Rating: 4 1/2 stars (Spotlight Review)

Everything has been leading to this moment. Victoria Gardella Grantworth, Illa Gardella, leader of the vampire hunters, has learned that a portal to Hell is open and demons are pouring through. The only way to close it is with the assistance of the vampire queen Lilith but Lilith's price will most certainly be much too high. Lilith's obsession for the venator Max Pesaro is still strong and Victoria knows that Max may try to sacrifice himself to gain Lilith's help. In the end however, that sacrifice will come from the least likely of Victoria's hunters.

As Victoria races across Europe to gain what is needed to close the portal she must also contend with her rising feelings for Max, and her residual feelings for Sebastian Vioget, the prodigal venator. With the situation rising to its final conclusion, Victoria must decide what is of paramount importance: closing the portal or protecting her new-found love for Max. Can the young Illa Gardella rise to the challenge and prove that she is worthy of the title that she bears?

This is a bittersweet moment as this is the last of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. In two short years we've watched Victoria grow from a spoiled debutante into a strong and powerful woman; a decisive leader who is ready to make the difficult choices necessary to her station. I commend Gleason for taking the story out on such a high note and not allowing it to sink down into the mire that so many promising paranormal series have succumbed to. It will be difficult to say goodbye to these characters but the reader will be pleased with this beautiful and somewhat unexpected conclusion.
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Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Signet (March 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451226321
ISBN-13: 978-0451226327