Robots and Vamps

Reviewed by Christel:

Disclosure: This novel was purchased by the reviewer’s own hard earned cash.

Why do I keep reading this series? That is what I am trying to figure out. I know it is hugely popular amongst the teens and I know a few adults who really enjoy it. But why do I keep reading? The story is a good one, full of good vs. evil, teen angst and vampires. You might be thinking, “Hey what’s not to love!?” Well, let me explain…

Zoey Redbird, Unusual-Vamp-Fledgling-High Priestess of the House of Night, is still battling Neferet, Kalona and his evil offspring the Raven Mockers. She now has a bound Warrior in Stark, a Human Consort to whom she is imprinted in Heath and an on again-off again boyfriend in the vampire Erik (who by the way may be the eldest, but is the most immature of the whole bunch). So she is still juggling 3 boyfriends and now her soul is somehow connected to Kalona. Seriously? 3 boyfriends weren’t enough? Her BFF Stevie Rae (aka High Priestess of the Red Fledglings) is lying to her about several things and now she is hiding and nursing the most heinous of Kalona’s sons, the Raven Mocker Rephaim. And then there is that small matter of saving the world.

Here are my issues: Zoey is constantly whining about her boyfriends and her best friend keeping secrets while all hell is breaking loose in the world around her. One would think these issues could be tabled until evil is defeated and life returns to normal. But alas, no. We have to hear about every painstaking bit of boy trauma Zoey has while she is trying to save the world. I understand the Kalona thing as that is part of the evil she is fighting and I suppose I should remember that these are still teenagers who constantly think about their love life. But good grief it starts to get annoying.

The slang is way overused in these novels. If the slang was used more sparingly it would have more of an impact, I believe. Let me give you an example. In every situation where one of the kids is expressing their love for something, they say “I heart you”, “I heart this.”, “I heart that.” It would have been cute if used for some of those instances, but when you use it for every one it becomes distracting. Suddenly I am counting how many times someone “hearts” something rather than reading the story.

I was getting bored with the triviality of Zoey and her friends and wondering when we were going to get to some action. About half way through the book, things started to pick up. The story started to move forward and I was liking the direction we were going in when BAM I reached the end! The end of the book was shocking and abrupt and there was no real ending to the conflict. This has been happening for the past couple of books in this series. So I will read the next one, just because I want to see how this particular story line resolves itself. But I wish each book had a true beginning, middle and end rather than being a continuation of a really long and drawn out teen soap opera.

Here is what I like about these books: Kalona is a complex villain. You never know exactly how evil he is, the authors keep you guessing. Can he be saved or is he truly inherently evil? The Cherokee legend that surrounds him is brought into the story several times, making it seem as though the authors put some real thought into this guy.

Aphrodite. She is the best character in this series. She has grown and matured from her experiences and she is a witty smart-ass the entire time. She has gone from being a High Priestess in training-fledgling-snob at the House of Night, to a more humble human prophetess with a vampire warrior bound to her. And she has done it all with style.

The whole underlying story arc is a good one. I just wish we could resolve some of the current conflicts instead of dragging them with us from novel to novel. Like seriously heavy baggage, it is starting to weigh down the book.  It takes away from the charm and good ideas that started the series. Here’s to hoping the next book resolves the Kalona conflict and the kids at the House of Night can go back to school and move on with their lives.

Authors’ website: House of Night Series

On October 27, Tempted will be out in stores. But why not get an early jump on things and listen to the first chapter of the book for free?

Click on the cover below and scroll to the bottom of the page to the audio link to listen.

Not only can you read and/or listen to the first chapter, you can watch the trailer too.  There’s lots to keep you busy until the 27th.

Looking forward to reading Tempted?  It won’t hit shelves until October 27, just in time for Halloween.  But now you can read the first chapter just by clicking the book’s cover below.  Enjoy!

Can’t wait for October to get here so you can read the next installment in the House of Night series?  Well here are a couple of things to keep you entertained until then.

PC & Kristin Cast gave an interview recently on ABC’s Nightline.  To check it out just visit the link here

You can also read an interview with the Author’s here

Here’s an excerpt.

Do you have any advice to give young, aspiring authors?

PC: Definitely! Remember that being an author is a job. That means you need to research the career. Read writers’ resource books and “how to” books written by authors you admire. Join writers’ groups – take creative writing classes. Educate yourself about the basics of publishing. Then write and write and write – and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite. Once you have a completed manuscript, polished to the best of your ability, then you should be ready to begin submitting to editors and agents (and you should know how to do this through your research!).

KC: What should you write? Write the book you’d most love to read.

Are there ever times when you both completely disagree on something and can’t decide which way you want to go?

PC: It was weird at first. I mean, I’m used to editorial input, but writing as a team is different. I had a little experience with it because I’ve teemed up with the fabulous paranormal romance bestseller, Gena Showalter, on a couple anthologies we brainstormed together, and I enjoyed that. Kristin and I do disagree sometimes, but not about anything too big. Plus I’m the most experienced writer (and the mom!), so I tend to overrule her. She loves it when she’s been overruled and then our editor makes the same comment she made so Kristin finds out she was right all along!

Which characters do you relate to the most?

PC: Aphrodite!

KC: Zoey!

Check out the cover for Tempted due on shelves October 27,2009 and if you click on the cover below, you can read a few lines from the book.  Hopefully, the first chapter will be released soon.

Reviewed by Christel

When we last left Zoey and her friends, they were fleeing Kalona (the fallen angel), to the old prohibition tunnels beneath the city of Tulsa. Stevie Rae and the Red fledglings have been residing in these tunnels for a while now and have made quite a nice home (with the help of Aprodite’s credit card). While secluded there, they must find a way to heal Stevie Rae from her wound made by the arrow Stark shot at her that is still protruding from her chest. They also must make a plan to rid the House of Night of Kalona and Neferet. Just as Erik and Zoey make up, Heath shows up to profess his love. While trying to keep her 2 men from fighting, Zoey is injured by one of the Raven Mockers (those ½ bird, ½ man creatures). Her wound is a fatal one and in order to heal, she must be taken back to the House of Night, right into the waiting arms of Kalona and Neferet.

Stark is now a red fledgling and has been brought to the “dark side” by Neferet. Though he struggles with his humanity, and he still shows glimpses of good, he commits some terrible acts. Zoey and her friends have to come up with a plan to save themselves and the humans from a war with this new and terrible evil.

What I liked: I still like the matriarchal society that these vampires live in. It is old and steeped in tradition as is Zoey’s Cherokee heritage. Kalona is a figure from an old Cherokee legend and his story is captivating. The Raven Mockers are scary and hideous creatures that are said to be the children of Kalona. And Neferet is even more evil than before, if that is at all possible.  All of these creatures make for a formidable enemy to the students of the House of Night.

Aphrodite is becoming one of my favorite characters.  She may have that snobby rich girl attitude, but her heart is in the right place.  She and Darius seem to be the most helpful and probably the most mature of the whole bunch.  They can see what is really important and seem to cut through all the teen angst the others have to face.  Granted, Darius is older and has already passed through this time in his life, but it is refreshing and necessary to have someone along who can bring everyone back to reality and to the topic at hand.

What I didn’t like: I am getting a little tired of Zoey’s boyfriend drama. I mean what girl has to juggle 3 boys on a consistent basis (if ever!)? Please For the love of Nyx let Zoey pick a guy and be done with it. She can break up with him later and meet a new one if she likes, but the 3 at one time thing is really starting to get old. It is actually becoming a distraction from the story. Perhaps I am just too old to be reading this series. Maybe a gaggle of jealous boys is something every teenage girl longs for. But somehow, I doubt it.

Another distraction comes in the form of excessive cultural references.  It was almost like  the story was interrupted with commercials and I felt like reaching for the remote to fast forward.  Netflix, Christopher Moore, Project Runway, Juicy brand clothing, etc., etc. While I love the shout out to Christopher Moore, and even though the use of the term “fierce” and Project Runway (used by Christian Siriano winner of Project Runway season 4) reminded me of my niece, I wonder if some of these references might date the book. 10 years from now will young adults know about the fierceness of Project Runway or a certain clothing or make-up brand? I’m just sayin’.

Last word: I have to say, that my expectations for this book were not met.  The book was OK, but in the end I don’t feel like Zoey and her friends have come very far from the last book.  Hunted spans a couple of days and while the conflict is resolved (sort of) I still feel like I have been left hanging.  That being said, I still plan to continue reading the House of Night Series.  I don’t know what draws me to these books. Is it the wonderfully thought out world of the Vamps trying to blend in and live in modern society? Is it Zoey’s Cherokee Grandmother, who is always there for her and extremely supportive? Is it the camaraderie of Zoey’s friends who stick by her through thick and thin? I really don’t know what it is, but even with the annoying love triangles, I will keep reading this series. So, until the next one…  Tempted which should be released in November 2009 (according to P.C.’s blog).

Authors’ website: House of Night Series

To discuss this book, please visit Robots and Vamps Book Club

You’ve read chapter 1, now you can listen to chapter 2.  Just click on the book cover and scroll to the bottom of the page.  Then go get your copy of the book on March 10th to keep on reading!  I know I am.

On PC’s Blog she has released the new cover for her upcoming novel Hunted, the 5th book in House of Night series.  It is due out in March 10, 2009.

She also provided some insight into the novel and the future of the series.

There will be at least three books after HUNTED! The HoN world is far from finished.

As to the covers – we have an awesome team at St. Martin’s Press! Yes, they do consider our input, but they come up with the images themselves. For HUNTED I actually spoke with the art director. He was wonderful – so creative and excited! And he came up with another winner!

Yes, Stark plays a big part in HUNTED and beyond, but that’s all I’ll say right now…

It also didn’t occur to us to have a guy swoop in and save her from life’s difficulties. Kristin and I are strong, independent women who see the men in our lives as compliments to our world, NOT the center of our universes.

Well I said there would be AT LEAST three books after HUNTED. My publisher has given me the freedom to follow the story arch wherever it leads. That might be 3 more or 4, 5, 6 more. Just depends…