Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Series: #4 - House of Night
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 29th, 2009
My Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you.
Just ask Zoey Redbird - she's become an undisputed expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a tight-knit group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. And the worst part is, she knows it's her own fault. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead, unMarked, and unable to stop bickering with each other. So who can blame her for befriending the House of Night's newest transfer student, the majorly hot Olympic archer, James Stark?
Meanwhile, Neferet has declared a war on humans after it appears that the People of the Faith have murdered two vampyres. But Aphrodite's latest visions show a world completely different from the High Priestess's promises, a world full of violence, hatred, and darkness, all because of Zoey's death--and the only way it seems she can prevent it from happening is to make things right with her friends. Zoey knows in her heart that fighting with humans is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.
Just ask Zoey Redbird - she's become an undisputed expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a tight-knit group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. And the worst part is, she knows it's her own fault. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead, unMarked, and unable to stop bickering with each other. So who can blame her for befriending the House of Night's newest transfer student, the majorly hot Olympic archer, James Stark?
Meanwhile, Neferet has declared a war on humans after it appears that the People of the Faith have murdered two vampyres. But Aphrodite's latest visions show a world completely different from the High Priestess's promises, a world full of violence, hatred, and darkness, all because of Zoey's death--and the only way it seems she can prevent it from happening is to make things right with her friends. Zoey knows in her heart that fighting with humans is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.
My Review:
This is the book where I thought some of the trials and the point in which I would decide if the series as even worth it. Frankly with the low scores and the poor reception I've had of the series, this book actually felt a bit better than the rest, but that's not saying a lot. Previously everything Zoey's been trying to hide and trying to protect collapsed into her lap, and she's left in a world that's left her lonely. I find it almost refreshing from the whorish Zoey we had in the last book, which was almost repulsive. However, I don't see that Zoey staying too long.
The best part of the novel was Zoey was left with just two friends who are complete polar opposites of each other. It was great seeing her struggle to regain their trust, and actually earn something in the series instead of just being handed everything. However, the reason she gains their trust back, is a joke. It's borderline laughable. As well the story revolves around her getting back together with her friends, if she hadn't, the whole world would've been dead. It doesn't say much for Zoey's character and what few strengths she has. Its to the point in the series where I'm expecting more out of her than just some wishy-washy, who expects people to grovel at her feet or be her friend.
The story was rather mediocre as, there wasn't depth or really anything that I wanted to go tell my friends about. It was the generic run of the mill YA story, that is used over and over. "I need my friends to come together and shape up, or the world is going to explode and we all die." Put some more thought into it, give us a reason to believe the world is actually going to end, other than some premonition, on wait that happens all the time in this series.
Aphrodite and Stevie Rae, being the two that stick by her side are the reason the book has any life. They would be better candidates for the main character than Zoey. Stevie Ray being the red queen for the red vampyres, which is sort of odd, is faced with some rather harsh and important decisions for those she leads around and those she cares for, as queen.. Aphrodite has turned a new leaf and the depth of her friendship with Zoey grows, she actually sticks up for Zoey and puts her own neck on the line. It's great seeing that of a character that I hated in the beginning of the series. I just hope the supporting characters continue on this trek.
Than there is the whole newcomer James Stark, who frankly doesn't last long at all in the novel, but plays a more unique role. Oh and James and Zoey hit it off, pretty quickly, so here's to a four-way relationship. What I don't understand is how Zoey can land nearly any guy she looks at, I mean it's mind boggling. I don't see any guys falling over girls like that in reality land, and if they find out she's been cheating on them, or more or less leading them on, they drop them like a rock and don't look back. I know I've said this before, and I'll say it again, if you are a guy, stay away from any girl like Zoey.
So all in all, while this was marginally better than the other books, I don't think it was the best one of it all. It just made some of my more glaring problems with the series more pronounced. I just don't understand why the authors are writing Zoey in as such a weak character. She hasn't really done anything, other than be in the right place at the right time or her friends help her to get to a point she just can't get to on her own. I find it rather sad and annoying. Here's to wishing things change by the end.
The best part of the novel was Zoey was left with just two friends who are complete polar opposites of each other. It was great seeing her struggle to regain their trust, and actually earn something in the series instead of just being handed everything. However, the reason she gains their trust back, is a joke. It's borderline laughable. As well the story revolves around her getting back together with her friends, if she hadn't, the whole world would've been dead. It doesn't say much for Zoey's character and what few strengths she has. Its to the point in the series where I'm expecting more out of her than just some wishy-washy, who expects people to grovel at her feet or be her friend.
The story was rather mediocre as, there wasn't depth or really anything that I wanted to go tell my friends about. It was the generic run of the mill YA story, that is used over and over. "I need my friends to come together and shape up, or the world is going to explode and we all die." Put some more thought into it, give us a reason to believe the world is actually going to end, other than some premonition, on wait that happens all the time in this series.
Aphrodite and Stevie Rae, being the two that stick by her side are the reason the book has any life. They would be better candidates for the main character than Zoey. Stevie Ray being the red queen for the red vampyres, which is sort of odd, is faced with some rather harsh and important decisions for those she leads around and those she cares for, as queen.. Aphrodite has turned a new leaf and the depth of her friendship with Zoey grows, she actually sticks up for Zoey and puts her own neck on the line. It's great seeing that of a character that I hated in the beginning of the series. I just hope the supporting characters continue on this trek.
Than there is the whole newcomer James Stark, who frankly doesn't last long at all in the novel, but plays a more unique role. Oh and James and Zoey hit it off, pretty quickly, so here's to a four-way relationship. What I don't understand is how Zoey can land nearly any guy she looks at, I mean it's mind boggling. I don't see any guys falling over girls like that in reality land, and if they find out she's been cheating on them, or more or less leading them on, they drop them like a rock and don't look back. I know I've said this before, and I'll say it again, if you are a guy, stay away from any girl like Zoey.
So all in all, while this was marginally better than the other books, I don't think it was the best one of it all. It just made some of my more glaring problems with the series more pronounced. I just don't understand why the authors are writing Zoey in as such a weak character. She hasn't really done anything, other than be in the right place at the right time or her friends help her to get to a point she just can't get to on her own. I find it rather sad and annoying. Here's to wishing things change by the end.
