Review: Immortalis: Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas

ISBN-13: 978-0-9844196-5-4

ISBN-10: 0-9844196-5-9

Page Count: 300

Copyright: 2010

Book Summary:

(Given to me by the author)

Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.

Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.

If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she’ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan’s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum’s new threat.

My Review:

Cover

The Vegas sign lets you know that the story will take place in that city.  The woman on the cover looks comfortable and relaxed in her own skin, portraying how Alyssa is feeling more and more every day.

Plot

While this is a continuation of Katie's first novel, Immortalis: Carpe Noctem, it is a novel that can stand on its own.  Reading the first novel, though, will help you gain knowledge of the clan members and who they are.  In this novel, the clan bonds together with an unexpected ally in a fight against an old enemy.  The action in this novel is fast, furious and will keep you guessing what will happen next.

Characters

Fallon is Alyssa's human best friend.  She is disgusted with the fact that Alyssa is now a vampire.  While she's glad Alyssa's alive, she's also disgusted with how Alyssa now has to survive.  It is debated whether Fallon is the clan's liability or asset.

Santino has been a long time enemy of vampires.  He was introduced in the first book as a vampire hunter working for the Acta Sanctorum.  While he still dislike vampires, he is grudgingly willing to ally with them in a fight against his current boss.

As for the characters that I mentioned in my first review, their development in this book has progressed flawlessly from the first book.  While reading, you get the sense that, not only are you getting to know the characters better, but so is the author.  There's a real fluidity between the clan members thanks to the author's comfort level with these characters.

Overall

This was an exceptional transition from the first book.  Once started, it was hard to stop reading.  The story draws you in and takes you on a journey, rooting for the vampires all the way.  I'm excited to see what Katie has up her sleeve for the third installment in this series, Pandora's Box (planned to be published in 2012).

By the way, this is still an adult novel due to sexual situations ... No kiddies allowed! =)