Marked (House of Night, #1) in Vampire Bites

Jan 21, 2010 Mandy Rosella rated it really liked it

I really like Marked. I was intruiged from the very start especially when Zoey got Marked had to face her family. It got really strange when Zoey went to her grandma Redbird and she collapsed on the hill and actually met Night goddess Nix. To tell the truth this part got too weird for my likings but it made the book interesting. Zoey then goes to House of Night and she meets new people. Her roomate Stevie Rae, Damien, Erin and her non twin Shawnie. Of course there are the bitches/ queens of the I really like Marked. I was intruiged from the very start especially when Zoey got Marked had to face her family. It got really strange when Zoey went to her grandma Redbird and she collapsed on the hill and actually met Night goddess Nix. To tell the truth this part got too weird for my likings but it made the book interesting. Zoey then goes to House of Night and she meets new people. Her roomate Stevie Rae, Damien, Erin and her non twin Shawnie. Of course there are the bitches/ queens of the school which enters Aphrodite and her minions enter girls which incredibly dumb war names. Zoey of course isn't a normal fledgling. She was marked especially by Nix herself, which makes her incredibly special even if it is just a coloured in mark. Zoey's life is different know and she hates being a so called freak. Thereare of course other characters which we hear from throughout book. Actor and hot Erik Night, Zoey's school friend and complete bitch Kayla and of course her almost boyfriend Heath. There were deaths in this book, grief, guilt, sadness. But then there were hapyp moments friendship, love and most of all union (and no I don't mean the football team) I loved this book cause it showed all these emotions, I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the flaws which I really didn't need to hear.
1. I was not interested in learning about the blowjob or any of those terrifying details. Some people could have read that and not known what they had gotten themselves into. (and yes I remember warning on the back of the book) It pots of people off when I read it, it took alot to keep going.
2. We didn't really need to hear the details on the author's opininons on famous people. I secretly agreed but it really should have been printed into a book. I have to admit I found some of the remarks quite funny but it really shouldn't have been done.
3. Soem of the language in the book was unheard of, yes I know the authors were trying to capture the teen thought which run through teen's heads but it's a book it dosen't have to be completely realistic. In my opinion it was completely overdone and not needed.
Yet, overall it was a great book and I am proud to give it four stars.
Mandy ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2009 Therese Regina Marie rated it it was ok

Shelves: vampires-witches-werewolves

I was hoping to read a book about vampires, apparently my rather high expectations was in for a disappointing dip once I started reading this book. Marked, is the first book of the House of Night series. It involves a great deal of Wiccan details and is a rather odd combination of Harry Potter & Twilight.
Vampiric witches???
The vamps have this matriarchal society / group, and it feels as if the men are just there for ornamental purposes. It speaks greatly of Wiccan culture which is purely matria I was hoping to read a book about vampires, apparently my rather high expectations was in for a disappointing dip once I started reading this book. Marked, is the first book of the House of Night series. It involves a great deal of Wiccan details and is a rather odd combination of Harry Potter & Twilight.
Vampiric witches???
The vamps have this matriarchal society / group, and it feels as if the men are just there for ornamental purposes. It speaks greatly of Wiccan culture which is purely matriarchal. Other than a tame scene or two that involves drinking blood (donated blood as a matter of fact) from a cup and licking blood from certain body parts, sadly, there isn't much vampiric action going on.
Since book one is perhaps the tip of the iceberg for the series, I can't say that it is totally rotten, but, it felt a little cheesy in some parts.
Zoey who has a rather horrible home life is unexpectedly marked. While reeling from this change, she receives no support from her friends and family - I'm appalled by how her mother treats her. Looking for the support that her mother clearly could not provide, she then runs away to her Grandmother's house. After she accidentally hits her head and has a vision wherein she is given a task by the vampire oops it's vampyre Goddess, Nyx, she wakes up in the House of Night, a special school for vampires.
Interestingly enough, there's a hint of witchcraft (spells & incantations) which I think is an interesting idea. However, reading this book wasn't particularly "enjoyable" I don't know. The concept is interesting, like I said, Harry Potter meets Twilight. Zoey has this unique mark on her forehead, and she develops special abilities that is far too advanced for her stage as a fledgling- which means Zoey is the "chosen one".
There's also this abrasive character named Aphrodite who immediately hates Zoey, doesn't that just scream "Draco Malfoy"?
I guess that's the rules then, for every special and fantastic hero, there is an equal and opposite hackneyed villain.
I can't say that we can ever create a specific profile for vampires, considering that it would stifle the author's creativity if he/she sticks to the blueprint of other authors with regards to their own vampire tales, but I just didn't like this book as much - hopefully book 2 will improve my opinion - or not. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 10, 2010 Joanna rated it liked it

Okay, so this wasn't the most exciting book I've ever read, but it's decent enough. I can see it's potential. I'm liking the idea of a school for vampires (probably because of Vampire Academy). And I can see the characters are going to be great, even though they didn't seem very developed yet. This book is just yelling, LONG SERIES. Which I can totally go for, as long as the series picks up a bit, and I have a feeling it will. I have faith in this one. As long as Zoey doesn't end up with Heath. ...more

Like · see review