Dark, intense, humorous, and dramatic, Hunted is the first installment in The Dhampyr Series by V. M. Nelson. Eighteen-year-old Antanasia or Tasi receives a letter from her mother, who warns her that she must take her younger sister, Emily, and go. Her parents have lied about their existence, and now that there are dark forces who are after Tasi and Emily’s blood, Tasi needs to travel to New York to seek the help of a certain Sonya Bourne. It turns out that Tasi and her sister are dhampyrs or half-human, half vampires. Other vampires are on the hunt for their blood because they are considered a threat, as half-breeds are reputed to be skilled vampire hunters. It’s information that is too much for the two sisters to process. But now that they are orphans, can they afford to keep running away?

When it comes to vampire slayers, it’s Buffy that sets the bar. While Tasi the Dhampyr treads the same fine line between horror and comedy, Hunted can be taken more seriously because its dark aspects give the plotline a truly menacing feel. Tasi has an idiosyncratic way of perceiving her lineage, but she isn’t daft, and watching her develop as a character and how she embraces who she is gives her a full embodiment as a character that you will embrace. As a character, she is far from perfect, but V.M. Nelson makes her relatable and readable enough for you to invest in this new series. Although our contemporary reading culture is already saturated by vampire fiction, Nelson’s series has an original storyline and at times has witty moments. Anyone who loves vampire stories will get a kick out of this new series.

Hunted: The Dhampyr Series Book 1 by V.M. Nelson follows Anastasia "Tasi’’ and her younger sister Emily as they try to make sense of life after the death of both their parents and their aunt. Having to flee their home in Maine to search for a safe haven in New York, the sisters encounter dangers they never expected. It all comes with the territory of being half vampire and the sisters soon realize that being a half breed puts them at even more risk than anything else. Can the sisters find the person their aunt told them to run to in times of need or will they have to rely on those they were taught to hate?

Hunted by V.M. Nelson is what I wish every vampire novel would be. A headstrong female lead with room to grow and a cute but stubborn male lead make for such an interesting and exciting novel. Add in the strong sisterly bond and sassy side characters and you couldn’t possibly want more. Nelson did a fantastic job with this novel, especially with the characters. Seeing the world through their eyes, the reader is allowed to witness each milestone in Tasi’s life and unravel the mystery that is the existence of the dhampyr. Hunted is filled with action, drama, and just a splash of comedic relief in between Tasi and Ethan’s more intense moments, all wrapped up in a beautifully written package. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it. I can safely say that I will be looking out for future installments in this series and I hope that it gains traction.

Hunted (The Dhampyr Series Book 1) by V.M. Nelson tells the tale of Tasi and her sister Emily who are the only Dhampyr alive with a direct connection from the originals. One of the original vampires was their father that loved a human woman who gave birth to two daughters, Tasi and Emily. The girls are on constant vigil because not only vampires want them dead, but also humans. As the girls escape from Maine in search of a friend of their mother, Tasi’s last comment from her aunt plays repeatedly in her head, “They want your blood!” Once the girls make it to New York and the safety of a coven, Tasi learns the awful truth from Sonya about why their blood is so precious, what the vamps and humans want it for, as well as learning more about her parents, the origins of their line, and why people want her and her sister dead. What is vital is for her to protect her sister because she is about to go through the first change. The girls eventually learn who they can trust and who wishes them dead. Will they survive? What will happen once Emily goes through her change? Tasi also learns what her fate will be, but that doesn’t matter when she has found the man of her dreams.

Wow! I loved this story! I could not put the book down once I got started. V.M. Nelson completely draws the reader into the story with incredible character development and storyline. As each new character is introduced, they are brought to life before your eyes. I felt the pain being inflicted upon Emily as her bones cracked and snapped while she experienced her first change. Even the terrifying wild vampires are easily visualized through outstanding character creation. The plot of Hunted is exceptional. The story flows well, has no flat spots, but is always exciting and on the move. Each person introduced plays an integral part in the story as it plays out for Tasi and Emily. I applaud the work of V.M. Nelson and Hunted (The Dhampyr Series Book 1). I am truly looking forward to reading more books from this author. Congratulations on writing a book that can be thoroughly devoured by its reader.

Hunted is the first book of The Dhampyr Series by V.M. Nelson. After the death of their parents, eighteen-year-old Tasi Vasile finds herself with the responsibility to protect her thirteen-year-old sister, Emily. Unbeknownst to Emily, the Vasile siblings are dhampyrs -- human-vampire hybrids -- amongst whom runs a unique bloodline. Heeding their aunt's advice, Tasi and Emily set off to seek a potential ally named Sonya Bourne in New York City. But the sisters soon find themselves hunted by the Deity, who is hell-bent on using their blood to wipe out vampires in their entirety. Eventually, they find sanctuary in Sonya's coven, where Tasi learns more about her family's past and her own unique abilities. She also develops complicated feelings for two vampire rivals who seek her affections. But not everyone can be trusted, as the Deity may have infiltrated the coven itself.

Vampire lovers will find plenty to love about V.M. Nelson's Hunted. Filled with mystery, suspense, and some swashbuckling action sequences, Nelson weaves an absorbing tale about vampires and vampire hunters that you simply can't get enough of. The plotting is crisp and concise, as Nelson's prose leaves little room for wasted words or fluff. Tasi is quite a likable protagonist, and I personally found her more relatable than Bella in Twilight. The dynamic between Tasi, Ethan, and Austin is compelling and adds plenty of drama to the narrative. As far as young adult urban fantasy goes, Hunted is a brilliant addition to the vampire subgenre.