical seal, which plunges the world into perpetual darkness…and irrevocably into the Armageddon.

THE THIRTEENTH

 “Wow! As usual, Banks blows your mind. This book is exciting from the first page,
as all hell has broken loose in the conclusion to the Vampire Huntress series…Powerful.”
— Romantic Times BOOKreviews (Top Pick!)

"L.A. Banks writes a killer vamp series.”—Sherrilyn Kenyon

www.vampire-huntress.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (February 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312949162
• ISBN-13: 978-0312949167
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,729 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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I was afraid..., April 14, 2009

By 

Candace Link "C Janine" (Beloit, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Thirteenth (Vampire Huntress Legends) (Paperback)

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."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bakers Dozen?, April 23, 2009

By 

R. Rodriguez (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Thirteenth (Vampire Huntress Legends) (Paperback)

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)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goodbye Old Friends!, February 28, 2009

By 

Gayle Jackson Sloan "Author" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thirteenth (Vampire Huntress Legends) (Paperback)

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?