Title: Carve the Mark
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: untitled duology, book #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: January 17, 2017
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble |
Audible
Fans of Star Wars and Divergent will revel in internationally bestselling author Veronica Roth’s stunning new science-fiction fantasy series.
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.
FTC Disclosure: This review is sponsored by HarperCollins/Epic Reads. I received compensation and an advance copy of
Carve the Mark in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.
Carve the Mark started off a bit slow and info-dumpy for me, but I think that the immense world-building done in the first part of the book leaves the author free to explore the intricacies of her world more fully later in the book, and it serves her story well. So, if you can make it past the first 100 pages or so, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing a truly awesome book.
I found that the political aspects and ramifications in this book reminded me whole-heartedly of
Star Wars, as did the currentgifts which could be used for good or evil, much like The Force. However, because of one of the main character’s specific currentgifts, I felt that the story resembled
Shatter Me a great deal, especially in direct relation to the other main character’s currentgift. Even with the familiar vibes this book gives off, it’s still very much its own story, full of the amazing characters and heart that Veronica Roth is already known for.
Both Cyra and Akos live in a world of moral ambiguity, though they are both on different sides of a war that has been brewing for some time. Cyra’s people, the Shotet, want legitimacy. They are considered the invading faction by the Thuvhesit, those Akos’ has called his people for his entire life. In the conflicts between these two peoples, we see Cyra and Akos and many others make decisions that are in a morally gray area, where there is no good choice and someone will undoubtedly be hurt…or worse. It was jarring at times, to see what lengths some will go to for a cause, but it made it all the more real.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed how the aspect of fate was portrayed in this novel, as well. I don’t put much stock in fate or destiny; I’m an advocate for free will, after all. Which is why I can understand – at least to some degree – the choices made by some of the characters in their reluctance to accept their own fates, as horrifying as some of those choices could be. It added a layer of depth to their characters that I did not expect, though I am usually the first to fall for a villain so maybe not so unexpected after all.
I love dual perspectives, but I’m not the biggest fan when one perspective is told from first person and the other is in third person. However, because much of the story is set in Shotet or among the Shotet people, it makes sense. Cyra’s perspective is in first person, but Akos’ is in third, which just feels right as you’re reading because he is Thuvhesit, an outsider, and that’s how the third person point-of-view has always made me feel: separate.
Cyra considers herself a monster, and to be fair, she has done some pretty monstrous things. She was raised in a militant family with a singular goal. But throughout the story, her loyalties are tested. She is at war with her conscience. Cyra is complicated and sometimes confusing, but at the heart of it, she simply doesn’t want to be this
thing that she’s been made into. Akos, on the other hand, was raised in a loving home until he and his brother were abducted from it. While his loyalty to his brother is limitless and sometimes questionable, he, too, has had to make difficult decisions in the name of survival. When push comes to shove, Cyra and Akos are not so very different after all.
It’s pretty obvious from their first meeting that these two will be more to each other, especially considering the circumstances under which they are thrown together. But their relationship is founded on friendship, even amid betrayals and monstrous developments, and so Akos and Cyra are very accepting of each other. There’s not a lot of romance in this novel, but what there is of it is very sweet and genuine.
I wouldn’t say this novel is action-packed either, but it’s steadily-paced. I got to know the characters slowly, through dialog and actions, and I’m captivated by what I’ve read of this world so far. I’m also ecstatic that the story concludes in the second book, rather than being drawn out in a trilogy. I think Roth has surpassed her previous work and written a book that will appeal more to the masses, as it’s got something for every kind of reader. I’d definitely recommend reading
Carve the Mark if you were a fan of
Divergent, but even more so if you
weren’t a fan, as this book is an animal all its own.
Download a free “First Look” at
Carve the Mark on
Epicreads.com.
About the author:
I’m Veronica. I write books for young adults. Specifically, I wrote the books Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection.
I like things. Some of those things are (in no particular order): Harry Potter, rain, YA, books, puns, cute animals, tea, sitcoms, grammar, writing, Chicago, Doc Martens, trains, flat stretches of prairie land, cold weather months, and so on.
Find Veronica:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr
Monday, March 13, 2017
For Who Could Ever Learn to Love a Beast? - HUNTED by Meagan Spooner
Author: Meagan Spooner
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: March 14, 2017
Source: galley received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
So many Beauty and the Beast retellings, so little time. But I made time for this one. Just like I'll make time to take Katie to see the movie on Friday. Because Beauty and the Beast has been my absolute favorite story since childhood...and because Meagan Spooner has already proven her writing chops to me by way of the Starbound series she co-authored with Amie Kaufman.
I loved the chapters from the Beast's perspective, showing his gradual return to humanity the longer Yeva was in his presence. It was kind of like those thrillers where you get to read from the serial killer's point-of-view and get in his head a little. Except not quite as creepy. And it helps to garner compassion for his plight rather than just seeing him as the Beast holding Yeva captive.
Hunted definitely has that fairy tale feel to it: lush imagery, snowy woods, hidden castle. Spooner's writing really transports you there to the middle of those woods, slowly but surely. I was tracking alongside Yeva, captivated and wary, in turns. There is nothing overtly scary or different about this telling, but it is so atmospheric that I couldn't help but be pulled into the story. Not only has Spooner borrowed from the tale of Beauty and the Beast, but she's also woven into the story the tale of The Golden Bird and how the two stories collide is rather magnificent.
There's also this underlying subtext of be careful what you wish for, a definite theme of wanting and yearning and not knowing what you're yearning for. The story felt like heartbreak upon heartbreak but it's also so unforgiving and romantic. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word. This world is so idyllic but also so lovely and so full of love, familial and otherwise.
I've read a lot of Beauty and the Beast retellings over the years, and I definitely have my favorites. And I would have to include Hunted among them. It's a slow build to an increasingly beautiful story, one that I know I'll be reading again.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
{Review} CARVE THE MARK by Veronica Roth
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: untitled duology, book #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: January 17, 2017
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
FTC Disclosure: This review is sponsored by HarperCollins/Epic Reads. I received compensation and an advance copy of Carve the Mark in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.
Carve the Mark started off a bit slow and info-dumpy for me, but I think that the immense world-building done in the first part of the book leaves the author free to explore the intricacies of her world more fully later in the book, and it serves her story well. So, if you can make it past the first 100 pages or so, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing a truly awesome book.
I found that the political aspects and ramifications in this book reminded me whole-heartedly of Star Wars, as did the currentgifts which could be used for good or evil, much like The Force. However, because of one of the main character’s specific currentgifts, I felt that the story resembled Shatter Me a great deal, especially in direct relation to the other main character’s currentgift. Even with the familiar vibes this book gives off, it’s still very much its own story, full of the amazing characters and heart that Veronica Roth is already known for.
Both Cyra and Akos live in a world of moral ambiguity, though they are both on different sides of a war that has been brewing for some time. Cyra’s people, the Shotet, want legitimacy. They are considered the invading faction by the Thuvhesit, those Akos’ has called his people for his entire life. In the conflicts between these two peoples, we see Cyra and Akos and many others make decisions that are in a morally gray area, where there is no good choice and someone will undoubtedly be hurt…or worse. It was jarring at times, to see what lengths some will go to for a cause, but it made it all the more real.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed how the aspect of fate was portrayed in this novel, as well. I don’t put much stock in fate or destiny; I’m an advocate for free will, after all. Which is why I can understand – at least to some degree – the choices made by some of the characters in their reluctance to accept their own fates, as horrifying as some of those choices could be. It added a layer of depth to their characters that I did not expect, though I am usually the first to fall for a villain so maybe not so unexpected after all.
I love dual perspectives, but I’m not the biggest fan when one perspective is told from first person and the other is in third person. However, because much of the story is set in Shotet or among the Shotet people, it makes sense. Cyra’s perspective is in first person, but Akos’ is in third, which just feels right as you’re reading because he is Thuvhesit, an outsider, and that’s how the third person point-of-view has always made me feel: separate.
Cyra considers herself a monster, and to be fair, she has done some pretty monstrous things. She was raised in a militant family with a singular goal. But throughout the story, her loyalties are tested. She is at war with her conscience. Cyra is complicated and sometimes confusing, but at the heart of it, she simply doesn’t want to be this thing that she’s been made into. Akos, on the other hand, was raised in a loving home until he and his brother were abducted from it. While his loyalty to his brother is limitless and sometimes questionable, he, too, has had to make difficult decisions in the name of survival. When push comes to shove, Cyra and Akos are not so very different after all.
It’s pretty obvious from their first meeting that these two will be more to each other, especially considering the circumstances under which they are thrown together. But their relationship is founded on friendship, even amid betrayals and monstrous developments, and so Akos and Cyra are very accepting of each other. There’s not a lot of romance in this novel, but what there is of it is very sweet and genuine.
I wouldn’t say this novel is action-packed either, but it’s steadily-paced. I got to know the characters slowly, through dialog and actions, and I’m captivated by what I’ve read of this world so far. I’m also ecstatic that the story concludes in the second book, rather than being drawn out in a trilogy. I think Roth has surpassed her previous work and written a book that will appeal more to the masses, as it’s got something for every kind of reader. I’d definitely recommend reading Carve the Mark if you were a fan of Divergent, but even more so if you weren’t a fan, as this book is an animal all its own.
Download a free “First Look” at Carve the Mark on Epicreads.com.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
{WOW} THICK AS THIEVES by Megan Whalen Turner
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Megan Whalen Turner
Series: The Queen's Thief, book #5
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
I had The Thief on my shelf for years before I ever picked it up. I can't even tell you why. But I've [finally] recently picked it up and actually just finished A Conspiracy of Kings (the fourth book in teh series) yesterday, so I'm already anticipating being back in this world. And I love that cover!!!
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
{WOW} HEARTSTONE by Elle Katharine White
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Elle Katharine White
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 17, 2017
Pride and Prejudice...and dragons? Sign. Me. The. Eff. Up! And that line about "a Rider in possession of a good blade"...bestill my heart! I think I've found the perfect book. Please let it be as good as it sounds. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!!!
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
{WOW} BY YOUR SIDE by Kasie West
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Kasie West
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 14, 2017
Dude, being trapped in a library for a weekend would be like a dream come true for this book nerd. Kinda sounds like Heaven, doesn't it? ;0) I had a crush on a guy named Dax in high school, too, so reading this book just may be like living out several of my high school fantasies, lol. Plus, you can never go wrong with a Kasie West novel. =)
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
Friday, August 12, 2016
Basically, I Prefer My Romeo & Juliet Retellings a Little Undead
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: Untitled, book #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Unlike a lot of people, Romeo & Juliet has never been my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. (I go more for the brutal, cunning Macbeth.) I just don't get how overly romanticized R&J is when Romeo was infatuated with the fair Rosaline one day, only to find himself in love with Juliet the next. Fickle I may be at times, but that just rubbed me the wrong way. However, I am a Rosamund Hodge fangirl for life, and I will read anything and everything she writes.
And now that I've read Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, I'm not really sure what to do with myself. I've gotten so used to Hodge's stand-alone fantasies that it's rather shocking to be done with this book and not know how everything turns out. It's a planned duology, and I would very much like to have the next book in my hands now, but regardless of that fact, I'm still quite sure I loved this dark, bloody little novel. I absolutely love how Hodge turns the original tale of Romeo & Juliet on its head and basically makes me love her version better than Shakespeare's.
Gone are the romantic notions that Romeo and Juliet could end up happily ever after. This retelling opens on the eve of the end of Romeo and Juliet's tale and it's clear that this story is every bit the tragedy that the original play was. Especially since there are evil necromancers lurking in plain sight, wreaking their own brand of havoc while the city - the last in existence - is already plagued by revenants and reapers. And anyone who passes and is not burned upon death reawakens to become the living dead. Creepy. Imagine what this might mean, then, for our tortured lovers, if you will.
That being said, this is not a zombie book. There are no walking dead, shambling about in search of brains. Not yet, anyway. There are those who are being reanimated to do the necromancers bidding, though, and that's bad enough. And this is where our key players come in, because at the heart of the story is each of their desire to save the city from itself.
Romeo is still a besotted fool, but Paris has a much bigger role in this version. Rather than being Juliet's intended, he is her protector. Because Juliet is not just a girl. She is THE Juliet, a weapon in her own right. Even Rosaline has a starring role in this tale, though as the [mostly] unfeeling Runajo who will sacrifice herself in her determination to save Viyara. After a chain of events that none of them could have predicted, and on opposite sides of the city, these enemies from rival families form some rather reluctant alliances and it is exquisite.
I found the world-building in this book to be rather intense but phenomenal, though it may be rather dense for some readers. Everyone trapped within the walls of the city for their own safety. The lower market. The underground library. Magic and blood and blood magic. All of it was so easy to imagine with Hodge's vivid descriptions. And I loved seeing the parallels to the original tale of woe while reading a completely different - albeit still lovely and tragic - story. Obviously, there was that whole ordeal with Romeo and Juliet, but then there are the warring families, the apothecary...the duel with Tybalt that leaves Romeo a wanted man. I loved every detail Hodge kept from the original story, and I loved them even more as they morphed into something evil and dark and altogether awful.
Unlike her other novels, though, this one is not remotely romantic. Okay, maybe a teensy bit. In flashbacks. But I think the story is all the better for the absence of romance. At least in this first book. There's still so much for the characters to learn and understand, and a city to save, so it makes sense for any romance to take a backseat to the pivotal struggle at hand.
Suffice it to say, I am thoroughly impressed with this novel. That's not surprising, though, considering how much I enjoyed her previous retellings. I very much look forward to the conclusion to this Romeo & Juliet retelling, especially as I wonder if the lovers will face the same fate as in the original tale...
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
{WOW} THE SECRET OF A HEART NOTE by Stacey Lee
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Stacey Lee
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: December 27, 2016
I really loved Under a Painted Sky -- I've already listened to that audiobook a couple of times -- and I thoroughly enjoyed Outrun the Moon when I read it earlier this year, so it should come as no surprise that I'm eagerly anticipating Stacey Lee's next novel. I love the idea of aromateurs and extra sensory perception to determine what emotions smell like. I am also a huge fan of magical realism, so obviously this book's been on my radar for some time. Plus, look at that adorable cover!!! :D I can't wait to hold a finished copy in my hands!
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
{WOW} SHADOWCASTER by Cinda Williams Chima
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Series: Shattered Realms, book #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
I cannot believe how long it took me to discover the wonder that is Cinda Williams Chima's writing, but I'm elated that I did. I've listened to and loved her Seven Realms series several times already since discovering it, and then I rolled seamlessly into Flamecaster earlier this year and fell for the world even harder. And it seems that rather than focusing on the characters from that book, we get some new ones to love and hope and fear for! YAASSSSSSS!!!!
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
{WOW} HUNTED by Meagan Spooner
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
's Pick:
Author: Meagan Spooner
Series: Hunted, book #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 14, 2017
I have been waiting for this cover since I discovered this book was a thing -- so...since January of last year -- and it does not disappoint! And the synopsis! Wow-wow-wow! I want this now!!! Beauty and the Beast retellings are my absolute favorite and this one just might be the most badass version yet...
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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