P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

PC Cast

A House of Night Novel (Book 2)

Betrayed

Hanna Rybchynska

The biggest problem with this book (for me) is the characters that are poorly developed and really generic. The story is intriguing and I get really hooked... but I can't ignore the writing and the characters. 
Even with 2 stars, I will continue to read this... I don't know what is wrong with me...

Emmalie Stearns

i really enjoyed this book it is very well writen. It is different then most book and it is a very different story line to most vampire books.

Brosie 

Why am I reading this series? 😂🤦‍♀️

Kristin Cast

P. C. Cast

P.C & Kristin

It seems that (un)life is going pretty well for Zoey Redbird. She's settled in at the House of Night finishing school and is coming to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her. She even has a boyfriend ... or two. Best of all, Zoey finally feels she has found somewhere she belongs. Then the unthinkable happens. Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the vampires at Zoey's school. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's past life, she begins to realise that the very powers that made her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Zoey finds herself facing a betrayal that could break her heart and jeopardise the very fabric of her world. - Not suitable for younger readers -

Been a while since I read the first book of this series but I noticed my library app had a few of the audiobooks to loan, so I decided to loan out book 2 and carry on!! I have the physical copies of most of the series from charity shop hunts so I may as well read them.

It wasn’t a bad book really, I remember moderately liking book 1 (despite the datedness of it and some weird stuff) but this was a solid read!

The story was interesting and it kept it on a nice cliffhanger, making me want to dive into book 3!

Still only a 3* though bc it wasn’t anything super special or shocking, but it was pretty fun!

Talia Dominguez 

SPOILERS!!!!!
SPOILERS!!!!!
ALOT OF SPOILERS LOL

LIKE ALOT! IF U HAVENT READ DIS BOOK DNT READ THIS JAJA


ok so in this book zoey's friends finds out their affinities(damien-wind,erin-water,shaunee-fire, and stevie rae-earth). and later when they do a ritual Stevie rae dies!!!!
omg how sad!! :( bt then
zoey finds out that football jocks are disappearing and Heath comes to her with a dagger/knife so he can cut himself so he can feed zoey(which she does and they imprint)....Later she finds out abt the undead dead fledglings wheres she finds stevie rae wit them! omg!!! so later heath gets caught by the undead dead fledglings and she go rescues him! (: After that she finds out that neferet was behind the whole group of undead dead fledglings !!! when neferet knows that zoey knows..she erases heath and zoey's memory away!! omg lol...theeeeen zoey recovers her memory back with the help of nyx!! (: yay her...lol so after that happens..she sees that her tattoos spreaded to her back and around her waist

mevi

** spoiler alert **
           Zoey slut shames other girls but she is flirting with three different guys and cheats on her boyfriend? Uhmmm.

Katelyn Broad

I may have just enjoyed this book more than the first. In a lot of ways, this book was a lot like the first in the series, but we learn more secrets and there are plenty of twists to keep you satisfied. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it-just like with the first of the series.

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. But then human teenagers start dying, and all the evidence points to the House of Night.

You get a quick re-cap of the most interesting and tense scene from the last book, as well as a break refresher on the characters. The reader continues to see that the relationship Zoey has with her parents is very strained. Something I think a lot of young readers probably understood when reading.
On the note of being young, our protagonist is still at a very vulnerable age and it shows in the way she grows close to one of her teachers. Unaware of the sort of consequences that can have. Part of me wants to yell at her. 

In addition, some rather exciting incidents take place and we see how Zoey deals with those sorts of problems, how they affect her and those around her as well. Seeing Zoey mature in ways from being a vampire. Understanding bloodlust and the various forms it can take. She evolves in this book, sort of better understanding what she is and coming to terms with parts of herself.
The authors hit you with an absolute gut punch. You get to experience joy as something really wonderful happens to our group of characters, followed by something absolutely devastating.

Sasha Mann

Olivera Mitić

ACTUAL RATING 2.5
Huh. Where to start. This series is just... a big waste of potential. The idea is so original but the realization (the bad writing included) is just gOD DAMN AWFUL.
Yet, I have to say that a part of it was quite enjoyable for me. 
The characters were really flat. Zoey non-stop talks about how special she is and how there has never been anyone as strong as herself. The only thing I got to know about Damien is that he is gay. The way the Twins talk made me want to stab myself. The only character I really liked was Aphrodite. You go girl!
There were too many curse words in this book. I just couldn't go with that. They call everyone a slut and/or bitch and usually without any real reason. The only slut in the book was Zoey with her 3 boyfriends.
The dialog was just...no. They were trying waaaay too much to sound hip. So much that in some parts it was just disturbingly wrong (yes, I mean the scene when the Twins worry more about the fact that a really 'fiiiiine' guy went missing than the fact that someone went missing. I mean, what if he wasn't 'fiiiiine'? Would they even notice it?).
Anyway, the plot twist was good and I quite enjoyed the end. 
I will continue with the series even though the writing kills me.

Samantha

Once again, Zoey was just overall irritating and frustrating.

She once again continues slut-shaming Aphrodite for ONE thing she did in the first book, yet she now has three guys she's lusting after. THREE. Hypocrite much? And the insta-love with Erik? not believable. they've only known each other 2-3 months. give me a break. Heath is infuriatingly annoying. I cannot stand him as a character. and Loren.... just gives me pedophile vibes. As someone in my 20s, i couldn't even imagine being attracted to a 16 year old. not even when i was 20/21. It's creepy and disturbing to me. 
Zoey just constantly complains about how hard it is to juggle three guys at once. Here's an idea... how about pick one? Be loyal to the one you're actually dating...is it that hard? Here:: 
-Heath isn't really a smart choice because he's human and she's already been told drinking from him is against the rules (yet she continues to do it...). 
-and Loren (once again) is a teacher. Probably not the best bet either. 
-Erik comes across flat, but he's the best choice here. but no, it can't be that easy can it.

Despite Zoey constantly bringing up how she has an affinity for all of the elements and being the most "powerful fledgling ever known," the use of elements and having elemental powers in this just seems haphazardly thrown together and a waste of potential for what COULD have been a good plot. Unfortunately they just fall way, way short here. This was harder to get through than the first one

Alejandra Bran

Wow I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The writing got better, the story surpassed my expectations. I’m in awe, it even got me teary-eyed at one point. I’m honestly forcing myself to go to sleep instead of starting the next book.

Megan Leprich

I enjoyed the first book enough so I decided to give the second one a try. I loved it just as much as the first one, I love P.C. Cast's writing style and how it's nothing compared to the Twilight series. I love Zoey's personality and her quirkiness. She's definitely a relatable character and her humor is hilarious.

Brandie States

The beginning was very slow for me and I couldn't seem to stay into it much, but after the 6th chapter or so, the book picked up and sucked me right back into the story just like it did with the first book in this series. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next installment.

Laura

P.C. Cast und Kristin Cast hat sich die Protagonistin Zoey endlich im House of Night eingelebt. Sie akzeptiert ihre außergewöhnlichen Kräfte und fühlt sich nicht mehr als Außenseiterin. Doch der Alltag im Internat wird ein unfassbares Ereignis überschattet: menschliche Teenager wurden getötet. Und die Polizei hat die Bewohner des House of Night als Verdächtige im Visier. Auch Zoeys alte Freunde sind in höchster Gefahr und sie muss erkennen, dass ihre Kräfte nicht nur ein Geschenk, sondern auch eine ernsthafte Berdohung sind.

Im ersten Band konnte ich mich noch gut in die auf jugendlich getrimmte Sprache hineinlesen. Im zweiten Band wollte mir das überhaupt nicht gelingen. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass der sprachliche Ausdruck noch plumper ist. Das hat mich zunehmend gestört und ich konnte mich dadurch nicht wirklich in die Figuren hineinversetzen. Das lag wohl auch an Zoeys gesteigerter Libido. Jedes männliche Wesen, das ihr begegnet, findet sie unglaublich anziehend. Ihre Monologe über diese Zwickmühle waren albern und wenig glaubwürdig. Und besonders viel Tiefgang wird mit diesem Männer-Karussell auch nicht erreicht.
Trotz dessen ist "Betrogen" ein spannendes Buch, bei dem man wissen will, wie es weitergeht. Die Autorinnen treiben die Entwicklung der Figuren schnell voran und haben einige tragische Momente eingebaut, mit denen man so nicht gerechnet hat.

"Betrogen" ist eine unterhaltsame Fortsetzung von "Gezeichnet" mit einem fiesem Cliffhanger. Wer sich nicht an dem niedrigen sprachlichen Niveau stört, wird mit diesem Buch sicher viel Spass haben.

Erin 

I'm actually quite frightened to go back and read this series, because I know how awful it will be, and I know how much I loved it. Or...I think I loved it? Other than one of the main characters being named Erin (which never happens) and the cool tattoos everyone gets, and the pets they get to choose, and the choosing of your own name...I don't remember liking much of it. The concept seems very cool, but I don't think it was executed that well. Also, the series is impossibly long, I got so tired of it I gave up.

Jessica 

(Original) House of Night Series
: 
Marked: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5)
Betrayed: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Chosen: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Untamed: ★★★★☆
Hunted: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Tempted: ★★★★☆
Burned: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Awakened: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Destined: ★★★★☆
Hidden: ★★★★☆
Revealed: ★★★★☆
Redeemed: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

House of Night: Otherworld: 
Loved: ★★★★☆ (4.5) 
Lost: ★★★★★
Forgotten: TBD 

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | “Your way of life is sinful and wrong," he said fiercely.
Thus says a man who admits to worshipping a God who vilifies pleasure, relegates women to roles that are little more than servants and broodmares, though they are the backbone of your church, and seeks to control his worshippers through guilt and fear.

Ah, this has been so fun rereading the series. You can read my full review/thoughts on my original review here during Booked J's Blogtober/Reread of House of Night. 

 I think my favourite part of Betrayed was how grief was touched upon in a way that felt real and organic and emotional. It certainly had an effect from me--one of the rarest things of all is that I still cried during this one, despite knowing what was coming and what was yet to arrive in future books. Further, I loved the way that the Nerd Herd's friendship progressed in this one.

One of my issues with Marked was that the connection, their bond, seemed to come out of nowhere and in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion. Which was less noticeable as a teenager, but as an adult it definitely tuck out in a way that made it impossible to not note the underdeveloped, speed friendship. While it wasn't necessarily developed better in Betrayed in terms of what connects them, the bond of the Nerd Herd was definitely more poignant in this one. I had an easier time believing that they were all BFFs in this book, than I did in Marked.

There's a scene, for example, in the very last chapter where the group is all together. Minus Stevie Rae. You can feel that lingering moment of loss amongst them. They are mourning the friendship they had, that group dynamic that is seemingly gone (although, Zoey knows that Stevie Rae is out there--even if she's not the girl who befriended her and is presently missing her humanity) and Zoey recalls, to herself, the moment that her best-friend asks her to not forget her.

As she states out loud that she is remembering her, like she promised, and Damien, Shaunee, Erin and Erik all echo the same sentiment, something about it feels intensely emotional. It only adds to the impact when, in Zoey's narration, she makes a promise to herself and to her fallen best friend that she will go back for her. I don't know how to explain it other than to mention that the determination to save her best friend really, really gets to me in the best way possible.

(Side note, I should have included this in the "then" part of my reread but I remember always hopping on a House of Night message board between books. I just felt like I needed to mention that for some reason?) 

Much like I remembered, I think my favourite plotline in Betrayed was the inclusion and growth of Aphrodite. She is, as always, a standout. I love bitter, jaded, and slightly mean characters who are secretly good people who just do and say very bad things. Give me the morally gray characters who slowly begin to show that they do, in fact, have a more nurturing side. I really enjoyed seeing the ways that Aphrodite used her visions to help Zoey out.

That tentative friendship, too, is a standout. Knowing that they are both, now, on Neferet's bad side, is just fun. Their rivalry was always a bit choppy in terms of development but the friendship that follows them is fantastic.

I also really enjoyed the extension of the series' overlapping mythology. This is what I remembered in terms of worldbuilding. I'm glad it lived up to my memory of the series in this book. Betrayed really builds on what we learned in Marked and I know that the series only grows from here on out. From the Nerd Herd discovering their affinities, to the exploration of the Dark Daughters, to the inclusion of Stevie Rae's new status/the type of fledglings the "dead" kids are, Aphrodite's visions and powers, Zoey's powers continuing to grow, the dangerous air that comes with the deaths of humans, etc etc, this book really pulled at my attention in the best ways.

Of course, it was still flawed. While it fixes some of the issues in Marked, Betrayed still is by no means a perfect read. I don't need to say it, but I still really don't dig the constant slut shaming that goes on in the series. It is unnecessary and wholly outdated and overused. Tacky, even. It causes me to roll my eyes fairly frequently.

The writing was MUCH better in Betrayed, but so much of the slang, slurs, shaming and all that jazz really, really takes me out of the story and gives me secondhand embarrassment. So much (again with this word) unnecessary commentary that borders on obnoxious and offensive. I can acknowledge, as always, that teenagers (especially in 2007) do say things that are questionable but after a certain point it was so awkward hearing this attempt at being "youthful" in dialogue.

It standouts in the worst way. Although it isn't there every page like it was in Marked, it's still a lot and too much and really doesn't do the Casts any favors. It is what it is but it still ruins what could be.

In short, I really enjoyed rereading Betrayed. Far more than Marked. The series is a little outdated and cringy and a whole lot trashy, but it was still a fun experience. You can see the growth in the writing and mythology, and as a whole Betrayed makes me all the more hyped to continue on with Chosen and the series as a whole. A lot of my fondness for it has been restored, but I still have a lot of conflicting feelings about the series re: my nostalgia vs. now.

Betrayed A House of Night Novel (Book 2)

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