Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark #1) by Veronica Roth - Restarting September 3rd 2020

[Dannii]

1/4: (view spoiler)[Not the strongest of beginnings, for me, as I felt the world and the plot were a bit underdeveloped. I'm liking it enough but I'm not compelled to keep reading, like I was when I started Divergent. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4: (view spoiler)[I'm still pretty confused and still pretty bored by this, There are some things that I find intriguing, such as the marking of kills on to their skin, but these moments get lost in amongst the nothingness that happens around them. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4: (view spoiler)[Still yawning and still battling through... (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4: (view spoiler)[I honestly don't know if I would have picked up on the racism and ableism in this book, if it wasn't for the controversy surrounding it. I'm not saying it is a bad thing, as if a book even offends one person then it deserves to be known for that potential quality to readers. I think maybe this effected my judgement of it, before I even began reading it. However, I still found this pretty slow and boring, asides from that. (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

so sorry this month has been a bit crazy for me

[Sharon]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ It must suck to have pain as a gift. I wonder how the gift is acquired. I feel bad that she got a not so helpful gift unless there are times when she wants to inflict pain. However, I do not think Cyra is that type of person. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[ I am enjoying the read so far. It is slow, but I like how Veronica developed the characters and their relationship. Also, I find it interesting that a markcan be carved after someone is dead. i hope the characters get more developed as the book and the series continue. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[ I think this book is very character based. The slow pace works in favourite of those types of books because it shows more to the characters. I do understand the negative comments towards the book. However, I am enjoying it. I think the relationship is understated and it makes the relationship more genuine. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 29: (view spoiler)[ I am loving the relationship between Akos and Cyra. I do find the names weird, but I think it makes them stand out more. Akos and Cyra both have the gift of pain. I did like when Akos told Cyra that he came for her. (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 1st of July 2017

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[[deleted user]]

I'm starting this one today

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[many weird and difficult names and too much worldbuilding information, for the first chapter. Akos constantly blushing is cute, though (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 8: to me, the actual story starts with this chapter.
(view spoiler)[I don't like the timeskips in the first chapters very much. I think the author could've left out most of these first seven chapters.
Although the names are weird and difficult to remember, I like the worldbuilding so far. Cyra's a fascinating character and I'm looking forward to reading more about her (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[Both Cyra and Akos are growing on me. However I miss a reason why everything's happening. Yes, Akos has a motive, by wanting to save his brother. But most of the time, he doesn't even think of his brother. And why are we reading about Cyra? What does she want? So I'm asking myself, what's the purpose of reading this story? It could've been about any other character living in this universe. I'm still intruiged, but I don't know if it'll last (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth Emily]

End of part one: (view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying this one so far.. I'm looking forward to finding out everyone's fates. Especially Akos. I like how the book seems to be split with different POV's. Hopefully I'll find the time to really get into this one.

I'm already behind on buddy reads and it's the 2nd😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Starting in the morning!

[Alley]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[I know it's only like 2 chapters, but I'm struggling to get into this so far. There was way too much information at once, I think. I'm really sad that Anko's dad died already, because he seemed like a really interesting character. I'm wondering what will become of his sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Starting shortly c:

[Natalie]

Ch1 - Akos

(view spoiler)[Bit of a confusing start... The names of the characters are all really unique, but they were introduced so quickly I don't really know one from another except that Akos is the POV character apparently :P

Not really sure how I feel about the fate thing, I definitely need more information about that. Why are fates so important? What makes certain people have fates that are witnessed by the oracles while others don't? And what's so important about the blooming? That wasn't really explained all that well o.O

I'm very lost ._. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch5 - Cyra

(view spoiler)[What is going on with this novel, seriously? o.O

Cyra seems like an interesting character, though I really do NOT understand the dynamics of her people. And how does her current gift work exactly? Does she just have random bouts of pain that can then be shared with (not transferred to) others?

...and what exactly IS a currentgift? How does it come about? What purpose does it have? WHY does it exist? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[I love how Cyra helps Akos, in this chapter. She really changes because of him (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth Emily]

Alley wrote: "Part 1
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ i agree, there was a lot of information to take in all at once. However I enjoyed it and I'm loving the world building so far. I love the idea that certain families have fates. I'm really enjoying this one. I can't wait to see what happens and I will definitely be reading the second book of the duology. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth Emily]

End of part two: (view spoiler)[ This is literally everything I love in a book. There are people with gifts and fates. There's magic, a brilliant world and amazing world building. I find Cyra and Akos fascinating and there's even a villain I love to hate. I'm really enjoying this book. As you can tell. I'm also rather depressed that I haven't been able to read it today yet so I'm off to read it now👌🏻😍 (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch11

(view spoiler)[The Shotet language is carried in the genetics? As in... it's a natural language rather than one you learn (provided you have the genes)? That's so odd o.O Does explain why Akos could speak it so fluently though, if he has Shotet blood rather than being Thuvhe. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished Part 2/Chapter 14

(view spoiler)[It's definitely growing on me a little, though to be honest I'm still kinda lost and so far it's not quite my sort of novel? I mean yeah, it's YA and has fantasy elements, but at this stage it seems more Sci-Fi and Space related (while I love Sci-Fi I prefer ones with time travel or alternate realities over space and alternating planets ;D)

Cyra is definitely fascinating, and I'm wondering when/if her power to cause pain (but also be the receptacle for it) will change over time or just be reworked completely into something else. I definitely think that Akos' fate to "serve the family" that Cyra is from is more assisting Cyra than being some kind of slave/servant to the family as a whole, and I think the whole "crossing of the divide" that Cyra is destined for is probably going to be something like ending up with Akos and bridging the two people because I'm pretty sure that the second child that is meant to rule the planet is Akos' friend from earlier - the one that was taken by her Aunt to safety when all of their fates were revealed. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch19

(view spoiler)[So Ryzek noticed that Cyra cares for Akos; enough so that he can use Akos as leverage to get Cyra to do what he wants. Like I didn't see THAT coming :P

Curious if that little display managed to get through to Eijeh somewhat though... he definitely did have a reaction outside of the mindless-drone act he's been putting on so far ;D (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 29: (view spoiler)[Cyra's punishment is gruesome and cruel. Violence and other acts of cruelty become more and more extreme in YA books these days. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[Can we please stop with the word 'galaxy'. A bunch of planets around a star is a planetary system. A galaxy is made of billions of stars. Get your facts straight, Roth. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished: (view spoiler)[After reading a lot of negative reviews, I wasn't sure if I would like this book. However, I'm pleasantly surprised. The more I read, the more I liked this story. It wasn't perfect, especially the first few chapters, but enjoyable enough to give it 4/5 stars. I'm definitely going to read the sequel (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[Someone give Veronica Roth an award for ruining what could be a perfect scene.
When someone has been in excruciating pain for eight years and then the pain just stops, the person would collapse from relief. And Cyra has zero reaction. On top of that, she acts like a bitch to a guy who's done nothing wrong. Way to make readers like the protagonist... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

End of Part 3/Ch25

(view spoiler)[Well it's pretty clear that Ryzek didn't trust his sister, regardless of what he may have said. Otherwise he would have given her access into his rooms. I definitely wasn't expecting the assassination attempt to succeed... but I did think they'd get closer than the did :/

I really did hope that Akos would get to safety though ;u; At least Cyra was able to finally learn to control her gift though. There's a positive! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch30

(view spoiler)[So good to know that the devotion Akos has to Cyra is pretty much equal to the devotion Cyra has to Akos. He went back to save her from certain death, and didn't even try to also get his brother (though I'm pretty sure it's because he knew he didn't have a chance to get both, and obviously his brother isn't going to be killed for a while at least because Oracle :P).

Really like how their relationship is developing c: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch36

(view spoiler)[
Akos has finally been able to avenge his father's death, and get rid of his murderer! That's something! Although I'm not sure getting rid of Ryzek will be so easy...
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished

(view spoiler)[
So they've managed to "free" Eijeh and capture Ryzek, but Ori is dead and Isae is PISSED. Is the second book going to have a war?

And seriously, their father is still alive? Why? What purpose does that serve? Their father doesn't really seem like the type to abdicate, so what purpose could it possibly serve for him to get rid of his power? Unless Ryzek somehow overthrew him?
(hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

End of Part 2
(view spoiler)[I'm enjoying this quite a bit. I understand Akos' actions and stuff, but it angers me that he betrayed Cyra so easily. Now that it seems they're actually building a relationship, I feel like it's kind of forced though. Also, Ryzek is absolutely brutal with what he's doing to Akos' brother, but does he realize what it's doing to him? (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[I just have to say that I love Otega! We've heard about her so often during Cyra' chapters, I was worried that she was dead. She's got that hint of badassery only an old woman like her can have! I want to see more!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

I'll be starting tomorrow! I'm super excited 😄

[Alley]

End of Part 3
(view spoiler)[Hmmm. I liked the whole revelation of Cyra understanding what her actual gift was rather than seeing it only as a curse, but I'm not sure what that actually means? Does she have more control over it now? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I liked how the world was set up. It passed in such a blur because I was listening to this while driving. I was pulled into the story from the get go. I love the different nations with their languages. I think it's so inventive. I'm really glad I listened to this rather than read it because hearing all the words was magical. I'm really interested in the people who are fated. Why are they fated and how do the oracles know? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I really like Cyra. Something about her just really makes her resonate with me as a character. I'm interested in her current gift. Ryzek must have brought it about in her somehow... At times it seems like he controls it. I hate Ryzek for what he's made Cyra into and at the same time I'm kind of disappointed with her for letting him do that. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ That was so horrible. I hate Ryzek even more and I want him dead. But what did Cyra do exactly that made her current gift change? I'm glad she managed to change it, but I'm still kind of confused. Why didn't Cyra's blood work on the gene lock, she's Ryzek's sister? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I don't like how Akos's mother manipulated all of them into doing what she wants. I understand why she did what she did, but I'm still not happy. I wonder if there was a way for Ori to end up living. What was her current gift, what did she do to Eijeh before she died? Also wth was Ryzek saying about not being related to Cyra and her father being alive?? Could her father have found the exile Shotet? I have so many questions but I'm ready for the next book. This was awesome. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[ When I heard the circumstances of how their father died, I though for sure Ryzek and Vas planned it. They had to have killed him together so Ryzek could lead. But now I'm thinking maybe they only said he died, so their father could go on to find the Shotet exiles and eradicate them maybe? (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[So, I kind of saw the things coming with Cyra not being belonging to her family, and I don't think Akos belongs to his family either. I don't like how suddenly the story ended. I really hate Akos' mother.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I really want to read the sequel, but I'm a bit peeved at the book as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alley wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed] "

(view spoiler)[ I wonder if Akos and Cyra were switched at birth or something? That would make Akos's fate really strange then, if he's a Noavek himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth Emily]

Chantal wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I loved this one too. I'm glad I chose to read it.

[Elizabeth Emily]

Natalie wrote: "End of Part 3/Ch25

Well it's pretty clear that Ryzek didn't trust his sister, regardless of what he may have said. Otherwise he would have given her access into his rooms. I definitely wasn't expe..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree it was obvious that Ryzek didn't trust her however the twist at the end where he tells Cyra that she's not his sister shocked me and then the fact that he dropped the other bombshell of his/their father still being alive.. urgh, I just need the next book already... (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Natalie wrote: "Ch30
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I wasn't sure about them in the beginning but their relationship is going good now. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Andrea wrote: "Part 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Maybe she's adopted? Also, I think accepting that she doesn't deserve to be hurt and that not everyone in the world is bad, helped her. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Quirks wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Part 3 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I agree and (view spoiler)[ I'm sure her true parentage will be revealed in the next book. (hide spoiler)]