Book: Tempted

PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Young Adult
ATOM / 2010
PaperBack / 336 Pages
Series House of Night 6

Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey doesn't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed.

I picked this book up because Series

What I liked the Most? Not as repetitive

What I liked the Least? The book

Review: I tried. I really did. But this book blew it really hard. I literally skimmed over pages and pages of useless and boring things.

When I first picked up the series to read, I was looking for something new – spiritual vampires & the like. There are nice bits & pieces to work with.

Nice material, check – but from the second book on, the story started to get lost, and it really started to suck. And the main character, Zoey? Complete and total bitch – her personality is crap on toast. I really can't stand the high & mighty morally superior slut she's become

Recommended to:Personally I didn’t finish this one – so I wouldn’t

Best Quote: "I'm sick of you cheating on me with everyone who has a dick."

Book: Untamed

PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Young Adult
St Martin’s Griffin / 2008
Hardback / 338 Pages
Series House of Night 4

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.

I picked this book up because Series – make it stop

What I liked the Most? Yes some action but my favorite part was Duchess

What I liked the Least? hmmmmm, bet you can’t guess

Review: I like the concept of the general story line and the characters, but the redundant writing is getting a little old. I even enjoy the constant vocabulary lessons from Damien, but the way the author describes everyone over and over again, everything from their personalities to their day to day clothing choices is becoming a complete waste of paper. Example every single time the Grandmother calls Zoey the Cherokee word for daughter the author explains that the word mean daughter & that it makes her feel safe. There is a whole lot of explaining and back story and description and really not a whole lot of story, plot, character development or emotion. It's a good story idea, but not very well executed.

Also, has anyone ever noticed that Zoey falls in lust with any cute guy that walks into her path, but condemns Aphrodite for falling in love? And to make it worse, she really Seems to fall "head over heels" for EVERY guy that shows even remote interest? Ugh, it drives me crazy when a strong and otherwise independent heroine seems to need male attention 24/7 to feel worthwhile.

These authors definitely need to take that writing instruction that everyone learned in grade school..."Show, don't tell."

Recommended to: Someone weak like me – I hate the book but I have to know what happens

Best Quote: "Oh, honey! My heart is just broken for you!" he told the dog.

Book: Hunted

PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Young Adult
St Martin’s Griffin / 2009
Hardback / 323 Pages
Series House of Night 5

The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic). Grandma Redbird is in trouble. Heath is in trouble. The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth? Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…

I picked this book up because Series – why oh why do I do this to myself

What I liked the Most? Aphrodite again! Just ignore the drunk part.

What I liked the Least? I’m going to start sounding repetitive

Review: Stop with the summarizations already if someone hasn’t got it by book five they won’t.

I’m so very tired of reading things I already know. Granted, it wasn’t as bad in this book as it has been with the other novels. But please. And really back to being the ho you claim everyone else is? Really how many guys are trying to get in your pants this time?

What happened to the quirky real characters that I once loved?

Damien, sweet gay boy, where did you go?
Twins, your not even funny anymore - just annoying.
Aphrodite, being a bitch was not a bad thing.
And poor little Stevie Rae how many times do you have to die before you die?

I honestly don’t even know where to go from here.

Recommended to: People who can’t look away from accidents

Best Quote: “You were incredible—beautiful and powerful and confident. You were all I could think of.”

Book: Chosen

Book: Chosen



PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Young Adult
Publisher / Date
Format / Pages
Series House of Night 3

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

I picked this book up because Series



What I liked the Most? Aphrodite rocks this book



What I liked the Least? Repetitive repetitive repetitive



Review: Wow – besides the repetitive nature of a lot of the back ground story (which I kind of get – after all that means someone can start reading any book) but come on series happen for a reason – this was a decent installment.



I enjoyed the Pagan vs Christianity concept and how it mixed with the typical teenage issues – boy troubles, family, friends, sexuality, etc – and the not so typical – my best friend is a blood sucking undead fiend, adults are trying to sex me up, etc.



Recommended to: Fans of the series



Best Quote: "I think I'm turning into a ho." (there’s not thinking involved)

Book: Betrayed

PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Young Adult
St Martin’s Griffin / 2007
Paperback / 310 Pages
Series House of Night 2

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

I picked this book up because Series



What I liked the Most? Once again the mystical side of the story



What I liked the Least? That’s not fair – read the book and you’ll understand!!!



Review: This wasn’t a bad book – it just wasn’t a good book – does that even make sense? I’m not sure anymore.



I mean I’m enjoying the fantasy aspect of the storyline, and the rituals are beautiful but they are so incredibly easy to mock. It’s like the author is trying soooooo hard to teach the reader a lesson (or 200) that she’s forcing me to not care anymore. I mean I get it – girls can be cruel to other girls. This isn't new topic and there are some amazing books based entirely on the types of relationships girls have with each other – if you want to study the typical relationships do yourself a favor and get a different book. This book was all surface level. There wasn't any depth. And that works for a fictional tale about vampires, it does not work for a satirical lecture on Girlworld. It makes me sad because it's so many wonder writers have made it cool to be a vampire, and these authors used that to create this wonderfully compelling story with alluring characters and it half the book is spent trashing one character. It just hurts a bit.



Recommended to: Fans of the series



Best Quote: "Zo, I'm not stupid. I know that. I was just coining a word."

Book: Marked

PC Cast
Young Adult
St Martin’s Griffin / 2007
Quality Paperback / 306 Pages
Series House of Night #1

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

I picked this book up because it was on sale & I liked the one adult novel I read by PC Cast



What I liked the Most? The well written rituals



What I liked the Least? The unanswered questions and of VAMPYRE (really?)



Review: Okay I get it – Zoey has a crappy home life, an almost-boyfriend who should be an ex who drinks too way too much & hits on her best friend, a best friend who's too shallow for words, a religious step monster for a dad, a slut for a sister, a damsel in distress for a mother, and a geometry test tomorrow – but all this is becomes null when she is marked to be a vampyre and must move to the House of Night school. And the worst part she needs to get there today or die as her body rejects the vampire mark.

This is a new and novel take on the whole vampire legends – it mixes matriarchy and goddess-worship for a really good story line. Zoey’s mark is special - the Goddess Nyx has chosen to give her certain gifts, which she'll need, because something's not right at the House of Night, and it’s up to her to make it right.

As an adult reading the series I was a little concerned with some of the relevant issues covered in this book – drinking, drugs, anorexia, sex, homosexuality, bullying, etc. It almost felt like the authors were trying to make their character a holier-than-thou vampyre. This book is also dark, funny, and the inclusion of rituals invoking the five elements of air, water, fire, earth and spirit add a new, beautiful element that I really liked.



Recommended to: Before I recommend this to anyone else - I plan to read the next in the series, not because the story was terribly alluring, or the characters very interesting, but because I'd like to see if the author evolves as a writer.



Best Quote: "Hey! That's my happy thought, too, Peter Pan with me!”