Untamed (House of Night, Book 4) [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Release date: September 23, 2008

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her?  Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel. (Recommended for readers age 13 and older)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jenna Lamia's narration contributes atmosphere, meaning, and focus to the complex plot and characters. She uses an array of voices and accents to allow listeners to envision male and female vampyres, fledglings, cats, regular humans, undead teens, and more." – School Library Journal

 

"Jenna Lamia’s young voice transports us back to high school complete with the mental eye rolls, angst and fashion problems that consume all teenagers…Definitely ear candy." – SoundLibrary.com

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you.

Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an undisputed expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a tight-knit group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast.  And the worst part is, she knows it’s her own fault.  Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead, unMarked, and unable to stop bickering with each other.  So who can blame her for befriending the House of Night’s newest transfer student, the majorly hot Olympic archer, James Stark?  

Meanwhile, Neferet has declared a war on humans after it appears that the People of the Faith have murdered two vampyres.  But Aphrodite’s latest visions show a world completely different from the High Priestess’s promises, a world full of violence, hatred, and darkness, all because of Zoey’s death—and the only way it seems she can prevent it from happening is to make things right with her friends.  Zoey knows in her heart that fighting with humans is wrong. But will anyone listen to her?  Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Trade Paperback Edition edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780312379834
• ISBN-13: 978-0312379834
• ASIN: 0312379838
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (232 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This Series Just Keeps Getting Better! October 10, 2008

By Tamela Mccann TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Untamed picks up almost immediately where Chosen, its predecessor, left off: Zoey has lost not one but all three of her boyfriends (and one in a particularly gruesome way), and her friends are hacked off because she's been keeping secrets from them, regardless if it was for their own good. But Zoey's strong, and she decides to face her issues head on: she plunks herself among her friends and get them to see her motives and even gets them to begin to accept the not-quite-so-hateful Aphrodite. But there's still plenty of angst to go around as Zoey must decide what to do about evil High Priestess Neferet and the red fledglings, one of whom is her undead best friend, Stevie Rae.

Untamed definitely continues the darker themes that gathered steam in Chosen. After Aphrodite shares her visions that show Zoey dying and Zoey is attacked in the night by unseen forces, the group moves forward in trying to discover what Neferet is planning and how the red fledglings will fit into it. The arrival of High Priestess Shakinah brings Zoey some sense of comfort because Neferet has someone to answer to, but soon things become even more tense with the death of yet another fledgling and the arrival of Erik as a teacher at the House of Night. When Zoey's Grandma becomes a target of the darkness, Zoey brings her to stay at the House of Night as both a help and a comfort. While all of this takes place, Zoey also discovers help from a most unusual place: a Benedictine nun named Sister Mary Angela becomes not only a source of comfort but a strong ally against the coming Evil.

While Zoey's romantic struggles take a back seat to the events taking place during Untamed, the friendships become stronger. I love the developing bonds between Zoey and Aphrodite; I think they need each other. I love the animal antics involved in this book as well because they provide a necessary comic diversion that keeps the novel from being only dramatic. I love the relationship between Zoey and her grandmother, and the fact that her friends are included in their feelings helps to bring some stability in a wild situation. And while Zoey is still unsure of herself, she is also learning to trust her instincts. My only complaints with the novel come from the almost instantaneous connection Zoey feels for the tragic Stark, and the rather neat way safety is obtained for some late in the story. But this series just keeps improving, and I am hooked. I can't wait to see where Nyx is going to lead her Dark Daughter next, and March seems like an awfully long time to wait. I'd actually give this novel a solid 4.5 stars. Recommended.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good or Evil? Where will you stand? September 23, 2008

By Jessie Potts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Untamed is the fourth book in the House of Night novels. P C Cast and her daughter once again pulled a magnificent story together of the life and destiny of a young fledgling vampyre. In this book Aphrodite is having bloody visions of Zoey's death and a great war between vampyres and humans. Zoey's friends must reconcile with her "omission of truth" or condemn her to a death without any allies.

Erik has become the new drama teacher since the death of their Professor in the last book. He still hasn't forgiven Zoey for cheating on him, and is still heartbroken. Heath, her once human familiar, is no longer her imprinted, and is also deeply hurt. Her one time lover is dead by human hands and everyone is looking at Zoey, including the High Priestess of all vampyres, an unexpected guest to the school. Zoey has to save the world and fight for the forces of good, prevent an old angel/demon from breaking free of his prison and protect her loved ones.

This book was an extremely quick read and I am pleased to say was deeper and grittier than the last three books. Zoey has finally drawn a line and is gathering her protectors/loved ones/vampyres to her like moths to flames. This is a definite addition to the series. The only bad thing I can say is that the newest novel, which will be released in March of 2009, will be released in hardcover.

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book in the Series! September 25, 2008

By Stephanie Toland VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Zoey isn't having the best of weeks. All her friends are mad at her. They felt betrayed by the fact that Zoey was keeping secrets from them. They just didn't understand she was trying to keep them safe. She didn't have a boyfriend anymore. Last week, she had 3! But Loren Blake, the adult Vampyre Poet Laureate, seduced Zoey into thinking he was in love with her. Neferet, the evil High Priestess, had set up Zoey. And when she was with Loren, the imprint she had with her human boyfriend, Heath, was broken. In addition, Erik Night, the gorgeous fledgling that had just made his transformation to adult Vamp, walked in on them. Heath isn't speaking to Zoey and now, neither is Erik. This was all before Loren was killed in a bizarre ritual that was causing Neferet to wage a war against the humans. So, yes. Zoey's life sucks alot right now.

In addition to all that stress, Zoey is also dealing with the Stevie Rae/Aphrodite issue. By casting her circle for Stevie Rae, she is no longer undead, but has transformed into some kind of other vampyre. Her mark is now colored in just like the adult vamps, but it is red. But with Stevie Rae gaining her humanity back, it caused Aphrodite to lose her mark. Now she is no longer a vampyre, although only Zoey and Stevie Rae know. But she is still having visions. And now her visions include Zoey's death and an all out war between the vampyres and the humans. And it looks like it is up to Zoey to stop it.

Book 4 starts a few days after Book 3 ended. And it is way darker and more sinister than any of the preceding books. Zoey is way less whiny in this book. And it looks like she is stepping up her game. It's going to come down to a battle between good vs. evil, and Zoey is finally becoming the Priestess she was chosen to be. She has firmly taken control of who she is, and gathering around her those that want to fight the evil that has come to the House of Night.

PC and Kristin have certainly brought their A-game with Untamed. They wrote an excellent novel, which was an extremely fast read for me, because I just couldn't put it down! The series just keeps getting better and better. And I can't wait to see how things shake out in the next installment!!