The Shadows

Vampire Huntress Legend #11

by L.A. Banks

The Dark Realms are taking cover after an angel onslaught from On High. The Antichrist has been injured and the fourth biblical seal has been broken. Yonnie and Val, a strange combination of a daywalker and an angel hybrid, have joined Damali and Carlos's team. And the two new Council-level vamps, Elizabeth Bathory and Lucrezia Borgia, are still in recovery from their last mission.

Seething in the underworld is the Unnamed One, so furious that he's bringing the battle topside, unleashing a full-frontal assault on mankind for the offenses committed by the Neteru team. This time, the Guardian team must address serious human casualties and collateral damage while Nuit rebuilds Blood Music from a mere record label into a media brainwashing empire for the Dark Lord.

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Romance

335 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2008

About the author

A pseudonym used by Leslie Esdaile Banks, she also wrote under the names:
Leslie E. Banks
Leslie Esdaile
Leslie Esdaile Banks
Leslie Banks
Alexis Grant

L.A. Banks, a native Philadelphian, was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton undergraduate program. With many awards to her credit, Banks also held a masters of fine arts degree in film and media arts from Temple University. She lived in Philadelphia with her family until she passed away on the morning of August 2, 2011.

Visit L.A. Banks' page on the Macmillan website: http://us.macmillan.com/author/labanks

Reviews

[Krystal Armstrong]

This is my all time FAVORITE series! There are 13 books in L.A. Banks' 'Vampire Huntress' series, and I recommend reading them in order. The Shadows is book 11. it's a sensual love story full of action, adventure, mystery, and strong, well developed characters with fascinating plots based on spiritual principles. If you are looking for a series to lose yourself in, THIS IS IT! I keep them on my night stand and go to sleep smiling. This will NOT be the last time I re read the series!!

[Adrienna]

I usually enjoy reading this series, but this book I was a bit stumped. There was a majority of the literature in this novel for me, was a bore and patiently waited for the action. SOme characters, I was not familiar with and felt like they were just thrown in, and could be just no connection for me (also been quite some time since I read the books via series). There were some action scenes that left me speechless, and then jump to a scene that was not so interesting or entertaining and had to wait until it came back to that scene that left me on the edge.

Towards the ending, number of man was 6 yet the book mentioned 5; some parts I would have to study other historical text(s) or literature such as Ausar and Aset (African) which I am not fully familiar with. I will check the book we have in our library to see if it touches on these characters (Africana) or search elsewhere. I did like the author leaving me curious about some of the historical facets introduced in the book.

Overall, it was an okay read and surprisingly the group once again goes untouched and remarkably jettisoned elsewhere...and plan to read the next book to see where this leads me.

2.75 stars

Adrienna Turner\Author of Tormented Dreams

[BEETHEEBOOKBEAUTY☆]

OMG! I can't believe I only have one more book left in this series! This was another action packed book with many twists and turns. Honestly, I did not think the dark side would actually bring back Dracula or do Father Patrick like that 🥺🥺. I will say this book had a lot of parallel to the world today from the influence of music and TV to how we all need to come together and love on each other. Also, Yonnie's breaking point did pull on my heartstrings🥺. The ending had the hairs on my neck standing up, like where does the team go from here?!? And when is everyone gonna make their pregnancy announcements 🙄 Because all these secrets are not gonna be helpful... But i can't wait to start reading the last book😭🩷

[Rebecca Lien]

Commentary

This plot line just hit a little close on the Illuminati vibes. I think the author must be familiar with the conspiracy theory that the famous can only attain fame if there is an evil entity keeping the other talents down for some reason or another. I am here for it though! The book reads well and I was not disappointed in the writing. The theory does get a little out there but I think that blending the cultures and mythos finally became truly difficult. L. A. Banks does pull off the feat though and in a brilliant stroke of genius.

Tarot Card -Eight of Swords

Creative solutions to hard problems. You are not stuck you're just not finding a good solution.

[TinaMarie]

Still entertaining and engaging but very heavy on righteous messages

[Heather Forensky]

Comic drawings were cool to see inside. While I am reading everything out of order, I am starting to become familiar with everything.

[Sasquatch]

more angels, more devil stuff. the interpersonal drama is still there, so i would still consider this series to be paranormal romance instead of an urban fantasy, though the urban is still very much there as well. the end is near!

[pianogal]

Not a bad book, but it felt kind of like the "Empire Strikes Back" of the series. We know that the next book will finish the Apocalypse. This one just set up all the details. It was a little disjointed and I feel like we've already covered a lot of the ground that was discussed in this one. I liked that Damali and Carlos have finally figured out how to be together and stopped fighting all the time - so that was nice.

I guess I just need to read the final book and finish this series once and for all...

[July]

Damali and Carlos's and the team are extremely weak. It takes Dan to figure out why. Which is very very interesting. Some of the women are pregnant. Lucifer goes after Father Pat Carlo's Father Seer. While Sebastian spills the beans about all the pregnancies. Father Pat mentor Urian an Archangel sets the seed that maybe it is a ploy to get the Dark side out to set a trap.
Some new characters, lots of twists and turns. Very long plot. I liked the book. I will be sad to see the series end with the next book.

[Anntionette]

when i started this series i was in it for the vampire story line. I still love the story but it's not about vampires.. it's about good vs evil.. the devil vs angels. it's taken a turn that i think alot of readers won't enjoy. I loved the book. I will finish the next as well. but as far as it being a vampire huntress book... it's fallen short. i love religion and different views but this isn't where i wanted the story to go...

[Antionette]

when i started this series i was in it for the vampire story line. I still love the story but it's not about vampires.. it's about good vs evil.. the devil vs angels. it's taken a turn that i think alot of readers won't enjoy. I loved the book. I will finish the next as well. but as far as it being a vampire huntress book... it's fallen short. i love religion and different views but this isn't where i wanted the story to go...

[Heather]

Not bad, but not great either. Just didn't have the suspense, action, and steam that I've come to expect from this series. Lots of set-up for next book, which will hopefully have more action than this one. It was cool that Dracula was raised, he's a warrior and THAT battle scene was interesting. Looking forward to next book; to finding out how it all ends.

[Jenn Davis]

I am actually so sad that I'm almost done with this series! I had read the first 2 books a dew months ago, after borrowing them from my SIL. I was hesitant to read them, but I find that I am kicking myself for not starting them sooner. This IS a wonderfully DEEP series, full of passion, love, romance, danger and a new twist to well know religions or mythology.

[Vernell]

As always Ms. banks has out done herself, again. If, I was not working I would have kept reading until I finish. I love the fact that Ayana can use her voice to destroy or annoyed evil as was shown when Fallon Nuit tried to entice her to the window. Loooove it... The Vampire Huntress Series is the best, I have recommended the series to friends and co-workers to read.

[Debbie Chittenden]

Literally, when Hell is knocking on your door; where do you go? And what do you do? You open up and take a stand. The Neteru team fights from dusk 'til dawn. There is never any rest for the weary and death is always around the next bend. A powerful battle ensues between Good and Evil.

[Sheila Jones]

I love all her books.

[Steve]

The Guardian team loses one for the first time.

[Jacki]

I'm the Jacki in this book!!!!

[Naomi]

The entire series ROCKS!!! The last book of the series called THIRTEENTH will be available Feb 2009.

[Angela]

I didn't realize Detroit was mentioned in this series. I like how it's portrayed. It has heart and soul.

[ChaosDuchess]

Great read. Lots of action. Unfortunately, you can tell that the series is coming to an end. Still, I can't wait to read the final book.

[Tiffany]

It was good.

[Tania Smeriglio]

In this eleventh installment, I loved the addition of the complicated characters: Lucretia Borgia, Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad the Impaler. And of course, Damali and Carlos are quiet complex.

[Erin]

So good!

[Alexis]

The story, her level of detail, the depth of her world and mythology - just amazing. I hope I still have this series somewhere because I am in the mood to reread it! It was that good.

[Stephanie]

This series never disappoints... I'm sad I am getting close to the end though.

[Angel]

Great author, great books, great series...I will miss her writing!

[J Varner]

One of my favorite books in the series.

[Josephine]

enjoyed the entire series.

[Tina]

If you haven't read the previous books, you'll be fairly clueless about the people and relationships in this book. Recommend reading them in order.