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chrissymcbooknerd's review
2.0
I think The House of Night series was really my introduction into the world of YA literature. A certain overly-commercialized beauty guru on YouTube mentioned in a video (because yes, I do have a tendency to over indulge on mindless makeup videos online) that she had started reading this random teen series and that it was amazing, awesome, and fabulous. I hadn't yet ventured into Harry Potter or Twilight when I found the first two or three House of Night novels for about $2 each at my locals TJ Maxx store. Remembering the rave video reviews, I figured I wouldn't be *too* ashamed of myself for spending $6 on teenage literature, even if I did have to struggle to keep a straight face when the emo-wannabe teen girl who rang up my order swore that "OMG, these are way better than Twilight!"
Were they better than Twilight? I honestly have no idea, since I haven't yet actually read Twilight. I have absolutely nothing against the series and have just been delaying the read out of sheer laziness. I think I ended up doing the same with House of Night, reading the first three or four and then moving on to other things before finalizing the series. Actually, I think I moved to Vampire Academy, which I found to be far more intriguing. But, can anyone look back on their first venture into any given genre without a bit of sentimentality? I couldn't -- which is why I requested the House of Night comic book on Net Galley.
Now, I readily admit that I am definitely not a comic book connoisseur, so I am probably not the best to fairly review any type of graphic novel. I think the first graphic novel I ever read was the caricaturization of the first book in the Left Behind series, and it actually wasn't half bad -- at least as far as I remember. That 'comic' was pretty much the exact picture version of the written novel -- so maybe I was expecting the same when I picked up this House of Night book online.
I can't remember well enough to say whether any of these events actually happened in this exact manner in the novels, because it's been a pretty long time and I don't deny that I have a pretty terrible meeting. I'm absolutely positive, though, that this does not follow book one, and I really think the target audience for this specific graphic novel is people who actually *have* read and enjoyed the House of Night series. We don't really get enough background on the main character for me to say that those who haven't yet read the series might enjoy it as a substitution. I mean, I really *have* read it, and I was still a little confused with the way it jumped straight into the action without really introducing us (in pictures, of course) to the characters.
For any reader who does enjoy graphic novels and who does love this particular YA series, I think House of Night #1 would be a fitting read.
But for me, myself, not the comic book connoisseur or rapid teenage fan of popular literature, I would probably not continue this series. Nothing against the book at all -- I just don't think I'm really the intended audience.
Were they better than Twilight? I honestly have no idea, since I haven't yet actually read Twilight. I have absolutely nothing against the series and have just been delaying the read out of sheer laziness. I think I ended up doing the same with House of Night, reading the first three or four and then moving on to other things before finalizing the series. Actually, I think I moved to Vampire Academy, which I found to be far more intriguing. But, can anyone look back on their first venture into any given genre without a bit of sentimentality? I couldn't -- which is why I requested the House of Night comic book on Net Galley.
Now, I readily admit that I am definitely not a comic book connoisseur, so I am probably not the best to fairly review any type of graphic novel. I think the first graphic novel I ever read was the caricaturization of the first book in the Left Behind series, and it actually wasn't half bad -- at least as far as I remember. That 'comic' was pretty much the exact picture version of the written novel -- so maybe I was expecting the same when I picked up this House of Night book online.
I can't remember well enough to say whether any of these events actually happened in this exact manner in the novels, because it's been a pretty long time and I don't deny that I have a pretty terrible meeting. I'm absolutely positive, though, that this does not follow book one, and I really think the target audience for this specific graphic novel is people who actually *have* read and enjoyed the House of Night series. We don't really get enough background on the main character for me to say that those who haven't yet read the series might enjoy it as a substitution. I mean, I really *have* read it, and I was still a little confused with the way it jumped straight into the action without really introducing us (in pictures, of course) to the characters.
For any reader who does enjoy graphic novels and who does love this particular YA series, I think House of Night #1 would be a fitting read.
But for me, myself, not the comic book connoisseur or rapid teenage fan of popular literature, I would probably not continue this series. Nothing against the book at all -- I just don't think I'm really the intended audience.
lilyelement's review
4.0
This review is based on a compilation (books 1-5) that I received from the publisher via NetGalley.
Zoey Redbird is a fledgling vampyre that enters the House of Night. The House of Night is a school for vampyre fledglings to learn about their powers and everything they will need to know once they make the Change. Fledglings are teen vampyres that have not made the Change into adult vampyres, for quite a few it is a fatal process.
The artwork is expressive and beautiful. I was a little taken aback when I looked at the cover of the book vs the actual characters in the story. There is a huge difference but do not get me wrong, the characters look great. Their faces are angular and defined and very expressive. The colors are beautiful and suit the scenes. I found the characters suited what I pictured as I read the story.
The graphic novel is separated into sections of each element (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit). Each has its own story though it is a continuous story. Each section shows a little back story that will help Zoey become a better leader (Freya, Boudicca's daughters, Circe, Cleopatra, Hippolyte and Herakles). There are the normal things you see with teenagers, angst, drama and cliques. The story line flows and you can easily read the entire book in one sitting without realizing how much you have read.
WARNING: There is a very graphic scene in part 2 that might not be suitable for children.
Zoey Redbird is a fledgling vampyre that enters the House of Night. The House of Night is a school for vampyre fledglings to learn about their powers and everything they will need to know once they make the Change. Fledglings are teen vampyres that have not made the Change into adult vampyres, for quite a few it is a fatal process.
The artwork is expressive and beautiful. I was a little taken aback when I looked at the cover of the book vs the actual characters in the story. There is a huge difference but do not get me wrong, the characters look great. Their faces are angular and defined and very expressive. The colors are beautiful and suit the scenes. I found the characters suited what I pictured as I read the story.
The graphic novel is separated into sections of each element (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit). Each has its own story though it is a continuous story. Each section shows a little back story that will help Zoey become a better leader (Freya, Boudicca's daughters, Circe, Cleopatra, Hippolyte and Herakles). There are the normal things you see with teenagers, angst, drama and cliques. The story line flows and you can easily read the entire book in one sitting without realizing how much you have read.
WARNING: There is a very graphic scene in part 2 that might not be suitable for children.
shinychick's review
1.0
I stopped reading this series somewhere around the fourth book, when I (slowly) realized that over the course of an entire book, maybe three hours had passed in book time, and absolutely jack had happened.
Now, I'm a huge fan of graphic novels, so I thought I'd pick this up for laughs. Alas, the review copy I got (an ebook) did not translate well from page to computer screen. The rating is pending getting a hard copy, and I'll change it if it merits.
Now, I'm a huge fan of graphic novels, so I thought I'd pick this up for laughs. Alas, the review copy I got (an ebook) did not translate well from page to computer screen. The rating is pending getting a hard copy, and I'll change it if it merits.
purplepages's review
3.0
I got the preview of this graphic novel from Net Galley which was so cool. I haven't really read Marked yet but I will start to because of the graphic novel. I loved the drawing and how the encounter with Aphrodite and Zoey has been depicted. I would look forward to this in my graphic novel collection and would be reading Marked soon. :)
awexis's review
3.0
Er... I don't know how to rate this. I don't have any thing against the story. It's actually unique. And well, it's new. It's like a short stories of the books. I thought that I would be reading the same thing over again (just with visuals), I thought wrong. It still the same but they added a short story that is not in the main series. So I guess I'm quite okay with it.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
skelleycat's review
3.0
Apparently I won this in a giveaway, because it randomly showed up in my mailbox one day. So of course I read it! It’s a bonus story about Zoey when she first gets Marked and moves into the House of Night, and this story told a bit about her and a background story about one of their ancient vampyres, Freya. It was cute and short. The art style was a bit strange, making everyone seem smug and stuck-up, even Nyx, which bothered me. But the coloring was lovely. I do think that anyone who hasn’t read the books (at least the first one) would have a hard time understanding what’s going on in this, though.
renley's review
2.0
Okay so I'm not very familiar on how to review graphic novels but I'll just do the best I can! I have always been a huge fan of the House of Night series. (Yes I know, they are dragging them along but I still enjoy them.) I think the world is very fun to be surrounded in and when I heard that there was a graphic novel on NetGalley I just had to request it!
When I began reading this, I thought it was going to be very interesting and I was very excited about it! And then I saw the characters, don't get me wrong- the illustrations are beautiful! I just don't know, they felt more like adults than teenagers to me. For example, I thought Stevie Rae looked nothing like the sweet southern girl I've grown to love in this GN. There were some big differences to the storyline in the books and in the GN. I thought the storyline they used in the GN was very confusing, I felt myself unable to follow along and had to reread a page a few times before I finally understood.
In all I thought this was ehh, not something I would recommend to a friend to buy but maybe if it was at the library to check it out. I don't think it lived up to the HoN books and I just wasn't feeling it, sadly.
Review also posted on my blog :
http://cheerfulreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/house-of-night-legacy-review.html
When I began reading this, I thought it was going to be very interesting and I was very excited about it! And then I saw the characters, don't get me wrong- the illustrations are beautiful! I just don't know, they felt more like adults than teenagers to me. For example, I thought Stevie Rae looked nothing like the sweet southern girl I've grown to love in this GN. There were some big differences to the storyline in the books and in the GN. I thought the storyline they used in the GN was very confusing, I felt myself unable to follow along and had to reread a page a few times before I finally understood.
In all I thought this was ehh, not something I would recommend to a friend to buy but maybe if it was at the library to check it out. I don't think it lived up to the HoN books and I just wasn't feeling it, sadly.
Review also posted on my blog :
http://cheerfulreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/house-of-night-legacy-review.html
rosepetals1984's review
2.0
There are some series that actually can benefit from the transition to graphic reinterpretation, while others simply cannot, no matter how good the artwork. I don't think House of Night counts as one of the better adaptations. The story covered in issue 1 takes place between events in the second novel of the House of Night series, Betrayed, so it assumes that the reader has already read the novels, and that's kind of an odd measure since it's a comic series intended to introduce/expand the franchise. If you're entirely new to the House of Night series, you're not really getting a full story here, so jumping into it might not only be confusing, but also a bit sparse on the details of Zoey Redbird's role and introducing the collective cast of characters.
I didn't like the adaptation at all from the story angle. The characters seem bland, there's little to no introduction or context put into any of them, and it probably would've benefited a little more if the comic were longer than it was, as in a full graphic novel rather than just a short. The artwork is decent in spurts, which is probably the only reason I'm giving this more than a star. I loved the cover images and also the insert image of Zoey, but the panels themselves don't really measure up to some of the better graphic/comic art that are in peer series.
Unfortunately, I can't recommend this.
I didn't like the adaptation at all from the story angle. The characters seem bland, there's little to no introduction or context put into any of them, and it probably would've benefited a little more if the comic were longer than it was, as in a full graphic novel rather than just a short. The artwork is decent in spurts, which is probably the only reason I'm giving this more than a star. I loved the cover images and also the insert image of Zoey, but the panels themselves don't really measure up to some of the better graphic/comic art that are in peer series.
Unfortunately, I can't recommend this.
mamers's review
I was finally approved for the giant 6 page preview arc! It only took 3 tries! Now I just find myself confused. Is this based on the first novel? Cuz of the 6 pages, 4 had nothing to do with [b:Marked|30183|Marked (House of Night, #1)|P.C. Cast|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317067002s/30183.jpg|30573].
Just sayin'.
No, really. Where did the Norwegian vamps come from? I know it's been a good two years since I read Marked, but I don't think I would completely miss a whole set of vamps from another country.
Next.
I have a serious problem with purposely poor grammar. This is an example of the dumbing down of America's youth. For-instance, "Whoever said 'everything can change in a day' musta been reading my future." Um, no. I don't care if the author is trying to be cool with teen speak. It's must have. (Best part is the fact that I wrote "cuz" in my first paragraph. Shut up, you.)
On to the graphics... I have mixed feelings. Sometimes the drawings are excessively beautiful, sometimes all I can look at are the extremely big heads.
Until I get a chance to read the full graphic novel, I will not be upgrading my two star rating. Nope. Can't do it.
Just sayin'.
No, really. Where did the Norwegian vamps come from? I know it's been a good two years since I read Marked, but I don't think I would completely miss a whole set of vamps from another country.
Next.
I have a serious problem with purposely poor grammar. This is an example of the dumbing down of America's youth. For-instance, "Whoever said 'everything can change in a day' musta been reading my future." Um, no. I don't care if the author is trying to be cool with teen speak. It's must have. (Best part is the fact that I wrote "cuz" in my first paragraph. Shut up, you.)
On to the graphics... I have mixed feelings. Sometimes the drawings are excessively beautiful, sometimes all I can look at are the extremely big heads.
Until I get a chance to read the full graphic novel, I will not be upgrading my two star rating. Nope. Can't do it.