House of Night: Marked

Reader reviewed by Writer's Block Reviews

Zoey is having a normal day at school, chatting with her best friend Kayla and avoiding her boyfriend Heath, until she gets marked by a vampire. Not only is she an outcast with Kayla once she is marked, but her mom and step-loser (as she likes to call him) are calling in the prayer groups. Zoey does not want to be a part of that, so she sneaks out. Now she gets to escape her life to live at the House of Night in Tulsa. Her new roommate, Stevie Rae, is a Kenny Chesney-obsessed, country girl. But Stevie Rae and all of her friends accept Zoey, even though her Mark is totally different from everyone else. Then you also have your typical mean girl, who in this book, happens to be Aphrodite. Aphrodite is head of an exclusive group in the school called Dark Daughters. Aphrodite cannot stand the competition that she feels Zoey produces. Not to mention that Aphrodite's ex-boyfriend is interested in Zoey. This school is plentiful of drama; but the question is, can Zoey live up to the challenge?

This book started a little slow. There were parts I enjoyed it, especially the parts with Aphrodite and Zoey; I loved the fierce competition. But other parts dragged to me. I skipped some parts because they were boring me to tears. However, I'm not giving up on them yet; I'm still going to read the others in the series, if for no other reason than to find out what happens. It will not be one of my top priorities, so if you're looking for the others in the series to be reviewed, you'll be waiting a while. If you're looking for a vampire book to pass the time, I would pick this one up. Perhaps you will not be as disappointed.

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Reader reviewed by Rin

Unlike our world, vampyres have always existed in 16 year old Zoey Redbird's world. But she's shocked at school when a Tracker marks her as a fledging vampire. And now she has to get to the vampyre boarding school, House of Night.

Sadly, Zoe's mother and stepfather do nothing to help her. In fact they try to get their family shrink and prayer group to save her. So, Zoe tries to go to her grandmother to get help. On the way thereshe gets hurt, and recieves a vision from Nyx (the Vampire Goddess) and learns that she is to be the ears and eyes of Nyx.

When Zoe awakens she finds herself, with her grandmother, at the House of Night.

There, she learns that she's special, different from other, as her mark is filled in, unlike the other fledgings. Regardless, Zoe makes new friends (but also manages to make an enemy of powerful Aphrodite.)

Conflicts and romance ensue and the end will leave you begging for more.

I had very few issues with this book, one was that at times it moved fairly slowly and the other was that the authors sort of dumbed down the language.

Reader reviewed by Megan

P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast present the first installment of the House of Night series with the brilliant novel Marked. In Zoeys world, a vampire is not a thing of dark novels. Vampires not only exist in the world around us, but they are acknowledged as vampires. None of those silly rumors are true. You can not turn into a vampire by being bitten by a vampire. Zoey knows this all too well. She was just a normal kid trying to fit in when a Tracker came to her school and Marked her. Now, her body has two choices: it can either accept the change that will happen, or she will die. It is as simple as that. Therefore, she moves into the mysterious House of Night school where she finally starts to fit in. Except for, that is, her mark. Since her brush with the Goddess Nyx, her mark has been filled in unheard of in a fledgling. Her mentor, and the principal of the school, assures her that this is a good sign. After she joins the Dark Daughters, the elite social group of the school, she finds out she has an affinity for, not one, but all five of the elements. And, when the pranking on Halloween night turns ugly, Zoey uses her powers to save the other students, earning her the honor of being a High Priestess in training, and now leader of the Dark Daughters. Oh, and have I mentioned the totally delicious boy shes falling for?
To be honest, the first time I picked up this book I thought Oh, great. Another knockoff horrible vampire story. It took a good deal of prodding from my friends before I read it. However, I am so glad I did. Not only was the story original, but I could not put the book down! P.C. and Kristen, you know your stuff!