House of Night #2

As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: December 14, 2011

Format: FC, 32 pages
Price: $2.99
UPC: 7 61568 19159 2 00211

When we last saw Zoey and company, Zoey heard the story of Freya and learned a valuable lesson, bringing her one step closer to mastering her elemental affinities.

This time, after a confrontation with Aphrodite which leads to a misuse of power, Zoey looks to master the element of Air, which brings the story of Boudicca’s daughters.

The fantastic thing about the series is that for current readers of the books, it expands the story without changing it. Each of Zoey’s friends has an affinity, but there is never really any explanation or back story to them, only that they are elements, and that goddess Nyx bestows them as gifts to a select few.

The awful thing is that if you haven’t read the books, it greatly takes away from the pleasure of those discoveries, and makes the series a complete throwaway. The entire series takes place between scenes of Betrayed.  So rather than being an entire new story, it has so far followed the formula of problem, reaction, story, realization.

The artwork is amazing, well drawn for the high school set that will likely be attracted to the series, but right now this series as a companion piece to the books is lacking a meaty story to ensnare new readers to pick up the books, which is unfortunate. This series could be just as amazing as the books, it just needs a fuller story.

Check out a preview over at Dark Horse.