The Mark
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The Mark

Sarah Lotz, internationally acclaimed author of The Three, and Day Four, describes The Mark as: "An entrancing, truly original novel packed with twists you won't see coming and a heroine that breaks the mould. Unputdownable." In the future, the world has flipped. Ravaged by the Conflagration, the State of Mangeria is a harsh place where the sun beats down, people's lives are run by a heartless elite and law is brutally enforced. A mark at the base of the spine controls each person's destiny. The Machine decides what work you will do and who your life partner will be. Juliet Seven - "Ettie" - will soon turn 15 and her life as a drudge will begin, her fate-mate mate will be chosen. Like everyone else, her future is marked by the numbers on her spine. But Ettie decides to challenge her destiny. And in so doing, she fulfills the prophecy that was spoken of before she even existed.
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Reviews

Photo of Phoebe Temlett
Phoebe Temlett @phoebe
3 stars
Nov 30, 2021

I really enjoyed the premise of the book. I think that the idea was good. The book is quite good with some very interesting themes and characters. I did enjoy seeing the world from Ettie's perspective. It is a great book. I really loved the characters and even though it was from Ettie's perspective it felt like you really got to know them. Sometimes, I've realized in first person narrative you only get to know the main character but it felt like I knew all the characters so well. Although there were a few things that annoyed me a bit through the book. It is obvious from the beginning of the book That Ettie enjoys reading. That's not the problem where it started annoying me was where she kept using metophors like saying something is like a she flies like Wendy darling over London, as an example I can't remember if she actually says Taht exactly. Now I am all for using similies and metaphors to enhance the writing but it gets a bit much after a while causing it to become either boring or annoying. I loved these metaphors and similes at the beginning but as the book went on it became too much for me. I also didn't love the way the book ended but there is a second one so I'm hopeful. I have to end on a good note. I really enjoyed the way the author wrote the book, other than the above mentioned, it was well written. It had amazing worldbuildibg and I think important topics are touched on. I would recommend this book to an avid dystopian reader as it is a book with elements of that genre.

This review contains a spoiler
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