Title: Awakened
Author: PC & Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
On-Sale Date: January 4, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Author: PC & Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
On-Sale Date: January 4, 2011
Format: Hardcover
This review contains spoilers. If you have not read the other House of Night novels you might not wish to read this.
Awakened is the eighth book in The House of Night series.
Awakened takes place after Zoey Redbird and her Guardian James Stark return from the Otherworld. Saddened, and scarred by the loss of her consort, Zoey chooses to remain on the Isle of Skye with Stark … indefinitely.
Kalona, having failed to kill Zoey in the Otherworld now has his immortal soul bound to serve Neferet.
Publically, Neferet banishes Kalona from her side, but of course, away from prying eyes he is still hers to use and command.
Once Kalona returns to Tulsa it is that much harder for his favourite son, Rephiam. He cannot hurt Stevie Rae, but he also cannot deny his father his allegiance. Which side will Rephiam choose?
Meanwhile, Stevie Rae must face the Darkness that looms in Tulsa, and somehow manage her imprint with Rephiam.
What will it take for Zoey to come home?
Is Zoey strong enough to face what awaits her?
Will Zoey finally beat Darkness?
Opening a new House of Night novel is like visiting an old friend. As soon as I started reading Awakened I remembered why I first loved these books.
However, that feeling did not last very long. Throughout the novel I wanted to strangle Zoey Redbird. I found her actions frustrating. She was coping as best she could, but it just felt as if she was hiding. The plot goes nowhere when the main character isn’t functioning properly.
It took another tragedy to get Zoey off her butt and back home. I finally saw some of the old Zoey towards the end. When Z’s friends are in danger and in need she can still be counted on to be right there protecting them. However, she’s not the same Zoey, and after the very last evil act in the book she will never be the same. I do not look forward to more mourning in the next installment.
I used to find that the relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephiam dragged, but this time around, it was probably my favourite plot line.
I haven’t cried this much while reading a book in a long while. Awakened made me ball. There’s death in this book. I will not tell you which characters do not make it, but I will say that it’ll affect the rest of the series. There was one death that really got to me. I cried whenever it was mentioned. It was so unfair, and so undeserved. Of course, the perpetrator got away with it, and that really pushed my buttons.
I’m just going to come out with it: I want Neferet to get what she deserves. I want the Vampire High Council to see her for what she is. I want her to be banned from every House of Night. I want her to be shunned. I want Zoey to send every element after her. I want Stark to pick her for a target. I want her gone already! Yes, the Neferet plot was made a heck of lot more interesting at the end, but how long can the characters continue to be blind to her darkness? (Insert scream of frustration here).
Seriously now, the ending was worth struggling through The Book That Never Ends. Yes, that was what I dubbed Awakened while reading it. There was a lot of action in the fourth quarter of the book. I couldn’t quite believe what happened.
I definitely didn’t enjoy this House of Night novel as much as I had enjoyed others, but I still liked the book overall. The last couple of books were lacking the initial action I’ve been used to. I hope the Destined plot picks up a little quicker than Awakened did.
Personally, I will stick with Zoey Redbird until the end.
Rating
Premise: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 3/5
Awakened is the eighth book in The House of Night series.
Awakened takes place after Zoey Redbird and her Guardian James Stark return from the Otherworld. Saddened, and scarred by the loss of her consort, Zoey chooses to remain on the Isle of Skye with Stark … indefinitely.
Kalona, having failed to kill Zoey in the Otherworld now has his immortal soul bound to serve Neferet.
Publically, Neferet banishes Kalona from her side, but of course, away from prying eyes he is still hers to use and command.
Once Kalona returns to Tulsa it is that much harder for his favourite son, Rephiam. He cannot hurt Stevie Rae, but he also cannot deny his father his allegiance. Which side will Rephiam choose?
Meanwhile, Stevie Rae must face the Darkness that looms in Tulsa, and somehow manage her imprint with Rephiam.
What will it take for Zoey to come home?
Is Zoey strong enough to face what awaits her?
Will Zoey finally beat Darkness?
Opening a new House of Night novel is like visiting an old friend. As soon as I started reading Awakened I remembered why I first loved these books.
However, that feeling did not last very long. Throughout the novel I wanted to strangle Zoey Redbird. I found her actions frustrating. She was coping as best she could, but it just felt as if she was hiding. The plot goes nowhere when the main character isn’t functioning properly.
It took another tragedy to get Zoey off her butt and back home. I finally saw some of the old Zoey towards the end. When Z’s friends are in danger and in need she can still be counted on to be right there protecting them. However, she’s not the same Zoey, and after the very last evil act in the book she will never be the same. I do not look forward to more mourning in the next installment.
I used to find that the relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephiam dragged, but this time around, it was probably my favourite plot line.
I haven’t cried this much while reading a book in a long while. Awakened made me ball. There’s death in this book. I will not tell you which characters do not make it, but I will say that it’ll affect the rest of the series. There was one death that really got to me. I cried whenever it was mentioned. It was so unfair, and so undeserved. Of course, the perpetrator got away with it, and that really pushed my buttons.
I’m just going to come out with it: I want Neferet to get what she deserves. I want the Vampire High Council to see her for what she is. I want her to be banned from every House of Night. I want her to be shunned. I want Zoey to send every element after her. I want Stark to pick her for a target. I want her gone already! Yes, the Neferet plot was made a heck of lot more interesting at the end, but how long can the characters continue to be blind to her darkness? (Insert scream of frustration here).
Seriously now, the ending was worth struggling through The Book That Never Ends. Yes, that was what I dubbed Awakened while reading it. There was a lot of action in the fourth quarter of the book. I couldn’t quite believe what happened.
I definitely didn’t enjoy this House of Night novel as much as I had enjoyed others, but I still liked the book overall. The last couple of books were lacking the initial action I’ve been used to. I hope the Destined plot picks up a little quicker than Awakened did.
Personally, I will stick with Zoey Redbird until the end.
Rating
Premise: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 3/5
Great review Terri! I feel you I'm still mad a Zoey there's been a couple of times I wanted to throw the book across the room :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! In the beginning, I couldn't stand how Zoey was acting. I tried to be somewhat understanding but then it got to be a little too much. I was so happy when she got back to Tulsa, I kind of feel like that's when all the action really got going. There were so many epic things that happened in this book. I'm really looking forward to "Destined." <3 Great review!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series yet because so many people keep saying how much they can't stand Zoe.
ReplyDeleteGreat review.