Heather Finley

So to continue on my streak of reading vampire books, I picked up the first four books in the House of Night series by mother/daughter duo PC Cast and Kirstn Cast.  Seeing as they are coming to Portland this week, I wanted to be familar with their work.

First off, I find it very interesting that PC and Kirstin are a mother/daughter writing team.  Is there any other writing teams like that?  It was disappointing to read that PC did the entire first draft then Kirstin was more of just an editor.  Every interview I’ve read, that is how they say their writing process goes.  When they are here, I want to try to remember to ask how much say Kirstin has in where the series goes.  I get that she puts a youthful spin on things, but has she also changed the plot or made suggestions to her mom before PC writes out the first draft?

As for the series itself, I’m not completely sold on it right now.  It is weird because I do want to read more.  I find it interesting and I want to know what happens with the characters. I think I’m not into it yet because I haven’t found a favorite character.  There is characters I like, Aphrodite for example, but I have yet to really relate to one.  With Vampire Diaries, I love Damian.  In the Sookie Stackhouse novels, I love Sookies, and Eric, and Pam, and Sam, and Alcide…okay kind of everyone except Bill.  In the Twilight saga I loved most the Cullens. Edward was the exception to that.  In the Vegas Vampire book by Erin McCarthy, I loved every character.  Gwenna was my favorite because she reminded me of myself.  But with the House of Night novels, I just can’t find a character I’m really into.  I hope as I write books, people will love my characters.  I know I really love to the two main characters in the book I have finish and am editing.

One thing I like a lot about the House of Night novels is the way they pull together their own mythology about vampires and real Native American beliefs in general.  The prayers and nature ties are interesting.  I think it is a really cool spin on fantasy novels.  I just started reading Moon Called by Patricia Briggs and realized almost immediately, it is going to be a similar meeting of made of supernatural myths and real life Native ones.  Oh and why  did no one tell me sooner that all the Mercy Thompson books took place in Finley, Washington?  I have actually driven past there many times. 

Overall, I did enjoy reading Marked and Betrayed.  I’m sure in the next month or so I will get completely caught up with the series.  I’ll try to write a blog about seeing PC and Kirstin in a few days  and then another one when I’m done with the series.