Burned-P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Burned
P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
St. Martin’s Griffin, May 2010, $17.99
ISBN: 9780312606169

Unable to mentally accept what has recently happened (see Tempted), Zoey Redbird implodes with her soul ripped from her body and running off to the Otherworld. If her soul and body fail to unite within one week, Zoey will be dead as a body cannot exist without a soul.

The Vampyre High Council writes Zoey off as dead refusing to waste assets on her. However, she has friends who will not quit trying as long as she still lives. In Tulsa, Stevie Rae considers seeking information by digging into deadly ancient powers for information while her sort of boyfriend demands to know what is going on and the Red Fledglings are out of control. Others in Venice as well as Tulsa like Aphrodite and Stark pray for Zoey while considering a desperate rescue attempt though increasingly as time expires; a Hail Mary is all that is left to save their friend. At the same time they know they must keep their eye on the more critical mission to prevent the twisted plot of Neferet and Kalona from occurring.

This is a strong House of Night urban fantasy entry as Zoey suffers mental anguish from what previously occurred to the point that she suffers a paranormal post traumatic distress disorder breakdown; she prefers to remain in Otherworld in order to die. The story line rotates perspective amongst her friends who increasingly grow frantic and panic-stricken and her enemies whose reasons become clearer than in previous thrillers. Readers will relish this excellent tale, but need at a minimum to read Tempted to understand why the heroine suffers from paranormal PTSD.

Harriet Klausner