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Betrayed, the second installment in the bestselling House of Night series from P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.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, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group. Best of all, Zoey's made some new friends and she finally feels show more like she belongs—like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend...or two. And despite the best efforts of her mother and step-loser John to humiliate her publically during parent visitation, she's earned the respect of her professors and High Priestess, Neferet.
Then the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night, straining human-vamp tensions in Tulsa to a breaking point. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she finds herself drawn into an intoxicating forbidden flirtation that threatens to distract her from the growing crisis. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Too late, Zoey begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves, and she must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.
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I did think think this book was better than the first. The death scene in particular was gut wrenching. However, I still found it very problematic. For starters, the slut shaming and general woman bashing still continues even while this book poses as a feminist, empowering book. Then, there's Damien and Jack. Cute that Damien is finding someone but really? Playing into the "there are only two gays in this book, let's make them an item without showing any emotional attachment or building of a relationship." Then we have Aphrodite, who is by far, my favorite character. She is clearly aligning herself with Zoey's side/Circle/against Nefert and helps save not only Grandma but Heath, and yet Zoey is still calling her a hag and a ho? Not to show more mention Zoey is juggling 3 guys so she is being incredibly hypocritical. And Loren fucking Blake. How inappropriate? A teacher and a student, an adult WITH A LITERAL 16 YEAR OLD. Need I say more? Also why do her two sibling literally never cross her mind? There were some interesting plot developments (although considering it has only been a month, maybe two at this time, it's all happening rather quickly.) Considering this is a book mainly directed at teens (I read this for the first time in middle school.) It has some severely inappropriate topics and just bad lessons for young girls. show less
Zoey is facing the task of completely redeeming and rebuilding the Dark Daughters into a new, reformed organisation. A difficult task for her at the best of times – but with boys from her old school going missing, police suspecting vampires and three guys vying for her attention, Zoey has a lot of distractions.
Before we begin the review, I must remind everyone that my suffering through this series is the fault of Cyna and Mavrynthia and Merriska. I cannot even remember how they convinced me to go along with this torturous read – but in the name of some partial justice I think everyone should remind Cyna that she’s only read the first book of the Fallen Series and really really needs to read the rest.
Ok, let us start positively. show more Yes, I actually can start positively on this book (well, in relative terms). I do appreciate that an effort has been made in this book to make Aphrodite less of a complete avatar of awfulness (by giving her parents who are complete avatars of awfulness). There’s also a toning down of the all consuming slut shaming of the last book – certainly not a removal of it by any stretch, but a definite reduction. There was also a half-decent attempt at an emotional death scene
I’m not saying any of these are good, because they’re really not and in any other book I would bite off my fingers before saying anything positive about these things, but Marked set the bar so damn low that exceeding my expectations is pretty damn easy to do. Kind of how falling in a compost heap feels more like a warm, soft landing after having swum through a toxic cess pool.
The first complaint I have about this book is the glaring void where the plot needs to be. I have sat for 10 minutes trying to figure out what happened and come up empty time and again. Some guys disappear but she watches that on the news, that’s hardly a plot point. She just kind of wanders around not doing a whole lot until we have some action hastily tacked on the end.
I suppose, in theory, the reformation of the Dark Daughters, the super club of the House of Night is the plot. But it’s not only completely lacking in any kind of substance, but it’s also comically awful.
First of all she does a whole lot of research to come up with the genius idea of a student council. No, really, that’s her master plan that actually requires research on her part which would be sad to begin with. But it gets worse – because she also decides she hates how cliquish the Dark Daughters was under Aphrodite so she’s totally going to make it different no – by making 6 of the 7 council members her, her friends and her boyfriend. Marvel at this for a moment, to remove the cliquishness of the Dark Daughters she decides to replace Aphrodite’s friends with all of her own friends. Yes, Zoey lacks even the slightest sense of self-awareness.
But it gets even worse! Because she decides that they will also have a code of conduct to uphold virtues based on the 5 elements (fire, air, earth, water and spirit). Ok I think this could work – personally I think codes of conduct should be based on virtues you want to uphold rather than whether they make a neat set, but I can see, say, courage or passion for fire, tenacity and steadfastness for Earth or…
….ha! Nope, she’s going by the first letters. Seriously, it’s “authenticity” for air and “faith” for fire. Her meaningful virtue system doesn’t even work in another language. It’s also completely that vague – so all the Dark Daughters now have to be “authentic” whatever that actually means – as well as “sincere” for spirit (which I kind of think is just double dipping the same virtue).
To make this nonsense even more galling is the way everyone treats her like she’s some incredible, amazing genius for coming up with this basic, hollow, empty nonsense. No, really, one character even thinks this amazing non-idea is so impressive that she actually steals it. It’s like copying of a 10 year old for your dissertation. It’s depressing and it’s classic Mary Sueness – the protagonist comes up with the weakest, most pathetic non-idea and everyone fawns over it like it’s utter genius. She literally “sweated for weeks” over these ideas.
On top of this non-idea we have the love triangle – well, square.
I’m not a fan of a love triangle in any book but in this book it’s expressly galling to have the protagonist have 3 separate love interests when so much of this series to date is dedicated to saying what dirty nasty jezebels sexual women are and how all legs must be firmly cemented together in fear of ho-dom. It’s gross hypocrisy to present female sexuality in such a terrible fashion, attacking women constantly as “sluts” and “hos” and then have your protagonist rack up three hot guys to follow her around.
And each relationship is problematic. Sexy guy 1 is the hot teacher who who is hot and quotes poetry while getting all handsy with her. She gets all frustrated that he almost kisses her but doesn’t, never mind the actual boyfriend she has – or that he’s a teacher. The fact that he’s a teacher trying to get it on with a 16 year old is barley even touched upon – he’s just a hot guy and everyone may now drool, never mind power difference or abuse of position. Here’s one time when we can start yelling “shame” and everyone’s silent on the issue
Then there’s the ex-boyfriend human who she regards with constant contempt. She will occasionally mention that he’s cute, but every other word she has for him is contemptuous. Of course, the reason why he wants her so much is because he is magically compelled by her vampire-yness. His free will is completely compromised, he is addicted to her and she can literally magically stalk him. Again, there is precious little attempt to address the abusive nature of this relationship, instead it’s just a conflict because poor poor Zoey doesn’t know who to choose, like it’s her complicated love life rather than abuse.
The final love interest is Eirik. He’s pretty and he does Shakespearean monologues. This is it. There are manikins with more personality. It says a lot that his lack of personality stands out next to the rest of the characters – because no-one is developed. Her enemies are terribad awful. Her friends are characterless sycophants (two of them with the same personality who call each other “twin”). It’s amazing that Eirik can have even less personality than these hollow caricatures
Read More show less
Before we begin the review, I must remind everyone that my suffering through this series is the fault of Cyna and Mavrynthia and Merriska. I cannot even remember how they convinced me to go along with this torturous read – but in the name of some partial justice I think everyone should remind Cyna that she’s only read the first book of the Fallen Series and really really needs to read the rest.
Ok, let us start positively. show more Yes, I actually can start positively on this book (well, in relative terms). I do appreciate that an effort has been made in this book to make Aphrodite less of a complete avatar of awfulness (by giving her parents who are complete avatars of awfulness). There’s also a toning down of the all consuming slut shaming of the last book – certainly not a removal of it by any stretch, but a definite reduction. There was also a half-decent attempt at an emotional death scene
I’m not saying any of these are good, because they’re really not and in any other book I would bite off my fingers before saying anything positive about these things, but Marked set the bar so damn low that exceeding my expectations is pretty damn easy to do. Kind of how falling in a compost heap feels more like a warm, soft landing after having swum through a toxic cess pool.
The first complaint I have about this book is the glaring void where the plot needs to be. I have sat for 10 minutes trying to figure out what happened and come up empty time and again. Some guys disappear but she watches that on the news, that’s hardly a plot point. She just kind of wanders around not doing a whole lot until we have some action hastily tacked on the end.
I suppose, in theory, the reformation of the Dark Daughters, the super club of the House of Night is the plot. But it’s not only completely lacking in any kind of substance, but it’s also comically awful.
First of all she does a whole lot of research to come up with the genius idea of a student council. No, really, that’s her master plan that actually requires research on her part which would be sad to begin with. But it gets worse – because she also decides she hates how cliquish the Dark Daughters was under Aphrodite so she’s totally going to make it different no – by making 6 of the 7 council members her, her friends and her boyfriend. Marvel at this for a moment, to remove the cliquishness of the Dark Daughters she decides to replace Aphrodite’s friends with all of her own friends. Yes, Zoey lacks even the slightest sense of self-awareness.
But it gets even worse! Because she decides that they will also have a code of conduct to uphold virtues based on the 5 elements (fire, air, earth, water and spirit). Ok I think this could work – personally I think codes of conduct should be based on virtues you want to uphold rather than whether they make a neat set, but I can see, say, courage or passion for fire, tenacity and steadfastness for Earth or…
….ha! Nope, she’s going by the first letters. Seriously, it’s “authenticity” for air and “faith” for fire. Her meaningful virtue system doesn’t even work in another language. It’s also completely that vague – so all the Dark Daughters now have to be “authentic” whatever that actually means – as well as “sincere” for spirit (which I kind of think is just double dipping the same virtue).
To make this nonsense even more galling is the way everyone treats her like she’s some incredible, amazing genius for coming up with this basic, hollow, empty nonsense. No, really, one character even thinks this amazing non-idea is so impressive that she actually steals it. It’s like copying of a 10 year old for your dissertation. It’s depressing and it’s classic Mary Sueness – the protagonist comes up with the weakest, most pathetic non-idea and everyone fawns over it like it’s utter genius. She literally “sweated for weeks” over these ideas.
On top of this non-idea we have the love triangle – well, square.
I’m not a fan of a love triangle in any book but in this book it’s expressly galling to have the protagonist have 3 separate love interests when so much of this series to date is dedicated to saying what dirty nasty jezebels sexual women are and how all legs must be firmly cemented together in fear of ho-dom. It’s gross hypocrisy to present female sexuality in such a terrible fashion, attacking women constantly as “sluts” and “hos” and then have your protagonist rack up three hot guys to follow her around.
And each relationship is problematic. Sexy guy 1 is the hot teacher who who is hot and quotes poetry while getting all handsy with her. She gets all frustrated that he almost kisses her but doesn’t, never mind the actual boyfriend she has – or that he’s a teacher. The fact that he’s a teacher trying to get it on with a 16 year old is barley even touched upon – he’s just a hot guy and everyone may now drool, never mind power difference or abuse of position. Here’s one time when we can start yelling “shame” and everyone’s silent on the issue
Then there’s the ex-boyfriend human who she regards with constant contempt. She will occasionally mention that he’s cute, but every other word she has for him is contemptuous. Of course, the reason why he wants her so much is because he is magically compelled by her vampire-yness. His free will is completely compromised, he is addicted to her and she can literally magically stalk him. Again, there is precious little attempt to address the abusive nature of this relationship, instead it’s just a conflict because poor poor Zoey doesn’t know who to choose, like it’s her complicated love life rather than abuse.
The final love interest is Eirik. He’s pretty and he does Shakespearean monologues. This is it. There are manikins with more personality. It says a lot that his lack of personality stands out next to the rest of the characters – because no-one is developed. Her enemies are terribad awful. Her friends are characterless sycophants (two of them with the same personality who call each other “twin”). It’s amazing that Eirik can have even less personality than these hollow caricatures
Read More show less
Better than the first book - which I did like - with some real threats, complications, and character development. Things get more ambiguous in this book & its not clear for a while who is "good" and who is "bad." Even the main character seems to struggle with making the right decisions, which was kind of a nice change from the first book, where she is not only super-powerful but super-good. This book had a lot of plot in it - it seemed much longer than it was, but in a good way. I was actually saddened by various events, which was a surprise to me. The thing I liked best about this book - which is going to sound bad, but keep in mind that I am one of the people who was disappointed with the lack of sacrifice entailed in Stephanie show more Meyer's Breaking Dawn - was that even as things were going great, Zoey and her friends were experiencing loss and pain. This author is not going to let everything always wrap itself up in a tiny bow. I also like how the major threads of the plots seem to be carrying over from book to book & not getting resolved in the span of a single book - this adds to the tension but also makes it a little more realistic that each book seems to only cover a month or so. But hey, its a book about vampires, right, so asking for realism is kind of silly. show less
Much better than Marked! The Casts must have listened to their editor for this installment. The pop culture references were much diminished, and the excessive vocab explanations were under control, too. The mystery and action was more intense and intriguing. There was a bit too much info-dumping to remind us of what happened in Marked, but I suppose for readers waiting in between installments, that might be useful. I really hope the drama with all of Zoey's boyfriends will be resolved soon; that's a bit much.
Fledgling vamp Zoey Redbird is starting to fit in at the House of Night school. Her advanced abilities have set her apart but she has a group of loyal friends and a really hot boyfriend as support. But with Erik away at a competition, Zoey inadvertently runs into ex (human) boyfriend Heath, deepening her imprint on him, and finds herself attracted to poet/teacher Loren. If that's not enough, boys from her old school start turning up dead, another fledgling dies, and Zoey is worried about the unusual behavior of both her mentor, Neferet, and her rival, Aphrodite.
Cast and Cast are able to create a more compelling story line in the second House of Night novel, since all the main characters have been established. Shifting alliances and show more secrets keep the reader guessing. Some of Zoey's internal monologue could cut but overall, the story moves well and leads nicely into the 3rd installment. show less
Cast and Cast are able to create a more compelling story line in the second House of Night novel, since all the main characters have been established. Shifting alliances and show more secrets keep the reader guessing. Some of Zoey's internal monologue could cut but overall, the story moves well and leads nicely into the 3rd installment. show less
There were several times where I just wanted to give up. Just quit and throw in the towel. But I persevered, and I am kind of glad that I did.
Now a few things that I found annoying, and that would have caused me to throw the book (Had I been reading the book itself & not listening to the cd)...all of the stereotypes yet again. Jack? Please, just please. Don't even get me started on the Zoe being confused about 3 guys, yet calling Aphrodite a Ho (many, many, many times). The pop culture references...yet again abound. But hey, when you are just writing to put a new roof on the house, who cares if it will still be around in 20 years? These books just sprung up because of the beloved "Twilight" craze, honestly. But, I'm going to keep show more reading. Because I want to find out if Mary Sue...I mean Zoe is going to get her hair messed up at all. Because she is "The most powerful fledgling EVER!" (Which you are reminded of constantly. Sometimes several times per paragraph.) I also want to know what happens to Stevie Rae (BOO!), Damian (yay!) and Heath, and possibly Aphrodite, Neferet, and oh, the Twins.
What can I say, I'm a glutten for punishment! show less
Now a few things that I found annoying, and that would have caused me to throw the book (Had I been reading the book itself & not listening to the cd)...all of the stereotypes yet again. Jack? Please, just please. Don't even get me started on the Zoe being confused about 3 guys, yet calling Aphrodite a Ho (many, many, many times). The pop culture references...yet again abound. But hey, when you are just writing to put a new roof on the house, who cares if it will still be around in 20 years? These books just sprung up because of the beloved "Twilight" craze, honestly. But, I'm going to keep show more reading. Because I want to find out if Mary Sue...I mean Zoe is going to get her hair messed up at all. Because she is "The most powerful fledgling EVER!" (Which you are reminded of constantly. Sometimes several times per paragraph.) I also want to know what happens to Stevie Rae (BOO!), Damian (yay!) and Heath, and possibly Aphrodite, Neferet, and oh, the Twins.
What can I say, I'm a glutten for punishment! show less
Betrayed was a solid follow up to the first House of Night book, Marked. The tension level was elevated, the stakes were higher, and the concepts got a little bit more adult in this one.
Zoey has a lot more to handle in this installment: an attraction to three men—Erik, her fledgling boyfriend; Heath, her human ex-boyfriend who has Imprinted with her and shows no signs of being bothered by it; and Loren Blake, vampyre poet laureate and visiting professor, who is technically off-limits to her—which is making her feel like a skank; leadership of the Dark Daughters, with the responsibility of removing the taint from Aphrodite’s past leadership; and a nagging feeling that something is not quite right about her mentor, High Priestess show more Neferet.
Zoey became more real, as she makes hard choices and sometimes wrong ones, like the decision to keep her bond with Heath. I had an easier time being in Zoey’s head this time around, and when Stevie Rae died, I felt shaken up.
However, so much of the story takes place inside Zoey’s own head that most of the supporting cast, again, is left looking sort of hollow and flat. The worst, though, by far, was Erik. For someone who Zoey is supposed to be so close to, almost nothing is spoken. There is nothing about his family, his hometown, his past, anything except that he wins Shakespeare competitions, likes dork movies like Zoey, and is very jealous. His jealousy, coupled with the fact that almost no other character qualities are stated about him, makes him a very unattractive character, and more and more I wondered why she was with him.
A lot of questions were left at the end of this one, like what exactly Neferet was doing with the undead fledglings, and why they had become undead in the first place. Also, the status of Zoey’s relationship with Aphrodite, as well as Aphrodite’s motivations for anything, was a huge question mark for me.
I liked the book, but it felt uneven to me; the hollow characterizations detracted from the strength of the storyline and the tension and anxiety of Zoey’s choices. show less
Zoey has a lot more to handle in this installment: an attraction to three men—Erik, her fledgling boyfriend; Heath, her human ex-boyfriend who has Imprinted with her and shows no signs of being bothered by it; and Loren Blake, vampyre poet laureate and visiting professor, who is technically off-limits to her—which is making her feel like a skank; leadership of the Dark Daughters, with the responsibility of removing the taint from Aphrodite’s past leadership; and a nagging feeling that something is not quite right about her mentor, High Priestess show more Neferet.
Zoey became more real, as she makes hard choices and sometimes wrong ones, like the decision to keep her bond with Heath. I had an easier time being in Zoey’s head this time around, and when Stevie Rae died, I felt shaken up.
However, so much of the story takes place inside Zoey’s own head that most of the supporting cast, again, is left looking sort of hollow and flat. The worst, though, by far, was Erik. For someone who Zoey is supposed to be so close to, almost nothing is spoken. There is nothing about his family, his hometown, his past, anything except that he wins Shakespeare competitions, likes dork movies like Zoey, and is very jealous. His jealousy, coupled with the fact that almost no other character qualities are stated about him, makes him a very unattractive character, and more and more I wondered why she was with him.
A lot of questions were left at the end of this one, like what exactly Neferet was doing with the undead fledglings, and why they had become undead in the first place. Also, the status of Zoey’s relationship with Aphrodite, as well as Aphrodite’s motivations for anything, was a huge question mark for me.
I liked the book, but it felt uneven to me; the hollow characterizations detracted from the strength of the storyline and the tension and anxiety of Zoey’s choices. show less
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Author Information
103+ Works 89,159 Members
P.C. Cast was born in Watseka, Illinois in 1960. After graduating from high school, she joined the U.S. Air Force. After her tour of duty, she taught English in high school for 15 years before becoming a full-time author. She has written numerous books including the Goddess Summoning series, the Partholon series, and the Divine series. She show more co-writes the young adult House of Night novels with her daughter Kristin. She has received several awards including the Oklahoma Book Award, Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, and the Laurel Wreath. Moon Chosen, the first title in Cast's new series, Tales of a New World, became a New York Time bestseller in 2016. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
69+ Works 77,727 Members
Kristin Cast was born on November 4, 1986. She co-writes the popular young adult, fantasy/horror House of Night series with her mother, P.C. Cast. She began contributing to the series at age 19. She has stand-alone stories in several anthologies as well as editorial credits. (Bowker Author Biography)
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Awards
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Series
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Betrayed
- Original title
- Betrayed
- Original publication date
- 2007-09-13
- People/Characters
- Zoey Redbird; Stevie Rae Johnson; Erin Bates; Shaunee Cole; Damien Maslin; Erik Night (show all 10); Neferet; Aphrodite LaFont; Heath Luck; Loren Blake
- Important places
- Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; House Of Night School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Dedication
- We would like to dedicate this book to (Aunty) Sherry Rowland, friend and publicist. Thank you, Sher, for taking care of us. Even when we're high maintenance and annoying (and especially when you give us "treaties"). We heart... (show all) you very much.
- First words
- "New kid, check it out," Shaunee said as she slid into the big booth-like bench we always claim as ours for every school meal served in the dining hall (translation: high-class school cafeteria).
- Quotations
- (pg. 52)
"Cream and silk as one
How I long to taste and touch
The moon watches us."
(pg. 151)
For Zoey
Alluring Priestess.
Night can't cloak your scarlet dream.
Accept Desire's call.
(pg. 182)
"Her father lov'd me; oft invited me;
Still question'd me the story of my life
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes
That I have pass'd."
(pg. 183)
"She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd
That heaven had made her such a man; she thank'd me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story,
She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd,
And I lov'd her that she did pity them."
(pg. 205)
" 'I have no name,
I am but two days old.'
What shall I call thee?
'I happy am,
Joy is my name.'
Sweet joy befall thee!"
(pg. 205-206)
"Pretty joy!
Sweet joy but two days old,
Sweet joy I call thee;
Thou dost smile..."
(pg. 206)
"I sing the while-
Sweet joy befall thee."
(pg. 213)
"Airy light of the moon
Mystery of the deep earth
Power of the flowing water
Warmth of the burning flame
In Nyx's name we call to thee!"
(pg. 213)
"Healing of ills
Right of wrongs
Cleansing of impurity
Desiring of truths
In Nyx's name we call to thee!"
(pg. 213)
"Sight of the cat
Hearing of the dolphin
Speed of the snake
Mystery of the phoenix
In Nyx's name we call to thee
and ask that with us you will blessed be!" - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I'll go back for you, Stevie Rae.
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