The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic). Grandma Redbird is in trouble. Heath is in trouble. The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth? Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…
Hunted (House of Night, Book 5)
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Book Description
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Amazon.com Review
Book Description
What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil and all he wanted was you?
What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil and all he wanted was you?
At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn't want to hear and truths she can't face?
On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well--they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home--but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Eric, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?
An Interview with P.C. Cast
Amazon.com: Why vampyres? What was intriguing to you about them? (Also, why "y"?)
P.C. Cast: Actually, the idea for the series originated with my fabulous agent, Meredith Bernstein. We were at RWA [Romance Writers of America] Nationals in Reno several years ago and Meredith said she had an idea for a series she'd like to see me write. Then she said the three magic words: vampire finishing school. I instantly thought of YA because I'd been reading the Hawksong books by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes--so my head was already in YA. Also, I've been teaching high school English since 1993 (I'm from a family of teachers) so I definitely knew my audience. Basically, it sounded like fun to write, so I jumped in even though I'd only written fantasy and paranormal romance up until then.
Oh, and the spelling is just my choice 'cause I like the way it looks!
Amazon.com: I don't want to draw too many comparisons between your series and Twilight, because they are completely different types of stories. However, I am curious if the popularity of that series has changed the way you see your genre, or do you even see it being the same genre?
PC: I see my genre as YA, and to me that encompasses everyone from Rowling to Laurie Halse Anderson to Janice Erlbaum. So, yes, Twilight fits in the same genre. And while I enjoy Ms. Meyer's books very much, I think the genre has been growing and changing and gaining popularity steadily over the past decade--mostly thanks to Ms. Rowling! As a high school English teacher I certainly noticed the increase in sophistication and popularity of the genre some time ago. Today's YA has an incredible range and depth, and it deals with real coming of age issues in varied and interesting ways. I'm proud to be a member of the ranks of YA authors!
Amazon.com: Can you talk a little bit about the role that religion plays in the novels? The whole series revolves around the worship of Nyx, the Goddess of Night, and Hunted really digs into questions of faith and free will (often related to what guy Zoey will be drawn to next...very clever to make that her weakness!). At various points in the series you also have People of Faith, Catholic nuns, and Cherokee legend. How do you see all these elements working together?
PC: Very clever of you to recognize the ramifications of Zoey's weakness!
It's easy for me to weave the different religious elements of the world together because it's not really "religion" I'm dealing with when I create the conflicts and faith foundations in the House of Night. Instead I see it as a way to illuminate coming of age issues, which often deal with conformity and obsession and trying to learn boundaries. I chose to give my heroine a belief system in which to live that is matriarchal because my purpose is to empower young women, and by allowing Zoey to join a world where women are valued as leaders and really have no glass ceiling, except the ones they create for themselves, as exemplified by Neferet, I have a springboard for a lot of girl power.
Amazon.com: What were some of your influences for the House of Night school?
PC: South Intermediate High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma! I just looked around me and wrote what I saw. I also write what I wish I could see, as in the amazing HoN facility and their very cool classes. I'd love to teach a Vampyre Sociology class!
Amazon.com: How has Kristin being in school affected the series as it's progressed? The scenes with friends hanging out and geeking out on movies in the dorm seem pretty familiar...
PC: When the series started Kristin was nineteen and was still living at home her first semester in college. And then when she did move out it certainly wasn't into a dorm that looked as cool as the House of Night dorms! But she does DEFINITELY geek out with her friends. (She's going to kill me for that…)
Amazon.com: When did the two of you decide to write a book together? How does your writing process work?
PC: I brought Kristin in while I was writing the first three chapters of Marked. I kept stumbling over silly little things, like specific slang that I thought I knew, but found out once I started writing about teenagers that MY deeply buried inner teen from the 70's kept trying to resurface and butt in with her slang! Kristin keeps me straight about that. She also says she keeps Zoey from "sounding like a 40-something disgruntled school teacher." Sigh.
We're on book six of the series, and we have the process down. We do some brainstorming, then I write the first draft, often asking Kristin questions right in the manuscript or leaving blanks for her to fill in. Then I send the entire thing to her, and she goes through it, answering questions, filling in blanks, and asking me questions/making comments of her own. She sends it back to me and I go through it again. Then it's ready to go to St. Martin's and our lovely editor, Jennifer Weis. It sounds like a tedious process, but it's really very freeing for me. I can write whatever and know Kristin has my back.
Amazon.com: Zoey has a few mother-daughter-like relationships--with her mom, her grandma, Neferet, Nyx. How much does your mother-daughter relationship inform your writing? Is it ever awkward?
PC: Hmm...that's a good question. Kristin and I have a unique writing relationship. Actually, I probably wouldn't even consider writing with anyone else--it's unusually easy with my daughter (perhaps because I can beat her?). She and I have always been close, and we have a very honest relationship. Talking with each other has never been a problem, so we're used to communicating. That helps a lot in a co-author situation.
Regarding the mother-daughter relationships in the book: clearly Zoey's relationship with her own mom is nothing like Kristin and mine. Sadly, both of us have met many Linda Heffers here in Oklahoma, which is why she is so easy--and disturbing--for us to write. When I write Nyx's words I often think about how I feel about Kristin, and then try to expand that to how this goddess would view the vampyres, especially Zoey, as her children.
We get the awkward question often because of the sexual tension in the books. Kristin and I do discuss the temperature of the books and the specific situations a lot. It doesn't feel awkward between us because we're used to communicating, and because we don't just stick sex in our series to be gratuitous. The sexual issues are there because they're realistic to teenagers. Yes, Zoey has several boyfriends--often at the same time. But in six books she has had sex once, and that was because she was manipulated and used by a charismatic adult. It wasn't awkward writing those parts with my daughter--we believe in the reality of the books and the points we make about mistakes and consequences.
Amazon.com: Each of the books sort of has its own personality. Chosen, for example, was more focused on the friends and the guys, and Untamed was much more deeply focused on folklore and goddess rituals. Do you think that's influenced by each of your interests, with Kristin having more influence on one book and P.C. showing up more in another? Or is that just the natural arc of the story?
PC: I think the shifting emphasis is because of the natural arc of the story. Think about your own life. Doesn't your focus shift from time to time? I know mine does. Actually, sometimes it feels like events happen in waves: lots of guy, no guys, friend stres, no friend stress, crazy stuff at school, kinda calm school, etc. So I guess fiction is just mimicking the patterns I see in life.
Amazon.com: Even though it has a satisfying ending (no spoilers!) Hunted certainly doesn't seem like the end of Zoey's story. What's next?
PC: Zoey has to save the world! And it's definitely a big job. Seriously, now that the dark influences that have been lurking on the periphery of Zoey's world have been brought out into the open, it's time to deal with them. Of course that's a lot harder than "Okay, Z, kick their butts and save the world now!" sounds. Especially as there are many layers to the House of Night world and often good appears bad, and bad seems terribly attractive.
Review
<DIV><DIV><DIV><DIV>Praise for The House of Night:<DIV><DIV><DIV><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> Move over, Stephenie Meyer. People on Hunted
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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Mali
Format:Hardcover
I have read the previous books in this series, and in the last one,I had started to get annoyed at Zoey's backwards maturing. Every decision she makes is stupider than the last. We thought Zoey had learned her lesson about hooking up with every single guy who showed her interest and realized she messed up a great thing with Eric. She starts out whining about how much she mises him and she's sorry for the mistakes she made. Not even a day later, she's hooking back up with her brainless human ex, who has all the charm of a drunken frat boy, and the maturity of a pre-teen. Cut to days later and she's hooking up with Stark again. If Loren were to come back from the dead and apologize to her for using her, I completely believe she's jump right back into his bed too. What is most seriously appalling, is that moments after getting back together with Eric, she coldheartedly goes back to Heath right in front of Eric, and expects them to understand that she has more important things to do than think about her feelings for them. Even worse, it's okay with them!
This was a seriously disappointing continuation that seems more like a desperate attempt to release a new book without any story to back it. Zoey has no morals and limited concern for anyone but herself.
In this book, they have finally escaped the House of Night only to return again with no plan..again because of Zoey's childish and selfish mistakes.
Frusterated, disgusted, and unable to read anymore about Zoey, I flipped to the back to the ending with the hope that MAYBE things change. They don't and she adds another man-slave to her collection of "my boys" as she calls them.
I am so glad I got this from the library, a little curious why there was no waiting list, but very relieved that I can literally throw this into the shoot and never see it again. I don't care if there is another attempt at continuing the series. I'm done.
There comes a time in book series, television series where there is just nowhere to go with it and it is ended or canceled. To the publishing company: please cancel this trainwreck.
This was a seriously disappointing continuation that seems more like a desperate attempt to release a new book without any story to back it. Zoey has no morals and limited concern for anyone but herself.
In this book, they have finally escaped the House of Night only to return again with no plan..again because of Zoey's childish and selfish mistakes.
Frusterated, disgusted, and unable to read anymore about Zoey, I flipped to the back to the ending with the hope that MAYBE things change. They don't and she adds another man-slave to her collection of "my boys" as she calls them.
I am so glad I got this from the library, a little curious why there was no waiting list, but very relieved that I can literally throw this into the shoot and never see it again. I don't care if there is another attempt at continuing the series. I'm done.
There comes a time in book series, television series where there is just nowhere to go with it and it is ended or canceled. To the publishing company: please cancel this trainwreck.
53 of 64 people found the following review helpful
By J. Simpson
Format:Hardcover
I am fairly certain that this entire book was written on the back of several paper napkins on the bus ride to the publisher's...
More than half the book takes place in the tunnels and seems to consist mostly of filler babble. The most interesting thing that happens in the tunnels resulted from a risk that was very unlikely to have been taken, given the circumstances, so it seemed very convenient and gratuitous.
The book is chalk-full of bad writing, horrible editing errors (multiple cases of character confusion... saying Darius when they mean Damien, for example), and continuity errors. The Casts are so obsessed with trying to make these characters seem like "normal teenagers" that they come across seeming shallow and moronic. I mean, what teenager in their right mind is going to be thinking about what boy they want to kiss when the world as they know it is crumbling around them?
A fantastic example of the sloppy and embarassing writing, is when the writers devote an inordinate amount of time talking about the girls' cute purses, which they must be sure not to leave behind in the tunnels. Given the fact that in book four, the girls fled the HoN mid-ritual-circle and unable to break their hand holds as dangerous chaos erupted behind them, it seems unlikely anyone was worried about something as trivial as a freaking CUTE purse. Not to mention the fact that they would have had to have been holding their purses throughout the whole ritual in the first place, which also seems very unlikely (if not downright LAME).
The characters continue to be an unnerving mix of endearing and annoying qualities. The twins are still unbelievable cartoon characters, Zoey is still the self-conflicting love-obsessed-horny-but-I-don't-wanna-be-a-ho she was in the other books, and Hunted comes with the added bonus of a really embarassingly racist portrayal of an African-American girl who is the polar opposite of Shaunee.
As the icing on the cake comes from the return of the love triangle. If you weren't already sick and tired of Zoey's constantly shifting and conflicting affection, you will be very tired of it after this book. And, just like in Marked, Heath-- despite his earlier and rather vehement rejection of Zoey, makes a mind-numbingly unlikely and painfully gratuitous re-appearance which will leave you wanting to rip your book in two.
BUT... having said that...
If you've made it through the first four books, you might as well keep going and read this one, too. As with the first four books, despite how earth-shatteringly bad the writing is, you can wade through all of the embarassing and poorly written crap and somewhere beneath you'll find the makings of interesting and endearing characters, and a compelling plot.
It'd be kind of like rummaging through a dump... it's trashy, smelly, embarassing, and downright awful, but somewhere beneath all the garbage there are little treasures waiting to be discovered. It takes a lot of work, and for most people it's not worth it, but if you can stomach it you might find something worth keeping.
Oh, to go back in time and encourage the publisher to hire a GOOD writer to write this series. If they had, they might have really had a true gem and a rival for Twilight on their hands.
More than half the book takes place in the tunnels and seems to consist mostly of filler babble. The most interesting thing that happens in the tunnels resulted from a risk that was very unlikely to have been taken, given the circumstances, so it seemed very convenient and gratuitous.
The book is chalk-full of bad writing, horrible editing errors (multiple cases of character confusion... saying Darius when they mean Damien, for example), and continuity errors. The Casts are so obsessed with trying to make these characters seem like "normal teenagers" that they come across seeming shallow and moronic. I mean, what teenager in their right mind is going to be thinking about what boy they want to kiss when the world as they know it is crumbling around them?
A fantastic example of the sloppy and embarassing writing, is when the writers devote an inordinate amount of time talking about the girls' cute purses, which they must be sure not to leave behind in the tunnels. Given the fact that in book four, the girls fled the HoN mid-ritual-circle and unable to break their hand holds as dangerous chaos erupted behind them, it seems unlikely anyone was worried about something as trivial as a freaking CUTE purse. Not to mention the fact that they would have had to have been holding their purses throughout the whole ritual in the first place, which also seems very unlikely (if not downright LAME).
The characters continue to be an unnerving mix of endearing and annoying qualities. The twins are still unbelievable cartoon characters, Zoey is still the self-conflicting love-obsessed-horny-but-I-don't-wanna-be-a-ho she was in the other books, and Hunted comes with the added bonus of a really embarassingly racist portrayal of an African-American girl who is the polar opposite of Shaunee.
As the icing on the cake comes from the return of the love triangle. If you weren't already sick and tired of Zoey's constantly shifting and conflicting affection, you will be very tired of it after this book. And, just like in Marked, Heath-- despite his earlier and rather vehement rejection of Zoey, makes a mind-numbingly unlikely and painfully gratuitous re-appearance which will leave you wanting to rip your book in two.
BUT... having said that...
If you've made it through the first four books, you might as well keep going and read this one, too. As with the first four books, despite how earth-shatteringly bad the writing is, you can wade through all of the embarassing and poorly written crap and somewhere beneath you'll find the makings of interesting and endearing characters, and a compelling plot.
It'd be kind of like rummaging through a dump... it's trashy, smelly, embarassing, and downright awful, but somewhere beneath all the garbage there are little treasures waiting to be discovered. It takes a lot of work, and for most people it's not worth it, but if you can stomach it you might find something worth keeping.
Oh, to go back in time and encourage the publisher to hire a GOOD writer to write this series. If they had, they might have really had a true gem and a rival for Twilight on their hands.
37 of 46 people found the following review helpful
By jamie davis
Format:Hardcover
I can safely say that this is the worst book I have ever read. While somewhat cheesy and predictable, I enjoyed the first four books of the series. However, I can not say how extremely disaappointed I was in this book. Never before in this series has it been so apparent that an adult was trying to write for teens. The characters have no development and the use of blind teen and racial stereotypes runs rampant. All black characters speak in what I can only assume is Cast's idea of ebonics, all male characters are only interested in sex and fighting, and the gay characters are weak, feminine, and only care about fashion. This book was written to fill a deadline. Period.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Can't wait for the next book.
Fine book series for young adults so far. Looking forward to the movies. Hoping the cast reflects the characters pictured in my mind's eye.
Published 1 day ago by ladybug
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Series, It's a MUST Read!
I am really into vampires and this is not you usual vampire book. You have to read this amazing series.
Published 14 days ago by Josalyne Coberley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfecto
This book was in excellent condition when I got it and even my friend that book to she liked it.
Published 15 days ago by Christian Strawn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic series
I LOVE this series! I definitely cannot wait for the next one to come available. So addicting! Trust me and buy it! :)
Published 16 days ago by Kelli
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ehh...okay
This book wasn't really bad but it definitely doesn't measure up to the earlier books. It's boring until the very end.
Published 27 days ago by how do you get a job?
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great addition to this epic series...
Once again the Cast women have written a fantastic storyline and a terrific plot, brilliant characters, and an ending that leaves you hungry to see what's going to happen next! Read more
Published 28 days ago by MELISSA THOMPSON
5.0 out of 5 stars
house of night
great book, i could not put this book down it was that great to read, i was eager to read it
Published 1 month ago by amanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hunted - house of night book 5
Very Quick delivery on all products! Great book series for all ages and genders!!
Book and story that all ages and genders can enjoy! Read more
Book and story that all ages and genders can enjoy! Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. R. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read this
I absolutely love this book series and my daughter and I read them together and cant wait for another book to come out..
Published 1 month ago by Christa Shaffer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
I only had this book for a couple of days now and I'm already finished with it. It just pulled me in and didn't let me go till I was done
Published 1 month ago by Tara Waters
