Nyx in the House of Night

Cherokee practices her grandmother taught her and adjust them for her needs, adapting them to the circumstances she faces in the series. The Casts do the same thing when they take real-world Cherokee traditions and adapt them to the needs of their story. They possess the same deep respect and appreciation for Cherokee beliefs they have instilled in Zoey.
Cherokee Herb Gathering Practices
T he Cherokee people have many gifts they believe come from the Creator, much as the House of Night’s vampyres have gifts and affinities they believe come from Nyx. And one of the most treasured in Cherokee society is the understanding of the gathering, use, and conservation of medicinal herbs. In the traditional practice of herb gathering, the Cherokee ask the plant’s permission to be gathered and sometimes leave a small gift as a token of gratitude, such as a bead or other memento. Such a practice speaks to the respect the Cherokee have for the earth and the Creator.
Cherokee believe plants were put on earth to not only heal or to purify (as in the smudging ritual), but to prevent illness, too. A word of caution, however: plants and herbs can be very valuable as medicines, but they can also be dangerous if used the wrong way. Cherokee herbalists have a great deal of experience and have extensive training, like the lessons Zoey received under the guidance of her grandmother, but novices should seek advice on how fresh-picked herbs and plants can be identified and utilized for healing and as preventive medicines.
    AS ZOEY Redbird faces mythical creatures in a classic battle between good and evil in the House of Night series, she brings Cherokee traditions alive for the reader. Zoey’s link to her Native American heritage adds depth and humanity to the story, as the authors bring twists of creativity to some of the most compelling and authentic Cherokee traditions. And while the series may not be reliable as a factual representation of Cherokee culture, the proud history of the Cherokee People still serves as a constant source of inspiration for the authors and makes Zoey Redbird one of the most original heroines in young adult fiction.
JORDAN DANE launched her back-to-back debut suspense novels in 2008 after the three books sold in auction. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan’s gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense pacing to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag—naming her debut book, No One Heard Her Scream , as one of the Best Books of 2008. And Harlequin Teen is releasing two young adult novels by Dane: In the Arms of Stone Angels (April 2011) and On a Dark Wing (TBA 2012). Jordan and her husband share their Texas residence with two cats and a rescue dog named Taco. For more, visit www.JordanDane.com.

{ Freedom of Choice }
    KALONA, A-YA, AND THE RAVEN MOCKERS

    Jeri Smith-Ready
    IT’S NOT easy being the Chosen One. Just ask Buffy Summers. Ask Harry Potter. And ask Zoey Redbird, the latest in this list of “lucky” candidates picked by fate to save the world from darkness—and oh yeah, find romance, keep their friends, and maybe not flunk every class. In their spare time, of course.
    You’d think the act of getting chosen would be the biggest hurdle of all. Once you know you’re The One, every choice should be easy. Simply “do the right thing,” and the rest will follow. After all, you were chosen for a reason, so you must be destined to succeed, right?
    Alas, destiny isn’t a straight, well-paved road. Sometimes it’s not even a rocky, overgrown bike path. All the signs point in different directions, and half of them aren’t even in English (they might be in another language—or worse, poetry ).
    The adults or divine beings—you know, the ones who have let things get so messed up in the first place—hand you a huge assignment: go forth, fight evil, here are some superpowers. Good luck!
    Ah, hell , as Zoey would say. Now what?
    Good question. How can a mere fledgling make the right choices when even immortals can’t get it right?
    Look at Kalona—he was Nyx’s pledged Warrior, a bond that demands and rewards the utmost loyalty and devotion. Yet he squandered his Goddess’ loving trust. After his banishment, rather than trying to get back into Nyx’s good graces, he spent centuries piling up one offense after another. The half-human Raven Mockers he sired brought even more misery into the world, misery they can’t entirely