Burned
“Burned” is the seventh installment in the young adult paranormal fantasy series, House of Night, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. Set in a world where humans and vampyres coexist, the story continues the saga of Zoey Redbird, a powerful fledgling marked by the vampyre goddess Nyx. In this volume, Zoey's soul is shattered after a traumatic event, leaving her friends to navigate a dangerous path to bring her back from the Otherworld. The narrative also delves into the challenges faced by Zoey's best friend, Stevie Rae, as she grapples with a secret relationship and attempts to maintain order at the House of Night. The book explores themes of destiny, choice, friendship, and confronting inner darkness, all against a backdrop of supernatural powers and intricate relationships. Aimed at young adult readers, it continues the series' blend of fantasy, romance, and coming-of-age drama, with an intensifying tone compared to earlier books.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe book features a confirmed gay couple, Damien Maslin and Jack Twist, who are described as 'gay love birds'. However, the representation is criticized for being stereotypical and 'pigeonholed'. Additionally, previous implied same-sex attraction between characters Stevie Rae and Aphrodite is explicitly negated within the narrative, with reviewers noting a strong 'no homo' sentiment from the narrative when discussing their prior 'imprint'.
The characters Damien Maslin and Jack Twist are presented as a 'gay couple' and 'gay love birds, lovely and sweet'. However, a review identifies them as the 'gay stereotype(Damian and Jack)'. Furthermore, the book goes to lengths to clarify Stevie Rae's sexual orientation following an earlier 'imprint' with Aphrodite, with the narrative emphasizing 'Stevie Rae making it super-duper clear that she's not gay and totally not attracted to Aphrodite ever not for one moment'.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe book features multiple complex and sometimes problematic romantic relationships. There are instances of magically compelled attraction and implied sexual activity rather than explicit descriptions. Concerns include a protagonist with multiple simultaneous romantic interests and derogatory sexual language used by a character.
Zoey Redbird is involved in a love triangle, with her soul being tied to Heath even after his death, while also developing feelings for Stark. Stevie Rae engages in a 'dangerous secret relationship brewing with Rephaim, the Raven Mocker' and is noted to have 'sexy feelings' for him due to an imprint. A broader series criticism highlights 'the way the females end up having sex with the mates male vampire from the brotherhood even though they hadn't known the guys, just because nature had made them true mates and they could not do anything but sleep with him,' implying non-consensual or magically coerced sexual acts. Additionally, the character Dallas refers to Stevie Rae as a 'goddamned whore'.
Profanity
HighThe book includes frequent and strong profanity, with reviewers specifically noting the pervasive use of expletives, including the 'F-bomb.' This level of language is highlighted as a concern by educators, making it unsuitable for some classroom libraries.
One reviewer expressed disappointment at 'the amount of cursing,' stating it was 'every other line' and included 'constant F-BOMB dropping'. Examples of profanity include 'fricken tee-shirt' and 'stupid ass'. The extensive use of swear words led one reviewer to conclude, 'I can't even put this book in my classroom library.....that's how much cursing there is!'.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the entire narrative. The story is set in a vampyre academy where students wield elemental magic, interact with a pagan goddess, and engage in various rituals and supernatural battles. Fallen angels and various magical beings are key characters.
The primary setting is the 'House of Night school for vampyres,' where students like Zoey are 'fledglings' marked by the 'vampyre Goddess Nyx'. Characters demonstrate 'affinity for earth,' 'fire,' 'water,' 'air,' and 'spirit'. Rituals are depicted, such as Stark becoming a 'Shaman' through a painful sacrifice where he 'kills the evil side of himself', and Stevie Rae 'invok[ing] Light' and 'Darkness' through specific actions. Kalona is identified as a 'fallen immortal Guardian of Nyx'.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe book and its series are steeped in a pagan-based mythology centered around the vampyre Goddess Nyx, which serves as the primary spiritual framework for the characters and world. This pantheistic system, with its own deities and rituals, stands in direct opposition to monotheistic Christian beliefs.
The entire magical and spiritual system revolves around the 'vampyre Goddess Nyx,' with characters like Zoey serving as a 'High Priestess'. Kalona, a 'fallen immortal Guardian of Nyx', is a figure that directly mirrors traditional religious concepts but within a non-Christian pantheon. The explicit focus on a goddess-centric belief system is central to the plot and character identities, making it a prominent alternative to Christian theology.
Violence
MediumThe book contains significant instances of violence and its aftermath, impacting main characters. This includes a traumatic death, battles involving supernatural creatures, and ritualistic acts that inflict pain or involve symbolic killing. The overall tone is noted as becoming darker and more mature.
Zoey's soul is shattered following the death of Heath, who is 'killed by Kalona right in front of her eyes'. In another instance, the Sons of Erebus, warrior figures, are largely 'killed by Raven Mockers'. Stark undergoes a shamanic ritual where he 'kills the evil side of himself' through pain to access the Otherworld.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book contains intense emotional and psychological content, including death, soul-shattering trauma, and encounters with powerful evil entities. The narrative involves characters trapped in an underworld, battling dark forces, and experiencing significant personal distress, contributing to a consistently suspenseful and dark atmosphere.
Zoey experiences severe trauma when Heath dies and her 'soul has shattered,' leaving her 'stuck in the underworld' where she becomes 'more and more erratic'. The antagonist, Neferet, is an 'evil teacher' actively working to 'rais[e] all kinds of immortal trouble'. Kalona, a 'fallen angel' and 'Raven Monster,' serves as a threatening supernatural presence.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellious attitudes are present throughout the book, particularly among the teenage characters. This is manifested through sarcastic dialogue, defiance of rules, and characters exhibiting strong, often impudent, personalities. These elements contribute to the overall 'teenage drama' prevalent in the series.
The series is recognized for its 'normal teenage angst' and 'teenage drama'. Aphrodite, a key character, is proudly described as a 'total hag from Hell (and proud of it)', showcasing a rebellious and defiant personality. Stevie Rae engages in a 'dangerous secret relationship' and there are mentions of 'rogue Red Fledglings acting up', indicating acts of defiance and rule-breaking within the vampyre school.
Substance Use
LowNo explicit or detailed instances of substance use, such as alcohol or illegal drugs, were found to be central to the plot or character development within this specific book based on the available reviews and summaries. The focus is primarily on supernatural abilities and relationships.
Information from content reviews and plot summaries does not highlight any significant instances of alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking by the characters. The narrative concerns itself more with magical abilities and romantic entanglements than substance-related issues.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 16+ is recommended. While officially rated for ages 13-17, the book contains frequent strong profanity, mature romantic relationships with implied sexual content, significant supernatural elements, and themes of death and psychological distress. Reviewers note it is 'darker and more mature' than earlier books in the series, making it more suitable for older teens who can critically engage with its complex and potentially problematic themes.
Additional Notes
The House of Night series, of which 'Burned' is the seventh book, is known for its evolving content. Parents should be aware that themes and content, particularly regarding sexual content, violence, and language, tend to intensify as the series progresses. Some critics have also pointed out 'problematic' aspects in the series concerning LGBTQ+ and racial stereotypes, as well as the handling of sexual assault themes in broader series context, which may warrant further consideration. The complex web of relationships and the pagan religious system are foundational to the series.
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