DESTINED by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is fast paced and
intriguing. The story opens with Zoey trying to cope with
the fact that her mother is dead. She is not sure if it is
real or a dream. She soon realizes she is not dreaming.
This of course is not the only thing she has to deal with,
there is always Neferet and what she might be up to next.
Zoey, Stevie Rae, and the rest of the gang leave the
tunnels to head to The House of Night for classes. When
they exit the tunnels there is a short yellow school bus
with House of Night painted on the side in fresh black
paint that is waiting to take them there. This is just the
first of Neferts humiliations for their group.
When they
get to the HoN they are met by Neferet and a lot of
resistance with their appearance. The group is determined
that all of them be allowed to attend class, including
Rephaim. But before anyone goes to class there are a few
things that are to be straightened out. One of the main
issues is for them to stay in the tunnels, because it is
safer for the red fledglings, and so they are not under
constant watch of Neferet. She agrees.
With that settled,
the other thing that is bothering the group is the
appearance of a new weapon Neferet has in the form of a
gorgeous boy named Aurox. Neferet explains that he was a
gift from Nyx, which no one believes. The other surprise is
the appearance of Thanatos from the high council. She will
be teaching a class exclusively to Zoey and her group,
Stevie Rae and her red fledglings and Dallas and his
group.
These are not the only changes at The HoN. Zoey
finally figures out that Neferet is up to something and
that something can only cause chaos. But why is the
question and what could Neferet be up to now and who has
she enlisted to help her? She no longer has Kalona helping
her, so who could it be, and what is the purpose of Aurox?
Rephaim and Kalona have major father/son issues that they
are going to have to try to work out. Erik has been called
to mark his first fledgling. His first marking does not go
as planned and he thinks he has messed it up completely,
but in the end it turns out to be a blessing to the group.
The main part of DESTINED focuses on Zoey's mothers death
or murder, on Aurox's appearance, and his role for Neferet
and what that means to Zoey.
If you a fan of The House of Night series DESTINED is a must
read. If you have not read the other books, you will need
to or you will be lost. DESTINED is a good story and well
written,
as always by the great Cast duo. I recommend reading
DESTINED, it is fast paced, and exciting with a lot of
twists and turns.
Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her
Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face
off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if
the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she
really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and,
through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae
are finally able to be together – as long as he can truly
walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's
shadow…
But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An
influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse
whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then
there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen
boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human.
Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon.
But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human,
the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s
something strangely familiar about him…
Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds
in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch
Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him – and everyone –
from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the thrilling
ninth chapter of the House of Night series.