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The Ancillary's Mark

by Daniel Cohen (Goodreads Author)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 17 ratings · 12 reviews

The legend of the Ancillary flower has existed for centuries. Foretold to bring out the limitless potential of its bearer, the flower and the legend have been forgotten by many. Recently, strange events in a shrouded Tibetan town have sparked rumors among those who still believe. Jacob Deer is a quirky young man, bound for college, with an eccentric old librarian for a bes...more

Paperback, 246 pages

Published November 4th 2010 by Black Rose Writing

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2010 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade Literature)

238th out of 301 books — 1,970 voters

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Feb 27, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Ancillary’s Mark is a combination of adventure, fantasy, books and romance.

Jacob is what you would politely describe as quirky. He’s 18 years old and hasn’t had many girlfriends because of his eccentricities. His alarm clock rings to a James Bond theme, he has a picture of a young Sean Connery next to his bed and he has color coded post-it notes to mark his mood while reading a book. That way when he picks it back up he can channel that mood again before reading on (I actually kind of like t...more The Ancillary’s Mark is a combination of adventure, fantasy, books and romance.

Jacob is what you would politely describe as quirky. He’s 18 years old and hasn’t had many girlfriends because of his eccentricities. His alarm clock rings to a James Bond theme, he has a picture of a young Sean Connery next to his bed and he has color coded post-it notes to mark his mood while reading a book. That way when he picks it back up he can channel that mood again before reading on (I actually kind of like that one!). He’s almost a little too weird and perfect but I couldn’t help liking him anyway. There are too few good guys in books these days and he is just one of the sweetest, even with his oddities. Jacob isn’t bothered by any of it though and has always felt a pull to a greater destiny.
The stories of great technological advances taking place in a small Tibetan town grab elderly librarian Mr. Maddock’s attention. Mr. Maddock has been a good friend and father figure to Jacob over the years and now has to explain Jacob’s part in the Ancillary legend.
The Ancillary is a small blue flower that contains pollen that is believed to give the person who finds it limitless knowledge, allowing them to find their true destiny. This person could shape the future of mankind. The flowers petals are the same shape as a birthmark on Jacobs palm signifying that he may be the one who is meant to find the flower. Unfortunately another man, Marrow (because of his bone markings on his skin) has the same birthmark but has far less humanitarian intentions if he is the one to gain the power over the flower. (FLOWER POWER! Sorry – couldn’t resist) It’s a race to see who can get to the Ancillary in time and which one is destined for greatness. Jacob embarks on his quest with the help of the beautiful Sophia, Mr. Maddock’s granddaughter and Diego, their body guard in a battle of good vs. evil.
This isn’t really my genre of reading but it was a fun, fantasy adventure. Cohen writes the legend in great detail and I enjoyed the interactions with the people they meet along the way. One notable character was another quirky young boy, Clark, who is a super hero fanatic with gifts of his own.
One thing that bothered me though is Jacob’s little band of heroes were so nice, so eternally optimistic that when confronted with Marrow, who is truly an evil sadistic man, it was almost jarring. Jacob’s side of the story would make for a fun, younger YA read, but some of Marrow’s actions might not be advisable for those same readers. (Note: I’m not a parent so I’m only guessing here. I’m judging by what my nieces and nephews read and enjoy and what their mom would approve of.)
There’s a touch of romance and lots of adventure with a nicely wrapped up ending. I kept hoping for some deeper character development. I enjoyed everyone but wasn’t quite on the edge of my seat in a panic over everyone’s fate. Although I love a stand-alone book once in a while this might have been one of those cases that a series would have been in order to slowly develop and mature the characters a bit.

A nice blend of fantasy & adventure probably better for a younger reader than myself.

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Apr 20, 2011 Bea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-book-in-a-year-reading-challeng, 2011-mystery-suspense-reading-cha, 2011e-book-reading-challenge, fantasy, read-in-2011, reviews, religion, ya

Jacob is a quirky teenage American boy killing time before he heads off for college in the autumn. A few aspects of his character could have been more developed; for example, his quirks are thrown out there in a deliberate manner rather than 'unveiled',told instead of shown. He also need some faults to round him out and make him more believable. One of his "flaws" which is really an outgrowth of his quirkiness, is that he doesn't have many friends. His only real friend is the elderly librarian,...more Jacob is a quirky teenage American boy killing time before he heads off for college in the autumn. A few aspects of his character could have been more developed; for example, his quirks are thrown out there in a deliberate manner rather than 'unveiled',told instead of shown. He also need some faults to round him out and make him more believable. One of his "flaws" which is really an outgrowth of his quirkiness, is that he doesn't have many friends. His only real friend is the elderly librarian, Mr. Maddock, at the local library. Jacob, or Cob, as Mr. Maddock calls him, has a feeling, a certain belief, that there is something out there waiting for him, if he can just figure out what it is. In the meantime, he reads voraciously in any genre or subject and enjoys life.

On one of his daily visits to the library, he meets Maddock's granddaughter, Sophia. Jacob is instantly attracted to her. His lack of social skills leave her less than impressed but he makes up for it by showing her his special spot in the local forest. Soon, their trip there is cut short by a phone call from her grandfather.

The action kicks in when Mr Maddock reads of important discoveries happening in a little town in the middle of nowhere in Tibet. Mr Maddock believes that those events signal the return of the mythical blue flower, the Ancillary. It's reputed to give individuals the ability to tap into and live up to their fullest potential. Here, the story gets mystical, spiritual and philosophical all at once. It's a mishmash of ancient and new age beliefs that the author devised for this book. Maddock believes that Jacob is the one person in the current life cycle of the flower meant to benefit the most from the flower because Jacob bears the mark of the flower - the odd birthmark on Jacob's hand is actually the symbol of the flower.

In no time, and with no reasonable explanation provided for Mr Maddock's considerable financial resources, Cob and Sophia head off to Tibet with a bodyguard/survival guide, Diego, that Maddock has hired. Of course, they aren't the only ones in search of the mythical Ancillary flower and its gifts. There are unexpected allies, surprise foes, betrayals, and some minor twists and turns.

Cohen's storytelling style is simplistic and his characters need more depth but he does quirky very well. Jacob was too perfect, too smart despite Cohen telling us that he's not a genius, but he is likable and delightfully odd, if calculatedly so. My favorite character is actually a secondary one, Clark (not his real name) a young Tibetan native who quickly becomes an ally. Clark loves Superman, hence the nickname, wears a tuxedo to sing to bonsai trees, and, thanks to the Ancillary flower, is a master linguist. He provides a great deal of help to Jacob and Sophia.

The author, Daniel Cohen, is a 22 year old business school graduate who decided writing was more interesting. This is his first novel and he doesn't have a web site yet but he is at work on the first book of a new YA trilogy.

This review first appeared at Book Lovers Inc - http://www.bookloversinc.com/2011/04/...(less)

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Dec 28, 2010 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book had me at colored-coded bookmarks. I knew from right then that Jacob Deer and I are kindred spirits. Jacob Deer is like your average teen. He likes to read, loves animals, and is the 'chosen one'. Actually he's nothing like your average teen. After all his best friend is an elderly librarian, Mr. Maddock. Mr. Maddock has been keeping secrets, the most important secret is that Jacob is the key to a mythical flower that is said to illuminate the potential in all that it reaches. Mr Maddo...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a great and entertaining read. It reminded me of the movie The Librarian, where ancient stories come to life. I really enjoyed the whole researching and searching for the flower. What I mostly loved was watching Jacob become who he was meant to be and fulfill his destiny.

This book was one that I enjoyed because of the whole researching and following along. I just love to figure out clues and the mysteries of the story. Plus the story about the blue flower and the sun was really intr...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read my full review on my blog, holes In My brain.

As soon as we are introduced to Jacob, every vibe he gives off is positive. I mean colour coded bookmarks and sitting down in elevators pondering life? I knew I was gonna like this boy right away, and throughout the book I just liked him more. A few aspects of his character could probably have been more polished, for example, his quirks are thrown out there in a really deliberate manner rather than 'unveiled'.. also he kind of lacked faults. But...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, read-in-2010, own

4.5 - Fantastic doesn't do it justice

To start, Jacob Deer is possibly the most endearing character I have ever read. He’s full of quirks and eccentricities that make him weird to most, but he’s really just a young man who is trying to be happy. He doesn’t conform to everyday behavior, instead, he marches to the beat of his own drum; or better yet, he’s the drummer.

Daniel Cohen has created this fantastic journey for Jacob, the gorgeous Sophia, and bodyguard Diego. The three of them travel across...more 4.5 - Fantastic doesn't do it justice

To start, Jacob Deer is possibly the most endearing character I have ever read. He’s full of quirks and eccentricities that make him weird to most, but he’s really just a young man who is trying to be happy. He doesn’t conform to everyday behavior, instead, he marches to the beat of his own drum; or better yet, he’s the drummer.

Daniel Cohen has created this fantastic journey for Jacob, the gorgeous Sophia, and bodyguard Diego. The three of them travel across the world to Tibet on belief alone (Diego doesn’t believe, but he’s raking in the big bucks by going). Their search for the Ancillary flower is both thrilling – Cohen changes perspective every few chapters, so I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to get back to these three, or Mr. Maddock (Sophia’s grandpa/librarian), or bad guy Marrow – and the search is hilarious. Cohen keeps the mood light the whole way through with Jacob’s insistent ‘humor in every situation’ nature and with Tibetan boy Clark (who worships Superman).

The setting becomes a character itself with Cohen’s vivid descriptions – I could almost feel the mud squishing underneath my feet and the power rustling through the air. Cohen takes his characters on quite the adventure and it was great to see the development. Some go from non-believers to believers, others crack open their shells so we can see their real selves, and then there’s Jacob, who never wavers despite all the trouble he encounters.

My only issues with the book are the overuse of ellipses and the somewhat corny ending. I get how the ending comes to fruition, but it kind of reminds me of the ending to Harry Potter. It’s sweet, but corny nonetheless. Aside from that, I loved everything about the book.

The Ancillary’s Mark is a great book for anyone and everyone because it doesn’t rely on one factor to draw readers in. It’s interesting because of the story, but mostly because of the characters. For those of you seeking a good thrill, this is the one for you. I was captivated from the first sentence and surprised by every twist. If you have the chance, be sure to pick this one up.

Opening line: There was no conclusion, just a feeling of finality. ~ pg. 5

Favorite lines: The doctor told his mother that it was a painless death, but the doctor was a liar.
The pain never went away. ~ pg. 12

And this one:

Diego removed his fingers from the earth. “Souls come in different sizes?”
“Of course. Haven’t you felt yours growing?” ~ pg. 118(less)

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Jan 06, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy

Jacob Deer marches to the beat of his own drum, makes his own rules, and has a fascinating birthmark on his hand that bears an odd resemblance to the legendary Ancillary flower…a flower that gives the bearer access to unlimited potential. When his mentor tells Jacob about his true connection to the Ancillary flower, his future is set in motion as he travels to Tibet to find the truth of his destiny and the Ancillary flower, itself. Along with a beautiful girl named Sophia, his bodyguard named Di...more Jacob Deer marches to the beat of his own drum, makes his own rules, and has a fascinating birthmark on his hand that bears an odd resemblance to the legendary Ancillary flower…a flower that gives the bearer access to unlimited potential. When his mentor tells Jacob about his true connection to the Ancillary flower, his future is set in motion as he travels to Tibet to find the truth of his destiny and the Ancillary flower, itself. Along with a beautiful girl named Sophia, his bodyguard named Diego, and a young Tibetan boy with an obsession with Superman, Jacob’s life is just beginning to get interesting – and dangerous.

Ok, remember when I discussed craptastic covers the other day (no offense, Dan!)? The Ancillary’s Mark is the epitome of this phenomenon. With a powerful premise, an intriguing cast of characters and a unique voice that manages to draw readers in and send them on a journey, The Ancillary’s Mark is FAR better than the cove implies. Daniel Cohen has created a masterful science-fiction tale that somehow manages to balance continuously changing perspectives through the story with a powerful myth of a legendary flower that fuels the story throughout.

The biggest strength of The Ancillary’s Mark was the characters. Jacob Deer has to be the most resonant and endearing MC that I’ve read of in a long time. I like his flaws, and I like that they are emphasized because they make him human and tangible. Even the secondary characters like Sophia and Diego are well-rounded and add to each element of the story. Plus, even with an unstoppable plot, the characters manage to successfully weave humour into every situation. I think that another strength was the balance of descriptions and dialogue within The Ancillary’s Mark. The descriptions are interspersed throughout, and each one is alive with detail – they never seem superfluous or redundant. Each one adds a little something to the story and brings it alive.

I couldn’t have been more surprised with just how great The Ancillary’s Mark was, and I urge you to look pas the cover. The singular qualm I had with the book was that it was too short. There were certain situations I wish would have been drawn out, but that’s personal preference. I give The Ancillary’s Mark a 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it all fans of YA and even adult fiction, especially those who enjoy a good science-fiction story.(less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Tara (Fiction Folio) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The premise of this story intrigued me from the moment I was asked by the author to review The Ancillary’s Mark. I like reading about legends and folklore and this book delivered on those points.

Jacob, or Cob as he is know throughout the book, is about the strangest, oddest MC I have ever encountered. Honestly, if he was a real person he would be labeled the biggest dork EVER. And yet, I loved his uniqueness and his zest for life. He didn’t care what people thought of him, or what should be cons...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books-arcs, mundie-moms-reviews, 2011-100-book-challenge

The Ancillary's Mark is a story who's legend spans centuries, and includes a captivating fantasy adventure, and a sweet romance. Even with the story's fabulously told legend, some great characters and it's adventure I had a hard time staying connected to the story. I've been trying to figure out why I didn't like the story as much as I had wanted to.

What I liked was getting to meet Jacob, also known as Cob. He seems a little like an odd ball, but that's what made me like him. He seemed to have...more The Ancillary's Mark is a story who's legend spans centuries, and includes a captivating fantasy adventure, and a sweet romance. Even with the story's fabulously told legend, some great characters and it's adventure I had a hard time staying connected to the story. I've been trying to figure out why I didn't like the story as much as I had wanted to.

What I liked was getting to meet Jacob, also known as Cob. He seems a little like an odd ball, but that's what made me like him. He seemed to have this self assurance about him that didn't come across as cocky, but humble. He's a happy go lucky guy who looks for the positive in all things. For example, he likes to sit down in elevators just because he can and to see the reaction he gets from others. It's a little hard not to find him endearing when he does stuff like. Character wise, he grew the most and I liked seeing him full his destiny, which is part of the legend. I also enjoyed the library he frequently visits and his mentor, Mr Maddock. Then there's Sophia, Mr Maddock's grand daughter who you might think stuck up when you first meet her, but she's a character I really enjoyed getting to know over the course of the story. I also found the legend of the Ancillary's flower a bit fascinating, and I loved all the research that centered around the story.

No matter how hard I tried to stay connected to the story, I just couldn't. The biggest thing that was missing for me was the connection to the setting. When the story first starts I got the sense and picture of Cob's small home town, the library, his home etc, but when the adventure leads him, Sophia and their team to Tibet, I felt that the setting was missing. With much of the story taking place in Tibet, I had excepted to have a vivid description of Tibet which sadly I didn't get. It's a beautiful country and I was looking forward to having it's landscape, the sites, sounds, and maybe even some of the culture talked about. The technology advanced village where their adventures begin seemed out of place to me. I had a very hard time with the antagonist, Marrow. This guy was pure evil and his tactics for obtaining the precious Ancillary's flower were ruthless, violent and a little too much for me. This ruthless killer didn't seem to care about how he killed his victims and showed no remorse for his actions.

Though I didn't enjoy The Ancillary's Mark as much as I wanted to, I think this quick read is one older teens and adults would enjoy. It reminded me of a toned down India Jones type story. There is violence and some graphic descriptions on how Marrow kills people.(less)

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Dec 21, 2010 Inspired Kathy marked it as to-read

I've got a copy of the book The Ancillary's Mark for giveaway on my blog until 1/12/11. Open Internationally.
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....

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Jan 05, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

written by my co-worker at Barnes & Noble

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Dec 29, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, signed-author-copy

Review and signed book giveaway ending 1/29/11 http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2...

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About Daniel Cohen

Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining...more

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