This was an okay little novella from the House of Night series. Pretty quick read. Insight into why Neferet is the way she is. An interesting addition to the series.

All in all, if you're a huge fan of HoN, you should probably check it out. If you're not a super fan but enjoy the series, you might be able to skip this one. ( )

I have been re-reading House of Night series now that the last one is finally out, and whilst in the library I came across this novella.

Personally I think that Neferet is a weak enemy. She is cold and vindictive but so desperately needy that any fear factor she could have possible created is watered down, she is certainly not a villain among villains. But I thought this book would make her as interesting as I thought she was deep within the controlling, manipulative bit**

Neferet was previously known as Emily, and she was an innocent child when she witnessed the death of her mother. From there onwards her life had turned upside down. Her grieving father turned....wrong and twisted, and Emily herself began to feel like a caged bird with no one to turn to.

There are little insights as to why Neferet's personality is as it is in HoN and this book does shed light on how it is that she felt comfort in darkness, yet I found this book less than I expected. I picked it up thinking it would be an interesting insight to Neferet's past as a human and being marked. However finding her past to be about her being a lady of a house, and just doing what she was told till near the end... it got a bit boring.
It was only near the end that Emily realises that she has to make her own choices and stands up for herself, but it should have been done much earlier in the book for a better depth to her character's darkness.
( )

The tragic beginning of Neferet's story. It was hard to read at times, other times I just wanted the train wreck to happen already. I did appreciate lelarning a part of what drives Neferet to evil but I hope that someone could not become evil because evil was done to that person.
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Yes, after reading this novella, I do have more compassion for Neferet and what she becomes ... I can also see how what she becomes is what she, more or less, always was, she just fully accepts it as she ages, which is more or less terrifying to see ... how easily it is to just accept the Darkness.

Adrianne ( )

Good book. ( )