I couldn't put it down. To be honest the writing isn't amazing, and it is geared towards a YA audience so there are some immature plot-lines. (Let's face it , they're in High School) but I loved it. I read it in a day and then went back to Borders and picked up the next in the series. I did the same thing for a week until I read the whole series.

It's certainly not what I'd call literature, but it's a good series to sit back and simply enjoy. ( )

This is one of those rare books in which the protagonist is completely, utterly impossible to like. I can't stand the bitch. Whether by my own masochism or sadistic desire to inflict this book on friends, I managed to read it in its entirety, but I can't see how anyone could seriously enjoy reading about someone so self-absorbed and obnoxious, surrounded by other characters so ignorantly caricatured. I thought Twilight was possibly the worst Young Adult novel in existence before picking this book up. Obviously, I was wrong. ( )

I cant say that I didnt enjoy the book. BUT. I reread it and found it quite boring :(
It lost my intrest. The first time I read it ,I had read the third and fifth before it, I was so giddy, a girl with special powers, crappy parents, and a best friend to lean on when things got tough, and shes a VANPIRE GOING TO VAMPIRE SCHOOL! The story line was good, there were many usage errors thou, and it went out with a bang leaving teen readers (like me) wanting more. As the series goes on, this mother daughter duo get more of a feel for the story. When I read I imagine Im the character, and while reading this book I was scared, I mean, Im good at reading, and can usally decide wher a book is going, but I was drawing a blank. The climax of the book snuck up on me, like when Erik snuck up on Zoe, but I didnt 'fear' for the character, she was too perfect. The characters need more life and the plot needs more 'pizzaz'! Other than that the book was great and a very enjoyable read, I recomend it more for thouse how liked the 'Gifted' and 'Twilight' series. ( )

I’ve seen books from this series in the stores so often it was almost inevitable I’d end up reading them. I thought maybe I’d just try the one—hmm, isn’t that what I said about Twilight too? But the character and the voice have pulled me in; I suspect I’ll soon be back for more.

The world of this series is different from ours, in that vampyres (with a “y”) are creatures of everyday life, and magic is real. Of course, Harry Potter had magic too, but this is a more risqué invention, less global in its themes, and more specifically aimed at teens in the modern world.

Our famous poets, dramatists, Hollywood actors etc, are all probably vampyre in the House of Night world, which creates an interesting allegorical backdrop while you read. I like books that make me think: Religion vs. vampyric non-conformity; obedience vs. independent thought; rule-keeping vs. listening to intuition. Not all vampyres are good and those who fail do so in the same way as those who fail in religion, trying to use the power of their goddess, instead of letting her use them.

The authors imagine a religious establishment similar to that in Philip Pullman’s novels, but whereas Pullman’s anti-God theme sometimes seems take over while the story lags behind, the Cast’s theme serves simply as a reminder to think and look further. The vampyre goddess and her magic are firmly rooted in a fictional world, so I suspend disbelief and let them pull me in. Will Zoey learn to trust in her goddess, her powers, her friends, and finally herself? The story ends with a satisfying climax, but leaves intriguing doors open for more. It stands alone, but I suspect I’ll soon be back to check how the series follows it up. ( )

This is a terrible book. It is cliche and so horribly obvious that I couldn't get past five chapters. It is very clear that the author of this book was out to drive messages home to today's teens: intense organized religion: bad. Homosexuality: good. Fat/lazy people: bad. Paris Hilton: bad. Lots of make-up: bad. Eating all healthy food and chocolate only in moderation: good. The list could go on. I do not enjoy being preached at while I read and it was so clear that it was the author's intent that there were several times I was throwing the book down screaming in my head "not again!" There are no grey areas to her accusations either. All gay people are fantastic, all religious people are narrow-minded, etc... I will never pick up a book by this author again, simply terrible and offensive. ( )