07 March, 2017

#BookReview :: Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark #1) by Veronica Roth

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

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 the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.
The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

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I quite enjoyed the Divergent series by Veronica Roth and so it was no brainer that I would pick this book up.

Carve the Mark follows the story of Cyra, a Shotet girl and Akos, a Thuvhe boy. Cyra has the power to pour pain into the people she touches and as such she is a potent weapon wielded by her ruler brother, Ryzek. Akos has his special gist because of which he is apprehended and brought to ease the pain Cyra's gift cause her. As their paths cross and these two so different people are brought together, we see some chemistry going on. But are they enemies or are they friends?

I must say that I am quite disappointed on many levels. First the world building felt really disjointed. The pace of the book is quite slow in order to build up the world for the duology, but still some things just do not add up evenly. I expected more world building in this book given that this is going to be a duology. But it just did not happen. Secondly, there is the element of self-harm woven into the story through Cyra that really had me on the edge. I feel that the treatment of this element should have received more care and attention. On a better note, I really liked the character of Akos. He pulls the story through; the things he has seen and the people he has lost, yet he remains so pure. His relationship with Cyra was also another bright point of the book as it built up slowly.

I really must warn that there is the element of self-harm in the book and thus it is not for everyone.




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