“Chosen” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

Oh Man! This is a highly addictive series!

In this book, "Chosen," the heroine, fledgling vampyre, Zoey Redbird, finds that her friends have turned on her and she ends up turning to her sworn enemies for friendship. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling with her humanity and Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her. Now Zoey finds she's got three boyfriends, which can be a social disaster.

I was bothered by the fact that Zoey falls in love with her teacher and ends up having sex with him. I know this occasionally happens in real life and I know we don’t want to treat it like it should never be brought out of the closet. However, this is a YA (Young Adult) series. I do expect to read some language and sexual innuendo or perhaps tame sex scenes, but I don’t think things like this should be introduced as acceptable to our teens. The fact that she falls in love with just about every boy she makes contact with is grating, but it is a known fact with teens. Hormones are coursing through her veins.

Although I found a couple of points to take issue with in this series thus far, I did enjoy the overall story. The basic plot to the story focuses on a murder that happens on campus. This causes Zoey to move off campus where she attempts to save her best friend, Stevie Rae. Of course, Stevie Rae, now a red vampyre, seems to have lost her humanity, but Zoey can’t believe this to be true, and she makes it her goal to try to save her best friend.

Neferet is as evil as ever and we see what else she has to offer as she attempts to get rid of Zoey. I think out of all these characters, I truly love Aphrodite. She seems to put everything out there whether you want to hear it or not. Even in the most “Valley Girl,” “Rich Bitch” kind of way, Aphrodite holds no punches.

Again... a very addictive read! I couldn't and didn't put the book down until I was done!!

Now, if you have read the first two books of this series then this book is a must-read. However, if you are checking out the series as a mother or father of a teen who wants to read this, be cautioned there is adult content here… more than most other paranormal YA books.

“Betrayed” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

After reading "Marked," there was only one thing I could do and that was to continue into the series by reading, "Betrayed."

Betrayed is the second installment in the House of Night series. It is dark and sexy, and was fantastic to read. It picks up where Marked left off.

Our heroine, Zoey Redbird, seems to be an anomaly among fledglings in the House of Night. She is the most powerful fledgling at the House of Night and quite possibly the most powerful in vampyre history. After taking over leadership of the Dark Daughters and Sons, she seems to be settling in nicely at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs. In this book, Zoey is determined to change things in the school, from a snobby elitist clique to something of substance, meaning. We begin to see Zoey feel comfortable in her own skin and she actually seems to mature a little.

Along with Zoey’s growing pains with learning to be the priestess that she seems to be training for, her love life seems to be a mess. She finds herself in love with two boys and one of her professors. Just when things begin to look up, trouble happens to the humans in her old life. They keep disappearing. Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart and her soul.

Once I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. It was obvious how hooked I had become. I like how the Cast’s are developing the characters and how they seem to get along with each other in this series. Each character is beginning to grow into what they believe is their path in life. Even though I really like Zoey, I think I like Aphrodite and Stevie Rae a little better. They seem to be the most open and straight forward what’s happening throughout the book.

I find it odd that the Cast’s did not proofread their books though. I’m seeing a number of grammatical errors throughout the story. I can only hope they will see this in their future installations.

If you enjoy vampire stories, this is a good one. However, it is not like your typical vampire story. I think that is why I thoroughly enjoyed it.

You can visit the Cast's website to learn more about their other books in this series. http://www.houseofnightseries.com

“Burned” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast pull it off again with the next installment to the House of Night series. “Burned”, appeared on bookstands May 6, 2010 and sadly I was not one of the first to get my copy. However, excited as usual to get my copy, I quickly read to find out what happened to our heroine, Zoey Redbird.

As you recall from my book review of “Tempted”, I was all too eager to find out how our vampyres and fledglings faired in this series. We left Stevie Rae holding secrets from everyone about the imprint she had with Raven Mocker, Rephaim. Zoey witnessed the death of her childhood sweetheart by the hand of fallen warrior, Kalona. She used all that she had within her, and threw the full power of the element spirit at Kalona, attempting to kill him. The combination of all this caused Zoey’s spirit to leave this realm and move on to the Otherworld, shattering her soul in hundreds of pieces. Her body still lives but her spirit is not in her. With her soul now shattered and in the Otherworld, her circle of friends must find a way to bring her back.

“Burned” is a continuation of this specific adventure. Zoey’s friends pulled themselves together with the help of the vampyre council and found only one way to rescue her. Doing what they all do best, they each take on the responsibility of learning the history of vampyres and their warriors. Our hero warrior, Stark takes his vow as warrior to a completely new level as he learns what he must do to protect his priestess in the Otherworld.

I can continue from here and describe to you all the various adventures found in this book, or in this series, but I will not. This series is one I would definitely put on your “To Read” list. Although this is a Young Adult series, I feel it still holds enough intrigue and excitement for any adult. It is packed full of angst, friendships, honor, and love… not to mention vampyres and magic.

Each book in this series, in my opinion, cannot really stand up all on its own. You must read the whole series to follow the storyline accurately. I like the Casts’ vampyres very much. They are not your typical bloodsuckers that you read about in other novels. You find yourself hoping that this band of misfits actually lives on and succeeds. The writers do a good job of introducing you into the lives of teens you normally would hate to know, only to find you need and love them. Many are the emotions tapped as you read into the lives of these teens.

“Tempted” left me full of suspense, anger, and sadness whereas “Burned” quashed all that and brought relief. However, as is usually for this writing team, you are left with not so much a cliffhanger, but the apprehension of what is to happen next.

The next installment for The House of Night series is, “Awakened”. Although I have not heard of a release date yet, I will keep checking their website, http://houseofnightseries.com for any new updates.

"Tempted" from House of Night Series **SPOILERS**

I was so excited to get to the bookstore to buy the next book in the House of Night series, written by P.C. Cast & her daughter Kristen Cast. Let me just start by saying these two women are a great writing team overall. I have enjoyed the whole series... the ups, the downs, even the teenage angst...which is saying a lot.

As I was saying, I couldn't wait to get my teeth into this book! As a kind of recap, Zoey Redbird is the main character, the heroine in this series. She has come from normal run-of-the-mill teen high school human to now, fledgling vampyre priestess. She was chosen by the goddess Nyx to be a vessel for her to get rid of evil and bring back her children to her. Each time something big occurs and Zoey saves her friends, or for that matter, the world, she gains these beautiful tattoos all over her body. The goddess Nyx gives these tattoos to identify her touch or her choosing of a fledgling. The more markings a fledgling receives, the closer they are to becoming a vampyre or priest/priestess.

The series left us with Zoey Redbird and her circle of friends, chasing off the immortal Kalona and the evil priestess Nefret. The last battle she faced almost killed her grandmother and her boy friend of interest, Stark.

In "Tempted”, we get to see more of Stevie Rae, now a red vampyre, and her red fledglings. We see a lot of Zoey POV and Stevie Rae POV. In this book, it is Stevie Rae's turn to keep secrets from Zoey.

Stevie Rae, having a new take on life, finds a Raven Mocker and realizes that he is part human. Therefore, she attempts to save his life and keep him from all her friends.

While all recover from the battle with Kalona, Zoey learns more of the location of Kalona and Neferet. Her pursuit takes her and her circle to Italy where Zoey must appear before the Vampyre council. While there, something happens to Zoey that was very disconcerting to me. Major cliffhanger!! I need the next book now because I am worried about Zoey & Stevie Rae!

Overall, I the book read quickly. Too quickly. I felt like this was a Part 1 to a multi-part book. I hate to have things left hanging.

...I'm watching for the next book!

Twilight, New Moon, Fanfic, True Blood... Oh my!

I've hit a wall here... I have so many things I want to follow or even just comment about. (I guess you'd still have to follow if you want to comment... right?) Anyway, I'm having a hell-of-a-time getting ANYTHING done!

I have been reading "Wide Awake" fanfic written by AngstGoddess003, watching "New Moon" trailers, reading TwitFic on by the True Blood on Twitter Thursday group, (*whisper* They don't just tweet on Thursdays.) reading my favorite blog(s), and I started rereading "Dead Until Dark," by Charlaine Harris. How's someone suppose to get real life stuff done?

Authors that I've been reading, either have new books out or new ones are coming soon.

Richelle Mead just published book #4 of the Vampire Academy series, "Blood Promise." It came out August 24th. I haven't had a chance to run to the bookstore yet!

I've heard that Charlaine Harris has another book to add to the Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampires) Series, called "A Touch of Dead," due out October 6, 2009.

PC Cast & Kristen Cast have "Tempted," the next in the House of Night Series due out October 26, 2009.

Laurell K Hamilton has "Divine Misdemeanors," #8 in the Meredith Gentry series expected out December 8, 2009. She also has another book, "Flirt," #18 to the Anita Blake, Vampire Killer series expected February 2, 2010. (Hopefully that date holds, it'd be a nice birthday present for myself!)

I've heard rumors that Stephenie Meyer has books that she is writing too, but she remains silent. The silence could be due the fact that she is majorly involved with the Twilight Saga shoot and now her book, "The Host" goes to silver screen. *midas shrug* Just wish Stephenie would give a shout out more often so we have an idea of what she's doing.

With all of this, how do you get real life done? For me, I need to have a lot done before November 19th when I head to Idaho to watch "New Moon" with my bff who needs intervention too.

"Marked" by PC Cast & Kristen Cast

The House of Night Series, written by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast, were next set of books that I set myself to reading. There are currently 5 books in this series at the time of this post. However book 6 comes out October 27, 2009. I am sooooo looking forward to that one coming out.

The first book in this series is "Marked." It is about a teenage girl named Zoey Redbird, who is 'marked' and enters a new school just for fledglings like herself. She has been Marked as special by the vampire Goddess Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at this school called the House of Night, with special powers.

Now, as I have stated before, placing my imagination back in my high school years with all that teen angst was difficult at first... because that is where this all takes place...high school. In this story, Zoey seems like kind of the odd ball at first. However, in a very short time she hooks up with other fledglings who show her the ropes. She then discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, so Zoey has to look deep inside for the courage to embrace her destiny put before her. Of course she can only do this with help from her new vampire fledgling friends.

What I truly find fascinating here is that these kids are vampire fledglings, they are not full vampires yet. What this means is that they can go out in the daylight, they can eat regular food, they don't need blood, but they live with the idea that within 4-years, they will either die or mature to a full vampire. Now, they don't go out in the day, normally, because they are Marked with a tattoo on their foreheads. Yeah, strange...and as they mature as fledglings, the tattoo kind of magically appears and grows.

If you like vampire stories this is a good one. However, it is not like your typical vampire story. I think that is why I thoroughly enjoyed it.