HOUSE OF NIGHT Series

OK. So after thoroughly enjoying all of the Twilight books--6 times each, including Midnight Sun, when someone told me if I liked that, then I'd also enjoy the House of Night series. So I went online to my book club and purchased all that had been out at the time. (I did buy the most recent one the day it came out even though I hadn't been anticipating it's release as I am the new one from Stephenie that is already pre-ordered on Amazon.com!!!)

I flew through the first book of the House of Night series and I did enjoy it even though I noticed quite a few unforgivable grammar errors. It was edgy and different and was taking a new look at vampires that was definitely fun.

Just in case you're wondering, yes, I've always been interested in vampire stories. I've been a huge fan of the original Dracula by Bram Stoker--the book, not the movie. (The movie made Count Dracula TOO over-the-top sexually charged, even though he obviously is such in the novel. I just thought it was TOO much.) I have read the novel at least 2x during my life-time and thoroughly enjoyed both readings! I hope to read it again one day! I also enjoyed the tv series Dark Shadows--the one that came out in either the late eighties or early nineties. I was terribly disappointed when it went off the air after only a few episodes.

Needless to say, when I first learned of the Twilight series, I didn't want to read the books because I felt that it was TOO much pop culture and I am always leery of anything that is so over-the-top. Of course, I'm now one of those over-the-top folks who squeals like a little girl getting a pony whenever I see anything Twilight!

It was natural, then, for me to want to read the House of Night series while at the same time, not wanting to read it because of the cult phenomenon it already was.

Conflicted much, Polly?

Of course not!

Not!

Back to my point. Since I already had book 2 on my shelf.....wait. I have to take a moment to say something here about this series. I have never read a series that didn't let me know SOMEWHERE on the cover or within the first few pages of the book WHICH book number in the series I was holding in my hand!!!!! Even though each and every book takes a LOT of time reminding me about EVERYTHING that happened in the previous books, may God have mercy on our souls if we DARE to read a book like this out of order in the series! But of course, we're obviously expected to read these books out of order since there's NOWHERE on the book itself to indicate which book number I happen to be reading at the time! (For Heaven's sake, I should NOT have to get on the internet and look up the series to find out which one I should be reading next!!!!)

Since I already had book 2 on my shelf, I went ahead and read it. It took me a little longer to read it than it did the first one. I forced myself to finish it, though, because I'm just that way. Once I start a book, I do try to finish it.

So now, I've been reading the same House of Night book for about 4 or 5 months. (It NEVER takes me that long to read a book. Not even Gone With the Wind takes me that long to read!) And don't ask me which number I'm on--3? 4? I have NO idea. What I do know is that I keep forcing myself to pick it up and read a page or two, but because I'm FORCING myself to read it, I'm not getting anywhere as far as moving through the book. And I don't want to.

Why is Zoey so fickle? If she's the goddess' chosen one, why can't she control her dang emotions?! I realize she's only about 16 or 17 years old, but can't even teenagers at that age control their hormones enough that she doesn't need more than one boyfriend?! Every single boy she meets, we have to read about how HOT he is. And before we know it, she's kissing said boy, but wondering why she's such a skank.

If she doesn't WANT to be a skank, then don't be a skank! Choices, chickadee! Choices!!! I read somewhere that the mom wanted her daughter to be a part of the writing of this series to keep it real as far as young people go. There is such a thing as TOO real, Cast girls. In fact, I HOPE that's not REAL. I hope that's just wishful thinking on the younger Cast writer!!!!

I will be the first to admit that I'm a boy-lover from way back. Yes, I like boys. Always have. That doesn't mean that I'm kissing every one I see or meet! (Maybe a part of that is because I'm overweight and guys don't like big girls, but I seriously doubt that!) I know I talk a lot about a lot of guys and how gorgeous they all are, but I don't go kissing them all--and I wouldn't, even if I did ever get to meet my beloved Gerry (Gerard Butler)! I might HUG him if he let me, now! And if he kissed me, it would be a simple hello peck. I mean, come on!

Now I'm just making myself look like a skank and ruining my whole point! Oh well.

To be perfectly honest, the other part that I'm having a very hard time getting beyond is the whole goddess and then the birdman thing that has risen from underground. Even as a Christian myself, I understand that stories often need to show the good vs. evil in ways beyond God and Satan, but the way this series works in the good vs. evil characters is just too much even for me.

I find myself offended by the obvious "f-you" to Christians in the way that Zoey is for the side of good, but yet she does what Bible-believing Christians know to be sinful acts. It is an obvious statement that one doesn't have to live a righteous life as long as one is for good, being righteous doesn't even factor in to the equation for Zoey. Everything she says and refers to has to with being good.

I have to say this. I just don't believe that being good is what God expects of us. My Bible says that in order to live in eternity with my God, I have to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It's as simple as that. I don't have to be perfect or do everything exactly right--remember: Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven, but I do have to accept Christ into my heart and TRY to live according to HIS Holy Spirit.

Even though I do own all the books in the House of Night series that are currently available, I seriously doubt I'm going to make it through the rest of them. And I don't feel at all deprived or that I'm missing out on anything....not when I have Dracula or any of the Twilight books I can read.....again!!!!