"An exciting vampire tale"

Covenmaster Amadeus of the New York City half-human and half-vampire dhampires informs his top slayer Alek Knight that he chose him to replace him in the near future as Covenmaster. Apparently Amadeus has seen a vision of one of his protégés turning traitor and killing him. Alek rejects the notion that any of them would betray their guide and mentor.

However, soon Amadeus concludes that the defector is Alek and apparently the other Dhampires in the coven led by Sean Stone want to slay him. Alek defends his life even as he begins a quest to find the long lost Chronicle, that tells the In the Beginning story of vampires. Joining him on his quest is his natural enemy Teresa the ancient vampire and his deceased sister Debra, who he sent to the grave apparently from the spirit world. Ultimately, tome or not, a final confrontation between master and student is imminent.

SLAYER is an exciting vampire tale that takes the creatures of the night and their archenemy dhampires and places them in modern Manhattan where the two species seem to fit in with the human populace as if Karen Koehler chronicled the real world. The story line is loaded with gory action, plenty of biting excitement as the Covenmaster and the top slayer step closer to a final conflict, and a gritty view of New York that enhances the battles of blood. Though one must wonder if Amadeus caused a self-fulfilling prophecy onto himself and his top gun, and several questions remain unanswered (perhaps in future tales), sub-genre fans have quite a treat with this powerful horror thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 28, 2002

Summary

The Hunter His name is Alek Knight. He is tall and beautiful...and a master assassin. His raven black hair is worn long to symbolize his status in the Coven, his cult of Vatican- trained, vampire-slaying allies. He is a master swordsman, a prodigy even among ancients. And for good reason: he is one of the rare and deadly dhampiri--an evolved form of the creature we know of today as Vampire. Alek possesses an almost supernatural talent for slaying vampires and his weapon of choice is the legendary Double Serpent Katana, an ancient sword forged by master swordsman Hattori Hanzo for the Japanese Ninja class over 400 years ago. The Hunted Once Alek was the most powerful acolyte of the ancient Covenmaster Amadeus. Once he was heir to the seat of Covenmaster. Then the sins of his past returned to haunt him and drove him to betray his master and all he once believed in. Haunted by undying sorrow and the many murders he committed in the Coven's name, Alek turned on his fellow slayers and became a rogue determined to discover the true purpose of his existence. Now he lives in the shadows of the city by night, hunted by an army of immortal soldiers who seek his blood in exchange for his betrayal. The war is coming, the battle lines are drawn...may the best immortal win.