Carve the Mark - by Veronica Roth

About the Book

"On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not--their gifts make them vulnerable to others control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

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

#1 New York Times bestseller * Wall Street Journal bestseller * USA Today bestseller * #1 IndieBound bestseller

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?

And don't miss The Fates Divide, Veronica Roth's powerful follow-up novel!

From the Back Cover

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

CYRA is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra's currentgift gives her pain and power--something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother's hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

AKOS is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual current-gift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive--no matter what the cost.

Then Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth's stunning portrayal of the power of friendship--and love--in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts.

Review Quotes

"Brimming with plot twists and highly likely to please Roth's fans."--Kirkus Reviews

"Roth offers a richly imagined, often-brutal world of political intrigue and adventure, with a slow-burning romance at its core. Roth's fans will be happily on board for the forthcoming sequel."--Booklist

"Roth's worldbuilding is commendable; each nation is distinct, interacting with the current in ways that give insight into her characters' motivations. Readers will eagerly await a second installment."--Publishers Weekly

"The Divergent author builds out this new world--one reminiscent of Star Wars, with its discussions of 'the current' and 'currentgifts'--while still presenting the stark brutality of the circumstances both protagonists find themselves in."--Entertainment Weekly

"This duology offers shades of George Lucas sprawl and influence, Game of Thrones clan intrigue, and a little Romeo & Juliet-style romance. There are cliffhangers aplenty and dangling plot lines to lure us to the next book."--USA Today

"With her talent for action-packed plots and powerful characters, Roth's latest is sure to be much talked-about all of 2017."--Brightly

★ "Roth skillfully weaves the careful world-building and intricate web of characters that distinguished Divergent, with settings that are rich with color, ripe for a cinematographer. Roth fans will cheer this new novel with its power to absorb the reader. Readers will be anxiously awaiting the sequel."--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

"Roth fans will rejoice at this new outing that focuses on themes familiar from her Divergent series: identity, individual versus social responsibilities, and ethical quandaries."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books