MINION

author: L.A. BANKS

This book has been with me for almost a year now and I just read it coz I don't have any more books to read and I've been cutting back with my expenses. *sigh* Anyway, I have been eying this vampire series ever since i'v seen it beside LKHamilton's Anita Blake Series in the book shielves of my favorate bookstore which is BESTSELLERS - Robinsons Galeria (They have friendly staffs there compared to other bookstores). Usually the cover of the book will be the reason why I pick the book up and then the over view written at the back will determine if the book is worth a read, worth the money or its just plain crap. This series has been around before twilight is, and I have to say Bank's vampires are unique and it won't make Stoker roll in his grave laughing or cry in his grave... ROFL, well I think you know what I mean.^_^

So, enter Damali.. Vampire huntress... known as the Neteru. A Neteru is only born once in a millienia. He or she is the champion of heaven to battle the forces of evil/darkness. Marlene, here adapted mother took care of her and trained her when the time comes when she will be a fully grown Neteru. Banks, vampires as I mentioned is unique, he made them the generals of the dark lord which si lucifer and placed them on the last canto of hell (according to dante's hell). They are the most highest ranking creatures in hell and they are not a pretty vampire like lestat or Jean-claude when they transform into their real figure. They are demon like or something. Like Stoker's Dracula crossed to the nesferato. However, even if this falls to the "OMG! not another vampire novel series." I still like this coz Banks created a whole new breed and vampire politics and life style. Like incorporating vampire concepts with gangwars, mafias, triAds, yakuzas and the like. And they are not all that bad, they actually work to balance between light and darkness (banks doesnt use the term good vrs. evil).

But i only have one complain in the book and its not related to the story line. Its the way Banks wright the book. As an african american writer living in an african american community she uses slang words that is popular with the african american culture. Not all people could understand those slangs. When I was reading the book its like i'm watching a movie created by people from the bronks or the hood. And to be honest it annoys me. Really, coz its hard to analize her story line and then struggle to understand the words. And I think that's the reason why her book doesn't get to be #1 NYtimes bestseller because of that. Almost all vampire series gets to be number one one time or the other but with this series I think that's the series.

After reading this book which is the first book of Bank's Vamp Huntress series which is now running 12books in all and another book in the works which is supposbly the last of its series and a comic adaptation by Debel brothers under Marvel same with Anita Blake series. I categories her book as a good read. Nice new concept with vampires that still stay within vampire norm. But i'll stick in buying 2nd hand books with this series. I don't see it yet that its worth my money to spend on its new ones.

note: damali's comic adaptation kinda look like Anita with bronze skin.. lol well it makes sense since its Brett Booth who is doing the art work and every AVH series fans know that it was BB who first drew the Anita comic under debel brothers.

Three words... WOW!

This is the most romantic vampire novel I have ever read. And considering my track record in collecting and reading vampire novels (I think I have read more than a dozen's dozens of them). I self proclaim that I am qualified to say so that THIS IS INDEED THE MOST ROMANTIC VAMPIRE NOVEL. Also I have to admit ABVH isn't this romantic. And please *rolls eyes* don't even mention twilight for me coz that is such a common childish romance. Vampirism is just an added spice to it. You can atually find the same romantic context in other non-vampire novels.

Vampire Queen Lady Elyssa Amaterasu Yamato Wentworth is a thousand year old vampire one of the last old blood lines of the royal family of vampires. Vampire hubby Rex just died and her monk of a human servant recently died due to illness. But her precious servant didn't die before training and sending his last gift to his mistress.

Enter Jacob, ever gorgeous stunning hunk, trained to be the perfect servant for lady Elyssa. I don't know if its true love or serendipity. But Jacob endures the torments and humiliation that Lady Elyssa makes him do even though his fighting with his own self for he has the personality of an alpha male. She pushes him away afraid to loose another human servant and that she won't be able to endure another lost. So she goes on torturing him and doing things enable for him to walk away from her. One morning Jacob nearly did walk away but came to a realization that he is drawn to the lady Elyssa more than carnal cravings nor love, that his mere existence is to take care of her. He knew it the moment he saw her for the first time when he was still a vampire slayer together with his brother.

Aside from the story revolving around the sexual hunger and blood lust of vampires and their relationships with their human servants. The book also tells Lady Elyssa's struggle of keeping her status/power in the vampire political structure. Upon the death of Rex her husband, the vampire council has been pressuring her in remarrying. In the long run you would notice in the story how she put a strong alpha female facade which in fact she is now suffering of a blood diseases that has been killing most vampires already and its slowly killing her. Its also the very same reason why her previous human servant sent Jacob to her coz he knew about his mistress condition even though she kept it from him. She hides it from the council for if it goes out it will be an opportunity for her opponents to use it as a disadvantage to other throw her from her current status.

The book ends when Lady Elyssa showed her true vampire form to Jacob hoping that he will turn back and bail out from her. But all he did was accept her whole heartedly. The story doesn't end there however this book has a sequel "The Mark of the Vampire Queen" Unfortunately I can't find its sequel to any bookstores here locally nor in ebay.. T.T I can't aford buying it in amazon or in Barnes and nobles coz to ship it here in the Philippines will cost more than the book. >.<

The book is an excellent example about the saying "People do crazy things when they are in love." I mean where do u find a man who will drop everything, change his career and train himself on how to care for you and even accepts you even if you keep on shoving him away specially even after seeing the monster in you... literally.

I bet in this day and age no such man exists anymore.. and if I do stand corrected it will be one in a billion.