Awakened ★★★

Awakened (House of Night, #8) - P.C. & Kristin Cast ★★★

House of Night is a series about a young girl who is marked to become a vampire. She must move into what is essentially a bording school for future vampires. Over the course of the books Zoey ends up in an epic battle of good verses evil. In this installment, Zoey is exahusted from the fight. She just wants to find stability in her life. Just when she thinks she might get a tiny reprieve, darkness strikes again. She's already lost her best friend in the fight and Stark is weakened from his trip to the Otherworld. Just when she doesn't think she can handle anymore, she'll lose others that are close to her. But Zoey isn't the only one with problems, Stevie Ray is drawn even closer to Rephaim, but she feels like she can't tell anyone about them, especially since Rephaim is still loyal to his father. His loyalty has him torn between protecting Stevie Ray and honoring his father. And of course, Kalona and Neferet are still a threat.

I really loved this series when I first read it, but since then I've read more YA and PNR. It was one of the first paranormal series that I read and I was enthralled. However, the more I read, the weaker these books began to seem. Although, that could also have to do with the fact that they weakened along the way. I was almost ready to give up the series, but this book might have saved it for me. It wasn't as action packed as the previous books, but it was an emotional ride. For those of us that have become attached to the characters and keep reading to see how their lives play out, this is a must read. There's one scene in the story that just has to read. However, unless you're collecting the books or a huge fan, I wouldn't buy it. Somewhere after book three I started checking them out at the library rather than spend money on them. They would be much better if the teenagers didn't speak like idiots. The diologue is what drives me crazy. The stories would be much more read worthy if she wrote them more like her adult books and less like they're full of ditzy idiots. I know that not all of her characters are morons, but their speech patterns tend to make the reader question that.

Pale Demon ★★★★★

Pale Demon (Rachel Morgan/The Hallows, #9) - Kim Harrison ★★★★★

Rachel has to get to California for her meeting with the witches council, but when she gets to the airport she finds herself grounded. The airlines won't let her on a plane. Now her only hope of getting to the west coast in time is via a road trip. Too bad the trip includes Trent. The two of them trapped in a car for a cross-country road trip... sparks will fly. Not only do they have to try and make the trip without killing one another, they have to survive assassination attempts. Someone is out to kill Trent and the council still believes Rachel is better off dead. Her future is on the line and she has to try and keep herself out of the demon realm. All Rachel ever wanted was to be left alone, but it's never going to happen.

Pale Demon was amazing. I loved it. I've always enjoyed Harrison's books, but there's always been something that has kept them from being AMAZING. I loved the third book in the series and it was my favorite, but this one has tied with it. I think that I enjoyed the action more in book three, but this was a book full of shockers. A lot of different elements came together: Rachel finally learns exactly what she is, we learn more about the demon realm, and more about Trent. It was the reveals, mixed with the intense action sequences, and banter between the characters that made the book. If you've read the series and have become attached to the characters then you'll love how they all interact with one another. Everyone is growing and coming into their own, but it has taken a whole lot of drama to get there. All I needed to hear was that Trent and Rachel would be stuck in a car together and I could tell you that Harrison had a hit. Luckily, she didn't disappoint. I look forward to the next installment since the end of the book provides Harrison with a chance to go in many, many different directions.

This book will be released on January 22nd. I recommend this book for purchase.