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The Marked
A winding road, a freak storm, and a lightning strike. Jude Altfall's life, just beginning to coalesce after her divorce, is shattered afresh. Dazed with grief, she's not sure if the weird things happening around her are hallucinations...or something more. And there's the mark on her hip--a tattoo she can't for the life of her remember getting.
Preston Marlock left a shadowy government agency two years ago, to hunt a killer. Each time the bastard strikes the trail goes cold, and not even Marlock's more-than-natural abilities are helping. Now the killer's taken one of his very few friends, and there's a surviving witness. The Altfall woman is now that most precious and fragile of targets, newly Marked. All Marlock has to do is dangle her like bait, and the killer will eventually show up.
The Skinner knows some people are different. Special. He has a collection of stretched skin and pretty pictures, each harvested with care. The trick is to take them while the victim is still struggling, still alive, otherwise their power is lost. He is careful, methodical, and precise, but chance robs him of a prize. Once he realizes Jude Altfall has what he covets, and has possibly seen his face, her fate is sealed. And just to be cautious, the Skinner might swat at the annoying fly who has buzzed along his trail for two years...
Preston Marlock left a shadowy government agency two years ago, to hunt a killer. Each time the bastard strikes the trail goes cold, and not even Marlock's more-than-natural abilities are helping. Now the killer's taken one of his very few friends, and there's a surviving witness. The Altfall woman is now that most precious and fragile of targets, newly Marked. All Marlock has to do is dangle her like bait, and the killer will eventually show up.
The Skinner knows some people are different. Special. He has a collection of stretched skin and pretty pictures, each harvested with care. The trick is to take them while the victim is still struggling, still alive, otherwise their power is lost. He is careful, methodical, and precise, but chance robs him of a prize. Once he realizes Jude Altfall has what he covets, and has possibly seen his face, her fate is sealed. And just to be cautious, the Skinner might swat at the annoying fly who has buzzed along his trail for two years...
253 pages, ebook
First published September 25, 2016
25 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Saintcrow
132 books4,513 followersLilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 18, 2017
2 1/2
A very dark and somewhat depressing urban fantasy. I'm used to her dark and gritty novels, but depressing is a new experience and not sure one I liked. Most of it is simply dark, but around the 80% mark, when you realize where the story is going (aka nothing is going to improve) depression sets in.
With a somewhat more slightly upbeat ending I might have given this book four or plus rating, but that last 20% when the main male lead behaves as any TSTL character at its worst would, the world seems populated by bad guys only, and the heroine keeps going on (or not) as usual I got irked/blue/I'm-not-sure-myself. I'm weird I know, I love dark and gritty, but I realized today I don't like complete hopelessness.
The heroine is locked into her head for all the book. And it's not a place I wanted to be. I might be sympathetic, I am. But this is not where I want to be, when 'this' is the head of a mother who has just lost her 2 children. Sympathy moves me up to a certain point, because that kind of story isn't what I want to read.
On a personal, and as such unpleasant, note. This book was crowdfunded by the author via Patreon. I wonder if I'm the only one to find it almost immoral (mmm too strong a word: unfair? unpleasant?). Up to now it was just a matter of an author whose stance on life I wasn't always liking to the full. Her behavior on Steelflower's series is such an example, or my take of her idea on fans/Patreon (=this is the renaissance and an author has to be supported by patrons).
But this book left me with a unsettled mind. Because I get the impression she has used the platform to exorcise her trauma/nightmare.
I guess all writing is a form of therapy, but here I really got the impression this was one of her worst nightmare deployed. She comes from a difficult family background and has a girl and a boy.
The heroine has a nice background, but she's married into a nightmare and has a girl and a boy. A girl and a boy that die at the beginning of the book.
I don't know, I really might be unfair, but I had the impression all along I was someone's therapy. And I paid for it too. She wrote all the possible pain and questions and guilt and sorrow/tears/you name it a mother surviving her children could go through.
As I said personal and unpleasant, sorry.
Will I read a sequel? I might, if it moves the story a bit toward grey rather than pitch black.
Would I recommend it? If you like dark and gritty definitely yes, her world is always imaginative, her stories too. But you need to know your triggers.
A very dark and somewhat depressing urban fantasy. I'm used to her dark and gritty novels, but depressing is a new experience and not sure one I liked. Most of it is simply dark, but around the 80% mark, when you realize where the story is going (aka nothing is going to improve) depression sets in.
With a somewhat more slightly upbeat ending I might have given this book four or plus rating, but that last 20% when the main male lead behaves as any TSTL character at its worst would, the world seems populated by bad guys only, and the heroine keeps going on (or not) as usual I got irked/blue/I'm-not-sure-myself. I'm weird I know, I love dark and gritty, but I realized today I don't like complete hopelessness.
The heroine is locked into her head for all the book. And it's not a place I wanted to be. I might be sympathetic, I am. But this is not where I want to be, when 'this' is the head of a mother who has just lost her 2 children. Sympathy moves me up to a certain point, because that kind of story isn't what I want to read.
On a personal, and as such unpleasant, note. This book was crowdfunded by the author via Patreon. I wonder if I'm the only one to find it almost immoral (mmm too strong a word: unfair? unpleasant?). Up to now it was just a matter of an author whose stance on life I wasn't always liking to the full. Her behavior on Steelflower's series is such an example, or my take of her idea on fans/Patreon (=this is the renaissance and an author has to be supported by patrons).
But this book left me with a unsettled mind. Because I get the impression she has used the platform to exorcise her trauma/nightmare.
I guess all writing is a form of therapy, but here I really got the impression this was one of her worst nightmare deployed. She comes from a difficult family background and has a girl and a boy.
The heroine has a nice background, but she's married into a nightmare and has a girl and a boy. A girl and a boy that die at the beginning of the book.
I don't know, I really might be unfair, but I had the impression all along I was someone's therapy. And I paid for it too. She wrote all the possible pain and questions and guilt and sorrow/tears/you name it a mother surviving her children could go through.
As I said personal and unpleasant, sorry.
Will I read a sequel? I might, if it moves the story a bit toward grey rather than pitch black.
Would I recommend it? If you like dark and gritty definitely yes, her world is always imaginative, her stories too. But you need to know your triggers.
September 13, 2016
Driving down a country road, Jude's driving skills are challenged by a sudden and terrible storm. In the darkness and driving rain, she nearly hits a man in the road. In mere minutes, Jude's entire world collapses. Jude is more changed by the encounter than she suspects. Several persons are very interested in her and in the strange tattoo on her body. Jude can't remember getting a tattoo. But this is a very special and very powerful tattoo. This is a suspenseful and mesmerizing urban fantasy, involving powerful sentient tattoos. The heroine is a quiet survivor of domestic violence, struggling with unbearable grief. There are an underlying themes which resonated with me; the power of the female traits of nurturing and creation, the power of love and family, and the double edged sword of male physical power and control. I am looking forward to more in this series.
September 22, 2016
Heartrending origin story within a novel world, the details of which are meted out. Not an easy read, but a tense, powerful, and interesting one. Bonus genuine, wonderful relationship between two sisters - you don't get to see that all that often! The author crowdsourced this, and I'm really hoping that she's able to write a sequel. I would love to explore these characters and this world more!
February 6, 2017
3.5 - 4 Stars
A very dark, gritty (almost depressing at times) urban fantasy. I don't think this is going to be for every reader of this genre, but I did enjoy and am looking forward to more in this world.
Review to come at www.fictionvixen.com
A very dark, gritty (almost depressing at times) urban fantasy. I don't think this is going to be for every reader of this genre, but I did enjoy and am looking forward to more in this world.
Review to come at www.fictionvixen.com
November 19, 2017
I guess it was ok. I found it a little boring towards the end.
September 17, 2016
Life leaves marks. It scars you, alters you irrevocably. Usually, these marks cannot be seen. But when the most tragic event in your life imbues you with a magical, world-changing tattoo, the mark cannot be ignored.
The Marked is an emotionally charged dark urban fantasy that will grab your heart with its claws and refuse to let go. This was a book I never wanted to put down. And now that it's all over I want two things. 1) A hug. And 2) I want to know what happens next!
The Marked is an emotionally charged dark urban fantasy that will grab your heart with its claws and refuse to let go. This was a book I never wanted to put down. And now that it's all over I want two things. 1) A hug. And 2) I want to know what happens next!
November 26, 2016
Really interesting setup but SOOOO dark.
Warning: Lead is a battered wife (newly divorced) and looses both kids in the first chapter.
Warning: Lead is a battered wife (newly divorced) and looses both kids in the first chapter.
March 4, 2018
This author can't write a bad book no matter what she might say. An unusual book.
This story makes you look at tattoos in a whole new light. This is book 1 in a series. I am glad. I want more. I whizzed through this book as I could not put it aside. Stayed up too late. Forget doing the dishes. I loved the characters and want to meet them again. I hope it's soon!
This story makes you look at tattoos in a whole new light. This is book 1 in a series. I am glad. I want more. I whizzed through this book as I could not put it aside. Stayed up too late. Forget doing the dishes. I loved the characters and want to meet them again. I hope it's soon!
August 19, 2019
Would not read
Not sure if there is going to be a sequel but the book just ends with lots of things not tied up. No romance was started. Spoiler...The book started with death of children and that would be a reason not to read in itself for me. Book had potential but did not deliver.
Not sure if there is going to be a sequel but the book just ends with lots of things not tied up. No romance was started. Spoiler...The book started with death of children and that would be a reason not to read in itself for me. Book had potential but did not deliver.
October 14, 2024
Start of a series that did not get continued. Ends with a terrible cliffhanger. Typical solid writing from Saintcrow, canceled out by the complete absence of the rest of the story. I'm reading online, so I suppose there's a possibility that more books are lurking in a used paperback shop somewhere, but Amazon doesn't have any listings for them, so I think not. Big disappointment.
February 6, 2022
UF, a tear-jerker of a beginning. Definitely have tissues on hand. The grief-stricken Jude makes a very compelling character. Tense, short chapters made this a quick read. I want to know more about Presston Marlock and hope the author gets back to this series sometime.
March 26, 2023
starts slow and then …
The end really started a wild ride, edgy and gruesome. Excellent writing and imagery. The MC is nicely fleshed out , supporting cast more flat but maybe in the sequel we’ll see more.
Now to read the sequel
The end really started a wild ride, edgy and gruesome. Excellent writing and imagery. The MC is nicely fleshed out , supporting cast more flat but maybe in the sequel we’ll see more.
Now to read the sequel
December 11, 2016
Different
Sad in parts, but couldn't put it down. Interesting ideas, characters. Authors books always good, this was a step above in my opinion.
Sad in parts, but couldn't put it down. Interesting ideas, characters. Authors books always good, this was a step above in my opinion.
August 21, 2017
Well done, just too dark for me...
October 8, 2016
Wow
Imaginative. Gut Wrenching. Heart Breaking. Unique. Paranormal Suspense Mystery, which is one hell of a thrill ride, with enthralling characters and a plot that ripped my heart out. This is not a nice light read, it is a dark and powerful read, and the start of a paranormal world I can't wait to dive deeper into.
Now this isn't what I would call a clean text, there are both character name mistakes and spelling/word placement errors. I am not the comma police but the book needs 'read' through, not just spelled check by the editor. These errors don't take away from a unique story.
Imaginative. Gut Wrenching. Heart Breaking. Unique. Paranormal Suspense Mystery, which is one hell of a thrill ride, with enthralling characters and a plot that ripped my heart out. This is not a nice light read, it is a dark and powerful read, and the start of a paranormal world I can't wait to dive deeper into.
Now this isn't what I would call a clean text, there are both character name mistakes and spelling/word placement errors. I am not the comma police but the book needs 'read' through, not just spelled check by the editor. These errors don't take away from a unique story.
October 8, 2016
Absorbing
This book is a mix of urban paranormal and John LeCarre style spy-thriller. The heroine is an abuse survivor with two small children whose paranormal gift is activated when she almost dies in a car wreck. The same wreck causes her to be noticed by a serial killer who collects the gifts of the "marked."
This book is a mix of urban paranormal and John LeCarre style spy-thriller. The heroine is an abuse survivor with two small children whose paranormal gift is activated when she almost dies in a car wreck. The same wreck causes her to be noticed by a serial killer who collects the gifts of the "marked."
February 26, 2017
I found this book so difficult to finish. There was a whole lot of suspense from start to finish with a quick, disappointing climax. Even after the climax, the author continued with her "ooooh, what's going to happen next?" vibe. It was just too much.
I didn't enjoy it because it left more questions than answers. The characters lacked any real depth. I don't have to have a nice, neat happily ever after but this book didn't change mood from beginning to end. It stayed sad, depressing, and pathetic. Not one character was able to enjoy life.
How did this book get such a high rating?
I didn't enjoy it because it left more questions than answers. The characters lacked any real depth. I don't have to have a nice, neat happily ever after but this book didn't change mood from beginning to end. It stayed sad, depressing, and pathetic. Not one character was able to enjoy life.
How did this book get such a high rating?
February 19, 2017
There's no easy way to say it - Jude's life is destroyed in a blinding moment, just as we meet her. She did everything she could to protect the ones she loved. Now, she's trying to understand how her life was so completely altered and more importantly, why. Add in an ex-husband that deserves whatever karma decides he should suffer through and an interesting possible love interest named Preston and Jude's future won't be what she expects. Especially when she's noticed by a serial killer commonly called "The Skinner". Once he sinks his claws into Jude, all bets are off. A satisfying ending that promises a sequel.
September 24, 2016
A strong, dark story that keeps you thinking, even when it's over. So rich in words, emotion and imagination. I can't wait for the sequel!
September 19, 2016
I’m not quite sure where I first came across Saintcrow, probably via someone on twitter. I know someone recommended backing her Indiego project, but I never marked down who it was, and alas, not that memory has gone.
I know at some point I had her mixed up with Deliah S. Dawson, aka Lila Bowen, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t the same person ;)
Anyway, somebody somewhere said back this book. And I am suggestible1 so I did, and so I got my hands on this copy of The Marked. It’s an urban fantasy novel2 which I know is a turn off to some people. But in case you fear the romance, don’t worry3 this isn’t a romance book. It is, instead, a book all about grief and loss, how your life can alter in a second. How those life changing events leave marks behind. And in the case of this book those marks are tattoos, of a sort, and give the bearer power. Different powers, different tattoos, different people.
And it is a really good, gripping read. It is well worth a read. I flew through it, and I will certainly be looking forward to where the story develops in the next book. It is “to be continued” and I’m so looking forward to that.
I know at some point I had her mixed up with Deliah S. Dawson, aka Lila Bowen, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t the same person ;)
Anyway, somebody somewhere said back this book. And I am suggestible1 so I did, and so I got my hands on this copy of The Marked. It’s an urban fantasy novel2 which I know is a turn off to some people. But in case you fear the romance, don’t worry3 this isn’t a romance book. It is, instead, a book all about grief and loss, how your life can alter in a second. How those life changing events leave marks behind. And in the case of this book those marks are tattoos, of a sort, and give the bearer power. Different powers, different tattoos, different people.
And it is a really good, gripping read. It is well worth a read. I flew through it, and I will certainly be looking forward to where the story develops in the next book. It is “to be continued” and I’m so looking forward to that.
December 10, 2016
Dark UF mixed with the beginnings of a PNR (don't expect a PNR hea payoff just yet). The book seemed like it was confused in that respect vs. just being a blend. The author does sister, female friends types of relationships well. The main heroine reminded me of the types in her Watcher series, but although I prefer her other heroines I will def buy the next instalment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews