House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

So yeah...not sure what to say about these books.

They're immature, yet sexual. They're fun, yet cheesy.

This is another love or hate series. It has just as many haters as it does lovers. I don't hate the series, but I do dislike some of the books, while there a few I like okay. They're quick and fun reads, but tend to frustrate me a lot. If I had picked these books up after reading so many other series that were much better, I never would have made it past the first book.

The first 4 books I got dirt cheap back when I first started reading again and I didn't have much to compare them to, so I read them and they were fun at the time. As the series continued on, I started to get more and more disenchanted.

Zoey ties Luce from Fallen as one of my least favorite female characters in a book series. The only redeeming thing about this series anymore are the "different" characters like Stevie Ray and Aphrodite. I also like Kalona (the bad guy) and Rephaim (the bird) because they're not the "stereotypical dreamy guys."

If you haven't read these books, I would honestly feel strange recommending them because there are so many other, better series out there. I'll keep reading though because I'm already so far in that I want to know how it all turns out.

[Carina]

I gave up after finishing book 3. Yup, that's right, I don't like to give up on series, but this series is just not what I had expected.

[Jean Valjean (OG 2010)]

I started to read it, but the racist undertones/stereotyping really turned me off, you know?

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Kramisha was one of the worst for stereotypes. I still have a hard time reading her voice.

[Jean Valjean (OG 2010)]

omfg. YES. That shit killed me. I started it, and got like six books in or something and I wanna know what happens, you know? I feel tricked. LOL. Like, the author gets you hooked and then the author slacks off, but you still hold out hope that it's gonna get better. -facepalm-

[N.B.]

I hate those books. Zoe's a slut, the twins have to be the most irritating and pointless characters ever created and the style just grates on my nerves.

[Cambria]

Tell us how you really feel Nadia. LOL!!!
ha ha
I have all these books and I pretty much feel like all of you. I keep wondering when the series will end, its time for it to. But the final book makes it seem like things are starting over again. I don't know if I have the energy for that.

Bunny- I totally know what you mean. I have read them all because I wanted to know what happens. I'll admit i got involved in Stevie Rae's story and was just reading for that. Zoe gets on my nerves and it irritates me how she can't just pick a man. it makes me feel bad for the guys. Don't they deserve better?

[N.B.]

Sorry. I did come on a bit strong. I'm glad someone else feels about Zoe as I did. A lot of paranormal series seem to go on for too long.

[Samantha]

I stopped reading this series because of the character that kept trying out 'big words' on his friends. I don't think teens would appreciate the author's not so cleverly hidden attempt to give them a vocabulary lesson.

[Amy]

Wow... you all are pretty harsh on this series! Yeah, didn't love the whole guy thing with Zoe. Yeah, the "twins" sort of work my nerves, but I'm definitely still interested in where the storyline is going. Now that Zoe has settled down on the guy front maybe we can concentrate on that.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Haha, yeah these books tend to bring out some strong opinions. I'm still reading the series because I hate to quit out on something I'm this far into.

The twins, ugh. Of all the people who had to get killed off in the last book, I would rather it have been one of them so we could have kept the other person. :) I liked him.

[Nichole ~Bookaholic~]

I don't love it and I don't hate it....I have read the first two and figure I will work my way through slowly..So far Stevie Ray is my favorite....my mom on the other hand loves this series....she is a very slow reader but went through the first 5 in like two weeks (usually takes her a week or two for one book)

[Hillary]

I, like Stacia, picked up the first 4 maybe 5 when I first started to read again.

These books are like a train wreck, a really bad car wreck on the interstate...so bad...yet if you are one of those people like me, who just for NOTHING cannot not know how something ends, stop in the middle of a series.

I have read so many more series that are SO much better, and I know I should stop, but curiosity kills!

[Leea]

I only read the first book and it was okay but for me there are so many great book out there I just did not feel like I needed to continue with the series.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I hear you Leea. That's pretty much what I tell people. If you haven't read the book, or if you've only read one book, let it go. There really are better series out there in this genre.

For those of us who are already invested in the series, I will say that this most recent book was actually much improved. I actually had a lot of fun while reading it.

Even with all of my bitching and complaining, I was able to notice that a lot of the previous offenses (the IBS, the constant shopping, the twinspeak) have been toned down in this book by a lot. Some of it was still there, but I think that there was no way to completely cut it out without people being confused as to what series they were reading. At least the authors have reigned it in quite a bit though, I only rolled my eyes maybe 3 or 4 times instead of like a hundred or something, haha.

I'm enjoying Rephaim, Kalona, and Aurox's stories right now.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Leea wrote: "I only read the first book and it was okay but for me there are so many great book out there I just did not feel like I needed to continue with the series."

Sometimes I wish I could have stopped at the first book. I tried to quit around book 6, but Stevie Rae's story sucked me in. B&B romances are like catnip too me.

It's like cotton candy, you love it at first. Then you eat much you get a stomache ache. Then once you feel better your begging for more!!

[Tara]

i agree with everyone else. i got books 1-4 for christmas from a friend and i got hooked. i feel like a lot of the books could be combined. like the last book, it did NOTHING!!!! didnt move the story along or anything which was WAY annoying, however the ending of the book sucked me right back in!!! ugh!

[Cambria]

Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Leea wrote: "I only read the first book and it was okay but for me there are so many great book out there I just did not feel like I needed to continue with the series."

Sometimes I wish I could h..."

i totally agree! If Stevie rae hadn't gotten her own story line I probably would have kept reading. Zoey really started to get on my nerves. lol.
Its definitely one of those series when I think a great ending to the series would be good. Sometimes it feels like they are gragging it out.

[Hillary]

Well holy shit. Call me surprised. Destined has slightly redeemed this series for me. I couldn't agree with Stacia more. LOVING Rephiam, Kalona, and Aurox's stories right now. I am also so glad of something that has happened with the "Twins." SO happy for that to happen.

[Carina]

Well since I'm not really invested in the series I guess I should quit now before I read anymore. Not that I had planned on reading book 4 anytime soon...but it just feels like its not worth it.
Its so weird cause I really like PC Cast's Goddess Summoning series.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Rephiam has been the best character since he entered!! Hallor!! I'm also beyond digging (view spoiler)[Lenobia's romance with the cowboy. (hide spoiler)] If they kill her off I'm going to stop.

Zoey really started to annoy me too. Awakened she wasn't so bad--and Destined--I just feel like she lost the thunder and I'm glad there's other characters to pick up the story.

They are sooooooo milky this up. No offence to the authors, but these books are so small it should not take that long to write. Especially since most of the dialogue involves fighting about clothes, making pop culture references, and using words in weird ways that the authors think are cool. I don't swear but I don't use bullpoopie as a sub, it's not even a good filler!! Or brown pop, really??? (I seriously hope people do not think like some of these characters do.)

No, really. I love this series. ^_-

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Love/Hate?

[Carina]

LMAO!

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

You're feeling me Amy!!

[Diane]

I agree with Shera. If I see "bullpoopie" too many more times I'm gonna "vomit til I can't vomit again til I die"!!!!! I think it's taking an awful long time to get through 1 yr of high school too. Are there more than 24 hours in a day at the HON or what. It seems like alot happens in a day there. Maybe it's the "brown pop". But I keep buying the books so I guess I'm hooked. I'm going broke buying these LITTLE books but hooked.

[Ashley]

I was completely hooked until I think book 5. Now I read them only if I can't read anything else, or if it fits into the PNR Group Challenge.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Just looked to see when the next one comes out . . . 1 whole year. HOnestly it can not take them that long to write and edit this stuff. *sigh* I've been thinking about stopping until all the books are out. Waiting for two books to come out at a time is not workinng.

Yeah, they pack a lot into a few days. Then they talk about going to concerts and stuff and I'm like, "When exactly did they do that!!!"

[Hillary]

I swear in this last book if I had to see "bullpoopie" or "gihugic"(<--really?) one more time I was gonna punch cute furry things like cats, and dogs. It was seriously close. Why can't they leave it at an exclamation of "BULL!" instead? WHY?

And I don't understand how it can possibly take them a year to complete a book in this series...trying to draw it out much? >.<

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

I know, I"m starting to blank out on things they're taking soooooo long.

[Hillary]

It took me at least 20 pages to remember WHO Aurox was, and then I felt like slapping my forehead.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

I didn't have an issue with that, I saved Awakened so I could read it with Destined. I had an issue with Burned. I could remember who Death was and Zoey's trip to the other world. That book was so boring except for Stevie Rae's story.

[Ashley]

Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Just looked to see when the next one comes out . . . 1 whole year. HOnestly it can not take them that long to write and edit this stuff. *sigh* I've been thinking about stopping until all the bo..."

Maybe they are going to take longer in an effort to make the book better

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Could be. Though it would be really wierd if they suddenly changed the style of it.

Look it me I'm stuck in a viscious circle. They should just keep doing what they're doing. I obviously coming crawling back no matter what!

[Diane]

I'm holding off on reading Destined because I'll forget what happened in this one before the next one comes out. I do know a few people who aren't reading these anymore because they just lost interest. I'm really not as into HON as much as I was either. PC & Kristin could be cutting their own throats dragging it out so much.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

It's the dragging out thing that's killing this series out for me. There's not much meat to these books in the writing, plot, and page count.

I've fantasized about stopping, but then addiction hits.

[Mariya]

Haha! So what book did you guys drop the series at? I think I was killing myself reading these books! LOL

I wanted and prayed the books would get better and HON was one of the first books I have ever read so I didn't know any better. Hahaha! But I honestly think the series in crap now. UGH.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Sigh...I'm still going. I know I should stop because the books are horribly cheesy, but I can't stop now being so far into the series.

It's like a bad guilty pleasure. I want to quit, but can't seem to.

Even though the series needs to wrap it up in a big way, I thought the two most recent books were a little bit of an improvement over how bad it had gotten (repeating some of what I said already in post 16, sorry). Especially because there was less Zoey and annoying slang/twinspeak, and more of the interesting characters like Rephaim, Kalona and Aurox / (view spoiler)[Heath (hide spoiler)].

I think the authors must have got tired of hearing so much negative feedback about the silly behaviors and slang, so they pulled it back a bit in the two most recent books.

Although, Neferet has just turned into one freaky, crazy, psycho. Her naked bull-riding or whatever that was is just...odd.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Yeah, the plot is picking up in a good way. I love that the twins are becoming there own people.

The whole naked bull thing was creepy. And the fact that she may be having a little bow-chic-a-snort on the side is even creepier.

[Diane]

I haven't even read Destiny yet. I got so tired of waiting that when it came I pushed it off to the side & left it. At least I won't have to wait as long for the next one. Is there a next one?

[Hillary]

Yes there is a next one, and a novella about Lenobia before it.

Neferet is a slutbag that has taken pure evil as a consort and in bull form...(gag)

Just sayin'

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

Diane I'd wait for the 2012 fall book to come out.

[Diane]

If they could just get to a higher former it would be an improvement. Oh well, I'm addicted.

[Gina's]

I feel that the conflict never ends, it gets longer and longer with each book.

The best book for me was Marked and Betrayed :)

Team Stark!

[Casey]

I was glad to hear that the next book is supposed to be the last! I liked this series but it's been going downhill.

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

I'm wondering how everything is going to wrap up.

[Casey]

Me too!

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I read the last book. Thoughts : (view spoiler)[It was a fitting ending, I think. Kalona's death was too convenient for him to be reunited with Nyx though and I hated the little montages where they could see him in the afterlife. It was too convenient. I don't know why Nyx didn't just forgive him and take him back without the whole death scene. Heath/Aurox made sense more than Kalona. Heath needed to move on through death - Kalona could have just gone home.

But overall, it was not a bad ending. Everyone else's stories felt rushed in that one book because so much time was spent on Neferet, but at least there weren't any huge wtf? moments. (hide spoiler)]

The series had so many flaws, but for all of my complaining about silliness (bullpoopie/raging diarrhea, etc.) and ridiculous (offensive to many) stereotypes (plus the horrible overuse of the word retard), the actual pacing and adventure of the series kept me reading, for good, bad or worse. The books were eye-rolling to the nth degree, but if they hadn't been somewhat entertaining, I never would have finished the series.

[Casey]

I can't wait to read the last and I agree with you completely. They annoyed me a ton and yet I love them...
NOT reading your spoiler lol

[Kriselda]

I gave up after about 4 or 5 books. there was just so much about them that bugged me. It's been at least a year since I stopped reading them and I STILL cringe when I hear someone say "easy peasy" Gah! I also had a lot of trouble with all the sexual content and attitudes. If I had kids in the age range these books are aimed at, I would NOT want them reading this series

The one thing I really did like was the spiritual content, at least based on what I read in those few books. The vampire ritual was clearly drawn from Wiccan sources. Of course, Wiccan don't experience the manifestations of the elements in the same way - and there's no blood drinking or "refrigerators" - but otherwise they got it pretty much right. I also loved the way that the people of different faiths were able to accept their differences and work together. The scene by the statue of Mary was just beautiful.