How to summarize book 2...there's a lot going on! Let's see...Eriko, the Hunter and former leader of the Salamancan group, is dealing with the changes....though not in her position but rather physically and mentally due to the changes granted her by her role. Holgar, our resident good guy werewolf, is dealing with echoes of his past as he struggles to maintain the life and health of his fighting partner Skye. Speaking of Skye, this time around she's not simply the White Witch they defer to for power boosts, protective spells, and healing....she has some soul cleansing of her own to do and her past is about to be dragged out front and center. Then there's Jamie the hot headed Irish man who harbors a strong hostility towards the Cursed Ones and werewolves alike making him totally focused in a fight but we're about to see a semi softer side of him...yep, that's right, he has a heart and it beats right now for a fellow fighter. (Oooh ...)

Side stepping a bit to Antonio, a Cursed One yes but with his eyes on the cross (studying to be a priest as he was doing in life) and his heart with his fighting partner and new team leader, Jenn...his will may be strong be he's not invincible as we're about to find out. Then there's Jenn. Formerly sweet and somewhat innocent, she's been betrayed by family, lost her sister (sorta) to the Cursed Ones and lost her heart to someone that loves her yes but can never truly be with her. Oye...add to that the new role of leader to this motley crew and well, let's just say she has A LOT to deal with and it's about to increase ten fold. As Jamie would say...there's a blimey lot of trouble ahead. The battle for our lives, our souls continued as the Cursed Ones gather in strength and numbers but this group as well as a few others we'll meet along the way....never say die.

It's brash. It's action packed. It's a lot heavier than your typical YA paranormal novel not only with relationships and characters but with the dose of religion injected. That's not to say it preaches because honestly it doesn't; rather it takes a more accepting few of many belief systems asking the reader to keep an open mind about them all as the story is woven. With underlying messages of good will to all but what would truly be bad about a more cohesive society where we can live side by side and respect one another, you know? Something to think about....


In conclusion, a series addition that lives up to the power held in book 1. You'll grow to love the characters even more as you experience their pasts and follow along as their stories continue to unfold. Recommended read for teens and older due to violent content...it's not extreme but better suited for that age group. ( )

All I can say for Damned is WOW!! What a sequel. Its action packed with heart wrenching bits and it gripped me till the end. The Salamanca team has so much to deal with in Damned but there is so much stacked against them, with people they thought they could trust turning against them and all the allies running low. All the characters have their own inner battles to deal with as well as battles with the enemy. There is a lot of twists and the battle scenes just get better and better. I seriously recommend this to everyone, its epic!! ( )

Publishers Summary: "There is a fine line between love and sacrifice.Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty his love is called into question. Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle. Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity's fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness or die trying."

I absolutely love this book! There is a twist around every corner. I recommend this book to all of my friends and everyone else! ( )

don’t always get to finish series. There are so many books coming out that sequels and series aren’t usually a priority for me. But there are some authors whose work I’ll always read, and some series that I absolutely must finish. Even when they are giant, 500-page tomes.

DAMNED is one of these books — the second book in Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié‘s CRUSADE trilogy. The series incorporates world religions, often Catholic mythology and Wicca, in building its post-apocalyptic world. A world in which vampires — or Cursed Ones — have “come out,” claimed nations, and now have subversively taken over many of the world’s governments — including the United States.

That’s where the Salamancan Hunters come in. Lead by Californian Jenn Leitner, this group is based in Spain, one of the world’s last hold-outs. Having just returned from a difficult mission in New Orleans, Team Salamanca is ready to get back to life as usual (as “usual” as life can be, considering that they are church-sanctioned vampire-hunting mercenaries with a witch, a werewolf, and a repentant vampire on the team). Of course, that’s when they find out that one of the most legendary of vampires is up to no good in Russia, experimenting on humans, vampires, and werewolves, in hopes of creating a super-soldier for the Cursed Ones’ cause. The Salamancan’s old nemesis Aurora isn’t too far out of the picture yet, either, and it won’t belong before she turns Jenn and her companions’ life upside down in a way they never dreamed possible.

Again weaving together romance and action flawlessly, DAMNED is a perfect follow-up to CRUSADE. The large cast and shifting perspectives are tightly written, and as with CRUSADE, the vampire apocalypse is a welcome change from the current cannon. I love these characters, their many complexities, and the secrets they have yet to reveal. I cannot wait for the third book in this series, and I highly recommend checking out the first two as soon as you get the chance!

And, while you’re here…I interviewed Nancy and Debbie when CRUSADE came out last year. To hear their thoughts on vampire bad-guys, religion in books, and writing for franchises (among other things), check it out! ( )

How to summarize book 2...there's a lot going on! Let's see...Eriko, the Hunter and former leader of the Salamancan group, is dealing with the changes....though not in her position but rather physically and mentally due to the changes granted her by her role. Holgar, our resident good guy werewolf, is dealing with echoes of his past as he struggles to maintain the life and health of his fighting partner Skye. Speaking of Skye, this time around she's not simply the White Witch they defer to for power boosts, protective spells, and healing....she has some soul cleansing of her own to do and her past is about to be dragged out front and center. Then there's Jamie the hot headed Irish man who harbors a strong hostility towards the Cursed Ones and werewolves alike making him totally focused in a fight but we're about to see a semi softer side of him...yep, that's right, he has a heart and it beats right now for a fellow fighter. (Oooh ...)

Side stepping a bit to Antonio, a Cursed One yes but with his eyes on the cross (studying to be a priest as he was doing in life) and his heart with his fighting partner and new team leader, Jenn...his will may be strong be he's not invincible as we're about to find out. Then there's Jenn. Formerly sweet and somewhat innocent, she's been betrayed by family, lost her sister (sorta) to the Cursed Ones and lost her heart to someone that loves her yes but can never truly be with her. Oye...add to that the new role of leader to this motley crew and well, let's just say she has A LOT to deal with and it's about to increase ten fold. As Jamie would say...there's a blimey lot of trouble ahead. The battle for our lives, our souls continued as the Cursed Ones gather in strength and numbers but this group as well as a few others we'll meet along the way....never say die.

It's brash. It's action packed. It's a lot heavier than your typical YA paranormal novel not only with relationships and characters but with the dose of religion injected. That's not to say it preaches because honestly it doesn't; rather it takes a more accepting few of many belief systems asking the reader to keep an open mind about them all as the story is woven. With underlying messages of good will to all but what would truly be bad about a more cohesive society where we can live side by side and respect one another, you know? Something to think about....

In conclusion, a series addition that lives up to the power held in book 1. You'll grow to love the characters even more as you experience their pasts and follow along as their stories continue to unfold. Recommended read for teens and older due to violent content...it's not extreme but better suited for that age group. ( )