Traitor to the Blood: A Novel of the Noble Dead by Barb Hendee, J.C. Hendee

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
In the fourth installment of Barb and J. C. Hendee's Saga of the Noble Dead (Dhampir, Thief of Lives, and Sister of the Dead), unlikely protagonists Magiere and Leesil -- a half-dead vampire hunter and a half-breed elf -- travel back to the treacherous place of Leesil's birth to uncover the mystery surrounding the fate of his parents.

Living in the lawless Warlands in a region ruled by a tyrannical sovereign named Darmouth, Leesil and his parents were essentially prisoners to their lord's will. Forbidden to leave Darmouth's province, Leesil's parents knew that their son would be summarily killed if they disobeyed. But when young Leesil, who was being trained to be one of Darmouth's assassins, saw a rare opportunity to escape his sadistic master, he did so. Now, almost a decade later, Leesil returns "home" with his crew (Magiere, a precocious young sage named Wynn, and a dog named Chap who is much more than he seems) to learn if his parents are still alive; and, if so, their possible whereabouts. What he finds instead is, not surprisingly, more questions…

Although largely an adventure fantasy comparable to Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages saga and David B. Coe's Winds of the Forelands sequence, the Hendees' Saga of the Noble Dead features generous helpings of blood-sucking horror and whodunit mystery elements. Literally overflowing with nonstop action, this cool amalgam of genres will appeal to readers -- alive and undead -- who enjoy taking that occasional literary walk on the wild side. Paul Goat Allen

From the Publisher

The adventures of Magiere and Leesil continue as they journey into Leesil's savage homeland seeking the family-and secret burden-he abandoned long ago.

Publishers Weekly

The Hendees' bestselling Noble Dead series (Sister of the Dead, etc.) makes the leap from mass market to hardcover with this winning fourth novel to feature vampire hunter Magiere, who's half-vampire herself, and her half-elf partner, Leesil. Raised in the Warlands, Leesil must return there to investigate the fate of the parents he betrayed and to seek redemption for his sins as an enslaved assassin for the evil Lord Darmouth. Accompanying Magiere and Leesil are two appealing supporting characters: Wynn, an idealistic elf, and the dog Chap, who's actually a fay in canine clothing. In Venj tz, Darmouth's city, Leesil goes to his father's only confidant, the feline-loving innkeeper Byrd, but wonders if he can trust the man, as Byrd is also an informant for Darmouth. Meanwhile, none other than Lord Darmouth himself calls upon Magiere's vampire-killing skills. Fans of the series are sure to be pleased, while the novel stands well enough on its own to attract new readers. (Jan.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

The son of an elven mother and a human father, Leesil is raised as a slave and trained to be an assassin and spy for his master, Lord Darmouth. Unwilling to kill on command, Leesil escapes, only to return with his beloved companion, the dhampir (half-vampire) Magiere, to discover the fate of the parents he left behind. In their hardcover debut and the fourth title of their "Noble Dead" saga, the Hendees (Sister of the Dead; Dhampir) have crafted a unique tale of vampires and half-vampire undead hunters set against a dark fantasy world ruled by tyrants. The personal conflicts of the heroes mirror the larger struggles in their world and provide a solid foundation for this tale of love and loyalty in a world of betrayal. A good choice for most fantasy collections. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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