Frivolous Fridays: The House of Night

The House of Night Novels

By P.C. & Kristen Cast

1st Published: 2007 

How I’ve missed the nerd herd!

You know that moment when one of your favourite movies or books is about to be released or out in stores? It just brings along a sense of excitement that is incomparable and incredible. With the end of the Harry Potter era (although in many ways it is evergreen), The House of Night is one book series that made me profusely thank God that I still have something good to look forward to.

This is just one of those things that I am completely mad about- so obviously, I don’t know where to start, and how to stop. This is one chance for me to say everything I want to, about the HoN books- I could go on and on and on. But keeping in mind the fact that I cannot possibly spoil all the fun for those of you who haven’t read the series yet, I will restrict myself to introducing the important characters and telling you what I love about them, without giving too much away.

[ If by the end of my post, you’re not shaking your head and frowning, you can have a look at the reviews of the books in the series that have been published so far, for further details. All HoN fans from ALOP, and those reading this post, are welcome to add their views here, or in their comments- the people who haven't read the HoN novels are just as welcome. :) ]

The House of Night, the vampire finishing school, is home to Zoey Redbird and her friends, who make up the 'nerd herd'- very cool people who take pride in being called ‘dorks’ (read: fans of Stars Wars, Harry Potter and the like). Zoey's dorm room now feels like my own, and Aphrodite's seems like the kind of room I hope I'll have when I win a million dollars at the lottery.

While I would not say I’d go for just about any book related to vampires, I know I was tempted to read this one because it was a supernatural story. And believe it or not, I was very skeptical about it when I first laid hands on it. But was I surprised! HoN is a fascinating blend of teenage fiction and mythology! It’s very tough to explain just how well PC and Kristen Cast have made use of their knowledge of mythology as well as Cherokee folklore to give this teenage vampire drama a whole new twist. But you'll know exactly how amazing it is, when you read it.

What I expected was to read another Twilight with a lot more slang and swear words. And then people started dying.

The first book in the series, Marked, was a typical Chick Lit about cute guys, prettier and mean rivals, and about finding a place where you can finally belong, with friends who love you just the way you are; all that got me to read the next one was the curiosity that was building up with the suspense in the first book. (If there's one thing I cannot stand, it's an unsolved mystery.) I thought it would be the usual story with a villain who wants power, and your protagonist tries to beat them with her friends by her side. What I never expected was to find one of the most innocent characters dying, in the second book itself, at a point where you could not have even thought something sinister would happen, at a point when you do not even know where the story is heading. And you know what makes you hurt more than anything else when a character you like dies? Realizing that it was the one you could relate to most. It is the freakiest thing ever. 

I could say I relate to all the characters in one way or the other, however. Damien and I share a love for reading and enjoy being the studious kid who tells people to behave; Stevie Rae and I are extremely loyal and yet have a different side to our personalities that most people aren't aware of; just like Erin and Shaunee, I can crack stupid jokes in a serious situation just to make everything seem a little easier to handle (and I also swear at my closest friends, out of 'love'...); Aphrodite (!) and I are alike because we can be very cynical and sarcastic, and we take time to like people but once we do, we love them like no other; and Zoey- well, Zoey and I seem to think it's our job to save the world, we screw things up half the time in trying to do so, and can never stop stressing. Oh yes, there's one more thing- love for the Goddess. 

"...Even in the midst of craziness and exhaustion and life changing chaos, I was filled with peace and the sweet knowledge that I was walking the path my Goddess wanted me on. Not that the path was smooth and pothole free. But still, it was my path, and like me, it was bound to be unique."

Frivolous Fridays : The Five Find-Outers and Dog

THE FIVE FIND-OUTERS AND DOG

CREATED BY : Enid Blyton

FIRST SEEN AT : The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage

MEMBERS :

1. Frederick Algernon Trotteville a.k.a Fatty

2. Philip Hilton a.k.a Pip

3. Elizabeth Hilton a.k.a Bets

4. Laurence Daykin a.k.a Larry

5. Daisy Daykin

and, Buster (the dog)

Remember your childhood?? Before you solved crime with The Hardy Boys or dated Nancy Drew? Remember the time when holidays meant picking up Enid Blyton?

If not for Enid Blyton, I shudder to think of my fate. Enid Blyton gave me joy like no one else when I was growing up. Even the regular dose of Shaktimaan and Power Rangers couldn't satisfy my childhood urge for more and more fun. The Secret Seven were good, The Famous Five were better, but The Five Find-Outers were the creme-de-la-creme.

If you've missed out on this series, I honestly feel sad for you. For those of you, who has spent time with these guys in the village of Peterswood, lets bring back some old wonderful memories.

Frederick, affectionately nicknamed Fatty is the leader of the Five. He's amazing. For a growing up 10 year old me, 15 years ago, he was my hero. Although I resembled the lanky Larry, Fatty was the one I adored. I laughed at his antics, at his ridiculous ventriloquism, at his funny disguises, I always knew that Fatty would save the day.

Don't remember much about Larry and Daisy although I can say that Daisy was the one who came up with the name of the gang. Larry is her elder brother and he was the original leader until Fatty came along. The childlike banter between Larry and Fatty was fun. Poor Larry often ended up being second best.

Philip and Bets are siblings as well. Bets is the youngest of the lot and she simply adores Fatty. And she's always the one who finds the clue when everyone misses out. (although half the time its by accident). Bets is just like my younger sister, although that was more than a few years ago when she was still sweet. My sister I mean. I remember Pip and Elizabeth's parents being very strict. Whereas Fatty's mom was the kindest. 

Now Buster!! Buster has to be the best Scottish Terrier ever! Incredibly smart and loyal, he's the darling of the gang.

Oh how...oh how...could I forget Mr. Goon???? Hahahahaha....the local policeman!!! *laughs for a few more minutes*

Gosh, I can still picture him shouting "CLEAR ORF" .....hahahaha... Fatty and Co. used to make his life a living hell. Poor guy never did get a promotion. How could he, when every single time the Five Find-Outers solved the case before he did. And not to forget Buster attacking his ankles and Mr. Goon's favorite word "GAH". hahahaha. Gosh, I miss these guys.

If you've never read these guys, if you've missed out on them, stop what you're doing right now. Take your mind back to your childhood and read them. You'll want to stay a kid forever.

If your childhood had Harry Potter but not Enid Blyton, you don't know what you missed.

Frivolous Fridays : Bridgeburners

BRIDGEBURNERS

MOTTO : First in, Last out.

SIGIL : a silver brooch: a bridge of stone, lit by ruby flames.

FIRST SEEN AT : Gardens of the Moon (Book 1 of The Malazan Tale of the Fallen)

HISTORY : [from wiki]

The Bridgeburners were transformed in the Holy Desert Raraku, in Seven Cities, from being regular soldiers to becoming much more. The unit has had a combat role in military operations on the continents of Seven Cities, Genabackis, and Quon Tali. The unit was merged from the remnants of several units and was forged into a single force through their journey across the Holy Desert of Raraku. Their pasts were then burned away.

The TALE :

The Bridgeburners are an elite unit of soldiers in the Malazan Army. They were respected and feared by their comrades in the Malazan Army as well as by their enemies.

The Bridgeburners were the favorite of Emperor Kellanved. When he was supposedly assassinated by Surly, who became the Empress Laseen, The Bridgeburners were assigned the most hardest of campaigns in the hope that they don't survive.

Once, the Bridgeburners numbered more than 1400. During the siege of Pale, the Bridgeburners were reduced to a paltry 38. Following the fallout of Pale, the remaining Bridgeburners made their way to Darujhistan under the command of Ganoes Paran to complete a mission of destabilizing the city to make way for Malazan takeover. What they didn't realize that time was that it was also their death certificate. The Bridgeburners were meant to me exterminated once and for all.

They survived. 

Shortly later, Dujek Onearm and a couple of armies of the Malazan were outlawed by the Empress. These armies merged together to what became to be known as Onearm's Host. Dujek appointed Whiskeyjack to be his second in command and Paran took over the rest of the Bridgeburners.

In the City of Capustan, the Bridgeburners went ahead of Onearm's host to try to take over the city and make way for the army. They survived without losing anyone. Their final mission was not to be so simple. Charged with the elimination of the Pannion Seer, the Bridgeburners faced heavy losses when they were attacked by the undead K'Chain Che'malle Kell hunters.

In the aftermath of that devastating battle, only a few survived. The bodies of the Bridgeburners who fell, along with Whiskeyjack were placed in Moon's Spawn, the flying fortress of Anomander Rake, one time enemy of the Malazan during the seige of Pale. Anomander sent the flying tomb into the sea to fall and sink to the ocean floor.

The surviving Bridgeburners, who were reduced to less than 10, were officially logged as dead by Dujek Onearm and were retired to Darujhistan for their unending bravery. The time had come for them to rest.

Ganoes Paran, following the aftermath of the Battle of Coral, blessed the Bridgeburners, both living and dead. The dead Bridgburners ascended. Ganoes Paran created a new card in the Deck of Dragons for the Bridgeburners. It was called the Guardians of the Dead, in High House War.

                       ******************************************

There....That's the tale of the legendary Bridgeburners. Steven Erikson created a unit you fell in love with only to have them killed. Authors are heartless sometimes.

I'm attached to this army. Yes, I am. I may not give a damn about Malazan, but the Bridgeburners, I fell in love with. These guys are nuts! They're comprised of those crazy sappers who loves playing with those equally crazy Moranth ammunitions, saboteurs and what-nots. And if you think my heart broke during the siege of Pale, or when Tattersail died, imagine how devastated I was when Whiskeyjack died and when the rest of the Bridgeburners fell one by one. OH DAMN YOU ERIKSON!

                      ********************************************

'They were of a kind, then

the histories writ large

in tattooed tracery

the tales a tracking

of old wounds

but something glowed hard

in their eyes – those

flame-gnawed arches,

that vanishing span,

they are their own past

each in turn destined

to fall in line

on the quiet wayside

beside the river

they refuse to name . . .

The Bridgeburners'

- Toc, the Younger (Gardens of the Moon, Book 1)

*******************************

Source: Wikipedia , Wikia , Encylopediamalazica , Malazan Empire Forum

Frivolous Fridays - A Weekly Meme

SEX

Yes, now that I've your attention, how about a meme every week??

We all have been reading and reviewing stuff for a long time now [and hopefully we will still continue doing that]

So, how about we talk about something that you like? No, not sex. Something in those pages you bury your nose in, something in between those lines that you keep reading, something that you'll probably remember years later even if you forgot the climax of the book.

Lets share those, shall we. 

We can talk about anything in this meme. An author, a character, a group, a symbol, a blahblahblah. This way, we can share what we liked in a book specifically and others who read it, may like it as well. And this will, hopefully, garner that much needed interest to jump to the book or books you've read.

For eg. Someone can talk about Dan Brown or The Famous Five or The Death Eaters. You get my drift, right? Or you can talk about a scene or an event, like Quidditch or absolutely anything that you've loved, that you remember.

What I'd like more than that is :

1. Where it was first published/appeared/heard of

2. What you liked/loved/drooled about it

And that's it. Tomorrow, I'd start with the first one. And every Friday from here on, we will ask 2-3 members to post for the meme. There will be NO REVIEWS on Fridays. And when every member has written a post and the cycle is completed, it will start all over again. 

There has to be a lot of things you loved or read. So lets share.

What do you think? Need opinions.