• Vamp-addicts satisfied by first in series

  Filed under Reviews
  Nov 24

  by Meghan O’Dell

  Vampires are no secret in the modern world of P.C. and Kirsten Cast’s “Marked,” the first of a six-book series that satisfies any vamp-fix for those who have become addicted because of series such as Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight.”

  Just as in Meyer’s entertaining success, this book has no fangs and no black cloaked, shadowy figures lurking in the background as do many classic vampire stories. And best of all, this vampire story refreshingly does not include any cliché seductions or sappy love stories.

  This book is alluring, but because of the juvenile writing style it is easy to find oneself almost insulted by the simplicity of the vocabulary and the blunt imagery provided. Although this is a fantasy and contains no factual or truthfully believable information, it genuinely highlights the issues at hand in the majority of teen lives and emphasizes the importance of family, human bonds and faith.

  In this world modeled after the modern world of today, human teens are “marked” during their early high school years by a blue crescent moon, representing the touch of the vampire goddess Nyx, which transforms from a simple outline when one is a fledgling, to being completed once one makes the change to a full adult vampire. If marked, the teen is required to reside within the House of Night, a boarding school for the training and transformation of fledgling vampires, or their body will begin to reject the change and will likely die.

  The heroine of this series is Zoey Redbird, who is chosen by Nyx to serve as her “eyes and ears” in the modern world. The book follows Zoey through her first year as a fledgling in the House of Night and brings to light not only those problems faced by the teen vampires, but problems faced by teens in the world today.

  Sex, drugs, alcohol, hazing, clicks, friends, foes, power, maturity, pride and so much more play large roles in the lives of high school students. This is the same for students in the House of Night. Powerful groups, a.k.a. “the dark daughters,” take advantage of others and misuse unapproved substances while also being irresponsible with powers bestowed upon them through their vampire “gifts.”

  Family and pride in one’s heritage plays large part in the success of the heroine, along with an emphasis on the importance of friendship in the absence of strong family bonds. Shunned by her overly religious mother and stepfather after being marked, Zoey turns to the support of her grandmother, who is wise in the ways of the mystical because of her strong Cherokee culture. It is through her strong faith in her ancestors and loyalty to her own beliefs that Zoey is able to overcome the obstacles placed in her way as she goes through the difficult change.

  Absence of family in Zoey’s life brings to light the necessity of friendship in order to be supported throughout the change and when facing the issues of the wrongs done by the “dark daughters.” Without the bonds of friendship, the insanity of peer pressure and stressors would likely take over. This would also make it more likely for one not to survive the change.

  The House of Night series is one which will fully satisfy any vampire cravings a person may have after finally setting down their favorite story, be it Twilight, Glass Houses, True Blood, or The Vampire Diaries. It will keep readers craving the supernatural, no matter how juvenile the subjects. The story is what makes the book, and once you bypass the slang and conversational vocabulary, you’ll be glued to the page.

  Tagged as: addicts, first, marked, meghan, meyer, o'dell, series, twilight, vamp
  
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