Neferet's Curse (House of Night Novellas, #3)

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Neferet's Curse (House of Night Novellas #3)

by P.C. Cast (Goodreads Author) (co-author), Kristin Cast (co-author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 1,756 ratings · 226 reviews

The White City, 1893:In turn-of-the-century Chicago, with the World’s Fair bringing bustle and excitement to her home city, sixteen-year-oldEmily Wheilershould be reveling in her youthful beauty and the excitement around her. But her whole life changedwhen hermother died, leavingher to be the Lady of Wheiler House. Her father, a powerful bank president,is at the center of...more

Hardcover, 146 pages

Published February 19th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

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Mar 05, 2013 Jodie marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2013, house-of-night, next-to-read

I really can't wait for this one, loved dragons oath and lenobia's vow but Neferet's story will be really interesting to read, and might explain why she is so evil.

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Sep 08, 2012 Anna marked it as to-read

Shelves: series-extras, cover-love, vampires

So I've recently made my official drop of the House of Numbskulls series and one of the many reasons was actually Neferet. You see, after nine books she just started feeling more like this rash that wouldn't go away rather than the terrifying villainess she was supposed to be. Every time she showed up trying to be all dark, scheming, and overtly sexual I just wanted to facepalm. It was embarrassing. I'd like to say she's still around is because Zoey is too stupid to do any real damage but obviou...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: beautiful-sexy-covers, own, young-adult, fav-paranormal, favorite-books

I am literally jumping for joy right now!! im soo excited to read this,when this comes out like OMG! i was always curious of her story, and where she came from and why has she become so evil. uhh... i dont know what else to say...but i cant wait for this novella!!! OH! i also loved the previous novellas aswell.

UPDATE!! March 3rd,2013

I have finished the book! Im so happy :D Anyways, it was a very dark and mysterious book, i loved it, loved it alot. However, it was very sad how her father abuses h...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Alec rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this cover! I am kinda disappointed that Dragon's Oath has different look than Lenobia's and Neferet's, but oh well! This cover looks fabulous!

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May 20, 2013 Steffi und Kay his-and-her-books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Inhalt:
Im November 1892 beginnt der Leidensweg der jungen Emily Wheiler. In der Nacht, als ihre Mutter im Kindesbett stirbt. Von nun an ist sie die Frau im Hause Wheiler, dessen Familienoberhaupt Barret H. Wheiler, Präsident der First National Bank von Chicago, nur nach außen hin den perfekten Eindruck hinterlässt.

Immer mehr hat Emily unter den sengenden Blicken ihres Vaters zu leiden, der ihr die Rolle als „Dame des Hauses“ ungewollt aufdrückt. Emily weicht ihm so gut es geht aus, übernimmt ger...more

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May 20, 2013 Steffi und Kay his-and-her-books rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Mar 26, 2013 Jody Mena rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very heart-rending and telling look into the villain's past. This book has made Neferet my favorite character in the House of Night series. Before now, she has been rather a painfully 2-dimensional and cliche specimen of villainy, though there have been hints now and then of some traumatic horror in her past. Now after reading this, I find myself almost admiring Neferet. She was courageous and cunning, and has the will, wit and self-control to survive in spite of being bound by so many convent...more A very heart-rending and telling look into the villain's past. This book has made Neferet my favorite character in the House of Night series. Before now, she has been rather a painfully 2-dimensional and cliche specimen of villainy, though there have been hints now and then of some traumatic horror in her past. Now after reading this, I find myself almost admiring Neferet. She was courageous and cunning, and has the will, wit and self-control to survive in spite of being bound by so many conventions and dangers; she merely let her fear twist those admirable qualities into something corrupt. In the end, all she wanted was to be free; even after everything she's done throughout the series, that still remains her overaching goal. She is still that terrified, trapped girl searching desperately for the power and autonomy to be truly free, which is the very thing that she is constantly denied by everyone (including Nyx, which is a running theme in this series that makes me intensely uncomfortable, and increasingly makes me wish that Cast had chosen to make up a fictional name for the Goddess, and use fictional rituals, instead of tying it into Wicca and dragging the whole ideology down in doing so). I cannot fault Neferet's desire for freedom, and I admire her tenacity, her cunning, her sense of justice and the fiery strength of her will. What makes Neferet such a tragic creature in the end is that her desperation to be freed from one master thrusts her into the chains of another. She's so desperate to be free that she sells her self again and again back into slavery.

There were a few things I disliked about this story - a few things about the series in general that make me intensely uncomfortable, particularly the judgmental, preachy good-vs-evil sermonizing. Something I particularly disliked, though, was the attitude of Neferet's mentor denying a rape victim her right to justice. Forgiveness is important, but there is a kind of necessary catharsis in a woman standing up and speaking for herself against her attacker, in order to raise herself from the position of a victim, to a position of strength. I do not condone murder - but I do not think Neferet was wrong to exact her justice. And I believe that if the House of Night had stood by her instead of trivializing her pain, then Neferet might have found solidarity and trust with her fellow vampyres, rather than a reinforcement of her convictions that she must never trust anyone else. The message that a raped woman should simply 'turn the other cheek' as it were, sickens me. Vengence isn't good for the soul - but justice IS, and there is a profound difference between the two that is completely ignored here. It was an unfortunate way to end the book, but it did make Neferet an even more sympathetic character.

I can only hope that in the end Neferet will find a way to redeem herself, but in her own way without submitting to anyone - that she will finally find her freedom. But from the trends of these books, I highly doubt this series will end with anything so enlightened or evolved. I just know I'm going to be writing fanfiction to 'correct' the authors' mistakes one day... lol... otherwise, though, this was easily one of the best books in the series.(less)

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Mar 21, 2013 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of my pet peeves with series is when an author writes something new that contradicts something written in an earlier book. It perpetually annoyed me with Sookie, until CH was able to get a fact checker, then it improved somewhat. With 2 authors writing together, you would think they would have a better chance at avoiding this mistake. At least put in a disclaimer.

Ok, I picked up Neferet's Curse because I'm already invested in this series, and thought hey, this might actually be more interes...more One of my pet peeves with series is when an author writes something new that contradicts something written in an earlier book. It perpetually annoyed me with Sookie, until CH was able to get a fact checker, then it improved somewhat. With 2 authors writing together, you would think they would have a better chance at avoiding this mistake. At least put in a disclaimer.

Ok, I picked up Neferet's Curse because I'm already invested in this series, and thought hey, this might actually be more interesting. The problem I have is that this story is COMPLETELY different than what is described in Marked. Handily, I had just decided to reread the entire series before I start Hidden, because I can't remember a lot of what's happened, and wanted to avoid being a little confused like I was with Destined. So, having just read it, here's the passage from page 211 of Marked:

"My mother died when I was ten years old. My father did not remarry. Instead, he began to use me as his wife. From the time I was ten until Nyx saved me by Marking me when I was fifteen, he abused me." Neferet paused and let the shock of what she was saying settle into me before she continued. "So you see, when I say that I understand what it is to have your home become an unbearable place I am not just spouting platitudes."

So here are the contradictions:

1. Neferet was 10 when her mother died. Emily in the book is 15.

2. Neferet is immediately and continually abused from age 10 until 15. Emily is only raped once, her last night as a human. Part of that is because she wisely blocked her bedroom door with a dresser so her father couldn't come in.

3. Neferet was Marked at age 15, Emily is 16.

I get why P.C. Cast wrote the novella this way....as the character of Neferet has developed in this series, I can see how Emily in this book turned into Neferet in the other books. I see the agenda, the seeds of coldness, rationalization of her actions, the conniving act, manipulation, and above all the self reliance and isolation, and putting herself above others. (Let's not forget the obvious reference to the white bull, and her fascination with it). So knowing the developed Neferet, I can see the emergence from the girl Emily into the power-hungry High Priestess.

HOWEVER, the initial bitter declaration in the first book seems to me to be a more complete story....I can only imagine what effect that kind of abuse could have on a child, especially in the 19th century, when there weren't any sort of child protective services. Abuse, long or short, is devastating, but to me, the 6 month period told in NC seems incomplete when compared to the original mention of the story. Of course it would be more difficult to write, given the subject matter, but I just feel this novella could have been done so much better. It feels contrived, even though I believe Cast's heartfelt words in her postscript. I guess what I feel disappointed about is the same thing I'm disappointed about with the entire series now: when they began the books, they didn't have the full deal, and it was supposed to be much shorter. As I've stated in other reviews of this series, I believe that once the authors got on the money train, I feel they've been milking it for all it's worth, and that includes these novellas (which are actually more expensive on sale than I paid for the first few books). It's a shame really, when the series was awesome at first. But now, I just want it to be over so I know how it all ends. Thankfully I only have to wait for 2 more books.(less)

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Mar 12, 2013 Miss rated it 3 of 5 stars

Man you know what's super frustrating? When a book just misses doing something that would be genuinely interesting and provide much needed critical commentary on earlier books of the series.

See here's the thing. This book is meant to be Neferet's backstory, the cause of her evil and a sympathy for the devil argument all in one. One of the major characterization lines it develops is her desire to control her life in the face of awful unrelenting victimization (view spoiler)...more Man you know what's super frustrating? When a book just misses doing something that would be genuinely interesting and provide much needed critical commentary on earlier books of the series.

See here's the thing. This book is meant to be Neferet's backstory, the cause of her evil and a sympathy for the devil argument all in one. One of the major characterization lines it develops is her desire to control her life in the face of awful unrelenting victimization (view spoiler). And about two thirds in I thought I could guess what ending the Casts would go for and was impressed because I felt like it was a really clever way to further the discussion of free will as it relates to Nyx.

(view spoiler)[Her father's controlling tendencies have been getting worse and he keeps looking at her in a way she knows means something awful so she convinces Arthur Simpton to marry her -- rich, high social standing, safe -- so she can escape. And I was honestly really proud of her, like she did it, she was determined and manipulative and she found a way to rescue herself despite the very few options available to her. And it occurred to me right then that the book was going to end with her becoming a vampyre.

You know what sucks about vampyrism in the House of Night verse? You have no control over it. Nyx selects you, your body starts transforming, and a representative of your local house will come and tell you that if you don't join them your body will reject the change and die. Not that coming will necessarily save you. You could still die in three years anyways! Best study hard and stay devoted to the Goddess! ｡◕‿◕｡

Can you imagine how horrible that would be for Neferet? She finally freed herself from one cage and she's been forced into another. It would explain so much about her, I would hate any so called goddess that did that to me. I'd have a lot more respect for the Casts if I thought they recognized the contradiction in Nyx espousing free will but not giving her children a choice about following her.

It would have been so easy to play it that way! But no, instead she is brutally raped by her father, the change comes, and her fiancee can't handle it and rejects her. Any culpability Nyx holds isn't commented on by the narrative. Neferet concludes that all the horrible things that happened to her was because she was a weak human girl and now that she's a vampyre she'll never allow herself to be harmed again. We're meant to maintain the view that her turning against Nyx is a symptom of her natural inclination towards evil (yeah I caught the foreshadowing with the bull statue, subtle). The whole thing turns into a frustrating missed opportunity to inject nuance and criticism into the story.

(Also the house tells her they will protect her from her father but she can not go after him. Wow, awesome guys, refuse the rape victim the right to exact justice! At least Twilight let Rosalie murder her rapists without judging her for it. If the story was aware of the shit it was pulling it would be so much better! How do you write in all the ingredients to make your villain a living critique of every iffy aspect of your heroes' worldview and fail to use it.) (hide spoiler)]

In conclusion, please Casts, deconstruct your narrative. You're halfway there already, all you have to do is make it explicit. 3 stars(less)

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Jody Mena I love your observations here. When I first picked up these books, I enjoyed the homage to Wicca that they seemed to be, but I was originally uncomfor...more
Mar 25, 2013 10:50pm

Miss Jody wrote: "I love your observations here. When I first picked up these books, I enjoyed the homage to Wicca that they seemed to be, but I was origin...more
Mar 26, 2013 10:18am

Mar 12, 2013 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novella is about Neferet, and how she became to be evil.

Emily's father was wealthy. At the age of 16, Emily's mother died. After 6 months of mourning, Emily's father forced her to be the woman of the house, even though Emily's friends Camille and Evelyn wanted Emily to socialize.

Things soon changed. Emily's Dad became more controlling (mentally and eventually physically) over Emily, and Emily's friends stopped being her friend. Emily tried to persuade Arthur Simpton to marry her so she co...more

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Feb 23, 2013 A Reading Whore rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am not going to state what Neferet's curse is about because it's in the description up above. This will contain spoilers. Just a reminder, I use to be a huge fan of the house of night untill I got to book four. Thats when the story started to get boring and it seemed the authors were trying to prolong the series. The only reason why I bought Neferet's curse because I really wanted to know why Neferet became evil. Neferet is one of the most interesting characters in the house of night series bu...more I am not going to state what Neferet's curse is about because it's in the description up above. This will contain spoilers. Just a reminder, I use to be a huge fan of the house of night untill I got to book four. Thats when the story started to get boring and it seemed the authors were trying to prolong the series. The only reason why I bought Neferet's curse because I really wanted to know why Neferet became evil. Neferet is one of the most interesting characters in the house of night series but it's still not enough to continue to read the series. Be warned, there will be negative opinons in this review.

The beginning:The beginning Of Neferet's curse drew me in deeply. It begins with Emily which is Neferet's original name before she turned to Neferet. When Emily lost her mother(Alice),after giving birth to her baby brother and then just to find out the baby died, it sadden me. I felt bad for Emily that she didn't get to hear the last words her mother was trying to say to her before she died. I was certian Alice was trying to warn Emily of the dangers that would come a head in the future.

The Midddle: I found the middle of the book very boring. P.c. cast tends to bore me in every one of her books. There was certain stuff I didn't care to learn and I found myself skipping some pages and it took me three days to read 160 pages. Although some of the parts were boring, I did like the relationship between Author and Emily but something inside of me was saying"This relationship won't last long!"

The Ending:The ending was heartbreaking but the most interesting in the book. My heart fell out of my chest and my eyes watered when Emily got raped by her father. I knew it was coming by the way his eyes would observe Emily's figure, but I was hoping it wouldn't. It sad to know that Emily's mother had to deal with the abusive relationship for years and now I know that was one of the things Emily's mother was trying to warn her about. What hurt me the most was Author, how he rejected Emily when she came running to him with her clothes torn and soaked in blood. But during that time of rejection came Emily's salvation when she became Marked. After a short time of healing, Emily got her revenge towards her father.

After reading Neferet's curse, I felt more compassion toward's Neferet.I understood why she became so evil and heartless. I love how Neferet is strong in a way where she doesn't need a man to be strong. That she doesn't think,"without him, I would be nothing!"which really annoys me in some YA novels. I also loved the Letter P.c Cast wrote to her fans at the end. In all honesty, I say if you are a huge dedicated fan of the house of night series and read every book, then you may like Neferet's curse. But if you don't want to spend almost 15 dollars on 160 page book that may just bore the crap out of you then borrow it from the library. (less)

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May 18, 2013 Heartykiss rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beschreibung:
Als ihre Mutter bei der Geburt ihres Bruders stirbst, bricht für Emily eine Welt zusammen.
Sie isst nicht mehr und verlässt so gut wie gar nicht mehr ihr Zimmer - alles scheint für sie plötzlich nichtig zu sein. Doch es wird von ihr erwartet, dass sie die Pflichten ihrer Mutter übernimmt und sich auch dementsprechend so verhält. Sie ist von nun an kein kleines Kind mehr. Ihr Vater betrinkt sich tagtäglich und löchert sie mit lüsternen Blicken. Emily hält all das nicht mehr aus, doch...more Beschreibung:
Als ihre Mutter bei der Geburt ihres Bruders stirbst, bricht für Emily eine Welt zusammen.
Sie isst nicht mehr und verlässt so gut wie gar nicht mehr ihr Zimmer - alles scheint für sie plötzlich nichtig zu sein. Doch es wird von ihr erwartet, dass sie die Pflichten ihrer Mutter übernimmt und sich auch dementsprechend so verhält. Sie ist von nun an kein kleines Kind mehr. Ihr Vater betrinkt sich tagtäglich und löchert sie mit lüsternen Blicken. Emily hält all das nicht mehr aus, doch was soll sie tun? Wegrennen? Das kann sie nicht tun. Doch sie plant sich selbsständig zu machen und einen Laden zu eröffnen. Ihre Freundin rät ihr davon jedoch tunlichst ab, hat doch erst soeben eine Vampirschule namens "House of Night" in der Gegend eröffnet..

Eigene Meinung:
Ich muss zunächst sagen, dass ich die House of Night Reihe über alles liebe. Die Bücher haben mich immer in eine andere Welt entführt und mich abschalten lassen.
Neferet konnte ich von Anfang an nicht leiden, ich wusste schon immer, dass sie eine falsche Person ist. Wieso ich das Buch trotzdem gelesen habe? Ganz einfach, ich wollte etwas über ihren Hintergrund erfahren. Erfahren, wie sie zu dem geworden ist, was sie ist und weshalb. Das Buch gibt wirklich große Aufschlüsse darüber. Ich habe das Gefühl, Neferet jetzt besser zu verstehen und kann nachvollziehen, wieso sie einige Dinge in den Büchern tat. Das, was ihr passiert ist, ist schlimm und wünscht man keinem. Während des lesens, als sie beschrieb, wie sehr sie sich von ihrem Vater eingeengt und belästigt fühlt, wurde mir selbst manchmal ganz anders. Teilweise hat es mir die Brust zugeschnürt, weil ich ihren Abschaum nahezu durch das Buch hindurch fühlen konnte. Ich habe quasi mit ihr gelitten und ihr Leid geteilt.Sollte es noch weitere Bänder der HON Reihe geben, so werde, wie schon bei den 2 anderen Kurzgeschichten zu Lenobia und Dragon, einige Dinge besser verstehen können und vielleicht anders denken.
Eines sei noch gesagt, das Buch ist wunderschön aufgemacht. Die Zeichnungen sind wunderbar passend zur Geschichte an sich - großartige Arbeit!

Fazit:
Ein aufschlussreiches Buch über einen Charakter, den ich vorher sogar nicht leiden konnte, der mir aber jetzt, nun wie soll ich es ausdrücken.. logischer erscheint?
Alle, die mehr über Neferet wissen und erfahren möchten, wie sie zu der Person geworden ist, die sie in der Schule verkörpert, sollten das Buch unbedingt lesen! (less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviews

[audio review] This latest HON novella tells the story of Emily Wheiler, the girl who will one day be Neferet. Everything changes for Emily when her mother dies. Trying to take on her mother's duties isn't the easiest and neither is dealing with her cruel father. She eventually is Marked and is accepted at the House of Night in Chicago. The revenge she sets out to enact will ultimately put her on a dangerous path.

I'm sure this goes for other readers of the series... but Neferet is not my favorit...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 07, 2013 Brittney Porterfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really like this novella. I have read a majority of The House of Night series and enjoyed them. I did loose interest after the ninth one I think,anyway, I digress. However, I do love P.C. Cast as an author. This book was an intriguing tale of a time when men ruled the universe, and their wives and daughters were seen as property rather than people. I thought the way she painted a picture of how women were treated helped me to sympathize with Emily. I became completely lost in this story and ha...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of this book. I feel like the authors are merely writing these novellas in an attempt to make more money. The main series should have ended many books ago. It's just dragging on and on with random plot fillers. This book, which tells the background story of Neferet, was mediocre at best. *SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT* To some degree, we already knew that Neferet's father had raped her, because it was implied in the main series. I didn't feel that this novella was n...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must say first off that PC Cast has been my favourite author for a long long very long time. So anything Ms Cast writes is a automatic buy for me. I find that with the House of Night series it is definitely aimed at Young Adult, and being I don't really fall into that age category anymore I am finding it hard to stick with the series. Enter Neferet's Curse, I understand the plot of the book was aimed to create sympathy for Neferet and explain why she is now evil. I found I did indeed feel symp...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Tyler marked it as to-read

Shelves: must-read

In general, I hate this series. I (so foolishly) adored it back in my freshman year of high school. Then, as the series continued, I realized that this HoN series really is terrible. Awful, just awful. I vowed to never pick up another book of PC and Kristin's work.

However.

I am always interested in backstories, and Neferet's is probably the most promising of them all. I'm always interested in how villians become actually become the villian that they are, and this book will be no exception. I do...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: house-of-night, kindle-books, own

For just a moment I totally forgot this sad mistreated little girl, Emily was Neferet. I fell in love with Emily, I felt for her, I wanted to save her myself. No person should be made to feel as she did. Especially in those day, a mere girl of 16 was utterly helpless. In swoops her knight in shining armor to ride her off into the sunset, only to befall the neglect and abuse all over again. Then swoops in Neferet, and we are back to the truely evil woman we all love to hate. While I understand an...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Cindylou rated it 5 of 5 stars

so differ than I had imagined her story. I thought it was sad but a really good read and background for her. only took me a matter of hours to read as I couldn't wait to hear of her revenge.

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Mar 15, 2013 Acorral rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Apr 05, 2013 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I loved reading about Neferet before she was evil. She was just a normal 15 year old girl that lost her mother during childbirth to her premature stillbirth brother. Her father handles his grief in alcohol and has Emily step up to fill her dead mothers place. Emily has her mother Alice eyes and looks, many times her father calls her by her mothers name.
Emily looks for ways to escape her father lecherous looks. She thinks she has found that escape in Arthor. Nope she is raped tossed aside by the...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Mandie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-book-challenge, supernatural, vampire, own

This is the first for the novellas I have had a chance to read, and I must say I am glad I have. Since the beginning of the series I have wanted some insight into Neferet's past, as I am sure everyone else did. I was not dissapointed. Some parts were tough to read through for obvious reasons but Kristin and P.C. Cast wrote the story in a superb manner. They got through a rough spot without giving away every gory detail- which would make it unreadable I think, especially by the younger readers wh...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: march-2013-tbr-challenge

Neferet's Curse is a novella in the House of Night series.

This book was the dark story of a girl named Emily. As the story begins her mother dies and she is forced to become the woman of the house. Her father is controlling.

This book wasn't an enjoyable read. But more than that I just don't feel any connection between Emily and Neferet. These novellas are supposed to give us insight into various characters in the House of Night series. Emily seemed like a nice enough girl and I don't really feel...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Jenea Whittington rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

Wow, you ever wonder why Neferet became they way she is? This definitely tells you why. Her story was beyond emotional and heart wrenching. Life growing up for her was hard and she pushed through some horrific things. One’s that most people don’t ever recover from, but it is what made her the callous, malicious leader she is. There were some times I found myself wincing at the events that took place, but now I completely understand her. Betrayal by someone who is supposed to protect you is the u...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Yvette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-books

I loved reading Neferet's story. I loved how she felt connected to the white bull even before she knew what it symbolized. I love how she didn't think she was crazy or losing it or evil for her thoughts and actions and yet she manipulated and used her "open robe" to her advantage when it suited her. She was given a raw deal from an early age and she still hasn't made peace with it or with her wrongdoings. I don't feel this book was as great as the HoN books simply because it's more historical an...more

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May 19, 2013 Youngreader86 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hello,this is youngreader86 bringing you another book review on "Nefret's curse"!

Setting:The setting takes place in the year of 1983,the white-city,Chicago.The setting was very old fashioned and I enjoyed reading a lot about the year of 1983.There are many details about the small town and all the different people in it is just overwhelming.But my most favorite part about the setting is the fountain where Emily escapes too almost every night.

Characters:Our main character is beautiful Emily Wheile...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Gabriella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire

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Feb 25, 2013 DeAnna (Mommy's Reading Break) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I started reading the House of Night series in December of 2009, very shortly after reading Twilight. I hadn't done a lot of reading in years and wasn't sure what I'd like, so after loving Twilight, I decided to try out another vampire series. I've really enjoyed the series as a whole, and was very interested in the concept of novellas. Actually, I believe the House of Night novellas were my first intro to novellas within series.

As anyone who has read my previous reviews should know, I am a suck...more I started reading the House of Night series in December of 2009, very shortly after reading Twilight. I hadn't done a lot of reading in years and wasn't sure what I'd like, so after loving Twilight, I decided to try out another vampire series. I've really enjoyed the series as a whole, and was very interested in the concept of novellas. Actually, I believe the House of Night novellas were my first intro to novellas within series.

As anyone who has read my previous reviews should know, I am a sucker for back story. I love having more information on books that I enjoy. However, I am not a fan of historical fiction. It's just not my thing. Unfortunately, that seems to be what the House of Night novellas seem to tend towards. I actually enjoyed Dragon's Oath, but I found myself struggling to get through Lenobia's Vow.

I was very excited for Neferet's Curse. Neferet is the villain that you love to hate. (Though, honestly, after 10 books, I'm kind of sick of her. I feel like she should have been defeated 5 books ago!) I was curious to find out how Neferet could have become so evil. However, I was very disappointed with this story.

At the beginning, Neferet, or as she was known before being Marked, Emily Wheiler, is a 15-year-old girl who has just watched her mother die after giving birth to Emily's stillborn baby brother, and her father is already looking at her strangely and making her very uncomfortable. I initially felt really bad for Emily. Her father is a drunk, and he "burns her with his eyes". Emily's father expects her to take her mother's place and become the Lady of Wheiler House. At first she is hesitant, but eventually, she grows into the role.

As I said, I initally felt really sorry for Emily. However, as the story progressed, I just found her to be manipulative and cold. Yes, her father is horrible, but until very near the end of the novella, he doesn't seem as bad as she makes him out to be, and yet, there is already something very unsettling about the way Emily's mind works. Once she's Marked, I just feel like her fate is sealed. She was an unpleasant person to begin with, and she became more and more unpleasant as the story progressed. Honestly, I was surprised it took her so long to become truly evil!

Aside from the fact that Neferet/Emily was so unlikable, I found that most of the story was just boring. It was written as diary entries, but I felt like almost nothing happened for the first half of the book. There were a couple of scenes that had me raising an eyebrow, but overall, it was just a very slow-moving story, and I was bored.

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Feb 22, 2013 Emily Ellison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fav-authors-new-books-due-out

This is a great novella. I really love the House of Night and have read all of the books. I liked the other two novellas (Dragon's Oath & Lenobia's Vow), but I think this was the best so far! You have an idea of what Emily Wheiler faces from the tidbits you get from the House of Night books, but it is nothing like this. There is sadness and a little hope in it. By the end you feel bad for Neferet and you understand her a little more. While you do not condone the way she handles her situation...more This is a great novella. I really love the House of Night and have read all of the books. I liked the other two novellas (Dragon's Oath & Lenobia's Vow), but I think this was the best so far! You have an idea of what Emily Wheiler faces from the tidbits you get from the House of Night books, but it is nothing like this. There is sadness and a little hope in it. By the end you feel bad for Neferet and you understand her a little more. While you do not condone the way she handles her situation, you understand what made her the way she is. It helps to put into perspective her relationship with Kalona and her replusion for men. I wish we would have more on what happened after she turned into a vampyre. I would like to have read about Neferet's early days before all the evil set in. I was happy with what I got though. The tale that is told is very sad. You feel horrible for Emily and her situation. Cast does a great job of making you feel almost like you were in the story. You can almost smell her father's alcohol breath and sweat. You go with Emily through a major transformation. I thought Camille or Aurthur would be helpful to Emily and her prediciment, but you learn she is truly on her own. No wonder she does things the way she does in the House of Night books! Some other things had to have happened between the first trauma as Emily and the Neferet we love to hate at todays HON. The whole time I was rooting for Neferet to become a vampyre even though I obviously knew that was what was going happen considering she is a main charcter over 120 years later. You can almost put into perspective that around this time (give or take a few years) Lenobia was crossing the water with a boat full of horses, an evil guy, and Martin. While at the same time Dragon (or Bryan) was just becoming a vampyre himself and meeting a beautiful young professor (Anastasia). They are all happening around the same time and these become some of the main chacters and the professors at the House of Night with Zoey and the other students. This is some serious awesome writing. To keep all of the details straight, while adding to the plot after each novel and novella, you have to wonder how the Cast girls do it! I have never found a series that I loved this deeply that has so many books in the series! Usually most authors stop after three or four books, but there is too much to tell about Zoey and her crew to stop at three or four. I am not even sure if twenty would be enough. (less)

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About P.C. Cast

P.C. Cast was born in the Midwestern United States, 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. With her tour in the USAF completed, she taught high school for 15 years before retirin...more

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Neferet's Curse (House of Night Novellas #3)

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