She has been chosen by a cat, called Nala, has a tight-knit group of friends and a claimed to be gorgeous maybe-boyfriend in Erik Night.

The situation is stable when a strange string of murders among the ranks of local football players leads the police and the human media to the Tulsa House of Night.

With them comes her grandmother, but is saddened to notice the stiffness of her parents, which contrasts strongly with the loving and friendly behavior of Stevie Rae's mother.

The same night, Zoey witnesses Aphrodite being verbally abused by her parents and starts developing sympathy for her enemy.

Later on, while watching TV, Zoey learns of the death of one of the high school football players whom she knew and goes on a walk to clear her head.

Meanwhile, Zoey must make decisions regarding her love life, as she is drawn to her ex-boyfriend Heath due to their Imprint, maintains a relationship with fledgling peer Erik Night and captures the interest of Poet Laureate and teacher Loren Blake.

Using her elemental affinities, Zoey frees Heath, but also finds out that it was Neferet who changed the dying fledglings into the "undead" creatures – one of which is Stevie Rae.