Carve The Mark
Author: Veronica Roth
Hardcover, 480 pagesPublication Date: January 17th 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
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.
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Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, ALLEGIANT, will come out on October 22, 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)
"Honor has no place in survival."
Carve The Mark is an deeply riveting sci-fi thriller with non-stop action, heart-breaking betrayal, and an intense survival story that will keep readers flipping pages right up until the captivating ending.
Carve The Mark is one of the most highly anticipated books of 2017.....and it without a doubt lives up to the hype! I devoured Carve The Mark and cannot wait for readers everywhere to read this fantastic book!
The first thing that drew me to Veronica Roth's Carve The Mark was it's remarkably gorgeous and intricate cover. Everything about the cover screams "AMAZING!!!" The color and the graphics are just breath-taking. I could literally stare at this gorgeous cover ALL DAY....and once the reader has finished the book and the underlying meaning behind the cover and the name of the book are discovered then everything comes together and the reality of how intense Cyra's world really is...... will stun and haunt you.
"He would die for his loved ones....
She has to kill for hers....."
Of course, like so many other YA readers out there.....I am a huge fan of Veronica Roth's and when I realized that she had written a new duology I knew that I had to read it and I was not disappointed. I love the YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy genre and Carve The Mark has all the aspects of a great story with it's unique world-building and fascinating main characters. I loved that the female main character, Cyra, is the warrior and heroine of the story. Cyra is strong, independent and yet battling some serious inner demons as well as her evil brother, Ryzek who is the ruler of their world.
Carve The Mark is told in two POVs: the two main characters, Cyra and Akos. Akos is from another nation that is also ruled by Cyra's tyrant brother, Ryzek and Akos is captured and brought to Cyra's homeland in order to use his currentgift to ease Cyra's currentgift that causes her so much pain. Cyra's currentgift causes her to be in constant pain but at the same time causes her to be incredibly powerful....she can kill anyone with a single touch. In return, Akos is able to remove her pain by a single touch as well. Akos has basically lost everyone he loves but instead of giving up...he is fighting and learning to survive amongst his enemies so that have can save his brother who was also captured and both of them can return back to their homeland.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Cyra and Akos. I like that the feelings between them were not instantaneous (also know as "insta-love") but actually they grew to like each other over time which makes their relationship so much more believable.
"Akos touched her face. When he first met her, he thought she was this fearsome thing, this monster he needed to escape. But she had unfurled bit by bit, showing him her wicked humor by waking him with a knife to his throat, talking about herself with unflinching honesty, for better or worse, and loving- so deeply- every little bit of this galaxy, even the parts she was supposed to hate....."
Overall, I just truly loved Carve The Mark! The world of Shotet and Thuvhe that Akos and Cyra live in was a refreshing new "Star Wars-esque" world that really captivated me and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this story. Kudos, Veronica....you did it again. :)
**The quotes from this book have been taken from an Advanced Reading Copy and are subject to change when the final book is printed. Please refer to the final, finished copy for exact quotes!**
**I want to say Thank You to Katherine Tegen Books for the opportunity to review this book!!**
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