The Hunted is a superb addition to L. A. Bank's Vampire Huntress series. The story begins with an investigation into a horrific attack on a science team in Rio de Janeiro. This scene prepares you for the wild ride filled with hot scenes, battles between good and evil and deals made with the forces of Heaven and Earth.

In the third installment of the Vampire Huntress series Damali Richards returns from her battle in hell, in despair over the lost of her soul mate and Vampire love Carlos Rivera. Her Neturu senses(the special powers that make Damali the ultimate Vampire Huntress)are weak and her heart is breaking. Unknown to Damali,Carlos survives and is brought back to life by the forces of good represented by Knights of Templar, a group of holy soldiers of various faith that have been chosen to devote their life to the ultimate fight against good and evil. Their passion for each other is flared almost immediately taking both lovers on a erotic ride neither of them can resist. Their love and lust is intense but there is a price. Damali is forced to see the reality of Carlos's world. Their love is pure, but the reality of the Darkness that comes with Carlos, a power master Vampire, hits Damali where it hurts the most, her heart. The reality that their love may not be enough to fight the darkness and draw of the Vampire lifestyle is a hard one for Damali to swallow.

While Dealing with the realities of love and darkness, Damali and Carlos must also face a new villain. This time around, they encounter a strong female with a scent that drives Carlos crazy anda history that connects her to Damali and her team. Their newest foe is determined to hunt and destroy Damali and claim Carlos for her own. The final battle occurs in Rio, the location of the massacre that captures you at the beginning of the book.

The Hunted will not disappoint those that have been following the Vampire Huntress series. Though not as erotic as The Awakening, the second book in the series, you are still provided with more than enough intensely hot moments to get the juices flowing and the blood boiling. Banks continues to develop Damali & Carlos' characters. As they mature in age their super-natural powers increases, the decisions they make become harder and the stakes become higher. We can all relate to their struggle as age and knowledge force them to make the hard decisions that will affect their lives forever. They both struggle to find their place in a world filled with forces that only want to bring them down.

I personally have enjoyed the entire Vampire Huntress Series. These books are fast pace reads filled with characters we can all relate to. Damali, Carlos, and the Guardians (Damali's team of vampire hunters whose ultimate goal is to protect the) are real people that were taken from their normal lives and put into extraordinary circumstances by forces beyond their control. They feel like real every day people that you could meet on the street. The Hunted feels like a natural progression in a story of ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Though this book can stand alone I do suggest that anyone interested in the Vampire Huntress experience start at the beginning. You need to read the entire story to completely understand and relate to these characters and the drive that keeps them going throughout this book.