Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Zoey Montgomery, now known as Zoey Redbird, is a very unusual fledgeling at the house of night. She's been a vampyre for less than a year, but already her vampyre mark is filled in in brilliant sapphire, and more marks have appeared on her back and arms, as well as on her forehead, temples and cheeks. All of this is very unusual, as most fledgelings don't gain those marks until they actually cross over and become vampyres.

Now, she is also the leader of the Dark Daughters, the future leaders of the Vampyre race, and has a connection to every one of the elements that vampyres can be tied to: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. But when the time comes to try and figure out how to make the Dark Daughters better and not such a hateful, backstabby club of bitches. Zoey is pretty much stumped. She wants the Dark Daughters to be more than just a status club, where if you aren't in, you're nothing. And so, she works hard to make the daughters into something that will leave a legacy, both for vampyres and humans.

As part of that end, she decides to bring her friends into the group as part of the new ruling council- seven people (to prevent tie votes), with one Dark Son, and one vampyre from Aphrodite's old power structure to show that she has no grudges against them.

Of course, in the midst of all this comes parental visitation day, which, naturally, her own mother and stepdad manage to make completely miserable for her. But Stevie Ray's mother treats Zoey better than her own mother does. Only her grandmother makes it bearable. When Zoey leaves after her parents have stomped off and Grandma Redbird has to leave with them (she drove Zoey's car, which she is leaving for Zoey), she happens to overhear Aphrodite with her parents.

And they are a bitch and a bastard, reaming Aphrodite out for losing her position in the Dark Daughters, and treating her like something expendable that exists only to bring glory and accolades on them. Zoey, for once, understands Aphrodite's upbringing was worse than her own, and feels sorry for her. And she's surprised to hear that Aphrodite actually thinks Zoey will be a better leader of the Dark Daughters than she would ever be.

When she gets a chance to talk to Aphrodite, the other girl is still acting haughty and dismissive of her, but warns her to beware of Neferet, who Aphrodite doesn't trust. Zoey thinks this is strange because Neferet is great, but when she attends the meeting with the Dark Daughters and takes credit for all of Zoey's ideas that Zoey spent lots of time and effort developing, that takes Zoey aback. She didn't think Neferet would ever do such a thing.

But worse, she discovers that what she thought were only ghosts are actually the dead students risen again. And Neferet seems to be controlling them and have power over them. Almost too late, Zoey realizes that Aphrodite was right about Neferet. but does she have any chance of fighting against a teacher that the school universally loves, one who is just as powerful as she is- and who has much more experience with using her abilities?

Meanwhile, in town- humans are disappearing, and when they are found, they are dead, and slain in a way that suggests vampires. While Zoey doesn't believe that any vampires at the House of Night are behind the attacks, she knows she has to find the true culprits to exonerate her fellow students and the teachers at the school. But when she discovers that it is the red-marked vampires behind the killings, can she do anything about it? What about when Heath is their latest target?

And worst of all, in the midst of all the Drama, a tragedy strikes Zoey and her group of friends, leaving her crushed and shaken. How will she deal with the death of one of her closest friends and circle mates?

I loved this book, even though Zoey found out some hard truths in it. Aphrodite went from "bitch goddess for no reason" to "Bitch goddess because of the way she was raised- oh, and her parents majorly suck." It's hard to turn Neferet, who was so good to Zoey in the first book and really seemed to care about her, into such a villain, but the Casts manage to do so in a way that is totally believable.

But Neferet is not going to be a villain that is easily disposed of. She's a widely loved schoolteacher who seems almost too good to be true. Nice, wise, a priestess of Nyx, and goshdarned sexy to boot. And she can read minds- although she can't read Zoey's. Although perhaps that would be more relevant if Zoey didn't make her emotions known anyway.

This book ably sets up future conflicts for the series. Now, Zoey has two boyfriends- Eric, who she really loves, and Heath, the human boy who can't let her go and wants her to suck his blood- something that promises a lot of conflict further down the line. And now that Zoey knows Aphrodite was right about Neferet, she obviously wants to confide in the other girl, because Neferet also can't read Aphrodite's thoughts, either. But regardless of the fact that the two are now allies, Aphrodite still can't resist being a cast-iron bitch.

I absolutely loved this book, and I can't wait to read more. This series continues to draw me in. It's so much better than every other vampire series I have read recently, and surpasses the whole Twilight series like Twilight was travelling backwards. I'm hooked, and I don't care who knows it! Highly recommended.