Review: Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Marked

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night, #1

Synopsis (goodreads): The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres 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 vampyre 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 vampyre friends.

Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It definitely catches your attention from the beginning with the line: "Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker." Now if that doesn't reel you in, I don't know what will. Zoey Redbird lives in a world that's not much different from ours, except that now, vampires are real, instead of just a myth. The world knows about vampires, and once you are marked, there is no going back. From the moment Zoey sees the dead guy, she is caught in a whirlwind. She's been very ill, practically coughing up a lung, and she gets marked by a Tracker while her best friend Kayla is standing right next to her. Her almost-ex-boyfriend Heath sees the mark on her forehead but isn't scared, even when Zoey accidently tries drinking his blood.

During the time between getting marked and finding her way to the House of Night (vampyre finishing school), her mother and step-father practically disown her, she runs away to her grandma's house, has a near-death experience, and wakes up inside the House of Night's infirmary. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, she comes upon a scene that she really doesn't want to see, is told off by the leader of the Dark Daughters, Aphrodite-who also happens to be the High Priestess-in-training and has an affinity for seeing the future-and catches the attention of the hottest guy in school who just so happens to be Aphrodite's ex-boyfriend-though Aphrodite can't seem to take the hint and still believes he's hers. Not only is Zoey the worst enemy of the High Priestess-in-training, her Mark is already filled in-which doesn't happen until a fledgling makes the Change, she sees fledglings who have recently died, and seems to have an affinity of her own. When things with the Dark Daughters start spiraling out of control, and someone from her old life is almost killed because of Aphrodite's recklessness, Zoey decides it's time for things at the House of Night to change and takes matters into her own hands. But is she successful? Well, that is the big question.

At times, this book can be a bit ridiculous and occasionally the writing seems as though it's lacking; other times, the writing is wonderful. All in all, I couldn't get enough of this book. The story itself is simply amazing. I would definitely recommend it to those who love fantasy/paranormal/vampire books.

I give this book: