Review: Destined by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Destined
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night, #9

Synopsis (goodreads): Breathing hard, Aurox stood there over the bodies of his vanquished enemies. He turned to Neferet.

"Very good," she said in her emotionless voice. "Let us leave this place before the authorities descend."

Aurox followed her. He walked heavily, his hooves gouging furrows in the dirty alley.

Weak. He felt weak. And more. There was something else.

"What is it?" She snapped at him when he hesitated before entering the car again.

"I do not know. I feel--"

She laughed. "You don't feel at all. You're obviously overthinking this."

"Yes, Priestess." Aurox got in the car and let the world speed past him. I do not think. I do not feel. I am a weapon. 
_________

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 Council 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 -- if 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 at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Review 

It's been a while since I've reviewed a House of Night book. It's not that I didn't love the books (because I did!!). I simply felt like I was writing the same things over and over again. However, I feel that I need to keep up with my reviews, so I'm going to start back with Destined, which I thought was going to be the final book, but after reading it I now know that it is in fact not the final book. Which I'm incredibly excited about!! At the end of the book, it says "THE END    For now..." and I just knew after I was getting close to the end of the book, that it could be THE END, because there were far too many questions being left unanswered and things with Neferet still weren't completely settled, and there were a very limited number of pages left. Certainly not enough to tie up loose ends in.


I just have to say, that at first when the whole Stevie Rae and Rephaim thing began, I was incredibly disgusted and grossed out, but I had the feeling it would turn into a Beauty and the Beast type thing where the "beauty" falls in love with the "beast" and he somehow becomes human again. And after I came to that conclusion, it didn't disgust me anymore. I am now really happen about them being together. Even though he has to take the form of a raven during the day. But at least he's a cute Indian boy at night now instead of a Raven Mocker, and has chosen the way of the Goddess.


I also really love Stark and Zoey together. He's been my favorite guy for her since he arrived at the Tulsa House of Night, even when he was a bad red fledgling and working for Kalona and Neferet. I just knew Zoey would somehow get to him. I was thrilled when he became her Warrior and then her Guardian. It just proved how much love was really between them from the start.


I'm enjoying how now we get the point of view of several of the characters, and not just Zoey. I feel like we get more of the story now than before, and a better understanding of the characters and the reasons behind their actions. I think at this point Neferet is the most intriguing. She is indeed completely heartless. She has no feelings and no remorse. She's simply power hungry and will do anything to obtain that power. She doesn't understand the workings of Darkness as much as she thinks and that will ultimately be her downfall, I'm almost certain. She thinks she can control Darkness when in fact she cannot. 


There are emotions that are running high between some of the characters, and we see friendships and loyalties tested. We see different sides of characters, both good and bad. Someone shows up at the House of Night, unexpected. Neferet brings chaos upon the school in more ways than one. New alliances are formed, and make you go "What the...??". But I must say I'm really enjoying what happened at the end of the book. I can only hope they get the next one out fast. Very fast.

I rate this book: