Review on The House Of Night Series

The House of Night Series are written by P.C Cast and her daughter Kristen Cast. It is a fantastic series and it was one of the series that sucked me into reading a lot of paranormal romance!

There are 8 books in the series at the moment, with a rumoured four more to come, so hopefully there will be 12 all in all! EEP, i love this series so any more books just makes me squeal in excitment!
Marked (Book One)

So the bad news was that I'd have to move into the House of Night, a private boarding school, known by all my friends as the vampyre finishing school, where I would spend the next four years going through bizarre and unnameable physical changes, as well as a total and permanent life shake up. And that's only if the whole process didn't kill me.
But the good news was that I wouldn't have to take the geometry test tomorrow.

When sixteen year old Zoey is marked by the Tracker, she knows her old life is over. Now she has to leave her friends and family to join the House of Night school, where there's only one subject Zoey needs to study: Vampyre 101.
Of course, there's always a catch, and this one's nice and simple: if you fail, you die...

This is the book that sucks you into the Vampyre (spelt correctly, honest!) World of P.C & Kristen Cast. The story is told from Zoey's point of view. She is minding her own business at school, dreading her geometry test tomorrow when suddenly she is marked as a vampyre. She has to leave her on/off boyfriend Heath and her best friend Kayla, tell her mother, who, since she remarried to John Heffer the step-loser, hasn't paid any attention to her daughter apart from praying for her ruined soul, that she's a fledging - and could eventually turn into a vampyre, unlesss she dies first.

Through the events that follow, she has to leave home herself, and she goes to her beloved Grandma Redbird's house, trying to find comfort and help at this situation she can't handle alone. She discovers the Goddess, Nyx here after fainting and when she wakes up she's safely at the House of Night thanks to Grandma. Neferet is the High Priestess of the School and she looks after Zoey, showing her around and introducing her to Stevie Rae, her soon new best friend and the circle of friends Stevie Rae has, Damien, Erin and Shaunee.
Together they help Zoey settle in and stand by her when she learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny— with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them).
The first book sucks you into their world, makes you feel part of the group and you become more attuned with Zoey as she settles into her new home and the new powers she has, while still being a normal teenager, lusting after the hot vampyre boys and tackling her unusual bloodlust. As a book, it is quite a gentle start to the series, especially now I know what happens next!

Betrayed (Book Two)

All any of us could talk about was Chris' disapperance and how bizarre it was that he had last been seen so close to the House of Night. I didn't want to believe it. But everything inside of me said that the kid would be found, but he'd be found dead...
Things seem to be going pretty well for Zoey Redbird. She's settled in at the House of Night finishing school and is coming to terms with her incredible new powers. it all seems too good to be true. And guess what?
Someone has begun murdering human teenagers, and all evidence points to the vampyres at Zoey's school. Which means her first assignment as the leader of the Dark Daughters & Sons is finding out which one of her classmates or - gulp - teachers is the killer.

Sigh. And she thought her boyfriends (yes plural) were going to be her biggest problem this year...

Zoey, High Priestess in training, has managed to settle in at the House of Night and come to terms with the vast powers the Vampyre Goddess Nyx has given her. Just as she finally feels she belongs, the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Zoey once again saves the day, although this time the triumph is short lived as the battle between good and evil has begun, infront of Zoey's eyes.

Chosen (Book Three)
Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and Zoey Redbird's adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare situation of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn't get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely affects the truth...

This is wear the action really kick starts, with the fight between good and evil really kicking off, Nyx still giving Zoey and her friends a helping hand every now and again while Zoey is fighting another battle as well. A battle of her head and her heart. Heath, officially her human 'consort' who she imprinted with accidently while sucking his blood (not in a totally gross evil way or anything!) Erik officially seen as her vampyre 'mate' (it's acceptable in the vampyre society to have a vampyre mate and a human consort) but what isn't acceptable is tipping the perfect balance and having feelings for a third male. Loren, the poet laurent and professor at the House of Night is going against every rule in the book, for humans AND vampyres but how can Zoey help it if she goes weak at the knees around him?!

Throughout this book you find yourself riding Zoey's emotions as she fights to save her best friend's humanity, keep the delicate balance of having three boyfriends and fight for Nyx too!

Untamed (Book Four)
Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, of the two Zoey has left, one is undead and one is unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wld and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened.

Untamed is the difficult book, where everything is shaken up, and for the first time you truly grieve for Zoey, for her responsibilities, for her power, for her losing her friends and her boyfriends. This is the book where you question if she is strong enough to continue fighting for what she knows is right, even if she's standing alone to do it. There might be spoilers now contained in the next blurbs. You have been warned hehe!
Hunted (Book Five)
The door closed with a sickening thud of finality. Shutting my friends out and leaving me alone with my enemy, a fallen angel, and the monstorous bird creature his ancient lust had created. Then I did something I'd only done twice before in my entire life. I fainted.

It's all happening, though Zoey Redbird wishes it wasn't. She has her friends back, which is great. But a dark angel has taken over the House of Night, supported by High Priestess Neferet. Not so great. This leaves Zoey hiding out with the (supposedly friendly) red fledgings in Tulsa's prohibition-era tunnels. The not greatness continues.

Naturally, Zoey also has boy issues to stress her out, with a chance to make up with super-hot ex Erik. But thoughts of the archer who died, semi-permanently, in her arms keep distracting her. Then he shows up as Neferet's newest minion. Well, hell. Zoey and her friends will need a plan to put things rights, and soon, if she can just keep her head and her heart intact.
What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you? At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn’t want to hear and truths she can’t face?
Hunted is where we finally see Zoey, fairly happy again, become more comfortable in her skin and with her powers. My heart is full of tender love that I feel for any of my friends in real life, for Zoey. We've watched her grow into the young women she is now, still struggling under the huge pressures regular teenagers don't have to deal with while still going through the teenge problems that we can relate to. It is in this book, I believe, that the action really kicks in and gets going, with an all powerful immortal controlling the only place Zoey has felt safe in, and that change meaning Zoey is the closest thing to a High Priestess as the red and blue fledgings allied with them have. You find yourself hoping and praying that she succeeds once again and triumphs over evil with the love of her Goddess, Nyx.
Also in this book, I found myself picking and choosing the males, I'd like to say it's because Zoey didn't make good enough choices for herself last time and I want her to be safe and happy but really it's because I want this certain man for myself!
Tempted (Book Six)

This blood smelt too dark. Too thick. There was too much of something in it that wasn't human. But it was still blood, and it drew her even though she knew the wrongness of it deep in her soul.

Dangerous secrets come between Zoey and Stevie Rae, putting their friendship - and the House of Night - at great risk. Stevie Rae, with her super red vamp powers, thought she could handle keeping stuff from her BFF, but her latest secret is in a new league. Zoey's left wondering if she can trust the person she thought would always have her back. And she needs her friends - and boyfriends - like never before.
Zoey banished malevolent immorta Kalona from Tulsa, but the bttle is far from over. He now seeks power at the highest levels, and the Vampyre High Council is falling under his thrall. Without Zoey's help, the world could still burn in the fiery hell of Aphrodite's visions. And will Zoey' connection with A-ya, a Cherokee maiden who tempted Kalona in ages past, help or hinder her resistance to the dangerously seductive immortal?

So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?

This installment of the House Of Night series is a real thriller, as you can see from the two summeries above. This is the book my favourite man becomes a main charactor. Stark, James Stark. He is the one I wish Zoey will have forever and ever, anyway that's just my opinion.
This book really brings the story alive, the fighting gets grittier and loyalties are tested, people are depended on and once again Zoey is needed to be the beacon of strength, hope and light through this battle of will and determination.

It is narrated by both Stevie Rae and Zoey, giving insights to how both girls are feeling, their secrets that they keep from one another and the mistrust that is running between them and tainting their friendship. At first, I found, I agreed with Zoey's mistrust and was horrified with Stevie Rae's secrets (that Zoey didn't know, but sensed). Luckily, she won me round because I know fully support her with this particular secret that soon becomes a main storyline in a later book.

The ending of Tempted is so shocking, I couldn't believe it and had to reread it to make sure I had read it correctly the first time. I feel terrible for sexy Stark ;-) and want to put my arms around him and make it all better, but I can't because he isn't real :'(
Burned (Book Seven)
Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampire High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…
Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.
In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, human, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

This is an amazing next installment to the House Of Night series, I honestly couldn't have wished for anything better. Narrated seperately by Zoey, Heath, Stark, Aphrodite and Stevie Rae. It is filled with pain, loss, fright, power, acceptance, helplessness and above all, Love. This time it isn't Zoey who needs to save the day, Zoey needs to be saved! When I was reading it I found myself begging Stark to hurry, Zoey to pull herself together, Stevie Rae to kick ass for Zoey until she could do it herself and the whole host of characters to hurry the heck up and work!
Stark becomes her saviour, as only a oath bound warrior and soon to be Guardian should be, reaching Zoey where no-one else could while Kalona becomes trapped under Neferet's bloated power.
There is a happy ending, but it is tainted because you know in your heart of hearts that the real battle between Light and Darkness is still going on.

Awakend (Book Eight)
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 her immortal consort 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?
This is my favourite book (at the moment) of the House of Night. Stark officially becomes Zoey's Guardian, which is so much more then just an Oath-Sworn Warrior and with that comes new relationship changes, and her grief for Heath is still present. She doesn;t want to face the world yet, especially not with Neferet on the rampage back home. Stevie Rae is trying to hold onto the pieces of Tulsa's shattered world but is struggling as well, due to her love interest, which honestly fills me with pleasure (he is another of my favourite men in this book) and Zoey's friends are rallying to help Stevie Rae and coax Zoey back into the real world, when tragedy strikes. This forces our Young Priestesses into action and they come back with a bang.
Stevie Rae's love interest is revealed, causing tension between the friends and loyalties are tested once again as Zoey, Stevie Rae and the gang fight for what's right and good, while Neferet breathes her commands down Kalona's neck.
This book is narrated by Neferet, Stevie Rae, Zoey, Rephaim and Kalona, bearing all for us to read and piece together, still so far from a plan, or defeat of evil. It is like evil can only be beaten back, never fully destroyed, which is very true in real life also. I cannot wait for the next volumes, and I will hopefully review them on here as they come to me!
I adore this series, just because the characters are varied, flawed but lovable and can be related to easily. I adore our headstrong heroine Zoey, who is grounded by her friends, including her sexy warrior, oops, Guardian and the world that has so much evil in, but so much good, you just have to look carefully.

I love how this Vampyre World is dominated by women as well. Technically, it's just finding the balance between Male and Female, Muscle and Inner Strength, Good and Evil, Light and Darkness but it can sometimes be very female dominated, which I enjoy. I like how Stark protects Zoey, but at her word can drop back and allow her to do her own thing. It takes a strong man to be able to do that, and that is what we find in all PC & Kristen Cast's books, strong, reliable, dependable, fun loving and a perfect group of characters who live and breathe the story!

It was a long one today, I hope ya'll enjoy it ;-)
JB xx