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Apr232010
House of Night Week – BOOK REVIEW: Marked by P. C. & Kristin Cast
by Carolyn • Posted in 3.5 Star Reviews
Title: Marked (HoN #1)
Author: P. C. & Kristin Cast
Publisher: Atom
PublicationDate: Jan 2009
Paperback: 348 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating: 7/10
Summary:
The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird’s world, vampires have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire – that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampire Goddess, Nyx.
But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampire friends.
Review:
Marked is the first book in the House of Night series and we are introduced quite quickly to the House of Night vampyre school, where ‘marked’ kids go to become vampyres. Zoey, our main protagonist, is one of the kids who gets ‘marked’ by a vampyre tracker and subsequently has to leave home to begin her new life at House of Night.
Zoey takes this revelation and complete life change in her stride and seems fairly happy to leave her toxic home-life, where her mother and step-father make her life a misery. I really like Zoey. She is quite feisty and doesn’t allow herself to be pushed around by others. But it’s tough when you are the new girl in school and you’re already different from everyone else. Zoey’s mark differs to other fledglings in that the crescent shaped symbol is filled in. This only happens to fledglings who have gone through ‘the change’.
However, Zoey quickly finds friendship with Damian, Shaunee, Erin and Stevie Rae, but she also finds competition in the form of Aphrodite, a beautiful fledgling being groomed for the role as a Vampyre Priestess who has taken a major dislike to Zoey. But like Zoey’s life isn’t already complicated enough, she meets Erik and instantly becomes smitten, unfortunately for Zoey he’s also Aphrodite’s ex, and she still has to deal with her human boyfriend, Heath.
Zoey finds life at the House of Night difficult at times but she finds strength from her Priestess, Neferet and her new cat Nala – who is adorable. But she also starts to see things that she’s not sure are there, like ghosts of fledlings that have died. She’s also confronted with her human life when Heath, her human boyfriend, comes looking for her. That’s really when life doesn’t exactly go to plan.
Verdict:
Marked is really about introducing us to the characters and the world of ‘House of Night’ and is a great start to the series. It gives us a glimpse into Zoey’s life and each of the personalities of the people who surround her. There are quite a few twists and turns which kept me turning the pages and sets us up nicely for the next book in the series, Betrayed - check out my review tomorrow!
Source: Thank you to ATOM for sending me this book for review.
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13 Comments
Great review! I really enjoy this series. Can't wait to hear your take on the other books
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Great Review! I adore this books (except maybe the constant boy trouble) and can't wait till Wednesday!
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I also love this series. I need the newest one to round out my series.
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Elizabeth – thanks, all other reviews coming this week!
Felicia – I can't wait for Burned either – I'm going to have to devour it in a day to get it reviewed for 28th, but can't say I mind
Melissa – I'm really looking forward to next one too – these books are addictive
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Great Review! I stumbled across this series last summer and blew through them all. I've pre-ordered Burned and can't wait for it to arrive. Excellent Series topic for this week!
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I quite enjoyed this one, and thought it was a good introduction to HoN. Nice review!
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I love this series, just about to read book 6 and loving how its evolving, like Felicia said about the boy troubles, but i keep reminding myself Zoey is 17, so im hoping she doesnt turn into a mini Anita Blake lol
Great review BCC, looking forward to reading your thoughts on the rest of the series. =)
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When I first started this book I really wasn't sure about it but by the end I was hooked!
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This series does sound like a great read. I enjoyed the review and look forward to the next ones.
Thank you!
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Dren – Thanks! I hope you enjoy the week
Jenny – Yes, it was good but more of an introduction than anything else, although it did have it's moments of being exciting
Sparklybearsly – I agree with you about Zoey and her boy troubles! LOL
Jill – That's how I felt too, but then I was addicted!
Melissa – Glad you enjoyed the review – I'm hoping by the end of the week you will get an idea about this series – and maybe even read it cos it is good
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I really have to read this! Thank you for the review
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Nice review, this looks like a promising series. I just bought Mark in ebook format, Sony's online book store had a good price for it.
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I love this book !!
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