P. C. Cast

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

A House of Night Novel (House of Night Novels)

Marked

PC Cast

The House of Night series by bestselling authors P.C Cast and Kristin Cast is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But 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 club, 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.

Hanna Rybchynska

2nd read.. still an ok read, nothing special
I really like the idea and the world, but honestly, I don't like at all the insta love!

Malia

i have nothing to say other than this book is atrocious but the sheer nostalgia of an easier time saved it for me. god bless

Rebecca C Wright

I keep finding the best vampire novels in the YA section. This one is exceptional. I like how the vampire world and the Native American legend is intertwined for this series.

I would've given this one star but I changed my mind.

What I really though of this novel honestly, when I first began reading it was that it was interesting. It really was.

But then when it got ot the part about christians and how the 'religion' the student had to adapt to was the better one, it got on my nerves. I mean sure it's the author's choice how they'll depit different religions, but being christian mysel fit really bothered me how they did it. I have come across this before in books so I tried to keep reading. 

Later I just put the book down. As I said earlier the new 'religion' the students needed to have, made me think of this as a cult or something.Like the vampire students need to perform rituals and accept the theology the school puts on them with no question. One of the characters, disturbed me with the sort of comments someone brainwashed by a cult might have. She wasn't reassuring the main character about the 'rituals' and the 'school' in a good way either. I hope I wasn't the only one who caught that. Like someone esle said the authors could have done without all of that brainwashing, and bashing and making one better than the other. They need to be more careful becasue there are people out there who this book will not have such a positive influence on at all.

Also who cares if someone is a homophobe? If someone feels uncomfertable about something then they do.I know a lot of teens who wouldn't accept something they didn't feel comfertable with.They have their ideas just like anyone else.What gets me is that it's no question that all homophobes just go around using the f word,and the friends of the gay person automatically accept them. 

Are you kidding me??! 

What I found funny, in a sort of sterotypical way was how blacks were depicted as having attitudes, resembling African Goddesses and models like tyra Banks.Sure we are beautiful, and we DO have attitudes like everyone else! Everytime I read those lines I see them pop up more and more in books I read.xD
There are other ways to describe us in a not so cliche way thanks.We're people too.


Overall the Cast's could have left out their personal opinions on certain subjects, or at least not make them so obvious as they did because I and others did find them offensive. As well as that I must give the book away after all this, because I honestly can't stand even looking at it anymore. sadly.

I am very disapointed about it.I really though I would want to continue reading this series.Oh well..I really liked the writing style too.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is as 'sensitive' to these subjects as I am in a book.But hey you can force yourself to read something you really don't agree with if you want.Have fun wasting your time. xD

Brooke

Seriously, read the first page before getting it to see if you can handle the way the series is narrated. I love it, it’s very comfortable for me, it’s written the way that 2000s disney/nick tv show characters are written. Remind me of my childhood. I still watch those shows, Hannah Montana, Suite Life, House of Anubis, etc because of the same feeling. With that said, I love this book! It’s a different twist on vampires and gives a whole different vibe. It reminds me of something I would have read on Wattpad in middle school (which is when I actually got into these books and I just recently started rereading books I loved from middle school and high school) and I know that may sound bad but honestly it’s my type of thing. I wish there were more books in this style of writing that I could find (and if you know of some outside of this series please recommend them in the comments)

The main character is near unbearable. In an effort to be a “cool” role model for readers she has become an anti-feminist, “not like other girls” cliche that will have you rolling your eyes a few times per chapter. In saying that, the plot and other characters are entertaining enough that I devoured this. A mindless yet enjoyable read - like something you pick up at an airport and don’t mind forgetting on the plane. 

Laoise Giblin

Unknown

** spoiler alert **
           During my high school years, I read Marked. Despite my hatred for Zoey Redbird, I’m curious about what’s about to happen to her. I only read the first five books of the series before stopping. 

One day at school, a Tracker marked Zoey Redbird and turned her into a vampire. With a refreshingly fresh take on the vampire legends, this story combines matriarchy and goddess worship to a pleasing effect. The Goddess Nyx has marked Zoey specially she given a special responsibility and added gifts, which she will need since there is something wrong at the House of Night, and her own mentor and High Priestess may not be as gentle and caring as she claims to be.

The first thing you need to know about Zoey is that she is such a hateful person. It has been a long time since I read about an MC who radiates such negative energy. Here, she calls all girls she doesn’t like derogatory names, such as bitches, hags, sluts, and hos. She believes she is better than them. She has a group of friends who are like her, and I don’t like any of them.

There is nothing impressive about Marked’s world building.

The House of Night series is set in a world very similar to our own, except that in Zoey Redbird’s world, vampires have always existed.

However, Marked does such a horrible job of implementing it. It’s labeled fantasy. With vampires having existed for so long, why are people so ignorant of them? Why is there only one vampire boarding school? Wouldn’t vampires have waged war against humans if they had existed for so long? After all, they’re much stronger than them. Considering how attractive vampires are and how successful they have been, why would anyone discriminate against them?

Marked’s romance is rubbish. 

Their relationship was entirely insta-love. Their first encounter was as Aphrodite sucking Erik’s cock, which is the most disturbing aspect of the story. This is serious. Zoey sees Aphrodite forcing a blow-job on Erik. The two of them fall in love.

If you’re reading it out of curiosity, I can tell you it’s just as terrible as you imagine. Do not read this and be happy you didn’t.

Nathalie Kallo

Loved it! And I love how it keeps going and how the authors keep writing new books, but the wait between the one I just read and the next is a little long, but still Amazing and exciting!

Kristin Cast

When sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird gets Marked as a fledgling vampire she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change. But Zoe is no ordinary fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the Goddess Nyx and discovers her amazing new power to conjure the elements: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. When Zoey discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampire friends. - Not suitable for younger readers -

I actually quite enjoyed this. It was such a quick read, and the premise was really interesting, I’ll probably be carrying on this series as a kind of reading slump fix because they’re just so easy to read and get through. I’m pretty excited to see where the story goes, despite some of the characters getting a little annoying at times haha

(The only thing that stopped me from rating it higher was the occasional weird references to LGBT characters, but I put that down to it being written almost 10 years ago. It was a little weird to read those parts and not find issue.)

Evelina

This book was soo... Well everyone probably already know that it was cringy and very much 'im not like other girls' with a bunch of "special" things happening to the main character. It felt like she only spent like a week at her new school (i could be wrong though) and already had a mark that no other new vamps have and she was the only one in like ever who could control all of the elements? There were so many awkward things happening and Zo was unlikable, but i have to admit i did not entirely hate reading it lol. Its probably because of the nostalgia because when i was younger i really loved these books and also im a bit weak for vampires and love the lore. Really wish the writing was better and there was some character development for everyone especially zoey and aphrodite and less name calling.

Katy

DNFed. I was hoping things would get better because the plot was interesting enough. However, the characters were such 'eye roll' at best which made it very difficult to pay attention to the plot.

Micah

** spoiler alert **
           For anyone thinking of reading this entire series, read this instead. This review is for the entire series because I cannot differentiate between individual books after finishing the series because of their lackluster and do-nothing quality.

Our main character, Zoey, is a 16-year-old who has been Marked as a fledgling vampyre by the goddess Nyx as a Super Special Vampyre, so we immediately know that she's the Chosen One. Additionally, Zoey's friends coincidentally have gifts from Nyx that only serve to help drive Zoey's character arc further. The entire series spans six months. Yes. You read right. SIX MONTHS. But don't let that timeline confuse you, because P.C. and Kristin Cast clearly forgot about that little detail and wrote the entire series as if years had past between each book with the amount of time and space they dedicated to recapping everything that happened in the previous books. The Casts do not respect a reader's time because not only is there a disgusting amount of gratuitous recapping done, the recaps are poorly written, as if parroted by a changling posing as a late 2000s teenager. Also, you like that character development? You like how that character really did the internal work on their issues to become a better person by the end of the book? WATCH IT ALL BE UNDONE BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK AFTER THIS. I was so frustrated by the entire series because of how much individual characters were regressed in their development at the start of each book. I found myself constantly asking, "Didn't we already address this issue in the last book?"

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast have no clue how to write non-overdramatic plots, apparently, because little things are a big deal. Recognizing the beauty of another woman? Insert tangent about how Zoey is not gay, and, of course, not that there's anything wrong with that. Liking cereal? Insert a combined number of pages about Zoey's love of cereal that, I'm sure, serve the plot 100%. Also, the constant parentheses with outdated and unrealistic dialogue is like reading over early fanfiction written by 12-13-year-olds living in white, American suburbia that had no beta. If every little thing was painted as dramatic, I could deal with it, but no. Additionally, Zoey does not seem to curse, and, instead, says very childish replacements instead that sound like an adult trying to act like they're 10 years old. In fact, this becomes an annoyingly recurring plot point in the series because everyone recognizes Zoey's lack of cursing as ridiculous. Have you actually ever met a teenager that did not drop curse words left and right? Also, the Casts nonchalantly say that characters who are True Loves, like destined to find each other over and over again in the mortal realm because their love transcends death, move on literally two days after their True Love dies. Also, there are a disgusting amount of times where a character is shown to "finally be complete" after falling in love with another character, sending that disgusting message to teens about how they need another person to complete them. There were times when I was reading that I was convinced this series was satire because of the sheer amount of absurdity the Casts were asking readers to suspend in their disbelief for the story.

A major issue throughout the series is Zoey's sexual debut, specifically, who will she have sex with first, because of course there's a multiple-boyfriend subplot. After Zoey's sexual debut, Zoey is conflicted about who she'll have sex with of her multiple boyfriends, and it eventually becomes a normal part of the story to avoid important conversations because Stark wants to have sex with Zoey. Also, Zoey and her friends are allowed to have sex with people, and people they don't like are not allowed to have sex with other people, lest they be deemed "sluts," "whores," hoe-bags," "skanks," and "hags from hell." The Casts handled sex like middle schoolers: inappropriately, unsuccessfully, and unrealistically.

Let's talk about race. Let's talk about how the only two canonically black characters fall into gross stereotypes: the "oreo" and the angry black woman. Let's also talk about how Zoey's Cherokee ancestry is only referenced when it's convenient. Let's talk about how the Casts constantly wrote in derogatory tones when referencing the black characters specifically. Let's talk about the fetishization the Casts wrote about black women, but not for white women. Let's talk about how despite having a Native American main character, Zoey is distinctly written as a white woman that does not recognize the privileges she has been afforded.

Did you know Zoey has a brother and sister? Yep, in case you forgot, Zoey has a brother and sister that do not show up past being mentioned only a handful of times, most of them being in the first book. But you wouldn't know that Zoey has siblings because of how she acts, like she's never stepped foot in a place where siblings exist. Contrarily, there are things that Zoey will constantly remind you of. Did you also know that Zoey is special? Because she'll tell you, literally every chance she gets. She'll tell you which affinity is closest to her. She'll tell you how much she likes Count Chocula breakfast cereal and brown pop. She'll tell you how much she doesn't like possessive/abusive men but then chooses over and over to stay with possessive/abusive men. She'll tell you how "she's not like other girls." She'll tell you how she's a kid but expects to be treated like an adult. Over and over again, Zoey will tell you all of these things until you can recite it and you just want to scream that you get it. And it's not just Zoey, although Zoey is the perspective we get the most and the only perspective in like the first 5 books. Every character who has a perspective will reiterate and reiterate what they do and do not like until your eyes bleed. 

If this series actually becomes a tv show, I hope they strip this story down to it's bare bones and change it so much so that the Casts whine about how there's nothing left of their series. Think the film adaptations of Percy Jackson, but the changes the producers make actually make the story more bearable. The Casts are not good writers for this story, and it is disappointing that a good concept was ruined by two writers that did not do the bare minimum of research and reflection to make the characters, the story, the plot, or the details interesting or meaningful.

Find Twilight fanfiction that does not glorify abuse to read instead of this if you want to read about vampires.

Talia Dominguez 

this book is abt this girl named zoey redbird that gets marked so then she gts sent off to House of Night Boarding School where she meets dis guy named Eric Night even tho she has a bf , heath,(according to him)...so then she discovers/finds out abt her abilites to control the five elements which are fire water earth air and spirit! wooh lol anywayz so then she notices thats shes different from the other vampyre fledglings when her mark gets filled in nd she starys gettin tattoos when she beats the evil spirits !

Chloe Verhoeve

3/5🌟

This was like my fourth reread of this book, but it was the first time I’ve read it as an “adult” (who am I kidding, I’m still a big child). I used to devour this series! I was so in love with the plot, the characters and the romances. And to be honest, I still kinda am, but not like I used to.

Now I’m older I can see the little faults and mistakes in the book. But my love for the characters (especially Damien❤️) is still here. I am going to continue on with the series, I’ve never actually finished the whole thing! I’ve always stopped around the sixth book.😳
Trying to get past that one this time!

Victoria Drake

EDIT: I had to add this but why the fuck is Zoey still a freshman (3rd former, whatever) at 16 almost 17? She would be at least a sophomore but even that is pushing it. It mostly annoys me because the author was a high school teacher! How do you mess that up?


SPOILER: homophobia, body shaming and major cringe.

Okay. I read this book in high school and decided I’d read through my bookshelf again. I remember LOVING this book. As an adult though… there are SO many things wrong with this book, starting with the immaturity. 
I understand Zoe is a 16 year old girl, but “poopie”? “Hee-hee.” “Ginormic” Really? Also, I understand this book was dropped in 2007 but did we really need the F slur and the R slur so many times?? Was that really necessary? Not to mention the way the author kept making awful comments about people’s bodies.
“She wasn’t thin like the freak girls who puked and starved themselves into what they thought was Paris Hilton chic.” 

That was super unnecessary and wasn’t the only time a comment like that was made. Along with the amount of times the word “freak” was used to describe anyone who wasn’t a “popular” person. There was a section where she described “emo” kids as losers and freaks. Pretty sure that was within the first 20 pages. Again, I understand this is supposed to be from the POV of a teenager but it makes it hard to like, or even tolerate, a character that thinks that way about people.
Don’t get me started on the love interest. Cringe. Who the fuck meets someone, knows them for one day and practically professes their love for them by saying they’ve “never felt this way for anyone.” YOU DONT KNOW EACH OTHER AT ALL!
This books reads like a teen fan fiction that a 13 year old girl wrote, not 2 fully grown adult women. Even for a YA book, it’s very problematic and cringey.

Ayden

This book has such potential! The story line really isn't all bad and with the right author it could've been amazing. But such is life you find people with great ideas and no writing skills. Though I have no intention of putting all the blame on the author after all there were editors (or were there?...) 
Despite the countless editing mistakes spelling and grammar is not what annoyed me the most
What did annoy me was how fake the characters were, and i'm not talking about all the make up and lies. I'm referring to how unrealistic every teenager was! No I've never met a manipulative mean bully in high school. But I know enough about people to know that no one would ever act like Aphrodite. And to clarify I don't mean that they wouldn't act like her out of the good heartedness in everyone. I mean that a mean girl wouldn't act like that, just because it's weird. Even in cliché movies the mean girl doesn't confess her desire and need to rule the entire school on the first meeting with the protagonist.
But Aphrodite isn't the only girl I have a problem with. Her little minions (maybe the Three Stooges would be a more fitting name) need to be reality checked and quickly. Please find me three girls in this entire universe that will call themselves "dread" "whatever the others names were" after three hags in Greek mythology that shared an eye and a tooth! Truly this author must think that all teenage girls are morons! And now I would like to bring up to the stand Stevie Rae. And I already hear all the shocked gasps from everyone (someone would need to actually read this review in order to gasp in shock .... just go with it....no one) what could sweet lovable Stevie Rae do wrong?! Let's go back to their very first meeting where she cries in sympathy for Zoey. I don't care how sweet you are you don't start randomly crying for a stranger. It would be one thing if Zoey was crying and therefore Stevie was triggered or something but that wasn't the case. She literally just started crying the minute she saw zoe out of sympathy.
And last but not least let's talk about the twins are they going to ever explain how one person has two bodies I mean it's not real for close friends to be similar but they are borderline creepy. 
Moving on from the girls (what with no mention of Kayla??? Some characters just don't deserve to be mentioned)

So now let's talk about Erik and the instant deep connection Zoe feels towards him despite not knowing anything about him besides that he's good-looking and knows how to act
Which leads us right into my next complaint 
Zoey is ridiculously shallow and has some obsession with breast it's her first thought whenever she meets any girl and there's this quote from the book "I'm-so-grown-up-and-you're-just-a-kid laugh. I really hate it when girls do that. I mean, yes, she's older, but I have boobs, too." need I continue?! No but I will because I feel like there are too many shallow comments for me to only present one (I don't have the exact quote but it's a long these lines) "I'm not one of those psychos that doesn't eat or throws up her food" but even more offensive can you imagine?!
And she starts the story off with her coughing her lungs out but when Elliot starts coughing in class she wants to rip his head off.
And there's so much more but I feel like I've already wasted too much time and energy on this book so good night and goodbye

Oh and before I forget nefret is definitely the bad guy

Number 1 in series

Shereen Evans

Short and sweet to introduce you to the series.

Ale ♡

Helene Skjørvold

So I started reading this for my O.W.L’s and I though I wouldn’t like it as much as I did last time. 
I think it is the way the book was narrated in English, because I listened to some chapters on audiobook. 
I ended up actually liking it, and might read the next book as well.... 🤔🤔🤔

Maggie Hepditch

This book is just not good. It is poorly written and exploits the Cherokee people. The characters around Zoey have no personalities and only exist to continue Zoey's story line. All black characters are described as various shades of coffee and their hair type. Overuse of the words "ho" and "hag". A fun read tho.

Emi Gilmore 

Even nostalgia couldn't save this book from a 2 star rating, but like, at the same time it isn't a bad book.

Katelyn Broad

I got the first four books of this series for Christmas and I'm actually pretty glad I did. I liked this book. It wasn't my favorite and I didn't fall in love with it but it is nicely written and a fun read. 

This book follows Zoey when she gets marked as a possible future vampire. The premise of this book is very interesting and somewhat unique in a world full of teenage vampire novels. There are some fun twists and turns, some parts that had me laughing out loud, and I had a had time putting the book down after I was about halfway through it. After I finished this book, I immediately grabbed the second one and started reading if that tells you anything.

Julia Thompson 

I first read this book when I was 14 years old and am reading the series again at 24, loving it just as much as I did then. Even though I am older now I still love the cheesy teenage romance and drama. It has a lot of cringy and embarrassing moments we can all relate too and is obviously a different take on vampires. Of course most people hate anything that involves a different take on vampires than what they've grown up believing but I just love the spin on it. Sorry for the rough review, I don't write reviews very often but I am trying to improve that. Anyways, as someone who reads hundreds of books a year of a variety of different genres, I recommend the series.

Marked A House of Night Novel (House of Night Novels)

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