THE BITTEN - L. A. Banks
St. Martin's Press
February 2005
SYNOPSIS: In this fourth and most daring book in Banks's series, Damali Richards and Carlos Rivera now have the chance to explore their love. But they are quickly thrust into a web of vampire politics and intrigue when one of the four Master vampires steals one of the Keys that opens the sixth seal as foretold in Revelations.
MAINSTREAM FICTION (Vampire): (5) Debra Ross
REVIEW: Damali Richards, Vampire Huntress and Neturu, continues on her mission to save the world from the evil forces of hell.
The fact that she is in love with Carlos Rivera, a Council-Level Vampire, has not altered that fact; but it sure makes things interesting! In
this latest installment, we follow Damali, Carlos, and the crew to Australia to discover which Master Vampire has stolen the Living Blood of
Christ. The storyline and action are intense, and this book is a page turner that showcases Ms. Banks’ writing to perfection.
While the storyline is fascinating, the characters make this series one of the most enjoyable I have ever read. Damali is both dedicated and
determined, my respect for her grows in each book. The crew - Marlene, Shabazz, Rider, J.L., Jose, Dan, and Big Mike - are all fascinating and
could each easily have their own story. But clearly the most intriguing character is Carlos. Dark, sexy, and intelligent - he is forced to
balance himself between good and evil; he does so in each installment, but never as admirably as in “The Bitten”. He is able to pull off this
balancing act because of his one main focus – his unshakable love for Damali.
In THE BITTEN, Carlos undergoes the most drastic changes. His transformation from the cocky self center person in the first book to the
selfless voice of reason in this latest installment is startling, and actually brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Readers are
treated to not only an exciting, suspenseful, tale of the forces of good and evil; but also a tender, passionate love story.
I am a devoted romance fan, and as such I never thought I would enjoy a series so dark in nature; but I can recommend this series to my fellow
romance readers without hesitation. Damali is a perfect heroine – dedicated, smart, and compassionate; and Carlos is the quintessential hero -
strong, brave, smart, sexy, and totally in love. Traditional romance authors should sit up and take notes. Damali and Carlos are now able to
take there physical relationship to new heights; and Ms. Banks gives us some unforgettable, toe curling love scenes. THE BITTEN is certainly
the most sensual of the series.
For those readers new to this genre, do yourselves a favor and read the series in order. It is thrilling to watch these dynamic characters
grow into the strong beings they are in this book. Due to the theme of the book there is a certain amount of gore, however it is not
overwhelming and kept to a minimum. The strength of this series lies in Ms. Bank’s excellent writing skills and strong, solid character
development.
For fans of the series, THE BITTEN is a perfect addition to the vampire huntress legacy. The characters we have grown to know and love
all shine brilliantly is this latest installment. We can all delight as we watch Damali and Carlos match wits with four Master Vampires and
their wives. A female Vamp from Transylvania is no match for our girl! And of course Carlos handles everyone, dead or alive, with his usual
finesse.
THE BITTEN, as are all of the books in the Vampire Huntress series, is an excellent read. Ms. Banks has written a book of passion,
romance, action, horror, and intrigue. Sit back, hold on, and enjoy the ride!
The Vampire Huntress Legacy series includes: MINION, THE AWAKENING, THE HUNTED and THE BITTEN. I am anxiously awaiting the
next installment, THE FORBIDDEN, coming in July 2005.
debra@romanceincolor.com (1st February 20054)