This is the third book in the House of Night Series.  Zoey is definitely growing up.  Three boyfriends, incredible power, and keeping things from her friends all equate to real trouble.

While I’m still finding the series interesting, there is a scene that certainly has me troubled.  Zoey and one of her boyfriends are in the park making out when approached by two young black males that are stereotypically described in behavior and dress as gang members.  Because of their threatening stance and remarks, they are flung into traffic by the young vampire, where they are then hit by a truck.

There was minor regard for whether they were dead or alive, and the vampire response was one of “if they’re dead, it’s because of the truck hitting them- not me” (not a direct quote).  I seriously had a what the fuck moment!

And of course, that got me to thinking about the series overall.  No positive black male characters.  I think one black football player was murdered, but other football players were being murdered as well. Sort of like equal opportunity serial killing.  Those guys were murdered because they were HUMAN.  I get that.

My issue with the scene is that two kids are possibly murdered, throwaways, literally, and Zoey didn’t bother with feeling sorry about what she did to them.  She and boyfriend were not actually harmed in any way.  Just threatened. Verbally.  Hmmm.  OK.  Then why not make them white thugs that can be tossed.  I’m just saying.

Anyway, I’m reading the rest of the series.  Just gonna read some stuff in between.  I will be disappointed if the death of the two thugs was just filler- something to show what Zoey can do- without any introspection on her part about taking two lives, which I imagine would be a difficult thing for any teenager, even one of the vampire persuasion.

I just wish writers would come up with some more interesting bad guys.  The young, black thug is played out.  I can watch the local news for that same old, same old.

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