Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Book Review - Carve the Mark - by Veronica Roth

From the author of the Divergent Series, Veronica Roth, we have a new YA trilogy to explore. Carve the Mark introduces us to a galaxy powered by the current, and everyone has  a gift.  Cyra is the sister of the brutal Shotet ruler. Cyra’s gift gives her pain and power – she is used by her brother to inflict torture, but she can also absorb others pain and that proves useful. She’s smart, resilient, and eager to destroy her brother.

Akos is from frozen Thuvhe. He’s generous and a fighter who’s captured by Shotet soldiers. He will do anything to get his brother out alive. In meeting Cyra, he learns about her world. Cover blurb – Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another? Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth’s stunning portrayal of the power of friendship – and love – in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts.

I was a tad stunned as I navigated this book. I had trouble keeping track of all the weird names, gifts, and trying to figure out who hated whom and why. Maybe someone was dead based on history, but then they’d pop up on another planet. There were good moments in this book, but I found it rather confusing and a bit repetitive. They’d fly here and fight. Then fly here and fight. And then we’d talk about what we want to do, and scurry around a ship to evade, then invade, and then….WTF.  I’d be interested to know if anyone who likes future/fantasy world stuff enjoyed this book. Am I missing something? I liked Divergent a lot and read the series quickly.

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth did not make its mark on me. I doubt I’m up for two more…


Sign me – tortured

18 comments:

  1. lol never fun when it is torture. Rinse and repeat can sure get on one's nerves

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  2. I have not read the book but I would be confused I will admit. Would have to re=read it a couple of times.
    Good review Joanne.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Indeed. I hate to have to re-read stuff that is not clear

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  3. I liked the Divergent movies; didn't read the books (which I heard were different than the movies). Not sure I'd be interested in this one though.

    betty

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  4. Great review. Thanks to you, I now know that I would NOT like this book. I don't mind a good mystery, but that doesn't extend to books with too many characters with too many weird names to kep track of doing too many weird things. Entertain me, but don't make me work that hard to understand. :)

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    1. Glad to perform a public service. I am lucky to read so many good books. But it is sad to be disappointed. She is a talented author but this book beat me down.
      Glad you are back!

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  5. I didn't care for the first movie in the Divergent series. In fact, after watching it, I had no desire to see the second one. I haven't read the books. This sounds like one I can pass on easily too.

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    1. The books were good. This new series.. not so much.

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  6. Not my style of read although it is my genre. Confusing and weird names can be avoided though. Sorry you didn't like it as much as her other books.

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  7. I'm glad you admitted this, Joanne. Much of today's popular fiction hurts my brain. If this was too confusing for you, I'm sure most of us would have that experience. Thanks for your honesty.

    Be well.

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  8. I think I know where you're coming from and you are not alone. I do like sci-fi and fantasy but some of it can be far too difficult to navigate. You need characters you can relate to and believe in wherever in the galaxy it's set!!
    Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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  9. I like sci-fi, but some of them are above my head or beyond my ability to suspend belief. I did like the Divergent series though, so maybe I'll give "Carve the Mark" a look-see.

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  10. I found it to be fantastic speculative fiction, which is my genre of choice. I can see how it wouldn't be everyone's cup tea.

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