Written by: P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast, Kent Dalian

Art by: Joëlle Jones, Karl Kerschl

Cover By: Jenny Frison

Synopsis: Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you are marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood.

P.C. Cast‘s hit series finally comes to the panel courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. Going into this book my knowledge of the House of Night series was limited. I knew they were vampire novels and targeted at teenagers; frankly that was enough to make me run in the opposite direction. I’m as tired as anyone of the cliche that vampire + teen angst = breakout-hit-that’s-sooooooo-original. Not even setting the book in my home state of Oklahoma was enough to win me over, so intense was my opposition. So it was with a seed of cynicism in my heart that I began to read House of Night #1.

I should have known better than to be so close minded from the outset. As a student of the written word, I know that formula can be a good thing in the right hands. And it is here. Reading the comic made me take a closer look at this series, and I’m probably going to insert them into my very long but distinguished queue of stuff to read.

The story in issue one is pretty straight forward, and a good place to start for beginners (like me.) Zoey has just gotten her full vampyre tattoos and has been appointed the leader of The Dark Daughters. Reluctant to lead anyone, Zoey and her friends consult some vampyre history to see how they can get her out of this predicament.

Here is where the book grabbed me; I loves me some back story, and readers are told the story of Freya and the establishment of a House of Night chapter in Norway. Cast pulls from a rich tapestry of myth and legend and spins it in original ways to create the vampyre lore of the series. If this issue is indicative of how the series will progress then it’s likely to flesh out more details for long-time fans as well.

The the art of the book is mostly done by Joëlle Jones, and has that western culture anime feel that makes pretty figures even more appealing than they already are. It’s not my favorite direction, but in a book about teen vampires it fits. Karl Kerschl’s more mature style is featured in the history lesson scene, and this direction is a nice departure from the here and now, and gives the scene a sense of distance both spacial and temporal.

House of Night #1 sets the stage for a fun series that will please long time fans and newcomers alike. If you’re anything like me the book may pique an interest for the comic’s novel counterpart series.

I give House of Night #1 Four out of Five Stars.

House of Night #1 hits stores and Dark Horse Digital today.

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