The Marked Son

Keepers of Life #1

by Shea Berkley, Selviya Hanna (Translator)

Hutan itu seperti hidup. Sejak semula Dylan tahu ada yang tak beres dengannya. Sesuatu seperti memanggilnya dari kedalaman hutan. Menariknya untuk melebur bersama nyanyian pepohonan dan desau angin. Dan, mendadak gadis itu muncul. Seorang gadis bergaun putih dengan wajah dan sorot mata yang selalu menghantui dalam mimpi-mimpi misteriusnya.

Gadis itu menatapnya tajam. Mendadak Dylan merasakan ketakutan sekaligus harapan gadis itu akan pertolongannya. Apa yang diinginkannya? Dylan bergeming. Dia semakin tak kuasa menolak godaan untuk mengikuti gadis itu ke dunianya.

Dylan mulai merasa kehilangan kewarasannya. atau ini hanyalah babak baru petualangan dalam hidupnya. Yang jelas, sekarang ini Dylan berada di tempat yang dipenuhi makhuk-makhluk yang hanya ditemuinya dalam cerita-cerita horor. Lebih parah lagi, darah manusia yang mengaliri tubuhnya menjadi penanda bagi kematiannya.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

536 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2011

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're into sappy love stories then you might enjoy this more that I did.

Dylan Kennedy has been dreaming of a girl for as long as he can remember. As he's grown up, so has she. Now, he's seventeen and at the end of another one his mom's broken relationships, they are driving into some sheep farm in the middle of nowhere Oregon. But it's not just any sheep farm, it's his grandparent's. Grandparent's he never knew existed. Then before the engine is even cold his mom is driving off leaving him there. If that's not bad enough, strange things are starting to happen to him. Touching the cold cast-iron skillet burned his hand which then healed within a few minutes. The scrawny potted strawberry plant he tripped over in the dark the night before is now twice the size and covered in ripe berries. Plus the dreams are stronger than ever and he's sure the girl is in trouble. If she is he's got to find a way to help her.

The first 25% of this book had me really looking forward to it. Dylan was figuring things out. He had some kind of power but not sure what. It just had some really great potential. Then he actually meets Kera, the girl from his dreams and he almost becomes some love sick puppy that has to follow her around where ever she goes. For the most part, the plot of the book was really good. It built up to an interesting climax. As with a lot of books that involve magic, some if it wasn't practical enough to be believable. But you can shrug that off and say "hey it's magic." Now my shoulders did get a bit sore with this book. But overall it was just the underlying love story that was just way over the top for me. Dylan was just a bit too much like a stalker for me.

Now I'm wondering about the remaining books in the series and if they'll be worth my time.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Whoa. That was awesome.

I didn't realize how much I would end up loving The Marked Son. Before I read this book, I read some reviews and opinions seemed kind of mixed. It's amazing how different people's reading experiences can be when reading the same book. I found The Marked Son to be such a thrilling read! I was captivated from the very beginning. I thought the main and supporting characters were very likable and had great relationships. I loved the writing, and the story was unique and filled with magic, romance, action, and some surprising twists that I never saw coming. The Marked Son just really did it for me!

For years Dylan Kennedy has had dreams about the same beautiful girl. He tries not to think much about it, but that all changes when he actually sees the girl in the woods where his grandparents live. Dylan decides he has to find her, and when he does, she opens his eyes to a whole other world, a magical one. One that may explain why his mother ended up abandoning him and why he has always felt ignored and forgotten by people. But that magical dimension is dangerous and after becoming marked for death, Dylan has to decide whether to stay in the human world and forget everything he just learned or fight to protect both worlds and the girl from his dreams.

The world the girl is from is called Teag, and it's filled with fantasy and mystical beings. Most of the people from Teag are firsts. They are Keepers of Life, and they have the ability to use magic to control nature. Some are more powerful than others. There was a time when they could cross the barrier to the human world, so there are even half-bloods, people with human and first blood, in Teag. Firsts can be very selfish, and when it comes to love, they can become obsessive and end up hurting people. As one of the characters stated: "Love is our curse." There are also creatures like the tiny pux, who are a type of sídhe that are a real nuisance and can be frightening when in a large group; and the ones created by magic like the bug-like millispits, who are extremely scary because their only purpose is to kill. I thought the world of Teag was completely fascinating, and I hope to learn more about it in the next book.

As for the characters, Dylan was so great. Even though he didn't have the best life growing up, he managed to become a person who is caring, determined, and passionate. I loved that the book was from his point-of-view because I enjoy reading from the male POV, and I think the author did a wonderful job on making his voice believable. I really loved his character. Kera, the girl from Dylan's dreams, was a great character as well. We got to know her through the parts that are from her perspective, and she was pretty kick-ass. I loved how protective she was of her people and Dylan. The only thing I wanted to know more about were the dreams Dylan and Kera shared throughout the years. We get a glimpse of the dreams in the beginning and the dreams were mentioned a little throughout the book. I really rooted for Dylan and Kera, and I believe they truly love each other. But it all started with the dreams. And I would have liked more insight about those dreams just so that I could get a better understanding of their connection. Either way, I loved their relationship, and I cannot wait to know more about both Kera and Dylan in the sequel.

There were other great characters in this book: Dylan's grandparents, Bodog, Leo, Jason, Pop, Lucinda (she made me laugh!). I even liked the bad guy Navar because he actually made me feel really nervous and worried for the other characters. Not many villains can get that reaction out of me. This guy didn't hold back. However, I have a feeling there might be others who are capable of more evil and damage than Navar, so it should quite interesting finding out what Dylan and the others are going to have to go through.

The Marked Son was a fast-paced and consuming novel. With the way it ended, I'm already excited to read the rest of the trilogy (the second book is The Lost Prince and the third is The Bastard King) to come back to the world and the characters the author has created. I pretty much loved everything about it, and it's one of my favorite YA fantasy/paranormal novels this year! A really awesome debut!

[Darynda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said in a recent blurb, reading Shea Berkley is like watching magic unfold before your eyes. I want to be her when I grow up, and I adored this book. Love, love, love the hero.

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Dylan, he really has had a tough go of it pretty much his entire life. His mom is anything but traditional, he has to keep going from place to place and for as long as he could remember he's dreamed of the same girl, pale, hauntingly beautiful in the cold eerie woods.
He's always known he was different. Out of place. Out of time, but he's about to find out just how much.

The Marked Son is a very well crafted, unique and intriguing story with a fun adventurous twist. I really liked the other-dimension spin and found it fascinating. It's no secret that I tend to favor the male point of view, so this mainly being in Dylan's thoughts was a real treat. I loved him. He has ever reason to have issues, but through it all he seems to be well grounded, focused and still has a good heart. He may be bitter (who wouldn't be) but his fight and determination and what he did for Kera was pretty amazing.

This book has a little bit of everything. A main character to relate to and be proud of. Mystery, suspense, magic and a tender sweet love story.

Shea Berkley writing is strong, she makes it easy to get lost in the adventure and I liked that she gave us a clear cut path to both Dylan and Kera's thoughts, which help me connect better with the characters and what's happening in both worlds and ultimately what's at stake.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself with this one. It's a great start to what looks like a promising series, one I'm looking forward to continuing.

(Arc provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing)

[Nicole Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Dylan has always felt like he just didn't belong anywhere. His basket-case mother uproots them from their current home, due to the same reason as always. Her loser boyfriend breaks up with her. This time however, his mother is taking him back to her childhood home. To meet a grandmother and grandfather who have no idea about him. As if that isn't enough, she pretty much abandons him with his grandparents. She wants a life of her own without having to take care of him.

Now, to break in here, I have to say that I seriously wanted to shake the shit out of this woman and put my foot up her ass. She treats her son Dylan, like something that was forced on her. Never mind that she carried him for nine months. This is one selfish bitch. Dylan probably wouldn't be such a hard ass and lonely if he had gotten the proper attention and affection a child needs. Sorry, I just couldn't hold it in anymore...

His grandparents take him in and when he helps his grandfather find out what happened to a mutilated lamb, he sees someone he thought was only in his dreams. Kiera, slips through a tear in boundaries between hers and Dylans worlds. She feels an incredible upsurge of power, unlike any she's come into contact with before, and follows it to Dylan. She's taken aback when she sees him, but has a feeling that he may be the one she is hoping and searching for. Some one to go up against a power hungry lord that uses his power and magic to keep their people quelled by fear. He wants to be King and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Including killing those of mixed blood. Those with human blood, those who are tainted and in his mind have no right to live.

How is Kiera going to change Dylan's mind to go to her, and his, world? And if he goes there what is going to keep him alive? He is after all half human...

I felt bad for Dylan, his mother basically emotionally abandoned him as a child and at seventeen physically abandons him. He has never felt like he has fit in anywhere and his mother just dumps and runs. Which would also make me feel like no one wanted me. Luckily his grandparents take him in and his grandmother tries to get him to feel wanted after the damage her daughter left behind with her grandson.

Kiera and Dylan are sweet together. Both mistakenly thinking that the other only existed in their dreams. Kiera is the one that awakens his magic. She also leaves him with a sense of calm and belonging that he hasn't had anywhere else. Both need the other, like needing air to breath, basically.

I would recommend giving this a whirl. It never lags and leaves you bored. In fact you may be tempted to peek ahead at times. You know, you get so engrossed and not having the patience to get to where you will have less anxiety you have to peek ahead just to make sure that everything is all good. Then you can go back and read with an eased mind.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Buat yang enggak percaya sama Tuhan, coba, deh, baca novel penuh hikmah dan berkah ini! Bukan, bukan karena kontennya yang sangat religiusiyah, tapi bisa selesai baca novel ini benar-benar sebuah anugerah buat saya.


Jadi, bahkan sampai sekarang setelah saya selesai baca novel ini, saya masih enggak paham sebenarnya nyonyah Shea Berkley ini mau ngomong apa, sih, melalui novel ini?

Hum, jadi begini. Ada dua tokoh di sini. Cowok ganteng bernama Dylan, dan seorang gadis bernama Kera—ya, kalian tidak salah membaca namanya. Namanya memang Kera! What in the world! Si Dylan ini hidup di dunia manusia, sementara si Kera ini hidup di dunia alternatif—LO KATE PENGOBATAN PAKE ALTERNATIF SEGALA?—bernama Teag. Sudah semenjak si Dylan ini kecil sudah dihantui mimpi-mimpi soal Kera. So creepy, deh. Nah, cerita diawali dengan pengalaman Dylan yang dihantui mimpi-mimpi Kera sejak berumur delapan tahun. Lalu, Dylan yang beranjak remaja menjelma menjadi remaja lelaki yang supermenyebalkan.

Serius, si Dylan ini anaknya sok asyik. Narasi PoV 1-nya Dylan ini mungkin agak-agak mirip narasinya Perjon di novel Perjon-nya Om Rick Riordan, tapi bahkan si Dylan ini lebih sok asyik daripada Perjon! Ya Tuhan, have some mercy on him! . Biasanya, saya suka sama narasi dari cowok, karena narasi cowok itu enggak keju, mereka enggak terbutakan oleh cinta dari gadis lain. Narasi cowok itu jantan.

Haleluya! Nyonyah Shea Berkley berhasil memutarbalikkan semuanya itu. Si Dylan ini bahkan jadi cowok yang buta karena cinta. Sungguh super sekali, Sahabat Mario Teguh!

Masih soal PoV, nih. Saya enggak suka sama PoV yang berubah-ubah. Kalaupun mau berubah-ubah, mesti ada konsistensinya, kayak bab ini: PoV 11 A, bab berikutnya: PoV 3 B, bab berikutnya balik lagi ke PoV 1 A, dan seterusnya. Saya berpikir konsistensi dalam PoV semacam ini itu berarti menunjukkan bahwa sang penulis udah berpikir matang-matang konsep ceritanya. The Marked Son ini enggak, Sudara-Sudari. Ada dua PoV: PoV 1 Dylan, terus PoV 3 Kera. Kadang, berbab-bab ini PoV 1 Dylan melulu, sementara PoV 3 Kera cuma seupil ~_~

Lagi pula, saya enggak bisa nangkap premis cerita ini itu apa sebenarnya sampai di akhir buku! Serius! Bab-bab pertama yang menceritakan Dylan dan Kera bergantian (dan masih konsisten) kayaknya berasa kayak cerita lepas yang enggak saling nyambung. Baru di akhir-akhir buku, saya baru nangkep dikit ini premisnya apaan. Kita ambil contoh Harry Potter aja, yah. Di bab pertama aja, ya, misalnya, saya masih ingat judul bab pertamanya: Anak Laki-Laki yang Bertahan Hidup. Saya udah tahu: Oh, ini soal Harry Potter. Oh, orang tuanya meninggal. Oh, terus Penyihir Kegelapan yang paling jahat udah tumbang. Oh, Harry mesti dititipin ke rumah paman dan bibinya. Saya udah tahu inti cerita Harry Potter dari bab pertama!

"Ah, payah dong! Masa inti cerita novel udah ketahuan dari bab pertama? Bagusan kayak gini dong." Suara-suara nyinyir terdengar. Bukan gitu, Sudara-Sudari. Premis yang udah diketahui sejak awal itu penting biar pembaca tahu apa inti ceritanya dan tahu sampe mana bisa ngarep kira-kira adegan apa yang bakalan keluar di bukunya. Lah, kalo saya enggak tahu inti ceritanya apaan, saya kayak meraba-raba dalam kegelapan.

Hasik!

Buat novel ini, saya bingung karena fokusnya enggak jelas. Mau nyeritain kegalauan Dylan yang ditinggal minggat ibunyakah? Kegalauan Kera yang mesti nikah sama penguasa terjahat di Teag yang bernama Navar-kah? Apakah?

Saya enggak tahu apakah world-building adalah ranah yang boleh saya cabe, tapi saya coba gambarin seperti apakah world-building di sini. Dunia manusia dan Teag itu berdampingan. Literally berdampingan . Batasnya cuma hutan dan ada dinding pembatas yang enggak bisa ditembus. Pertanyaan saya cuma 3:
1. Enggak ada tuh penjelajah hutan yang tahu-tahu ketemu sama dinding pembatas terus dia enggak bisa masuk ke dalam hutan? Lucu enggak, sih. Zaman modern gini. GPS udah bak cendawan di musim penghujan? Ada daerah yang tidak terdeteksi kayak gitu?
"Tapi Hogwarts di Harry Potter, kan, juga enggak terdeteksi, Kakak?"
Iye, saya tahu. Tapi, si Rowling udah berusaha keras menutupi bolongnya dengan bilang semua peralatan elektronik bakalan rusak karena tingginya kadar sihir di udara.
2. Seberapa luasnya sih dunia Teag ini? Panjang temboknya seberapa?
3. Atau apakah dunia paralel Teag ini sebegitu reniknya sampe harus ditutupi tembok penghalang segala? Kesannya si Teag ini cuma desa kecil paralel doang. Bukan sebuah dunia, dunia yang gede banget gitu.

Lagi pula penduduk Teag ini kayaknya berkemampuan super dan mampu mengendalikan kekuatan alam. Kelemahannya cuma besi. Er, oke. Mereka enggak pake peralatan besi.

Nah, yang aneh soal kekuatan itu ialah Dylan baru sadar kalau dia punya kekuatan setelah ketemu sama domba yang diburu oleh Pux (Jangan tanya Pux itu apa dan rasakan sendiri sensasinya :>). Dia baru benar-benar sadar setelah ketemu sama Kera secara fisik. WOY, MAS, TUJUH BELAS TAHUN KE MANE AJE? SIBUK GEGALAUAN? Kalau Kera jadi faktor yang bisa bangkitin kekuatan Dylan, harusnya si Dylan ini udah sadar sejak umur delapan tahun. Lah, dia aja kaget setengah mati begitu tahu dia bisa gerakin tanah. Terus, tahu-tahu dia jadi imba didukung oleh kesaksian Kera yang belum pernah lihat kekuatan sebesar punya Dylan.

Yang aneh lagi ialah sikap teman-teman Dylan yang tahu-tahu mau aja bersedia mengorbankan nyawanya buat Dylan. MAN! Mereka ini kenal Dylan belum ada sebulan dan udah bersedia buat ngorbanin nyawa buat orang asing? Kalian benar-benar remaja berhati mulia.

Battle-nya bikin saya ngantuk. Bagian Dylan yang mati terus rohnya melayang-layang itu sebenarnya bagus. Saya bahkan berharap kalau bakalan bagus kalau Dylan seperti itu terus, tapi harapan saya pupus di akhir cerita. Terus, buat bikin cerita ini bisa jadi trilogi, dimunculkanlah ayah Dylan di akhir cerita. Wuhuu~

Secara keseluruhan, ini bukan novel yang asyik. Saya bener-bener ngantuk dan butuh waktu yang lama buat baca novel ini. Sekian.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Cover Thoughts: I absolutely love this cover. The cover draws you in because it is a picture of a guy with piercing violet blue eyes staring into your soul. When I first saw the cover I said I have to read this book and I searched and searched for an ARC copy and when I was able to get one thanks to Misa Ramirez I nearly fell off the bed. Thanks Misa :)

My Thoughts/Review: Okay I have read a lot of books but this book left me speechless! Shea did a great job weaving a beautiful story starting with Dylan and his mother and then Dylan learns he has grandparents that are alive. Once he gets to his grandparents house funny things start to happen and Dylan is thrown into a world he has no idea existed.
Dylan thinks he is seeing a ghost and is going crazy but he finds this guy on the internet who says he saw the same thing. They talk and find out they both saw the same thing. They decide they are going to catch this ghost and make plans to trap her with another friend. They go into the woods deep into the woods when they see her and begin to chase her. They chase her until she disappears into thin air. They stop and try to decide whether or not they are going to follow her and decide against it until they make a better plan.

But Dylan keeps looking at the space where the ghost has gone through and decides to follow her. He goes into this space where everything seems to slow down and time stands still. When he emerges on the other side of the wall he is stunned to see that there is a whole other world and he finds out that the ghost he has been seeing is really not a ghost but the girl from his dreams. Dylan can’t decide what to do but before he acts the girl his ghost tells him she is real and that he was sent to save her world. She is the girl from all his dreams and now he does not know what to think about seeing her in person.

Is he going crazy? Is he dreaming? Can this be true? What is he going to do about the girl of his dreams?

This is a must read, it will not disappoint you. This story captivates you from the very beginning and you will read through it in one day because you will be unable to put the book down.

Look out for August 02, 2011 that’s when the book hits the shelves! Happy Reading and welcome to the world of Teag!

Memorable Quotes: Page 189 Dylan says to Kera: “It’s a crazy thing, this confidence I have. I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I have no problem embracing it. “This feels right. I was born to be here, to be with you, and no one has the right to tell us differently. I’ll protect you. Do you trust me?”

Advice: This book is A MUST READ!! You will be disappointed if you do not read this book! *Swoon Worthy*

[Tamra Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marked Son will take you on a fantastic journey that includes some self-discovery, lots of action, loads of adventure and heartwarming love. A must read for all ages.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't often that you get to read a book and be taken on a journey that is so fantastic and unique. I didn't know what to expect with this book because the synopsis didn't really give me a feel for the the category this book would fit in: vampires, fey, etc. I know understand that this book doesn't fit in any category and sort of in all of them. The story is fresh and unique and I didn't want to put it down. Although this isn't really a fey book, I enjoyed this book like the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Both books are full of wonderful rich descriptions of a world and has a story line that is unpredictable and a joy to read.

This book starts with alternating points of view from Dylan in the Northwest and Kera in the mysterious land of Teag. Dylan and Kera have visited each others dreams for years. It isn't until Dylan is left at his Grandparents house by his deadbeat mother that he sees Kera. Then strange things begin to happen to his grandfather's sheep and farm. Dylan discovers the wall that seperates this world from Teag. Kera and Dylan meet when Kera is drawn the surge of power that surrounds Dylan. Dylan discovers powers that have always been apart of him because his tie to Teag. Kera is sure that Dylan is the one who can not only save Teag from the evil greedy Navar but also her soul mate.

The chemistry between Kera and Dylan is powerful and makes your heart swell with the love between them. The world of Teag is a wonderful fantasy that is full of magical creatures and rich characters. Navar is a greedy evil man that is power hungry and will go to any length to seize power over the realm of Teag. Teag is also having a genocide under the strong fist of Navar who has declared that halfbreeds are an abomination and will be killed on sight. Firsts are the pure bloods of Teag who have fey like characteristics and cannot lie. Half bloods can lie and therefore, fear of being decieved by them is what insights the mistrust and fear. There are so many layers to this story that it takes many unpredicatable twists and turns.

I found the story about the Firsts not being able to lie really interesting as that I could understand how much better the world would be. But doesn't it show more character to choose not to lie and be able to than to not lie because you are unable. Dylan's heart is good and loyal and not full of deceit. Navar is a far more evil alternative yet he is a First and therefore Teag citizens are much more loyal just because of his blood. It is an interesting commentary on prejudice.

I would recommend this to readers who love fantasy, fey novels and YA romance. It truly is a cross catergory book and hard to pinpoint. Also, recommended to those who enjoy the Iron Fey series as this is a wonderful world and unpredicable story.

[Trisha Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about this story was being inside Dylan’s head. It’s different and unique to live a story from the guy’s point of view, and Dylan Kennedy is an amazing character. What he grew up dealing with, a mother that cared little for him, made him into a tough guy, but vulnerable, too. He truly didn’t see how anyone could care or love him. His only outlet, his fantasy world he lived through his dreams . . . His dream girl.

We get to see Teag from the dream girl’s—Kera’s—point of view. It’s done in third person, so it’s still really Dylan’s story, but in this way, we aren’t left guessing the first half of the story about her or the realm. I loved this detail. We get to see how Dylan pieces his discovery together, all the while trying to figure out his part, but still knowing the truth about her world for ourselves.

Once they find each other, they are more than drawn together—they are destined for each other. Their passion and need for one another is overwhelming. Though at times it felt a little fast, knowing they cared for each other long before, while sharing dreams, helps their quick relationship feel more realistic. I was taken with Dylan’s devotion to Kera. He was more than her protector—he guarded her with his life. That gets all my swoon-worthy praise right there.

Teag was an interesting world. Full of magic, strange creatures, and evil. The twists this realm had for Dylan, and who he truly is and to become, builds up the next book and I can’t wait. Though I was sad about a couple of characters, it made the story feel real, and the stakes ratcheted up for Dylan. The end was action-packed and full to twists, which I love. The story built into a crescendo and I was left wanting more. More! Definitely a must read for romance and paranormal lovers.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I finished this book a half hour ago and my heart is still in hyper drive. The action in this book doesn’t let up for a second and I loved every minute of it! You enter this world with Dylan as he is being driven to his grandparents’ house by his mother. He assumes it is just another stop on their every changing living environment, but is shocked when his mother takes off one night without even saying goodbye. He is abandoned by the only person that has been a constant in his life and left with people that may be family, but he has never met until a couple of days ago. Dylan is not really big on family since his mother has not exactly been a loving parent, but he is willing to give his grandparents a try. He is with them a couple of days when he sees her, the girl he has dreamed about his whole life and thought did not actually exist. Her name is Kera and the pull he feels toward her overwhelms him. He has to be near her with no understanding as to why at first. He soon discovers she is from another dimension that runs parallel to ours called Taeg and they two of them share more in common than Dylan could have ever imagined.

I will admit that I have not really been in love with young adult lately. It seems to be a lot of the same story and I was starting to become cynical about it. Thank goodness I have found an author that has reaffirmed my faith in young adult literature. The Marked Son is a refreshing and magical start to a new series that caught me completely off guard and has left me yearning for more.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book was the point of view changes. Most of the story is told from Dylan’s first person point of view, but when we switch to Kera it is in the third person. I have never seen this done before in a novel. At first it did throw me off and take me a little time to adjust, but once I did I really enjoyed this style. I loved getting to see both sides of this story and the way the author chose to portray the voices was unique and intriguing. It was also essential to see Kera’s life so we could understand the politics of Taeg and how life is in this other dimension.

The secondary characters also had great presence in the story. Dylan does not make true friends easily. He has spent his life always trying to keep people at a distance, but when he moves in with his grandparents he meets two boys who he quickly forms a bond with. Leo and Jason have grown up together and are very loyal once they form friendships. They help Dylan when needed and even go into Taeg at one point to help him rescue Kera, knowing it is going to be a dangerous road. Leo and Jason’s humor were welcome at many tense moments and help lighten the mood for both the reader and Dylan.

Something I did not expect was the level of emotion this book pulled from me. Shea has written her characters so well that it is easy to become emotionally invested in their well-being. There are moments that brought tears to my eyes and had me shouting at the injustice that befell them. I was so engrossed in this world and the many characters that I have grown attached too already. While it did tug at my heartstrings to watch events unfold, it was an exhilarating ride to be on with Dylan and Kera through the highs and the lows.

Overall, this book is just fantastic. I have not read a young adult book in a long time that I have enjoyed as much as this one. Shea has given us an amazing cast of characters, some to love and some to hate, a plot that is full of twists and turns leaving you on the edge of your seat and a beautiful and innocent romance that infuses the two main characters with strength and courage that they need to survive. If you have not found this book yet, I highly recommend that you do. It is a must read and a series I cannot wait to see more of in the future.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

My Summary:

Dylan Kennedy’s life sucks. His mother moves them around every time her relationship with some guy goes south. No one seems to remember Dylan and he has no friends. There is the dream of the beautiful girl that he has had for, well for a long time but that’s just a dream. His mother once again drags him from his life the summer before his senior year. She takes them to his Grandparents house, who didn’t even know he had been born, in the middle of nowhere Oregon. Then she leaves him. Can it get any worse? Actually, it can. Dylan soon learns the girl from his dreams is real and needs his help. An evil first is trying to grab power in her realm and Dylan may be the only one who can stop him. Dylan is drawn to this girl, Kera, with an incredible force that can only be described as love. He has to be with her. Will this passion he feels for Kera be his strength or is undoing? Who will die? Who will live? The sage has foreseen misery. It won’t end well.

My thoughts:

4 stars- a great read

Shea creates an interesting world where the magical realm is bound from the human world by a wall. Those that are pure bloods are called firsts, though they seem like what most books call Fae. Half-bloods are despised and human are expendable. The book starts out with a purely human world with only small hints that Dylan may be more than he understands. Rapidly the book explodes into a magical world where things are far from what they seem. Very quickly Dylan is not an average boy facing his senior year of high school.

The characters are where I may have had some problems. I liked Dylan. He was beat-up by his terrible life but was still trying to do better than what he was given. The problems I had with him were in how quickly he understood his powers. With no training and without anyone’s guidance, he was able to really come up with some impressive magic. I’ve never seen a character be so instinctual about their skills. Perhaps that was as the author intended and I don’t give Dylan enough credit but it gave me pause while reading the book.

Kera was very strong and level headed to begin with and then I saw this strange change in her. I’m not really sure what happened. It may have been the realization that her father intended her to marry the evil Navar. That would do it for me but again it gave me pause.

There was one other small thing that bugged me. The love between Dylan and Kera was so all consuming and so quick that I was growling about one of those love-at-first sight issues. They did know each other from shared dreams but it didn’t seem to be enough for me. I finally did feel alright about this near the end. I’ll just say that this group of magical creatures falls in love once and it’s hard and fast. It’s all good.

The plot was incredible. Action packed and everything that could go wrong did. With ten pages to go, I was sure there would be this huge cliffhanger frustrating me for a year until the next book comes out but, no, the book ended with quite a bit of resolution. Does this mean things fell flat, no I’d say things happened rapidly.

If you’re like me, you may need to be patient for everything to fall into place with this book. Most likely you’ll love it from page one and think I’m nuts. Oh well. If you like paranormal romance, this is great one to read.

[Smash]

See the full review at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

The story opens up as Dylan and his mother make a road trip to his grandmother’s house, who does not even know of Dylan’s existence. It seems as though mom hasn’t spoken to her parents since his birth. We soon learn that Dylan’s mother is not of strong-will when she abandons him. Dylan is used to his mother’s issues, however. She falls in love at the drop of a hat and when the relationship falls apart, she picks up her life and her son and moves them elsewhere. Yet, this is the first time she’s left him behind. To say Dylan’s life has been tough is an understatement.

Dylan gets to know his grandparents, who are my favorite people in the story. While in their care, a reoccurring dream is slowly becoming reality. He’s been dreaming about the same girl his entire life, and while the two never speak to one another, their draw is undeniable. Dylan can’t believe his eyes as he peers out into the forest overlooking his grandparent’s property and catches a glimpse of her! Needless to say, the hunt is on as he searches through the leafy wonderland in search of this elusive lady. And that, my friends, is when the story gets to gettin!

I enjoyed the author’s take on fae lore. While she never actually refers to anything in her book as fae – her creations are called firsts - she does mention the sidhe, and there is an aversion to cold iron. The magical beasties are pretty cool. The author created some naughty creatures! Millispits, which remind me of TrackerJackers from The Hunger Games, are deadly oversized bugs that hunt in packs. Creepy!

"Millispits. Tiny, winged amphibian-type creatures with sharp, serrated fingers, no mouths, and large, glowing eyes. Imperfectly created from magic to do two things: kill anything that moves with their serrated fingers and long, venom-filled tail, then die."

And the pux are a bunch of mischievous, dangerous Tinkerbell-sized creatures. They sneakily sprinkle their dust over you head and send you off to count sheep so they can do all kinds of not-so-fun things to you! And lastly, the villain in this book is foul, and I would gladly strangle him for Dylan. :)

The characters throughout the book are very likeable. I loved the grandparents, as well as Dylan’s meathead friend, Jason. Kera, the elusive lady, is very admirable. And Dylan, who doesn’t think things through before acting from his heart, is a very realistic teenager who you can’t help but want to hug. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the 2nd half. However, the 2nd half is definitely the one that is full of danger and action. I am not sure I enjoyed how the book ended, but I definitely look forward to finding out more about Dylan’s past and future.

Shea Berkley visited Smash Attack Reads! to talk about Fantasy: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

[Rogier · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts:
Cover: I absolutely like this cover.WATS NOT THE LIKE A BOUTH IT? A couple of YA Fiction covers are hideous , or the cover is the best thing about that book, meaning it sucked. Not this one the cover added to the book, you could see Dylan ,that the way I imagined him. The cover draws you in because it is a picture of a guy with piercing violet blue eyes staring into your soul. When I first saw the cover I was happy that it was on netgalley and I requested it. I got approved. So here I go
Book:
Ok it took a longer time reading it than expected. Normally it takes two –four days to read a book. Been busy with school stuff.
the very beginning really interested me in reading the whole book. When he is dumped by his deadbeat mom, at his grandparents after an absence of 17 years, the story really begins. This is after the prologue . At the ranch or farm things start to happen !! He sees his “ ghost ’’,Kera who appeared in dreams his whole life. Some less vivid than others. And he discovers she is from a other dimension, Taeg. A place still in the middle ages, looks like earth but different

I got to say the creapy creatures are cool, really cool. I encountered more than three species in the book . The poisonous Milispit(slimy half lizard creatures with broken looking wings) and the vindictive Pux( small fairy beings that have razor like parts of their body)
I liked Dylan from the very start, he is brave, he caring, just all round nice guy with a troubled past, the person he knew the longest in his life dumped him, his mom. Later on you find out why she is like she is. But I had no caring feelings for her, more mad and pissed
Kera , I did not like her that very much in the beginning. Boy I was wrong love her now, she has spunk, she comes up for what she believes in, helpful. They meet in the 2/3 of the story . Her chapters are in 3th person narrative , and Dylan’s chapters were in 1st person. I had to adjust at first that the reason I did not like Kera at first. I was happy their romance was not insta-love. Actually they met before and became friends in their dreams, a bit creepy but cool. And it was not vomiting like I did when I read the romance development, ps hate twilight I puked mentally
The secondary characters really added to the story, grandma and pa, Jason and Theo who became friends of Dylan . The dialog between them was very funny

I never thought I could get emotionally attached. I yelled, that can’t happened to them.
My favorite quote on the last page 286, received a netgalley arc
I sigh and my dream fades,replaced by the light of love shining from kera's eyes.
my dream girl is real
I don't have to be alone anymore


That 3 sentences made me longing for book 2. And a coupple questions were answered at the end and a coupple questions came into excistence in the end.

[Jennifer (Books&Barks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shea Berkley’s latest YA novel, The Marked Son, is an exciting tale of love, adventure, and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The twists and turns throughout kept me reading till way past midnight, eager to find out what would happen with Dylan and Kera. I was not disappointed by this book at all. I was worried that it was going to end on a cliffhanger, but The Marked Son was wrapped up nicely while still leaving things open for a second book.

Dylan has led a life of constant change and flux. His mom never lets them stay in one place for very long, moving from one boyfriend to another, and from one small town to an even smaller town. Because of this Dylan has never been able to accumulate friends, and the only family he knows of is his mother. This all changes the day she drops him off at his grandparents, people he didn’t even know existed, and then leaves for some unknown place. Little did Dylan know that this sheep farm in nowhere Oregon was going to change his life forever. It is here that he will meet the girl that he thought only existed in the dreams he’s had since he was a little boy.

Kera lives in the land of Teag, a magical place that is separated from our world by a guarded barrier. Teag is currently king-less, and the powerful Navar plans to change this. But if Navar becomes King, their world will never be the same again. He is ruthless in his quest for power, and eager to strike down any undesirables - those whose blood is not pure and is tainted by being half-human. Kera knows that the only hope Teag has rests in the hands of a boy she’s only ever seen in her dreams, a boy with power that is unimaginable.

After joining up with Kera, Dylan discovers the reasons why he has never felt at home in the human world. He has always felt different from others, alone and disconnected from the world around him. Kera and Dylan belong together, and while their love for each other builds fast, it seems natural. These two are meant to be, and I can’t wait to see what happens with them in later books. I also really enjoyed reading about Dylan discovering his powers. By the end of the book he has grown in ways he’d never imagine. He’s found love, but he’s also discovered loss. He also realizes what its like to have friends and a family.

Overall, I think this was an excellent beginning to this series. It caught my attention from the very beginning and never let it go. I found myself not wanting the story to end. I want to read more about Dylan and Kera and the land of Teag. I would recommend The Marked Son to readers interested in stories of lands filled with strange creatures and magical people, and to those who enjoy reading about the love between two souls and what they will do to save each other.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impression:
Dreams? An Evil Lord? A teenager who thinks he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life? This summary had me at hello.

While Reading:
The Marked Son is definitely not my typical YA read. But that is really what drove me towards it in the first place.

As the first book in a planned series, The Marked Son does not have many of the hang-ups that I often find in other first books. It is not a stepping stone type novel. Nor did it feel slow or frustrating cause I know that there will at least be one, if not two, following books. Now that we have the it's nots out of the way, let's focus on what it was. The Marked Son is a finely tuned machine. A special blend of action, romance, and fantasy coming together to create an experience that will make you not want to put the book down until that last page is turned.

I typically do not favor the male POV, yet I do love books with male POVs. Maybe its cause I am female (or just weird like that), but I have a hard time really relating with male characters. However, Berkley, with her clear cut writing style, may be turning me into a male POV lover. Berkley makes Dylan and his thoughts easy to follow and down to earth. Dylan has his issues, but Berkley made me care about those issues, his past, and how everything weaves together to make him this complex and intriguing character.

Verdict:
The Marked Son is a solid first book. A thrilling ride mixing the bumps of teenagedom with a sprinkle of magic. Berkley sure has captured my attention with The Marked Son. And I am eagerly anticipating more to this completely unique series.

[Carla-Everything Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review (By Book Monster Guest Reviewer)


I wasn't sure what to expect from this book since I didn't read the blurb, but I absolutely loved it! It had pretty much everything including action, romance, drama and friendship.


Dylan is 17 and hasn't had the easiest life so far his mother moves him around the country constantly after falling in and out of love with less than savory men and shows no love to her son and he can't make friends since he is moving about so much. Dylan has been having dreams about a girl since he was a young boy and never seems to fit in anywhere. When his mother abandons him with grandparents who he has just met you feel really sorry for him and you really begin to hate his mother. He sees the girl from his dreams in the woods outside his grandparent's home and then everything starts to go wrong.


This is not your typical young adult book in the way that it can get really quite dark sometimes and even I was quite shocked at some parts and had to read parts again to see if that had really happened! I loved watching Dylan form relationships with other people as it was a very new experience for him and it was great to see people accept him for who he was and letting his bitterness go. Kera has grown up in a different world altogether and it is a harsh and cruel one and she has her own secrets to hide. The other characters in this story were great and I can't wait to read more from this wonderful author and hear more from Dylan and Kera!


I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA, magic, action and one hell of a ride!


I give The Marked Son 5 out of 5 stars

[Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marked Son is a story that instantly takes ahold of the reader because the main character, Dylan, is just so enigmatic and alluring. His 17 years have been rough – with a mom that’s constantly chasing the next fling – and he’s as jaded as they come, but there’s just something about him that will pull readers in. Maybe it’s his unconcealed anger towards his mom or his ease in giving up, but I wanted things to work out for him from the beginning.

Shea Berkley captures teen angst perfectly, then flips it upside down, throws in some serious abandonment issues, and adds a healthy dose of fantasy to the mix. The tidbits about Dylan’s past and minute details hint at what’s really happening, as do the chapters from an alternate, female POV, but the big reveal is something else.

The mix of contemporary with fantasy is done flawlessly and seemingly effortlessly. The story progresses from a simple, angsty teen story, to so much more. Dylan’s dreams and the foreshadowing escalate the tension and suspense, until the readers get that BANG moment along with Dylan. And once it happens, things go from uncomplicated to insane. And I loved it.

The Marked Son is a captivating contemporary that turns into a surprising and unique fantasy. Dylan will find his way into the hearts of readers, as will his grandparents, the mysterious girl Kera, and the new friends Dylan makes along the way. If you’re a fan of contemporary and fantasy, and love a mix of the two, The Marked Son is the perfect book for you.

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did go into this book a little nervous about the whole seeing a girl in his dreams and then she comes to life theme because I have read it before. What I think was different about this one is that the girl comes from a different place.
I really enjoy reading books from the boys perspective, it is such a nice way to change up the reading stack. There are some sections told form Kera's perspective but as she is from a different place the reading style changes between the two until they meet and their stories meld together.
There is a lot of action, adventure and magical things that happen in the story. I had a hard time actually picking a favorite character as I liked one just as much as the other. The writing style is very fluid and descriptive. I never had any difficulty in understanding the characters emotions or actions.
While the book does end with a view into what can happen in the next book, thankfully it doesn't leave us with a cliffhanger. And actually ends on a very satisfying happy note.

[Kelly Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.
It was different than any other book I've ever read -- with it's unique world, 17 year old male lead, and it's switches from 1st person to 3rd person -- but those differences only enhanced the story and storytelling in my opinion.
It definitely kept me enthralled.
Just when you thought you knew what would happen next something different happened. It definitely kept me guessing, and turning pages, with all it's twists and turns.
Really, I feel it was wonderful and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what happens with Dylan and Kera in the remaining 2 books in this series.

[Robin Perini · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing debut from a talented author who I expect to see on bestseller lists soon. Shea's hero is a boy who grabs you by the heart from the first page as he tries to discover who he is, and realizes very quickly he is more than he ever believed. I was crying for him one moment and cheering the next. His love for the heroine is epic and the surprising world Shea has created, the depth, the detail and the gorgeous writing make this book one you should add to you 'to-read' list as soon as you can. I can't wait to read the next one by this talented writer!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marked Son was for sure a well written story. I felt like I was in the story, the adventure the action and the love was breath taking. I really enjoyed the adventure I was on and the fact that I did not want to put the book down and needed to get to the next page for more! The action was one of a kind with the love mixed in! A for sure read for an amazing ride into a wonderful story!! Great for all ages!

[Carey Corp · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) I really enjoyed this story and specifically Dylan, the main protagonist. Initially, I had a little difficulty switching between the Dylan’s first person contemporary point-of-view and Kera’s third person fantasy story. But by halfway through the book, I couldn’t put it down. Although I am not a heavy fantasy reader, I grew to enjoy the alternate realm Shea Berkley creates—especially the pux. I look forward to the next book in the saga.

[Danielle Barclay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ditto on what Darynda Jones said! Remarkable writing from Shea Berkley, this is not the voice of a debut author. The Marked Son is a polished, compulsive and completely entertaining read. I can't wait for more!

[Emma Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a book is freaking awesome when you read it in 7 hours and risk getting in trouble at work just so you don't have to put it down.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed. Too much lovey dovey stuff.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. I will be participating in the blog tour for the second book and have also read that one, so I needed this one first! Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he’s never met, he had no idea what.
When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents’ farm, he knows he’s seen her before... in his dreams. He’s felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.
Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he’s completely insane or he’s about to have the adventure of his life, because where they’re going is full of creatures he’s only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

So, when I first read the blurb for this book (many moons ago), I was very intrigued. But I kind of forgot about it. Then the email from Entangled came asking if I wanted to be part of the blog tour for the second book. Well, this one jumped right back out at me, I mean look at that cover, and I wanted it ASAP. And I'm so glad I dove right in, because I could not put this one down!

Let's start with Dylan. When the book first started, I was a little skeptical. It didn't really grab my attention right away. But I knew the premise and really wanted to see what it was about. And then I got past the first two chapters and POW I was sucked right in. Dylan is totally awesome. He's snarky and funny. He's good looking and makes me want to just reach through the page and grab him! I loved how Berkley described him throughout the book. He comes off as a bit insecure at first, but then you start to understand that he has spent his life moving around and not being able to really connect with anyone. He's only connected with the girl in his dreams, and she's a dream after all, right? And he completely determined and passionate about everything he does, despite his unusual upbringing.
Kera, well, she is just awesome. I loved her and everything about her. She's smart and curious and knows exactly what she wants. And she's not afraid to go after it. I love how she tries her hardest to protect Dylan. Everything she does is to preserve him, even if it means she gets hurt in the process.
And Dylan's friends, OMGosh, they are the perfect compliment to Dylan. Considering he has never had any friends, these guys kind of latch on to him and never question who he is or what he needs to do. As a matter of fact, they accept him for what he is, without worrying about all the "strangeness" that goes on while they are with him. There were so many great characters in this book, I can't name them all or tell you about each one of them. You have to pick up this book and get to know them for yourself!

The plot line of this book is great. At first, you really don't know that it's going to be a fantasy, and then BOOM, you are sucked into a world you didn't even know existed. And you are sucked into the magic and creatures who are totally beyond anything you would ever know or understand. And it's fast past and has you turning every single page wondering what will happen next. This is the third fae series that I have read and I have to say that it is by far my favorite so far.

One of my favorite things about this book is Shea's use of humor. Just when you think it will only be action and drama, the characters get snarky with each other. I just loved it. It broke the seriousness of the book in such a great way. Just when I thought my heart would jump from my chest, I started laughing. I just loved it.

Shea's writing flows well and really helps describe the world so well. I love the characters and the different creatures that are introduced and explained. Shea creates a realistic world. Shea pulls you through her book without stopping.

I did have two small issues with this book. The first was how readily Dylan's friends and family accept the fae world and it's creatures/inhabitants. They didn't even question it but just said it was cool and moved on. I found this to be a bit unrealistic. I almost felt there needed to be some kind of conflict between Dylan and his new friends to make it seem like they questioned the motives just a bit. My second is that Kera's portions of the book are told in third person. I kind of found this odd since Dylan's was first person. I would have liked to see things from her perspective instead of outside her perspective.

All in all this was a really enjoyable book. Actually, I was not expecting to like it quite as much as I did. But I did and I was totally anxious to move on to the second book and see what happens to the characters. One thing I'm glad for, Berkley didn't leave us with a complete cliffhanger at the end!

[Febriani Madusari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ceritanya lumayan sih, seru juga, sayang gk dilanjutkan penerbitan terjemahannya.

[Hana Eka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suka juga dengan kisah ini :)

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The instalove is off the charts in this one.