Crystal Green, The Huntress

The Huntress

Crystal Green

Silhouette Bombshell, Jan 2005, $5.50

ISBN: 0373513429

In Vasile, Romania, an area better known as Transylvania, Camille Howard seeks strong male villagers to help her on her quest to defeat the Strigoiaca. However, none of the men she tests by wrestling them hold up for long as each submits as soon as she locks them up. Camille informs her mentor, Professor Beatrix Grasu, that these men would only die if they challenged the five female vampires that she wants to capture.

Also in town is vampire hunting mercenary Elijah Sargent who has an international reputation for killing the nightcrawlers. He and Camille disagree on tactics as he insists they cannot be cured of their hunger for human blood. However, Camille disagrees based on Dr. Grasu's research and her hope to save her former lover Griff who has been converted to the night life.

THE HUNTRESS is a wonderful, exhilarating, vampire romance that never slows down once Camille and Elijah face off on the mission. The storyline is action-packed, but the cast understands the varying motives that drive the two heroes to face the undead. The support cast augments the tale by enabling the audience to feel they are in modern day Transylvania with the vampiric Strigoiaca just a bite away. The final twist makes for quite a confrontation that will send romantic horror fans with the emphasis on the supernatural seeking future paranormal collaborations between Elijah and Camille.

Harriet Klausner