Marked

Title: Marked

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2007

Print Date: May 2007

ISBN: 9780312360269

Pages: 306

Series: 1st in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

ENTER THE DARK, MAGICAL WORLD OF THE HOUSE OF THE NIGHT, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change — and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, 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 group, 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.

Comments:

You know how sometimes you see quotes like "Intense!" or "Gripping!" about books? I don't know about you, but I'm the type of person to (mentally) roll my eyes at this. It may be true, but more often than not, I feel like it's either exagerated for marketing, or maybe whoever made the comment is the type who tends to have extreme opinions about their books.

Anyway, this book was gripping. Like it caught me in its clutches and wasn't letting go.

I liked the set-up. I did wonder a bit how/if the vampyres had their come-out, since (it seems to me) that is usually a part of books where the existance of vampires are known by the world. In this particular book, scientists have debated vamyrism, but I don't recall it saying when this debate/study started. I also worried a little about the "vampire finishing school" bit — I've seen it before (Vamps), and from what I've read and heard, the finishing school/boarding school (think Harry Potter*) thing has taken off and is a (potentially tiring) new trend. As it turned out, this concern was quickly forgotten.

*I am not saying anything against HP, just pointing to it as an example — and possibly one of the trend starters.

I also liked the heroine. Zoey has some issues (parents, namely), but she's rather clued into herself. She doesn't feel the need to give in to peer pressure when she isn't interested. She doesn't feel the need to act superior, even when she could (see: "amazing powers" in the blurb). She values friendship...Overall, a likeable character.

In any case, back to the gripping part. I started a little after midnight Friday night (technically Saturday), finished late (or early you might say) and actually couldn't make myself go to bed without starting the next book (until, that is, my sleep-deprived body decided for me, and I simply drifted off).

Which brings me to...Betrayed