Marked

April 30, 2007
Cast, best known for her adult fantasy romance titles, enlists the help of 19-year-old daughter Kristin for her first YA book, a teen vampire melodrama that tries a bit too hard to be cool. Zoey Montgomery is "Marked" by a "vampyre tracker" while at school one day, meaning that she too, will become such a creature. Vampirism is an accepted fact of life in this world, but her distant mother and clueless, Christian stepfather don't understand, so she flees to her beloved Grandma Redbird's home. After a frightening encounter with the vampire goddess Nyx, Zoey awakens at the House of Night, a surprisingly dull school with all the usual problems and petty squabbles found in the "normal" world. Girls in this vampire kingdom aren't that different from any other teen milieu: there are fashionista snobs and there are country music fans who have Kenny Chesney posters over their beds. Zoey quickly finds herself running afoul of the former and making friends with the latter. Aphrodite, leader of a group of girls called the Dark Daughters, distrusts Zoey and is jealous of the unusual mark she bears; Zoey learns that the popular girl is using her position for illicit purposes, leading to a power play and ultimately a showdown. There are points of interest along the way-young vampires can die at any moment if their bodies "reject the Change" and Zoey struggles with early-onset bloodlust-but too much time is spent on endless teen-speak conversations and winking asides to the reader. Ages 13-up.

September 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-In 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres not only exist but are also tolerated by humans. Those whom the creatures "mark" as special enter the House of Night school where they will either become vampyres themselves, or, if their body rejects the change, die. To Zoey, being marked is truly a blessing, though she's scared at first. She has never fit into the human world and has always felt she is destined for something else. Her grandmother, a descendant of the Cherokee, has always supported her emotionally, and it is she who takes the girl to her new school. But even there the teen stands apart from the others. Her mark from the Goddess Nyx is a special one, showing that her powers are very strong for one so young. At the House of Night, Zoey finds true friendship, loyalty, and romance as well as mistrust and deception. She realizes that all is not right in the vampyre world and that the problems she thought she left behind exist there as well. Readers will identify with many of the characters, especially the protagonist. The story moves quickly (a little too quickly at the end) and purposely leaves many unresolved issues. A good choice for those libraries serving fans of the occult, but be aware that the book contains some suggestive language and sex."Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 18, 2007
Cast, best known for her adult fantasy romance titles, enlists the help of 19-year-old daughter Kristin for her first YA book, a teen vampire melodrama that tries a bit too hard to be cool. Zoey Montgomery is "Marked" by a "vampyre tracker" while at school one day, meaning that she too, will become such a creature. Vampirism is an accepted fact of life in this world, but her distant mother and clueless, Christian stepfather don't understand, so she flees to her beloved Grandma Redbird's home. After a frightening encounter with the vampire goddess Nyx, Zoey awakens at the House of Night, a surprisingly dull school with all the usual problems and petty squabbles found in the "normal" world. Girls in this vampire kingdom aren't that different from any other teen milieu: there are fashionista snobs and there are country music fans who have Kenny Chesney posters over their beds. Zoey quickly finds herself running afoul of the former and making friends with the latter. Aphrodite, leader of a group of girls called the Dark Daughters, distrusts Zoey and is jealous of the unusual mark she bears; Zoey learns that the popular girl is using her position for illicit purposes, leading to a power play and ultimately a showdown. There are points of interest along the way-young vampires can die at any moment if their bodies "reject the Change" and Zoey struggles with early-onset bloodlust-but too much time is spent on endless teen-speak conversations and winking asides to the reader. Ages 13-up.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.