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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
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!!
More like 3.5 stars. I have mix feelings about this book. I did like the writing and the relationship between Akos and Cyra, but there were just so many problems with this book. The pacing is incredibly slow and the universe Veronica Roth created was confusing. I know about the racist undertones and the romanticization of chronic pain that other readers have noticed. I personally did not see it as prominently as those other readers did, but they were still there. This is definitely not a great work of Veronica Roth and I am hoping that the Fates Divide is better.
Roth's skills as s writer have definitely developed snd matured. her topics are more mature and her characters psychological experiences and her prose to communicate their headspace feels grounded and empathetic. not that shes going around says ohh how sorry these characters are but that they as a whole are in pain and and as Cyra says life contains pain and that pain can be harnessed for self growth.
yeah i like this book alot of self growth. i actually related very strongly with a character. Cyra (as a person with migraines and Ehlers danlos hEDS). and cyra was complicated in just the right amounts.♡♡
yeah i like this book alot of self growth. i actually related very strongly with a character. Cyra (as a person with migraines and Ehlers danlos hEDS). and cyra was complicated in just the right amounts.♡♡
Eine interessante Welt, die Veronica Roth da erschaffen hat. Wie auch schon in der Divergent Reihe macht sie es ihren Charakteren nicht einfach im Leben. Ein Punkt Abzug für dich manchmal doch zu subtilen Zeitsprünge, sodass ich zwischendurch wirklich völlig das Gefühl verloren hatte, wieviel Zeit zwischen zwei Kapitel denn nun vergangen ist. Das Ende macht in jedem Fall Lust auf Teil 2.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First of all goodreads, this book didn’t take me 4 months... I mean it kinda did but it was an audiobook!
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
This book 😩😩 I didn’t think I would love it but I did. I need to get the second one. Cyra is really a bad B and I love her and Akos together. She really gives out the trope ‘she would set fire to the world but not let a single flame touch him’
Roth is so good at world building, her characters and places truly come to life in your mind as you read her books. Carve the Mark didn't have quite the impact of the Divergent series but definitely still a great read.
Such an excellent book. Full review to follow once I gather my thoughts.