Carve the Mark

By: Veronica Roth

Narrated by: Austin Butler, Emily Rankin

Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Globally best-selling Divergent author Veronica Roth delivers a breathtaking fantasy featuring an unusual friendship, an epic love story, and a galaxy-sweeping adventure.

Number one New York Times best seller * Wall Street Journal best seller * USA Today best seller * Number one IndieBound best seller

Praise for Carve the Mark:

“Roth skillfully weaves the careful world-building and intricate web of characters that distinguished Divergent.” (VOYA, starred review)

“Roth offers a richly imagined, often brutal world of political intrigue and adventure, with a slow-burning romance at its core.” (ALA Booklist)

Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth have grown up in enemy countries locked in a long-standing fight for dominance over their shared planet. When Akos and his brother are kidnapped by the ruling Noavek family, Akos is forced to serve Cyra, the sister of a dictator who governs with violence and fear. Cyra is known for her deadly power of transferring extraordinary pain unto others with simple touch, and her tyrant brother uses her as a weapon against those who challenge him. But as Akos fights for his own survival, he recognizes that Cyra is also fighting for hers, and that her true gift - resilience - might be what saves them both.

When Akos and Cyra are caught in the middle of a raging rebellion, everything they’ve been led to believe about their world and themselves must be called into question. But fighting for what’s right might mean betraying their countries, their families, and each other.

When the time comes, will they choose loyalty or love?

This production includes a bonus excerpt from The Fates Divide, Veronica Roth's powerful follow-up novel performed by Austin Butler, Emily Rankin, Erin Spencer, and MacLeod Andrews!

©2017 Veronica Roth (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

“Roth skillfully weaves the careful world-building and intricate web of characters that distinguished Divergent.” (VOYA)

“Roth offers a richly imagined, often brutal world of political intrigue and adventure, with a slow-burning romance at its core.” (ALA Booklist)

I enjoyed the story

What did you love best about Carve the Mark?

I loved the idea of the story behind this.

What did you like best about this story?

Cyra and Akos and how they grow in friendship as the story moves forward.

What does Austin Butler and Emily Rankin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved how they brought this story to life! Excellent readers and I look forward to listening to more by them. I hope they read the next book in this series!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. I just don't think it moved fast enough for me. I did re-listen to it and I missed alot of small details the first time around.

Any additional comments?

I always read reviews on books before getting it myself. I was on the fence with this one because of the seriously harsh reviews on Goodreads. I finally caved after a few months because I love Roth's other books. I do not know how the people on GR came up with the conclusions they came up with. This is a scifi fiction story and a very detailed one. I loved the concept. I wish the romance between the two characters would come on already but overall the way everything plays out and the different planets and how they live is pretty amazing. Its several stories within itself. I don't know where people are seeing these extra crazy details. It wasn't my favorite book by her but I liked the characters enough I want to see where they go next. I like the idea of current gifts and how everyone has one, even if they don't mean or do really anything, everyone has something special about them. I can't promise you will love this book but it is very much worth a listen to me.

slow, slow, slow

I really like the Divergent series but this series was a disappointment. The pace of the story was extremely slow and there's was not really that much excitement to keep my attention. I kept falling asleep ...

I really wanted to like this story but just don't.

This is not The Divergent Series.

The story focuses on two Nations that share a planet in a universe full of cultures and languages that are barely touched upon in this book. What's different about this universe is the visible power that flows throughout the universe and, depending on a culture's beliefs, powers everything and provides unique powers to everyone. On every planet there are people who can see the future, everyone has a future (a possibility), but not everyone has a fate (a guarantee). The story uses these fates as a main force that drives the plot, focusing on two main individuals and everything important to their lives.

Both the narrators were great! I enjoyed how the books switched between perspectives of the female and male leads and never retold a specific scene from the other point of view, but instead always pushed the story forward.

Anyway, as you can imagine this book involves a love story, but where it mainly diverges from The Divergent Series is in the way these main characters make decisions, to me, they weren't as illogical and childish. The decisions just make more sense, "realistically."

The ending is left open for a second book and I assume a third, but not in a way that really had me itching for it. I will buy it though.

Over all, it was a good book with a unique world built by Roth that is just waiting to be explored. I would suggest it if you like Roth and/or enjoy YA books.

Universe and Narrators

The book was great! It had an interesting basis and I really enjoyed the variety of people. The universe created was also new and refreshing. As for the narrator's, I much preferred the female over the male.

Loved the first book

I grew to love Veronica Roth's writing through the Divergent books, and this new series doesn't disappoint.

Love her books & how she transports you to another

If you could sum up Carve the Mark in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, suspenseful, entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of Carve the Mark?

Cyra takes a stand against her brother

What about Austin Butler and Emily Rankin ’s performance did you like?

Their voices

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Finding out how Cyra’s mother died & this is what her brother is holding over Cyra

Like a sigh, not of exasperation but of comfort

sturdy, refreshing yet predictable enough to feel like home,but not predictable to be overplayed and cliche. although SPOILER (the clifhanger at the was a bit abrupt)

Captivating

Roth is so talented! This book had me captivated from the beginning. I can't wait until the other books come out!

Great Book

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fantastic and it literally took me to another world. I also loved the narration it made this book even better! I have already listened to this book twice.

another series...

no knock against this book... but I am getting tired of book series. can no one write a single book story anymore? this was a good story, great characters within an interesting world... BUT was disappointed to get to the end which is not an end at all... just a lead into what will be the next book.