Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2) by PC Cast, Kristin Cast
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Book Reviews of Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2)
Book Review: Where the heck are the editors?
Summary: 1 Stars
Had I not been required to read and review this book, I might not have read past the second or third chapter. I had a hard time believing how bad it was, however, and kept thinking it would get better.
The authors start out with a great concept: a vampire finishing school. However, they seem utterly unable to evoke any sort of sense of place, and scenes that take place within the school are largely indistinguishable from those that take place outside it. The idea of a vampire finishing school lends itself to some sort of dark humor, but alas, any humor whatsoever is absent entirely from the clumsy and self-serious narration.
The narrator is not particularly believable as a teenager, and the authors abuse the first-person narrative by violating the best-known precept of good writing: show us, don't tell us. They never bother to show what they can have the narrator tell us, laboriously and without grace. Oh, and with as many adjectives as possible. (Where were the editors? It didn't have to be this bad.) It's hard to understand why everyone likes the main character, as she's about as prone to repeating herself, using exactly the same phrases, as the stereotypical elderly lady you can't get away from. Oh, old Zoey's on again about how she's the only fledgling to have power over all the elements and to have a filled-in tattoo! Smile and nod, folks, smile and nod.
Finally, the plot itself has little sense of momentum. Most of the events, rather than seeming to arise organically out of what has come before, seem manufactured to get the narrator where she needs to go.
There is the start of some decent character development in Aphrodite and Neferet, but not enough to make me read anything else in this series. What a pity such a great concept was so thoroughly wasted.
For vampire stories with actual wit and good writing, I'd suggest Tanya Huff's Blood series instead, Kim Harrison's Hollows series, or Stephanie Meyers' books. You can get your vampire fix without having to endure this sort of bad writing.
Book Review: It was alright...
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to say, I was a real fan of Marked, the first novel in the House of Night series. Like most sequels, however, Betrayed can't compete. The plot seemed rather random, especially with the "cliff-hanger" ending; the romance, while well written, seemed there just for the sake of "spicing up" a not-so-developed story.
Still, I can't complain about the romance. Loren was a great character, and I liked how Cast tried to make Zoey get in touch with her adult side when she was around him.
The religion bashing was harsher this time, and definitely not subtle. Although every religion has its negatives - and yes, often they are awful - most books show an understanding of the fact that religion itself is not bad, but the people who twist it. The Casts came off as just wanting to rant at non-Pagan religions, without actually understanding them or their background. Did the parents come to visit for any other purpose?
More (graphic?) sexual (not always romance) scenes. Take that as a negative or positive as you will.
Still, Betrayed is written with its great humor still there, and Aphrodite is finally fleshed out, making her one of the characters to empathize with the most.
A second book in any series usually is just a connecter, which I felt that Betrayed was. I'm still looking forward to Chosen, the next book in the series, though.
Book Review: Addictive vampire tale
Summary: 4 Stars
Zoey is starting to feel like she belongs at the House of Night with her new friends and Erik, her hot new boyfriend. But then the unthinkable happens. Human teens are being killed and all the evidence points to vampyres. Zoey finds out that the very powers that make her unique might also threaten those she's loves. When she needs her friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart and jeopardize her world.
The House of Night series is like addictive candy. Once you start to read the story, you can't put the book down.
Vampyres are not the cliche monsters of a Dracula tale. They don't burn up in sunlight(though the sun does bother them), have fangs, or die with a stake in the heart.
I really liked how Zoey shows her vulnerabilities--how she still cares for her human ex-boyfriend, Heath, how she refuses to see the bad in one of her friends, and her struggles to fight back against something that she knows is wrong. The authors do a great job portraying teen fledglings. I can't wait to read the next book, CHOSEN, that comes out in March.
Book Review: The Cast's have done it again!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book!!!!I was kinda worried that they wouldn't be able to carry the characters in the same manner that they did in the first book Marked, but they pulled it off and then some. This is the first book in along time that actually made me tear up in the middle of the story. I was able to relate to each and every character in some shape way. I love how they continously made Zoey (and through Zoey, her friends as well) grow and mature. I can't wait for Chosen to come out.Book Review: Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Having defeated her arch-nemesis in the previous book, Marked: A House of Night Novel (Book 1), Zoey should be on top of the world. But she's got the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that something's drastically wrong. At first, she thinks it could be all the stress she's under from her first ritual she's planning, or maybe the various boys in her life. She admits she's worried about the boys from her old school who have turned up missing.
Then Zoey witnesses a conversation between Aphrodite and Neferet that leaves her breathless. Now Zoey's scared.
Zoey needs her friends more than ever, but she's not too sure whom she can trust.
The mother-daughter team of P.C. and Kristin Cast creates another suspenseful tale with a down-to-earth character blessed with magical powers. Fans of the Stephenie Meyer books are sure to gobble up this series.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel