Carve the Mark Review

Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy
Age: Young-Adult
Stars: DNF
Would I recommend: No

Carve the Mark is the explosive new book that has a lot of controversy following it anywhere it goes. Several Booktubers have made videos and blogs about it and why it is such a terrible book. This won't be quite like that. It's a terrible book, but I didn't see some of the problems that others may have.

General Thoughts

• The pacing in this book is absolutely atrocious. The first nine chapters in the second section are basically time skipping and Cyra talking about her life and everything that has happened, but you don't find that out until the next chapter when something in her current life connects the two. 
• The characters are extremely flat. Neither have a personality that comes through. None of the characters in the book really have a personality, but a when a side character has more than the main characters, that's a problem.
• The world is so complicated that it becomes hard to understand. The names are no better. They actually hinder the reading experience because I was trying to figure out how to pronounce the names half the time. Everything felt very choppy and there were some terrible holes throughout the worldbuilding. 
• I got up until page 150 and there was not a single thing that has happened. Someone should not have to wait until 200+ pages for the plot to pick up. I can understand setting up the world and the characters, but being half way through the book is a bit much.

Controversy

• Racism: I didn't see the racial undertones that others picked up on. I think it more depends on the character perspective. While one race may have seen the "dark skin savages" other races did not. I think both races were quite rude to each other so I'm not sure you can call it racism.
• Chronic Pain: Cyra, the main character with the chronic pain, never once says that the pain is a gift. People constantly tell her it's a gift and she's lucky to have it, but she always says she does not agree. I have no idea where people got this idea from, but I couldn't disagree more. 
• Self-harm: There's currently an argument going around Booktube about the cover of this book. People are saying that it promotes self-harm. While there is a ritual in the book about cutting your skin to mark the death of an enemy, it is never in that context. If you are that picky and calling out everything, I think it's time to find something else to do for awhile. 

I honestly wouldn't recommend this book to my worst enemy. It was absolutely terrible. 

Ultimate Book Tag

Hello bookworms! This blog is going to be dedicated to all things YA and maybe some adult cross-over. I'm going to do the ultimate book tag to introduce myself! Here we go!

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
Sometimes. If someone is backing up or turning and I don't look up, I get dizzy and queasy. It's odd, I know.

2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Laini Taylor's style makes me feel as if I'm the person it's happening to and all my friends are along. Her writing is exquisite and I adore her trilogy.

3. Harry Potter series or Twilight? Give three reasons to defend it.
I can't do this one because I haven't read or seen either series.

4. Do you care a book bag? If so, what's in it (besides books)?
It's actually my school bag so I just have my school materials in it alongside a book or two.

5. Do you smell your books?
Not really. The only time I will is if I can smell a strong smell from them and then I smell them, but I honestly don't care about the smell of a book.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?
It depends on the book and where you're putting them. If you're using them for chapter beginnings like Leigh Bardugo's books, then definitely do it. If you're just putting them throughout the book for no real reason, then no I don't like them. They just have to make sense with the way the story's being told.

7. What book did you love while reading but discover it wasn't quality writing?
Unpopular opinion time. For me this would have to go to Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments. I adored that series while reading it, but when I went back to try and reread it, I could barely get through the first few chapters. Her other books are world's above that series and while I will always cherish that series, it's not one of my personal favorites.

8. Do you have any funny stories about books from your childhood?
Not really. I did get them taken away when I got in trouble because it was the only thing I did.

9. What is the tiniest book on your shelf?
Looking for Alaska

10. What is the biggest book on your shelf?
City of Heavenly Fire

11. Do you write as well? Can you see yourself as an author?
I do dabble in writing, but being an author has never been a huge dream of mine.

12. When did you get into reading?
Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I've been reading for as long as I can remember. My mom used to read o me when I was little and from their I've been reading.

13. What is your favorite classic book?
The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird

14. In school what was your best subject?
English.

15. If you were given a book that you have read before and hated, what would you do?
I'd be pleasant and then find someone who would enjoy it more than I did so it's not wasted.

16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
Erm...I don't have one actually...

17. What is a bad habit you always have while blogging?
Putting it off. This has been started for at least a good week or two and I would come to the page and then exit and go play a game.

18. What is your favorite word?
Onomatopoeia

19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
Nerd.

20. Vampires or fairies?
Fairies are more interesting to me than vampires. Vampires are over done.

21. Shapeshifters or angels?
Angels. Fallen angels to be precise.

22. Spirits or werewolves?
Spirits. Werewolves are also as overdone as vampires.

23. Zombies or vampires?
Gah. Neither.

24. Love triangles or forbidden love?
Forbidden love. It's always nice to see two people who shouldn't be together defy everyone and get together anyway. Love triangles tend to just end up being terribly done and at times trashy.

25. Full on romance books or action books with romance mixed in?
Action book. I'm not one for romance books.

Thanks for reading and welcome to my new blog!