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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
i liked the story overall, but the way it was executed was a bit iffy at some points.
for one, it was slow at first, and then the plot sped up all at once towards the end. i think there was too much time/pages spent on the rising action.
secondly, cyras current gift confused me. i guess it was more the current shadows part of it—like what are they? what do they do? is it just her emotional tell?
the beginning of akos and cyras relationship also seemed forced at first, but i definitely liked more it as the story went on.
and maybe it was just super late at night and i was tired and wasn’t paying attention, but Akos waking up in that hospital back home was VERY random. i had no idea how he got there, but maybe that was the point because he didn’t know either. cyra kinda explained later, but i was still confused.
i also thought revealing the fact that Yma chick was involved with the renegades was kind of random. Cyra visited her to ask her to poison Ryzek and all that, and i understand that she was the only person close enough and that he wouldn’t suspect but i was still confused.
overall, not the greatest book i’ve ever read, but the second half was enjoyable.
for one, it was slow at first, and then the plot sped up all at once towards the end. i think there was too much time/pages spent on the rising action.
secondly, cyras current gift confused me. i guess it was more the current shadows part of it—like what are they? what do they do? is it just her emotional tell?
the beginning of akos and cyras relationship also seemed forced at first, but i definitely liked more it as the story went on.
and maybe it was just super late at night and i was tired and wasn’t paying attention, but Akos waking up in that hospital back home was VERY random. i had no idea how he got there, but maybe that was the point because he didn’t know either. cyra kinda explained later, but i was still confused.
i also thought revealing the fact that Yma chick was involved with the renegades was kind of random. Cyra visited her to ask her to poison Ryzek and all that, and i understand that she was the only person close enough and that he wouldn’t suspect but i was still confused.
overall, not the greatest book i’ve ever read, but the second half was enjoyable.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Torture
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Great start to a duo of books. Loved the characters. They are complex, and flawed, but have heart and are easy to root for even when they shouldn’t be. There’s a great cast of supporting characters as well. The story is set in space and it’s a neat premise that is imagined well. I think the world building in this book is very well done. Definitely worth reading if you like this genre.
Apr. 18: Part 4, ch. 26 Akos, pg. 836
Apr. 25: Finish it, Part 4 ch. 26 Akos, pg. 836 - ch. 42 Akos, pg. 1337
Apr. 25: Finish it, Part 4 ch. 26 Akos, pg. 836 - ch. 42 Akos, pg. 1337
Review in Italian: https://lalibreriadij.wordpress.com/2017/04/05/carve-the-mark-i-predestinati/
I have read this book mainly because I knew the author from the Divergent trilogy (though with Alligiant we suffered the pains of hell), the cover and the plot attracted me immediately and then (pointing the finger against the big elephant in the room), yes, I wanted to understand if many booktubers', bookbloggers', and readers' statements were true. I wanted to read a book that triggered all those reactions because of the obvious racism in it.
Boys, I will perhaps be a "privileged white" or simply ignorant in the matter to note racist statements, but simply the whole book has not caused much sensation in me. The only thing I've noticed and that might be the one which everyone is referring to in this book is the fact that every population has a different skin color, from the lightest to the darkest, and yes, the only figures of "black as night" skin are dancers (I do not think they were exactly slaves) that perform for the fun of the tyrant sovereign. Now, as much as this can make turn up my nose it is not a question of racism, I see it more like a literary gimmick for the great revelation that is made in the end (and maybe if people that talk about this book as full of prejudices would have read it to the end, perhaps, they would have noticed it: it's easy to put a star on GR reading only the first 30 pages of the book).
Anyway, the book is well written and the characters are interesting, just like the whole plot, but it's definitely of an infinite slowness. I did not remember Roth's style to be so, but it was probably always there, only in his first trilogy the fast pace due to the desire of the characters to survive seemed to be a faster reading (at least to me). I took a week to read it because I could not digest more than a few chapters at a time and believe me, I've tried.
Cyra is a feminine character sui generis, strong and weak at the same time, feared and not respectful enough, and despite being in a position of power, she is a prisoner of society and herself. When she comes in contact with Akos, a boy who had gone through so many things then, she radically changes and finally finds out the inner strength she needs to survive. The whole story is narrated by their two alternate views. I will tell you, I would have preferred them to remain simple friends and accomplices than seeing them fall in love (also because the thing happened from one moment to the next, not exactly instant love but it goes from nothing to too much in a few pages), but it will be interesting to see in the next book what will come out of it.
All the plot of fates is interesting but in my opinion not well developed. If we add that every character (every person in that universe actually) has a more or less useful gift, things get a little too full of "supernatural" to my liking. (It is too simple for the people involved in the revolt to have good gifts to the cause, as well as the fact that people with fate have all useful gift in one way or another). That said, I'm happy that the book has been published in Italy too, and the cover is really cool so, good! ^^
Recommended? Yes, surely if you love sci-fi with that paranormal touch you need this is the book for you. I recommend reading it in Italian because I tried to read it in English and I had to give it up (I fell asleep every now and then)! ^^
Ps. Movie? It would surely be seen!
PPS. If you encountered problems while reading (like "Racism in this book is crazy how did you not see it?") Let me know in the comments, I'm ready to open my eyes!!
I have read this book mainly because I knew the author from the Divergent trilogy (though with Alligiant we suffered the pains of hell), the cover and the plot attracted me immediately and then (pointing the finger against the big elephant in the room), yes, I wanted to understand if many booktubers', bookbloggers', and readers' statements were true. I wanted to read a book that triggered all those reactions because of the obvious racism in it.
Boys, I will perhaps be a "privileged white" or simply ignorant in the matter to note racist statements, but simply the whole book has not caused much sensation in me. The only thing I've noticed and that might be the one which everyone is referring to in this book is the fact that every population has a different skin color, from the lightest to the darkest, and yes, the only figures of "black as night" skin are dancers (I do not think they were exactly slaves) that perform for the fun of the tyrant sovereign. Now, as much as this can make turn up my nose it is not a question of racism, I see it more like a literary gimmick for the great revelation that is made in the end (and maybe if people that talk about this book as full of prejudices would have read it to the end, perhaps, they would have noticed it: it's easy to put a star on GR reading only the first 30 pages of the book).
Anyway, the book is well written and the characters are interesting, just like the whole plot, but it's definitely of an infinite slowness. I did not remember Roth's style to be so, but it was probably always there, only in his first trilogy the fast pace due to the desire of the characters to survive seemed to be a faster reading (at least to me). I took a week to read it because I could not digest more than a few chapters at a time and believe me, I've tried.
Cyra is a feminine character sui generis, strong and weak at the same time, feared and not respectful enough, and despite being in a position of power, she is a prisoner of society and herself. When she comes in contact with Akos, a boy who had gone through so many things then, she radically changes and finally finds out the inner strength she needs to survive. The whole story is narrated by their two alternate views. I will tell you, I would have preferred them to remain simple friends and accomplices than seeing them fall in love (also because the thing happened from one moment to the next, not exactly instant love but it goes from nothing to too much in a few pages), but it will be interesting to see in the next book what will come out of it.
All the plot of fates is interesting but in my opinion not well developed. If we add that every character (every person in that universe actually) has a more or less useful gift, things get a little too full of "supernatural" to my liking. (It is too simple for the people involved in the revolt to have good gifts to the cause, as well as the fact that people with fate have all useful gift in one way or another). That said, I'm happy that the book has been published in Italy too, and the cover is really cool so, good! ^^
Recommended? Yes, surely if you love sci-fi with that paranormal touch you need this is the book for you. I recommend reading it in Italian because I tried to read it in English and I had to give it up (I fell asleep every now and then)! ^^
Ps. Movie? It would surely be seen!
PPS. If you encountered problems while reading (like "Racism in this book is crazy how did you not see it?") Let me know in the comments, I'm ready to open my eyes!!