
It is now the year 2341 and humanity has all but destroyed the beautiful planet known as earth. No longer are humans the dominant life-force on this planet. In Token Huntress by Kia Carrington-Russell, they are usually mere impotent bystanders to the battle that rages between the vampires and the hunters. Hunters have evolved from humans and are programmed to protect that species from the predations of the vampires, which requires them to ruthlessly kill all vampires they encounter. A young huntress, Esmore, the most skilled in her Hunter’s Guild is promoted to the role of leader, the Token Huntress, even above those older and more experienced than herself. She leads by example, determined to destroy all vampires, but an encounter with a handsome and strangely compelling vampire, Chase, will change her world forever, as she begins a voyage of self-discovery into what is her true self.
It can be quite difficult for an author to come up with a new spin on the classic good versus evil concept around vampires, but in Token Huntress, Carrington-Russell does this wonderfully well. What I particularly liked about this story was the author’s ability to show how easily the lines between two different group can become hardened and entrenched, simply be what we are told from birth. Esmore finds out, despite her misgivings and life’s mission to destroy vampires, that all in not necessarily what she had been led to believe in Vampire society. I loved the developing relationship between Esmore and Chase especially the way Chase toyed with her emotions, knowing that deep down Esmore knew she was supposed to hate him with a passion, yet somehow she knew she couldn’t. I really enjoyed this fresh, innovative story and was pleased when it became obvious we would hear more of Chase, Esmore and their clan. An excellent read for lovers of the genre and for all readers.
