Burned (House of Night) [Hardcover]

P. C. Cast (Author), Kristin Cast (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

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Review

Praise for the House of Night series:

On TEMPTED, House of Night Book 6:

“Cast and Cast pull out all the stops and take this story to shattering new heights with devastating consequences!” –Romantic Times (4 ½ stars)

“P. C. And Kristin Cast havef made an absolutely amazing [YA] series. The visuals offered by this fantastic duo are entertaining and imaginative, with nonstop action… This is easily a [YA] series that can entertain adults with action, hot Vampyres, true friendship, budding romance, a loving Goddess, and a twist of the unexpected.” –HowlingGoodBooks.com (5 stars)

“I loved every one of the books in the [House of Night] series. Tempted is my definite favorite…. This book had me ripping through the pages.” –Teen review on Flamingnet.com

On HUNTED, House of Night Book 5:

“Move over, Stephenie Meyer.” –People

“Zoey Redbird’s first-person adventures take on added danger and importance in the latest House of Night release. Forced by circumstance to grow up quickly, Zoey’s emotional and spiritual evolution is fascinating. The Cast duo breathes life and vibrancy into the characters and makes each one an integral part of the saga. Awesome and unforgettable as always!” --Romantic Times (4.5 stars)

“The Cast duo has done it again!  These ladies appear to be an unstoppable force within the world of YA literature… Teenage readers will be drawn to Zoey’s everyday, angst-riddled life.  Not only does she need to save the world, Zoey needs to solve some major vampyre/human boy drama.  These stories are surreal, yet shockingly accurate when it comes to teenagers and their lives.” –TeensReadToo.com (5 stars) 

“The most masterful part of the writing lies in how the authors take on serious issues sex, peer pressure, bullying, parental alienation, religion, and substance abuse and weave them into the text.  It is a refreshing perspective that doesn’t feel like preaching.” –Tulsa World

“I absolutely loved this book…. I enjoyed the story line very much and thought that the authors had correctly portrayed the mind of a teenager…. I would recommend this book to vampyre fans and anyone who would enjoy a wondrous fantasy story.” –Teen review on Flamingnet.com

“An exceptional vampire tale… P.C. and Kristin Cast do a phenomenal job.” –Darquereviews.com

“Hunted is an appealing supernatural thriller… The exciting storyline is filled with teenage angst as Zoey struggles with choices that would cause PTSD in most adults…. This fine entry casts a strong spell on readers.” –Thebestreviews.com

“A richly nuanced standout… Even when she’s confused, even when she’s embroiled in teen-angst, Zoey’s choices, delivered in fresh first person, seem believable.  Even better?  They seem smart…. This series has dark themes and subject matter, but the Cast team delivers them with sparkling dialogue, wry humor, and realistic characters driven by genuine humanity.” –Fictionistas.blogspot.com

On for Untamed, House of Night Book 4:

“You have a set up that feels a bit like X-Men meets Harry Potter meets Interview with the Vampire all told in a voice as engaging and spirited as anything recounted by Meg Cabot.” – JanuaryMagazine.com

“This is a series that should not be missed!”  – EnchantingReviews.com

“Untamed is a fast moving and adventure filled read, with engaging characters and just a touch of romantic chemistry to keep fans guessing. This is a well-written young adult series that should easily appeal to both teens and adults.” – Darque Reviews

“The mother and daughter writing team have created a believable world with characters that you can't let go of. The story is addictive and the cliffhanger ending in this installment has me wishing the months till March will fly by! The fifth book Haunted will surely be another great book in this amazing series.”  –ParaNormalRomance.org

On Chosen, House of Night Book 3:

“Teenage issues can seem like life or death, but in this haunting series, House of Night, that’s really the case. Through Zoey’s eyes readers are led into a world that’s getting more complicated by the minute, where friends and enemies can switch positions in a heartbeat. The remarkable Cast duo continues to build a world that you won’t soon forget!” –Romantic Times (4.5 stars)

“Chosen, The House of Night series book 3, is like the cream in an Oreo cookie holding the two ends together. This story is gearing up for the final showdown between Zoey and Nepheret and mother and daughter team, P.C. and Kristen Cast are setting the stage perfectly for this….Again, P.C. Cast is an auto-buy author for me and this series is also on that auto-buy list.” –Paranormal Romance Reviews

On Betrayed, House of Night Book 2:

“The Cast and Cast team is back and stirring up deep trouble in their beguiling supernatural world….The issues faced by these teens are not child's play, and the stakes are life and death. This is extremely craveable reading!” –Romantic Times (4.5 stars)

“Some would find it hard to write the sequel to a great book like Marked, but the Cast women obviously didn't have that problem. I laughed, sighed, and definitely cried. I thought that I knew where this series was headed but the authors took me completely by surprise. Congrats to P.C. and Kristin Cast, on a fantastic job. Bring on Chosen!” –Night Owl Romance Reviews

“It does not matter if you are male or female, this series will enthrall you…Authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast are a dangerous writing duo with poisonous pens. Highly recommended.” –Huntress Reviews

“Betrayed continues the House of Night series in a chilling fashion.  PC and Kristin Cast once again prove their talent in telling a tale filled with all the normal teenage angst compounded with becoming a Vampyre….If you liked the first book in the series, you’ll love this one!” –Paranormal Romance Reviews

“P.C. and Kristin Cast make a fantastic writing team.  This enchanting tale is filled with non-stop action, strong relationships, and sweet blossoming romance.  Whether you’re a teen or an adult who loves a great paranormal read, this is a series not to be missed.” –Darque Reviews

“This highly addicting series offers a unique twist on the standard vampyre story and is sure to please a wide variety of readers.  Although she is a vampyre, Zoey Redbird’s journey is one for every teen.  Her voice is genuine and … captures the sincerity and frankness of a teenager in search of a new home and a place where she truly belongs. The emotional portrayal of Zoey’s trouble and tribulations enhances the quality of these books. True to life, she struggles with issues of truest, loyalty, love, sexuality, and identity and moves though a myriad of conflicting emotions from happiness to confusion to grief.  These books will have the reader laughing hysterically and sobbing unreservedly—sometimes all at once.” –VOYA (on both Marked and Betrayed)

On Marked, House of Night Book 1:

“Zoey Redbird… is basically the most relatable vampire — sorry, fledgling vampyre — I've ever read about.” –MTV.com

“The Casts have put a very interesting new spin on vampire lore. The action is fast paced and absorbing, interspersing light moments among the intensity. When you reach the climax of the tale, you'll be on the edge of your seat. Though this is labeled a young adult novel, I strongly suspect adults of any age will enjoy it.” –Huntress.com

“The Casts, mother and daughter, have written a delightful book that’s aimed at teens but will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The trials of growing up are presented in the new and original context of a vampire society, and they’re woven into a thoroughly entertaining story. Zoey is a dynamic and spunky heroine who has an amusing and realistic voice. She’s surrounded by secondary characters who are just as engaging. The dialogue is sharp and the references to real people and pop culture add to the story. This promises to be a highly addictive series.” –Romantic Times (4.5 stars)

“A fantastic, fun-paced read.” –RomanceJunkies.com

“Marked is one of the best coming of age stories to come out of Oklahoma since S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. It teaches about the beauty of being a social outcast, friendship, and finding your own inner spirituality.” –The Beltane Papers

“Readers will identify with many of the characters, especially the protagonist … A good choice for those libraries serving fans of the occult…” –Library Journal

“From the moment I stuck my face in this book it hooked me!  Totally awesome new take on vampires!  Marked is hot and dark and funny.  It rocks!” –Gena Showalter, author of MTV’s Oh My Goth

“Cast reeled me in from para...

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (April 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312606168
• ISBN-13: 978-0312606169
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (219 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #30 in	Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
  #43 in	Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much to my surprise, I liked it., May 3, 2010

By	CLB77 (Stubridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Burned (House of Night) (Hardcover)

Listen, if you're looking at reviews for the 7th book in the series, you've probably read some of the previous books already so you know this: these books are like Twinkies. They're really terrible, yet are a sometimes delicious guilty pleasure. I hate myself a little more after every one I buy, yet I can't seem to stop myself either. I admit I even preordered this one. So coming into Burned, I fully expected to hate it... and was more than a little shocked to find I didn't. I even kind of liked it.

Okay sure, it's got 100% all of the flaws the other books have had... stereotypes, irritating banter, character indecision, hokey slang and dialect, and (particularly as seen in Tempted) a bit of a dragging plot.

But you know what it didn't have? A lot of Zoey! And almost none of the Twins! Halle-freaking-lujah! Instead it was filled with the characters I actually like best- Aphrodite, Stark, Rephaim, and (one I like to an extent) Stevie Rae. What can I say; the `bad' characters are the most interesting and by far the least annoying. The interaction between Stevie Rae and Rephaim is certainly the most interesting plot twist the authors have introduced, and this book is heavy on its development, with a lot of perspective from both characters. Stark also plays a predominant role, and while I thought the authors were a little weak on writing from his perspective (I think they seem to have a better sense of his character from outside of him), I still enjoyed his larger part in this book. Some readers clearly don't care for the frequent switching of narrators, but (aside from the Rephaim/Stevie Rae relationship mentioned above), I think it's the best thing the authors have done. Frankly, we can all use a little break from Zoey, and in a series we readers have had to invest so much time in, it's nice to be able to know some of the other major characters outside of just how the main narrator sees them.

What I'm about to say shouldn't really be a SPOILER, but I'll make sure to warn you anyway. So, really unshocking SPOILER ALERT: Now that Zoey's back together (come on, you really didn't think her soul would stay shattered, did you?), I suspect she'll be the main narrator in the next book again, and will spend lots of time with the `nerd herd,' so I'll probably go back to hate/loving it as much as the others... but Burned to me was a surprising breath of fresh air in a series that is dragging.

107 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'm not buying these books anymore, April 29, 2010

By	Lily (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Burned (House of Night) (Hardcover)

Before I begin my second, hopefully more balanced attempt at a review, let me make this obvious: I love the first four House of Night books and always will. I'm not fond of the fifth one and the sixth book was terrible. In accordance with my two book rule (two bad books in a row and I stop reading the series), Burned was going to be my deciding book on whether or not to keep reading. Guess what? It was awful too and I'm finished with this series.

After Tempted's cliffhanger ending, Zoey's soul has shattered and she's trapped in the Otherworld with Heath. As her friends scramble to being her back before her body dies, Neferet sees a chance to eliminate the threat Zoey poses for good. Back in Tulsa, Stevie Rae is dealing with her Imprint on Rephaim and her fledglings, both good and evil.

My biggest problem is the language. The book is categorized as young adult (a 12-18 years old target audience) and while the book is written in a manner that thirteen-year-olds would be entertained by, the subject matter is for maybe sixteen and over. Why the gap between subject matter and writing style? As a teen, the Cast women's attempts at imitating teen language are kind of insulting to me because of how off-the-mark they are. Don't get me started on Kramisha or you're never going to hear the end of it.

I was annoyed by a few mistakes the editor missed, but as a grammar freak, but don't count off for that; it's not that bad. It just got to me because I'm a freak about grammar as long as it's not MY grammar. I suck at policing my own writings.

The points-of-view jumped around like mad. Just as something was about to happen with one group, we would be taken to see what was happening with the other group. This continued for most of the book, with rare input from Zoey in the Otherworld. Part of what I hated in Tempted and that continued in Burned was how they started moving around to other points of view, which isn't something I like in the middle of a series. I do see their reason for it, though: to cover the Stevie Rae plotlines, among other things.

I have hated Zoey since Betrayed, but because I loved the world building and secondary characters so much, I kept reading anyways. I never liked how she was stringing along three guys, but the last book kind of fixed that. When she wanted to stay with Heath forever, I got angry with her again. Really, what about her friends and loved ones elsewhere? They weren't important enough to go back to? When she said she would die without him, I wanted to stomp on the book (excuse my childishness). I keep seeing girls like that in my books- ones that would die because their loved one died or left them behind- and their weak wills are getting old fast.

Where were the baddies? I'm still wondering why all-powerful Neferet hasn't killed Zoey yet. I'm sure she has some way to do it and not be suspicious. As soon as the Cast women decide whether or not Kalona's evil, someone tell me. The flip-flopping on him for three books has been irritating.

I always knew Stark was going to be special, but out of the billions of men in millions of families, this one boy is from the one family that lets him get to the Isle of Women, become a Guardian, and go rescue Zoey. Isn't that a little too convenient? I though the limits of his specialness was that he was going to be Zoey's sworn Warrior, but I guess not.

Among all my complaints, there's still one thing I found that was great: the mythology. The ancient black-and-white-bulls and the Scottish elements were brought in nicely and blend well with the already-present Wiccan and Native American elements. Sadly, these books have gotten so far away from what I loved that the mytholgy can't keep me reading any longer.

I really wanted to like this book because of how good the first four books were, but I couldn't do it. This is the first series to ever break my two book rule and it was the last one I suspected out of all the series I read. Since the books don't appear to be getting better, I'm done with them.

40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The weave is faltering, April 28, 2010

By	HH (NJ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Burned (House of Night) (Hardcover)

I was eagerly anticipating this book, but it is clear after reading it that the authors are merely dragging this story out for profit instead of the work itself. While the other six previous novels were paced well, this book drags. The idiotic and stereotypical language in this book is extremely annoying. The many different points of view border on the absurd. I can see introducing a couple of new povs, but everyone almost has a pov in this story and it leapfrogs between them.

You knew from early on in the book how Zoey's dilemma was going to be resolved so tension in the rest of the book suffers. I like the scenes between Rephaim and Stevie Rae, but overall just found the book lacking.

Hopefully the next book will be better.