April 27, 2012

Review: Awakened by P.C. Cast

Awakened (House of Night, book 8) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

awakened

Genre: Paranormal YA
Edition Reviewed: Hardcover
Amazon: Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Awakened

“My love, speak to me.  Tell me everything.”  Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?”  He didn’t meet her eyes. 

“Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.”  She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going?  What will happen next?”

“It is quite simple.  I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma.  There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

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.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  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?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  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 okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?


Review:

The last book the only thing that kept me holding on to this series was the Beauty and the Beast romance between Stevie Rae and Rephaim.   The plot of Zoey’s shattered soul bored me to tears, though it was interesting to see the idea behind the White Bull (evil) and the Black Bull (good), and the many takes of old magic.  So when I cracked open Awakened I knew it had to be better then Burned.  In some ways I was right.

Zoey reminds on the Isle of Skye to continue her healing as everyone else heads back to the Tulsa House of Night.  A tragic death that will no doubt bother many readers—I know I got misty eyed—finally wakes Zoey up enough to admit she needs to stand up to evil. While on the island though the authors share some fun little facts about old magic and the Faye.

For the most part I still find Zoey very annoying.   In my mind there’s a difference between being humble and wanting to do a good job at a task you feel unqualified to take, and just being whiny all the time.  Instead of looking forward to Zoey’s story I look forward to the many other riveting side plots.  Dragon, the Sword Master of the house of night, is still dealing with the loss of his mate and may very well turn to darkness.  Neferet becomes a very interesting character to follow along. Sure her voice is written much more soothing—make that mature—then what the Cast team things adolescent minds should sound like. The insanity that Neferet has fallen to is alluring to read.  Best of all is the EPIC romance of Stevie Rae and Rephaim.  Fans are going to be really happy with this one!

The House of Night series has always been a pretty sexually charged YA, however this one is taking the series a step up. Zoey and Stark are getting regular bedroom time, and we get to see more of Neferet too.  In my opinion this is a great stepping stone book in that it’s taking readers into other directions then Zoey’s story.  Kolana clearly isn’t just going to be this big dastardly villain anymore, there’s the hope of redemption.  By the next book I’m hoping more characters will get the chance to shine—before more great characters die.

Sexual Content: As mentioned above there is some bedroom time to be had, though nothing as graphic as adult books.

 
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.


Book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:

Marked (1) 
Betrayed (2)
Chosen (3)
Untamed (4)
Hunted (5)
Tempted (6)
Burned (7)
Destined (9)
Hidden (10)

Hardback | Paperback | Kindle 
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle
Hardback | Paperback | Kindle

Marked (1) 
Betrayed (2)
Chosen (3)
Untamed (4)
Hunted (5)
Tempted (6)
Burned (7)
Destined (9)
Hidden (10)

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