Enchanting Review: Hunted

HUNTED
P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0312379827
336 Pages
$17.95
Hardcover—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Zoey Redbird is being HUNTED. Not only has Kalona been released, he’s partnered up with Neferet and together they are planning something terrible, if Aphrodite’s visions and a newcomer’s poetry is to be believed. But when a horrible accident forces Zoey and company straight back home to the House of Night they realize just how bad things are. The students and teachers have turned into ‘pod people’ and its up to Zoey to do something that seems impossible—send Kalona right back where he came from.

I’m not sure HUNTED was what I expected the fourth book in this great series to be.
Zoey’s powers are continuing to grow, as is the powerful circle she surrounds herself with, but as her powers are growing, so unfortunately are Neferet’s and Kalona’s, who has the ability to appear in Zoey’s dreams. What I really liked about HUNTED was the widening out of Zoey’s circle of friends as well as the return of Heath, one of my favorite characters. Something about Eric though kept me suspicious through most of the book and I still wonder if there isn’t something to come with him in future books. One of my favorite moments is who imprints with Stevie Ray. My only real issue was the ending, which seemed sort of abrupt and almost too easy for Zoey and company, compared to the endings of the others in the series. Still, I can’t wait to see what lays ahead for Zoey and her friends.

Stay up to date with the latest House of Night news at http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
April 2009

Enchanting Review: Untamed

UNTAMED

P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal YA

St. Martin's Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-37983-4

352 Pages

$8.95

Trade-Available September 23, 2008

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Starting two days after 'Chosen' ended, UNTAMED kicks off with Zoey feeling isolated from her friends. After the 'outing' of her relationship with Loren as well as the realization that Stevie Ray was an 'undead dead' her friends are having issues trusting her. If they could only realize the reason they were left in the dark was for their own safety, but all they want to see right now is that Zoey kept secrets, important secrets from them. But when Aphrodite returns unexpectedly to the House of Night, she isn't alone. She's brought Stevie Ray back with her, along with news of a set of horrifying visions of the future—there's a war coming between the vampyres and the humans and its Zoey's demise that sparks it.

The fourth in the House of Night series, UNTAMED takes Zoey and her circle of friends down an unexpected and surprising path. Knowing that the target on her back is larger than anyone could have imagined, her new unusual alliance with Aphrodite and the growing tensions between her and the high priestess Neferet, Zoey's determined to keep Aphrodite's vision from coming true.

After the surprising deaths of Professor Nolan and Loren Blake, Zoey’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone she cares about safe.

While there were still a few good chunks of back story scattered through the first half of the book, UNTAMED moves forward at a brisk pace. Aphrodite's surprising infiltration into Zoey's circle of friends, or at least her friendship with Zoey, continues which I was so glad to see as she’s become a favorite of mine in the last two books. Actually, at times I thought she stole a few scenes, especially early on when she was helping Zoey and Stevie Ray. But my favorite thing about Aphrodite I think is her continual comebacks to the Twins comments. I loved Zoey’s sheer will to keep Aphrodite’s vision from coming true and the ending, well there really isn’t another way to describe it but heart pounding and jaw dropping.

After an ending that will leave you breathless and wondering what lies ahead for Zoey and her friends, I can't wait to see what happens next! One of the best and possibly my favorite book of the entire HOUSE OF NIGHT series, UNTAMED will keep you riveted till the very last sentence.

Check out the newly redesigned House of Night website at www.houseofnightseries.com

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

September 2008

Enchanting Review: Betrayed

BETRAYED

P.C Cast and Kristin Cast

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36028-3

310 Pages

$8.95

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

BETRAYED is the second book in the ‘House of Night’ series and picks up a short time after MARKED. Zoey Redbird is still at the House of Night finishing school and is beginning to finally fit in and feel at home, even with her strengthening powers and thanks to the help of her new circle of friends. As the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, Zoey’s dealing with a lot more responsibility not to mention the jealousy of the ousted former leader, Aphrodite.

But things are never smooth sailing at House of Night, as a few of the fledglings’ bodies suddenly reject the change into vampyres. Things begin to get even more troubling when two of Zoey’s friends from the outside world disappear and the blame is put on a rogue group of vampires, something Zoey wonders about when she sees something inexplicable outside late at night.

What can I say about this book other than have Kleenex handy for the emotional last few chapters and be prepared for a few twists and turns that will leave your jaw hanging in disbelief. BETRAYED is an entertaining mix of paranormal and mystery that will leave readers desperate for book three.

For vampire fans, you can’t go wrong picking up the unique House of Night series. I look forward to seeing what the third book; CHOSEN has in store for Zoey and the rest of her friends. If BETRAYED is any clue, readers will be in for a wild ride. You can learn more about the series at the official website, http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

July 2008

Enchanting Review: Chosen

CHOSEN

P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36030-6

307 Pages

$8.95

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

The third book in the House of Night series, CHOSEN picks up shortly after ‘Betrayed’. Dealing with the secrets she has to hide from her friends, knowing that any knowledge of Stevie Ray’s condition could put them, not too mentions Stevie Ray, in jeopardy, Zoey decides the safest thing for all involved is to keep the secret to herself…and Aphrodite. But that’s not the only thing she has to deal with. Heath is still desperate to maintain their relationship, Erik is her vampyre boyfriend and Poet Laureat Lorne Blake is making her contemplate having three boyfriends at once.

My biggest issue with CHOSEN was it felt like there was a good portion of the book that was a rehash of back story and that had me skimming sections to get past what I already knew. However, there are more than enough unexpected twists and jaw dropping turns that kept me glued to the story. The conflict between Neferet and Zoey deepens, almost hitting a crescendo with a startling discovery of just what exactly the high priestess is willing to do to destroy Zoey. Aphrodite becomes a frenemy of sorts to Zoey, something the group just can’t understand with their limited knowledge of what is actually going on.

I love the dynamic between Zoey and Aphrodite, the friendship that seems to be forming between them or at least a very unlikely alliance. Now that Aphrodite is on Neferet’s bad side, the two girls have some common ground, including the fact that they’re the only two at the House of Night whose minds she can’t read.

Look for UNTAMED, the fourth book in this great series to release September 2008.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

August 2008