AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: P.C. & Kristin Cast's AWAKENED

Title: AWAKENED
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Release Date: January 4, 2011
List Price: $39.99
Reading Level: Young Adult
Audio CD: Unabridged Edition
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1427211809
ISBN-13: 978-1427211804

My Ratings

Plot: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Narration: 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5
Likelihood to Recommend: 4/5

Overall: 36/45 = 80%


Synopsis

"Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against her. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same—and her relationship with her super-hot warrior, Stark, may never be the same either.

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding eighth book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?"

My Review

(THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS)
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I am and probably always will be, torn by this series. I loved the first three House of Night books. They set up this dark, unknown world of vampire fledgings. The series started with smart and refreshing characters. Unfortunately, I feel like the writing duo of P.C. and Kristin Cast have taken this fresh take on a YA vampires in a drastic direction.

This series can’t seem to make up it’s mind, whether it is a Young Adult or and Adult series. On one hand, this series covers very adult sexual subject matter, while the way the teens speak is very juvenile. Zoey can’t stand to say words like ’crap’, but she’s doesn't mind being involved with more then one character in this series at a time. I just cannot wrap my mind around some of the writing in this book. This may come from the fact that it is co-written by a young adult and an adult.

I find that this storyline jumps around so much. I think that it comes from the fact that, this series has gone from one narrators, to several narrators. I find this extremely distracting to the story. And every time a new character gets their first “I’m so happy” chapter, is means that this character will meet an untimely demise in said chapeter. It makes the story extremely predictable. I saw both “shocking” deaths coming a mile away, due to the translucent writing.

The brightest spot of this audiobook for me is the narration by Caitlin Davies. She does an amazing job voicing this cast of both teens and adults. She also has a great ability to convey both the joy and sorrow that this book contains. I have to say that Caitlin is the best narrator that The House of Night series has had so far.

All of these things aside, I still keep picking this series back up. I’m drawn to finish and see where Zoey and crew end up. The beginning drug a little, but once I got to the halfway point of the story it really moved along quickly. I started to get back into enjoying this series and it’s characters. I think that I’m going to give this series another chance with the next book.


Related Websites

Buy Awakened on Audiobook
House of Night Series - Website
P.C. Cast - Website
Caitlin Davies - Narrator's Website


AWAKENED - Trailer

QUICK REVIEW: Rachel Vincent's REAPER

Title: Reaper
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: December 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 203 KB
List Price: $2.99 (currently free from some retailers)


My Ratings

Plot: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 5/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover Art: 3/5 (Nice cover, but no way is that Tod!)

Overall: 33/35 = 94%


Synopsis

The story of how Tod died and was recruited as a reaper . . .

Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. In fact, he had his whole life in front of him–and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it was going to be a very long life indeed. And then the car accident occurred.

Suddenly Tod’s future wasn’t so sure, and he had to make a choice. Life . . . Death . . . or something Between . . . .

Quick Review

REAPER is the basically the back story of how Tod Hudson the bean sidhe, became the dealer of death that he is today. This novella gives us glimpse into the somewhat normal life of Tod and his brother, Nash. It's a story of choices, good and bad. It's a story of sacrifice. It's a story of loss. And a story of what is means to be family.

I first want to state for the record, I LOVE TOD HUDSON! And here I thought that there was no way that I could possible love him, more then I already did! Rachel Vincent proved me wrong, once again! The further I get in the Soul Screamer series, the more Tod seems to outshine is younger brothers. Tod makes the tough decisions, when other wouldn't. He may be snarky and sarcastic, but when it comes to the important things in life, his heart is in the right place.

This novella is full of hysterical one-liners, moments of deep despair, and hope for the future. I want to thank Rachel Vincent for the gift Tod truly is!

Other Books by This Author

Soul Screamers YA Series:
0.5) My Soul to Lose (2009) (click here to download the prequel for free)
1) My Soul to Take (2009)
2) My Soul To Save (2010)
3) My Soul To Keep (2010)
4) My Soul to Steal (Upcoming Release Date: 1/1/11)

Shifters Series:
1) Stray (2007)
2) Rogue (2008)
3) Pride (2009)
4) Prey (2009)
5) Shift (2010)
6) Alpha (2010)


Websites

Rachel Vincent's Website
Rachel's Discussion Board
Rachel's Twitter