2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Veronica Roth‘s book, Carve the Mark.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Maria, Lanee

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 117
Week 2: 117
Week 3: 117
Week 4: 117

I have my book and am starting today! I'm excited. :)

I will be getting my copy tomorrow! I can't wait!!

How are you enjoying the book so far? I'm on chapter 13 and it's getting interesting!

Wow! 13 chapters already!? That's good. Haha, I'm glad you're enjoying it! I read two chapters so far and it's crazy what happened already. I'm liking the book so far though.

Oh yeah I've had a lot of time to read this weekend so I took advantage of it lol

That's great! I'm going to have a lot of time tomorrow on the bus so I'm going to take advantage by reading on the bus as well. Lol

Yay! I will be ready for discussion when you are ;)

I was focused on not missing my bus stops the first time around. Haha, I got up to chapter 9 so far. I have to say Cyra's gift is intense! I'm also wondering how Veronica Roth came up with the charater's names. Some of them are bit tricky to pronounce out loud. Hahahahaha. It's an interesting read so far though.

This is a book that I'm excited to read but was trying to put off to finish up reading my stack. All of these comments I'm reading I think it is going to be put back on top of my list.

That's great Joan! I could not wait too long to start this one. Definitely don't fight the urge to start it soon. ;) Haha

I got on the ebook hold list at the library. Spending too much on books lately between my daughter and I. Hopefully it will be ready soon!

The names were definitely tricky for me too! I also had a hard time picturing Akos. I actually had a hard time picturing a lot of things at the beginning of the book but then it got more descriptive and I loved it. Yes, Cyra's gift was kind of awful! Akos was definitely a blessing for her. Akos is a tough nut. He got a mark in no time at all. That kind of surprised me lol

Yay Joan! You will like it. It's a really great read :)

That's good! Hopefully soon Joan.

I agree Lanee, it is hard picturing things in the beginning. It is getting better though. Ugggh Ryzek is so vicious! I feel bad for his victims. Yes! Akos definitely puts a fight no matter how dim the circumstance can be. It's like himself bleeding doesn't matter because he cares for his family members so much.

Ugh Ryzek! I can't stand him. I wish Cyra would turn on him. He's one of those villains you just love to hate.

Sounds like you are both enjoying this book? How does the writing compare to the Divergent series? Is there a lot of action?

I really enjoyed it! There were a few things similar to the Divergent series. Akos and Cyra kind of reminded me of Four and Tris. The way the planets we're divided was similar to the factions. There was quite a bit of action throughout the book so it kept it pretty interesting.

I keep checking my hold status and I'm still #16 on 2 copies

There were 17 on my elibrary list but luckily I went to the actual library and they had a copy there lol I was really surprised!

Yeah! Cyra should stand up to her brother more! Bummer he has something over her.

It is similar with the grouping. Yes, the action does keep it interesting.

I'm wondering if it will be a Romeo and Juliet ending since they're Cyra and Akos are supposed to be enemies. I'm kidding, I don't think they'd redo that. Hahaha. I'm currently on chapter 18, so I still got like half the book to go.

That's a long wait! Hopefully you can find a way to get it soon Joan. I don't even have a library card and have trouble finding books if they're too new, so I just buy them. Haha

I'm on the ebook list. You can borrow books on your iPad through the library. I'm not a fan of hardback books. When a book isn't out in paperback I'll try to borrow the ebook. If I can't wait then I'll give in and buy the ebook. I mostly don't like hardbacks because when I read before I go to bed they whack me in the face if I fall asleep while reading!!! Bookbub had the ebook for 4.99 on Sunday but I didn't see the email till Monday and the deal was already gone. The one time I don't open a bookbub email....I normally would have bought it by now but I've bought too many books lately. My daughter is a big reader also and she has time to keep up with her books. She is 12 and reads like 4 books a week. Thankfully she does like hardback and hers were at the library this week.

Wow, she can read a lot! It's good to have that much time. I most I can get through is two books a month. Haha

I see, that's cool you prefer ebooks. You save paper! Haha I don't have an iPad, just my iPhone, but I prefer my reading to be tangible. I like the smell of books, hahaha. I do need a new bookshelf though. I just get tired of looking at a screen and often lose my page. Still, I'd read ebooks, but paper is preferred to me. ;) Yeah the hard book covers are a bit stiff and can be hard to keep open at times but sometimes they have nice designs and are pretty neat. I don't really mind whichever form I get.

I meant don't mind. Haha

I have 100 pages left of Carve the Mark. I will be finishing soon. ;)

Yay Maria! I couldn't put it down through the last few chapters. I was hooked.
I had a paper white kindle that I read all my book on but it recently gave out on me so I'm stuck using my kindle fire or a real actual book lol

Aww bummer it gave out on you. Yeah, I usually just read actual books. Haha

I just finished it right now! So I assume there is going to be a second book!? It was a good story. I like that it's in space. It was kind if slow at times but the story made up for it. I'm still left in wonder. Why do I have to wait!! Haha

I sure hope there is! lol it kind of just left us hanging so we need to know what happens next! I liked how it was in space too. If you have an Instagram you can go to Veronica's account and she has pictures of what Cyra, Ryzek and Akos look like. Nothing like what I pictured but then again I don't think she was very descriptive about their looks. What did you think of the ending?

Yeah, when I finished the book, I was like "That's it!? What happens!?" Yes, I do follow her on instagram. It's true! I did not imagine them like that either! They were kind of hard to picture though. Well, the ending was good as long as she has a sequel because I have unanswered questions. Like what Ryzek told Cyra about herself in the end. I was bummed Cyra couldn't tell the truth and prevent some things but I guess everything can't be perfect. I just hope there is still hope for Akos's brother.

I'm so ready to find out about Ryzek and Cyra too! I think Akos' brother will play a bigger role in the next book. I kind of didn't like Akos' mother either. She's kind of shady.

Yeah, he probably will. I get that same feeling too. She's hiding things. She got Akos to do what she wanted at the end; all revengeful. Without him even knowing.

I caved and picked up a hardback copy at the library! Hopefully I won't end up with a bruise on my forehead if I fall asleep reading it.

Hahaha, hopefully not. Yay! Hope you enjoy the book Joan! Let us know what you think of it!

I know. I'm glad he doesn't really trust her either so maybe he will be smarter in the book. Alright Joan! I can't wait to hear what you think!

I'm a 132 pages into it. I definitely like the story so far. All of the gifts are interesting. It seems like there are a lot of secrets in the book so far which is keeping me turning the pages. I must put it down to get some cleaning and work done but I can see I'll be picking it back up again shortly!

Yep, there's definitely secrets! I'm glad you're enjoying it Joan!

Sounds like everyone is enjoying this book! Just a gentle reminder that March will come to an end in a few days and April Buddy Reads will begin!

Ok I'm confused about something and I'm putting it in a spoiler

(view spoiler)[were we supposed to know that Akos' mother was alive? I'm in the middle of the book and I thought she committed suicide? (hide spoiler)]

I do like the book. I didn't get as far as I wanted to yesterday due to a migraine but I'm halfway through.

What are you confused about? How do I see the spoilers? Lol

Are you on the app and not the computer? I can't see the spoiler on the app but I can see it on the computer.

Maria, are you accessing the thread from a mobile device? If so, you can't click on the spoiler to read it. You can only do that from a computer.

Too funny, Joan! Great minds think alike and evidently at the same time!

I might have missed some details but from what I can remember (view spoiler)[I wasn't too sure about that either. Usually when they say someone has died and then it turns out they're alive, it's important but with his mom there was nothing. She's assumed dead one minute and the next he spots her on tv and that was about it, until later. But even then, I don't think there's any real explanation. (hide spoiler)]

Lanee wrote: "I might have missed some details but from what I can remember [spoilers removed]"

That's what it seemed like to me. It seemed to come from nowhere but then I'm messing up some of the names every now and then and thought maybe I did that with her.

Ohhh yeah I was using my phone. Thanks for clearing that up!

[I just assumed that it was another oracle who did that. I guess I confused myself as well. Haha So it was really her that just faked it?]

Ok I don't know how you all hid your spoilers. Whoops!

Maria wrote: "Ok I don't know how you all hid your spoilers. Whoops!"
I just learned this last night. You have to <> and put spoiler inbetween the carrots at the beginning and at the end do the same thing but put / in front of spoiler with the carrots around it. I think there should be some sort of button to push instead.

Oh ok, I get it! Thank you Joan :)

Joan wrote: "Maria wrote: "Ok I don't know how you all hid your spoilers. Whoops!"
I just learned this last night. You have to and put spoiler inbetween the carrots at the beginning and at the end do the same ..."

It is not a button to push but there is a link at the top of every post called (some html is ok). If you click on that link, it shows you how to do certain things like bold text or hide spoilers.

Maria I had to Google how to do it lol I was so scared it wasn't going to work either.
Joan if you catch anything I missed about his mom let me know cuz I was pretty lost on her too.