I've finished reading the first of the House of Night Novels by P.C. and Kristin Cast, Marked. It took me a while to get through it, but once I got half way through I couldn't put it down!
From Amazon.com...
"In 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres not only exist but are also tolerated by humans. Those whom the creatures "mark" as special enter the House of Night school where they will either become vampyres themselves, or, if their body rejects the change, die. To Zoey, being marked is truly a blessing, though she's scared at first. She has never fit into the human world and has always felt she is destined for something else. Her grandmother, a descendant of the Cherokee, has always supported her emotionally, and it is she who takes the girl to her new school. But even there the teen stands apart from the others. Her mark from the Goddess Nyx is a special one, showing that her powers are very strong for one so young. At the House of Night, Zoey finds true friendship, loyalty, and romance as well as mistrust and deception. She realizes that all is not right in the vampyre world and that the problems she thought she left behind exist there as well. Readers will identify with many of the characters, especially the protagonist."
What I liked about the book was that it was a quick read after I got half way through. Once I got into it I was squealing with joy and making odd noises when I couldn't handle all the excitement. You really know that you are reading a good book when you giggle with excitement. The characters were easy to relate to and believable. The relationships between the new best friends are remarkable.
What I disliked about the book was how long it took me to get into the book. While the book kept my attention, I didn't feel the need to be constantly reading it until halfway through the book. I know this isn't a big deal, and I can't expect perfection all the time. But while reading Marked, I missed the eagerness to find out what happened. Also, the language took me a long time to get used too. The voice and tone of the characters are extremely juvenile and cliche — so many "whatever"s and "Oh my god"s. It was sickening at first but by the end I either got used to it or it matured. And finally, the ending came a bit too soon. It seemed that it was all build up and then a page of climax. Followed only by a half a page of resolution and a half a page of conclusion and then a page to lead into the next novel.
But despite this all, I am very excited to finish this review and begin the second book, Betrayed.
Will I recommend this book to my students? Because of a few references to sex, that despite how much I enjoyed this book I will only recommend it to upperclassmen. I do not think that I will purchase this series for my classroom, but should the school library have it than who am I to tell my students that it is a good read? Especially for those students who have read the Twilight saga and who are looking for more — since so many students do!
I'm off to read Betrayed!