Chosen (House of Night, #3)

by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

book data

4,977 ratings, 4.05 average rating, 581 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		40%
4		32%
3		19%
2		5%
1		1%

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published

March 4th 2008 by St. Martin's Griffin

binding

Paperback, 320 pages

setting

The United States

isbn

0312360304 (isbn13: 9780312360306)

description

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear ...more

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12/30/08

Cari rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I have to say I became addicted to these books when I started them (and I had nothing to do over the past few days,) but now they're really starting to irritate me. I have started the fourth book but put it down because I can't just stand the horrid writing anymore. The author is extremely repetitive, starting with her introduction to the books. She thinks random people would start reading at the 3rd book without reading the previous ones, and in the process of her 'introductions' she pisses her...more I have to say I became addicted to these books when I started them (and I had nothing to do over the past few days,) but now they're really starting to irritate me. I have started the fourth book but put it down because I can't just stand the horrid writing anymore. The author is extremely repetitive, starting with her introduction to the books. She thinks random people would start reading at the 3rd book without reading the previous ones, and in the process of her 'introductions' she pisses her actual readers off. I feel like throwing up, (seriously) every time I read the Twins talking. It's like this author is starved of ideas for their dialogue. They, Damien, Jack, Zoey have all failed to develop in the slightest. Their banter is really getting on my nerves.

I've read other reviews on this site and many are saying the same thing. Why not try some different dialogue for a change? Recognize that your readers, since they've been reading a book with the 'F' word in it and sexual content, they aren't little children who can't take big vocabulary words and who have to have repetition thrown at them, as well as stupid pop culture references every few seconds.

Zoey, the main character, could use a bit of maturing. It doesn't help that the first three books progress over the time span of only a few months and she is still a freshman (third year former) in her school. Since she has such wonderful powers you would think she would learn a bit of responsibility and sense. As for her three boyfriends, you would think she would have a bit of sense and compassion to not cheat around. But noo, hormones took over. This did add some much needed conflict to the story, but the whole concept was just 'ugh' since she was fooling around with three guys at once. (great message for little girls there!)

The characters I have to compliment are Stevie J, Aphrodite, and Narafet.They have developed and Stevie J's change into an undead creature was interesting, as well as Aphrodite's character development.

A good thing about this series (possibly the only reason I kept on reading) is the action. It happens too fast in places, but the whole concept of the Priestess, blood drinking/imprinting, etc is very good. I also enjoyed many of the action scenes, but as the books went on they became less and less. It's a shame the good in this book is overridden by the bad writing and characterization as well as the author's laziness in thinking up new plots and character development. I'll keep on reading them, but I won't stop wishing that there was an improvement. (less)

Like this review? yes (11 people liked it)

4 comments

11/28/08

Jackie rated it:

bookshelves: 5-star, pleasure-reading, series, vamps-and-other-paranormal-pleasure, ya

Read in November, 2008

This series just keeps getting better and better. The Casts are fearless about adding new dimensions to their beloved characters. I admire the creativity of their world--it's extremely well thought out and cohesive while blazing new paths in the vampiric realm. I really can't praise this series enough.

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

3 comments

05/01/08

Brother Odd rated it:

This book has the worst grammar of any published novel I have ever read. Whoever edited this should be ashamed. Besides that, the authors do write a story that is fairly interesting. Authors are pretty good, but the editors can't possibly speak English.

Down points of the novel are that every guy is described as being exactly the same. They're all perfectly gorgeous without a flaw or even different personalities. The homosexual characters are flat stereotypes. And, having a young adul...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

3 comments

10/10/08

Kim rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, young-adult

Read in October, 2008

This third installment of the House of Night series starts to feel a little preachy in its declaration of the heroine's personal values and opinions: I have, after all, listened to the exact same sentiments for three freaking books now. For much the same reason---that is, my experience of the previous two books---my tolerance for the heroine's idiotic decisions and lovelorn melodrama began to wear thin.

Yes, I know you're a teenager, Zoey, and yes, I know the plot requires some stupid...more

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04/11/09

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 1742140874)

bookshelves: 2009, american-lit, fantasy, twenty-first-century, vamps-and-other-mythical-beasts

Read in April, 2009

I had nice things to say about the first two books. I excused the racist comments. I tolerated the stereotypical characters (it's cool to have a gay friend now, but don't make him actually sexual in any way). I mocked the terrible grammar, fake words, and poor editing, but I didn't distain it. The author was trying to create an authentic narrative voice of a scared, confused, and insecure teenage girl. Lots of things about being sixteen result in stupidity (lots of things about being thirty-some...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

04/04/09

Abigail rated it:

bookshelves: 2009

Okay let me just start by listing all the things that made this book terrible. Terrible writing. It repeated things we already knew over and over and over and over again. The gay boy thing? Taken way too far and i was not amused. And let me just say that i have never hated a main character as much as i hate Zoey. Jesus, what makes her so damn attractive that not one boy/man/guy whatever can stay away from her? NOTHING! SHE HAS THE PERSONALITY OF A WET MOP! so why does everyone want in her pants?...more

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11/21/08

Tara rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I just read a review of this book that says it has the worst grammar of any book ever published and that the editors should be ashamed.

That is probably the real reason I continue to read this series. I would like to see how much worse it can get. I never thought I would read a more poorly written story than Jean Auel's The Shelters Of Stone, which read like a NaNoWriMo novel that never got fleshed out. But I was wrong. This series is full of annoying characters, half-baked plot idea...more

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10/16/08

Julie rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, paranormal, young-adult

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Julie by: Shannon
recommends it for: vampire fans, teens

Book 3 of the House of Night series is another fun read. I have to say, I could not believe some of the choices Zoey was making—so obviously idiotic at times—but I was saved from actually starting to dislike her by how obvious it was that she knew she was being an idiot. ("I think I'm turning into a ho.")

She's also a very typical teenage girl, despite all her special abilities and extra responsibilities. The actions she takes are fairly predictable, and you can just see tha...more

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04/03/08

Shannon rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, paranormal, romance, vampires, ya

Read in June, 2008

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

While I do enjoy these books, I have some quibbles with them, but first, plot!

In brief, the series is narrated by Zoey Redbird, half-Cherokee vampyre fledgling who's only been at the House of Night in Tulsa for about two months, but who has already demonstrated that she's powerful and a favourite of their goddess, Nyx. She's the only one at the House who manifests all five elemental powes - air, fire, water, earth and spirit - and her body is already decorated in beautiful tattoos, ...more

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7 comments

11/20/07

Christiana rated it:

bookshelves: angsty, vamps

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

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

1 comment

01/02/09

Erika rated it:

Read in January, 2009

recommended to Erika by: Vampire novel lists
recommends it for: nobody

I honestly tried reading these books since I absolutely love vampire novels. But this is incredibly and thoroughly horrible. Zoey and the rest are so irritating. The whatevah's and totally's are distracting. Zoey comes across as selfish in so many places, which has made me lose my respect for her as a character along with another, and more important aspect. In one passage, she describes Stevie's attire when she finally sees her again in an alley, "a long, nastily stained black trench coat l...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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02/28/08

Amanda rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal-romance

O MY EFFING GOSH! HOW STUPID CAN ONE PERSON BE? I WANTED TO STRANGLE SOME SENSE INTO HER!...*WARNING...CONTAINS SPOILERS...I MEAN A LOT OF SPOILERS*****...first she cheats on her BOYFRIENDS..thats right...as in more than one boyfriend...then (i sorta agree on this one)..she doesn't tell her friends about her not so dead friend because she did not want to risk the teachers finding out by reading their minds(cause they cant read hers)...then she goes and does the dirty deed with a teacher she thou...more

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03/01/09

Kristyn rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Okay, I do agree the grammar is horrible, as well as the dialogue, and the way P.C. Cast always repeats things that her regular readers already know. Like when she keeps repeating how "The cats choose the fledgling," like seriously shut the freak up already! I also have some issues about what happened with the Zoey charater and Loren Blake. I mean, I just find it sickening that Zoey is supposed to be this strong, smart, independant young woman, yet, she's not intellegent enough to not ...more

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06/05/09

Amanda rated it:

Read in June, 2009

When I started reading this series I found the characters refreshing and entertaining. I recommended this book to all of my friends, especially those who enjoy vampire and/or young adult novels. However, after finishing with the third installment I find myself fervently wishing that no one took my reading advice seriously when it comes to this series as I feel that will condemn me to "worst taste in books ever" status.
My first complaint would be that this is possibly one of the...more When I started reading this series I found the characters refreshing and entertaining. I recommended this book to all of my friends, especially those who enjoy vampire and/or young adult novels. However, after finishing with the third installment I find myself fervently wishing that no one took my reading advice seriously when it comes to this series as I feel that will condemn me to "worst taste in books ever" status.
My first complaint would be that this is possibly one of the most poorly edited books I have ever read. I finally couldn't help myself and had to go through with a pencil and circle all the grammar and spelling mistakes that are abundant throughout the book.
As for the content, I didn't think I could go from liking a main character to absolutely hating her like I have with this book. Zoey's selfishness/whining/overall bad personality traits made me despise her. Just because she acknowledges that she is a slut/bad friend but continues to make bad decisions does not make here likable or forgivable. I didn't think it was possible for an author to create a character's internal monologue to be more annoying and self-pitying than the likes of Bella Swan's from Twilight but then P.C and Kristen Cast decide to rise up and meet the challenge.
Clearly the author's have run out of material so they recycled half of the previous book and then filled in the other half with what I assume was meant to be an interesting plot. The characters are now shallow and have become completely stereotypical (ex: the gay best friend isn't really girlie but don't get him started talking about shopping). I also thought that this book went from alluding to some undercurrents of religious intolerance to all out declaring war on religion which I didn't feel was necessary. I also felt the author's are conflicted with what message they are trying to convey (ex: yay! she finally got rid of that pesky virginity but on the other hand she had only been used for sex and information and discarded which is exactly why you shouldn't have sex; sometimes Zoey doesn't like to curse because its not attractive so she uses words like "poo" or "bullpoo" and other times she comes right out with a well delivered f**k).
I found myself hoping for Zoey's demise and hoping her friends would not take her back therefore finding herself miserable and an outcast; possibly getting kicked out of the House of Night and ending this series and the reader's misery. Overall, I thought it was "bullpoo"(less)

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05/25/09

Danell rated it:

bookshelves: sci-fi-fantasy, series, young-adult

Read in May, 2009

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

I am continually discouraged by this series... at first glance, it has a fresh new take on vampires and a somewhat solid plot that includes some intrigue and some action. However, the writing is horrid and very repetitive (I understand this at the beginning of a series book to refresh readers on what has happened, but it should be done in the first 20 pages, not the entire book). Plus, it's a bit preachy on social issues (ex: at one point Zoey and her friends are joking around with the gay vamp ...more

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05/19/09

Debbie rated it:

I had a really, really hard time getting through this book. In fact, after the first 1/4 of it I was tempted to put it down and stop reading. This series as a whole so far has been filled with ups and downs. Book 1 was just ok to me and book 2 was a lot better. I will say that the last 40 or so pages of Chosen was great and made me glad I kept reading and now I am kicking myself for having left book 4, Untamed, at home. Zoey’s boyfriend problems are pretty much her own fault and while she ...more

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06/16/09

Summer rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal, young-adult

I'm surprised that I think I liked this book more than the first two.

There were still a few things that bothered me though, like the main character referring to herself as a 'ho' a few times. Her romantic interests grow (as all teenagers do) and I don't see that as a negative thing. Certainly not as negative as using the author using the word 'ho'. Yes there was one instance where she did sort of step over the line but I also just have a problem with that word in general anyways. An...more

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12/02/08

Sheena rated it:

bookshelves: vampires, young-adult

Read in December, 2008

Goddess blessed vampire fledgling Zoey and her friends must face treachery and hate crimes while still trying to get good grades (and date) at the House of Night, a vampire finishing school. In this episode Zoey (Z to her close friends) tries to save her undead best friend from a fate worse than death, manage three boyfriends who all want something different from her, and keep the school's evil High Priestess from figuring out her plans.

This segment felt more like a long chapter tha...more

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11/17/08

Drea rated it:

bookshelves: november-2008

Read in November, 2008

I am steadily making my way through the books in the series so far am really enjoying them. I have to say I was disappointed with a number of the decisions she made in this book, but I can remember being young and insecure and enjoying the feeling when others (boys) showed attention to me and I know that I made some stupid choices way back when myself so I can't and don't totally judge her badly, just cringe at the mistakes and think "owww, she's going to regret that." One thing I do...more

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03/15/09

Ria Lize~ added it

Read in March, 2009

I must say, I liked this book out of all 3. Why? I was just looking forward to many things from the last book, I couldn't put it down. Well, I did once, but hey, well, it was so annoying and I couldn't stand it.

I was expecting Neferet evil-ness at the start of the book, it was kinda disappointing it didn't come until later. But hey, the later part was the best evil way to do it.

To be frank, I was so annoyed at Zoey in this book. She's crazy. How could she do that to Erik...more I must say, I liked this book out of all 3. Why? I was just looking forward to many things from the last book, I couldn't put it down. Well, I did once, but hey, well, it was so annoying and I couldn't stand it.

I was expecting Neferet evil-ness at the start of the book, it was kinda disappointing it didn't come until later. But hey, the later part was the best evil way to do it.

To be frank, I was so annoyed at Zoey in this book. She's crazy. How could she do that to Erik?!
I had to smile when Erik got angry at her- though I didn't like the way he told the twins and everything.. But his position is hard too.

Loren- I always had this gut feeling he isn't trusted, especially since the police officer person asked for his name in book 2. Hard to say whether he really likes Zoey, although he already said all that to Neferet. Why did he run after Zoey then? But then again, he always did that before, remember? He always stalked Zoey so she doesn't think he doesn't love her, because it's part of his wicked plan. I wished he was alive to explain himself, though.

Heath- can't say anything about him, but please. Get out of the picture. Things are complicated enough.

Aphrodite- an "oh-my-god-WHY?!" was my response to what happened to her. I mean, I began to like Aphrodite in the second book, mainly because she and Zoey knew things, that the others didn't. It was their special connection, and through that, (though aphrodite would hate to admit), they became friends. This book, I definitely became more fond of her. Until the end. Oh, I am so going to miss how she hung out with Zoey about Stevie Rae, and they were SPECIAL. The really powerful ones Neferet won't know if they're lying. Man , I need the 5th book.]
Stevie rae- can't say how glad I am about the ending. But Aphrodite. I like her character so please give me the 5th book. haha...

Btw, finished this book about 12:30 am...and i had school the next day.

As for the plot repetition, hey, a lot of books do that, and yes, they're annoying.

For the overall writing, not the very best and not fully polished, but interesting in many ways. I just realized how many bad reviews there are. I want a good story, and I've got this book to read. Hey, I'm not complaining. ^^(less)

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