Customer Reviews

Undead on Arrival (Crimson Moon, Book 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The only thing I hated about this book is that it ended! I was simply held hostage by this captivating story and as I read from page to page, I just couldn't put it down! LA Banks has out done herself with this one. Four weeks have passed since the Shadow-wolves and Werewolves had their triumph over the vampires at the UCE gathering. But we all know vampires right? They aren't going down without a fight; and they fight as dirty as they come. Sasha, Hunter and Shogun are caught up in a sizzling love triangle that threatens to be the catalyst, which severs the thread-thin truce between the warring werewolves and shadow-wolves. The admirable Fae have been backed into a corner and force to pick their allegiance. Who will they choose; the ever-present cunning and devious vampires or the vulnerable and volatile weres? A demon-infected werewolf is running rampant in New Orleans and cannibalizing humans with all evidence leading straight to Hunter. Time is running out as the supernatural authorities close in on Hunter. With the vampires hell-bent on his execution, Sasha makes the ultimate sacrifice for her mate and does anything she deems necessary in order to find a cure for Hunter. A lot of secrets have been revealed but sorry folks, no spoilers here.(aww) LA Banks did a great job of weaving together an intricate web of numerous plots, twist and turns. There is a lot of suspense and action, along with a few hot sex scenes and lots of torturous sexual tension. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series (Bad Blood & Bite the Bullet) and look forward to Cursed to Death due out 9/29/09.

I also recommend:

Second Skin (Nocturne City, Book 3)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3)
Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)
At Grave's End (Night Huntress, Book 3)

Finally!! Shogun gets a litttle lovin' in this installment - albeit through his shadow, but hey I'm sure he doesn't mind HOW he received it as long as he did! I know I'm probably in the minority, but I prefer him over Hunter. I think it's because Shogun was introduced before Hunter in Book 1 and then there's the crazy, red-hot chemistry between Shogun & Sasha.

I can't wait to find out what happpens in the next book.

When I reviewed Book 2 of the Crimson Moon series, Bite the Bullet, I criticized the action of the book because it was too vivid, to the point of confusion. I wanted Banks to write just a tad more clearly so that you knew who came out victorious, who was speaking, etc. In Undead on Arrival, I got what I wanted, but it was written in such a linear fashion that it lost some of what makes Banks such a distinctive and intense author.

I thought the plot of UoA was great: twists, turns, and big reveals! There are enough intrigues to continue the series without slowing it down and inventing new conflicts. Banks' characters and their relationships are intense and complex. I love that Banks is not afraid to take on the conflicts and misunderstandings that occur between lovers.

I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series (and I'm curious about how many books Banks has planned--she wrote 13 for her VH series, with a clear goal in mind for the final book). I can't wait to find out what happens with Sasha, her team, Hunter, and Shogun. I'd love to see more of the supernatural world Banks has involved (particularly the Dragons and Sir Rodney).

It is now four weeks after the United Council of Entities (UCE) Conference. Four weeks and the demon virus is still wreaking havoc on the immune system of Max Hunter, a Shadow Wolf and Sasha Trudeau's mate. The deadly virus could cause him to lose his Alpha rank among the Shadow Wolves, the faith of Sasha and the possibility that she will not want to continue an unpredictable dangerous relationship with him, and most importantly...his life.

Sasha must decide whether her love for Hunter is worth more than the threat of contracting the virus or the possibility of being killed by him in the heat of his turn into a demon-infected wolf. The time begins running out to save Hunter from being condemned to death not only by the Federation of Werewolves and the Vampires, but by his own clan, the Shadow Wolves. When he disappears the same night the body of a young human male is found brutally murdere, or rather, half eaten in the dumpster. While Sasha is desperately racing against the clock to find the cure for the virus, there are several other dilemmas that she must face.

While battling for her mate, Sasha struggles to keep a hunger for Shogun, a Werewolf from the Asian clans, at bay. It has proven to be difficult, as it has already been established in previous books that Shogun plays an important role in ensuring the future of the werewolf species. As more human bodies are found half eaten, the constituents of the supernatural world begin pointing fingers. The mayhem caused by the sudden turn of deadly events will drive an even bigger wedge between the Werewolves and Shadow Wolves. In spite of the ruling at the UCE conference, shady Vampires have their involvement in the chaos once again.

It doesn't take long for the plot to thicken and certain secrets to be revealed. Once this happens, readers will not want to put the book down. Each scene will leave readers panting for more. If you've been following the Crimson Moon novels, you will agree that the plot is complex, but the series improves with each new installment. Now that the framework for the story has been established, I can't wait to pick up the fourth installment, Cursed to Death.

Reviewed by TygerLily
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This was a non-stop read of action and drama. I loved every moment. Just when you think things are going south Sasha kicks some butt and does she! I am absolutely addicted to L.A. Banks! I am super excited for book 4!!!

The unprecedented alliance between the Federation of Werewolves and Shadow Wolf Clans is under covert attack as plots and schemes abound in Banks' third foray into her supernatural Crimson Moon world. The fall out caused by those working behind the scenes for their own political purpose may cost the alphas of the combined wolf shifter coalition: Hunter, Shogun, Sasha - and perhaps the rest of their kind as well - their lives.

And on a more personal note - heroine/shifter/soldier Sasha's life has always been `duty first', but now she's bending the rules and hoping that she won't have to put a bullet through her Shadow wolf mate Hunter's brain. As Hunter becomes more violent and primal and it looks like this time he will lose his battle with the demon virus which threatens to turn him into a flesh eating monster. Though Sasha has made her choice to stick with Hunter, the attraction still sizzles between Sasha and Werewolf leader Shogun, and Shogun is not about to give up his pursuit even as he lends his support to Sasha in her attempt to find a cure for Hunter. Those seeking to bring Hunter and Sasha down will manipulate that attraction and Shogun will pay the price.

First of all Undead on Arrival is not a stand alone story, part of the emotional power of the book comes from knowing Hunter which gives his degeneration and Sasha's own ethical struggle more of an impact. And Banks really relies on the world building and development of her supporting cast from previous books, so parts of the story will probably be a bit confusing if you are coming into the Crimson Moon series cold.
But being a fan of the series (and shape shifters in general), I really enjoyed Undead on Arrival. Sasha is just as great as she has been in previous books - she is sexy, tough and smart - Sasha's a first class heroine. And there is good chemistry between Sasha and both of the wolves vying for her affection. Not mention that they are terrific too - Hunter and Shogun are both noble and honorable and hot- and it is heartbreaking to watch as their honor is stolen from them by the disease that is the bane of those with Werewolf blood.

I also enjoyed all the plots and schemes and the way that Sasha manages to yet again pull victory from the jaws of defeat with a little elvish help. And this book is definitely a pivotal one in the series with lots of secrets coming to light and events which seem to set up for an all out war between the vamps and the wolves. My only nit with the story is that there a few extraneous threads which really don't add much to the story. And as much as I like the idea of Sasha's team - and this is especially true for Sasha's wolf familiars Woods and Fisher - they are never really are given much to do.

Undead on Arrival is the third installment in the Crimson Moon Series. Max Hunter is infected. Can Sasha find a cure before he goes past the point of no return? And what will she do about the undeniable attraction to Shogun? Will Sasha put aside Hunter and all they mean to one aonther, or will she give in to the sizzling passion she feels whenever she's in Shogun's presence?

People are dying and it seems as if Max Hunter has gone too far. Is it Max, or is someone trying to start a war between the Shadow Wolves and Werewolves that would cause an irreparable rift in the peace sought after by Sasha, Max ,and Shogun? As delicate political ties become unraveled, Sasha will be forced to either find out who's responsible, or if it is indeed Max killing innocent people, she will be forced to tear out a piece of her heart and put a silver bullet between the eyes of her life mate.

Readers will have to make the literary journey to find out what surprises L.A. Banks has in store for us in this sexy page turner.

The United Council of Entities exiled the vampires from their position of power and brokered a peace between the Weres who change only at the full moon and the Shadow clans who change at will. US Military squad leader of the Paranormal Containment Unit shadow wolf Sasha Trudeau, her team, and her mate Max Hunter were involved at the conference, but Hunter is now in a bad way and it seems the pair is heading for an unhappy ending as Max is demon infested and a double dose of anti-toxins is not working.

Any moment he can turn violent and eat humans. Shadow wolves are supposed to have a natural immunity to the demonization, but his antibody system is failing to produce the antitoxin. Afraid to make love and even more fearful of hurting his beloved, Max disappears. Soon afterward, a human is found half eaten with the evidence pointing to Max as the killer. Sasha refuses to believe that her Max would kill, but her efforts to prove otherwise are thwarted by other wolves.

UNDEAD ON ARRIVAL is L.A. Banks at her best, which is claiming a lot as the author's urban fantasies are always exciting and refreshingly unique. The story line continues to build up on Crimson Moon world (see BITE THE BULLET and BAD BLOOD) especially the political intrigue and backstabbing within and between species. Although the plot is somewhat more complex than usual, fans will enjoy the character driven entry as lethal mysteries abound throughout.

Harriet Klausner

This book is not very engaging for me. I've read the entire VHL series from Ms. Banks, so when I saw she had another series out, I purchased all three. I cannot express how disappointed I am. Her other novels were impossible to put down, and these werewolf series are nearly impossible to pick up!
Simply put, the books are just boring. Im sorry, but Banks failed to deliver.

I really enjoyed reading this one. And yes it does have alot of twist and turns as far as who is related to who. But i got one question i don't remember if it really said, but now if shogun and hunter are half brothers sharing the same father that means shogun is the oldest considering his father their father was killed around about the same time as hunter's mom. Right! interesting! can wait to see how ms. banks unfolds this in her next installment