The House of Night series has been on my TBR list for a long time! The series was actually banned in 2009 for "sexual content and nudity." Interestingly, the series hadn't even been completed at that point so it is quite ridiculous for all future novels in the series to be banned when they have no idea whether there is any objectionable content! By contrast, this book won the 2007 Romantic Times (RT) Reviewers' Choice Award for Young Adult. The story takes place in an alternate universe where vampyres (that is how it is spelled in the book) share the world with humans although they live separately (at least they do in this novel). In certain people, a physiological reaction takes place that triggers a part of their DNA that will eventually result in the person becoming a vampyre. It is thought that this takes place during adolescence, due to the increase in hormones during puberty. Such an individual will be destined to become "marked." A certain type of vampyre called a Tracker will place a crescent moon mark on the forehead of a person who has been chosen to become a vampyre. The mark is like a tattoo, but it is an outline only. Once a person receives that mark, they say good-bye to their old life and move to the House of Night which is a private boarding school in Tulsa's Midtown where they will live for the next four years learning all about the history of vampyres and what they can expect in the future. A marked person, or fledgling, has a very limited amount of time to come to the House of Night. They feel as though they are dying, which is true because their body is changing. Not everyone will survive the Change to become a full-fledged vampyre. The mark on the forehead becomes filled in once the Change is complete. Someone who has had special gifts bestowed upon them by Nyx, the Vampyre Goddess that they worship, is destined to become a High Priestess. Those chosen ones will also develop additional embellishments upon their body to set them apart from regular vamps. In Greek mythology, Nyx is the Goddess of the Night. Zoey Redbird is a 16 year-old teenager from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma who feels as though she doesn’t belong. Her dad left when she was just two years old, and her mom remarried when she was 13 years old. Zoey’s new step-father, John, is a bit of a religious fanatic. He feels that Zoey is a problem child and, since they married, Zoey feels that her mother isn’t really on her side anymore. Zoey feels that if her mom and John only knew what her siblings were up to that they wouldn't think she was the black sheep. She refuses to hide who she is and, for that reason, she gets into trouble. When Zoey becomes marked, she turns to her Grandmother Redbird who is the only one she feels will understand. Her grandmother is a Cherokee, and she has taught Zoey some of the old ways. While trying to find her grandmother in the lavender fields around her home, Zoey falls and hits her head and has a spiritual experience where she meets Nyx who tells her that she is something special because of her mix of Cherokee ancestry and vampyre destiny. She kisses the mark upon Zoey’s forehead and, when Zoey awakens, she finds out that her grandmother has brought her to the House of Night. Her mentor is a High Priestess named Neferet. Zoey stands out as different than other fledglings because her mark has filled in ever since her spiritual meeting with Nyx. She instinctively knows that she is not to reveal to anyone what has occurred. Right off the hop, Zoey gets off on the wrong foot with Aphrodite, who is the "Queen Bee" of the fledglings. She runs a special clique called the Dark Daughters, and she thinks she is destined to become a High Priestess. Aphrodite tries to bully Zoey around, but Zoey stands up to her which earns her the respect of her small circle of peers. Aphrodite is jealous of all the attention that Zoey is receiving because of her mark and what she believes is preferential treatment from Neferet. I really like the alternate world that the Casts have created. Just as wizards must go to Hogwarts to receive training, the vamps must go to the House of Night. I like that Zoey is a strong-willed girl who doesn't let anyone push her around. Even when she is afraid, she demonstrates a lot of courage. The clash between Aphrodite and Zoey is typical high-school behaviour, along with the bullying and cliques. I felt as though I was right back in high school! However, because of the sexual situations in the book, I would recommend this for the upper end of the Young Adult range. Zoey's lack of parental support really saddened me, and I felt sorry for her. It was nice to see Zoey's strong bond with her grandmother, which is absent for so many kids nowadays, and I hope that we will see more of Grandma Redbird! Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of the series! I am hoping that the maturity level of the characters will develop as they get older.

I really wanted to enjoy reading this book but I found it hard. It was definitely a page turner, but I always caught myself thinking, "When will the clichéness end?" I found the dialogue and writing style was written ammateurish and most of the book was predictable. The main character seemed so perfect and clichéd as well; a not-so-good life at home, most popular boy loves her even though she's not popular. Then at the House of Night it's basically the same thing: The most hottest boy in school ditches the most hottest girl in school just to take interest and automatically fall in love with the new, different fledgling. I found that part so irritating. Oh, not to mention her perfect friends who will do anything for her (helping her save the day, didn't see that one coming) and talk like over-excited teenagers. I just find everything so unbelievably unrealistic for a fictional although it wasn't that bad. I think the next novels will be as predictable and preppy but it's still not that bad of a read.

I am one of those people who enjoy books like twilight to ally carter books so I could say I read anything. But with this book I didn't get hooked until I was almost done the book and on almost on every page I saw the f *** word or the b**** word so those are the only flaws to the book. But other then that it was pretty good.

Having enjoyed the Harry Potter and Twilight series as an adult I had this series recommended (online) when looking for 'teen books also enjoyed by adults". I did not enjoy the first book. I did find it humorous in the 'this is completely rediculous" sense. This book is about a very annoying tween/teen who thinks that life is just 'totally, like unfair' until she is whisked away to a dream world with no parents or rules where the hotest boy in school leaves the hot, but not nice, popular girl for the main character. This is not a completely accurate plot line but you get the point. My biggest issue with this book was that the main character had no faults (ate well, was pretty, said no to drugs...the list goes on) which on some level I can support as a positive role model for young girls but the faultlessness makes the character unbelieveable and hard to relate to. The only emotion I had towards the main character was the desire to hit her. I am sure this novel would appeal to a tween/young teenager but I would not recommend it to adults.

This is the first novel in the House of Night series. Zoey is in high school, and has been "marked". This is something that seems to happen randomly to some kids; what this means is that if she doesn't get herself to a place called "House of Night" asap, a sort of "finishing school" for fledgling vampyres, she will die. Zoey is scared and must leave her family and friends to start new. With her Cherokee background, there seems to be something special about Zoey; she is not quite like the other fledglings, but she still manages to make some good friends, and to p*** off one of the higher ranking girls at school. I really enjoyed this. Yes, it's another vampire novel, but it's quite different. The vampyre "rules" are different in this book, and a lot of the rituals at Zoey's new school actually made me think of fictional witch stereotypes, so much so, that I often forgot they were vampyres and often thought witches instead. I also liked the touch of Cherokee traditions that made their way into the book. I particularly liked a couple of Zoey's new friends, Damien, the gay boy, and her "Okie" roommate Stevie Rae

Not my favourite. It’s changed the whole ‘turning vampire’ process. I don’t know if I liked that too much. The thought and concept was all there. There were interesting scenarios, and I liked the way she had her own little thoughts added in there. It was kind of childish. But she is 16 years old, so I guess I shouldn’t complain. It took me so long to read because I wasn’t drawn to figure out what happens next. I bought the box set, so onto number two now!

This is a really good book and a great series. The writing is really good and relates really well to how a teenager really speaks and thinks. I love the fact that there is a lot of mythology and rituals in the book which i find makes it more authentic. The character Zoey is just wonderful and Cherokee (love it!!!). I enjoy the research that was done on some of the native rituals described in the book, as they really do exist. I really can't complain about this story. i loved it 100%

I actually purchase this book about 2 years ago and I just read this book now. When I purchase that book I read the 1st chapter and there were a few things that I didn’t like: 1. The way they wrote Vampyre instead of Vampire, 2. The fact that they get “marked” when they change. 3. The “vampyre” was a lady. ( and I love when it’s the guy usually) So back then I close the book and forgot all about it because to me it did not make sense and I was not ready for this big change. Then 2 weeks ago I actually decided to give this book a full try and read the full book till the End like it or not. And I must say… It was great. I could not let go the book. There is not much action compare to other books but the story lines and everything that happened is actually pretty good and you just want to keep reading and want to know more. I like it so much that I got the 2nd book as well and finish that one in 2 days also. So now I’m in the 3rd book and I already purchase the full serie. So I have to say it’s a must ready. Enjoy!

I ADORE THIS SERIES! Not only that... I love Zoey's cuss word: " Well, Hell! " This story stars Zoey Redbird and she is Marked as a fledling at the House of Night school for Vampyres. She has to go through the change to become a true vampire. If she doesn't.... She'll die. That isn't the main aspect of the book though. She has to adapt to the nature of vampyres and drinking.... The worst thing she could think of: Blood. This book was hilarious and epic. I was amazed my this book. I recomend it to Twilight Haters! (( If you like Twilight you can still read it :p ))

I really didn't think I was going to like this book. I put off reading it for many years because when I read the back summary it just seemed a little too strange and out there. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Zoey is your average 16 year old until a vampire shows up in her school to tell her she's been marked. The poo hits the fan when her zealot religious parents find out and plan to stage an intervention and the school starts treating her like a leper. Running away from her family she hurts herself on the way to her grandmothers only to have a spiritual vision. Her grandmother takes her to a special school for those who have been marked and there starts her adventure. There were many elements of this book that were just downright excellent. Infusing aboriginal history and lore into Zoey's past really intrigues the reader and was a big surprise. In addition though a person has been marked by a vampire that does not guarantee they will survive the change into one that happens over several years. Another element I enjoyed about this story was that while there was romance it was not the main focus. Zoey is our heroin and is on a mission. My two criticisms of the book is that Zoey occasionally uses language that just doesn't seem like a teenager such as "lad" that just seems odd and out of place. Some of the assumptions and observations she makes also seem a bit teenager cliched. My other issue is how much of the book revolves around oral sex. After I read the whole books I just didn't feel by the end that it was necessary. The tension it created in the story could have been achieved in other areas and I know from personally working in a bookstore and selling the book that many parents wont buy it for their kids because it really is written the way you'd read it in an adult novel like the Sookie Stackhouse series. For older teens Im sure it's nothing new though I can't recall many teen books that actually DO go into detail about oral sex and make it a pivotal part of a story... for younger teens (it's marketed to 13+) it may not be appropriate. Use discretion. Great book, great story, a little needlessly sexual in some areas. But Zoey is a great strong leader and you'll cheer for her the whole way.