Wow! I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed reading this book. After having been so disappointed with that crappy "Twilight" series, I was a little scared to try a new 'teen' vampire series.

This is done so well by this pair of authors. They don't candy-coat teenage behavior and there's actually swearing and sexual encounters that make it more believable. It's a very accurate representation of teen behavior that many adults don't like to admit to. I wasn't driven nuts either by any annoying teenage/vampire angst or a story where the vampires are so whiny they're almost neutered. At first, I did think the high school bullying was a bit much, but after some thought, it's quite believable. Especially when you add power to the mix and the fact that it can corrupt person's with sociopathic behavior.

I also really enjoyed the pagan rituals and lifestyles of the vampires. It made it even more interesting to read. The People of the Faith were a fair representation of how religious bigots would treat others who don't believe as they do. (We have, after all, seen it done for centuries now.)

Overall, this was really an excellent read and I'll definitely be looking for more by either author.

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Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

"Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse, I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker."

The opening sentence hooks the reader; they will devour the whole book quickly and ask for more.

Zoey's life is about to change forever. She woke up one morning normal and by the end of the day she's been marked. Being marked indicates that she will turn into a vampire. She needs to leave her family and friends behind and start a new life with other marked teens at the House of Night. Zoey's never completely fit in, but now she might have a chance.

After a fight with her mother and stepfather, Zoey goes to her grandmother's house for advice. Before seeing her grandmother, Zoey has a vision of the Goddess Nyx, who states that she is special and names Zoey her personal eyes and ears in the world. Zoey faints, but not before the Goddess replaces her mark with a blue crescent, which is extremely rare.

When Zoey arrives at the House of Night, she finds herself the object of attention because of her crescent. Her roommate and her new acquaintances quickly find their way into Zoey's heart. She finds herself surrounded with friends for the first time, but she also encounters a powerful enemy. As her entire lifestyle changes, Zoey finds peace within herself as she accepts her destiny and steps up to challenge her enemy's misguided judgement.

If you like vampires and enjoy supernatural tales, you don't want to miss this first book in a great new series.

MARKED begins a series that is uncomfortable mix of compelling action and appalling writing. On the one hand, the idea is superb and well executed: P. C. Cast shows her experience as she deftly weaves an intricate and entracing web of vampyre history and conflict.

On the other hand, a great story idea cannot completely excuse the cringe-inducing writing. It is the voice of someone trying too hard to be "hip" and "in," with complete disregard for how modern-day teenagers actually think, act, and speak. One should not overlook the fact that all the characters seem like they are amateur actors on in a bad horror movie, overdramatizing situations and playing at their trying-too-hard lines.

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