zelda_queen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zelda_queen) wrote2011-03-01 11:32 pm
zelda_queen) wrote2011-03-01 11:32 pm
Marked: Chapter 20
ZeldaQueen: In which people just talk. Also - there's only nine chapters left here. Just thought I'd toss that out there
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 20
ZeldaQueen: We open up the chapter with Zoey rushing through breakfast, going on to the readers about how she's got to tell Neferet about the whole blood drinking thing. She's not saying anything about the elements, for fear that she might be forced to take some affinity test and flunk it or something. I like to imagine that it's like the one on the series' website, where you answer if you're a Beatles person or an Elvis person. Oh, and she's not telling Neferet about the weird red-eyed ghost thing, because of course there's certainly no way that Neferet will believe that. Never mind that there's possibly some weird monster running around, putting everyone at risk. Nope, Zoey can't stand the thought of being doubted.
Bitch.
So yeah, Zoey looks down at her feet and Nala is still there. Apparently that cat won't stop following her around, but that's okay because cats are allowed everywhere in the House of Night. You know, that's actually halfway interesting and makes me wish that there was a little more development on the relationship between a vampire and their cat. Instead, the little guys are treated like purses.
Just as they're leaving the cafeteria, Zoey and Stevie Rae run into Aphrodite and her Generic Female Minions. Yes, it's Warlike and Terrible from before, but they have less characterization than Airhead's Scary Sues, so I'm just calling them that from now on. Aphrodite is gleeful as she goes on about how it's such a shame Zoey didn't have fun at the ritual and too bad, but it's just not for everyone. There's a lot of emphasis about how she curls her lip at Stevie Rae and is over-the-top Scary. Zoey responds by acting all airheaded and giggly (oh wait, "acting" implies that she normally isn't) and pretends that she just had such a great time last night, and of course she's glad to be an official member, might she know when the next meeting is?
You know, Cimorene in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles did much of the same thing when trying to get information from the wizards - that is, she deliberately acted stupid to try to trick them. The difference was that (A) it was actually well-written and (B) Cimorene was consistently written as level-headed, so the idea of her being feather-brained was hilarious, unlike Miss "Tee Hee, I Said Boobs" here.
So yeah, Aphrodite is of course visibly and pathetically floored by this, but tells Zoey that their next ritual is tomorrow night, and will be in celebration of Samhain.
Samhain? Samhain?
SWEET MERCIFUL JESUS, IT'S CHILD OF GRACE!!! KILL ME!!!
ZeldaQueen: I apologize for that.
Anyway...wait a second? *double take* Samhain? It's supposed to be fall? I...what? I honestly thought it was early spring or something! This is full of fail, Suethors! Fail, I say!
I...okay, this is stupid. Get it together. So Aphrodite and her Generic Female Minions go off, and of course are all shocked because wasn't Zoey just so awesome and witty? Stevie Rae is an idiot and gets all worried that Zoey is buddying up with the Dark Daughters, even though she (Zoey) has done nothing but bitch about them. Zoey assures her that it's just for spying purposes, and then says "Aphrodite gets away with too much crap. She's mean. She's selfish. She can't be what Nyx wants for a High Priestess".
Wow Zoey, arrogant much?
Really, I'm floored by that. She's been here for two days and is already declaring herself the new Queen Bee. Again, I must ask if the Cast ladies have seen Mean Girls. That alone ought to teach them what happens when the new girl tries to take control of the kingdom.
Oh, and way to flaunt how you have a personal connection to Nyx, Zoey.
Anyway we...get three asterisks for a scene change and jump to Zoey going to Neferet's office. I have no idea when this is, but Neferet later mentions giving Zoey permission to be late to her second period Drama class, so I guess she's having the meeting after her Vamp Sociology class? I have no idea why she's doing it now, even though we were told that there's a designated time for meeting with teachers, but whatever. It's not like the Cast ladies feel like following their own canon.
So yeah, Zoey thanks Neferet for the cat stuff and Neferet notes how attached Nala is to her. She asks Zoey "do you ever hear her voice inside your head, or know exactly where she is, even when she's not in the same room as you?" This prompts Zoey to go all amazed because OH MY GOD, Neferet thinks she has an affinity for cats! It's so cool and weird that she'd think something like that! I mean, Zoey only has mastery over all five elements! How could she be so special as to have an affinity for cats?
For whatever reason, Neferet calls Nala over, and the cat jumps on her desk, scattering the papers. Zoey apologizes and Neferet says "Cats are always welcome, and papers are easily reorganized". She then refers to Zoey as "Zoeybird", and Zoey goes all teary-eyed because that's her grandmother's nickname for her and all. You know, her grandmother, who she's thought of perhaps once since she was dropped off here, and who she never bothered to contact at all?
Neferet guesses that Zoey misses her old life, and Zoey promptly starts wangsting about how only her grandmother loves her, and how her mother isn't a good mother anymore, and how her stepfather is soooooo horrible, blah, blah, blah. Neferet gives us this
"My mother died when I was ten years old. My father did not remarry. Instead, he began to use me as his wife. From the time I was ten until Nyx saved me by Marking me when I was fifteen, he abused me." Neferet paused and let the shock of what she was saying settle into me before she continued. "So you see, when I say that I understand what it is to have your home become an unbearable place I am not just spouting platitudes"
ZeldaQueen: No Neferet, you're not spouting platitudes. You're gushing cliches. And I have to ask, when was she turned into a vampire? Because for a backstory like that? Yeah, a little context is always nice.
Zoey says she's sorry that happened and I'm sorry for another quote so soon, but you have to see this
"It was then. Now it is simply another memory. Zoey, humans in your past, and even in your present and future, will become less and less important to you until, eventually, you will feel very little for them. You'll understand this more as you continue to Change"
ZeldaQueen: Right. I left that there for a reason. That right there? Really 'effing creepy. She just flat-out told Zoey "humans in your life don't mean dick, whether it's your family or friends, and you're going to eventually forget about them and feel no empathy for them", complete with the implication that this is a good thing. Now, Zoey notices how flat and cold her voice is when she says this. She feels "odd", which I guess is supposed to show us that we're not supposed to agree with Neferet (I mean, yes obviously, but not like how Meyer wants us to believe that vampires have the right to eat people willy-nilly), and that Zoey notices that her mentor is being a wee bit creepy.
I would like to remind you of a few things that have happened recently in the story. Zoey knows that Aphrodite is luring in fledglings and draining their blood for her own sick amusement and, in the case of Stevie Rae, is apparently not above luring the fledglings there under false pretenses. Zoey knows, or at least strongly suspects, that Aphrodite is having visions of tragic and preventable disasters and is deliberately hiding them, apparently purely to be spiteful and let humans die. Zoey finds it odd that Neferet, the High Priestess who apparently misses very little, has yet to cotton on to the fact that the High Priestess-in-training is apparently psychotic. Zoey knows that Stevie Rae suspects that the adult vampires don't consider fledglings "real", and thus aren't bothered by their deaths. And right now, she has just heard Neferet outright say that proper, full-grown vampires will forget about their ties to humanity and don't care about humans and, it is implied, are all the better off for it. Now, from where she stands, Zoey has a few options to go off of.
The first is that Aphrodite is an insane Mean Girl who is apparently a good enough actress to fool the High Priestess. Neferet is, of course, in the dark as to what Aphrodite is up to, and of course, because she is so classy and powerful and calming, Neferet is a Good vampire and thus thinks very highly of humans, or at least doesn't think they ought to die.
The second is that Neferet knows full well what's going on and isn't being arsed to stop it, because she doesn't care. She doesn't care about humans, which she has admitted to just now, and is perfectly fine with Aphrodite letting them die. She is deliberately turning a blind eye to what Aphrodite is up to. She also is grooming Zoey, the fledgling who seems to be powerful and nearly mature so soon, as a new favorite, complete with encouraging her to cut ties with her own family and friends.
I have to ask you all, which of the two seems more likely?
And now, let us guess what Zoey makes of this.
She could take note of it and carefully file it away, and confer with her friends about it later
She could outright confront Neferet about this, either right now or waiting until they are in a public place, with a vast number of witnesses
She could outright miss any and all implications of this and totally ignore and forget about it for the rest of the book
If you guessed either the first or second option, which book recaps have you been following?
Yes, really. After that very suspicious and incredibly creepy statement, Zoey outright forgets about it. For the rest of the book. Honest to God, the only comment on it she gives is a mechanical protest that she doesn't want to forget about her grandmother. She doesn't wonder about that, she doesn't worry that the head of the local vampire community feels "very little" for humans, she doesn't give a "bluh, wut?", not even in her head! I honestly can't get over this! SHE TOTALLY FORGETS ABOUT THIS!
And what's even worse is that the scenarios I wove above? Those would have been infinitely better and more satisfying conflicts than this! In other words, Ms and Ms Cast set up what could have been a very exciting story about someone being forced into a vampire community and learning that the fledglings are encouraged to throw away what little humanity there is, AND THEY TOTALLY IGNORE THAT POTENTIAL STORY IN FAVOR OF THE CLICHED "LET'S THROW OUT THE QUEEN BEE" SHIT!!!
GOD ALMIGHTY!!!
Why yes, my head is pounding. Why do you ask?
So yeah, Zoey completely forgets Neferet's comment (seriously, how the fuck do you manage that level of ignorance? How?) and accepts Neferet's offer to go call her grandmother after the meeting. She then brings up how she drank blood. Neferet immediately figures she's talking about the fledgling blood, and is mildly disapproving that Aphrodite duped her into drinking that. Considering that blood drinking is analogous to sex in this world and Zoey was tricked into it, that sounds like a teacher being mildly disapproving that the president of the student council invited a new student to a meeting and failed to inform her that they were shooting a porno tape and expected her to join in.
Neferet then jumps to the conclusion that Zoey was grossed-out by the taste of the blood. Zoey says no, she thought it tasted fantastic, and it left her dizzy and exhilaratedand she totally creamed her pants. Neferet eyes up Zoey's Mark, comments on how speshul and unique Zoey is, and says that she thinks Zoey ought to be in a more advanced Sociology class.
What.
No, seriously, what? WHY? I...where did that come from? There's no reason for her to come to that conclusion! That's like if I told my guidance councilor that I started getting my period way earlier than most girls and she told me "Oh, you're so special! I'm moving you from regular US History to Advanced Placement US History!" What does one have to do with the other? I could understand if she wanted Zoey to start taking classes to deal with the bloodlust, but that? Why? There's not even the excuse that Zoey is good at Vamp Sociology, because she's taking it for exactly one day! Jesus Cast ladies, can't you remember your own timeline?
Zoey starts bleating about how she'd feel so weird being in a class with older vampires, and Neferet keeps acting like moving her up to this advanced Sociology class will help her learn about her bloodlust or...something. I honestly don't know. I just want this chapter over with. Neferet decides that Zoey can stay in her own class, but will use the older students' textbook. She then goes on about how the bloodlust is normal, all vampires go through this, here we go again. She then says "A vampyre is not a human, although we are humane" and I find myself laughing in amazement because lady, you just told Zoey that she'd forget any and all feelings for humans! How the FUCK does that constitute "humane"?!? THAT'S SOCIOPATHY!
Oh, and Neferet lets it slip that she knows how much Zoey loves brown pop, and goes on about how she's intuitive in addition to having her affinity for cats. And yet, Zoey still doesn't find it odd that she doesn't know what's up with Aphrodite.
Finally, Zoey gets around to confessing how she drank a little of Heath's blood. We are told about Imprinting again - didn't we already learn about that? - and Neferet brings up how it's heavily frowned upon for adult vampires to drink from humans directly, and how there are groups of vampires who want to outlaw the practice of drinkin straight from humans altogether. Zoey notes that when Neferet says this, her eyes go all weirdly dark and creepy and cold. Oh, but suddenly they're normal again and Zoey totally forgets it. After all, she clearly imagined that Neferet got angry at the thought of outlawing the use of humans as walking vending machines!
ZeldaQueen: Zoey needs to die. Seriously. It's blindingly clear that she's too dumb to live.
Neferet tells Zoey to let her know if Heath starts trying to contact her, because if he does, it might mean he Imprinted on her. She also tells Zoey not to talk to Heath if he shows up again, because if he did Imprint, the sound of her voice will act as a lure. Zoey notes that it sounds like something from Dracula, and Neferet starts to pitch a fit because damn it, Dracula, is a horrible, evil, vile book that made vampires look bad, damn it, never mind the fact that Zoey has a legitimate point!
So yeah, Zoey mentions that Heath and Kayla were stoned because they were hanging around druggie football players, because clearly that's so important, and Neferet asks for their full names and addresses. Druggie football players included. So that she can find out if any of them were Imprinted on, even though Heath was the only one who had his blood drunk. Zoey's first thought is that Neferet will narc them out. Given how she gleefully went on about threatening the previous owner of the House of Night into selling, I'd be more worried that she'd eat them, or at least scratch at their window while they try to sleep at night.
Yet again, Zoey misses all of the things pointed out above and gives the insane vampire lady the full names and addresses of Heath and Kayla and all of the football players she knows. And then Neferet assigns her chapters in her new sociology textbook to read and hugs her. Zoey promptly melts at this because forget about talks of sociopathy, she was hugged like Neferet cared!
And yes, another potential point of conflict is ignored. If bettered developed, it could be very heartbreaking if Zoey grew to see Neferet as a surrogate mother and had to fight her later (look, don't act surprised, she's clearly evil). Here, it falls on us like a ton of bricks.
And with that, I am done. Good night!
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Onward to: Chapter 21
Back to: Chapter 19
Back to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 20
ZeldaQueen: We open up the chapter with Zoey rushing through breakfast, going on to the readers about how she's got to tell Neferet about the whole blood drinking thing. She's not saying anything about the elements, for fear that she might be forced to take some affinity test and flunk it or something. I like to imagine that it's like the one on the series' website, where you answer if you're a Beatles person or an Elvis person. Oh, and she's not telling Neferet about the weird red-eyed ghost thing, because of course there's certainly no way that Neferet will believe that. Never mind that there's possibly some weird monster running around, putting everyone at risk. Nope, Zoey can't stand the thought of being doubted.
Bitch.
So yeah, Zoey looks down at her feet and Nala is still there. Apparently that cat won't stop following her around, but that's okay because cats are allowed everywhere in the House of Night. You know, that's actually halfway interesting and makes me wish that there was a little more development on the relationship between a vampire and their cat. Instead, the little guys are treated like purses.
Just as they're leaving the cafeteria, Zoey and Stevie Rae run into Aphrodite and her Generic Female Minions. Yes, it's Warlike and Terrible from before, but they have less characterization than Airhead's Scary Sues, so I'm just calling them that from now on. Aphrodite is gleeful as she goes on about how it's such a shame Zoey didn't have fun at the ritual and too bad, but it's just not for everyone. There's a lot of emphasis about how she curls her lip at Stevie Rae and is over-the-top Scary. Zoey responds by acting all airheaded and giggly (oh wait, "acting" implies that she normally isn't) and pretends that she just had such a great time last night, and of course she's glad to be an official member, might she know when the next meeting is?
You know, Cimorene in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles did much of the same thing when trying to get information from the wizards - that is, she deliberately acted stupid to try to trick them. The difference was that (A) it was actually well-written and (B) Cimorene was consistently written as level-headed, so the idea of her being feather-brained was hilarious, unlike Miss "Tee Hee, I Said Boobs" here.
So yeah, Aphrodite is of course visibly and pathetically floored by this, but tells Zoey that their next ritual is tomorrow night, and will be in celebration of Samhain.
Samhain? Samhain?
SWEET MERCIFUL JESUS, IT'S CHILD OF GRACE!!! KILL ME!!!
ZeldaQueen: I apologize for that.
Anyway...wait a second? *double take* Samhain? It's supposed to be fall? I...what? I honestly thought it was early spring or something! This is full of fail, Suethors! Fail, I say!
I...okay, this is stupid. Get it together. So Aphrodite and her Generic Female Minions go off, and of course are all shocked because wasn't Zoey just so awesome and witty? Stevie Rae is an idiot and gets all worried that Zoey is buddying up with the Dark Daughters, even though she (Zoey) has done nothing but bitch about them. Zoey assures her that it's just for spying purposes, and then says "Aphrodite gets away with too much crap. She's mean. She's selfish. She can't be what Nyx wants for a High Priestess".
Wow Zoey, arrogant much?
Really, I'm floored by that. She's been here for two days and is already declaring herself the new Queen Bee. Again, I must ask if the Cast ladies have seen Mean Girls. That alone ought to teach them what happens when the new girl tries to take control of the kingdom.
Oh, and way to flaunt how you have a personal connection to Nyx, Zoey.
Anyway we...get three asterisks for a scene change and jump to Zoey going to Neferet's office. I have no idea when this is, but Neferet later mentions giving Zoey permission to be late to her second period Drama class, so I guess she's having the meeting after her Vamp Sociology class? I have no idea why she's doing it now, even though we were told that there's a designated time for meeting with teachers, but whatever. It's not like the Cast ladies feel like following their own canon.
So yeah, Zoey thanks Neferet for the cat stuff and Neferet notes how attached Nala is to her. She asks Zoey "do you ever hear her voice inside your head, or know exactly where she is, even when she's not in the same room as you?" This prompts Zoey to go all amazed because OH MY GOD, Neferet thinks she has an affinity for cats! It's so cool and weird that she'd think something like that! I mean, Zoey only has mastery over all five elements! How could she be so special as to have an affinity for cats?
For whatever reason, Neferet calls Nala over, and the cat jumps on her desk, scattering the papers. Zoey apologizes and Neferet says "Cats are always welcome, and papers are easily reorganized". She then refers to Zoey as "Zoeybird", and Zoey goes all teary-eyed because that's her grandmother's nickname for her and all. You know, her grandmother, who she's thought of perhaps once since she was dropped off here, and who she never bothered to contact at all?
Neferet guesses that Zoey misses her old life, and Zoey promptly starts wangsting about how only her grandmother loves her, and how her mother isn't a good mother anymore, and how her stepfather is soooooo horrible, blah, blah, blah. Neferet gives us this
"My mother died when I was ten years old. My father did not remarry. Instead, he began to use me as his wife. From the time I was ten until Nyx saved me by Marking me when I was fifteen, he abused me." Neferet paused and let the shock of what she was saying settle into me before she continued. "So you see, when I say that I understand what it is to have your home become an unbearable place I am not just spouting platitudes"
ZeldaQueen: No Neferet, you're not spouting platitudes. You're gushing cliches. And I have to ask, when was she turned into a vampire? Because for a backstory like that? Yeah, a little context is always nice.
Zoey says she's sorry that happened and I'm sorry for another quote so soon, but you have to see this
"It was then. Now it is simply another memory. Zoey, humans in your past, and even in your present and future, will become less and less important to you until, eventually, you will feel very little for them. You'll understand this more as you continue to Change"
ZeldaQueen: Right. I left that there for a reason. That right there? Really 'effing creepy. She just flat-out told Zoey "humans in your life don't mean dick, whether it's your family or friends, and you're going to eventually forget about them and feel no empathy for them", complete with the implication that this is a good thing. Now, Zoey notices how flat and cold her voice is when she says this. She feels "odd", which I guess is supposed to show us that we're not supposed to agree with Neferet (I mean, yes obviously, but not like how Meyer wants us to believe that vampires have the right to eat people willy-nilly), and that Zoey notices that her mentor is being a wee bit creepy.
I would like to remind you of a few things that have happened recently in the story. Zoey knows that Aphrodite is luring in fledglings and draining their blood for her own sick amusement and, in the case of Stevie Rae, is apparently not above luring the fledglings there under false pretenses. Zoey knows, or at least strongly suspects, that Aphrodite is having visions of tragic and preventable disasters and is deliberately hiding them, apparently purely to be spiteful and let humans die. Zoey finds it odd that Neferet, the High Priestess who apparently misses very little, has yet to cotton on to the fact that the High Priestess-in-training is apparently psychotic. Zoey knows that Stevie Rae suspects that the adult vampires don't consider fledglings "real", and thus aren't bothered by their deaths. And right now, she has just heard Neferet outright say that proper, full-grown vampires will forget about their ties to humanity and don't care about humans and, it is implied, are all the better off for it. Now, from where she stands, Zoey has a few options to go off of.
The first is that Aphrodite is an insane Mean Girl who is apparently a good enough actress to fool the High Priestess. Neferet is, of course, in the dark as to what Aphrodite is up to, and of course, because she is so classy and powerful and calming, Neferet is a Good vampire and thus thinks very highly of humans, or at least doesn't think they ought to die.
The second is that Neferet knows full well what's going on and isn't being arsed to stop it, because she doesn't care. She doesn't care about humans, which she has admitted to just now, and is perfectly fine with Aphrodite letting them die. She is deliberately turning a blind eye to what Aphrodite is up to. She also is grooming Zoey, the fledgling who seems to be powerful and nearly mature so soon, as a new favorite, complete with encouraging her to cut ties with her own family and friends.
I have to ask you all, which of the two seems more likely?
And now, let us guess what Zoey makes of this.
She could take note of it and carefully file it away, and confer with her friends about it later
She could outright confront Neferet about this, either right now or waiting until they are in a public place, with a vast number of witnesses
She could outright miss any and all implications of this and totally ignore and forget about it for the rest of the book
If you guessed either the first or second option, which book recaps have you been following?
Yes, really. After that very suspicious and incredibly creepy statement, Zoey outright forgets about it. For the rest of the book. Honest to God, the only comment on it she gives is a mechanical protest that she doesn't want to forget about her grandmother. She doesn't wonder about that, she doesn't worry that the head of the local vampire community feels "very little" for humans, she doesn't give a "bluh, wut?", not even in her head! I honestly can't get over this! SHE TOTALLY FORGETS ABOUT THIS!
And what's even worse is that the scenarios I wove above? Those would have been infinitely better and more satisfying conflicts than this! In other words, Ms and Ms Cast set up what could have been a very exciting story about someone being forced into a vampire community and learning that the fledglings are encouraged to throw away what little humanity there is, AND THEY TOTALLY IGNORE THAT POTENTIAL STORY IN FAVOR OF THE CLICHED "LET'S THROW OUT THE QUEEN BEE" SHIT!!!
GOD ALMIGHTY!!!
Why yes, my head is pounding. Why do you ask?
So yeah, Zoey completely forgets Neferet's comment (seriously, how the fuck do you manage that level of ignorance? How?) and accepts Neferet's offer to go call her grandmother after the meeting. She then brings up how she drank blood. Neferet immediately figures she's talking about the fledgling blood, and is mildly disapproving that Aphrodite duped her into drinking that. Considering that blood drinking is analogous to sex in this world and Zoey was tricked into it, that sounds like a teacher being mildly disapproving that the president of the student council invited a new student to a meeting and failed to inform her that they were shooting a porno tape and expected her to join in.
Neferet then jumps to the conclusion that Zoey was grossed-out by the taste of the blood. Zoey says no, she thought it tasted fantastic, and it left her dizzy and exhilarated
What.
No, seriously, what? WHY? I...where did that come from? There's no reason for her to come to that conclusion! That's like if I told my guidance councilor that I started getting my period way earlier than most girls and she told me "Oh, you're so special! I'm moving you from regular US History to Advanced Placement US History!" What does one have to do with the other? I could understand if she wanted Zoey to start taking classes to deal with the bloodlust, but that? Why? There's not even the excuse that Zoey is good at Vamp Sociology, because she's taking it for exactly one day! Jesus Cast ladies, can't you remember your own timeline?
Zoey starts bleating about how she'd feel so weird being in a class with older vampires, and Neferet keeps acting like moving her up to this advanced Sociology class will help her learn about her bloodlust or...something. I honestly don't know. I just want this chapter over with. Neferet decides that Zoey can stay in her own class, but will use the older students' textbook. She then goes on about how the bloodlust is normal, all vampires go through this, here we go again. She then says "A vampyre is not a human, although we are humane" and I find myself laughing in amazement because lady, you just told Zoey that she'd forget any and all feelings for humans! How the FUCK does that constitute "humane"?!? THAT'S SOCIOPATHY!
Oh, and Neferet lets it slip that she knows how much Zoey loves brown pop, and goes on about how she's intuitive in addition to having her affinity for cats. And yet, Zoey still doesn't find it odd that she doesn't know what's up with Aphrodite.
Finally, Zoey gets around to confessing how she drank a little of Heath's blood. We are told about Imprinting again - didn't we already learn about that? - and Neferet brings up how it's heavily frowned upon for adult vampires to drink from humans directly, and how there are groups of vampires who want to outlaw the practice of drinkin straight from humans altogether. Zoey notes that when Neferet says this, her eyes go all weirdly dark and creepy and cold. Oh, but suddenly they're normal again and Zoey totally forgets it. After all, she clearly imagined that Neferet got angry at the thought of outlawing the use of humans as walking vending machines!
ZeldaQueen: Zoey needs to die. Seriously. It's blindingly clear that she's too dumb to live.
Neferet tells Zoey to let her know if Heath starts trying to contact her, because if he does, it might mean he Imprinted on her. She also tells Zoey not to talk to Heath if he shows up again, because if he did Imprint, the sound of her voice will act as a lure. Zoey notes that it sounds like something from Dracula, and Neferet starts to pitch a fit because damn it, Dracula, is a horrible, evil, vile book that made vampires look bad, damn it, never mind the fact that Zoey has a legitimate point!
So yeah, Zoey mentions that Heath and Kayla were stoned because they were hanging around druggie football players, because clearly that's so important, and Neferet asks for their full names and addresses. Druggie football players included. So that she can find out if any of them were Imprinted on, even though Heath was the only one who had his blood drunk. Zoey's first thought is that Neferet will narc them out. Given how she gleefully went on about threatening the previous owner of the House of Night into selling, I'd be more worried that she'd eat them, or at least scratch at their window while they try to sleep at night.
Yet again, Zoey misses all of the things pointed out above and gives the insane vampire lady the full names and addresses of Heath and Kayla and all of the football players she knows. And then Neferet assigns her chapters in her new sociology textbook to read and hugs her. Zoey promptly melts at this because forget about talks of sociopathy, she was hugged like Neferet cared!
And yes, another potential point of conflict is ignored. If bettered developed, it could be very heartbreaking if Zoey grew to see Neferet as a surrogate mother and had to fight her later (look, don't act surprised, she's clearly evil). Here, it falls on us like a ton of bricks.
And with that, I am done. Good night!
----------------------------------------
Onward to: Chapter 21
Back to: Chapter 19
Back to: Table of Contents
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Also, now that there is the group sporking, are you going to continue with the rest of the House of Night books?
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Yes, I intend to, just not right away. We'll do City of Bones in between Marked and Betrayed, and then perhaps do City of Ashes while Betrayed is going on. But yeah, I'm doing all of the sequels. ^^
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Neferet- "Well my mother died when I was ten and my father raped me for five years, so I can relate."
Me- *Wordless outrage*
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6 represents my view of this whole series.
Wait, WHAT?
Apparently that cat won't stop following her around, but that's okay because cats are allowed everywhere in the House of Night.
I'm gonna laugh my ass off if some vampires "attune" with rats or dogs. Because admit it, it'd make everything a lot more lively.
Ignoring how creepy and horrible it is that Zoey was told to forget about the humans...why the hell would someone tell a stupid teenager that she was raped and abused from ten to fifteen, especially when the two have only known each other for like, two days? And the way Neferet just says it so casually, even if you "got over it" or whatever, you don't just say it out of the blue! And finally...I sincerely hope that Nyx didn't tell the fifteen-year-old incest/abuse victim "just forget it, it's just a bad memory" as soon as she was Marked. Because if she did--! *shakes in rage*
On a trivial, lighter note--yay, a shout-out to one of my favorite princesses, Cimorene! God I want a movie based on that series...
Re: 6 represents my view of this whole series.
I honestly think that the Cast ladies have forgotten that Neferet has only known Zoey for a few days. I could understand if Neferet is supposed to be unstable and stuff like that shows it, but Zoey totally misses how bizarre and creepy it is! And no, I don't think Nyx told her to forget it, but then Nyx doesn't Mark vampires in person.
And yes, Cimorene is awesome! I'm surprised there aren't plans for a movie yet. The movie industry has been pretty excited to snap up those sorts of books.
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You've heard my rants about Samhain before. I take solace in the fact that the Casts can't eff it up any worse than Holly Potter did (what use to vampires have for dragging the dead back from the afterlife?) Just, just...gaaaaaaah.
And you're right, this is really the first sign of what time of year it is that we've gotten in this entire book. Seriously, I think they've totally lost track of their timeline.
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...Just wait for the climax. Just...wait for it.
What I don't get is how it all fits together. So the Casts base their rituals off of Wiccan holidays, but Zoey later uses a *Cherokee* ritual in conjunction with the Wiccan one and yet it's all in the service of a Greek goddesses and...how does it work? Polytheistic religions aren't all the same thing!
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Mommy, make it stop...
Polytheistic religions really don't work this way. Paganism can be polytheistic. Certain Wiccans are polytheistic (in that they believe in a Goddess and a God). But they are still their own distinct religions. They aren't throwing multiple religions in a blender and adding salt!
I have a math class in half an hour. I can't deal with this headache.
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Aw. :( I hope math class went alright for you.
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Friday, however, is supposed to suck.
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What are you going to be learning on Friday? Or is it a test?
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The teacher won't say what we're learning on Friday. Just "no matter how nice the weather is, don't skip" followed by maniacal laughter.
...the weather's kind of sucked, so I certainly won't be skipping.
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In any case, best of luck on Friday!
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But thank you anyway - I'll probably need the luck either way.
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I loved that. Seriously, that's all I've really seen of the school curriculum at the House of Night so far.
Another Wasted Idea: Zoey actually being conflicted that she's losing her humanity and family and battling against this. The fact that Neferet turns out to be evil could also work with this.
Man, that chapter was boring. What actually happened? NOTHING! :P Instead of Ferret lulling Zoey into a false sense of security and showering her with love in order to groom her for evil, it was just more blatant Zoey praise! And how soon the most important things were forgotten! Oh my God, PC Cast, you should at least know better, you've written books before, dammit!
The sense of entitlement was also shocking. Zoey's been there TWO DAYS and is already being advanced into another class, facing off with the Queen Bee and being groomed for glory by Ferret! (Actually, I must point out I imagined Aphrodite and her minions all striking a pose in a line Spice Girls-style :P)
And that part with Zoey whining about her 'shitty' home life in comparison to the abuse Neferet suffered. Neferet's life was particularly harsh, yet it's nothing compared to Zoey's 'torturous' home life having to live her middle-class suburban life, oh the horror! Seriously, that part of the story appalled me. Zoey's just one of those whiny emo bastards who whinges about everything: 'I hate my life! It's so unfair! My parents actually care about me and I live a comfortable middle-class existence, wah wah wah!' :P Put it in a poem on your MySpace page , you cow.
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What's baffling is that there are a few instances of it, but they're more or less forgotten. It's like the Cast ladies sat down and wrote it in, but kept forgetting about it.
"And that part with Zoey whining about her 'shitty' home life in comparison to the abuse Neferet suffered. Neferet's life was particularly harsh, yet it's nothing compared to Zoey's 'torturous' home life having to live her middle-class suburban life, oh the horror! Seriously, that part of the story appalled me. Zoey's just one of those whiny emo bastards who whinges about everything: 'I hate my life! It's so unfair! My parents actually care about me and I live a comfortable middle-class existence, wah wah wah!' :P Put it in a poem on your MySpace page , you cow."
Oh but hey, she can't keep her car in the garage! The HORROR! :P
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(Anonymous) 2012-04-25 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)"In the third House of Night novella, the secret history we've all been waiting for is finally revealed. Neferet, the Tulsa House of Night's darkly seductive High Priestess, wasn't always a powerful vampyre but she has always been beautiful. Raised in turn-of-the-century Chicago in a motherless home, her beauty makes her the prey of unwanted attention and abuse, leaving her with scars that will never heal – and a Darkness that will eventually need to find its way out. But when she is Marked and gains strength, both physical and magickal, she turns her anger into power and looks for a way to regain what was stolen from her. From victim to High Priestess, beautiful young woman to powerful seductress, Neferet's journey begins..."
Truth be told, it doesn't actually sound that bad (if not pretty cliche and by-the-numbers for her motivations), but if Neferet's backstory is apparently SO important to discovering why she's the way she is, why wasn't this included in the main series of novels? ...Oh who am I kidding, the Cast ladies need more room for Zoey and her hypocritical "string-as-many-boyfriends-as-I-possibly-can" escapades. After all, girls don't care about a strong conflict or plot, only about hot guys. *spits*
Rants aside, you are a trooper for doing this series; don't give up sporking! >:3
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I've noticed that PC Cast at least uses that formula a lot in her works. There's a beautiful, intelligent, lonely woman who is restricted or held back in some way, only to get a Sue-per power and escape. Oh, and she meets a hot guy along the way.
You're right though, the backstory should have been in the main series. Lenobia, Anastasia, and the fencing teacher all had virtually no presence in the main plot, so it makes sense that their backstory novellas would be on the side. Not only does it make Neferet's history seem trivial or unnecessary, it denies a chance for Zoey to earn of the details of it herself, and thus the chance for Zoey to actually have conflicting feelings about a matter beyond boyfriends. >_<
And thank you very much! ^^
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The actual use of vampire lore is REALLY loose, all-in-all. According to Impish Ideas's review of this book, the blood-drinking was only in as a "nod" to vampiric folklore. I honestly have no idea why these guys are vampires to begin with. Just make them witches and wizards, like in Harry Potter, and be done with it.
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I have two possible reasons for that. 1 is that then she may have to come up with a magic system for her series, instead of what she has now. But that doesn't really make sense because she already gives her Sue and her Nakama elemental powers, but maybe giving all the witches magic powers would lessen their speshulness. Reason number 2 would be that she's mooching off of Twilight.
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