The Awakening

Spoken Word artist Damali Richards never thought that the fate of the world would rest on her shoulders. Nor did she ever envision she could be a possible vessel for a race of daywalkers. But the most powerful master vampire she has ever met, Fallon Nuit, the Fallen Night, wants her to launch his empire, even if it means setting off a civil war in the vampire ranks. This bloody war is about to spill over onto the streets and Damali is the only one who can stop it. Now an unlikely variable has entered into the equation, an ex-lover now turned vampire with an agenda of his own. And she must risk trusting him once more if they are to survive.

L. A. Banks received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband and children. She is currently at work on the next novel in the Vampire Huntress Legend series, THE HUNTED, which will be coming in June 2004. You can visit her at www.vampirehuntress.com for more.

Praise for Minion, the first book in The Vampire Huntress Legends:

"[Banks is] wildly creative and invents a totally new and refreshing milieu."
-Fangoria

"Cutting edge wit and plenty of urban heat flies from the pages of this quick read."
-Philadelphia Sunday Sun

"Blade meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. . .A pulsating blood-booster."
-Kirkus

"With an exciting premise and a cliffhanger ending, this first book in a new series packs a powerful punch."
-Booklist

"Minion is an action-packed journey. . . If you enjoy Anne Rice, Blade or Buffy then Minion is the novel you have been waiting for."
-Tananarive Due, bestselling author The Good House