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

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

This was a great start to a new series!!!! With a different take on vamps than I have read and angled at the YA crowd, this is a sure winner!!!! Zoey finds the thought of starting over a bit scary, but she also welcomes this change as her home life has not been all that great since her mom re-married. She embraces her *Mark* and the special powers that come along with it. She finds the meaning of true friends and works to her full potential, no matter what the stakes. I was deeply enthralled in this book, and finally having the time to sit and devote to it, I read through over 1/2 today!!!! I am already anxious to get to the next one in the series.......great, great book!!!!! 5/5