Review: Awakened by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Awakened
Authors: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (January 4, 2011)


Description: “My love, speak to me.  Tell me everything.”  Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?”  He didn’t meet her eyes. 

 “Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.”  She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going?  What will happen next?”

 “It is quite simple.  I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma.  There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

My Thoughts: The description has it right. It was a pulse-pounding episode. It begins shortly after the previous volume. Zoe and Stark on on the Isle of Skye recuperating from their injuries. Zoe is very tempted to stay and let someone else deal with the evil that is Neferet. But her conscience and the needs of her friends pulls her back to Tulsa and back to the battle with evil.


Meanwhile, Stevie Rae is trying to come to terms with her new relationship the Rephiam. Parts of the story are told from his point of view too as he is trying to decide if he must still be loyal to his father or if he should choose light and life with Stevie Rae. 


The book was filled with heart-wrenching scenes. The loss of a major character formed a large part of this story. I don't want to spoil anyone's first reading of the story. So I can't say any more. This was a great story. The battle between good and evil rages on. Those on the side of light and life know that love is the greatest gift. And, sometimes, dark can be redeemed. 


Lovers of the series will be very eager to get this one. Recommended to followers of the series and, if you aren't already following it, why not? 


Favorite Quote:

Sgiach didn't say anything, so I took and breath and kept on babbling. "I'm a kid. Seventeen. Barely. I'm crappy at geometry. My Spanish sucks. I can't even vote yet. Fighting evil isn't my responsibility -- graduating from high school and, hopefully, making the Change is. My soul's been shattered and my boyfriend's been killed. Don't I deserve a break? Just a little one!

Check out this trailer: