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Vampire Huntress Legend #12
The Thirteenth
The entire Neteru Guardian team is on the run, having now been labeled as America’s most-wanted terrorists following the gruesome demon battle that felled the Washington Monument and crashed the front doors of the White House. The Antichrist is positioned for emergence, the powers of darkness have released the pale horse of the apocalypse, and half of the Neteru team is pregnant. Plagues from hell that ravage the country are being blamed on bioterrorism. The nation is under martial law. The Neterus and their team have gone underground. If things weren’t bad enough, the Dark Realm breaks the sixth biblical seal, which plunges the world into perpetual darkness and, irrevocably, into Armageddon.
293 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2009
30 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Banks
59 books1,262 followersA 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 17, 2009
The Thirteenth is the last in a Vampire huntress Legend. Damali and Carlos a married Neteru and their Guardian team have just been blamed for a terrorist attack in D.C.Which was the gruesome battle between the Dark Realms. The Light has just dropped them off in Bermuda. They have no money and no resources. They must depend on the light to find help. Meanwhile the Devil and the Dark realm has unleashed a series of Plages. These plagues have caused humans to become sick and many to become zombies. Damali and Carlos find a elderly ship captain that believes in the light. They take to the seas where they (the pregnant women, Damali and her team) evoke a underwater pyramid from deep under the Bermuda triangle. This triangle has the knowledge from Atlantis. The team is positioned to fight the Anichrist. The Devil has opened the sixth seal and the Pale horse has been release. The Huntress team must fight the Antichrist and the legions from hell during Armageddon.
This book is the best in the Vampire Huntress Series!! The series from L.A. Banks first book Minion to The Thirteenth shows a steady progression from the young crazy out of control Damali and the money hungry territorial Carlos to a more mature Damali and Carlos. This mature team still has trials and tribulations within the team but they are more focused on doing what is right for the team and the light. Carlos is focused on his wife Damali and their unborn child which is a big contradiction to the past where Carlos on several occasions showed love for Damali but often hurt her and was uncaring about her needs. This is the book to read of the year. If you want action, adventure, romance and urban swag The Vampire Huntress Legend Series are the books that will make you think beyond this world. It will terrify you and make you fall in love with the characters. You will identify with the situations and love the matrix of family and friends. Of all of the Vampire books L.A. Banks takes her series above and beyond by adding biblical text, information and using using current events from right out of the headlines.
This book is the best in the Vampire Huntress Series!! The series from L.A. Banks first book Minion to The Thirteenth shows a steady progression from the young crazy out of control Damali and the money hungry territorial Carlos to a more mature Damali and Carlos. This mature team still has trials and tribulations within the team but they are more focused on doing what is right for the team and the light. Carlos is focused on his wife Damali and their unborn child which is a big contradiction to the past where Carlos on several occasions showed love for Damali but often hurt her and was uncaring about her needs. This is the book to read of the year. If you want action, adventure, romance and urban swag The Vampire Huntress Legend Series are the books that will make you think beyond this world. It will terrify you and make you fall in love with the characters. You will identify with the situations and love the matrix of family and friends. Of all of the Vampire books L.A. Banks takes her series above and beyond by adding biblical text, information and using using current events from right out of the headlines.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2011
“Dayaaaaaaaaam” "Alls I gottas say" is all and all this was a good ending. Not great or spectacular...just "good". I just kept hoping to see Jesus make a guest appearance; but I guess that would be too much like blasphemy. The battle was epic (don't get me wrong), all the seals were broken, angels came to battle, the ancestor spirits rose to fight, EVERYONE was going for "BROKE". There was this intense buildup.....and then I was left hanging................................. THE END! In the words of Shabazz, “FO SHO?” “Why yall gotta play a sista like that?” “That shit don’t make no kinda sense.”Yep, “but I ain’t no hata”. Now I have to cleanse myself of this horrible slang, ON TO THE NEXT BOOK!
January 28, 2011
This is the finale of L.A. Banks' Vampire Huntress Legend series, and I only read it to finish off the series (which I read because I happen to love vampire novels). As with every other book in this series, it is drawn out and preachy. Unfortunately it is also anti-climactic, but epically so, because the anticipation for the final battle had been building from book 4, at least. You go through an entire book (the first 160 of 235 pages) trying to figure out how to kill a boss-level demon that winds up going down in less than a page. The master vampires and the Devil's wife (who literally bring hell on earth) go down in less than a paragraph, each. This is why I gave the book one star. That it is as bad as the previous 11 books was expected, but that it also didn't deliver on the amazing end-of-days battle it had promised made me wish I'd never started the series at all.
We meet the founding members of the Neteru team in book 1 (Minion), and the team only gets bigger (and supposedly better) as the book goes on, yet they don't behave like seasoned "warriors of the light" at all. This is the group that's slated to save mankind, the professionals, the bad ass of all bad asses, and yet the members are throwing temper tantrums in the finale because they have to actually save the world. If your heroes don't even have faith in the good side (which they should with all the religious over-tones, since nothing is subtle or nuanced in L.A.'s writing), why should the reader? Not to mention the dialogue between the characters is awkward, and makes you wonder if L.A.'s last encounter with slang was with suburban kids in 1998.
In addition to having heroes that are really hard to find believable, the book does a lot of cramming. ALL of the books in this series crammed, but this was the worst. Not only did you have to keep track of the convoluted plot, and the characters previously introduced, L.A. chooses the last book to introduce even more characters. Supposedly, the presence of these last minute add-ons is crucial because our cream-of-the-crop team could not save the world without them. For me, it got to the point that every time a new name appeared, I skipped three pages (in some cases, I even fast-forwarded to the end of the chapter).
Also, if you're not a Revelations (the last book in the Bible) buff you'll probably find yourself skipping a lot of pages because L.A. goes through great lengths to mention the seven seals and the horsemen. I still don't know the meanings of the seals, and I still don't care. Basically, the seals just wound up meaning more hyped up bad guys were coming, and they would die within a sentence (so much for the hype).
Finally, the book literally feels cut off. Perhaps L.A.'s editors told her to wrap it up and she ran out of time, or they went at the original manuscript with a hacksaw. Either way, the beginning of the book feels slower than molasses, while the ending feels like it was blown out of a whoopee cushion (quick and sloppy). I wouldn't recommend it to my arch nemesis.
We meet the founding members of the Neteru team in book 1 (Minion), and the team only gets bigger (and supposedly better) as the book goes on, yet they don't behave like seasoned "warriors of the light" at all. This is the group that's slated to save mankind, the professionals, the bad ass of all bad asses, and yet the members are throwing temper tantrums in the finale because they have to actually save the world. If your heroes don't even have faith in the good side (which they should with all the religious over-tones, since nothing is subtle or nuanced in L.A.'s writing), why should the reader? Not to mention the dialogue between the characters is awkward, and makes you wonder if L.A.'s last encounter with slang was with suburban kids in 1998.
In addition to having heroes that are really hard to find believable, the book does a lot of cramming. ALL of the books in this series crammed, but this was the worst. Not only did you have to keep track of the convoluted plot, and the characters previously introduced, L.A. chooses the last book to introduce even more characters. Supposedly, the presence of these last minute add-ons is crucial because our cream-of-the-crop team could not save the world without them. For me, it got to the point that every time a new name appeared, I skipped three pages (in some cases, I even fast-forwarded to the end of the chapter).
Also, if you're not a Revelations (the last book in the Bible) buff you'll probably find yourself skipping a lot of pages because L.A. goes through great lengths to mention the seven seals and the horsemen. I still don't know the meanings of the seals, and I still don't care. Basically, the seals just wound up meaning more hyped up bad guys were coming, and they would die within a sentence (so much for the hype).
Finally, the book literally feels cut off. Perhaps L.A.'s editors told her to wrap it up and she ran out of time, or they went at the original manuscript with a hacksaw. Either way, the beginning of the book feels slower than molasses, while the ending feels like it was blown out of a whoopee cushion (quick and sloppy). I wouldn't recommend it to my arch nemesis.
December 4, 2017
Fantastic finish! I wasn't sure if everyone would go down at the end of days or not, which is how I prefer it. L.A. Banks ended her series well. And she left it open for a spin-off series. For me growing up in church, reading Revelations and listening to the Left Behind books on tape, the end of days is a real nightmare for me. Banks took the nightmare and multiplied it. Damali, Carlos, and their team are constantly finding themselves backed into a corner. Undead, demons, vampires, and altered animals come at them from all directions. The team struggles against exhaustion and desperation to stay ahead of the game. It was a ride from start to finish. I loved reading this series and I can't wait to read more of Banks' literature! Five out of five stars to The Thirteenth.
January 3, 2011
I've finally finished it!!! OMG I cried. I cheered. I anticipated reading this book and the moment came to buy it. I got my copy but couldn't crack the seal. WHY....because this book is THE LAST ONE of the Vampire Huntress Series. I knew that if I opened the cover I'd read it in one sitting. I tried to pace myself. With every page turn, I longed for more. The series had so much history weaves all through it and I loved that. Learning about all the Kings & Queens of old was THE most fascinating not to mention the geographical history. I would love for this series to continue...just one more book pleaseeeeeeeee! I will re-read these books for years to come.
January 5, 2019
Rereading this book again has opened my eyes to so much that I missed years ago because of my inexperience and age. Mama Banks definitely put her foot in this series and I wish she was here to see this praise. The melding of so much information and truth from numerology to physics to chakras to so much more. It all aligns together and shows us that we have so much to work on within ourselves and in our communities. We are all protected by the One Creator and our decisions, desires, etc. all must align with our true purpose for us to make a difference. I love the duality of Damali's and Carlos' relationship so much. I'll be rereading again soon.
Read
January 22, 2010I was truly in love with Damali and Carlos. I devoured every single book as if it was the last Krispy Kreme donut in the world. Then not even half way, (not even close) i was so sick of Damali and Carlos i thought i was going to puke. I figured i'd get back to it that eventually i'd want to know if everybody had their babies o.k. Alas, that was not the case this time. I've hardly ever "not" finished a book (or a series)i've started and i kinda feel bad about it now. Oddly enough the only other series i never finished was also by L.A. Banks.
October 20, 2012
Just finish reading.... Like all of the vampire huntress series I enjoyed this book too. Banks the action pack drama and historical biblical history of the bible and it's regions. Like the union of the women and their strength of power coming together to fight evil. When we observe the world we live in there are some events that shows how our fellow man treat one another. Too much crime, not enough praying, tainted food with mercury, arsenic, and who known what else will come out in the news, the music, etc, etc,...........
June 4, 2015
Rest in peace to my favorite author
February 18, 2018
Finally will have completed this series. For me, I have only liked the first few books of the series, and the last few have been a bore to me, or just outlandish writing with way too many characters to keep track of or recall. With this being the last book of the series, the speed or pace is medium, and within less than 30% of the read, understand the rationale of the title. L.A. Banks also sprinkles in the prophecies coming from the book of Revelation, now moving into the sixth seal to be broken, speaks very minimal on the cash flow headed to the chip-ready embedded in humans, and chaos among the team as a whole. (As an author who is writing a series without the paranormal factor on chip implants, breaking of the seals, trumpets, etc. I will see how this author wraps this series up and adds pieces from the Bible).
This was not one of my favorite reads.
1.5 stars
This was not one of my favorite reads.
1.5 stars
June 28, 2023
Commentary
This series was so entertaining. If I re-read it I think I would start in the middle though. Minion and The Awakening gave great information I just didn’t find them as entertaining. I would definitely have talks about religion and ideology with a person as I was reading the series. The book club just got spiritual in nature. I wonder if a church book club has taken a look at the biblical accuracy?
Tarot Card
An event that makes you question everything!
This series was so entertaining. If I re-read it I think I would start in the middle though. Minion and The Awakening gave great information I just didn’t find them as entertaining. I would definitely have talks about religion and ideology with a person as I was reading the series. The book club just got spiritual in nature. I wonder if a church book club has taken a look at the biblical accuracy?
Tarot Card
An event that makes you question everything!
October 8, 2020
2nd time reading this series and I can't wait to read it for the 3rd time. LA Banks research is impeccable She definitely knows how to tell a good story.The story captures you from the first book to the last book in the series.
Sorry we lost LA Banks and to her family thank you for sharing her.
Sorry we lost LA Banks and to her family thank you for sharing her.
January 27, 2018
L.A. Banks has written a great series and I'm torn both ways in finally seeing the 'end' and wanting it to keep going as I've grown attached to all of her characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 1, 2009I'm going to miss this series. For real. It gave me some deep ass nightmare and I seriously couldn't watch the news without wanted to go get some can goods and several bottles of water. But that's neither here nor there. Back to the book, my favorite thing really is that she wasted no time on the whole bad guy long drawn-out end battle sequence. It was just quick, no-nonsense just off with their heads. I mean Lilith got offed in one damn sentence! Loved it! They dropped all the whole council just that quick. I love how she left us hoping/wondering if there's gonna be a new series. Which I for one, would be all about.
Throughout the whole series it was phenomenal to read something that touched on so many of my favorite subject. I'm talking Ancient Queens, Amazon, Jesuits, and Masons. I can't forget the ridiculously fly rides, the music, and definitely not the world travelling. I mean she even works Atlantis
into this series people. I actually can't even think of anything outside of Aliens and robots that she didn't play dough into some beautiful magic. In The Thirteenth, she threw everything except the Terminator/Matrix/iRobot twist. I mean there’s the zombie twist, elemental, and asteroid/meteor. I mean everything. And you know what freaked me out the most??? That if you don't watch the news you wouldn't know until you were half to work or some mess. Think about it...
I will say that the Net Squad didn't seem as outraged as I would have thought about most of humanity getting wiped out. More nightmares for me. When I was finished reading I got a little obsessed with the theme. Then I started watching all these end of the world movies (with happy endings of course). Then I started thinking about all the movies coming out this year: Terminator, 2012, The Horseman. We've been obsessed with the concept of the end of the world since...well, ever.
Throughout the whole series it was phenomenal to read something that touched on so many of my favorite subject. I'm talking Ancient Queens, Amazon, Jesuits, and Masons. I can't forget the ridiculously fly rides, the music, and definitely not the world travelling. I mean she even works Atlantis
into this series people. I actually can't even think of anything outside of Aliens and robots that she didn't play dough into some beautiful magic. In The Thirteenth, she threw everything except the Terminator/Matrix/iRobot twist. I mean there’s the zombie twist, elemental, and asteroid/meteor. I mean everything. And you know what freaked me out the most??? That if you don't watch the news you wouldn't know until you were half to work or some mess. Think about it...
I will say that the Net Squad didn't seem as outraged as I would have thought about most of humanity getting wiped out. More nightmares for me. When I was finished reading I got a little obsessed with the theme. Then I started watching all these end of the world movies (with happy endings of course). Then I started thinking about all the movies coming out this year: Terminator, 2012, The Horseman. We've been obsessed with the concept of the end of the world since...well, ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2017
one of my first vampire huntress series and I was in love till the end didn't want it to stop. When she passed away I cried the beauty of her mind imagination and spirit will be missed. I wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl she inspired me to pick it back up. She was unable to finish her other series but she was one author I'll always wish I could keep reading I became a fast big fan I will miss her.God bless her and her family for giving me her
May 23, 2021
i hate to say it, but i'm glad this series ended here. it was way too op, and like i've been saying since about book six or so, it got way into the biblical end of the world angels vs demon stuff for my liking, especially in this book.
August 3, 2013
This was really good. I have pretty much liked the entire series. I will say the only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was the lingo. It may be just me but I have a problem with with fierce and dynamic characters of this caliber using words like boo and and ma. That is fine I guess for teens but Neteru warriors? Really?. .................Really? Ok so slang is a serious pet peeve of mine, especially if it seems out of context or if there is just two much. But honestly that is just me, I know it is an issue and I have been learning to not let it keep me from reading amazing well written stories.
May 1, 2009
I am a fan from way back so I know Banks's style and most of her characters. I will miss them but most of all I'll miss Carlos Rivera--he is a gem. She absolutely built this man, showed all his strengths and faults. Don't know if she can recreate him in other stories but I will look for that personality.
The Thirteenth was too rushed, too much geography--took me away from the plot too often. That said, I am forever a L.A. Banks fan (and all the other names as well. Ha!). Reach for he sky, Lady!
The Thirteenth was too rushed, too much geography--took me away from the plot too often. That said, I am forever a L.A. Banks fan (and all the other names as well. Ha!). Reach for he sky, Lady!
January 18, 2010
The Last One! I can't believe it is over. The Neteru's and there team are deep in hiding for the safety of the children that the women are going to have if the world makes it through this one. Plagues are eating up and ravaging the world as we know it. Hell is trying to smoke out the team from hiding. The are trying every trick imaginable.
Carlos is the only one who can go up against the demon that the unnamed one will send. But he has to have his true name. And the team must find the tunnel where it is hidden. This book was a true work of ART... Loved It.
Carlos is the only one who can go up against the demon that the unnamed one will send. But he has to have his true name. And the team must find the tunnel where it is hidden. This book was a true work of ART... Loved It.
Read
June 25, 2011I can't believe what I'm hearing about L.A.Banks' health - really hoping everything works out for the best.
That being said I'm so very happy the way this series ended. I will admit for me it was more 'technical' on the religions and religious teachings towards the end than I was ready for (not heavy handed by any means, just too much too comprehend when bombs & creatures are flying overheard you know?) but sometimes you just have to go along for the ride and hope it all turns out ok in the end.
That being said I'm so very happy the way this series ended. I will admit for me it was more 'technical' on the religions and religious teachings towards the end than I was ready for (not heavy handed by any means, just too much too comprehend when bombs & creatures are flying overheard you know?) but sometimes you just have to go along for the ride and hope it all turns out ok in the end.
March 31, 2010
After all the build-up from the previous books, I thought this one resolved itself a little too quickly. We've fought Sebastian, Elizabeth and Lucrecia for centuries, and yet in the final battle they were able to all be beheaded with one swipe? Even Lilith? I seriously doubt that they would have gone down that easily.
I'm kinda glad this series is over - it started to drag a little for me. I haven't decided if I'm going to read the kids series or not. To be decided...
I'm kinda glad this series is over - it started to drag a little for me. I haven't decided if I'm going to read the kids series or not. To be decided...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2010
It was good but I read it more so that I could finish the series I had read all of them back to back and decided to wait to read the last one so when I did after reading a couple other different books in between it was more to complete it not because I was dying to see how it would end. But good it reads like the others before. I am glad that they did give a preview or update as to what happen after the kids were born.
April 7, 2011
Wow. It's over.
I LOOOOVED the final battle scene.
However, as this series got further along, it lost some of what I liked about it. Some of it's mystery and sensuality. And this final book had pretty much none of that. It was nonstop action. Which wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
This hasn't been my favorite series, but it had it's moments, and I think it ended well.
I LOOOOVED the final battle scene.
However, as this series got further along, it lost some of what I liked about it. Some of it's mystery and sensuality. And this final book had pretty much none of that. It was nonstop action. Which wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
This hasn't been my favorite series, but it had it's moments, and I think it ended well.
December 5, 2009
I have never wanted to read a book and get to the end to see what happen next. L.A. Banks has brought back the love of good against evil and vampires. I love these books and hope she starts to write another one soon.
April 15, 2010
*cries* I really cried when the book ended, it's taken me through he** nd back nd I loved it nd will miss it. I can't wait for the graphic novel. I mean I started reading the series in 06 so it's been along time...
February 24, 2012
This series started off soo well, however by the last two books it seemed as if the author was describing a movie she watched...a crappy plotless action film. If you removed all the fist bumping and head nodding the book would be at least 25% shorter. Lame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2012
Any time I opened this to read it I was on the edge of my seat. There is so much happening and I had to make sure I kept up. LA Banks ended this series wonderfully, but I didn't want the story to end. I may have to re-read these.
June 1, 2012
I've read all 13 books in this series. LA Banks does a great job of capturing your attention from the first page and holding you to the very last page and still have you wanting for more. This was my first time reading books of this nature, but I became an instant fan.
August 8, 2012
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. This capped the series off and ugh. I wanted more!
October 13, 2016
I enjoyed every moment ,there was a so much action it kept me captivated . L. A. BANKS is a story telly with a cu
Ability to write so vividly u think u are a part of the story. I wish there were more to look forward to.
Ability to write so vividly u think u are a part of the story. I wish there were more to look forward to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews