Carve the Mark

Roth, V. (2017). Carve the mark. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

The first book in a two book series from Veronica Roth the author of the Divergent Series. The new world she crafts in this book is unique and fascinating. While reading, the reader, is able to experience the growth and change of the two main characters. Akos is a simple boy who lives on one half of the planet occupied by the Thuvhe people. He has a fate from birth, but does not know what it is. His mother is an oracle and can see different versions of the future. He has a brother named Eijeh and a sister named Cisi both have fates also. One day they are all picked up at school by their father and taken home. They are meet by three Shotet soldiers in their house. The Shotet people are not like the Thuvhe people they are very aggressive and strong. The Shotet want Akos and the second born child of the family Kereseth. Their father is murdered in their home. Akos and Elijeh are taken to Shotet. Akos kills one of the soldiers on their way to Shotet. He earns his first mark on his arm. The Shotet people remember the people they kill by marking their arms so the person is always remembered. The leader of the Shotet is Ryzek Noavek. He wants Eijeh because he is fated to be an oracle. Akos learns he is fated to serve the Noavek family. He is sent to learn survival and military behaviors for two seasons. Then Ryzek makes him serve his sister Cyra. Cyra has the current gift that causes pain to herself and anyone who touches her. Akos has the current gift that anyone he touches puts their current gift to sleep basically. He brings relief and strength to Cyra. She has not been able to stand up to her brother until she spends time with Akos. Akos is set on saving his brother and escaping back to Thuvhe. Unfortunately he fails his first attempt and Ryzek uses his current gift on Eijeh. Trading good memories with painful memories. He breaks Eijah and starts to be able to get prophecies from him. The Shotet people one time a season go on a sojourn through space to scavenge another planet for their discarded goods. Akos experiences this adventure with Cyra. By the end of the journey both have learned new things about beliefs they had that makes their understanding of the world around them change. Cyra aligns herself with rebels. Eventually Akos makes it home with Cyra's help. But Akos is not okay being with out her or his brother. The Shotet attack Thuvhe and kidnap the sister of the chancellor. Akos reunites with his sister Cisi and meets the chancellor Isae Benesit. One of the Benesit' are fated to bring about the death of Ryzek, so he tries to change his fate with Eijah's help. Eventually Cyra, Akos and the renegades create a plan to murder Ryzek and try to save Isae's sister. The book ends with Ryzek death being faked, Eijah in a coma like trance and the renegades in space on their way to the Assembly Headquarters.

So much happens in this story, my summary does not do it justice. I like how Roth wrote the book alternating back and forth from the perspectives of Akos and Cyra. 

Learn more about Veronica Roth at her official website.