Book Review: Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Title: Awakened (House of Night #8)

Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publishing Date: Jan 4^th 2011

Length: 290 pages

Genre: YA, fantasy

3/5 ***Awakened- Dark and sensual. House of Night fans shouldn’t miss it!

 

~ The Authors ~

P.C. Cast was born in Watseka, Illinois, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. Since her tour in the USAF, she has been speaking and teaching professionally. P.C. Cast is an experienced teacher and talented speaker and a New York Times Best Selling author. She lives in Oklahoma with her fabulous daughter, her spoiled cat, and her adorable Scotties!

Author profile by Goodreads 

At 19-years-old, Kristin is thrilled to be coauthoring the YA series, THE HOUSE OF NIGHT, with her mother. The first book in the series will be her first published novel. She has won awards for her poetry, as well as served as journalist for her intermediate high school newspaper, Tiger Tales, and as editor for her high school magazine, Tiger Eye. Kristin attends Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and is working hard to fulfill her goal of becoming a veterinarian without bankrupting her mother. One of the Scottinators belong to her, although we’re not telling either of the dogs that she’s going to someday be their veterinarian. Kristin would love to hear from her fans, and can also be reached through her mother’s website.

Author profile by Goodreads 

For further information check out http://www.pccast.net/

~ The Novel ~

Awakened is the 8^th instalment in the House of Night series written by P.C. and Kristin Cast, it was first published on January 4^th 2011.

Marked, the first novel, was published in 2007 by St. Martin's Griffin. It was followed by Betrayed (2007), Chosen (2008), Untamed (2009), Hunted (2009), Tempted (2009) and Burned (2010). Destined, the 9th instalment, will be released in November 2011. The House of Night series is planned to include twelve books. 

For further information check out http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

~ The Story ~

At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

Summary by Goodreads

For a sneak audio preview of chapter one and two, click here!  

To read a text preview of chapter three, follow this link!

~ The Review ~

After Burned, the 7^th instalment in the House of Night series, immediately became my favourite part so far, I couldn’t wait for Awakened. One month ago I read a short extract which only made me wanting to read this more.

Awakened stands out for some time-stands-still-and-makes-you-forget-all-evil moments, which are unfortunately connected by numerous pages of babblings. Fortunately the babbling reduces in the end and the action takes part again. P.C. and Kristin Cast surprised me with unforeseen sad, shocking and even super romantic events I hadn’t expected. And I finally got to read about the special moments I wanted to happen for so long. 

Many characters develop, try to find a new way in life and love. I never felt that attached to our heroine Zoey because she often enough showed her mindless, infantile and naïve character traits. Awakened increased my sympathy for her, and to my surprise let one of this series’ characters become one of my favourite literary heroes.

Stark achieved what very few before him did. Being introduced as the new student, I never paid much attention to him. I rooted for Zoey being together with Erik and totally missed the true quality of a character like Stark. He is gifted, but troubled, in love, but not mindless. Over the last three novels, he lived through an enormous development and has become such a very strong character, that I can’t believe I didn’t fall in love with him the first time he spoke. He didn’t immedialtey make it on my all time favourite literary hero list, but now that he’s on it, he won’t loose his place without a good fight!

What annoys me about Awakened is that it has only 290 pages. The House of Night series only becomes such a huge one, because the books stand out for their low page number. I guess the author couldn’t live with publishing two as one book, e.g. Awakened and Destined, because they are incompatible. My second guess would be the enormous profits the publisher makes by splitting the novels so a series of maybe six rich-paged books easily becomes one of twelve with page numbers below my favoured page-average.  

This novel presents itself as the darkest part of the series so far. As in previous novels, it is told from several perspectives, e.g. Zoey’s, Stark’s, Kalona’s. I noticed a growing application of Neferet’s and Kalona’s POV. As I am on the light side, I sometimes felt annoyed by their conversations and was tempted to skip them. The authors make a glimpse of the dark side of power possible and give us information about their plans against Zoey and her friends, which of course do not spoil the whole action, there are many surprises and unexpected attacks left.

The application of dark POV’s might sometimes slow the story down and end in moments of boredom, but it definitely reflects and represents the increasing power of darkness over the light side aswell.  

~ We love this book because…~

1) being dead doesn’t mean you can’t remain the vessel of someone

2) defence really is the best attack

3) we never thought of quilts as sexy and handy clothing for modern men

4) of a lovely and magic grove  

5) purple sometimes even suits the most tragic and innocent loss

~ The Verdict ~

Awakened combines light and dark point of views and intertwines them to an endless battle of forces. The writing style remains youthful and unconventional,  characters grow and make you like them even more, but as there are often very slow passages and eventless scenes, it is definitely not the best part in the House of Night series.

~ For UK Fans

P.C. and Kristin are touring! On January 13^th they visit Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh. On January 17^th you can meet them at Watersone’s Stirling and on January 20^th there will be a talk/reading/Q&A and signing at Waterstone’s Glasgow.

 

For further information visit: http://www.pccast.net/tourdates.html