Review: Hidden

Title: Hidden
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Format: Hardback
Pages: 302
Date(s) Read: Jan 9-10, 2016
Rating: 3

Summary:

Zoey has what she wanted.  Truth is out.  Neferet's evil has been exposed, and the high council is no longer on her side.  However, she's not done wreaking havoc in the vampyre world.   Tensions are at their breaking point, friendships are going to be tested.  However, can the 'nerd herd' come together to stop the spread of Darkness before it is too late?

Review:

Okay, I think my opinions of this series might be a touch on the downward slide of things.  This book, I don't know, kinda struck me as a bit dull compared to the others.  Yes, I've read them all up until this point, including all four novellas.  Yes, chances are I will read the next book when it comes out, and the subsequent ones after that...why? Because I apparently am masochistic like that.  So, let's get to a few things that give my reasoning for the three stars this book has earned from me.

Lack of showing and an abundance of telling.  Seriously!  Also, the tone at times to the writing comes off as patronizing - as if one moment the characters know what the hell is going on and can speak properly, and the next they are absolutely freaking stupid.

“It’s about time the House of Night is aware that there are prodigious forces of good working on our side against all that Darkness.”
“Prodigious means real big.” Stevie Rae translated.

Aphrodite: “Gay Boy’s all atwitter, or atitter, or whatever.  “You are no good at espionage at all.”  

Those are just two of the examples of what makes me absolutely nutty with some of this writing.

The fact that the twins begin to take different paths - and why in the bloody hell would her sister not do something about it when *spoiler* Erin started going down this darker path?  SERIOUSLY?! I mean, come on.  When someone I love is doing something stupid, or something completely out of character....I FREAKING SAY SOMETHING!!! Why? Because I care about them and for sure want to know why in the hell they are behaving in a way that is completely different from what is considered normal.

I, honestly, hate to day this now, liked Zoey at the beginning of this series.  Now, however, I want to stab her....repeatedly...until she is little more than a pile of bloody flesh.  Okay, last book she annoyed me, this book yes, she kind of (kind of) redeemed herself on this.  She has by the end of the book shown maturity, and I honestly hope that in the next book that maturity continues, without the need for it to be spelled out.  Without the need for it to be told to us instead of bashing us over the head with everything.

For the sake of my sanity, I do hope book number 11 is better.  However, I will not at this point hold my breath.

Review: Destined

Title: Destined
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Format: Hardback
Pages: 325
Date(s) Read:  Jan 3-7, 2016
Rating:  3 

Summary: 

Zoey is home, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark.  She is preparing to face Neferet.  Rephaim's been released from Kalona's hold and given human form.  He and Stevie Rae can be together.  Can Rephaim stay free of his father's shadow and walk the path of the Goddess?  What will happen as the forces of light and dark continue their struggle continues its focus on Tulsa's House of Night.

Review: 

Okay, so it's been a bit since I've read this book.  Even with the background I have from the Novellas, I wasn't entirely thrilled with this book.  I am, thanks to my book OCD, committed to finishing this series.  However, I do not think the books will ever receive higher than a three from me as far as rating goes.  The plot, the premise of the story was one that I enjoyed from the beginning.  However, at this point in time I am starting to think that it is getting drawn out further and further.  There is very little resolution in these stories and it is, to be honest, starting to get maddening. 

I honestly really used to like Zoey and Stevie Rae...I really did.  However, at this point in time, Zoey is getting on my damn nerves.  She's gone from something likeable to something vapid and annoying as hell.  She doesn't deal with her emotions, she doesn't deal with things.  Instead of dealing with the potential death of her mother...she wakes Stark up for SEX!  Seriously? That is the first thing you do when you have a dream with Nyx in it that tells you your mother is freaking dead! You wake your boyfriend up for sex?! Also, for one, if you wake your boyfriend up and he gets MAD AT YOU for waking him up over something like that....IT IS TIME FOR THE STUPID BOY TO GO!  Like now. 

I have more to say about this series, however, I'm not entirely sure where to start or how to make it sound less ranty than it actually is.  UGH!   I don't think that's possible.  So, I will simply leave this review as it is because otherwise I might make it longer than I intended. 

Review: Kalona's Fall

Title: Kalona's Fall
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Format: hardback
Pages: 160
Date(s) Read: Jan 1 - Jan 3, 2016
Rating: 4

Summary: 

Kalona, the winged immortal.  His history was a secret.  How did he go from being the Goddess' Warrior and Guardian to her enemy and betrayer?  Was he tainted by the Darkness like Neferet, or did he always crave power over honor, and control over faith?  

Review: 

Seriously? Kalona is by far one of my favorite bad guys.  Dunno why I'm so attracted to this fallen angel.  This creature that has turned from Warrior and Guardian to Enemy and Betrayer.  

This book is an insight into Kalona's history, his past.  What made him who he has become.  His relationship with Nyx and Erebus was absolutely not what I had originally expected, and in fact it surprised me and was more than I could even ever expect.  

Kalona and Erebus were crafted by Mother Earth for Nyx.  3 tasks were given to prove their worth to the Goddess, their elements were chosen to allow them to wield them to gain the Goddess' favor.  Both had feelings for Nyx, but their feelings differed greatly.  Nyx, however, cared for them both quite deeply. 

As you can already determine, Kalona's choices were not the best and ultimately lead to him being cast from Nyx's realm.  Fallen Warrior is what he would always be seen as.  

I am greatly looking forward to reading more of Kalona's story in the upcoming House of Night books. 

January: Author of the Month

January has come to an end, and much like the book of the month, now is time to share the author of the month!   WEEE!! 

There were several candidates for this month's choice, but I think I finally settled on one...the one that put me through the most hell through this month when I was reading their books...

P.C. CAST

I'd read three of her books this month and I loved each and every one of them.  I even started following her on Facebook and had several fangirl moments...where I was exactly like this: 

and this

When she liked my comment, and ultimately my status on my facebook page.  SERIOUSLY?! How could I not fangirl?