Minion by L. A. Banks (2004, Paperback, Reprint)

The MINION is book 1 of L.A. Banks Vampire-Huntress series which she is contracted to 12 books in the series total. This series is about Damali Richards, a spoken-word artist who wants to create music and bring light to the people. Now she is a spoken word artist for Warriors of Light Records and come nightfall, she hunts vampires and demons- predators that people tend to dismiss as fantasy. Damali and her Guardian team fight the vampires and demons until they discover there is a new rogue element that is more dangerous than those they have went against before. An element that is infecting the other vampires/people and killing the artists of Warriors and their rival, Blood Music.

With these new strange rogue "vampires" and their savage attacks become noticed not only by the police and the club drug-trafficking network, the status quo between good and evil has been changed and things are about to get more violent and evil. This rogue element is going up against both the good and the established "old order" to make his own power and he is targeting Damali next.

One of the pros of this book is that there is a lot of ethnic diversity. The Guardian group has representives from all the races of humanitity which is extremely nice instead of the "token" representive of most books. Each have an important role in the series which becomes more prevalent in each book as the series progresses. Things you didn't notice in the first book, you'll find yourself rereading noticing that it was mentioned which is also cool.

I will admit that my favorite character and the main reason i read this series is for Damali's ex-boyfreind Carlos, a leader of the criminal underworld who has no knowledge of the mystical forces about to be unleashed.The other characters are great, but Carlos reminds me of Lex Luthor with his brilliance and his not understanding that the ends don't justify the means but he truly believes he is a good guy as well as bad so what will happen with him will keep you glued to the seat as well as the other characters that find that their normal way of hunting isn't working anymore. Add in a visit to hell as well as all sides wanting the next Neteru and willing to use anyone she loves or cares for to get her.

A special note about this book is that it was originally written with THE AWAKENING as ONE book, but the publishers split them into to seperate books so it ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you dying for the next installment. The only problem i had with this book is that it starts a tad slow and it is very heavy with the slang from the "hoods". The series rapidly improves over the next 2 books on that so give it a shot and the first book really heats up by the middle of the book so you'll find yourself racing to the end. I would highly suggest picking up MINION and THE AWAKENING together.