Destined: A House of Night Novel

While going through my library at home, I realized that I had never finished the HoN series and started to re-read the series from the beginning for a refresher. I’m glad I did because I had forgotten some key plot points from the series and would have been confused if I had started reading the tenth book in the series. Destined is the ninth book in P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast’s House of Night series. I read this book before, so this is my second time reading it.Storyline/My Thoughts: I will say this; I started reading this series in my early/mid-twenties, and I’m now in my late thirties. I will never give up reading YA Paranormal/Fantasy books. I’ll be old with grandkids, still reading this genre. I need to be able to talk to my grandkids about something, so why not read YA. =) Also, I’ll need my books to be passed on to someone, and why not my grandkids?The only issue with being older is that I find some things annoying in YA books, especially how the characters act. I try not to nitpick, though, because I have to remind myself I used to be a teenager and found myself annoying sometimes. I am getting karma back with having two mini-me’s that act just like their mama: one a teenager and another a preteen. This is why reading is a must in my household. I must step away from reality and face fictional worlds where teenagers, such as Zoey and her circle of friends, save the world from people like Neferet and her new consort.Zoey is back home in Tulsa, OK, after being saved by her Guardian Warrior, Stark, where she will be forced to go up against Neferet again. The big issue is, though, no one believes from the High Counsel that Neferet is up to no good, so Zoey and her friends have to try to convince them. The big issue is Zoey and her friends have to go to the House of Night and act like nothing is wrong around Neferet, even though it’s hard knowing what she has done. It’s also hard when Neferet is making apparent changes around the House of Nights, trying to make her seem like the good guy to the High Counsel when she’s not. Zoey knows Neferet is up to something and the first thing she notices differently is that Neferet supposedly has been gifted by Nyx with her own Guardian, Aurox, which Zoey knows is not the truth. She sees Aurox for what he truly is, and he’s not a good guy, but Zoey is compelled to Aurox. Something about him that interests her and the truth of who/what he is was revealed in the last book. She should be scared of him because of how and what made him. I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who has not read this book, but if there was one thing I liked, it was getting Aurox’s POV. He’s a whole new character, or is he?There is drama in Zoey’s friend group after what happened in the eighth book. They lost one of their own, and it’s hit some of them hard. There is also another loved one that is unalived and affects Zoey a lot, and that death will reveal Neferet’s true nature. It takes time to get to the truth, which had the book drag at times.I mentioned drama in this book, and some of it pertains to Rephaim, who used to be Kalona’s son and is now a teenage boy, thanks to giving up the darkness for Nyx. Certain secondary characters do not trust Rephaim, and there are a lot of incidents between Rephaim and those other characters. I loved getting his POV and how he was struggling within himself with being good now and also proving to everyone he was not for his father, even if his father tempted him in this book.I found Zoey slightly annoying in this book, especially meddling in her friend’s business. The twins (who aren’t blood-related twins and don’t look alike but act similar) were having fights over things, and Zoey wanted them to work it out. Sometimes, people outgrow each other, leaving them space to find themselves. I hope their friendship doesn’t go away because I will miss them finishing each other’s sentences, but I can understand the frustration of finding oneself again. There was also the concern of Stark and Zoey. These two have gone through a lot, and Stark is not acting like himself after what he did to retrieve Zoey from the last book. I understand why and I’m worried about him as a whole.There was a lot of repetition in this story with certain characters, such as poor Rephaim having to deal with proving himself. He has become one I will stick up for even if he is evil because you can tell how much he enjoys being an ordinary teenage boy around Stevie Rae.I did like how some truths are revealed in this book, especially at the end. It’s coming together for Zoey and her friends but not for the true enemy of the story. There was even a big shocker toward the end of the book.I can’t wait to dive into the next book since I’ve never read it so it will be brand new to me. I hope Zoey and her friends don’t have to deal with any more big blows, and I hope a particular character in this book gets a lot more POV time. I hope Neferet gets what is coming to her soon because she has done enough damage.Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the House of Night series, and I recommend reading in order.Cliffhanger: Yes.Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy YA Paranormal/Fantasy with fledglings/vampires in a school environment, this series is for you.

In this book the battle between good and evil wages in two totally different ways. I finished this book in two days. I love the house of night series. P.C. Cast did an amazing job writing them.

I love the writings of PC Cast & daughter. I really enjoyed this book. I read the book in one setting because I could not put it down. I've read the ones that both preceeded and the novellas that followed and and on edge until the next book in the series releases late this year. I've seen a lot of complaints about the language or slang and I can only say this: unfortunately this is how 16 year olds speak (to them they are trying to be adult like). Is this saying "it's good?" Absolutely NOT, but there is always that one young person like (Aphrodite) the one in the books who feels she is above all others and does feel using the term regard, moron, short bus - in essence removes her from her miserable life as the little rich girl who has everything but love; therefore lashes out at other with that exact language to make herself feel better or hide how she really feels onside. Young ppl can and some most certainly use such language and some, not only have the potential to be mean they are. Charity starts in the home and if you've read closely not very many if any of these young ppl came from functional homes...including Zoey.Sort may appear to be a whiner to some older readers but unfortunately she is acting like many young people act at 16 just having to deal with school, their parents who they proclaim are in their business (which in my humble opinion no 16 year old has personal business when there is an adult has to support them); feeling school, chores and other things parents try to teach them so that they will hopefully be productive citizens someday.Now many may not want to believe it but the language used by the young fledgling are exactly how young ppl speak. And yes the are constantly making up new words I.e., ginormous, gimomgous, thot and other words that although they may not speak in the presence of a parent ...most certainly do say.The fact that the Casts had guts enough to put pen to paper where all could see would has not turn me against them, it actually causes me to commend their boldness in doing so. I myself cringe when I hear young ppl speak in such a manner or at the dress code of today but I will not lash out at the books writers for that.As a Native American Cherokee, I do not find Grandma Record's speech stereotypical...I applaud. I am actually ashamed that I do not speak the old ways or tongue of my ancestors. Had the Casts presented Grandma as a typical northern/southern/western or Eastern speaker I would have been upset. I actually take trips to the Reservation yearly in hopes of learning the old ways of my people.As for Zoey/Neferet - the typical thing which occurs in today's society when she made attempts to expose her...adults did not believe which has allowed Neferet to morf from being just a mean high priestess to an immortal and since Zoey IS NOT Nyx incarnate she just can't beat her down - end of story.Imho also, I don't believe there is one person who has not had boyfriend (s) problems at 16. However, if there is someone out there who is a young adult and is blessed enough to have never had Zoey's similar issue with boys/young men, then I both apologize and commend you.Brown soda pop - yep that term is used by quite a few of us because most eaterys cater to coke, Pepsi, dr. Pepper, mr. Pins depending on the location and as stated they all are fully loaded with caffeine and sugar so what is the problem with that. For myself however, I am partial to the brown pop I drink so I call it by name (won't do it here.Having read the book that followed this, I felt on track with the series (but I've also read the novellas which helped me understand certain characters better) but again thats just me.Lastly, the blood lust or lack of that is mentioned - these are youngsters newly marked and early on in the series they mentioned that the time would come when they are full vampires that this will occur. So imho they are trying to guide the young fledgings on the path to to hopefully making the change to vampyres so that they don't have a school of full of youngsters going through two type of puberty at the same time and eating up the town as Neferet red fledglings who she raised on blood lust to the point they were feral and lacked humanity.For one who loves all books, movies and anything about wolves (my spirit guide) and vampyres (mythical or not), I like the direction the Casts have took regarding the characters; especially Kalona, Rhapheim, Stevie Rae and Auto. I can only suggest revisiting the previous books and reading the novellas in between -even if from your liveary- and perhaps you might or might not change your feelings. Things sometimes look different the second time around.

Easy reading & exciting...

Good

I started reading this series at least 12 years ago, but didn't finish it because the public library did not have the last few books.I saw a tik tok video mentioning the series and then I recently bought the whole series to relive my childhood and to finally finish the series.The only thing I don't like is that the covers on Amazon have changed to more colourful covers. The books as I remembered had the black covers as seen on the page.This is an easy read.

It is becoming more and more apparent that Cast just wishes to drag the whole plot on for as long as possible, so as to make more money. As understandable as this is, I'm genuinely disappointed.Nothing happens until the last 5 pages of the book and then you have to wait for the next book which will continue with the same problem and story that was suppose to be finished 2 books before.Very repetitive, describe details and parts that are not relevant for the story.By this time (after 10 books) I was expecting new things and new dramas, but still the same: Neferet, Neferet, always Neferet....Lets see what book 11 brings.

I recently took a break from reading the house of night books, if I'm honest book 7 and 8 had began to bore me. When Zoey had her soul shattered and she spent 3/4 of the book in the otherworld I became lost and bored with the story. This was a shame because I zoomed through the first handful of books in a matter of weeks because I enjoyed them so much. I felt the story now however hadn't progressed to where it should have considering we were so far in the series. With nothing to read I picked back up book 9 and I couldn't stop! Finally I felt we were moving on and it reminded me why I loved the series in the first place. In this book we'll see Neferet working closely with the White Bull to create as much chaos at the HON as possible. We also meet Aurox a being created to destroy Neferet' enemies and we see him battle with his own demons. Although of course our `nerd herd' take centre stage of the book we'll see problems they face with each other and with the other red fledglings.-I like the fact we get the story from other characters pov than just Zoey, I know she's the main character but she really grates on me (although she does have her good moments.) So I'm glad we get to see things from other characters perspective as I prefer to read from my favourite characters pov than just our protagonist Zoey.-I loved the fact that the 'twins' had a little falling out and we began to see them as separate people, before this I often overlooked comments they made and I didn't really care for them as characters because I felt they were so undeveloped in the story. In this book you begin to see their differences and by the end of story I actually liked hearing what Shaunee in particular would say.-I'm just really picking up what other reviewers have said here but one thing I cannot stand is the way the 'nerd herd' communicate with each other, particularly Zoey, sometimes I feel like I'm reading playground chat between 12 year olds! And every time I see 'Bullpoopie' 'Step-loser' or 'ah hell' I want to scream!!!! There is enough swearing from other characters in the book (sometimes too much) they even used the C word yet characters still say bullpoopie?? I don't think it's a realistic representation of conversations between older teens at all.However if you can push past this playground chat the book itself was very good and I felt some of the lesser character got the recognition and development they deserved. Perhaps it's because I gave myself a good couple of months break from reading them that when I eventually did come back I felt refreshed with the story. Being someone that wants to finish the series I am quite looking forward to the purchasing the next book! :)