Betrayed - P.C. & Kristin Cast

Title: Betrayed (House of Night, book 2)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 305
Date read: May, 2009

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend--or two.

Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

I mostly enjoyed "Betrayed". It was mostly a fun and well-written book that I liked a lot and had difficulties putting down until the last page was turned.

Mostly.

Because I occasionally had to stop and just shake my head in bafflement, because Zoey is such a Mary Sue! I don't usually notice Mary Sues, but with Zoey it's so blatantly obvious that even I would have had to be blind not to notice it. If she had any more guys pursuing her, they'd have to stand in line and take a number, and of course she can do anything she sets out to do, because the goddess Nyx is with her.

But that aside I did really enjoy the book. I liked reading about Zoey's growing friendships with the other students of the House of Night, and was fascinated by the complexity of Neferet and Aphrodite both. Especially the latter is probably the most complex character in the series so far, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what will come of her in the later books.

Book List

Rocco - Sherryl Jordan

Title: Rocco
Author: Sherryl Jordan
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 215
Date read: May 2009, October 2019

Rocco has suddenly appeared in a different time and in an unknown location - in the valley Anshur, where he's taken in by a primitive tribe, whose members live closely connected to nature. He is challenged in everything he knows and all his abilities - in everything he brings with him from his usual, modern life.

Life in Anshur requires courage and strength - but also has a lot to offer: knowledge, friendship and love.


Rocco is the first book that I can remember making me cry. It's always a bit of a gamble to revisit books that had such a strong hold over you at some stage in life, because if it doesn't still - it's bound to be a let-down.

While it couldn't completely live up to my expectations, it fortunately came very, very close, so I only had to down-scale my rating from 5 to 4 stars. It's an interesting story, and powerfully written. I could have wished for it to be a bit longer and slightly more complex, as it is very obvious that it's written with an YA audience in mind. On the other hand, if Rocco had stayed longer in Anshur, I think the book would have ended up being even more painful to read.

A quick read - I finished in in 2 hours - and a pleasant revisit.