I picked up Marked: A Two Halves Novella via ebook, hoping for a quick, exciting fantasy read, but man, this one was a major letdown. Marta Szemik’s novella feels like a puzzle piece that only makes sense if you’ve already read the whole Two Halves series. As a standalone, it’s confusing and unsatisfying.
The biggest issue is how little it explains. The story throws you into a fantasy world with minimal context, leaving more questions than answers. Characters, magic systems, and motivations are barely fleshed out, so I spent most of the time trying to piece together what was even happening. It feels like a prequel meant to give backstory for fans who already know the main series, but for a newcomer, it’s like starting a book halfway through. I kept waiting for clarity, but it never came.
The ending doesn’t help. It’s not a cliffhanger, but it doesn’t feel like a proper conclusion either—just a vague pause that assumes you’ll pick up the next book to learn more. That lack of resolution was frustrating, especially since the novella didn’t give me enough to care about continuing the series. The characters were flat, and the plot felt like a teaser rather than a complete story, which made it hard to stay engaged.
Aimed at young adults, Marked might appeal to die-hard fans of the Two Halves series who want extra context about the characters’ origins. But as an entry point? It’s a terrible choice. Without the main series for context, it’s too unclear and incomplete to enjoy. I’m not invested enough to slog through more books just to make sense of this one, so I’m definitely not continuing.
Final Thoughts: Marked: A Two Halves Novella is a confusing, incomplete fantasy read that feels like a series afterthought. Don’t start here unless you’re already hooked on the series—it’s not worth the confusion. 1/5 stars for leaving me lost and uninterested.