Nyx in the House of Night: Mythology, Folklore and Religion in the PC and Kristin Cast Vampyre Series [Paperback]

P. C. Cast (Editor), Kristin Cast (Contributor), Jordan Dane (Contributor), Karen Mahoney (Contributor), Jana Oliver (Contributor), Christine Zika (Contributor), Amy H. Sturgis (Contributor), Jeri Smith-Ready (Contributor), Ellen Steiber (Contributor), Bryan Lankford (Contributor), John Edgar Browning (Contributor), Yasmine Galenorn (Contributor), Trinity Faegen (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 2011

The House of Night is no ordinary school—and not just because it's for vampyres. It's a place where magic, religion, folklore, and mythology from multiple traditions merry meet and meld to create something incredible and new.

In Nyx in the House of Night—a 2-color illustrated companion to the House of Night series—some of your favorite YA authors, plus a few experts, help you navigate the influences behind the House of Night series in a guide that would get even Damien's seal of approval.

Travel with P.C. Cast as she gets her first tattoo in Ireland, climbs the ruins of Sgiach's castle, and discovers the lore that led to the Isle of Skye vampyres. Read Kristin Cast's defense of women in history and mythology who, like Zoey, have made a practice of juggling multiple men. Sit in on a vampyre lecture by Bryan Lankford, the real-life basis for House of Night instructor Dragon Lankford, on the parallels between Wiccan and vampyre circle rituals. Tour Tulsa's House of Night landmarks with local Amy H. Sturgis.

Plus:

•Karen Mahoney on Nyx and other goddesses of the night
•John Edgar Browning on vampires in folklore, fiction, and reality
•Jana Oliver on tattoos and other Marks
•Ellen Steiber on feline familiars
•Yasmine Galenorn on priestesses and goddess worship
•Jordon Dane on Zoey's Cherokee heritage
•Jeri Smith-Ready on the Raven Mockers and Kalona's less than heavenly inspiration
•Christine Zika on the connection between Nyx and the Virgin Mary
•Triniy Faegen on the Greek version of the Otherworld

Nyx in the House of Night also includes an appendix of character names that reveals the myth behind Zoey's last name, which House of Night cats have ties to Camelot, Egypt, and Middle-earth, and more!

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Smart Pop (June 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781935618553
• ISBN-13: 978-1935618553
• ASIN: 1935618555
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Nyx In The House Of Night: A companion book to the House of Night series, three out of five stars. June 21, 2011

By Jasmine Jones

Format:Paperback

I'd have to say this companion was about a three star book. This book centers mostly on the religion in the House of Night books. As I mentioned above, it's not needed in order to understand and/or enjoy the Casts' vampire novels.

This book did not hold my intest very well. It was a series of lectures. Some were more intresting than others; my personal favorite was Bryan Lankford's (the inspiration behind House of Night fencing instructor Dragon Lankford) section on the circles and the elements in the House of Night universe. I kind of wanted to know a bit more about that, so I'd have to say that was the only one that was really helpful. I also enjoyed reading Jordan Dane's background on the Cherokee legends and heritage in the story. The appendix on character names was useful, although just be noted not everyone's in there. They say that "what you see is what you get." Namely, we see nothing on Stevie Rae Johnson, Erik Night, and Heath Luck. I can kind of see why the quote fits those three characters. The others, however, were more like classes on religion than anything. Ellen Steiber's part on felines in mythology, Yasmine Galenorn's lecture on priestesses and worshiping of female dieties, basically the same thing again in Christine Ziga's lecture, and Trinity Faegen's part on the Underworld were all kind of boring and barely relevant to the HofN books.

Jana Oliver's lecture was more on the history of body art instead of more on the vampires' markings in the HofN series. That wasn't all that intresting to me, so I kind of just skimmed through it just looking for stuff on the vampires. There was nothing, so that one was a bit of a downer for me.

None of the other lectures really stood out in my mind. John Edgar Browning, Karen Mahoney, Jeri Smith-Ready, and even P.C. Cast's lecture. It's all mostly about Nyx (which I can tell, based on the book's title) and was good and informative, but it would be good to see a little more connection between these books and the HofN books. I can tell they tried, but I just couldn't understand why I had to sit through so much of it and have so few "Oh! That's why that's the way it is in the House of Night books" revalation moments.

I'd have to say the worst of them all was Kristen Cast's herself. Her lecture started about how at times Zoey Redbird has juggled two or more boyfriends at the same time. Then it goes on about polygamy, which has NOTHING to do with Zoey or the House of Night books. The worst part: it seems like Miss Cast did most of her research from the TLC show Sister Wives (which she says IN HER LECTURE she watches religiously), and even quotes a conversation between the husband and one of his four wives. It seems like she just watched a marathon of the show as opposed to actually doing good, non-stereotyped research.

Just as a suggestion, if you don't want any spoilers read books one through seven before reading this book. A lot of P.C. Cast's and Trinity Faegen's lectures relied heavily on the new development in the seventh novel, Burned, and the ending of the sixth, Tempted.

All in all: I'd suggest getting it from a library if you think you'd be intrested, and would not be offended by the Mormon stereotypes another reviewer has commented on. I give this book one star for Bryan Lankford's lecture, one for Jordan Dane's lecture, and one for the character name appendix. I can't say I disliked it, but it is not needed for the enjoyment of the Casts' novels.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully done May 30, 2011

By Ashley Brazell

Format:Paperback

It was fun to learn about all the characters I love so much and the pictures are beautifuly done. Only fall out is that it's not the "REAL" foklore that it was based on, such as ancient pagan rituals and traditions. It is a fake background, not what I expected but still cool to broaden my minds eye image of everything while I read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very intriguing! December 15, 2011

By A.G. Silver

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book gives the readers of the House of Night series a glimpse into the many mysteries of the series. They learn of the Goddess Nyx and many other aspects of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is truly intrigued by folklore and mythology.