dystopian-type novel or series about a society that develops markings on the backs of their necks, in a way it creates a social hierarchy

[Chloe]

It has been quite a few years (2017ish) since I read this book/ series, i actually cannot remember much about it and that's why i've turned to this group in the hopes someone may know which book im talking about. it almost feels like a fever dream but i would love to know if it actually exists so i can read it again. The book was a paperback and in english and for the time, it was relatively new, maybe a year or 2 old but i doubt much more than that. there are a few spoilers in this post only because i can only remember specific scenes and parts of this story, so im sorry in advance.

I remember that people in this society would develop markings/ carvings on the back of their necks, and these markings gave them different powers depending on what it was. The main character was a female, and she developed a marking that was super rare, and seen as "forbidden", it gave her a power that was similar to an illusionist/ was able to manipulate peoples minds to believe something happened that never actually happened, and can also make things seem to appear. she had to keep this marking covered with a scarf but eventually she was found out and so she was "hunted"

i remember a specific-ish scene where she was with a group of other people who were being hunted/ running and escaping the hunters, and it was a canyon/ ravine of some sort, where they had to climb down the walls to get to the ground in the bottom of the ravine and in order to throw off the scent of the hunters, she made it appear in another part of the canyon/ ravine as if a fire of some sort (could've been a campfire) had started, and it lead the hunters away from their hiding spot. they were also following a stream/ small river of water down the canyon/ ravine somewhere.

I also remember that the main character with this "forbidden" marking has a "boss fight" with a man who also has the same power. i don't remember much else again, as it was so long ago that i read it.

It may have been a series but im unsure. I feel there may have been another book and in that book, the main character had settles down in a different community, away from the society of the first book, but then her world was destroyed when they were found and the community was burnt to the ground.

this is my first post in this group, i have been trying for about a week to find this book but after no avail, i decided to join this group. im hoping someone has some idea of what im talking about and im not crazy. If you have anything that could be remotely similar, please let me know and ill research your suggestions; i really want to find the book again but i'm having so much trouble. If i think of anything else i'll put a comment under this post, but for now this is all i can think of.

[Rainbowheart]

Was this book for teens or adults?

[Chloe]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Was this book for teens or adults?"

i want to say is was late teens/ early adults, not quite adult-adults but i dont think it was for younger teens either. im sorry if this isnt much help, im having so much trouble remembering anything 😅

[Jennifer]

It was an adult romance.

[Chloe]

Jennifer wrote: "It was an adult romance."

i don't think it was, at least that's not how i read it as. It was more of a survival story.

[Amber (Daisymau)]

I'm doing a keyword search for neck and mark and found these books.

Madison's Gate
Her Sweetest Downfall
Unleashed Fury
The Kingdom of the Seven Shields
Mark of the Dagger
Kiss of Fire
By the Blood: The Prophecy
Dark Rising

[Chloe]

Amber (Daisymau) wrote: "I'm doing a keyword search for neck and mark and found these books.

Madison's Gate
Her Sweetest Downfall
Unleashed Fury
[book:The Kingdom of the Sev..."

I've just looked at all of your recommendations, i thought it could've potentially been "Her Sweetest Downfall" so i read the first bit but unfortunately i dont think its that book, thank you for all of these though!