The Marked Son

Sep 27, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, own, 2011-reads, favorites

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Whoa. That was awesome.

I didn't realize how much I would end up loving The Marked Son. Before I read this book, I read some reviews and opinions seemed kind of mixed. It's amazing how different people's reading experiences can be when reading the same book. I found The Marked Son to be such a thrilling read! I was captivated from the very beginning. I thought the main and supporting characters were very likable and had great relationships. I lov...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Daniel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Buat yang enggak percaya sama Tuhan, coba, deh, baca novel penuh hikmah dan berkah ini! Bukan, bukan karena kontennya yang sangat religiusiyah, tapi bisa selesai baca novel ini benar-benar sebuah anugerah buat saya.
description

Jadi, bahkan sampai sekarang setelah saya selesai baca novel ini, saya masih enggak paham sebenarnya nyonyah Shea Berkley ini mau ngomong apa, sih, melalui novel ini?

Hum, jadi begini. Ada dua tokoh di sini. Cowok ganteng bernama Dylan, dan seorang gadis bernama Kera—ya, kalian tidak...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Smash added it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011, ya-fantasy, book-reviews, review-request-complete, read-own-ebooks

See the full review at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

The story opens up as Dylan and his mother make a road trip to his grandmother’s house, who does not even know of Dylan’s existence. It seems as though mom hasn’t spoken to her parents since his birth. We soon learn that Dylan’s mother is not of strong-will when she abandons him. Dylan is used to his mother’s issues, however. She falls in love at the drop of a hat and when the relationship falls apart, she picks u...more See the full review at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

The story opens up as Dylan and his mother make a road trip to his grandmother’s house, who does not even know of Dylan’s existence. It seems as though mom hasn’t spoken to her parents since his birth. We soon learn that Dylan’s mother is not of strong-will when she abandons him. Dylan is used to his mother’s issues, however. She falls in love at the drop of a hat and when the relationship falls apart, she picks up her life and her son and moves them elsewhere. Yet, this is the first time she’s left him behind. To say Dylan’s life has been tough is an understatement.

Dylan gets to know his grandparents, who are my favorite people in the story. While in their care, a reoccurring dream is slowly becoming reality. He’s been dreaming about the same girl his entire life, and while the two never speak to one another, their draw is undeniable. Dylan can’t believe his eyes as he peers out into the forest overlooking his grandparent’s property and catches a glimpse of her! Needless to say, the hunt is on as he searches through the leafy wonderland in search of this elusive lady. And that, my friends, is when the story gets to gettin!

I enjoyed the author’s take on fae lore. While she never actually refers to anything in her book as fae – her creations are called firsts - she does mention the sidhe, and there is an aversion to cold iron. The magical beasties are pretty cool. The author created some naughty creatures! Millispits, which remind me of TrackerJackers from The Hunger Games, are deadly oversized bugs that hunt in packs. Creepy!

"Millispits. Tiny, winged amphibian-type creatures with sharp, serrated fingers, no mouths, and large, glowing eyes. Imperfectly created from magic to do two things: kill anything that moves with their serrated fingers and long, venom-filled tail, then die."

And the pux are a bunch of mischievous, dangerous Tinkerbell-sized creatures. They sneakily sprinkle their dust over you head and send you off to count sheep so they can do all kinds of not-so-fun things to you! And lastly, the villain in this book is foul, and I would gladly strangle him for Dylan. :)

The characters throughout the book are very likeable. I loved the grandparents, as well as Dylan’s meathead friend, Jason. Kera, the elusive lady, is very admirable. And Dylan, who doesn’t think things through before acting from his heart, is a very realistic teenager who you can’t help but want to hug. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the 2nd half. However, the 2nd half is definitely the one that is full of danger and action. I am not sure I enjoyed how the book ended, but I definitely look forward to finding out more about Dylan’s past and future.

Shea Berkley visited Smash Attack Reads! to talk about Fantasy: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...(less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! I finished The Marked Son thirty minutes ago and my heart is still racing. This book is amazing. It’s like I took off on the most fantastic paranormal fantasy adventure ride, and still haven't touched ground.

The storyline and plot just don't quit. It keeps taking you higher and higher, and just when you think you’ve reached the top, Shea Berkley gives you another awesome shot of adrenaline. Shea Berkley has definitely got an imagination overload going in this story. The Marked Son had me l...more WOW! I finished The Marked Son thirty minutes ago and my heart is still racing. This book is amazing. It’s like I took off on the most fantastic paranormal fantasy adventure ride, and still haven't touched ground.

The storyline and plot just don't quit. It keeps taking you higher and higher, and just when you think you’ve reached the top, Shea Berkley gives you another awesome shot of adrenaline. Shea Berkley has definitely got an imagination overload going in this story. The Marked Son had me laughing, crying, angry, heartbroken, and my favorite, swooning :)

Dylan is one hundred percent blow-your-mind awesome guy material. Dylan had my heart breaking for him when his mom abandoned him, and his mess-up life. But now that he founded Kera, the girl of his dreams, who’s shown Dylan who and what he really is, there is no sacrifice Dylan won't make to love and protect her in order to be with her. Kera is from Teag—another dimension—and she’s a head-strong, self-assured girl. And when she sees Dylan, she knows he's her forever love and white knight. Dylan’s two best buds, Leo and Jason, are right by Dylan’s side on this wild, magical adventure. Jason is a wild card, he had me in hysterics with his witting mouth and take on the world. Leo is laid back, easy going kind of guy, but he’s smarter than he seems, and when he meets Lucinda, I laughed so hard I cried. Shea Berkley did a jam-up job describing a guy like Leo in this kind of predicament. I could just see poor Leo wanting to find a rock to crawl under. I love both these guys. They’re funny, terrific , beautiful, and this thing Leo has going on with scary, sensual, sadistic Lucinda, I can’t wait to see more of them!

I wish I was as brilliant and talented a writer like Shea Berkley in order to write this review. I'm just not putting into words how amazingly beautiful this book is. I highly recommend you read The Marked Son. And I’d like to thank Shea Berkley so much for writing Dylan and Kera's story and Entangled for Publishing this Awesome book!!!
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Dec 07, 2012 Frishawn Rasheed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-2012, best-of-2012-list-pick, dark-and-delicious, favorites, great-leading-man-boy

"The Marked Son" takes the Fae/Human dynamic in a new and original direction.
Nothing about this book fits the mold of the cookie cutter stories involving fae that seem to have overrun YA to this point.

Cases In Point

Dylan
Dylan Kennedy is a wounded soul, living with an emotionally distant mother who is searching for love in all the wrong places. He has no idea what to expect when his mother takes him to a sheep ranch in Oregon and and abandons him to grandparents that he never knew existed. Coup...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Carla-Book Monster Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review (By Book Monster Guest Reviewer)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book since I didn't read the blurb, but I absolutely loved it! It had pretty much everything including action, romance, drama and friendship.

Dylan is 17 and hasn't had the easiest life so far his mother moves him around the country constantly after falling in and out of love with less than savory men and shows no love to her son and he can't make friends since he is moving about so much. Dylan has been having dreams...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Dorine White rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Marked Son, by Shea Berkley, is a YA fantasy novel that takes place in the normal world and the world of the fey.

The Story- Dylan has a rough life. His mother is a flake who abandoned him on a sheep ranch with his grandparents, who he’s never even met. The one thing in Dylan’s life that brings him peace, are his dreams of a strange girl, dreams he’s been having since he was eight. But lately, his dreams have taken a bad turn and he feels that somehow, his dream girl, is in danger.

On the shee...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

First Impression:
Dreams? An Evil Lord? A teenager who thinks he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life? This summary had me at hello.

While Reading:
The Marked Son is definitely not my typical YA read. But that is really what drove me towards it in the first place.

As the first book in a planned series, The Marked Son does not have many of the hang-ups that I often find in other first books. It is not a stepping stone type novel. Nor did it feel slow or frustrating caus...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Kelley York rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

I haven't read any YA fantasy in a long, long time. (Years, we're talking.) So I wasn't sure what to expect when I got into this.

THE MARKED SON combines a fantasy realm alongside a "normal" realm. The book starts out primarily in the real world. I loved the family dynamic immediately. Dylan was a character I cared about, who came across as a real teenage boy. I loved his temper! I know I probably shouldn't, but it was something about him that came across as so genuine to me. Any time he got upse...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I did go into this book a little nervous about the whole seeing a girl in his dreams and then she comes to life theme because I have read it before. What I think was different about this one is that the girl comes from a different place.
I really enjoy reading books from the boys perspective, it is such a nice way to change up the reading stack. There are some sections told form Kera's perspective but as she is from a different place the reading style changes between the two until they meet and...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Cassie McCown rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Marked Son
By: Shea Berkley
ISBN: 9781937044015
Published August 2, 2011 by Entangled Publishing
Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★★

All his life, Dylan Kennedy has been an outcast, forgettable. With no father and a fraction of a mother, he’s learned to live life the only way he knows how, expecting nothing but disappointment. When his mom suddenly dumps him on his grandparents and runs, it’s just more of the same for poor Dylan. But, on his grandparents’ sheep farm, something star...more
The Marked Son
By: Shea Berkley
ISBN: 9781937044015
Published August 2, 2011 by Entangled Publishing
Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★★

All his life, Dylan Kennedy has been an outcast, forgettable. With no father and a fraction of a mother, he’s learned to live life the only way he knows how, expecting nothing but disappointment. When his mom suddenly dumps him on his grandparents and runs, it’s just more of the same for poor Dylan. But, on his grandparents’ sheep farm, something starts to change. Dylan sees a ghost that he has dreamed of his whole life, a young woman in white roaming the nearby forest. Pretty soon, Dylan learns there is much more to his troubled past than he even knew, and he is thrust into a war in a world he never even knew existed.

I really, really loved this book. I love how the author switches between Kera and Dylan’s POV, though I was a little distracted that Dylan spoke in present tense while Kera’s part was past. But, this story was fantastic! Berkley did an awesome job weaving little details in and bringing the lives and worlds of both these young people to life. The characters were so well rounded and the scenery was so rich; I felt I was right there in the middle of it all. It transported me like a really great book should!

This was also a fairly unique plot—no vampires and werewolves. There were lots of magical and mysterious creatures, and each and every one had their own distinct characteristics. I love how the author uses the pure vs. half-blood as the major conflict and how completely despicable Navar is throughout the story. My favorite character is a tie between Jason and Bodog—both strong with big hearts underneath. I was very pleased with the way Dylan matured during the story as he learned more and more about himself. He grew to accept who he was, and that is a big lesson for the target audience.

There is the slight love triangle, and it was completely unrealistic how quickly the two main characters fall in love. BUT, it really makes sense in this story because they have “known” each other their whole lives and they were really destined to be together. I am also impressed that Kera is a pretty strong heroine even though Dylan is really the focus of this book. She is forced into things she does not want, but she does fight for herself and works very hard to get Dylan to be a part of her world. Sometimes accepting the hand you are dealt is harder than trying to fight back, and I respected Kera for how well she handled the challenges she faced.

I’ll say it again—I loved this book! I cannot wait for this story to continue…
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Sep 08, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

First Impression:
Dreams? An Evil Lord? A teenager who thinks he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life? This summary had me at hello.

While Reading:
The Marked Son is definitely not my typical YA read. But that is really what drove me towards it in the first place.

As the first book in a planned series, The Marked Son does not have many of the hang-ups that I often find in other first books. It is not a stepping stone type novel. Nor did it feel slow or frustrating...more

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Aug 11, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-e-galley, young-adult, fantasy, read-2011

Poor Dylan, he really has had a tough go of it pretty much his entire life. His mom is anything but traditional, he has to keep going from place to place and for as long as he could remember he's dreamed of the same girl, pale, hauntingly beautiful in the cold eerie woods.
He's always known he was different. Out of place. Out of time, but he's about to find out just how much.

The Marked Son is a very well crafted, unique and intriguing story with a fun adventurous twist. I really liked the other-...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Rhianna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An Exciting Romantic Modern Fantasy for Teens

For years Dylan Kennedy has been the victim of his mother's romantic whims. Never finding 'The One' she has dragged him from place to place never allowing him to grow roots, stay long enough to really make friends. When she once more up-ends his life hauling him to Oregon his life changes even further. This is no simple change of scenery as she chases love. She brings him to her parents' sheep farm, to meet the grandparents he's never met, who don't e...more An Exciting Romantic Modern Fantasy for Teens

For years Dylan Kennedy has been the victim of his mother's romantic whims. Never finding 'The One' she has dragged him from place to place never allowing him to grow roots, stay long enough to really make friends. When she once more up-ends his life hauling him to Oregon his life changes even further. This is no simple change of scenery as she chases love. She brings him to her parents' sheep farm, to meet the grandparents he's never met, who don't even know he exists. Even still his grandparents make him welcome when—like a fierce summer storm blazing through—his mother abandons him there.

Ever different but not sure why Dylan's chance encounter with a mysterious ghostly figure in the woods begins an adventure to find his destiny. For Kera, the girl in white, and Dylan share much more than just their dreams. She will lead him to a world where the very thing that made him different in his world could be it's salvation if the one thing tying him to his own doesn't get him killed first.

Ahhh, it's like peeling back the layers of an onion. I'm sorry but my attempt at a description kind of tore at it. There's a lot going on in THE MARKED SON. Action and romance, magic and shapeshifting, sword-fights and tree surfing. Tree surfing you say? Yes, tree surfing. It's a very imaginative and yet modern take on fantasy. Berkley calls them Firsts, but it would be fair to say they are a somewhat fae-like race. Their world is in turmoil of the highest sort and Dylan falls right into the middle of it.

Kera, his paramour, is a young woman of a great many secrets and their pull to one another is almost animal. One might say they are a drug to one another and incapable of giving each other up once they meet. It was the one thing that actually didn't really work for me in the storyline. I just couldn't quite buy it and part of that might have been the result of the unusual storytelling style Berkley uses. Chapters alternate between Dylan's first person accounts and third-person parts about Kera. In a way it worked to endear Dylan to me and at the same time it made me feel alienated from Kera. I liked the concept more than the execution and some readers might find the switching back and forth between perspectives bothersome.

Surprisingly the secondary characters were what made me love the story. Bodog and Lucinda, creatures from Kera's realm, in particular charmed me. I also became very fond of Dylan's grandparents. Without the great cast of background characters aiding Dylan and Kera along the way the story might have made me want to punch the two love-birds for their constant obsessing over each other. Fortunately there's plenty of fighting and escapes and magic to give it a strong sense of adventure and action.

On the whole I think this is a great modern fantasy with a strong romantic thread but enough action to entertain both male and female readers. There are a few emotional moments and if you can get past the moments of lead characters goo-goo eyeing I think it'd even be a great read for many adults who enjoy non-epic fantasy. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of The Iron Fey series or Aprilynne Pike's Wings.
Notes: Review Copy via NetGalley.(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 Stacey O'Neale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy's life hasn't been very easy as he's been more of his mothers caretaker than the other way around. He's bounced from one place to another until she dumps him in Oregon with grandparents he's never met and never knew he existed. Throughout his life, his only solace has been the dreams he's had of a girl he's never met. All that changes when he sees her in the woods behind his grandparents house. The pull between them is undeniable, and although he knows nothing ab...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dylan hasn’t had an easy life. His mother falls in love too easily. Whenever she is finished with the guy of the day, she picks up and moves the two of them to a new town to start over. Because of this, he’s bitter and not very trusting of her. The last straw comes when she takes him to Oregon and leaves him with her parents – grandparents he has never met. Not long after his mother leaves, Dylan sees a girl in white standing in the woods. A girl that looks vaguely familiar. Is he seeing ghosts,...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Darcy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, e-book, net-galley-books, ya

This book started with great promise but went downhill for me. The constant changing of point of view for the first 100 pages or so started to annoy me. Yes we did get to know the main characters that way, but just when you got into that part of the story it was over.

Dylan's first part of the story was very easy to figure out, however not so much for Kera's. You learned about Firsts, but even now when I am done reading the book I am not really sure what they are. So many things lead me to belie...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Cristy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, kindle, paranormal-supernatural, series

So when I first ordered THE MARKED SON (Keepers Of Life) for my Kindle, the posted plot summery wasn’t really clear on exactly what kind of paranormal story this was going to be; just that it was from Dylan’s pov. A 17 year old, who’s recently been abandoned by his only know parent and if that isn’t life jarring enough, now he’s seeing the real life incarnation of the girl who’s been haunting his dreams since he was a small child. So I’m going in expecting… well, I’m not really sure what I’m exp...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Julie(Reading By The Beach) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a riveting tale! You are swept away by Dylan's character the instant you start reading. Disappointed by so many in his life, Dylan is jaded and reluctant to strike new friendships. With Dylan feeling unworthy, it was rewarding to watch him find true friends from unexpected people. Although it was told in alternate pov's, you know that this is Dylan's story by the fact that his pov's are longer and more prominent, and because Dylan's narrative is in first-person while Kera's are in third-per...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Shellie Cruz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

This was definitely something different. The beginning of this book brought alot of promise to it & I was instantly feeling for Dylan. His mother is just downright evil! Dylan is use to the life of never living in 1 place for to long because his mother is always hopping from one boyfriend to the next, then she moves back to her parents & leaves Dylan there.

The Marked Son is written from both Dylan's POV & Kera's POV which I liked, I didn't find it hard at all to go from one characte...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Jennifer (Books&Barks) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shea Berkley’s latest YA novel, The Marked Son, is an exciting tale of love, adventure, and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The twists and turns throughout kept me reading till way past midnight, eager to find out what would happen with Dylan and Kera. I was not disappointed by this book at all. I was worried that it was going to end on a cliffhanger, but The Marked Son was wrapped up nicely while still leaving things open for a second book.

Dylan has led a life...more Shea Berkley’s latest YA novel, The Marked Son, is an exciting tale of love, adventure, and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The twists and turns throughout kept me reading till way past midnight, eager to find out what would happen with Dylan and Kera. I was not disappointed by this book at all. I was worried that it was going to end on a cliffhanger, but The Marked Son was wrapped up nicely while still leaving things open for a second book.

Dylan has led a life of constant change and flux. His mom never lets them stay in one place for very long, moving from one boyfriend to another, and from one small town to an even smaller town. Because of this Dylan has never been able to accumulate friends, and the only family he knows of is his mother. This all changes the day she drops him off at his grandparents, people he didn’t even know existed, and then leaves for some unknown place. Little did Dylan know that this sheep farm in nowhere Oregon was going to change his life forever. It is here that he will meet the girl that he thought only existed in the dreams he’s had since he was a little boy.

Kera lives in the land of Teag, a magical place that is separated from our world by a guarded barrier. Teag is currently king-less, and the powerful Navar plans to change this. But if Navar becomes King, their world will never be the same again. He is ruthless in his quest for power, and eager to strike down any undesirables - those whose blood is not pure and is tainted by being half-human. Kera knows that the only hope Teag has rests in the hands of a boy she’s only ever seen in her dreams, a boy with power that is unimaginable.

After joining up with Kera, Dylan discovers the reasons why he has never felt at home in the human world. He has always felt different from others, alone and disconnected from the world around him. Kera and Dylan belong together, and while their love for each other builds fast, it seems natural. These two are meant to be, and I can’t wait to see what happens with them in later books. I also really enjoyed reading about Dylan discovering his powers. By the end of the book he has grown in ways he’d never imagine. He’s found love, but he’s also discovered loss. He also realizes what its like to have friends and a family.

Overall, I think this was an excellent beginning to this series. It caught my attention from the very beginning and never let it go. I found myself not wanting the story to end. I want to read more about Dylan and Kera and the land of Teag. I would recommend The Marked Son to readers interested in stories of lands filled with strange creatures and magical people, and to those who enjoy reading about the love between two souls and what they will do to save each other.(less)

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Aug 12, 2011 Elizabeth B rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me start off by saying that I had a lot of issues when I started this book. I almost put it down several times because, truthfully, the beginning annoyed me on every page.

Meadow? Check.
Pacific northwest? Check
Fantasy dream girl? Check.
Flighty mom? Check.
Angtsy teen boy that’s rude and disrespectful to everyone? Check.
Changing pov’s with a dated descriptions that don’t match the modern dialogue? Check.

I did not want to continue. It was like the melding of two really bad books all in one...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Keep at it. It starts out typical enough but it's worth in the end. A two things kept me glued to it: moments of it had a high fantasy feel and there's a very entertaining mix of characters. As usual, I read this without with the synopsis, so I had no idea if what it had in store for me would run along the lines of werewolf or vampire or what not. Apparently the same can be said for Dylan who had absolutely, no inkling of his history or that he was even special. does this read typical YA PNR her...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Jody rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of the Iron Fey; YA Romance

Recommended to Jody by: NetGalley

Shelves: ya, special-abilities

It isn't often that you get to read a book and be taken on a journey that is so fantastic and unique. I didn't know what to expect with this book because the synopsis didn't really give me a feel for the the category this book would fit in: vampires, fey, etc. I know understand that this book doesn't fit in any category and sort of in all of them. The story is fresh and unique and I didn't want to put it down. Although this isn't really a fey book, I enjoyed this book like the Iron Fey series by...more It isn't often that you get to read a book and be taken on a journey that is so fantastic and unique. I didn't know what to expect with this book because the synopsis didn't really give me a feel for the the category this book would fit in: vampires, fey, etc. I know understand that this book doesn't fit in any category and sort of in all of them. The story is fresh and unique and I didn't want to put it down. Although this isn't really a fey book, I enjoyed this book like the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Both books are full of wonderful rich descriptions of a world and has a story line that is unpredictable and a joy to read.

This book starts with alternating points of view from Dylan in the Northwest and Kera in the mysterious land of Teag. Dylan and Kera have visited each others dreams for years. It isn't until Dylan is left at his Grandparents house by his deadbeat mother that he sees Kera. Then strange things begin to happen to his grandfather's sheep and farm. Dylan discovers the wall that seperates this world from Teag. Kera and Dylan meet when Kera is drawn the surge of power that surrounds Dylan. Dylan discovers powers that have always been apart of him because his tie to Teag. Kera is sure that Dylan is the one who can not only save Teag from the evil greedy Navar but also her soul mate.

The chemistry between Kera and Dylan is powerful and makes your heart swell with the love between them. The world of Teag is a wonderful fantasy that is full of magical creatures and rich characters. Navar is a greedy evil man that is power hungry and will go to any length to seize power over the realm of Teag. Teag is also having a genocide under the strong fist of Navar who has declared that halfbreeds are an abomination and will be killed on sight. Firsts are the pure bloods of Teag who have fey like characteristics and cannot lie. Half bloods can lie and therefore, fear of being decieved by them is what insights the mistrust and fear. There are so many layers to this story that it takes many unpredicatable twists and turns.

I found the story about the Firsts not being able to lie really interesting as that I could understand how much better the world would be. But doesn't it show more character to choose not to lie and be able to than to not lie because you are unable. Dylan's heart is good and loyal and not full of deceit. Navar is a far more evil alternative yet he is a First and therefore Teag citizens are much more loyal just because of his blood. It is an interesting commentary on prejudice.

I would recommend this to readers who love fantasy, fey novels and YA romance. It truly is a cross catergory book and hard to pinpoint. Also, recommended to those who enjoy the Iron Fey series as this is a wonderful world and unpredicable story.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What really captured me with this book was the human characters at the beginning of this book. The mother was portrayed perfectly as a parent who is abusive to his son. I know that is strange praise, but I really felt it was true to form and usually authors tread lightly around this subject. I thought the subject was handled with great care and realistic. She is also not a one dimensional character, but later we see some of her motivation as to why she was so abusive. That perhaps was less reali...more What really captured me with this book was the human characters at the beginning of this book. The mother was portrayed perfectly as a parent who is abusive to his son. I know that is strange praise, but I really felt it was true to form and usually authors tread lightly around this subject. I thought the subject was handled with great care and realistic. She is also not a one dimensional character, but later we see some of her motivation as to why she was so abusive. That perhaps was less realistic, but at least we come to see that a little information does shed a lot of light on the subject. I should quickly add, it still didn't make me like the mother. ;)

The main character, Dylan was someone you really could connect. You felt his pain and his growth in this book showed you that he really had a good heart. He was blinded by some of the same things that blinded others in his position of power, but unlike the others, he listened. I really love that in a character. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Ones that Dylan learns much... most importantly trust and responsibility.

Of course I did like some of the characters in Teag. Not only did I like Kera, but my favorite had to be Bodog. Sort of the same situation we saw in the Harry Potter books; other magical creatures of the realm were deemed unworthy and subservient. Bodog, having a position below the land of Teag sees and hears all, most importantly the truth without blinders. He makes a great grumpy companion to have in Teag. You just have to read this book to meet him!

The story is well done and keeps you interested in what is going on and what will happen next. There is a good romantic story line and I think it is done well. There is no cliffie as the main mystery was solved but at the very end a door widely opens for you to want the next book in this series quickly. Therefore, I give this book 4 stars and am impatiently awaiting the next book. If you are in the mood for a good bit of fae action, a realistic opening, and a good male protag, pick up this book. I think you will enjoy it.(less)

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Nov 07, 2012 Alaiel Kreuz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

**Visit my blog, Librarian Mouse, to read more reviews**

Dylan doesn't have an easy life... In fact, his life could be categorized as a roller-coaster of emotions, disappointments and distrust. The main reason for this is because his mom is the kind of woman that falls very easily and quickly in love only to pack their things up and leave town when she breaks up with the guy of the town.
She doesn't think about Dylan at all and it has been this way for the last 17 years.

That's why when she leaves...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: august-2011

My Cover Thoughts: I absolutely love this cover. The cover draws you in because it is a picture of a guy with piercing violet blue eyes staring into your soul. When I first saw the cover I said I have to read this book and I searched and searched for an ARC copy and when I was able to get one thanks to Misa Ramirez I nearly fell off the bed. Thanks Misa :)

My Thoughts/Review: Okay I have read a lot of books but this book left me speechless! Shea did a great job weaving a beautiful story starting...more My Cover Thoughts: I absolutely love this cover. The cover draws you in because it is a picture of a guy with piercing violet blue eyes staring into your soul. When I first saw the cover I said I have to read this book and I searched and searched for an ARC copy and when I was able to get one thanks to Misa Ramirez I nearly fell off the bed. Thanks Misa :)

My Thoughts/Review: Okay I have read a lot of books but this book left me speechless! Shea did a great job weaving a beautiful story starting with Dylan and his mother and then Dylan learns he has grandparents that are alive. Once he gets to his grandparents house funny things start to happen and Dylan is thrown into a world he has no idea existed.
Dylan thinks he is seeing a ghost and is going crazy but he finds this guy on the internet who says he saw the same thing. They talk and find out they both saw the same thing. They decide they are going to catch this ghost and make plans to trap her with another friend. They go into the woods deep into the woods when they see her and begin to chase her. They chase her until she disappears into thin air. They stop and try to decide whether or not they are going to follow her and decide against it until they make a better plan.

But Dylan keeps looking at the space where the ghost has gone through and decides to follow her. He goes into this space where everything seems to slow down and time stands still. When he emerges on the other side of the wall he is stunned to see that there is a whole other world and he finds out that the ghost he has been seeing is really not a ghost but the girl from his dreams. Dylan can’t decide what to do but before he acts the girl his ghost tells him she is real and that he was sent to save her world. She is the girl from all his dreams and now he does not know what to think about seeing her in person.

Is he going crazy? Is he dreaming? Can this be true? What is he going to do about the girl of his dreams?

This is a must read, it will not disappoint you. This story captivates you from the very beginning and you will read through it in one day because you will be unable to put the book down.

Look out for August 02, 2011 that’s when the book hits the shelves! Happy Reading and welcome to the world of Teag!

Memorable Quotes: Page 189 Dylan says to Kera: “It’s a crazy thing, this confidence I have. I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I have no problem embracing it. “This feels right. I was born to be here, to be with you, and no one has the right to tell us differently. I’ll protect you. Do you trust me?”

Advice: This book is A MUST READ!! You will be disappointed if you do not read this book! *Swoon Worthy*
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Aug 16, 2011 Caitlin Peterson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ever since Dylan could remember, he'd been having vivid dreams about a beautiful girl in a meadow. She would always meet him in this secret dream world when he needed her the most. After his mother's latest failed relationship, she and Dylan are moving yet again to the next nameless small town. They eventually end up on a sheep farm in the-middle-of-nowhere Oregon, where Dylan meets his grandparents for the very first time. That night, Dylan's mom admits that they came here so she could leave Dy...more Ever since Dylan could remember, he'd been having vivid dreams about a beautiful girl in a meadow. She would always meet him in this secret dream world when he needed her the most. After his mother's latest failed relationship, she and Dylan are moving yet again to the next nameless small town. They eventually end up on a sheep farm in the-middle-of-nowhere Oregon, where Dylan meets his grandparents for the very first time. That night, Dylan's mom admits that they came here so she could leave Dylan behind, and she walks out the door. This time for good.

Since Dylan's arrival on the farm, strange things have been happening. He thinks he sees a ghost, and someone has been stealing his grandfather's sheep for ritual sacrifices. The atmosphere is uneasy, and Dylan believes his mysterious ghost is to blame. He's not sure, but he thinks his ghost might be the girl from his dreams. Along with a few new friends, he sets a trap for the "ghost" with hopes of finally getting some answers. Much to his surprise, it is the girl from his dreams and she's actually alive. After a few brief encounters she manages to convince him to cross the veil to Teague, her home, since she believes Dylan is the only one who can save her world from an evil warlord intent on being king. The last half of the book is about their adventures in Teague and the things they discover about eachother, and themselves.

The Marked Son is slow out of the gate. The first half of the book is basically build-up, and since we are following events in two different worlds, there is a ton of it. While Dylan and Kera meet fairly early in the book, the explanation of who or what anyone is doesn't happen until later. Way later. In fact, one of my notes actually says "49% in and I still have no idea what's going on." I was way past ready for the world building to end when the author finally decided to explain what was going on. The novel also dragged in a few spots, and I skimmed through one whole chapter devoted to Dylan's and Kera's chase and capture of the pux - these firefly/tinkerbell type creatures that could make humans their slaves.

I found The Marked Son to be slightly Twilightesque. Pacific Northwest setting? Check. Meadow? Check. Intense and inexplicable love at first sight? Check. Moody, mysterious powers, kind of a jerk hero? Check. Unskilled, emotional and slightly TSTL heroine? Check. At least in Twilight I felt the chemistry. In The Marked Son, I just couldn't. I didn't get the relationship between the two characters. Sure, they'd been having dreams about eachother their whole lives, but literally the first moment they meet they're already making declarations? It was too much, too soon for me I'm afraid. They were so focused on being together to the exclusion of everything else, that they dragged other people into their fight and got a few side charaters killed. People that didn't even stand a chance. There were a few decisions that Dylan and Kera made that caused me to lose a little respect for them. At times, I even found them to be immature.

Thank goodness Shea Berkley managed to write a riveting ending. If it wasn't for that, this book would have been a total wash-up. Once we moved beyond the beginning, and the battle tactics and fighting actually began, I settled in and enjoyed myself. Berkley threw a few major twists in the end that I was not expecting. Now, I'm intrigued despite myself. Hopefully now that the angst is over with and the world building is done, the next book can engage me fully and make me desperate to find out what happens next. Whereas right now I want to know, but it's not a burning desire to find out.

My last, and very small complaint is that I still have no idea what to call them. Fae? Magicians? Witches? Some new paranormal creature I've never heard of? The author never gave labels to anyone, so I just assumed they were Fae. It's tiny, I know, but annoying nonetheless.

My Summary: With the snoozy and very confusing first half, I was all set to give this a lower rating. The author seemed to find her groove in the last half though, and it ended with a few interesting twists and managed to capture my attention. I never did feel the chemistry between Dylan and Kera, but there's always the next book!

My Rating: C-
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Jul 26, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

My Summary:

Dylan Kennedy’s life sucks. His mother moves them around every time her relationship with some guy goes south. No one seems to remember Dylan and he has no friends. There is the dream of the beautiful girl that he has had for, well for a long time but that’s just a dream. His mother once again drags him from his life the summer before his senior year. She takes them to his Grandparents house, who didn’t even know he had been born, in the middle of nowhere...more The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

My Summary:

Dylan Kennedy’s life sucks. His mother moves them around every time her relationship with some guy goes south. No one seems to remember Dylan and he has no friends. There is the dream of the beautiful girl that he has had for, well for a long time but that’s just a dream. His mother once again drags him from his life the summer before his senior year. She takes them to his Grandparents house, who didn’t even know he had been born, in the middle of nowhere Oregon. Then she leaves him. Can it get any worse? Actually, it can. Dylan soon learns the girl from his dreams is real and needs his help. An evil first is trying to grab power in her realm and Dylan may be the only one who can stop him. Dylan is drawn to this girl, Kera, with an incredible force that can only be described as love. He has to be with her. Will this passion he feels for Kera be his strength or is undoing? Who will die? Who will live? The sage has foreseen misery. It won’t end well.

My thoughts:

4 stars- a great read

Shea creates an interesting world where the magical realm is bound from the human world by a wall. Those that are pure bloods are called firsts, though they seem like what most books call Fae. Half-bloods are despised and human are expendable. The book starts out with a purely human world with only small hints that Dylan may be more than he understands. Rapidly the book explodes into a magical world where things are far from what they seem. Very quickly Dylan is not an average boy facing his senior year of high school.

The characters are where I may have had some problems. I liked Dylan. He was beat-up by his terrible life but was still trying to do better than what he was given. The problems I had with him were in how quickly he understood his powers. With no training and without anyone’s guidance, he was able to really come up with some impressive magic. I’ve never seen a character be so instinctual about their skills. Perhaps that was as the author intended and I don’t give Dylan enough credit but it gave me pause while reading the book.

Kera was very strong and level headed to begin with and then I saw this strange change in her. I’m not really sure what happened. It may have been the realization that her father intended her to marry the evil Navar. That would do it for me but again it gave me pause.

There was one other small thing that bugged me. The love between Dylan and Kera was so all consuming and so quick that I was growling about one of those love-at-first sight issues. They did know each other from shared dreams but it didn’t seem to be enough for me. I finally did feel alright about this near the end. I’ll just say that this group of magical creatures falls in love once and it’s hard and fast. It’s all good.

The plot was incredible. Action packed and everything that could go wrong did. With ten pages to go, I was sure there would be this huge cliffhanger frustrating me for a year until the next book comes out but, no, the book ended with quite a bit of resolution. Does this mean things fell flat, no I’d say things happened rapidly.

If you’re like me, you may need to be patient for everything to fall into place with this book. Most likely you’ll love it from page one and think I’m nuts. Oh well. If you like paranormal romance, this is great one to read.
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Aug 08, 2011 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love when dreams come true. A character riddled by images, dreams, a girl who he can't get out of his head. And then, she's real. Alive. This plot line grabbed me from the beginning cause of the great dreams and life he lead.

The main character Dylan, did not grow up easy. He has been lied to, move a lot, and his mom is not a good mother. It is sort of disturbing but also good, that Dylan can handle himself at such a young age with great maturity. He is not like the other teens his age and know...more

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