Chosen: House of Night, #3 -- P.C. and Kristin Cast

Okay, so in Chosen, Zoey's got problems because she has three boyfriends, her best friend Stevie Ray is an undead monster and the head of House of Night (her vampyre finishing school) is an evil beeyotch.  Zoey has just discovered that Aphrodite, her sworn enemy, now has an affinity for earth, which means that she has to let her back into the Dark Daughters group in Stevie Ray's place, even though everyone hates Aphrodite.  And also, no one knows that the aforementioned evil beeyotch IS an evil beeyotch EXCEPT Zoey and Aphrodite and they can't tell anyone because they don't want to tip their hand.

Teaming up with your sworn enemy can be tough.

Improvements from last time:

Zoey has mostly stopped referring to her "exotic Cherokee looks" on every other page.

Stevie Ray's story arc is decent.

Problems:

The pop culture references continue to be dated.  The book came out this year and... Sean William Scott?  Really?  Hardly anyone knows or cares about him now.  Just imagine how this'll read in five years.

The term "popped cherry" was used.  Okay, I'm sorry, but gross.  And does anyone even say that anymore?  Even grosser, it was an adult who said it.

Every single time Zoey mentioned the fact that she had three boyfriends (and there were many times), she called herself a "ho-bag".  Zoey:  Either revel in it or dump two of them.  It's not that hard.  Or at least deal with the self loathing and guilt and move on.  Please, please, please, please, please don't moan about how much of a "ho" you are for pages and then go hump someone.  It's REALLY ANNOYING.

Okay, speaking of the three boyfriends:  One of them is your childhood friend who you keep accidentally biting... so you should probably dump him.  One of them is the most milquetoast vampire in the entire history of vampires and I am INCLUDING Anne Rice's Louis AND that kid from that episode of Buffy who just dressed up as a vampire and wanted to be called Diego... so you should probably dump him, too, because he's boringer than boring with a side of boring.  And thirdly, we have your teacher.  Do I even need to explain myself here?  Gross.  Just... gross.

If I, the heathen, find it semi-offensive that the only Christians in this series are complete lunatic bigot freaks, I can't imagine how someone who was actually remotely religious would feel while reading it.

Typos galore.

Zoey's friend Damien continues to wow their clique with his amazing grasp of two-syllable words.  It's his THING.  His boyfriend, Jack Twist, stands out because he's Damien's boyfriend.  That's his THING.  And her other friends, the Twins, also have a THING.  Actually, two:  finishing sentences for each other and lusting after every male that moves.  So, yeah.  Zoey's friends continue to be a group of incredibly multi-faceted and three-dimensional characters. 

Lastly, Zoey is an IDIOT.  I can't go into my reasons due to huge spoilers, but she is, I'm sorry, just dumb.  I dislike her intensely. 

And yet, I really want to know what happens next, in a let's-look-at-the-train-wreck sort of way.  I don't know what is wrong with me.

_______________________________________________________

Previously:

1.  Marked

Comments

[teacherninja]

See,I wish Buffy were still on so they could make fun of all these YA vampire novels. I'd love to hear Spike pick on some Twilight lovers...

[Leila]

Oh, man. Pre-chip Spike would have rolled around in glitter and then gone hunting.

Sigh.

[TadMack]

Hahahah! I kind of had this reaction to the FIRST PC Cast novel. I cannot understand their popularity, yet I know that they ARE popular, and people who are desperate for a vampire fix WILL read them.

sigh. And I do miss Spike. So snarky. So blond.

[cc]

Have you really read THREE of them?

[Leila]

Yep. I've read three. And I just put an ILL request in for the fourth. I don't know what is wrong with me.

I miss Spike. But now that I'm a grown up (sort of...), I actually prefer Angel. (Still hate Riley.) So I've been having fun lately watching David Boreanaz on Bones. (Hulu has become my tv lifeline.)

[Jess]

I've read all four. They are the absolute worst books that I have ever read. Okay maybe just four is the worst. I'm actually selling them on half.com just to have them out of my house. If they don't sell soon, I'm donating them. Ridiculous.

[Maureen E]

If I, the heathen, find it semi-offensive that the only Christians in this series are complete lunatic bigot freaks, I can't imagine how someone who was actually remotely religious would feel while reading it.

THANK YOU. It makes me slightly sick when people do this. Talk about judgmental.

I think part of why it bothers me is that I feel pre-judged. Like, no matter who am I or what I say or what I actually stand for, the label Christian is going to come with a set of stereotypes that immediately gets applied to me. And really, they're reactions against a certain type of Protestantism and a certain type of Catholicism and not my branch of Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) at all.

Sorry to go on a soap-box there.

[annie]

"One of them is the most milquetoast vampire in the entire history of vampires and I am INCLUDING Anne Rice's Louis AND that kid from that episode of Buffy who just dressed up as a vampire and wanted to be called Diego"

That might be the most awesome Buffy reference ever. Yay!

Why can't kids today just watch Buffy on DVD to get their vampire jollies?

[A Paperback Writer]

"Lastly, Zoey is an IDIOT... but she is, I'm sorry, just dumb. I dislike her intensely.

And yet, I really want to know what happens next, in a let's-look-at-the-train-wreck sort of way. I don't know what is wrong with me."

Gosh, I felt the same way about sarah palin. :)

[Allie]

I loved the first and then it gets worse with each book you read in the series. The twins still call each other twin in every other sentence and they actually call Jack a gay twister? Anyway, like you say, it is like a train wreck and I do need to read the next one in the series.

[sassymonkey]

"If I, the heathen, find it semi-offensive that the only Christians in this series are complete lunatic bigot freaks, I can't imagine how someone who was actually remotely religious would feel while reading it."

Christians are slightly redeemed in the fourth book. But after reading that book I am *so* done. I got rid of all my copies. I almost feel the trainwreck thing but I figure someone online will tell me what happened so I don't really need to read them...

[britt]

ha you guys all suck these books are good and different

[ashton]

I agree with britt...you guys suck. the books that I've read (marked and betrayed) are good and different...It's just messed up and totally wrong for Zoey to have 2 or 3 boyfriends...I mean I can't believe she would like her teacher and I understand if you think he's hot and all but he's totally off limits.

[kerry]

i loved all the books so far they are the best. everyone has there own opinion and so do i but u lot realy dont need to be so hard, the writers of this book didnt mean to ofend no one as they said in a interview the vampires have there own religon so read between the lines of the bludy book. oh and biffy sucks.

[Courtney]

ok, why did they have to kill "loren" or whatever you wanna call him. right when he starts to be a little more interesting? why not have Neferet who suposevly loves him bring him back to life like shes been doing with the fledglings. I really thought the book would end well, i was wrong. the cat growled or sumthing stupid like that. when zoey fell over and started screaming with pain i thought she was changing(even though it's too soon)

[Kaitlin]

Yeahh, I'm reading this series and I'm really offended by the way Christians are perceived in it. I'm glad someone else feels the same.
Zoey is kind of an idiot sometimes.
And what the heck is up with these red fledgings?! I'm only on book two, is this something that will be explained to me later?

[Karina]

Kaitlin, evrything about these red fledglings will be explained in other books. I dont want to write what exactly because otherwise it wont be so interesting to read!) I am on tempted and really enjoyed all other books and I just cant stop reading them!)
Hope that helped you and encouraged to continue reading because these books are truly amazing!)))

[brandy]

yup...i agree with all of you i like the books i know i am weird but i think its good but the writer is stupid i was done with the description of the "twins" when i read betrayed i already got it when i read the first book and Angel is way better then spike but i do love me some spike the bad boy thing is kinda hot =] ♥