Helpful Score: 12
I found this, the second book of the Vampire Huntress series, slightly better than Minion, the first. However, some of the same things that bothered me about that book came to surface in this one too.
I'm glad I hung onto Minion because The Awakening picked up right where that left off, and I had to reread certain portions of that first book to reacquaint myself with some of the things that went down already. I don't think the author did a very good job of allowing this book to stand on it's own. Granted, series such as this are meant to be read in order anyway, but like Laurell K. Hamilton does in her Anita books, if she needs to refer to an incident from a previous book, she'll usually provide enough additional detail so that new readers can continue reading, albeit with a little less knowledge and detail than someone who's been reading the series in order. This was not the case here; if you didn't read the previous book, and remember all of it's little nuances, you're going to need to before starting on this one. As it stands, I still had to refer back to things from book one since I'd read it 8 months prior to this one.
The story line is still interesting enough to hold interest, and because Banks doesn't go into detail on each of the main characters in this book like she did in Minion, we don't have as many passages that drag on too long like in the first book, though they're certainly not gone completely. At times while reading, I felt that maybe the writing was done in discrete parts, not necessarily in sequence, since sometimes the scenes didn't seem to blend transparently as they could've. Like maybe she'd forgotten she wrote something in an earlier scene, and then describes or talks about it again in a later scene, which may or may not completely jive with what was stated previously. Again, I noticed this behavior much more prominently in the first book than this one.
I won't go into a synopsis of the story itself, since you can read elsewhere here or at the BookCrossing journal entry for this book. But suffice to say, this series looks like it's going to get even better going forward.
I'm glad I hung onto Minion because The Awakening picked up right where that left off, and I had to reread certain portions of that first book to reacquaint myself with some of the things that went down already. I don't think the author did a very good job of allowing this book to stand on it's own. Granted, series such as this are meant to be read in order anyway, but like Laurell K. Hamilton does in her Anita books, if she needs to refer to an incident from a previous book, she'll usually provide enough additional detail so that new readers can continue reading, albeit with a little less knowledge and detail than someone who's been reading the series in order. This was not the case here; if you didn't read the previous book, and remember all of it's little nuances, you're going to need to before starting on this one. As it stands, I still had to refer back to things from book one since I'd read it 8 months prior to this one.
The story line is still interesting enough to hold interest, and because Banks doesn't go into detail on each of the main characters in this book like she did in Minion, we don't have as many passages that drag on too long like in the first book, though they're certainly not gone completely. At times while reading, I felt that maybe the writing was done in discrete parts, not necessarily in sequence, since sometimes the scenes didn't seem to blend transparently as they could've. Like maybe she'd forgotten she wrote something in an earlier scene, and then describes or talks about it again in a later scene, which may or may not completely jive with what was stated previously. Again, I noticed this behavior much more prominently in the first book than this one.
I won't go into a synopsis of the story itself, since you can read elsewhere here or at the BookCrossing journal entry for this book. But suffice to say, this series looks like it's going to get even better going forward.
Deborah F. (DeborahSue) - , reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Huntress, Bk 2) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A weird mix of heaven, hell, vampires, guardians, and demons.
Helpful Score: 2
Gotta love a good vampire book.
Helpful Score: 2
I have read 5 of this series, they are all great books, I am waiting for another one to come out soon.
Patricia A. (armstrongpaw1) reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Huntress, Bk 2) on + 101 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Book 2 of the Vampire Huntress Legend, the story of Damali and Carlos continues. As the Neteru, Damali is a mortal so powerful that the vampire world is about to start a war to possess her. If her child is sired by a vampire, he will be a Day-Walker, a vampire with no restrictions and all of the evil. Fallon Nuit, a rogue vamp, has allied himself with the deadly Amanthra demons in order to claim her...but the Vampire Council has other plans. And now Carlos, her ex-lover turned Master Vampire has an agenda of his own. Damali must risk trusting him again if they are to survive. Just as gripping as the first book. Makes you not want to wait for the next book, which I am also posting today.
Helpful Score: 1
Great read... The first few pages were a struggle. After that, it picked up and the story moved along.
Helpful Score: 1
better than minion...
So, the saga continues. What left me hanging in the 1st book, turned out to make the 2nd book better than the 1st. Of course, you are still left hanging, because you know there is a 3rd book.
The Damali-Carlos union is definitely not over. Poor Carlos. You really do want this guy to be the good guy and maybe he will, master-vamp, or not.
But what about the detective? The epilogue sure makes you think he may be a vamp, too. Hmmmm.........
The book is good and I'll definitely move on to the next one. A little slow at times, with too much discussion, but I guess you need that sometimes to find out what is going on with the Neteru/Damali.
The Damali-Carlos union is definitely not over. Poor Carlos. You really do want this guy to be the good guy and maybe he will, master-vamp, or not.
But what about the detective? The epilogue sure makes you think he may be a vamp, too. Hmmmm.........
The book is good and I'll definitely move on to the next one. A little slow at times, with too much discussion, but I guess you need that sometimes to find out what is going on with the Neteru/Damali.
keeps you guessing... very complicated plot, yet easy to read - never able to guess what will happen next!
good series of books
Fast paced and exciting. eally good book.
It's my own fault for not beginning at the beginning, but I had this book two in my hands and no current access to book one. I gave up about halfway through because there is some seriously complicated world building and I think you need book one for it all to make sense.
This book was difficult to get into if you hadn't read the first one. There were several references to the first book that were not explained. Having said all of that, this was a very fast-paced exciting sequel to the first book. I enjoyed watching Denali gradually grow and make some mistakes along with some good decisions. The strength that she retains is amazing and I enjoyed how Miss Banks weaves all of this together. A little far-fetched sometimes, but this is urban fantasy, right? If you liked the first one, enjoy this one to the hilt!
L.A. Banks really figures out how to steam things up in the Awakening, the second in the series. I am not a fan of romance novels because the seem too predictable to me - this series keeps you sweating out the ending. Absolutely loved it!
I thought this was a very good series once it got started.
Nymphadora T. (nymphadora) reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Huntress, Bk 2) on + 95 more book reviews
I guess after reading all of the LKH books, this series just doesn't do it for me. I keep reading the books, hoping one of them will impress me.
Linda A. (Springfieldreader) reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Huntress, Bk 2) on + 458 more book reviews
An enjoyable read.
Book looks like new. I got about 20 pages into it and completely lost interest.
Never been read, still looks new. Bought last year at B.Daltons.
