House of Night Halloween Special!

So for Halloween I have decided that I am going to do something special each year. Considering that I seem to have a certain preference when reading....I love all things supernatural! So In honor of Halloween I will review Novellas and series extras that authors, who I have already reviewed, have recently made. I will do shout outs to all the Indie Authors out there who would like to promote novellas or kindle shorts to post onto here, and if you have suggestions for next year, or maybe sooner if this goes well, let me know!

Overview:
Authors: PC & Kristen Cast

In early 19th century England Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything… until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world…. In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…

But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?

Review:

Overview:

A great journey…

A new love….

A dark secret revealed.

Evreux, France, 1788: Before she is Zoey’s favorite professor and the House of Night’s powerful horse mistress… Lenobia is just a normal 16-year-old girl – with enough problems to last a lifetime. As the illegitimate daughter of a powerful baron, she has never quite belonged, and instead has to watch her spoiled half-sister, Cecile, get anything she wants. As if that’s not enough, her remarkable beauty draws unwanted attention wherever she goes. For once, she would like to just fit in.

But when fate intervenes, Lenobia suddenly finds herself surrounded by other girls, on a ship bound for New Orleans, where they will be married off to the city’s richest Frenchmen. And they’re not alone…. An evil bishop who is skilled in Dark magic makes the same journey. His appetite for lovely young women makes him dangerous – most of all to Lenobia, who caught his eye back in France. So she remains hidden, making secret visits to the ship’s stables, where a handsome young man and his beautiful Percheron horses soon capture her attention.

Will they make it to land before the bishop discovers her true identity and a powerful evil breaks loose? And will Lenobia follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? Find out more about one of your favorite professors in the next heart-thumping House of Night Novella.

Review:

Overview:
Authors: PC & Kristen Cast

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-old Emily Wheiler should be reveling in her youthful beauty and the excitement around her. But her whole life changed when her mother died, leaving her to be the Lady of Wheiler House. Her father, a powerful bank president, is at the center of an important social hub for the booming young city, and he needs Emily to do everything her mother would have – to be a good hostess and make sure the mansion runs smoothly.

As Emily uneasily tries to replace her mother, she also longs for more… for love and a life of her own. When a handsome young man notices her at one of her father’s parties, it seems that her hopes may finally be coming true. Until her father forbids her to see him – or any other man – and starts revealing a darkly violent side that even he can’t understand.

At last, afraid for her life and with nowhere to turn, Emily is Marked by a vampyre and brought to the Chicago House of Night, where she begins a magickal new life that should allow the wounds from her past to heal. But as she gains strength, and a powerful new name, she carries a dark need to wreak vengeance on the man she trusted most.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!

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Marked - House of Night #1 by PC & Kristen Cast

***AGE ADVISEMENT***

FOR AGES 16+

Overview:

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed.  In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change.  Not all of those who are chosen do.  It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.  She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.  But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.  When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Review:
Marked is an imaginative take on vampyres, weaving "old" pagan religious themes throughout and incorporating ancient history into its background. I liked the idea of a society where vampyrism is openly known and accepted, and I liked the School of Night where fledgling vampyres are taken for further training. I loved Zoey's learning to accept herself and step up as a leader at the school, and even the cursing seems realistic. What I didn't like was the obvious prejudice against traditional religion, and the "mini-sermons" we receive early on against drugs, drinking, and oral sex from Zoey's point of view. I liked Zoey's friends but felt that her acceptance into such a tight group so immediately didn't ring true, and I had to wonder at just why Erik, the hot young vampyre, was so attracted so quickly to Zoey. There are also some very lucky coincidences, such as Zoey's Native American grandmother having taught her purification rites which come in very handy. Thankfully these annoyances were overcome by the general storytelling and the excitement of the last half of the book.

Marked is the first in the series and I'll definitely be looking for the next two. I am captured by Zoey's world and want to see how her special spiritualism develops over time. This book also left enough unanswered questions that I'm drawn to find out more. With a caution that this book would probably be better for more mature readers with its incidents of sexual tension and cursing, I can say I'm intrigued enough to recommend this one.


Thanks for listening to my opinion!

Brighid's Quest (Book 2 from Elphame's Choice) - By PC Cast

***SPOILER ALERT*** 

Anyone who hasn't read Elphame's Choice should NOT read this review, this is the second in a series book. 

Overview:
Brighid's Quest continues the story of the New Formorians from Elphame's Choice. After the death of Brenna, Cuchulain took the responsibility of going to the Wastelands to get the hybrid children. However, he has been gone for two months, which worried Elphame very much. To put her friend at peace, Brighid volunteered to travel to the Wastelands to get him. In the meantime, the shaman power that ran in her blood had started to awaken, even if she did not want to follow that path. With the help and guidance from Ciara, the New Formorian's shaman, she learned that it was her destiny to help Cu complete his soul. In the meantime, Brighid had to deal with her mother's efforts to manipulate her as well as her confused feelings for Cu. Unknown to her, her mother had placed into motion with her plans to create war between centaurs and humans. Brighid must race against her brother to drink form Epona's chalice so that she can take her mother's place as High Shaman of Dhianna herd to prevent the war.

Review: 
To tell the truth, I liked this one better than Elphame's Choice, because there's more action with a rush for time and a waging battle. There are way too many ways to give away the ending however so I'm just going to keep it light and say that it was worthy of a YA rating, and it earned four hearts in my book.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!

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Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast

Overview:
Elphame, a satyr, Goddess born to a human mother and a centaur father, has never felt a part of life. She has been woshipped and taken care of to the point no one feels comfortable enough with her to be free to speak to her like a friend. She has always been on a pedestal in the eyes of the people in Partholon.

Elphame decides it is time to strike out on her own. Along with her brother, she travels across the country to restore the long abandoned MacCallan Castle. A century has passed since the terrible Fomorian battle that killed many of Elphame's clansman. While tales of ghosts keep most people away, Elphame feels the pull of the castle and knows deep in her soul she is meant to restore it and claim the castle as her own. She is meant to become The MacCallan, the leader of the clan. Love is something Elphame assumed she would never experience. Who would want to love someone so clearly not human. She loves her strong hoofed legs, but at the same time is aware how they set her apart from everyone around her. She is completely caught off guard when she meets Lochlan, a hybrid Fomorian who claims to be her destiny. But, what are Lochlan's true intentions? Can she trust the well-being of her clan for a chance at love?

This book was a great romance, Anyone who enjoys reading about days when warriors rode horses everywhere and electricity wasn't a thought, or how magic still lived within everyone would love this book. 

This book gets  three hearts, not because of the writing style, or lack of interest or anything like that, but sheerly because of the choice by the editor and publishing company to place this book series as a Young Adult series. There are several scenes in which I, as a mother, wouldn't be comfortable for my children to read at the ages of 14+. I would much rather see this book on the adult romance section of the book store due to the graphic content.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!