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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
3.5/5 slow moving space stars ⭐
I feel like it says something that it took me 4 months to listen to this audiobook version of [b:The Fates Divide|35820633|The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513195268l/35820633._SY75_.jpg|46168217].
The Plus: The narrators were great!
The Minus: The pace of this book was SUBSTANTIALLY slower than [b:Carve the Mark|30117284|Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)|Veronica Roth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462467867l/30117284._SY75_.jpg|44736077], and I just found myself a bit bored sometimes. WOMP. I wanted to love it more but it was just....okay. It was interesting enough of an original plot line that I wanted to finish the entire story. You know, jumping right in from the end of last book and picking up in the middle of a large scale almost war with the surprise arrival of previously thought dead dad, Lazmet Noavek. What a game changer! Akos and Cyra, maybe/maybe not together forever, the Fates still creating division throughout all the lands, and new planets to explore and new people to meet! Unfortunately, I just could not make myself listen to it for long periods of time because not enough happened in between all the major plot points. Again, WOMP.
I know they say good things take time, but there's something to be said about being succinct!
“Life is full of pain', I had told Akos, trying to draw him back from depression. 'Your capacity for bearing it is greater than you believe.' And I had been right.”
The inclusion of Cici's POV was one really positive point as she wasn't always with one of the main characters. To be fair, it felt like Cici rose to become a main characters! Her perspective was insightful and there were a lot of moments that I just wanted to be able to help her speak out. Throughout book 2, Cici was generally the only character who I was emotionally invested in since her story was motivating. A lot of her moments could have been something that we all experienced, I mean haha, without the life or death war situation.
I wouldn't be able to pretend to understand the stress and influx of emotions that the war brought about all the characters, nor could I understand their motivations since I haven't come close to making any of the decisions any of them had to make, but I do feel that [a:Veronica Roth|4039811|Veronica Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588707274p2/4039811.jpg] was able to capture an urgency in most of the character's actions. There was just too much, yet not enough, depth of politics, relationship growth, or character growth. There weren't too too many plot twists, but I guess I picked up this series not to read about mystery or intrigue!
“Fighting was something I could do, something I had trained myself to do whenever things got difficult. It was what kept me safe--not avoidance, because when had I ever been able to avoid the things that hurt me? No, it wasn’t pretending I wouldn’t get knocked down that protected me, but the knowledge that I would get back up as many times as I had to.”
I feel like it says something that it took me 4 months to listen to this audiobook version of [b:The Fates Divide|35820633|The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513195268l/35820633._SY75_.jpg|46168217].
The Plus: The narrators were great!
The Minus: The pace of this book was SUBSTANTIALLY slower than [b:Carve the Mark|30117284|Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)|Veronica Roth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462467867l/30117284._SY75_.jpg|44736077], and I just found myself a bit bored sometimes. WOMP. I wanted to love it more but it was just....okay. It was interesting enough of an original plot line that I wanted to finish the entire story. You know, jumping right in from the end of last book and picking up in the middle of a large scale almost war with the surprise arrival of previously thought dead dad, Lazmet Noavek. What a game changer! Akos and Cyra, maybe/maybe not together forever, the Fates still creating division throughout all the lands, and new planets to explore and new people to meet! Unfortunately, I just could not make myself listen to it for long periods of time because not enough happened in between all the major plot points. Again, WOMP.
I know they say good things take time, but there's something to be said about being succinct!
“Life is full of pain', I had told Akos, trying to draw him back from depression. 'Your capacity for bearing it is greater than you believe.' And I had been right.”
The inclusion of Cici's POV was one really positive point as she wasn't always with one of the main characters. To be fair, it felt like Cici rose to become a main characters! Her perspective was insightful and there were a lot of moments that I just wanted to be able to help her speak out. Throughout book 2, Cici was generally the only character who I was emotionally invested in since her story was motivating. A lot of her moments could have been something that we all experienced, I mean haha, without the life or death war situation.
I wouldn't be able to pretend to understand the stress and influx of emotions that the war brought about all the characters, nor could I understand their motivations since I haven't come close to making any of the decisions any of them had to make, but I do feel that [a:Veronica Roth|4039811|Veronica Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588707274p2/4039811.jpg] was able to capture an urgency in most of the character's actions. There was just too much, yet not enough, depth of politics, relationship growth, or character growth. There weren't too too many plot twists, but I guess I picked up this series not to read about mystery or intrigue!
“Fighting was something I could do, something I had trained myself to do whenever things got difficult. It was what kept me safe--not avoidance, because when had I ever been able to avoid the things that hurt me? No, it wasn’t pretending I wouldn’t get knocked down that protected me, but the knowledge that I would get back up as many times as I had to.”
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
I fucking love this book
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was no fan of the first book, but I found myself repeatedly baffled by how this sequel seemed to exist for the sole purpose of undercutting the few aspects that made the previous story interesting. The romance, main antagonist, and the concept of the fates were the strong suit of Carve the Mark, and each of them has been utterly sabotaged here, leaving this book directionless and often ethically uncomfortable. The story would have been better had it ended with just the first book, which was itself very flawed.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
Nice sequel to Carve the Mark! Best plottwist I have ever seen and the world that Veronica Roth build was once again a-ma-zing!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
The first book in this series, Carve the Mark, was really good. Reading this sequel, it almost seemed to be a different story, but not in a bad way. It was definitely a continuation and there was more development. A lot of sequels will simply be the same thing with just a little bit of difference. This one was more of an adventure and further understanding of the characters in the book.
It did bother me that, while I don't remember them being in the first book, there were quite a few cuss words. I always considered Veronica Roth's books safe from those kinds of things. (I personally don't like cussing. I feel like there are more intelligent ways to express displeasure or despair).
In saying that, I definitely recommend this book to any sci-fi lovers. Even if you're just getting into it, this is a pretty good read.
It did bother me that, while I don't remember them being in the first book, there were quite a few cuss words. I always considered Veronica Roth's books safe from those kinds of things. (I personally don't like cussing. I feel like there are more intelligent ways to express displeasure or despair).
In saying that, I definitely recommend this book to any sci-fi lovers. Even if you're just getting into it, this is a pretty good read.