Neferet's Curse by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Neferet's Curse by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Released: February 19, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: House of Night Novellas, Book 3
Preceded By: Lenobia's Vow
Followed By: TBA (About Kalona)
Page Amount: 146, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person (Emily aka Neferet)
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-16/20
Characters-18/20
Creativity-18/20
Writing-18/20
Pace-7/10
Ending-6/10
=83/100 B
★★★★/5

SUMMARY:

The White City, 1893: In turn-of-the-century Chicago, with the World’s Fair bringing bustle and excitement to her home city, sixteen-year-old Emily Wheiler should be reveling in her youthful beauty and the excitement around her. But her whole life changed when her mother died, leaving her to be the Lady of Wheiler House. Her father, a powerful bank president, is at the center of an important social hub for the booming young city, and he needs Emily to do everything her mother would have – to be a good hostess and make sure the mansion runs smoothly. As Emily uneasily tries to replace her mother, she also longs for more… for love and a life of her own. When a handsome young man notices her at one of her father’s parties, it seems that her hopes may finally be coming true. Until her father forbids her to see him – or any other man – and starts revealing a darkly violent side that even he can’t understand. At last, afraid for her life and with nowhere to turn, Emily is Marked by a vampyre and brought to the Chicago House of Night, where she begins a magickal new life that should allow the wounds from her past to heal. But as she gains strength, and a powerful new name, she carries a dark need to wreak vengeance on the man she trusted most.-Goodreads.com

REViEW:
I have loved every other House of Night novella as well as the series but I don't think I can say I loved this book. It was a good book but it didn't blow me away like some of her other books have. This book didn't really have a plot to it. It was written in journal entries, but they just seemed disjointed and leading nowhere. I actually skipped over a bunch of parts, which I rarely ever do, because it couldn't hold my interest. The whole book consisted of Emily's father's "burning gaze" and what dress she would wear to next social event. It became kind of repetitive to me because of this. The book only started to speed up when the ending and the action regarding her father happened.   

The characters were enjoyable in this book. Emily was an interesting character but I still don't know why she thought she was going mad. I mean I get that she was going through terrible things, but she seemed pretty fine to me. I think her dad is the one with the issues. I liked how her dad seemed to progress from drunk to incredibly insane. It kind of showed the progression of his insanity. Honestly, after this book I give Emily/Neferet some credit. Not much, but some.

The ending was one of the best parts but it made me a little angry. I felt pity for Emily and really wish she could have just ran off with Arthur. I felt really bad when she got raped by her father, but I knew it was coming. I hate to say it, but if it had happened sooner in the book I probably would have enjoyed this book more. Anyways, I wish there was more of a focus on why and how she was marked and wish that this book had more of a backbone to it.

My Favorite Part: Towards the very end when Emily actually had proof of her father's madness.

ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, it's an interesting backstory for House of Night's most malicious villain.
Will I be reading the next book? I would love to know more about Kalona's background. 

Thanks for reading! Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook! (Go to Contact Me page for more details!)

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

Lenobia's Vow by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Lenobia's Vow by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Released: January 31, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: House of Night Novellas, Book 2
Preceded By: Dragon's Oath
Followed By: Neferet's Curse
Page Amount: 160, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person (Lenobia)
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:

Plot-19/20
Characters-18/20
Creativity-18/20
Writing-8/20
Pace-9/10
Ending-10/10
=92/100 A
★★★★★/5

SUMMARY:

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.-Goodreads.com

REViEW:
I have to admit, these little House of Night novellas intrigue me much more than the regualr novels. These books stay to the point and are interesting and fresh. In Lenobia's Vow, I was able to get a new view on Lenobia, the horse-riding instructor. I always liked her character in the novels and this book just made me love her even more! The plot focused on her struggles of trying to get away from the impure bishop, while pretending to be someone else. This book sort of bored me at first, but the pace picked up and didn't slow down till the very end! The plot was really condesed for the Casts, but I loved it!

The characters were well done. Lenobia was a very strong, determined main protagonist. I really enjoyed getting to know her. I absolutely loved watching her fall in love with Martin. I spent the majority of this book rooting for their relationship to last. Martin was such a sweet, loving guy. I really wish the Bishop wasn't there. He was cruel and decietful and I just really hated him. I didn't want him to mess with Lenobia. She's too nice for that. The only thing he was good for was creating drama, which he did very easily. Then again, where would this book be without conflict? 

The ending made me scream and it made me cry. I wanted to bang my head off a wall because I hated the way it ended. It really couldn't have ended any differently though. I just felt so sad for Lenobia and wanted to rip the Bishop to shreds. I always like a book that makes me feel such an array of emotions!

My Favorite Part: Martin and Lenobia's relationship!

ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, it is much better then the House of Night series.
Will I be reading the next book? I have too, these are good little books!

Thanks for reading! Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook! (Go to Contact Me page for more details!) 

It's a Book Thing
Review by Macy ♥

Destined by P. C. & Kristin Cast

Destined by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Released: October 25, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: House of Night, Book 9
Preceded By: Awakened
Followed By: Hidden
Page Amount: 325, US Hardback
POV: 1st Person (Zoey) 
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:
Plot-17/20
Characters-17/20
Creativity-16/20
Writing-18/20
Pace-9/10
Ending-9/10
=86/100 B
★★★★/5

This is the ninth book in this series, I will not post any intentional spoilers but please stop reading if you have not read the previous books in the House of Night series. 

SUMMARY:
Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet -- which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together -- if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow. But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more -- or possibly less -- than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him . . . Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series. -Goodreads.com
REViEW:
The plot of Destined was a little bit weak. This series has been going on for a long time and the plots are becoming overused and a little bit boring. I do truly love this series, it is one of my favorites, but I really think the first books in this series are the best. This book was interesting but not in a "Ohmigosh I have to finish this book RIGHT NOW!" kind of way. There was not that much action in this book and not that much religious tension. It was pretty much a bunch of different character plots intertwined. This book was good, but not my favorite in the series.   

The characters were not as impressive in this series. Stark, he's still my arrow boy. I love him. I read these books solely for him :) He did not disappoint, of course. The whole thing with Shaunee was a little bit surprising. I'm not sure if I liked it, but it was definitely creative. I just really like the twins, so I felt bad for Erin. Zoey was still Zoey, aka still boy-crazy and in love with more then one guy. Surprise, surprise. I kind of want Zoey to have more substance in the next few books. I would like her a heck of a lot more if she would just grow up and be a little more mature. She made some progress in this novel, but she's still not completely there yet. Stevie Rae...hmm, I liked her, but not as much as I did in the last book. She didn't have as much character in this book. I do like her protectiveness of Rephaim though. Their romance was very well done.

Destined's ending was just as amazing as all the other HoN endings. It's like all the rest of the books where the book is okay nothing special then BAM look at that ending. It's seriously so thrilling that the endings are reason enough to read these books. Trouble is definitely on its way for Zoey and her friends.  

My Favorite Part: The ending. It's so exciting and really makes an impression.

ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, House of Night is a great and exciting series. 

Thank you all for reading! Let me know what you thought of this book and the rest of the House of Night series.

It's a Book Thing

Review by Macy ♥ 

Dragon's Oath by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Dragon's Oath by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Released: July 12, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: House of Night Novella
Followed By: Lenobia's Vow
Page Amount: 145, US Hardback
POV: 3rd Person
Buy it here: Barnes & Noble•Amazon

OVERALL:
Plot-19/20
Characters-19/20
Creativity-17/20
Writing-19/20
Pace-10/10
Ending-9/10
=93/100 A
★★★★★/5



SUMMARY:

In early 19th century England, long before he’s a professor at the Tulsa House of Night, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything… until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world.... In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…

But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?  -Goodreads.com

REViEW:
The plot of Dragon's Oath was amazing. I really enjoyed getting to better understand Dragon and his relationship with Anastasia. This is a very, very short book and a very fast read. It did have a lot of depth to it. Just note that if you haven't read Awakened of the House of Night (HoN) series, you might want to do so before reading this novella. It starts out on a major spoiler and ends on a spoiler too.  


The characters were very well done. They came to life on the page. There were also some gorgeous illustrations of Dragon and Anastasia that really added to the book. To be honest, I really didn't like Dragon because of some events that surrounded him in Awakened. Reading this novella gave me an understanding of what he was going through. I actually feel bad for him and the pain the feels. Anastasia was two-dimensional to me before reading this book. She was mentioned in the HoN series, but we never were able to get to know her. I really enjoyed her personality. Everything she felt and everything she did made sense to me. Anastasia became lifelike. 


The ending left me tears. I just felt so much sympathy for Dragon and was hurt alongside him. I never thought I would actually feel so much for two characters that were only briefly mentioned before reading this book. This book was short, but it brought two names come to life. 

My Favorite Part: Ooh probably Dragon and Anastasia's relationship. It explained his later actions and made me better understand him.  

ALL iN ALL:
Do I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you like House of Night! If you haven't read any HoN books, go read them NOW! 

Thank you all for reading! 

It's a Book Thing

Review by Macy ♥