Interesting Premise, Dreadful Protagonist–Spoilers – amandapsychedelia –
Throughout this book my one consistent thought was that this could be a phenomenal series with some major edits. There are a lot of reasons for this and many of these reasons are expressed in my review of Marked. I happen to like Betrayed better than Marked. And I think I’ll ramble on a bit about what I liked and didn’t like in the hopes of reaching some conclusion.
The concept of the book is wonderful. I wasn’t exactly impressed when I read ‘vampire finishing school’ for the first time but the Casts have really put a wonderful spin on vampires. And though I do like my traditional folklore, I do appreciate a good spin. And there’s plenty to keep the reader interested and entertained. I know I certainly enjoyed the bomb threat scene.
But sometimes the characters just make me want to hit myself with the book a couple of times. A few are still loaded with potential–I happen to like Aphrodite and Stevie Rae best for exactly this reason. And if their potential remains unharnessed in books to come I’ll have lost all sense of why I even bother reading. Characters are important to me and these are the only two characters that have carried these first two books. I also think that given a little work Damien might deserve his time in the spotlight as well. And Neferet…well, I’ll have to see where the Casts go with Neferet before I really pass judgement.
Who isn’t displaying this promise for blossoming? Zoey and the Twins. And Erik isn’t really doing much for me either. Shaunee and Erin–the ‘Twins’–are just…annoying. I mentioned in my review of Marked that it would not be cute for Shaunee and Erin to be developed as a single person because they’re so much alike. Unfortunately, this seems to be where their characters are going. And their constant use of “Twin this” and “Twin that” is profoundly irritating. The concept of two completely different people being so alike is interesting–but it shouldn’t be the only concept that you work with!
And I just can’t get over how little growth Zoey shows despite the fact that she is the main character. And you want to know why she doesn’t show growth? Because she is already unnaturally perfect. She has more gifts than you can count on one hand. She has three boyfriends. (I’m sorry, a boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend that she still wants to be with, and a teacher she openly flirts with.) And she is moral and honorable and says words like “poopie”.
Speaking of Zoey, seeing things from her point of view really brings down the quality of the books’ writing. She sounds like she’s trying to hard to come across as a normal teenager and not doing too well at it. I mentioned the annoying amplifiers she uses in my previous review–totally, seriously, definitely, completely, etc.–and no, that still hasn’t stopped. And what’s worse is the little parenthetical interjections that Zoey always has to add in. My favorite in this one occurred while she was Googling prestigious high schools. She came across one called Mrs. Porters and couldn’t resist adding: “Really–hee hee–that’s the school’s name.” Sorry Zoey, I’m not seeing the humor.
As far as the story goes, the book is lively and interesting. I was only bothered by a few things within the story itself. The one thing that springs to mind is the random inane chatter between Zoey and Heath while she’s facing off about a dozen members of the undead to rescue him. It was very throwing since most people with common sense would know that such a scene would not be the time or place.
As for the vampires themselves, I love the Paganistic rituals and customs and think that they add flavor to the story. Earth, water, fire, air, and spirit? I love it and can’t wait to read more of it. But the one thing that bothers me: can we please stop with the unwarranted prejudice? The scene where Zoey’s parents visited in the beginning was the only other scene I can think of that threw me from the story. It really just came off as way to make the Christian character seem like an ass. One of the themes in the book is acceptance of others but why can’t the Casts extend this ideal to every denomination of people?
I’m really hoping for this series to be great. I want the stars to keep building with each book. But I don’t see that happening unless a few changes are made.
(Oh, and I have to give due to the cover designer. These books are beautiful.)
Betrayed: A House of Night Novel (House of Night Novels) :
Betrayed, the second installment in the bestselling House of Night series, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.
Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group. Best of all, Zoey’s made some new friends and she finally feels like she belongs–like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. And despite the best efforts of her mother and step-loser John to humiliate her publically during parent visitation, she’s earned the respect of her professors and High Priestess, Neferet.
Then the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night, straining human-vamp tensions in Tulsa to a breaking point. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she finds herself drawn into an intoxicating forbidden flirtation that threatens to distract her from the growing crisis. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Too late, Zoey begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves, and she must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.
Recommend : Michigandebtconsolidation.Buvadone.Com Blurayplayer.Ipacapao.Com
New Moon – Daphne L. Ellis – 
