Book Review: The House of Night Series
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Nancy L. Brown, PhD
In Marked (2007), we meet the heroine of the story, Zoey, a Cherokee teenager marked as a vampyre, and special to the Goddess Nyx, in a world where humans and vampyres live together, but not in harmony. Newly marked as a fledgling vampyre Zoey joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. There are some perils associated with this transition, including her religious fanatic step-loser's reaction to her mark, and the fact that some kids die before making the change. Zoey meets great friends, finds she has amazing powers, and falls in love several times during the first book as her power and sexuality build. Before the book is over she will need her friends and her powers to bring down an evil peer and do what she knows is right. This is a great book about the power of "right" and importance of friends.
In book two of the House of Night series Zoey finds herself brutally Betrayed (2007) just when she was settling in to her new life as the leader of the Dark Sons & Daughters in the House of Night. As a vampyre goddess in training she feels like she belongs at school, when human teenagers from her past start being killed and she realizes that "all things that appear light, are not good." Blood lust and passion confuse matters when the imprinting between she and her old human boyfriend creates a telepathic connection that might just save his life. Her powers may threaten her friends, whom she needs, as well as her steadfast and loving grandmother, who seems to understand her.
Chosen (2008) begins when everything in Zoey's life is turned upside down. Her closest friends are upset with her, she is becoming friends with someone she believed was evil, her best friend is undead, and Zoey is struggling against her blood lust and passion for three males. Zoey must trust her own intuition to save Stevie Rae and embrace the powers the goddess has given her to avoid a war with humans after an adult vampyre is killed. The entire world feels wrong to Zoey, but who will believe her?
Untamed (2008) begins with life having fallen apart for Zoey. The loss of all her boyfriends and the lack of any support from her friends, coupled with her almost undead friend and one who has become almost human again make for a strange twist of reality. Zoey questions her gifts as blessings or curses, seems to pull her life together, just in time for an ancient evil to be released, threatening everything she loves.
Do not forget that I warned you these books are addictive! Have fun reading!
Photo credit: piglicker
17 Comments:
At Wed Dec 31, 08:44:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I find it hard to believe that you are, if you are, a health professional, and these books are your recommended reading for teens.
At Tue Jan 06, 11:34:00 AM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
I thought the first two sentences reminding readers that these were Young Adult Literature were a warning about the themes.
These award winning books really do "engage" youth and keep them reading, which is important to me, as an educator and health professional.
At Wed Mar 25, 07:31:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
I have read all the books, although there are some rather questionable scenes in the books I thought they were very good. I would let my preteen read these. People act like sex isn't everywhere on the television and everywhere else. People need to stop obsessing about the rather small sex scenes in these books and be happy that there are series out there that actually make our children want to read. I am not saying that I condone the scenes but like I said earlier, sex is everywhere. I really enjoyed these books and can't wait for the next one to come out. Keep it up!
At Fri Mar 27, 08:30:00 AM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
The sexual scenes in these books are great conversatino starters with teens. Thanks for your comment!
What I like about the "sex" in these books is the connection to power and that it is actually discussed. The first sexual scene in the first book is a girl offering sex to get a boy back (never a good idea) and then there are other scenes where people use sexual manipulation and power to control others - and it is discussed - which is refreshing and unusual.
At Sat Apr 04, 02:43:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
this series is really good.. but there are some words that are misspelled. they should get a new editor!
At Tue May 12, 05:32:00 PM 2009,
Alexander said…
As a young gay teen, I find a book which deals with homosexuality in this way very refreshing and makes me think maybe I am ok to be who I am.
At Wed Jun 24, 10:57:00 AM 2009,
Angela said…
I have read the first four books and I am currently in the middle of the fifth book. I am a young teen, and these books are as close to high school as they can get. That's why a teenager helped write them. Sure there is some sexual content, but we can't act like it doesn't happen everyday. Sure there is a "gay" couple, but I do not see anything wrong with that. I think of "gays" as you and me. They aren't any different, and in high school, there will be gay couples.
This series is awesome and it gives you insight on what you might do when a bunch of problems present themselves. You get to see how Zoey deals with them, and you might say i would of have done it differently. You can also relate everyday situations to these books.
At Tue Jul 14, 05:02:00 AM 2009,
Anonymous said…
Are these books intended for girls, or would boys like them?
At Tue Jul 14, 04:00:00 PM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
I think boys would like these books, too - great plot and lots of really interesting and diverse male characters, as well! In addition, I always encourage males to read what females read - to give them clues about romance and what girls expect in relationships! Have fun!
At Tue Jul 14, 06:49:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
Thanks alot for that! I agree but find it hard reading an intended girls book.
Thanks also for the post about gums and oral hygiene, I'm a teen myself and I have been having problems with my teeth and gums. I find it amusing that you know exactly what teens want, experience and need.
I think i'll become a regular member of this blog not anon next time either! Nice job.
At Thu Jul 16, 11:11:00 AM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
Welcome to Teen Health 411 and please let me know if you cannot find information you want on any topic!
As a mom and teen health specialist - I believe there is no period of life as important as adolescence and that making accurate information available to teens is the best way to support them.
At Wed Jul 22, 01:56:00 PM 2009,
Sam said…
As a teen I enjoyed these books sooo much and i can't wait 4 Tempted. But I don't think pre-teens should read them. Only teenagers, I'm not being mean its just that I got my sister who is pre-teen to read them and she kept asking me questions like: "Why is she regretting having sex?" and she didn't understand why Aphrodite was acting so mean but nice to Zoey. P.C and Kristin Cast also describe the bloody bits in so much detail it actually grossed me out once. But I like that Zoey gets into teenage problems and has 2 deal with them sometimes with but sometimes without her friends. I was obsessed with Twilight saga but this series seems more realistic so I'm now obsessed with this AND ITS COMING OUT ON FILM!! YAY!!! But I'm not sure what the rating would be..
At Fri Aug 07, 02:20:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
I have read all the books up to and including "Haunted" The only thing I REALLY don't like is Zoey and all the boyfriends. Heath, Erik,and Stark. Its a neverending Triangle. I was also dissapointed with the lame ending of Haunted. I exspected something more to get rid of Kalona and Neferet. But anyways... I am a firm believer of one person with another. Not one girl and three guys. Jeez show some form of morality.
At Fri Oct 16, 02:20:00 AM 2009,
Anonymous said…
i love the series!!! it's relistic to life itself. I love the twist in each book. I was really upset when Stevie Rae died and I was happy when she came back but I want to know what evil she is hiding. i laughed when Stevie Rae and Aphordite imprinted. I can't wait for Tempted!!! I read the back of Tempted on the internet and I want to know if Zoey really risk her life to save her loved ones from Kalona. And their going to make a movie on the books and i can't wait to see it!!!
At Thu Nov 05, 08:44:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
I think these books are garbage! I stopped my 14 year old from reading them after I took a look at the content of "Marked". A blow job by page 57 and referenced on pages 65,97,156,188 ... lets keep reminding the teens about blow jobs!!!! Drugs and drinking, smoking a joint is safer than cigarettes...kill brain cells...or sperms page 175, this is good literature!!?? Are you kidding!! "Boobs" page 67,81,175,174... or how about Hag bitch from hell page 88. Cob stuck straight up her skinny anus or seated gyration of her hips page 91. all naked almost up to my crotch page 178, made the inside of my thighs tingle page 193. I could go on listing the offensive content, but it is on nearly every other page! My 18 year old daughter thinks that the books belong in the trash and knows what type of kids are attracted to these kinds of books.
At Fri Nov 06, 07:57:00 AM 2009,
twitchette143 said…
i really enjoyed the books 1-5. i have yet to read the 6th. i dont find the point in having zoey date like 4 guys at the same time... anyways, im doing a story for the newspaper and i need really detailed opinions on the books if anyone is interested.
At Mon Nov 16, 10:15:00 AM 2009,
Anonymous said…
I wouldn't let my child read this for a few reasons. I, for one am proud to be a Christian and while I don't know much about Pagan religions or the like there of I was very offended by the outright hateful message the book had about Christianity. The book called the people of the faith hypocrites, however, they completely pushed the wicca theme as being the true way in this book. I would think that would be an irony of sorts because doesn't that seem hypocritical to say that the Author is judging Christianity as much as they say that Christianity judges other religions? Statistically speaking a lot of the students at that Vampyre school would have been Christian - what happened to thier beliefs after they were marked? The author isn't as broad minded as one would think she would be with all of her other ideas about teenagers in the book. Personally I am a very undertstanding individual and as much as I don't see eye to eye with other peoples beliefs I respect thier choices because Jesus teaches love and acceptance of ALL of his children. I was dissapointed how much she crammed her other view points like sex, drugs and normal teenage angst into the book, with a lot less personal opinion and a lot more neutralism I think the author could have made the book appeal to a wider range of readers. I can't even describe all of the hypocritical things this author wrote but I would like to point out a very obvious blunder on her part. Not everyone agrees with homesexuality, Christian or whatever, but clearly she does and because she is obviously pro-paganism wouldn't that indicate that it is also cool with homosexuality. So does everybody believe this or is she painting the world in her own opinion. With all of her "amazing acceptance" of other people couldn't she have at lease awarded the same courtesy to the Christian belief? Religion aside I have a hard time believing that all of the swearing and sexual content would be appropriate for really young readers. Tell me all you want about teenagers being more sexually experienced and bla bla bla but honestly ask yourself if you had a 13 year old daughter if you would let her read about a boy getting a blow-job or using the F-Bomb. I think a little discrestion is appropriate when marketing this to a younger crowd. I am not far off from 16 and I can tell you that even I believe that parents should be in more control of thier children and start taking some responsibility for the way the world is now.
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