Tempted

Title: Tempted

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: November 2009

ISBN: 9780312567484

Pages: 319

Series: 6th in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

Dark secrets and unspoken suspicions come between Zoey and Stevie Rae, putting their friendship — and the House of Night — at risk.

After Zoey Redbird and her gang have banished Kalona and Neferet from Tulsa, you'd think they'd catch a break. But with Zoey and her sexy warrior Stark both recovering from a brush with death, and the fledglings struggling to deal with the fallout from Neferet's reign of terror, a break is just not in the forecast. Zoey is haunted by her confusing yet elemental connection with A-ya, the ancient Cherokee maiden who was the only human able to tempt Kalona's body and soul. How will A-ya's pull on her affect Zoey's ability to resist the dangerously seductive immortal?

Meanwhile, Stevie Rae, with her super red-vamp powers, always thought she could handle the stuff she's been keeping from her BFF. But the mysterious, threatening force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading. Stevie Rae won't confide where she's been and what she's been doing, and Zoey is beginning to wonder just how much she can trust the person she always thought would have her back.

Will their choices destroy them and will darkness consume the House of Night? Find out in this spectacular next installment in the bestselling House of Night series.



Comments:

I reviewed the first two books in this series, Marked and Betrayed, but the third book, Chosen really frustrated me; I decided not to review it or the two that followed, Untamed and Hunted. For now, though, I'm trying to review more of the new-to-me books I read so here goes...

I've noticed this mentioned in other reviews and suppose it's something I should point out... The other books are all in first person. This one is too...when it's from Zoey's perspective. But it flashes to some other perspectives (mostly Stevie Rae) and those are all in 3rd person.

I have to say that, for the most part, this book was like a transition between Hunted and the next book, Burned (due out in May, I think). That is, while it does have some story of it's own, mostly it settles some issues while expanding on and revealing other situations. As a result, I don't know that I can say I liked this book. It serves a purpose in the overall series, but doesn't hold much weight on it's own (definitely NOT stand-alone).

However, it didn't frustrate me like Chosen did, and I don't regret reading it because I would have missed pieces of the story. And I certainly plan to read the next book (I guess I should have added, this book includes a huge cliffhanger).

Betrayed

Title: Betrayed

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2007

Print Date: Septemeber 2007

ISBN: 9780312360283

Pages: 310

Series: 2nd in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

Fledgling vampire Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs, even gets chosen as the Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, 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. Betrayed, the second book in the House of the Night series, is dark and sexy, as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.

Comments:

After a night of reading Marked, I started Betrayed in the early hours of Saturday. I fell asleep part way through and woke to the phone ringing (my mother asking me to come by the house and rake leaves — now). Instead of leaving right away, I returned to reading, showered, read...and went to rake leaves when I'd finished 2 hours later (Shameful, I know). Guess it was lucky for my mother that I did't (and still don't for that matter) have the 3rd book around yet.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of the "or two" part of the blurb above. (Why do authors insist upon having multiple love interests? Drives me batty.) Otherwise, I enjoyed this book, and am looking foward (anxiously) to reading the next in the series.

Marked

Title: Marked

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2007

Print Date: May 2007

ISBN: 9780312360269

Pages: 306

Series: 1st in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

ENTER THE DARK, MAGICAL WORLD OF THE HOUSE OF THE NIGHT, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change — and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, 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 group, 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.

Comments:

You know how sometimes you see quotes like "Intense!" or "Gripping!" about books? I don't know about you, but I'm the type of person to (mentally) roll my eyes at this. It may be true, but more often than not, I feel like it's either exagerated for marketing, or maybe whoever made the comment is the type who tends to have extreme opinions about their books.

Anyway, this book was gripping. Like it caught me in its clutches and wasn't letting go.

I liked the set-up. I did wonder a bit how/if the vampyres had their come-out, since (it seems to me) that is usually a part of books where the existance of vampires are known by the world. In this particular book, scientists have debated vamyrism, but I don't recall it saying when this debate/study started. I also worried a little about the "vampire finishing school" bit — I've seen it before (Vamps), and from what I've read and heard, the finishing school/boarding school (think Harry Potter*) thing has taken off and is a (potentially tiring) new trend. As it turned out, this concern was quickly forgotten.

*I am not saying anything against HP, just pointing to it as an example — and possibly one of the trend starters.

I also liked the heroine. Zoey has some issues (parents, namely), but she's rather clued into herself. She doesn't feel the need to give in to peer pressure when she isn't interested. She doesn't feel the need to act superior, even when she could (see: "amazing powers" in the blurb). She values friendship...Overall, a likeable character.

In any case, back to the gripping part. I started a little after midnight Friday night (technically Saturday), finished late (or early you might say) and actually couldn't make myself go to bed without starting the next book (until, that is, my sleep-deprived body decided for me, and I simply drifted off).

Which brings me to...Betrayed