Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Awakened:
Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?


In this, the eighth book in the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, the story picks up right where Burned left off, and its action packed, fast paced pages keep you anticipating the next. The characters did feel relatively unchanged to me, and to be perfectly honest; it is not the characters themselves that have kept me reading--it's the over-all story arc that garners my full attention. The Cherokee mythology and other religious aspects are what I find truly intriguing. I am getting tired of reading about Neferet's descent into madness as she aligns herself with Darkness, and her almost petty jealousy of Zoey's powers. It was, however, one of my favorite books within the series, the development between Stevie Rae and Rephaim was not-so-surprising, but I really enjoyed reading the evolution of their relationship. Since their return from the Otherworld, Zoey and Stark's relationship crosses the boundary of High Priestess and Warrior into that of lovers, and although she will always love Heath, Zoey has found that she is stronger with Stark at her side. Violence follows the young vampyres home as they return from their journey to the Island of Skye, and as payment to Darkness, Neferet, must sacrifice an innocent and she chooses someone within Zoey's circle of friends. At the funeral for her friend, Neferet tricks Zoey into forgiving the acts she has committed against her, and in doing so gains more followers within the crowd of students. When Rephaim and Kalona make an appearance at the funeral, a choice must be made by those who have long fought for Darkness and even by those who are on the side of Light.