L. A. Banks’ second novel in her Vampire Huntress series, the Awakening seems more like a hodgepodge of current vampire flicks than an original piece of work.

Carlos Rivera, the master vampire awakens in the sixth realm of Hell, to find himself before the Vampire Council. While there the council assigns him the task to bring Damali, the vampire slayer, to the underworld and impregnate her on her twenty-first birthday.  After all, she is the millennium Neteru who apparently has supernatural powers that involves her ability to produce day-walkers, vampires that can live in sunlight. If these forms of vampires are born into the world, then they can ultimately destroy the human race. Fallon Nuit, another more evil vampire desires Damali for himself, because he sees Damali’s genetic abilities as a means to further his rank among the council. However, both Fallon and Carlos forget to realize that Damali and Carlos relationship is far from over and that Damali has a team of angels on her side.  Her band- the Guardians, sole purpose is to slay vampires and the Blue Knights Templars were created to defend and protect Damali. With all these forces on Damali’s side, will it be enough to keep her away from Carlos’ lure? Will Carlos break his allegiance to his soul’s proprietors to save the woman who is lord over his heart?  Will the world be saved?

The first time I read a book from this series, I applauded it.  I thought the subject was fresh and anticipated a sequel, as I am a big fan of Anne Rice and Brams Stoker. However, after reading all three novels in the series and after much reflection my view of this author’s work has changed. Although Banks has a talented writing ability her characters, plot, theme and conflict are trite and unoriginal. Damali’s character is a black “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” with the genetic makeup of the Underworld’s Selena, the death dealer. Carlos’s predestined love match resembles that of Angel and the vulnerability of Michael’s (both characters of which were love interests to the vampire heroines in “Buffy” and “Underworld”, respectively). Banks also rips off chunks of “Blade,” “Aliens,” “the Matrix,” Queen of the Damned and Interview with a Vampire to name a few.  I really wanted Banks to do something that these books lacked not just throw black characters in the mix and rewrite Romeo and Juliet. I would like to know more about the relationship between Puerto Rican and other Latino immigrants and Vampires that she has presented in this series, to discuss why vampires are sensual creatures and how it affects their outcomes and how it advances the plot.

I think this story is good for paranormal romance beginners, because the activities that go on are trendy and familiar. But for underworld and horror enthusiasts, stick with Anne Rice and Stephen King until Banks fourth novel, The Bitten comes out. Hopefully, her next book will have more of Bank’s signature to it, whatever that is.