Book Review #2 House of Night: The Novellas

So here it is, my second book review. I think most people who like the vampire genre, know the book serie 'House of Night' from Kristin and P.C. Cast. For those who do not know the books, here is a synopsis of the first book:

After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them).

There are 10 books in total up to now, with more to come. But besides the main books, they have written novella's as well, background stories of some of the characters. The two novellas that have been published are Dragon's Oath and Lenobia's Vow. As far as I know two more are about to come (about Neferet & Kalona), but those haven't been published yet.

Lenobia's Vow
Of the two novellas this was the first one I've read. It is about the background story from the House of Night's horse mistress Lenobia. It tells her story from when she was 16 years old.

When fate intervenes, Lenobia suddenly finds herself surrounded by other girls, on a ship bound for New Orleans, where they will be married off to the city’s richest Frenchmen. And they’re not alone…. An evil bishop who is skilled in Dark magic makes the same journey. His appetite for lovely young women makes him dangerous – most of all to Lenobia, who caught his eye back in France. So she remains hidden, making secret visits to the ship’s stables, where a handsome young man and his beautiful Percheron horses soon capture her attention.

I loved to read about Lenobia's background as she appears as a great character in The House of Night books, though she doesn't have the biggest role in the books, I always loved her as a professor. It was amazing to read how her love for horses developed so much and how she becomes so close with the animals, as well as their caretaker. I've grown to love Lenobia even more than I already did because of this novella.

Dragon's Oath
This novella is the background story from (later) professors Dragon Lankford and Anastasia. Before you start reading this novella, be aware that it starts and finishes in the current time and that there will be huge spoilers if you haven't read the main books yet.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world…. In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…

But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?

This one is so much different from Lenobia's vow. Where Lenobia's vow seems to be a bit more sweet and lovable (though intense as well), this one is intense from start to end and much more troublesome. It does give a lot of background about Dragon though and it really shapes his character for who he is, as well as for Anastasia. One of the main events in one of the books is connected to this novella, which makes the beginning of it already heart breaking and the end even more, when you get to know how this could have happened, so be aware of some tears that may flow.

Both novellas hold beautiful drawings at the beginning of each chapter that go along with the stories very well, an excellent addition to the novellas!