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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Soft hearts make the universe worth living in.”
1 star
I had such high hopes for this book. I loved Divergent, mainly because it was the first YA experience that led me to where I am now. Looking back, it wasn’t the best book, but it means a lot to me. Now that I have been shown to many wonderful YA books, I am experienced in this genre and can face this book with an objective opinion.
There are many obvious problems with this that many other readers have pointed out. The major ones are:
-Racism
-Ableism
-World Building
I’m not going to pretend I know a sufficient amount about any of these issues to rant about them, so here are some people who have said it well: on racism and ableism, on racism, and on ableism.
All that aside, the writing is nothing spectacular. It is a common trend in the formula for YA that makes me sad. If you’re looking for YA with great writing, you can find it in Laini Taylor‘s books, Renee Ahdieh, VE Schwab, etc.
The plot was so slowwwwwwwwwwwwww. I was halfway through it and complaining to my friends that I was in a book slump because of Carve the Mark. There’s a bunch of backstories that the author thinks we need, around 100 pages of Cyra doing nothing, and perhaps the only thing that kept me reading was the fact that I really wanted to see for myself how bad it was. I held out some hope that maybe I could ignore how bad it was. But no. It was really just terrible. I spent $22 on the last copy of this at my school’s book fair. I could’ve spent it on, I don’t know, Strange the Dreamer or The Hate U Give.
The characters… Oh, how I despised Cyra. She stood by her brother’s side for so many years. And it only occurred to her that she could defy him when Akos arrived. Some people would call that sweet, young love. I call that desperation. Cowardice. Cyra didn’t do anything until she was pushed to do it – desperation. All those years cowering by her brother’s side executing people – cowardice. Only in those last couple of pages, I felt a little sorry for her. And a little hope that maybe she could be a better person. I felt that because I can relate to her – how she is teetering between the boundaries of good and evil.
Akos was the shining star compared to Cyra. He was really kind and cute and an adorable nerd, a type I always fall for. But honestly, I don’t know how he fell in love with Cyra. What does he see in her? The book never says.
A really interesting character that I actually want to know more about is Akos’ mother. She is such a compelling person: mysterious with a touch of malice but a need to protect her family. I have a feeling she will make a decision one day that will make her lose her family one day.
Honestly, don’t waste your money on this. Don’t make the same mistake I did. This book just ruined the beloved author status Veronica Roth had in my brain. I’m just going to forget about this book and put it on my “Trying to Redeem it by Putting it on my Rainbow Shelf But it’s Not Working”.
1 star
I had such high hopes for this book. I loved Divergent, mainly because it was the first YA experience that led me to where I am now. Looking back, it wasn’t the best book, but it means a lot to me. Now that I have been shown to many wonderful YA books, I am experienced in this genre and can face this book with an objective opinion.
There are many obvious problems with this that many other readers have pointed out. The major ones are:
-Racism
-Ableism
-World Building
I’m not going to pretend I know a sufficient amount about any of these issues to rant about them, so here are some people who have said it well: on racism and ableism, on racism, and on ableism.
All that aside, the writing is nothing spectacular. It is a common trend in the formula for YA that makes me sad. If you’re looking for YA with great writing, you can find it in Laini Taylor‘s books, Renee Ahdieh, VE Schwab, etc.
The plot was so slowwwwwwwwwwwwww. I was halfway through it and complaining to my friends that I was in a book slump because of Carve the Mark. There’s a bunch of backstories that the author thinks we need, around 100 pages of Cyra doing nothing, and perhaps the only thing that kept me reading was the fact that I really wanted to see for myself how bad it was. I held out some hope that maybe I could ignore how bad it was. But no. It was really just terrible. I spent $22 on the last copy of this at my school’s book fair. I could’ve spent it on, I don’t know, Strange the Dreamer or The Hate U Give.
The characters… Oh, how I despised Cyra. She stood by her brother’s side for so many years. And it only occurred to her that she could defy him when Akos arrived. Some people would call that sweet, young love. I call that desperation. Cowardice. Cyra didn’t do anything until she was pushed to do it – desperation. All those years cowering by her brother’s side executing people – cowardice. Only in those last couple of pages, I felt a little sorry for her. And a little hope that maybe she could be a better person. I felt that because I can relate to her – how she is teetering between the boundaries of good and evil.
Akos was the shining star compared to Cyra. He was really kind and cute and an adorable nerd, a type I always fall for. But honestly, I don’t know how he fell in love with Cyra. What does he see in her? The book never says.
A really interesting character that I actually want to know more about is Akos’ mother. She is such a compelling person: mysterious with a touch of malice but a need to protect her family. I have a feeling she will make a decision one day that will make her lose her family one day.
Honestly, don’t waste your money on this. Don’t make the same mistake I did. This book just ruined the beloved author status Veronica Roth had in my brain. I’m just going to forget about this book and put it on my “Trying to Redeem it by Putting it on my Rainbow Shelf But it’s Not Working”.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Je ne peux pas donner une note ou une critique sur ce roman. Pourquoi ? Tout simplement parce que je l'ai abandonné. Livre audio commencé il y a déjà plusieurs mois, je n'arrive pas du tout à accrocher à l'histoire.
Peut-être que je le reprendrais un jour, mais pour l'instant je ne veux pas rester dessus.
Peut-être que je le reprendrais un jour, mais pour l'instant je ne veux pas rester dessus.
I liked it, but I was kind of meh about a large majority of the read. It had some good twists and turns, and the characters were ok. I felt that Cyra was a strong female character and I appreciated that. Unsure why it left me feeling so 50/50 about it. Either way, I will likely pick up the second one when it comes out.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this again was as good as the first time. I love this book. The building of the worlds, wars, and characters. The gifts, dueling families and faith. the characters have so much depth. the world has so much depth and scenery built in. I love the development and twists.
Akos and Cyra are my ultimate enemies to lovers. Having fates given from birth that cannot be changed, and families at odds from across the divide they are told they cannot change. Definitely worth the read, and re-read.
The two sides of this war are so divided by pride and and blinded by what they think they know of the other. One thinking the other is brutal and intense. One thinking the other is weak. While that not being the case. Assuming the other side is a monolith... Having a power to every person and a date that can't be changed on top of that. It is a great read when I put in into perspective of culture, assumptions of humans, and how much we trust in politics & traditions.
Akos and Cyra are my ultimate enemies to lovers. Having fates given from birth that cannot be changed, and families at odds from across the divide they are told they cannot change. Definitely worth the read, and re-read.
The two sides of this war are so divided by pride and and blinded by what they think they know of the other. One thinking the other is brutal and intense. One thinking the other is weak. While that not being the case. Assuming the other side is a monolith... Having a power to every person and a date that can't be changed on top of that. It is a great read when I put in into perspective of culture, assumptions of humans, and how much we trust in politics & traditions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
انتهت الاثنين ٢٠ سبتمبر، الساعة ٥:١٧ صباحًا، بعد الفجر وسهرانة يعني.
كانت.. مملة؟؟ أو يمكن عشان حسيت الكاتبة مش عارفة تكتب ايه وقاعدة تحشو وخلاص؟؟ ما عندي مشكلة مع الكتب البطيئة، أبدًا، بس هذا حرفيًا كان زحف لول.
لكن لن يمنعني من قراءة الكتاب الثاني، لذا بنشوف.
لكنه كان كتاب نوعًا ما كويس، النصف الأول لأ، لكن النصف الثاني أو بالأحرى الربع الأخير هو الأفضل.
كانت.. مملة؟؟ أو يمكن عشان حسيت الكاتبة مش عارفة تكتب ايه وقاعدة تحشو وخلاص؟؟ ما عندي مشكلة مع الكتب البطيئة، أبدًا، بس هذا حرفيًا كان زحف لول.
لكن لن يمنعني من قراءة الكتاب الثاني، لذا بنشوف.
لكنه كان كتاب نوعًا ما كويس، النصف الأول لأ، لكن النصف الثاني أو بالأحرى الربع الأخير هو الأفضل.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes