Destined is book nine of the House of Night series. Other books in the series include Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted, Tempted, Burned, and Awakened. There is also a guidebook to the series, entitled The Fledgling Handbook 101, and a companion novella, Dragon's Oath.

Zoey is grieving the loss of her mother, who was recently, violently murdered with little hope of her murder being solved. Z and her band of followers, each gifted in their own area of magic and protection, return to the Tulsa House of Night to resume their studies in this special school for fledglings. There are dark undercurrents swirling around the school and Neferet is firmly in charge, despite events that transpired in earlier books. She's made an apology and claims that the goddess Nyx has forgiven her and gifted her with a strange, handsome boy, Aurox, who is more than he first appears to be. Is Aurox a tool of the White Bull or could he have feelings and humanity that can be reached and saved?

The drama of Stevie Rae and her red fledglings continues as well, as does her relationship with the son of Kalona, Rephaim. Nobody quite trusts Rephaim except Stevie Rae, and when his death is prophesied, events spiral out of control as death comes calling to the House of Night once again.

P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast just keep blowing the top clean off this great young adult series. Every time I read one of these books, I feel like I am transported to the amazing world that they've created. Zoey is masterfully drawn, with all of the flaws, temptations and insecurities that come with being a teenager, but with a twist: she's an all-powerful young priestess in training. Everything she does has far-reaching ramifications, and the authors do an amazing job of placing her into the most intriguing situations. You just don't know what is going to happen next in this storyline, but whatever it is; you know you are going to want to be there when it happens! The secondary characters add immeasurably to the telling of this tale with situations and circumstances of their own that really push the story along and make the whole much more than the sum of its parts. Five Angels for the latest House of Night offering, Destined!

Reviewed by: Michelle B.