Not really into comic books or don’t know if this is something you would enjoy? How about a sneak peak at what they look at to help you decide.

Below are the first 6 pages from the 1st edition.  Happy Reading!

Click image to see full size.

House of Night #1 (Jenny Frison cover)

Anyways,

For those of you that have NOT jumped on this action packed/spirit filled/to much drama for your mama vampire band-wagon then I want to be the first to scold you. (Shame Shame!) and to tell you that there is plenty of time to catch up… and I do mean catch up. This series is NOT one you can pick up in the middle and hope to have a clue as to what is going on, the continuing plot is extremely complex and boast a VERY large cast of characters. (the total history is necessary…trust me)

!!!!STOP!!!!

Disclaimer: If you have not read “Tempted” yet do not read any further because there is a VERY BIG spoiler in the paragraphs below…don’t say I didn’t warn you.

After a shocking (I actually screamed out loud) ending to “Tempted” I was a little concerned that “P.C and Kristen Cast” had jumped the shark by killing off their main heroine, but again… this Mother/Daughter duo shocked me with their ability to twist the story to their favor. “Burned” like all of the other HON novels was action packed from cover to cover and in a surprising twist…amazingly current. How you ask? Well, for starters they made a “Glee” reference which, being a lover of the show, I found very amusing (and accurate) also the characters “generic” cell phones from the previous novels suddenly turned up as hip little iPhones in this novel.

The writing was (as always) flawless, as it should be by now, and even though additional character building could have been considered unnecessary, I was please to see that “Cast” expanded upon her already (aggressively) detailed characters. The plot was broken into several different stories, (Zoey/Stark/Heath – Stevie Ray/Rephaim/Red Fledgings – Aphrodite/Darius) each having a significant connection to the main plot, but also generating its own underlying subplot (which will be used in novels to come) There were a few NEW perspectives in the multi-narration (have no fear each person’s point of view was clearly marked) but more importantly… we were again left hanging (not as bad as last time, but enough to assume this is going to be an ongoing theme from now on.)

There were beautiful Indian boys, a lost giggling girl, an electricity wielding red fledging, a dedicated boy with a body full of cuts, 2 bulls, lots of kilts, even more fights, and 1 very broken soul.

Get to the store quickly my paranormal junkies because this one is going to sell out quickly.

Happy reading my fellow Vampires and remember: when in doubt, a Scottish accent counts!

For a complete book description click image

***** (5/5)

OMG! OMG! OMG! Are you freaking kidding me? WTF? No… seriously… WTF!

Ok, now that I have gotten that out of my system let me tell you the reason for it. I have been waiting for book # 6 in the “House of Night” series for MONTHS! And WOW was it worth the excruciating wait.

“Tempted” started off a little slow, I’m not going to lie, but in similar fashion to the previous 5 novels, once the train finally left the station it was full steam ahead.

“P.C. Cast” and “Kristen Cast” however, did something brilliant with this book that they DID NOT do in the first 5. They introduced a narrative circle. This book was written from several different perspectives, each being clearly identified at the beginning of each chapter. While previously we were only allowed a one sided view from Zoey, in “Tempted” we are welcomed into the minds of Stevie Rae, Aphrodite, Stark, Heath and Rephaim.

The story picks up immediately where “Hunted” ended, and continues the story of Kalona,and (the now completely psychotic) Neferet (who by the way decides to tell everyone she is Nyx reincarnated…can we say “needs medication”?)

Zoey is still struggling to find her place, stuck in the unwanted position of “High Priestess” and surrounded by a group of highly dedicated fledgings that, for a lack of a better description, see her as the “light.” She is saddled with not 1 but 3 boys…a Vampyre, a Consort and a Warrior, and to add icing to the metaphorical cake, she has now been commissioned to speak in front of the High Council, sent to convince them of Kalona’s evil ways and ultimately…save the world. (No pressure there.)

Stevie Rae, on the other hand is not struggling with the world around her, but more the world within herself. She is hiding things from the “nerd herd”, she is sneaking injured Raven Mockers into underground hidey holes, and for one very terrifying moment (for Aphrodite as well) she is stuck on a hot roof, slowly bursting into flames.

There were pissed off zombie fledgings, evil red ones come for revenge, 1 very arrogant boy who needs a good butt kicking, a suicide attempt from the top of a castle, a very sad moment with a Dragon, and the most UPSETTING ending of a book I have read in quite some time.

I loved this book and hated the book, I thought this book was brilliant and frustrating, I wanted to cry and throw my Kindle at the wall, this was… THE BEST BOOK OF THE SERIES! and it left me crushed at the end.

If you have yet to read the first 5, do not pass go, do not collect $200, get them immediately and catch up. You will not regret it. Get it, live it, love it…pass it on.

Happy reading my fellow fledgings, and remember, “We are all affected by our pasts, but it is within our power not to let what we have done dictate what we will do.”

For a full book description click image

***** (5/5)

"THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES": As a self proclaimed Vampire lover I was sure to love this series: vampires, blood, the occasional bout of teenage angst, what more could you ask for right? But half way through "Marked" I was still waiting to be wowed. Unlike the rest of the world who feels this overwhelming need to compare every book on the planet to the Twilight Saga, I feel it is my blogger duty to give each author their own voice, and 70% in, this author duo finally found theirs, and boy, once they got it going they didn’t know where to stop. These books had a unique take on the dark underside we all wish was real.  Instead of being bitten you are marked.  Put a non-to-discreet tattoo in the middle of a teenagers forehead and problems are sure to arise.  I’m just not so sure that the heroin Zoey had life peril and possible death planned for her Spring Break vacation. That being said.  These books keep you reading. Which for me is the only major requirement I desire.  By the 2nd book in the series my husband was questioning my sanity as I sat on my couch bawling like a school girl, and by book 3 I wanted nothing more than to find my local tattoo artist and join the club. Whoever came up with the idea for a metaphorical vampire boarding school must have been around to many paint fumes, but as hokey as it sounds it works.  The writing makes the Psycho Headmistress, Pessimistic Enemy turned BFF and juggling not 1 but 3 boy friends sound amazingly convincing. Keep in mind that these books were intended for a young audience so if you are looking for some overly deep meaning then you are looking in the wrong place.  You will however find yourself having several minor flashbacks to your own teen years as the group of young friends portrayed race against time to find not only themselves but a place where they can belong.

****½ (4.5/5)

For complete book descriptions click image.