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»REVIEW for

THE DARKNESS

The battle at Masada is over, the Neteru team is back in San Diego; forty thousand
demons were killed and the spawn of Lilith was eradicated. In the seventh realm of Hell, Lilith is summoned to her husband's chambers, believing she will be punished. She is shocked when she is rewarded for her creation; her spawn is NOT dead. Lucifer gives Lilith the power to make immediate, Councilmen day-walkers. Her first subjects are Fallon Nuit, Sebastian, and Yonnie.

The Action: Lucifer lands topside, enters a Los Angeles cathedral, and attacks Carlos's mentor, Father Patrick. But, to think Lucifer's visit was to do battle with Father Pat is misguided; Carlos is his target, for reasons the young Neterus cannot imagine. Yonnie is still multi-tasking. Lucifer is using him as a portal to the Neteru team, and Carlos needs Yonnie to have his back. Lilith has allowed Sebastian to resurrect Lucrecia Borgia and Dracula's wife, Elizabeth. Damali goes to Atlanta to get Inez's daughter, while Carlos and the team are in Brooklyn with Father Pat. The visceral struggle in Carlos is taking its toll, he's afraid he might expose an open channel to the world of darkness, and he prays his silver is not tainted; he needs a purging. But there is no time, a battle is at hand, and the results are costly to Carlos.

Inez's daughter, to everyone's surprise, is gifted, and will initiate a change on the team. Someone else has captivated Yonnie, and he may finally be able to let Tara go. Carlos is in danger, and Damali must seek assistance from the Neteru councils of Kings and Queens, and the higher realms of prayer. Will Carlos and Damali be able to live with the results, and become the Neteru duo they are destined to be? Will they be able to eradicate the anti-Christ?

Banks has her fingers on the pulse of vampire paranormal writing. THE DARKNESS suspends readers on the edge as both, Light and Dark, are challenged by and with the power of prayer. As Lucifer is dedicated to the birth of the anti-Christ, readers will hope the combination of the multi-religions and the power of the higher realms, will keep the third seal from being broken. The 'team' is morphing into a dexterous, lissome, even graceful machine. It is necessary for them to reach their level and stay tight... the world is depending on them. I love the Huntress Series, and at times several of the books have left me speechless, THE DARKNESS is one of them. When I finished this book I looked around with chary before I exhaled, this series is far beyond vampire turn-bites. The rating pinnacle at Amazon prevents me from given THE DARKNESS higher than a five.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

The Darkness is the 10th book in the 12 book Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) Series written by L.A. Banks. After the battle at Masada, the Neteru team returns to San Diego for some much needed rest. They believed that they had dealt with Lilith's spawn, but they are so far from the truth. Unbeknownst to them, Lilith's spawn escaped and is now resting and maturing, waiting for his chance wreak havoc. In the meantime, The One Who Shall Remain Nameless rewarded Lilith with the Daylight bite and she, in turn, passes it to the rest of the Councilmen. Will the team be able to stop the dark side from successfully regenerating their forces and opening another seal?

I know that I always say, "If you are a fan of the VHL series, then this book is a must read." However, "Have I ever been wrong?" This book is good from the beginning to the end! I had to make myself put it down! You would think that after 10 books, Ms. Banks would've run out of ideas when it comes to writing this series. Well, I'm here to tell you that's not the case. The Darkness has love, action, drama; you name it, it's in there. Ms. Banks also adds some new characters to the mix, as well as bring back some old favorites. I'm telling you, this book deserves all 5 stars that I gave it.

LaShonda Bates for
Urban-Reviews.com

The Darkness is the tenth installment of the Vampire Huntress Legend series and picks up some months after the last battle at Masada where the anti-Christ chrysalis made a death-defying escape.  In this episode, Lucifer becomes more active when he hatches a plan to ensure his heir matures in an optimal environment.  Quite naturally, this involves creating hell on earth and forcing the Biblical prophesies leading to Armageddon to come to fruition.  Rewarding Lillith for her role in bringing forth his progeny, he elevates her to a coveted council seat where she bestows the day-walking power and daylight bite to Nuit, Sebastian, and Yonnie.  To round out the council chairs, poison-welding Lucretia Borgia and Dracula's wife, Elizabeth Bathory, are resurrected as mates for Nuit and Sebastian respectively.  They raise an army from the dark realms wrecking havoc everywhere to keep the good side busy while the anti-Christ heals and strengthens in an undisclosed location.

The Neteru team is well-rested and as sharp as ever.  Yonnie surprisingly finds love in a new character and finally leaves Tara to her husband.  Inez's daughter displays unusual gifts and seems destined to play a larger role in future segments. Carlos and Damali are working well as Generals and wisely heeding advice from the Kings and Queens.  However, when Lucifer attacks a seasoned team member, he strategically weakens and poisons Carlos's mind which places the team and him in peril.  His purge involves assistance from the upper realms and the power of prayer leads to some unexpected results; giving power to the adage of being careful of what is prayed for as it may just happen.

I found this story refreshing in that the 'good' side seemed to take more of a proactive stance against evil.  The Neteru Council is actively involved and the earth-based  team is more focused, more cunning, and more in control.  They are collaborating well with world-wide forces to make their mark (literally and figuratively) on the face of Darkness.  Banks delivers with the goods that fans of the series love and expect:  action, passion, and mysticism inspired by numerology, folklore, and multi-religion based beliefs.  When the third seal is eventually broken, it only fuels anticipation for The Shadows scheduled for a July 2008 release.  The advanced reading copy I reviewed contained four black-and-white illustrations that greatly enhanced the reading experience.  I hope to see this trend repeated in future editions.  

Reviewed by Phyllis
January 3, 2008
APOOO BookClub

Current Articles, Interviews, & Reviews: The Damned

» REVIEW: R.A.W. Sistaz

Hybrids...

This sixth episode of the Huntress Series, THE DAMNED, will test the resolve, of everyone involved. Lilith, the consort to the Un-named one, did not give birth to a day walker or capture the Chairman's throne. Since the Vampire Chairman abdicated, the throne is now vacant and everything in the levels of Hell is in a state of cataclysm.

Topside: Damali, the female Neteru, Carlos, the male Neteru, and the Guardian team left Philadelphia feeling like battle weary veterans. They have retreated to the sacred Navajo desert of Arizona to regenerate. From all appearances, things are almost normal, but in actuality all Hell has broken loose. The team has been infiltrated, new recruits have been added, and the trust level is circumspect. Mentally everyone is on overload; the group is not tight.

Carlos is fluxing between his desire for his former life as a master level vampire, and his destiny to the Light. Damali has decided she needs a place of her own; she is not feeling Carlos. There is a peculiar aura, Damali and Carlos have not been able to do a 'mind-lock', and both are dealing with bouts of jealousy. Damali's Neteru tattoo has been dormant, and the sliver glint in Carlos' eyes is nonexistent. The intimacy issues with the team are mind-boggling; everyone is playing musical partners. It seems that the team, especially Damali and Carlos, exist in a surreal state; at best they are sharing a platonic dishonesty.

The problem: The portals of Hell have been left open and demon food, the damned, are walking the earth, infecting anyone who makes contact. In thirty days the population of the world will be infected and destroyed or worse.

The solution: Find and destroy Lilith, behead the Vampire Chairman, and retrieve The Book of the Damned; someone must go to the seventh realm of Hell. Carlos is the one person with the familiarity and power to make the trip. But can the male Neteru go undetected in Hell? Will his fluxing interfere with his effectiveness? Is his ego undermining the mission? There are more questions than answers. To find a solution the team must leave the sacred grounds of Arizona.

From the Blessed Covenant to the newest members on the team THE DAMNED is truly a test of faith. L.A. Banks again takes readers into a cliff hanging, nail biting battle of cogent versus pernicious. If you favor any one of the other diverse members of this multicultural team, you will love the intimate attention Banks gives each of them. I do caution you to stabilize your mental faculties, and guard your jugular, someone has to be sacrificed. THE DAMNED is intense, climatic, unbelievable, and scorching hot! Kudos to L. A. Banks for keeping this series fresh, heterogeneous, erotic, and still tasting of spiritualism. (Reviewed by aNN)

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Current Articles, Interviews, & Reviews: The Forbidden

» INTERVIEW: Silver Fox's Den

» REVIEW EXCERPT: True Confessions Magazine, October 2005— "L.A. Banks has created another splendidly horrific tale...vividly placed in a contemporary, urban setting fit enough for even the hungriest reader to feast on!"

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Today's Black Woman Magazine, September/October 2005— L.A. Banks featured in the author's spotlight with photo, ample mention of The Forbidden

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Fangoria Magazine, September 2005— "Banks' writing is lush and detailed, fully bringing her characters to life (or unlife), weaving a complex world of Good vs. Evil with its own intricate hierarchy...the story is so compelling...the whole series must be read."

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Romantic Times Magazine, October 2005— "Each book in this. . .series gets harder and harder to put down. This fifth entry features amazing imagination and a story that is touching and packed with drama from beginning to end." (4 1/2 stars)

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Booklist, July 1, 2005— "Banks continues to flesh out the multifaceted world Damali and her friends inhabit, making for superior vampire fiction."

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Publisher's Weekly Online, June 20, 2005— "Banks spins a head-bendingly complex tale of passion, mythology, war and love that lasts till the grave--and beyond...devoted fans should relish this new chapter in a promising series."

» REVIEW EXCERPT: Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2005— "Gripping"

» FEATURE: Black Issues Book Review— Sept/Oct 2005 article on African American vampire literature prominently features L.A. Banks.

» REVIEW EXCERPT: R.A.W. Sistaz Review, June 27, 2005— " 5 out of 5 Stars...L.A. Banks has again written an intense story with timeless characters and has unlocked the doors of her imagination in a way that is unprecedented. Where she takes THE FORBIDDEN is phenomenal."


Archived Articles, Interviews, & Reviews:



» REVIEW: R.E.A.L. Review of Minion.

» Review of Minion from Dark Moon Rising

» L.A. Banks featured in The Penn Gazette (PDF)

» L.A. Banks featured in Essence Magazine

» NEWS: October, 2003 — L.A. Banks featured in the Philadelphia Daily News

» Full Hand and the Queen of Hearts by Matt Hengey :: Smart Business Now, March 2002

» Between the Lines :: Black Issues Book Review, July-August 2002

» Meet Leslie Esdaile by Gwendolyn Osborne:: The Romance Reader Interviews, January 2003

» Local Black Authors: Using Sensuality to Attract Readers in New Romance Novel by Franne McNeal:: The Black Suburban Journal, December 2001

» Author Leslie Esdaile follows the "River of the Soul" by Gloria Blakely :: Philadelphia Sunday Sun, November 18, 2001

» Literary Lounge: "Tomorrow's Promise: Homeland Heros and Heroines" review by Gloria Blakely :: Philadelphia Sunday Sun, November 24, 2002