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itsdanixx 's review for:
Carve the Mark
by Veronica Roth
2.5 Stars.
I am a Shotet. I am sharp as broken glass, and just as fragile. I tell lies better than I tell truths. I see all of the galaxy and never catch a glimpse of it.
Carve the Mark was... honestly, a little disappointing. I mean it was OK, but I had several issues with it.
For one, there was a lot of world building, especially at the beginning (it’s a lot to take in within the first few pages, this book does not start off easy) and yet there was still a bunch of stuff that didn’t make any sense to me. To avoid spoilers I’ll just mention one thing that happens at the very beginning: Akos gets kidnapped from his home of Thuvhe and taken to Shotet where he is held captive for two seasons, however long that is. During this time, he is obviously taught how to fight, allowed to train with the nations army and learn all their tactics and given strong special armour. Obviously.
But seriously - why on earth would they do that?! It doesn’t make any sense and it’s just skirted over like we’re just supposed to accept it?! Not only that, but Akos’s new ability to fight is quite a major plot point and we’re just never supposed to question why the nation who kidnapped him and held him as a captive slave would possibly teach him these skills??
Secondly, I really didn’t like one of the main characters. Akos was fine I guess but Cyra had exactly 0 redeeming qualities. She feels guilty about the awful things she (willingly, really) does and therefore we’re supposed to like her despite the fact that she is constantly horrible to literally everyone all the time.
It was also pretty slow and the plot was not particularly unique but despite this, there were some things I found interesting and I do want to know how things turn out so I’ll read the next one.
I am a Shotet. I am sharp as broken glass, and just as fragile. I tell lies better than I tell truths. I see all of the galaxy and never catch a glimpse of it.
Carve the Mark was... honestly, a little disappointing. I mean it was OK, but I had several issues with it.
For one, there was a lot of world building, especially at the beginning (it’s a lot to take in within the first few pages, this book does not start off easy) and yet there was still a bunch of stuff that didn’t make any sense to me. To avoid spoilers I’ll just mention one thing that happens at the very beginning: Akos gets kidnapped from his home of Thuvhe and taken to Shotet where he is held captive for two seasons, however long that is. During this time, he is obviously taught how to fight, allowed to train with the nations army and learn all their tactics and given strong special armour. Obviously.
But seriously - why on earth would they do that?! It doesn’t make any sense and it’s just skirted over like we’re just supposed to accept it?! Not only that, but Akos’s new ability to fight is quite a major plot point and we’re just never supposed to question why the nation who kidnapped him and held him as a captive slave would possibly teach him these skills??
Secondly, I really didn’t like one of the main characters. Akos was fine I guess but Cyra had exactly 0 redeeming qualities. She feels guilty about the awful things she (willingly, really) does and therefore we’re supposed to like her despite the fact that she is constantly horrible to literally everyone all the time.
It was also pretty slow and the plot was not particularly unique but despite this, there were some things I found interesting and I do want to know how things turn out so I’ll read the next one.