Carve the Mark

Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth's newest book and the start of the series of the same name.

On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.

The Breakdown:
1. So, originally, I was on the fence on whether I wanted to read this book or not.  Don't get me wrong, Roth is an amazing author, but she broke my heart so much with the Divergent series, I was not sure I wanted to get emotionally invested again.  But who I am kidding, warring civilizations in another galaxy, plus I was able to see her on this book tour a couple weeks ago, so I had to read it.  Although super glad I got to hear her talk about so I would know how all the names of people and things were pronounced.

2. I was glad to see that she did much better in the changing of perspective betweem characters in this book, which was the weakest part for me in Allegiant.   She was able to make Akos and Cyra's chapters unique to the characters.

3. Speaking of Akos and Cyra, they are an interesting pair thrown together by, shall we say, fate. Akos taken from his home in Thuvhe part of the planet and forced into service of the Shotet royal family. His love and loyalty to his brother is amazing, plus he learns to see past Cyra's thick walls and find the girl underneath them. Cyra is the sister of the Shotet ruler, and lives her life in constant pain due to her currentgift. Deep down she does not want to be the monster he brother paints her as, but guilt holds her to her brother.

4. I found the idea of the current and current gifts interesting.  The current is like a force in the universe and it gifts people with abilities.  Although this abilities have both good and bad things to them.  It is almost like having a magic that is a tangible thing.

5. Oh, and the last 50 pages are amazing and exciting. There are some big twist there, and some big reveals made that you don't want to miss.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read