Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES BOOK 05

Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

St. Martin's Griffin

Published in 2009

ISBN 9780312379827

323 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Ebook)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



After Kalona, Neferet's consort, appears from underneath the Earth, Neferet, Kalona, and Kalona's sons start destroying the House of Night. However, Zoey and the gang escapes their destruction by going underground to the tunnels, where the red fledglings live. Now, Zoey and the gang must come up with a plan to prevent the world from becoming a violent and chaotic one, but that stops when Zoey gets injured and must go back to the House of Night. There she has to fight with Neferet more head-on than she would like, and not only that, are the red fledglings really as civilized as they appear? And will Zoey be able to bring Stark away from Neferet's sinister side? What will they do when the evil has hidden among them?

I actually finished this book faster than the others because my computer died. x_x The motherboard went ka-plooey, so I was able to read until Black Friday, which was today, in order to get a new computer. :) Anyways, isn't it amazing what you get done with when computers (mostly the Internet) are down? ;) Oh, there might be some spoilers below. :X

Hunted starts off almost immediately where Untamed left off --- Zoey and the gang are now in the tunnels with the kind of civilized version of the red fledglings, waiting for Kalona and Neferet's invasion to calm down or at least wait until they have a plan on how to deal with the new threat. However, when Zoey gets injured, she has to fight more head on than she would like.

All right, let's start with the things I didn't like about this book. One, the authors keep on describing the same characters with almost the exact same words as the other books. I know it is good to remind readers on what the characters look like, but don't do it in every single book, unless they somehow changed their appearance between the last book and the beginning of book they are going to read. Two, can't Zoey ever NOT have a boyfriend or boyfriends in a book? Even in Untamed, Zoey wasn't without a boy/boyfriend for long since she became attached to Stark. She even went as far as calling him her "soul mate". What the hell is wrong with having one boyfriend throughout the series? Or even having no boyfriend? Do those two authors really think that teenagers are all like that --- always needing a boyfriend/love? Three, it is getting very predictable and is almost like all the other books I have read.

Now for the things I liked about the book. One, all the new descriptions and the use of so many of them. :D Two, the development of Aphrodite and how much she has changed (attitude wise). Out of all the characters, I think the authors did a better job at making Aphrodite develop as a character than almost all the others. Three, there was a lot more supernatural, but there was still some drama in there. UGH! Four, using Cherokee legends in a creative way.

One last bit of interesting information. Erik's name is spelled wrong in the summary. Oh, and also, on one of the pages (247), it says that Darius would be pleased about the vocabulary words she has been using. Isn't it Damien who is the vocabulary nerd, or did I miss something?

Anyways, overall the book is good for a quick read, but it is getting a little tiresome since it is becoming a little bit predictable. :X Just a warning, there is a gay character in the book, and they talk about sex, kissing, and things like that a couple of times.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

P.C. and Kristin Cast
House of Night Series
Goodreads: Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Library Thing: Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
She Loves Books: Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Quick & Dirty Book Reviews: Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES BOOK 04

Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

St. Martin's Griffin

Published in 2008

ISBN 9780312596309

338 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Ebook)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5




Zoey's problems have just recently blew up in her face, so now she has to deal with the consequences of her actions. Her friends all hate her, she no longer has any boyfriends, Neferet has declared war on the humans, and now Aphrodite has a vision that Zoey's death will bring violence, hatred, and darkness to the world. Zoey knows what she has to do, but how can she do it when even her friends don't want to listen to her? Also, how will she be able stop Neferet's new plans of destroying the world they all know?

Okay, it has been over a year since I have read the last book of this series, so I kind of had to reread all three of the books I have already read. Why? So I can remember how the series was liked --- I don't have that good of an memory, people.

Anyways, in the fourth book of the House of Night series, things are heating up for Zoey and it all blows up in her face in this book. *SIGHS* This book is starting to be like all the other supernatural young adult books I have read. Yeah, I'm starting to go, "When will this freaking series ends, the high school drama is getting on my freaking nerves!" Though, there is a little bit more supernatural in this book than the last one, but not as much as I would like it to be. There are a couple of things that annoy me in this book. First, all the drama, I know you need action, but can't the authors think of a better way of getting action and attention the, "Booo hooo, my friends don't like me, but I need them in order to save the world," is a little unbelieving. I also hate the bossy attitude of Zoey's, the "I'm going to be their high priestess, so they have to listen to me," is a little *BARF*. I like that kind of attitude (kind of) in the male characters, but in females, I find it bitchy. ^^; Yes, I'm vain.

Things I like in this book is how Aphrodite is turning out --- nicer, but still uses her attitude as comic relief, almost like Erin, Shaunee, Damien, and Jack. I also like Darius and how he can appreciate Aphrodite. :) Yes, I like the other characters more Zoey. Let's see, what else do I like. Hmmm... Oh, I also like how the authors are starting to merge Cherokee legends into the book. Also, the descriptions are done very well. In this series, descriptions are a little bit better than most other series. :D

After you skip over the high school drama, this book is pretty good, but the page amount for this book is pretty all right. If there were a little bit less high school drama, I would most likely like this series better. Also, Zoey is definitely annoying in this book. *SIGHS* I wish the book was more centered around her friends than Zoey and her growing powers and how she will be a priestess. Other than the high school drama and Zoey's attitude, this book is great for a quick read. Though, it is kind of turning a little boring with all of the high school drama. ^^ Just a warning, there is a gay character in the book, and they talk about sex, kissing, and things like that a couple of times.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

P.C. and Kristin Cast
House of Night Series
Goodreads: Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Library Thing: Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Shide Vicious Reviews: Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

HUSH, HUSH SERIES BOOK 01

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Simon & Schuster BFYR

Published in 2009

ISBN 9781416989417

391 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Nora Grey has always been a normal girl: trying to get into a good college, a worried and overprotective mother, and a best friend who thinks she needs a little spice and a man in her life. Nora has never thought about boys or even romance, to the disappointment of her best friend, Vee, at least, not until Patch comes along. Then after meeting him, strange and terrifying things start to happen to her: Patch turning up almost everywhere she is, a strange figure following her and attacking her, and Patch's mysterious ways that make her unable to decide to love him or run away. As she discovers the truth behind her attacker, Patch, and herself, she finds herself her in the battle between fallen angels and immortal beings called the Nephilium. Will she choose the right path that will keep her alive and next to Patch?

Ahhh... another fallen angel book. Is it me, or are novels with fallen angels getting popular? >.>" Well, at least with this novel, it was a lot better than Fallen, which completely reminded me of Twilight. Good news, this one only sort of reminds me of Twilight. Though the way Patch acts like sort of reminds me of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, where Lucius acts with mysteriousness and what seems like verbal abuse.

Unlike Fallen and Twilight, the lead female character acts with both strength and weakness, which makes her out as a believable teenage girl. Also, the lead guy character, even though he's still mysterious, he acts almost like Lucius, a bad boy character, but without showing that much violence towards the one he loves. Another thing that made this book better than Twilight was the humor attempts were actually kind of funny, and it reminded me of how I was as a teenager. Unlike with Twilight and Fallen, you were actually able to tell the characters were all teenagers without having to remind yourself -- which was the main things that made it better than Twilight, despite the similarities they still kind of share.

Even though it was better than Twilight and Fallen, you couldn't miss how some things were kind of similar. Like, how Nora discovers she's not completely human and has a side to her she doesn't understand. Also, how there are some plot holes and didn't explain the past of Chauncey's/Jules's that much, or explain more about the Book of Enoch. However, unlike the Twilight saga, which is completed, I'm willing to wait until the series are completed before I judge on plot holes.

I thought the descriptions were kind of okay and had enough to make the first book interesting, but I'm going to expect much more in the second book. Go ahead and read it. The characters are not that annoying, and I find it much more delightful than the Twilight saga. *SHUDDERS*

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Becca Fitzpatrick
Goodreads: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Library Thing: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Crescive Library: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
What to Read After Twilight: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
After Twilight: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Fallen by Lauren Kate

FALLEN SERIES BOOK 01

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Delacorte Press
Published in 2009
ISBN 9780385738934
452 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



After an accidental death of a friend, Luce Price is forced to go to Sword & Cross, a boarding school where problem students go. There she meets the mysterious Daniel Grigori, and she is immediately drawn to him. In a world of no outside communication, Daniel is the only good thing about her being forced to go to Sword & Cross. However, she's confused as to why Daniel goes out of his way to avoid her. Though, that won't stop her from pursuing or thinking about him. Luce is dying to find out why, but, will she even live long to regret it?

Okay, a fallen angel book. I mostly read adult fiction books that have fallen angels in it, so this will be the second "angel" book that I have read that's young adult. Compared to Eternal, this book and series is definitely lacking in details and exciting events at the moment.

Fallen starts out with a prologue, which, in my opinion, isn't really needed. Why? Because later on in the book it talks about Luce's past lives, so the beginning is just something that will confuse you more. Also, it takes out some of the suspense as to why he doesn't want to kiss her later on. So, it starts out with something that's not needed, but with the book, it doesn't have enough details --- and it gave me a headache with all of the useless and lack of details.

Also, it reminded me so much of Twilight, and no that's not a compliment, that it wasn't funny. The way that Luce just obsesses over Daniel and doesn't really care or notice anything else was creepily like Twilight, so I kind of lost my patience with this book. One thing I really hope with this book is that it doesn't end up like Twilight, where it doesn't tell you why the girl is different from others.

Translation: I really didn't like this book. The only reason why I would read the sequel to this book is to see if more details are more thoroughly explained than it was in this book.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lauren Kate
Goodreads: Fallen (Fallen, #1) by Lauren Kate
Library Thing: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: 2nd Opinion Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
365 Days of Reading: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

TANTALIZE SERIES BOOK 02

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Candlewick Press

Published in 2009

ISBN 9780763635732

324 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Miranda was always a "dull" teenage girl to others, but to her guardian angel, Zachary, she was the best. Though, through a chance of unluckiness, she has become the life of the party -- all she had to do was be changed into an Eternal. She is changed from a normal high school student to an Eternal princess and adopted by the King of the Mantle of Dracul himself. As for the guardian angel that got her into her royal roll, he is now a fallen angel -- living as a human on Earth. That is, until Heaven gives him a mission of assassinating something, which will make Miranda and Zachary cross paths again. Will Zachry be able to save Miranda's soul and earn his wings back before losing Miranda again?

I read this a long time ago, like in July of last year, but I finally re-read it today. That way, I can give you a little bit better review, hopefully. ^^;

It is a very good book. Like her other book, Tantalize, it gives a little bit more life and originality to vampires and weres than most vampire books do. Also, this book is a spin-off of Tantalize, and develops the world of vampires more that she created in it.

Eternal creates a world where anyone can be saved, even if you are a vampire, who are usually represented as unholy, soulless, and unable to saved in most supernatural books that includes vampires in it. The only other book that I can think of that has vampires seen in this point of view is Night Road by A.M. Jenkins. Also, it has a relationship that most other authors wouldn't even try to do -- or should I say can rarely accomplish, a guardian angel, a being of light and holiness, and a vampire, a being of dark.

With this, the book Tantalize and Eternal make a very good world of vampires, so they are both very good reads. I'll try to get Tantalize a book review up as soon as I can re-read it. :)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Cynthia Leitich Smith
Goodreads: Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Library Thing: Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Book Reviews and More: Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Karin's Book Nook: Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith