"Romantic horrror at its best"

The Neteru is born once a millennium to give peace to a trouble world. She is gifted with powers that enable her to destroy the supernatural creatures who want to bring Armageddon to the world. Damali Richards is this era's Neteru, a rock singer and leader of a band whose members are Guardians, sworn to help her in the fight against evil. The vampires were planning a grand feast starring the human race as the main course, but Damali and her group stopped them. However, the only man she ever loved, Carlos Rivera, was turned into a master vampire and is believed to be dead.

She doesn't know that he is rescued by a group of monks who are sworn to fight the Dark and believe that Carlos is worth redeeming. He returns to Damali and they have ten beautiful days together before they part in anger. He consolidates his empire while she and her group travel to Brazil where they have to find the creature that is killing and eating scores of humans. The creature lures Carlos down there as well and tries to seduce him but Damali won't let any evil being live who threatens her world and her beloved.

Both Damali and Carlos are fascinating characters who are polar opposites. His love for the Neteru is so pure it can bring about his redemption while she is a powerful mage who needs to battle evil but also wants to be with the vampire she loves. Their love story makes THE HUNTED a horror novel with a twist that will appeal to fans of both genres. L.A. Banks has written a work one can sink their teeth into enjoying every bite.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 1, 2004

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Summary

A Neteru—a hunter or a huntress—is born every thousand years in favor of the Warriors of Light as they fight against the Dark Realms. But Damali Richards is the Millennium Neteru. The one who will play a pivotal role in the Final War. The Warriors of Light had been waiting for her and the Dark Realms will do anything to either possess or destroy her. What they did not account for was the man who would love her.

Damali Richard has been to hell and back—literally—and she is not eager to repeat the trip. A Vampire civil war has been averted, but there were casualties and she believes that Carlos Rivera, former lover turned master vampire, is one of them. His death has not only shaken her emotions, but weakened her powers as well. But then Damali gets word that horrific killings are taking place in Brazil. The vampire civil war has left a small door to hell open and new and dangerous foes have risen from the Dark Realms. The leader, a deadly female, is set on a path of destruction. However, her blood lust hides a nefarious plan and the newly resurrected Carlos Rivera is at the heart of it. But Damali is not about to lose her man a second time, so she plans to send this old girl right back to hell she came from—no matter who stands in her way.