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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting universe but not as good as Divergent. It takes a long time to really get into the characters and a lot of the fate twists are very predictable.
What a really great start to this Duology. It has been awhile since I read anything from Veronica Roth. Well duh, her last book was Allegiant (I prefer not to talk about that book though). Carve the Mark, the first in this Sci-Fi duology, really set the tone for how the rest of the story will play out quite nicely. I think the theme for the entire story was really well penned out. That we all think that our lives our tied to one fate and that that fate was predetermined for us all. These sorts of stories I live for because I for one love thinking that I get to choose my fate and how my life plays out for me.
The story was a tad bit slow at times but that was due to the fact the author had an entirely new Solar system to flesh out. Now I forgive this on most occasions because, I feel like I say this in every review I write, I love info dumps. However I feel like some things weren't explained entirely. Like how exactly does the Current work. How and when do people get their currentgifts. But this is book one and since there is only one more book left, this book had to set up a lot. Now onto characters, I liked Cyra a little more then I liked Akos mainly because I feel like Akos really pushed the envelope when it comes to instalove. That was my only other gripe about this book though. Now I don't know, in terms of time, how long this books timeline spans, but I feel like it wasn't necessary. Had their been know love connection I think the story still could have played out well. But alas there's nothing I can do about that since I am just a reader.
All in all I am really excited Veronica Roth is back with a new series and I am really eager to see how the characters fates play out in the finale!
The story was a tad bit slow at times but that was due to the fact the author had an entirely new Solar system to flesh out. Now I forgive this on most occasions because, I feel like I say this in every review I write, I love info dumps. However I feel like some things weren't explained entirely. Like how exactly does the Current work. How and when do people get their currentgifts. But this is book one and since there is only one more book left, this book had to set up a lot. Now onto characters, I liked Cyra a little more then I liked Akos mainly because I feel like Akos really pushed the envelope when it comes to instalove. That was my only other gripe about this book though. Now I don't know, in terms of time, how long this books timeline spans, but I feel like it wasn't necessary. Had their been know love connection I think the story still could have played out well. But alas there's nothing I can do about that since I am just a reader.
All in all I am really excited Veronica Roth is back with a new series and I am really eager to see how the characters fates play out in the finale!
This book was boring, blend and vague.
I didn't feel anything throughout this entire book, except for dullness (if that's even a word) Many things just happened out of the blue, whitout any reasons as to why it's happening. As a said before the book is seperated in 4 parts and honestly those parts are useless. Not to mention the Characters who were just Juliette and Warner (of the Shatter Me novels) chopped up in pieces and put together a bit differently and towards the ending she sprinkled a little of Mare (Red Queen) around.
Why did I give this book 2 stars instead of 1? Well I kinda like the idea of what this book could have been. And I love Juliette and Warner, so the characters weren't horrible (just copied). But I would not recommend you to read it. Unless you like blend, boring books.
Honestly, this book was as big of a disappointment as The Divergent movies.
I didn't feel anything throughout this entire book, except for dullness (if that's even a word) Many things just happened out of the blue, whitout any reasons as to why it's happening. As a said before the book is seperated in 4 parts and honestly those parts are useless. Not to mention the Characters who were just Juliette and Warner (of the Shatter Me novels) chopped up in pieces and put together a bit differently and towards the ending she sprinkled a little of Mare (Red Queen) around.
Why did I give this book 2 stars instead of 1? Well I kinda like the idea of what this book could have been. And I love Juliette and Warner, so the characters weren't horrible (just copied). But I would not recommend you to read it. Unless you like blend, boring books.
Honestly, this book was as big of a disappointment as The Divergent movies.
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. Still a lot of things that confuse me but maybe I’m just not hip on the sci-fi type of lingo lol
Honestly my biggest and initial motivation to read this was Austin Butler being one of the narrators
Honestly my biggest and initial motivation to read this was Austin Butler being one of the narrators
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review from 2018 - second time reading:
I actually loved this book a lot more the second time around. I switched my rating from a 4 star review from 2017 to a 5 star. I am not sure if it is because I have become a stronger reader and now I know what I like and what I don't like, or maybe it is because I am a lot more comfortable reading science fiction books. Either way, I was a little bit hesitant when deciding whether to reread this book or not before reading the last book. I am not a huge fan or rereading books just because I get bored easily. If I don't like a book at page 75, I'll stop reading it and never go back to it. But this book was everything and more. I knew the basics of this book; I was very familiar with the beginning so I was a little bored in the beginning, but when it came to all the little things, I got to know Akos and Cyra's relationship as if I was reading this book for the first time. Compared to the other book I am reading now, I love how much time the author gave Cyra and Akos to grow their relationship in a realistic way. They started off as knowing one another through the rumors they heard about one another, but as they started to talk and hangout, they both realized how they were nothing like what others thought about them. I loved how even though it wasn't instant attraction, they both slowly changed each other's view on each other and their view of the world. Such as, they might have had an idea of their ideal person or ideal world, but the more they talked, the more their eyes both opened to what they truly needed, vs what they thought they wanted. I loved how they seemed to find a home in each other even though Akos was away from home and Cyra never felt at home after her current gift came and her mother's death. Then again, when Akos got back home to the remaining surviving bits of his family, and all he could think about was whether Cyra was alive and if she was, how to save her. I think my favorite part in this whole book was when he did save her from near death, she told him to go back and get his brother, and he stopped her and told her that he came to rescue her and only her. It hit me hard because everything Akos did up to that point was the save his brother form Cyra's brother, and Cyra's life mission once she met Akos was to save him. I swooned because Akos realized what he needed vs what he wanted, he realized what was more important to him.
Last year, I wrote how I loved this book because it didn't focus on the romance, and I still believe that the second time. But, I think I picked up on a lot more of the little things this time around. I do agree that this book wasn't revolved around the romance, but it did have a huge impact on the story, more than I realized.
It was also a lot darker than I remembered.
I think I picked up a lot more of both characters changing than the first time around. I think I wasn't a huge fan last year because some things seemed random and out of place, but this time around, I followed along a lot better.
Review from 2017 - first time reading:
I wanted to give this book 5 stars so badly but at times the timeline seemed so off and it was hard to follow. Especially the beginning. But after Akos and Cyra's friendship started, it got better. I also loved how the story didn't revolve around their romance. It helped the plot, but it was rather they each saw a different point of view and got to see the world through the other's eyes. It was a beautiful book, and I wish I could see their world (or galaxy).
I actually loved this book a lot more the second time around. I switched my rating from a 4 star review from 2017 to a 5 star. I am not sure if it is because I have become a stronger reader and now I know what I like and what I don't like, or maybe it is because I am a lot more comfortable reading science fiction books. Either way, I was a little bit hesitant when deciding whether to reread this book or not before reading the last book. I am not a huge fan or rereading books just because I get bored easily. If I don't like a book at page 75, I'll stop reading it and never go back to it. But this book was everything and more. I knew the basics of this book; I was very familiar with the beginning so I was a little bored in the beginning, but when it came to all the little things, I got to know Akos and Cyra's relationship as if I was reading this book for the first time. Compared to the other book I am reading now, I love how much time the author gave Cyra and Akos to grow their relationship in a realistic way. They started off as knowing one another through the rumors they heard about one another, but as they started to talk and hangout, they both realized how they were nothing like what others thought about them. I loved how even though it wasn't instant attraction, they both slowly changed each other's view on each other and their view of the world. Such as, they might have had an idea of their ideal person or ideal world, but the more they talked, the more their eyes both opened to what they truly needed, vs what they thought they wanted. I loved how they seemed to find a home in each other even though Akos was away from home and Cyra never felt at home after her current gift came and her mother's death. Then again, when Akos got back home to the remaining surviving bits of his family, and all he could think about was whether Cyra was alive and if she was, how to save her. I think my favorite part in this whole book was when he did save her from near death, she told him to go back and get his brother, and he stopped her and told her that he came to rescue her and only her. It hit me hard because everything Akos did up to that point was the save his brother form Cyra's brother, and Cyra's life mission once she met Akos was to save him. I swooned because Akos realized what he needed vs what he wanted, he realized what was more important to him.
Last year, I wrote how I loved this book because it didn't focus on the romance, and I still believe that the second time. But, I think I picked up on a lot more of the little things this time around. I do agree that this book wasn't revolved around the romance, but it did have a huge impact on the story, more than I realized.
It was also a lot darker than I remembered.
I think I picked up a lot more of both characters changing than the first time around. I think I wasn't a huge fan last year because some things seemed random and out of place, but this time around, I followed along a lot better.
Review from 2017 - first time reading:
I wanted to give this book 5 stars so badly but at times the timeline seemed so off and it was hard to follow. Especially the beginning. But after Akos and Cyra's friendship started, it got better. I also loved how the story didn't revolve around their romance. It helped the plot, but it was rather they each saw a different point of view and got to see the world through the other's eyes. It was a beautiful book, and I wish I could see their world (or galaxy).
The best part of Carve the Mark is the cover art, it is seriously gorgeous! I was a bit let down by the book, it just felt slow from start to finished. Great characters, but some of the story felt generic. Overall, it was okay.
This review is solely based on my enjoyment of the book and what I personally took from reading it.
This review is solely based on my enjoyment of the book and what I personally took from reading it.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I never finished this book. It was so unenjoyable :( I hated all the characters, I hated the plot, I hated the writing. Overall, a waste of my time.