Awakened -P.C. Cast

Awakened
P.C. Cast
St. Martin’s Griffin, Jan 4 2011, $17.99
ISBN: 9780312650247

Everything is coming together for Neferet as she expected after her bargain with the spidery shadow. First the Vampyre High Council exonerated her as their foolish spies failed them; their clearing her of charges, allows her to return to her position as High Priestess of Tulsa’s House of Night. Second she has her consort Kalona back under her control. Finally her nemesis Zoey Redbird is dead after she entered the Otherworld.

However, Neferet learns her third assertion proves false as somehow Zoey is back, but not in Oklahoma. Her friends are glad to see her, but she takes refugee on the Isle of Skye where Queen Sgiach welcomes her and names her heir to the throne. Raging Neferet wants her dead, but needs to get Zoey back in the Sooner State; her lure is Kalona who she controls.

This is an engaging entry in the House of Night young adult fantasy series although the story line feels like “déjà vu all over again” (Yogi). In many ways the subplot relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephaim the Raven Mocker is more fascinating as he must choose between his heritage and love. Still Awakened is fast-paced and filled with action as fans will wonder how Neferet will lure Zoey back to Oklahoma when the latter has so much going as a queen in training.

Harriet Klausner