As You Wish Reviews: Review | Awakened by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast @ChickenFrances

Title: Awakened

Series: House of Night (Book 8)

Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Published: January 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romantic, YA Fantasy

BLURB

“My love, speak to me. Tell me everything.” Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?” He didn’t meet her eyes.

“Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.” She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going? What will happen next?”

“It is quite simple. I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma. There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

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?

(Recommended for readers age 13 and older)

REVIEW

I couldn't wait to start this book, after Zoey's return to her body and her soul pieced back together again. Her savior, Stark's live was on the line until the very end, he'd gone to bring her back from the Otherworld where Kalona had tried to manipulate her.

Upon returning to her friends, Zoey found catching up on all that she had missed even more overwhelming than being in the Otherworld fighting for her life. Neferet's gone completely insane and in my opinion just needs to be finished off by now. After Kalona's failure, Neferet does everything in her power to make sure Zoey fails and seen as just a teenager to everyone else. Having to prove herself to those around her, awakened only to find herself in more trouble and danger than before.

Stevie Rae's story continues with her mysterious and secretive relationship with Raven and although he's Kalona's son she fights for him. He must see the good in himself or she may lose him to his father's will and power. With a little help from Goddess Nyx the two are shown what could become of their relationship and yet the utter shock of what could be may be too much to handle?

While this is the last book I have read so far in this series, I've read Dragon's Oath and will post that review soon. I will also continue with the rest of the series because my interest in what is to come of the characters and relationships built. Neferet has to go though, she is one evil that has been drug along within the series for far too long.

Previously Reviewed House of Night Series

Marked [House of Night: Book 1]
Betrayed [House of Night: Book 2]
Chosen [House of Night: Book 3]
Untamed [House of Night: Book 4]
Hunted [House of Night: Book 5]
Tempted [House of Night: Book 6]
Burned [House of Night: Book 7]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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.

Ms. Cast is an award winning fantasy and paranormal romance author. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers' Best, and the Laurel Wreath.

Ms. Cast writes the popular Goddess Summoning Series for Berkley Publishing. The forth book in the series, GODDESS OF THE ROSE, A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, is a Feburary 2006 release.

In December 2004, LUNA (Harlequin's single title fantasy imprint for women) released ELPHAME'S CHOICE, the first of five epic fantasy novels set in the world of Cast's popular first book, GODDESS BY MISTAKE. BRIGHID'S QUEST was her December 2005 release, with two more installments in the world of Partholon scheduled for release in 2006 - including a special LUNA edition of GODDESS BY MISTAKE, under the new title DIVINE BY MISTAKE, and it's never before published sequel, DIVINE BY CHOICE, which will be available December 2006.