The Forsaken

In the seventh installment of LA Banks' Vampire Huntress Legend series, we learn that youth, arrogance and the challenges of love have a greater consequence to the world when you are this century's neteru couple. Damali, Carlos and the whole Guardian team are back in The Forsaken. In the latest installment, Carlos has a difficult time adjusting to his neteru status that, consequently, took he and his team members through great changes--especially Damali. In The Forsaken, the fallout of his inability to adjust has spilled over into his relationship with Damali. Unbeknownest to them, their problems have been somewhat orchestrated by Lilith who has been given a second chance by The Unnamed One to seek revenge. Lilith brings forth a powerful being that was once banished into a forsaken land, and he possess everything that can bring Damali to her knees--physically, mentally and spiritually--and Carlos to self destruction. As a fan of this series, this installment is among the top two for me. Banks uses this book to show the vulnerability and immaturity, of our young neteru couple, Damali and Carlos, as well as their true strength. She has made them human with the weight of the world, literally, on their shoulders. It is awesome reading about them as they maneuver through life and surreal events with real emotions. Their struggle with pride and impulsive choices are perpetuated by peer advice that is understandable but not necessarily practical. The guidance and correction that they received from their elders had me talking to the book saying, "That's what elders are supposed to do and say." I enjoyed how Banks takes this supernatural life and grounds it in real possibilities. Despite the fact that the characters have out-of-this-world strengths and abilities, you can still relate to them. I also enjoyed the groundwork and foreshadowing that she set up in The Forsaken for the next of the series. I am highly anticipating the next book. I bought this book the day it came out but it sat, unread, for two weeks. Once I started, I was mad that I did not read it the first day. I just hope the follow-up equals the excitement for me that this one generated. Kotanya APOOO BookClub

At first I was bored out of my skull at the predictable turns this book took. What you will read in this book is the tearing down and rebuilding of Carlos Rivera (the Male Neteru). Not too many readers, male or female will be able to handle this without some kind of squirming. In the end the author seems biased toward women and all male errors are brought to the forefront throught out the entire book. All female errors can be blamed on their man's errors in the form of stupid reaction. In the end the author does rebuilt Carlos' ego into what the Light considers a righteous man. For the Female Neteru's trouble, she gets wings. The problem that I have with tearing down Carlos is the hypocracy of it. All of the arrogant egocentric crap that was bashed in this book is the same crap that had Carlos munipulating the seven levels of Hell, the Chairman and defending the Light. It made him what he was and what the Light needed at the time. In this book, suddenly, those same characteristics were undesirable and good reason for the Female Neteru to go praying for another man. A prayer that was intercepted by Lilith and answered by Lucifer himself. Maybe the author was having man trouble, I don't know. It was just very noticeable as a man bashing episode on a massive scale. I guess being female, she's going to be biased toward her female characters. The redeemer is Carlos gets fixed and the book goes on to have an awesome ending. The preview at the end of the book for "The Wicked" tells you the next book is gonna rock the house. If you have been along for all the rides in the previous books, like me, you'll also be biting your nails waiting till February and the next book is releases.

The Vampire Council's throne is vacant, Dante, the Council Chairman was beheaded. The Un-Named One himself wants revenge. Lilith, his consort, failed him and now his son is banished to the Sea of Perpetual Agony; he plans to destroy her first. But, Lilith, always the vampire vixen, has a plan. She begs for her existence and promises to avenge the Neterus, Carlos Rivera and Damali Richards, and restore the throne to its former glory. The Guardian team has relocated to the West Coast. Carlos and Damali have been apexing for a month, wallowing in lustful release. But Damali, in a jealous rage over Carlos and a female team member, has flat lined on Carlos. Both of them need to drop kick their premature super-egos to another realm and focus, they are dividing the team. The Dilemma: 'The tsunami' caused the earth to wobble on its axis in the east, time stopped and the earth's clock is off by milliseconds. A dimensional rip was created in the fold in the air, like a torn curtain. The second male Neteru created, who had been banished to a forsaken land, walked through the opening in the veil. This entity is the muse in Damali's music, and her music is the medium that brings him through the rip. It is the one entity strong enough to challenge Carlos for her love, and worse, could cause an adverse affect on the doors of Heaven. With the stoppage of time, the auras of two competing male Neterus piercing the universe, and entities traveling between dimensions, it is nearly impossible to decipher 'Light' from 'Dark'. The female Neteru could lose her heart, her soul and even her life. L.A. Banks has intensified the vampire huntress series. The in-depth research, the imaginative juices, and the climatic battle of titans will have readers lodged between two prolific battalions. Without warning this supernatural adventure has your adrenaline pumping, your heart flexing and your instincts preparing to do battle. Banks allows readers to travel from the Seventh realm below to realms far above top-side and still maintain their equilibrium. THE FORSAKEN, book seven, is all that; fierce, creative, regenerative, and vividly three dimensional. This one moves the series closer to epic proportions. Awesome! Reviewed by aNN of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Wow! I am speechless after reading the newest installment in the VHL series. As always, L.A. Banks has the characters jumping off the pages and defining their presence in the readers mind. L.A. Banks continues to allow her characters, especially Damali, Carlos, Juanita, Tara and Marlene; to grow, mature, and evolve in a way that teaches us all life lessons. L.A. also exhibits a phenomenal imagination as she weaves an intricate tale of suspense, love, religion, self-discovery, legend and forgiveness. Like a fine wine (Merlot that is), this series just keeps getting better and better with time!! I LOVED this book and can NOT wait for "The Wicked"!

Ok, this is by far the best book in this series. Just when you thought this series couldn't get any better. You would think that by book 7, L.A. Banks would've ran out of things to make her fans go, "Wow, I can't wait til the next book!" But surprisingly, she hasn't. I don't know how she does it, except to say that it's through pure talent. The 7th book in this series is all about Choices and the Consequences of these choices. With the chairman being gone, as of book 6, you would think that things would get easier for the Guardian team. However, there is a new threat to the team that will test the boundaries of love for the two Neterus (Carlos and Damali). Will their love survive? Also, last time we left our Mother-seer, Marlene, she was in a love triangle with Kamal and Shabazz. Who will she choose? Has Rider finally accepted the fact that Tara is with someone else? Also, has Tara finally moved on? Dan was still upset that the Krissy is not in love with him. Will he finally find love? I wish I could tell you, but I can't spoil it for you. To find these things out and more, you'll have to read the book. If you love the characters in these books like I do, then this book will make you angry, laugh, and cry. This book has all the elements of a good read: Drama, and Suspense. I stayed up til 3 a.m. two nights in a row, because I just could not put this book down. If you haven't read any books in this series and read this book, it will make you go out and buy the first 6 books and break your neck trying to read to catch up to the current book. Also, at the end of this book is a preview to book 8 that will make you scream! I'm sorry, I can't tell you about it, you just have to buy the book. I promise you, this installment is not one to be missed!