Book Review - Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Chosen (House of Night #3)
by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Young Adult

Book Number: 4 (Summer "Beach Reads" Challenge)

Summary: 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… (from Goodreads)

My thoughts: The focus of this book is not only the dramatic plot elements continuing from book #2, but in all of the bad decisions Zoey makes. Even though she is Nyx's Chosen One, she is still a teenager, and makes stupid decisions just like any other teenager. Except with Zoey, everything that happens is on a *much* larger scale. Parts of this book are painful to read, and I found myself trying to will her to not do some things. But this book will keep you reading, just to find out how Zoey will manage to work out the mess she's made of everything. And at the end, you want to read the next one, because it's clear that bad stuff is about to go down at the House of Night.

Book Review - Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Betrayed (House of Night #2)
by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Young Adult

Book Number: 3 (Summer "Beach Reads" Challenge)

Summary: 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. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts: In the second book in the series, we begin to discover that all isn't as it appears at the House of Night. Things that Zoey found odd in the first book--like seeing the "ghosts" of dead fledglings, and her instinct telling her not to confide in her mentor, the High Priestess--are revisited. But this time Zoey begins to discover that all isn't as it appears. While she learns that she can't trust her High Priestess, a student who was her enemy starts to become the one person who knows everything. There's also the beginnings of an uncomfortable storyline (at least, it's uncomfortable for me) between Zoey and all of the boys in her life. For me, the uncomfortable part is between Zoey and one of the teachers. Oy. Anyway, if you've read the first book, definitely give this one a go. It's just as well-written as the first, but now we're getting into the really juicy stuff.

Book Review - The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Fire (Lords of the Underworld #.5)
by Gena Showalter
Paranormal Romance

Book Number: 2 (Summer "Beach Reads" Challenge)
Book Number: 1 (Summer Romance Challenge)

Summary:
He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a horde of demon lords -- and discover a passion unlike any other... Discover the origin of the dimOuniak and the demon spirits trapped within.
(from Goodreads)

My thoughts: I've read the first three books in this series, and came across this prequel novella. It was good, but not nearly as good as the others in the series. It was interesting to read about how the Demon Lords first escaped and became trapped in Pandora's Box, which is discussed in the other books in the series. Overall, not the best book I've read in a while.

Book Review - Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

For those of you who may not remember, I had entered myself in the 2010 Summer Beach Reads Book Challenge. My personal goal is to read 8 books by the end of the contest, August 30th.

Marked (House of Night #1) P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Young Adult

Book Number: 1 (Summer "Beach Reads" Challenge)

Summary: 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. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts: I've read this one before, but it's been a while. And here's where my brother in law would laugh at me: I'm rereading this series in order to get to the latest book in the series, which I haven't read. And now that Cliff knows, I'm sure he'll give me a hard time. :) Anyway, I decided to reread this series because I have read so many paranormal/vampire books since I first read these, that I didn't really remember any details about the books.

As the first book in a series, some of this book is setting up characters and filling you in on Zoey's world. Although, since she's Marked as a vampyre in the beginning of the book, you're learning about it right along with her. In Zoey's world, there have always been vampyres, but that doesn't mean that they're socially accepted by humans. Zoey's step-dad is an elder in the People of Faith, which is the super-conservative mainstream human religion, and he, along with most of Zoey's human friends and family, think of her as a monster after she's been Marked. What's interesting to me is how Zoey is able to combine what she learns at the House of Night with her grandmother's Cherokee ways.

If you like vampire stories blended with some supernatural goings-on, definitely take a look at this book. It's a fast-paced, quick read that will have you wanting to read more, to find out what exactly is going on at the House of Night.