Marked (House of Night, Book 1)
By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

In 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampires 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 vampires 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. Zoey's mother is weak, and her step-father all but hates her. 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 realises that all is not right in the vampire world and that the problems she thought she left behind exist there as well. The story moves quickly and purposely leaves many unresolved issues.

Marked is the first in the series. It seems to target older teens, but adults will find themselves drawn to it as well. I've been captured by Zoey's world and want to see how her special spiritualism develops over time. This book also left enough unanswered questions that I'm drawn to find out more. My teenage daughter also thoroughly enjoyed this book and has encouraged her friends to read it too.