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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Another great series by Veronica Roth. I will continue for sure.
Spoiler
Everyone has a gift in this story. Cyra's is to give people pain and that is used much so by her brother. Her brother knows Cyra's biggest secret, the fact that she killed her mother with her gift. Her brother continues to use that against her and she does everything he says until she meets Akos. Akos is brought to their planet because his fate is that he will serve the ruler. The ruler of course is Cyra's brother. What will happen between the two? Do they help each other? Does Akos leave the planet? Does Cyra still use her gift in the same way?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I read the Divergent series, I felt distressed much of the time. This book had a slower, easier pace and a less distressing overtone. It has its share of fighting and killing, but I didn’t feel the constant tension that I did with Divergent. On to read the Fates Divide! Oh, and the narrators were really good.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For more reviews, check out my blog Reading Rad Books
I didn't choose the blood that runs in my veins, any more than you chose your fate. You and I, we've become what we were made to become.
Snapshot:
Carve the Mark, from international bestselling author Veronica Roth, is a dystopian novel based in a galaxy very different from our own. The story is centered on Cyra and Akos, who are caught between two warring nations on the planet of Thuvhe, part of a greater confederation of nine planets, all bent on shaping the galaxy using oracles. There’s a definite X-Men and Star Wars vibe laced with a little bit more fantasy, that I actually enjoyed more than expected.
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Originality: 3.5
All reviews are measured on a scale of 0 to 5.
This blog contains spoilers.
Deep dive:
The world in Carve the Mark is built around the concept of a current, the one overwhelming thing in the universe that guides everyone. The current shapes each person differently, developing into a person’s gift, which stems from their individual personality. Cyra is a princess of the brutal Shotet, with a current-gift that causes her to feel constant pain and the ability to push that pain into others. Akos, son of the oracle of Thuvhe, has a current-gift that stops all other’s current-gifts. The Shotet and Thuvheans have long been at war for the planet, with the Shotet seeking to be recognized as an independent nation. Despite being enemies, Akos and Cyra both long for freedom from their fates, which were decreed by the oracles at their birth, meaning they’re fate-favored like many of the more prevalent families in the galaxy.
A prisoner of the Shotet since he was a boy, Akos is finally brought to work for Cyra as he can turn off her gift and ease her pain. When Akos was captured, his brother was also taken because of his gift as the future oracle. Cyra’s brother, Ryzek, the cruel leader of the Shotet, begins to torture Akos’ brother to use his gift to defeat his own decreed fate. You see, Ryzek is destined to fall to a member of the Benesit family, a fate-favored family set to rule Thuvhe. When he fails to torture him for the gift of foresight, he begins to steal the power by taking memories using his own current-gift. Akos is determined to escape with his brother and return to their home and family.
As you can expect, Akos and Cyra begin to form a bond built on trust and friendship that will eventually turn to love. However, it’s more of a slow burn than a fast dive into love so don’t expect it to move along quickly like many other young adult novels. Akos is finally able to see past Cyra’s vicious reputation as Ryzek’s weapon, and realize that she longs to escape her brother and hates to torture people, while Cyra longs to see the world and herself the way that Akos does. There’s definitely more of a slow build throughout the story, rather than an action-packed non-stop speed.
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, but I definitely had a few problems with it. The fact that Akos’ mother knew that her sons would be kidnapped, beaten, and tortured yet let it happen is awful. She tries to blame it on “letting fate happen the way it’s supposed to”, but that’s completely negated later when she manipulates Akos and the rebels into making specific decisions. That is definitely not letting fate happen, she’s choosing a path that she likes best! Ridiculous. Also, the story is pretty graphic and gory, culminating in the scene where half Cyra’s face is peeled off as punishment for her betrayal. If you can’t handle gory, bloody scenes this book is not the best choice. (Don’t worry, she’s able to heal using cut-rate medical innovations from another planet.)
As is always the case, we’re left with a cliffhanger ending and a plot twist. Cyra learns that her father is not dead like she’d thought for the last several years of her life. On top of that, it turns out that he’s not actually her father after all nor is Ryzek her brother. I personally think that the fate-favored were switched long ago, so Akos is actually related to Ryzek and Cyra is the daughter of the oracle. I could be wrong, but I definitely think there’s going to be some sort of identity crisis in the next book, [b:The Fates Divide|35820633|The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513195268s/35820633.jpg|46168217]. Thankfully, this is a duology so there’s no need to painfully wait for the final edition. If twisted families and Star Wars-like themes are for you, check out Carve the Mark, I promise you’ll be absorbed in the story!
I didn't choose the blood that runs in my veins, any more than you chose your fate. You and I, we've become what we were made to become.
Snapshot:
Carve the Mark, from international bestselling author Veronica Roth, is a dystopian novel based in a galaxy very different from our own. The story is centered on Cyra and Akos, who are caught between two warring nations on the planet of Thuvhe, part of a greater confederation of nine planets, all bent on shaping the galaxy using oracles. There’s a definite X-Men and Star Wars vibe laced with a little bit more fantasy, that I actually enjoyed more than expected.
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Originality: 3.5
All reviews are measured on a scale of 0 to 5.
This blog contains spoilers.
Deep dive:
The world in Carve the Mark is built around the concept of a current, the one overwhelming thing in the universe that guides everyone. The current shapes each person differently, developing into a person’s gift, which stems from their individual personality. Cyra is a princess of the brutal Shotet, with a current-gift that causes her to feel constant pain and the ability to push that pain into others. Akos, son of the oracle of Thuvhe, has a current-gift that stops all other’s current-gifts. The Shotet and Thuvheans have long been at war for the planet, with the Shotet seeking to be recognized as an independent nation. Despite being enemies, Akos and Cyra both long for freedom from their fates, which were decreed by the oracles at their birth, meaning they’re fate-favored like many of the more prevalent families in the galaxy.
A prisoner of the Shotet since he was a boy, Akos is finally brought to work for Cyra as he can turn off her gift and ease her pain. When Akos was captured, his brother was also taken because of his gift as the future oracle. Cyra’s brother, Ryzek, the cruel leader of the Shotet, begins to torture Akos’ brother to use his gift to defeat his own decreed fate. You see, Ryzek is destined to fall to a member of the Benesit family, a fate-favored family set to rule Thuvhe. When he fails to torture him for the gift of foresight, he begins to steal the power by taking memories using his own current-gift. Akos is determined to escape with his brother and return to their home and family.
As you can expect, Akos and Cyra begin to form a bond built on trust and friendship that will eventually turn to love. However, it’s more of a slow burn than a fast dive into love so don’t expect it to move along quickly like many other young adult novels. Akos is finally able to see past Cyra’s vicious reputation as Ryzek’s weapon, and realize that she longs to escape her brother and hates to torture people, while Cyra longs to see the world and herself the way that Akos does. There’s definitely more of a slow build throughout the story, rather than an action-packed non-stop speed.
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, but I definitely had a few problems with it. The fact that Akos’ mother knew that her sons would be kidnapped, beaten, and tortured yet let it happen is awful. She tries to blame it on “letting fate happen the way it’s supposed to”, but that’s completely negated later when she manipulates Akos and the rebels into making specific decisions. That is definitely not letting fate happen, she’s choosing a path that she likes best! Ridiculous. Also, the story is pretty graphic and gory, culminating in the scene where half Cyra’s face is peeled off as punishment for her betrayal. If you can’t handle gory, bloody scenes this book is not the best choice. (Don’t worry, she’s able to heal using cut-rate medical innovations from another planet.)
As is always the case, we’re left with a cliffhanger ending and a plot twist. Cyra learns that her father is not dead like she’d thought for the last several years of her life. On top of that, it turns out that he’s not actually her father after all nor is Ryzek her brother. I personally think that the fate-favored were switched long ago, so Akos is actually related to Ryzek and Cyra is the daughter of the oracle. I could be wrong, but I definitely think there’s going to be some sort of identity crisis in the next book, [b:The Fates Divide|35820633|The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513195268s/35820633.jpg|46168217]. Thankfully, this is a duology so there’s no need to painfully wait for the final edition. If twisted families and Star Wars-like themes are for you, check out Carve the Mark, I promise you’ll be absorbed in the story!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
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:
Yes