Sister of the Dead (The Noble Dead)

I picked up Dhampir, the first volume in this series, on a whim. It has turned out to be one of the better vampire series in recent memory. The Hendees display considerable writing skill, as well as an ability to craft elements that are vampire commonplaces into a story that has more than a little originality. When we first met Leesil and Magiere a long time ago there were an unlikely pair running as vampire killer scam in a world vaguely reminiscent of Medieval Hungary and, of course, Transylvania. But their scam backfires when they are set on the trail of a real vampire we find that Magiere is a Dhampir - human child of a vampire - with terrifying skills and a destiny that won't let her go. Half-eleven Leesil and his dog Chap (a canine with an agenda all its own) are her accomplices. In short order they really are vampire killers, inn owners, and finally, with this volume they are on a quest to find out the truth behind their history. In Sister of the Dead, Magiere returns to her roots to find out about the vampire that fathered her on her unwilling mother. Joining them on this quest is Wynn, the apprentice wizard from Thief of Lives. And following behind them are two vampires. Welstiel is one(...)who knows why Magiere was created and has his own uses for her. The other is Chane, who loves Wynn almost as much as he loves blood - maybe more. Terrible things follow them as they work their way to Magiere's village and then on to the lair of the blood wizard who worked her birth. Outer conflict is balanced by inner. Chap confronts his true nature, Magiere and Leesil explore the relationship that has grown up around them, and Wynn must deal with an inconceivable reality where the woman she most admires and the man she once loved are both monsters. With each volume the tale gets richer and more detailed. All of the characters gain the reader's sympathy, and the book goes by a little too quickly. If you are looking for something that stays in genre but with an original flair that quickly becomes compelling try this series out. You'll find yourself waiting impatiently for the next volume.

Believe me, if i could i would give this book even more stars i would. this series is so great. i have been looking for a good book that would ACTUALLY keep my attention throughout the WHOLE book and when i read dhampir i new i had found one. all of the books from the Noble Dead series are filled with adventure,action,humor,and a little bit of romance(except for dhampir which kind of mentions it on,like the LAST LINE of THE BOOK....but its still really good.....)anyway,for those who like a book that is not dominated by the romance. the authors do a good job of telling the story and really keep the suspence up, keeping you on edge and making you wait for the next book until you can keep going. BUT, i mean that in a good way. for each book they have an over all goal to finish in the book but at the end there are still questions that need to be answered that you will only find out in the next book. speaking of next books, I CANNOT WAIT FOR TRAITOR TO THE BLOOD TO COME OUT. it is the fourth book in the noble dead series and it is supposed to come out in january 2006. i hope the authors hurry!

Barb and J.C. Hendee prove again that they're a great writing team. This third installation in the "Noble Dead" series pulls the reader further into the lives of Leesil and Magiere, halfling and dhampir. They've got great charater development and interesting plot twists. I was rather hoping that Leesil would find more answers, but I'm glad Magiere was given more information. Of course, this information makes the reader long for more!! Now, while I haven't quite given up on LKH's Anita Blake (the orgies do detract from the plot, but pleasantly), these books are really a nice way to pass the time. I find myself drawn into the world that the Hendees created, and also feeling an affinity for the characters. To me, that's the sign of a really good book. I want more!!

Sister of the Dead is Barb & J.C. Hendee's third book in the Noble Dead series. Once again, we join Magiere and Leesil on their journey for the truth - no matter where it takes them. Wynn, an apprentice sage, and Chap, a Fay spirit in dog form, round out this intrepid traveling group. Magiere is a dhampir, half-human and half-vampire. She is a hybrid created for unknown reasons. In Dhampir, Magiere was introduced to Welstiel Massing, a Noble Dead (vampire) who told her she was created to kill other Noble Dead. In Thief of Lives, Welstiel is unmasked and Magiere learns his true intentions - to force her to find an artifact that will allow Welstiel to become human again. Needless to say, Magiere is not one to appreciate being manipulated and has vowed to never help Welstiel in his quest. At the conclusion of Thief of Lives, Magiere and Leesil have decided two different treks are in order. Leesil, half-elf and half-human, has just found out that his elvish mother, Nein'a is still alive. Leesil has vowed to find out her fate. He believed his parents were executed after he deserted employment as an assassin to a powerful lord. Magiere seeks to find out why she was created. Her mother, Magelia was impregnated by a Noble Dead with Magiere the result. Magelia died shortly after Magiere's birth and she was raised by her Aunt Bieja in the small village of Chemestúk in the country of Droevinka. Life was hard for Magiere as the other villagers never accepted her. Leesil and Magiere decide to head to Chemestúk first as it is closer. This decision brings about much knowledge and even more questions. The events around Magiere's birth are even more complex then anyone had previously considered. The journey is arduous for all and much is revealed. Sister of the Dead is a wonderful addition to the Noble Dead series. While certain mysterious are answered, even more are created. Leesil and Magiere's relationship deepens. We learn more about Chap and what his intentions are. Sister of the Dead leads us on an amazing adventure that will keep you engrossed until the final chapter. The Noble Dead series is a mix of high-fantasy and traditional vampire fiction. This makes the series unique and interesting. The fantasy elements are interwoven with the vampire lore. Magiere is a hybrid and as such struggles with her nature. Leesil has similar struggles as he is also a hybrid. The two together present both sides of the mixed genres. This is a series that will appeal to both horror and fantasy fans. Barb & J.C. Hendee are a husband/wife pair of writers. Dhampir is the first in the Noble Dead series, followed by Thief of Lives, and Sister of the Dead. Traitor to the Blood, fourth in the series, is scheduled to be published in January, 2006. Barb Hendee is the author of another vampire novel, Blood Memories published in 1999. Both authors have written many short stories. They have a website at www.nobledead.com with many extras for

Once, I was a big fan of Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series. I don't consider myself to be one any more seeing as Hamilton decided that having orgies with vampires was more interesting than killing them. I consider it no big loss because about the time that Hamilton completely lost the plot Barb and JC Hendee published Dhampir, the story of Magiere and Leesil, two con-artists turned vampire slayers. Their story continues in Sister of the Dead, the third installment in the series. In this novel, Magiere and Leesil, accompanies by Chap, the fey dog, and Wynn, the scholar, return to the place of Magiere's birth to uncover the secrets of her birth. There they discover a history of murder, blood, and necromancy as they come closer and closer to discovering the purpose and true nature of the unnatural Dhampir. Of course this trip is no Sunday drive as our vampire hunters face off against insane peasants, undead sorcerers, and the vampire duo of Chane and Welstiel Massing, leading to some very exciting action scenes. An action-packed story with skillful characterization, this series has quickly become my favorite fantasy/action series. The romance between Magiere and Leesil is very endearing without being smaltzy and does not overpower everything else. The only bad thing is that we have to wait another whole year to see what happens next.