DESTINED- A House of Night Novel (Book IX)

AUTHORS: P.C. and Kristen Cast

GENRE: Fiction

ISBN: 978-1-1905654-86-4

SYNOPSIS:

‘Zoey, what is it?’ Stark said softly.
I didn’t answer Stark. Instead I faced Neferet. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear the buzz and whispers of the kids around me, and I knew forcing a confrontation with Neferet here and now wasn’t smart. But I couldn’t help myself…

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex- High Priestess for what she really is. But there are new forces at work in the House of Night. An influx of humans threatens its precarious stability.

And then there is Aurox, a gorgeous boy who is actually more- or possibly less- than human. Only Zoey can sense the human compassion that wars with his Dark calling. Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him- and everyone-from his own fate?


EXCERPT:

He stepped off the sidewalk, moving to his right toward the edge of the main school building. Aurox kept away from the flickering gaslights. Instinctively he preferred the deeper shadows and darker corners. His senses were always alert, always searching. So it was strange that the tissue startled him. It was a simple rectangle of white. It floated on the wind, fluttering before him almost like a bird. He stopped and reached out, plucking it from the night.

So strange, he thought, a floating paper tissue. Without conscious thought, he tucked it into the pocket of his jeans. Shrugging off the odd, foreboding feeling, he kept walking.

Her emotions hit him after he had taken two more steps.

Sadness- deep, pressing grief. And guilt. There was guilt there in her feelings, too. As he got closer- as her emotions flooded him- something unexpected happened within him. Instead of absorbing her emotions and feeding off them, Aurox absorbed them and felt. He didn’t change. He didn’t begin to morph into the creature of great power. Instead, Aurox felt.


ARPITA SPEAKS:

Here’s a book that stands apart from the rest in this series. Destined is incomparable and there’s no doubt about it. There’s less of cheesy romance, more of love, less girl-talk and a lot of gore. But the best part is there is no beating about the bush, and unnecessary babbling in Zoey Redbird’s head. Book 9 of the House of Night series opens doors to new worlds, all of which do not- for once- revolve around the ‘nerd herd,’ but will consequently affect them all.

As Neferet appoints humans to work for the Tulsa House of Night, Lenobia- the awe-inspiring Horse Mistress- finds herself in a dilemma, with the ghosts of her past trying hard to catch up with her. Zoey and her friends get permission from the Vampyre High Council to live in the tunnels and get bussed to the school for classes. But Zoey has been toying with the idea of not just declaring the Tulsa Depot outside of the jurisdiction of the House of Night, but also of declaring herself a vampyre queen.

Things take an unexpected turn when differences spring up between the most unlikely people- the Twins, Shaunee and Erin. As we glimpse the truth behind Shaunee’s past and her sudden empathy for Rephaim, we realize that sometimes even the best of friends fail to understand each other for inexplicable reasons. The need to be who she really is becomes evident in Shaunee as she tries to choose a different way- her own way- of doing what’s right.

That’s the recurring theme in the novel: making the right choices… and the immense power of certain acts. It’s strange, how I always used be cynical about Zoey’s mad habit of trusting people who seemed dubious. Because, I now found myself constantly wishing that she would just follow her heart this time and CHOOSE to see the good in people, even though at least one of them has been created to destroy her.

This is a tale of honour, of trust, of the courage to see with ‘True Sight’: because, sometimes there IS much more to a person, even a fallen angel, than meets the eye.

RATING: 4 on 5

PRICE: Rs.209/- (Flipkart)

House of Night - Awakened (Book 8)

Rephaim!

(I love this UK version of cover!)

AWAKENED: Book Eight of House of Night Series

AUTHOR(S): P.C.Cast and Kristin Cast

Read the Reviews of previous books in the Series ------->Here<-----

SYNOPSIS (From the Book Cover): Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa's House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn't it? And what about Stevie Rae and Rephraim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be ok with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

EXCERPT: 

"So I have somethin’ to tell you about your son, and I want you to listen to me. I don’t know how or why it happened, but I love him, and I think he loves me.” 

Here she paused and met Rephaim’s gaze. 

“I do,” he said clearly and distinctly so that his voice carried to everyone watching. “I love you, Stevie Rae.” She took one moment to smile at him, full on, filled with pride, and happiness, and above all, love.

MSM Speaks: After a long time, I picked up House of Night Series again, and guess what? I wasn't disappointed. After Burned, this book surprisingly picks up really good pace. Our Zoey has grown for a bit (Thank the Goddess!) and I am proud of her. She has returned from the Otherworld, with her Guardian and Warrior Stark (I swear, he totally rocks the hot-guardian-boyfriend role! ;)) Now, Zoey is faced with the choice to stay forever on the Isle of Skye, where new powers and magickal portals are opened and the option to be the Queen as wished by Sgiach or return to the poop (Hahah!) that's waiting for her, in the real world. Like most of the choices made before by Zoey, this one also ends up being correct, as she chooses to return. Neferet has totally turned into Demoness - Tsigili and ancient immortal Kalona finally starts seeing through Neferet's super sexy exterior to her Darkness reeking mind. What will he choose? Stevie Rae and Rephaim stand on a cross road, while extenuating circumstances test the power of love, friendship and trust.  A totally I-can't-put-this-down-till-I-finish-it book :P :D MSM shall be generous with the love on this one. ;)

When I first opened this book, I wasn't keeping my hopes high as I had been let down a bit by Tempted, even though Burned was much better, I thought I will end up giving up. (But voila! I didn't!) Enough with the hate, I heart me some House of Night, anyway! ;) So, Neferet has seriously become freaky and super scary, mingling, reveling and controlling Darkness like never before. Her power has swollen so much, that Kalona himself is bound by her. The fight in Goddess's realm gets Kalona reminiscing, but will it have any effect, we shall know later. Neferet now plots with the White Bull (Darkness Personified) by her side. Zoey and Stark unite at the Isle of Skye and discover their love, need and comfort with each other. Stark really is Hot!, especially with that Scottish Accent - Aye Wumman! Better than Erik and Heath! (You know by now, I am totally crushing on the Arrow Boy! Make that Brooding-Warrior-Guardian-Hot Arrow Boy ;))

Anyhow, on a serious note, Rephaim now feels guilt, that may be it is right that Stevie Rae is not with him, as he chooses to stand by his Daddy (Eeesh! Kalona). He believes that he is a monster, not worth loving. So when Stevie Rae calls to him, it is THE call to his yearning heart for her. But what does Stevie Rae want with him? One of the nicely penned portions of the Book and I am not gonna spoil it. Go pick this one up! :D While Zoey decides to return to the House of Night, because of the loss and damage that is waiting for her there, Queen Sgiach gifts her a stone which seeks ancient magic. It is now Zoey's responsibility to use it well. 

In a seriously sick evil plan, Neferet seeks forgiveness from Zoey before the entire House of Night, but our Zoey (way to go girl!) sees through her oh-so-innocent charade. Divine power intervenes and what ensues is, totally worth reading. Let's just say that my wish about Stevie Rae and Rephaim, sort of gets fulfilled. Zoey learns a life changing truth and James Stark is yet to fight the battle to save his soul. Will the blessing of Nyx and second life granted by Kalona, be curse for Zoey's Guardian (Nooo! Please don't screw with him dear writers!) I apologize people for that deviation. (Ahem) While in Otherworld, Heath's time has come to make one choice of the three given to him by Nyx. Choices that will change the destinies of everyone on Earth, including his Zoey. Will Heath's choice turn out to be disastrous and soul-shattering or prove to be a beacon of hope for his friends? Towards the end of the book, while Zoey finally seeks the embrace of her Guardian to get some sleep, a truth is revealed which will haunt Zoey for the life to come. I recommend you all to read this once. You guys won't be disappointed. Promise! :D

My rating: 3.75/5

House of Night (Book 8): Awakened @ St. Martin's 2011 ISBN 13 9781905654857 

Publisher(s): Atom. St. Martin's Griffin Version - Rs. 989/- INR (Hardcover)

Landmark Bookstore in Bangalore: ISBN 10 1905654855

List Price: 299/- INR. Special Price: 207/- INR

*I could't find a direct .pdf link, but here's a torrent link from where I downloaded. http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/308178457/Awakened?tab=summary 

Have Fun people! Happy Diwali and Blessed Be!! :) :)

Burned [house of night #7] by PC Kast + Kristin Cast

Read the reviews of previous parts here

So Zoey is dead, almost dead 'cause she still has a chance at life if some one can bring her soul back from the Other world ! And who caused this ? Heath !! Am I glad he is dead finally ? In a way yes , but I liked the role he played in the Otherworld ! This book totally belongs to Stevie and Aphrodite ! Thanks to the authors for finally portraying what these two ladies are capable of !  They hve powers , they have brains and they have the strength to keep up the struggle at any cost.
Stark ! Love him from the moment he became Zoey's warrior and in this ook, he totally plays the part. Of course he is the only one who can now save Zoey and that he does. brilliant chapter that is ..[ will not tell more in case it might act as spoiler].
And yes, I hate zoey a little more here except the part when she fights for Stark ! I wish she had that sense and feeling of power all the while ! But then you will not have this part at all ;)



Synopsis:  Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her.  But how?  He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates.  And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter  BFF Stevie Rae.  She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own.  The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences.  Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good.  The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it).  She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not.  Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.


Rating : 3/5


 Other details: 
ISBN-10: 0312606168
ISBN-13: 978-0312606169
Pages : 323
Price : 363 for paperback

Tempted ( hous of night novel #6) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Read reviews of previous parts here [ In reverse order]

Unexpected twists. Fast paced Narration. Emotional drama on a high.Prophecy. Venice.Power.Truth.  Love. Friends. Pain. Guy-Issues [ Zoey always have that !] , Loyalty. Humanity and Above all - Good over evil [ can it prevail and for how long ?]

This part has it all and a good amount that too. From one discovery and sense of achievement to another trouble to another day that can turn any way .. You will not take long to finish this one .. The repetition about people and circle and other stuff is almost gone , the story stands on its own and so do the characters - each of them. Totally hooked to this series and totally proud of it ;)

Synopsis : So - you'd think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark's life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn't go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?

Rating : 3.5/5

Other details :
ISBN:     1905654588
ISBN-13: 9781905654581,978-1905654581
Pages : 336

House of Night - Hunted (Book 5)

HUNTED: Book Five of the House of Night Series. 

AUTHOR(s): P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

Read Review for Book 1  Marked  Here.

Read Review for Book 2 Betrayed Here.

Read Review for Book 3 Chosen Here.

Read Review for Book 4 Untamed Here.

SYNOPSIS: Finally getting her senses, friends and confidence to fight the evils anew, back; Zoey Redbird decides to chill out a little. However, what is a life without surprises? The fallen dark angel Kalona (Yeah, you got that right - Tall, bronze and HOT! :P ) has erupted from the Earth after some billion years and who he decides to go after?? Yes, our beautiful Zoey Redbird - referred to as A-Ya [Pronounced as UH-YA]. Apparently, Kalona believes that Zoey is his ancient lover (though he definitely has ulterior motives...) reincarnated. Zoey has her friends' back again, the mystery of Red Fledglings is solved - though there may be some  hiding a deep dark side within them. Erik is back with Zoey again and yes, everything is all right. But, Aphrodite, as she knows, that Zoey is being Hunted and needs to be saved...will she be able to escape the Hunt or Perish? 

"As your girlfriend, you've just pissed me off. As your High Priestess, you've just insulted me. And as someone with a working brain, you've made me wonder if you've lost every bit of your sense."

Eventually Zoey will discover that Love has different forms - Possessive,  True love, Ancient Love and Love for Eternity and she will realize (like always) that it is not easy to choose one if you really have to make a choice that can Change the world we live in. 

EXCERPT: "Bare legs? Naked shoulders? I looked down and let out a little yip of surprise. I was wearing a seriously short buckskin minidress. The top of it was cut in a wide V, front and back, so that it hung off my shoulders, leaving lots of skin visible. The dress itself was amazing. It was white and decorated with fringe, feathers, and shells and seemed to glow in the moonlight. All over it was beaded with intricate designs that were impossibly beautiful. My imagination is so darn cool!"

MSM Speaks: After Untamed, which had successfully raised my hopes, I am very pleased with Hunted. In this one, Zoey here has very BIG and very SCARY adventures to face, which also includes an *NDE when a Raven Mocker (Yeah, the mockery of a Raven) attacks her mistakenly. I love (Okay, the scene is grisly) the Action part. So, the book starts when Zoey realizes that Kalona is using her dreams to seduce her (Cliche' Alert!). Zoey realizes that Stevie Rae has survived but Stark (The Uber Hot Archer Guy - New to House Of Night) is now real bad, which again breaks Zoey's heart. But this time (Thank the Goddess Nyx) she realizes that since Erik is finally with her, she better be good. However, the Blonde Jock Heath  enters (why??!!) and as Erik tries to stop her (He is such a possessive Jerk I tell you), Zoey gets pissed and speaks that dialogue which I have given in the summary. She then walks out with Heath who has to talk to her.

From here the real (and okay, a bit dramatic) action starts. Outside, Zoey receives a deadly scar. Elements are unable to heal her and Heath's blood barely keeps her conscious. It all ends when all of them have to eventually return to the House of Night as Zoey cannot survive for long, away from the grown up vampyres. Here Zoey learns that Stark can be Changed and that Kalona and Neferet are planning something large. Zoey has also acquired a way to make Kalona flee with the help of her new Poet Laureate Kramisha (A Red Fledgling), who's poems are Prophetic. One such poem says that Earth leads to Spirit leads to Humanity leads to Blood and Night binds them all  and together they can make the Immortal flee. Hopefully, the human-vampyre apocalypse is avoided for a while. Whoa!!!! I loved this part of the Series...mostly because there are more poetic stanzas and verses like a puzzle and it was fun to guess.

Hunted was a better book than the first three ones. It was good to find that the Authors' finally found a pace which keeps you hooked till the last page. However, initial few pages where Zoey reminisces about what all she did in Untamed becomes slightly boring, but is necessary to lay down the plot. A sure read to learn a few historical facts and more so that Darkness does not always equate to evil just as Light always does not bring good. 

My Rating - 4/5.
*NDE - Near Death Experience

House of Night (Book 5): Hunted @ St. Martin's 2009 ISBN 10 0312577990

Landmark Bookstore in Bangalore: ISBN 13 9780312577995, Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

List Price: 472/- INR.

Untamed ( House of Night series#4)

by PC Cast + Kristin Cast

Read reviews of previous posts here [ in reverse order]

Although book#3 is a much needed pain to read to be aware of what's going on in Zoey's life, this book was totally amazing and much much better than book#3. Zoey has a lot of "stuff" to deal in this part - beginning with an attack by an unseen being, upset friends, aphroditie's dangerous visions, a dead new kid, undead and supposedly healing BFF and the evil intentions of Neferet ! And oh, lets not forget the brewing dark evil which explodes in the end in a really creepy narration ! The book just gets better with each chapter, throwing fresh incidents and facts about the characters in book. This book makes it worth reading the previous one :D

Zoey finally looks to be getting a grip on herself and her responsibilities; but Aphrodite totally won my heart in this one. Read this one for her !!

Synopsis :
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 give this one 3.5/5

More details:

ISBN : 0312379838 (ISBN13: 9780312379834)

Paperback : 352 pages
Price : 299/- ( 225 at flipkart right now)




PS : I downloaded the audio book[part 1-5] from torrentz. And its really getting addictive - the audio book as much as this book !

House of Night - Chosen (Book 3)

CHOSEN: Book Three of the House of Night Series.

AUTHOR(S): P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

Read Review for Book 2 - Betrayed ------>Here<------ done by Nimue. 

Read Review for Book 1 - Marked ------->Here<------ done by MSM.

SYNOPSIS: Like life wasn't complicated enough being the only Vampyre-fledgling in the history to have a colored in and expanded tattoo, plus the ability to invoke all the five elements, Zoey Redbird now walks on the tramp chick land. Meaning? She has three boyfriends.Three! Heath Luck: Human Ex-Boyfriend. Erik Knight: Current Oh-So-Hot Vampyre Boyfriend and the Disastrous of all - Loren Blake: Vampyre Poet Laureate who is also 17 year old Zoey's 21 year Old Professor (Yikes!!) Add to this mixture of romantic (slutty?) triangle a dash of scary dead-undead best friend Stevie Rae, Evil Bitch (with nails and green eyes) Neferet, the killings that mar the House of Night...and you have the perfect recipe for a Vampyre Apocalypse.

"Believe in yourself, Daughter and get ready for what is to come"

Yes, the Goddess still reminds Zoey of the reasons for which she was Marked but well, Zoey is trying to figure out Stuff (Really? How bad could grammar get?) whether her enemies are her friends or vice-versa, whether she is turning into a ho (?) and whether she really is the Chosen one.

EXCERPT: "Well Nala, seems I'm in middle of some deep poo (Haha! Poo?). The negatives in my life totally outweigh the positives, and you know what's weird? I'm starting to actually get used to it. Nala sneezed directly in my face, making me laugh while I said "eww" and hurried into my room, going for the box of Kleenex I kept on my bedside table. As usual, Nala summed up my life perfectly: kinda funny, kinda gross, and more than kinda messy."

MSM Speaks:  In Chosen, Zoey learns that Power alters people. People around them and themselves. Zoey has unearthed the secret of her dead-now undead best friend Stevie Rae and has no choice but to hide all of it for the best of her friends. All good till here. The Story gets messed up when Zoey starts on with Erik, Heath and Loren Blake (Who is her teacher for God's Sake!). Aphrodite is gifted with the affinity for earth and she is the only one with her head on her shoulders, who is supporting Zoey. Later, towards the end of the book, Zoey's friends are pissed at her because she hides issues from them, Erik breaks up with her because he walks in when Zoey is in compromising position with Loren Blake. And Heath loses Zoey because she imprints with Loren. Enough with Melodrama already! Okay, so you all may have guessed that I am not so impressed with the Third Installment in the House of Night Series. Not because I do not like the Series per se, but I dislike the repetitiveness in this book. The language is screwed up with words like 'gihugic, ginormic, ho (Short for a whore) etc.' which shows the Authors' desperate attempt to sound like a teen. Really, a teen with huge super powers and a growing sense of responsibility through the 1st and 2nd books - Marked and Betrayed - should not become an idiot by the third one. 

What happened to Stevie Rae? What happened to the concept of best friend I always believed in? What happened to the whole reason why Zoey is Marked and Betrayed? I am disappointed. Zoey making mistakes as a conflicted teen is justified as she also evolves as an independent and mature person in first two books. However, in Chosen she degrades as a selfish, insecure and confused teen.This is seriously moronic and hypocritical, especially when first two books set a different foundation. The Authors' fail to keep up the strong image of Zoey in this one. A downhill from the first two installments. I understand that the Authors are trying to draw a parallel between teen issues and superpower issues, but they push it a tad bit too far in an attempt to make it look normal. It.Is.Not.Normal.To.Have.Three.Boyfriends. Period. Chosen however brings out the better side of Zoey's enemy-turned-friend Aphrodite's better side which I really love. She has a clear sense of judgment which Zoey lacks in this book. Overemphasis on one issue (yes, I am not saying it again) spoils it for me. I know that sleeping around shouldn't be judged but some of Zoey's actions (literally) made me blush (with shame). Even I wasn't that stupid when I was a teen.

However, Chosen is a good read (I am not evil ;) ) in some parts when Zoey and Aphrodite discover the friendship. That, Stevie Rae's humanity is not lost completely and there's hope that it could be restored, makes the novel slightly positive. Also, discovery by Zoey that Neferet is her Nemesis makes me feel scared and intrigued and edgy at the same time - the feelings I loved. But I do not want to be Chosen if it means making out with three guys and losing my head - completely defeating the purpose of being the beloved of Goddess Nyx. 

Keep reading for more reviews on House of Night, people. Your suggestions are welcome! :)

House of Night (Book Three): Chosen @St. Martin's 2008 ISBN: 0312360304

Landmark bookstore in Bangalore: ISBN : 9780312360306 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

List Price: 428/- INR.

Betrayed - Book#2 - house of the night Series

by PC Cast + Kristin Cast

Ok, if you have read the first book, this book will offer quite a lot of repetition of events from book#1 but those who did not read it, let it not mean you can skip book 1.  This book sees Zoye , trying to handle friends , her responsibilities as the leader of the dark daughters and son, her new boyfriend Erik , her ex-boyfriend Heath [ and a human ] , her super hot teacher [ as described in the book , and he writes haiku !! I love this one ;) ] , and the high priestess ! Do i even write any more ? This is a thick plot which is served well with some very memorable moments - few of the scenes between Aphrodite & Zoye ; Heath's vulnerability at his friend's death ; Zoye's confession about Heath to Erik ... very honest and heartfelt writing there. You feel not just for Zoye alone but for all those related to her ! And that for me is remarkable about this book. This book does not take the story further but instead sets a baseline for the next part. And  I am too eager to do that !

 Synopsis [ from book cover] :

Fledgling vampyre 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.

Other details :

Number of pages : 400

Price : 200-300 [ depends on site / shop ] for a paperback

Read the review of Marked - book #1 of the series here done by MSM.

House of Night (The Series) - Marked by P.C.Cast and Kristin Cast

MARKED (Book One of the House of Night Series)

AUTHOR(S): A Mother-Daughter Duo - P.C.Cast and Kristin Cast

BEST SELLERS: P.C.Cast  is known for her Goddess Summoning and Partholon Series. House of Night is her first series with her Daughter Kristin Cast.

SYNOPSIS: She thought taking Geometry test was the most frightening thing that would happen to her, until she was Marked by a Vampyre* Tracker. Meet Zoey Redbird, a sixteen-year old teen from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who has a whole new life awaiting her at the House of Night Boarding School, Tulsa. The Deal? Well, she is different from every other vampyre fledging. The Sapphire Colored Crescent on her forehead is already filled in and she experiences bloodlust which grosses out every other vampyre kid till they reach their fifth-sixth formers (Our equivalent to Senior Levels or Sophomores). And not to forget the pearls of wisdom given to her by the Goddess of Night Nyx who speaks to her through her intuitions.

"Darkness does not always equate to evil just as Light does not always bring good"

And the Biggest Deal? Making through the Change (for becoming a vampyre). If she cannot, she will die coughing and drowning in her own lungs - and if she does make it through, she would finish becoming a vampyre!

EXCERPT: "I stared at the exotic-looking tattoo. Mixed with my strong Cherokee features, it seemed to brand me with a mark of wildness...as if I belonged to Ancient times when the world was bigger...more barbaric. From this day on my life would never be the same. And for a moment - just an instant - I forgot the horror of not belonging and felt a shocking burst of pleasure, while deep inside of me the blood of my grandmother's people rejoiced" (Barnes & Noble.com)

MSM Speaks: I saw one of my friends' reading this book and just lifted it to flip through. I finished 104 pages in one go....it was that interesting. I felt sad when I had to return it and then checked out the actual book. Man! This is so not your typical vampyre stuff. I mean, there are no fangs, unnecessary hissing, sudden appearances et al. 

It is the story of a teen juggling between her sucky human parents who think she is daughter of Satan because she is Marked and her fear of new vampyre life that would begin at the vampyre finishing school called House of Night. Zoey Redbird has a very loving Grandmother, who reminded me of soft blanket and home. P.C.Cast and Kirsten Cast rock as a duo, with P.C.s in depth historical knowledge and Kirstin's modern perspective. The Folklore, Paganism, Wiccan and North American rituals are meshed so well, you would feel like trying them out! I swear. Marked embarks on Zoey's journey of new life, beginning as an advanced fledgling. She gets bonded with the Goddess of Night Nyx and feels accepted in her new group of friends which include her roommate Stevie Rae, Damien (The Gay Uber Genius Friend), Erin and Shaunee (The Twins). Not to forget the hag from hell Aphrodite - who tries to make Zoey's life hell, but fails (Woohoo!). 

A very fresh read, little different from your oh-sob-I-need-a-boyfriend and intriguing in the manner of transitions between pages. A must read if you want to relive your college life with a twist! My rating: 4/5. I am deducting a point for repetition of some cliches like existence of a bitch and a boyfriend. Rest, I am ready to be Marked. ;) :)

You can check out the Cool Website ----->Here<-----

*Vampyre: The spelling used by P.C.Cast which she thinks, looks cool. I agree. Additional info from MSM: Vam - Pyre means according to old myths as "Some one who burns in Fire (Pyre = Fire)"

House of Night (Book One): Marked @ St Martin's, 2007 (ISBN 0-312-36026-6)

Landmark bookstore in Bangalore: ISBN : 9780312360269 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

List Price: 428/- INR.

PS: I downloaded the e-book. 

PPS: This is my first book review at "A Lot of Pages" and I loved the experience! Do be gracious and show me some love. This is MSM saying Muchas Gracias in advance! Keep following for the next one in the Series... "BETRAYED" - Book Two of the House of Night Series.