Marked (House of Night, Book 1)
Enter the dark, magical world of the House of Night series by bestselling authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed.
Remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is Marked as a fledgling vampyre and sent to the House of Night where she’ll either complete the Change or die.
Zoey arrives with something no one else has—she’s been chosen by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. The magick running through Zoey is rare, volatile, and impossible to hide. Along with this newfound power comes a bloodlust she struggles to control and a supernatural bond tying her to her human ex-boyfriend. As Zoey navigates ritual, rivalry, and a school obsessed with status, she begins to see the truth beneath the glamour.
The Dark Daughters, the House of Night’s most elite inner circle, are far more dangerous than anyone admits. And they’re twisting their Goddess-given gifts into something unrecognizable.
With her new fledgling friends at her side and enemies closing in, Zoey must decide who to trust, what to believe, and whether destiny is something to fight for… or run from.
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Readers say *Marked* is a campy, fast-paced vampire fantasy that mixes high school drama with elemental magic, delivering a nostalgic, playful, very “...
Follow the story of Zoey as she gets "Marked" which means she has been chosen to change into a vampire. She is also gifted with special markings and powers from the goddess Nyx. All she wants to do is fit in. However, the goddess has other plans. I thought it was a great read and it takes me back to high school with some of the comments and things that are made. I can't wait to reread the rest of the series.
Just updating my review years later, but reader beware, this book is full of racist slurs. I was so hopeful for this book and I really wanted to like it but after a few pages in I remember literally wondering what this author must’ve been thinking. However, I remembered that people thought slurs were funny back in the day.
This book just left a bad taste in my mouth, and I won’t bother even wasting my precious time reading the rest of the series.
This book just left a bad taste in my mouth, and I won’t bother even wasting my precious time reading the rest of the series.
So Marked starts with our heroine Zoey getting “Marked” by a Vampire Tracker (not to be confused with a bounty hunter, though that would’ve been more interesting), thus sending her to the House of Night—aka Vampire Hogwarts with more eyeliner and way more teenage drama. From there, it’s a chaotic spiral of forehead tattoos, elemental magic, and a whole lot of Destiny.
Let’s talk about Zoey. She’s not like other girls. No really, she’s literally not like other fledglings because she immediately gets blessed by the vampire goddess Nyx and conveniently has control over all five elements. Because sure, why not go full Avatar: The Last Bloodsucker?
Then there’s the villain, Aphrodite, who runs the “Dark Daughters”—basically a Mean Girls coven with a dark streak and some oddly specific rituals involving blood and candles. Zoey must stop her... with the help of her loyal band of misfit friends, lovingly referred to as the “Nerd Herd.” (Because we’re just casually name-calling in sacred vampire temples now, I guess?)
The writing is about as subtle as a glitter bomb and has the pacing of a caffeine-fueled teenager trying to summarize Buffy after bingeing an entire season in one night. Also, the slang? Peak 2007 cringe. Expect a lot of forced sass, random "OMG!"s, and moments where you’ll wonder if anyone in this world has ever spoken like that.
To be fair, it’s campy fun if you’re into magical chosen ones, high school cattiness with fangs, and plot twists powered by moonlight and melodrama. Just don’t ask too many questions—or try to take it seriously—or you might find yourself rolling your eyes so hard you pull a muscle.
But hey, if you ever thought Twilight needed more eyeliner and elemental summoning circles, Marked might just be your new guilty pleasure. Just… maybe keep your expectations buried deep in an unmarked vampire grave.
Let’s talk about Zoey. She’s not like other girls. No really, she’s literally not like other fledglings because she immediately gets blessed by the vampire goddess Nyx and conveniently has control over all five elements. Because sure, why not go full Avatar: The Last Bloodsucker?
Then there’s the villain, Aphrodite, who runs the “Dark Daughters”—basically a Mean Girls coven with a dark streak and some oddly specific rituals involving blood and candles. Zoey must stop her... with the help of her loyal band of misfit friends, lovingly referred to as the “Nerd Herd.” (Because we’re just casually name-calling in sacred vampire temples now, I guess?)
The writing is about as subtle as a glitter bomb and has the pacing of a caffeine-fueled teenager trying to summarize Buffy after bingeing an entire season in one night. Also, the slang? Peak 2007 cringe. Expect a lot of forced sass, random "OMG!"s, and moments where you’ll wonder if anyone in this world has ever spoken like that.
To be fair, it’s campy fun if you’re into magical chosen ones, high school cattiness with fangs, and plot twists powered by moonlight and melodrama. Just don’t ask too many questions—or try to take it seriously—or you might find yourself rolling your eyes so hard you pull a muscle.
But hey, if you ever thought Twilight needed more eyeliner and elemental summoning circles, Marked might just be your new guilty pleasure. Just… maybe keep your expectations buried deep in an unmarked vampire grave.