The Mark

The Mark #1

by Jen Nadol

Sixteen year old Cassandra Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she mentioned it to someone else, the mark was dismissed as a trick of the light. So Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?

Most importantly: if you know today is someone's last, should you tell them?

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Magic, Mythology

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2010

About the author

Jen Nadol grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania and graduated from American University with a BA in literature. She's lived in Washington DC, Boston, NYC and now, an old farmhouse north of the city with her three sons. When she's not writing, she's probably tending to the farmhouse or the sons, reading, cooking, skiing, or sleeping.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottom line – The Mark left it's mark with me, I enjoyed Jen Nadol's writing and will be sure to be on the look out for more from her, I am hoping maybe a sequel, there's totally enough here for one, and maybe more of a resolution. It left me asking questions about my own life, would I want to know if today was my last day...and how might I feel if some stranger came up to me, telling me that today was my last day! Defiantly recommend picking it up! A 4 star read for me!
Read my full review - The Mark

[Emy Shin]

3/5 stars

The Mark starts with a bang as Cassie trails after the man with the mark and witnesses his death. It's gripping and suspenseful; it draws you in and doesn't let go. From the very beginning, Cassie presents herself as sympathetic character who has lost her parents and is now living with her grandmother. She's strong and independent and doesn't break down when faced with hardships. It's admirable.

There are many interesting elements in the story, including Greek myths, concepts of fate, and a shift in setting mid-way through the novel. The novel does a good of showing Cassie's grief, and bringing us along as Cassie explores her ability and toes the fine line between letting fate runs its course and interfering.

However, a third of the way through, there is a change in setting and characters that also signals a shift in tone and pacing, which can be rather jarring. The romantic relationship(s) in this novel leaves me wanting. I wasn't much interested in Luke, the philosophical boyfriend, and the ending itself is anti-climatic. I do wish it were longer and had wrapped up better. Still, this is a decent read, with a likeable heroine.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

ATTENTION:
this review contains mild spoilers, nothing that will ruin the book for you, only enough to make you understand why I didn't like it. More litteral spoilers I hid...



This book is half a book in my opinion, or it was written doing half the effort.



The characters:

Cassandra: She's got a crappy life, I gotta give it to her, so I get the crappy attitude and the depressing personality but we never see her complain about it, about her parents and then about her grandma dying , we only see her being a crappy and depressed person who knows when someone's going to die...


Nan: She's a crappy grandmother, I mean, I get that not everyone's grandmother can be as awesome as mine but the fact that she hid so many things from Cassie and not because it was good for her but because life was easier for her if Cassie never knew that:
Cassie's mom had lived until Cassie was 5, not 2, meaning there were 3 years Cassie could've spent with her mother but the grandmother stole from her, yeah I know Cassie's mom was nuts but she kind of wasn't, was she? She was traumatized but everything she said was true, but no one got it, EXCEPT NAN WHO SHOULD'VE. But NO she put her in a nut-house to rot and forgot about her. which is mean. & also, Nan gave Cassie the book about who she was and all that crap, but did she explain anything to Cassie? NOOOO, she let Cassie think she was half crazy and the only one in the family with that 'gift' (and I'll talk about how Cassie handled that 'gift' in a while)... That is pure evil, why would you not tell your grandaughter that you understand? why would you not help her?


Jack: He's our MC's supposed first crush, but apart from the fact that he's a baseball player & hot & has a girlfriend... we get no more than that... & apart from 2 weak and unimportant conversations with our MC, he's a nobody, of course until he appears in Berin, where our MC is SOOOO surprised to see him but GOSH, even I remembered he was going to visit the universities there... I mean... really? It was obvious and dumb because it was staged so MC's current boyfriend would feel jealous.
But still, not important, I didn't even like him & he was a character I didn't pay attention no matter how much Nadol threw in our faces the fact our MC had a crush on him.... PATHETIC.


Lucas: Let me just start with EEEWWWW, he's such a stalker from the begining & then our MC is soooooooo dumb, she like sleeps with him on the first date after never having a boyfriend & being a virgin (all this I suppose, but we're never given that info)... Like, really? I am not slut-shaming I think that's awful, she should do whatever she wants but taking into account she barely knows the guy and has never had sex before, I just don't think it's a great example of an MC to just sleep with the guy and not even think about it... idk, it's my personal opinion, maybe I wanted a bigger fuss over the having sex with a stranger... and I never liked him all through the book & I liked him less when he got a fricking God complex over what Cassie should do with her gift, he pressured her and he got all offended on her when she didn't agree. That was the only part of the book I liked her even though I agreed with Lucas...




The story:
I liked the idea, the complex situation of not knowing what to do, it's so philosphical and interesting... but I always thought it was a no brainer: THE MC DOES THE RIGHT THING or SHE THINKS SHE'S DOING THE RIGHT THING. Unless our MC is not a hero. But in the case our MC is not a hero then she could be the Villain or if the author feels intelligent enough to write about an ambiguous character where we don't even know if he/she is good or bad then OK. I will be fine with it.
But in The Mark, having an MC CLEARLY cathegorized as a hero who has suffered a lot and is trying to discover what's the right thing to do... for that MC to finally get as a conclusion that NOT DOING ANYTHING is the best way to go... it's so sad and yeah, when she did do something telling that construction guy & the guy not dying & then killing his wife 3 days later it backfired, BUT I think it was because she tried to change it... she specifically tried to change the course of things, therefore fate smacked her in the ass & said "STFU, dude, don't mess with things!" while if she had only tried INFORMING the people that well, they had 24hs to live, so they should make the best out of them... maybe the backfire wouldn't have happened, because you're telling that person that he/she is going to die, you're not giving another option, and yes, maybe telling them they will die will change the course of things, but there's a possibility that it won't but they'll die more peacefully...
I think, of course, everyone should have their own opinions, it's, as I said previously, a philosophical matter & it is hard to make a definite path to take, to be sure it is the right one... But GIVING UP, like our MC did?
That's just SAD and in no way something I want in an MC...


I don't recommend this book, it feels amateurish and like the author didn't have a clear idea what she wanted to comunicate with her book & also that she didn't have an idea HOW she wanted her characters to be portrayed.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually won an ARC of this book, which makes me extremely squee-y. It also makes me want to write a good review! I am clearly doing very well with that objective, as evidenced by the inclusion of "squee-y" in my first sentence. Yay grammar and spelling!

Cassandra Renfield has been able to see the Mark on random people, usually strangers. As long as she can remember, a faint glow around passer-bys has been visible, but she's never thought much of it. It's just something she sees, and other people don't, but it hasn't come up enough for her to be worried about it. Her Nan doesn't seem worried either, so why should she? Then as the book opens, she has just realized what the Mark means. It means that the people glowing like that, are going to die soon- very soon. This is their last day alive.

And then THE question comes up. If you know that today is a person's last day alive, do you tell them?

The pacing of this book was not what I expected. I found I was able to predict what would happen next, but it didn't happen WHEN I expected. A lot of the book was not what I expected. I read the back and thought "Oh, a romance. Her new boyfriend is going to show her how to use her power to save lives, and then there'll be kissing!" Well yes, there was kissing, but it's not that simple. Nothing is really that simple. (The romance kinda freaked me out, to be honest. Isn't a 19 year old sleeping with a 16 year old, uh, statutory rape? I thought that's what it was in the US, at least?)

I really liked how the answers to Cassandra's dilemma had to be puzzled through, because it is a true dilemma. It's not that she just has a super power to save lives, it is revealed that what she chooses to do with her gift has consequences on other people's lives, beyond the person walking around with the Mark on them. (Think Greek myths, and the fact that traditionally, cheating death is frowned on by The Powers That Be.)

And right now, I have to mention a facet of the book that I loved. LOVED LOVED LOVED. Cassandra takes a philosophy course! *swoons* And it isn't just a token course, "Oh, Cassie's going to be late, her philosophy course is tonight." "Silly Cassie and her philosophy course, she's so smart." "She's really smart! She's taking philosophy, you know!" No, she actually TAKES philosophy, and it's PART OF THE PLOT.

There needs to be more YA featuring Plato. Nicomachean Ethics used in romance FTW! Let's argue Hume instead of making Hummus!

Ahem.

Right, back to the story. I really, really liked how Cassandra was a smart heroine. And that her intelligence was shown, not just told to me. (Though if I can have a moment, I was sad that she didn't read any Aquinas. What, we go straight from aristotle to Descarte? She even skipped the stoics!) [SPOILERS:] However, I was frustrated by the rather post-modernistic answer she came to by the end of the book. There is no way to tell if what I do will be good, therefore do nothing? There's no way to tell, because you're ONLY ONE THIRD OF A TRIO. You need the other fates to know what to do! [/SPOILERS:] And yes, I hope that a sequel will be written, so I can see more how she deals with this.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mark is about sixteen-year-old Cassandra Renfield, a girl who has always seen the mark. The mark shines on certain people and is luminescent like a candle light - and it also tells Cassie that the person it's shining on is going to die during that very day. Cassie's unique ability is a gift as much as it is a curse. There are a plethora of questions that come with her predicament. How does the mark work? Is she the only one who can see it? Are her deceased parents involved? The final question, or the one that brings the novel in full circle and Cassie's conscious to a stuttering halt: if you knew that today was the person's last, would you tell them?

What an interesting novel. To be honest, when I first read the book jacket I thought that The Mark would be another cliche, over-used plot line with an adolescent suffering from a unique power and not sure how to use it. Admittedly, that was how the book started. But by the end, Nadol took it in a completely different direction and I ended up loving it. I can't wait for the sequel. Cassie was also an extremely likable character - Nadol writes first person prose very well.

[Kay Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been wanting to read The Mark since the deal was first announced. The premise was brilliant... if you knew it was someone's last day, should you tell? The concept grabbed hold of me and never let go. Even after reading it, I'm still thinking about it!

The book made me laugh, it made me cry, but most of all it made me think. I found myself reading much more slowly than I usually do because my mind was processing everything on a personal level. How would I feel if that were me? Would I tell or wouldn't I? A fantastic debut all around!

[Kimberly Derting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished this book a couple of days ago and am still thinking about it. I love when a story sticks with me, and in this case, Cassie's ability as well. (I find myself playing the "what if" game...as in "What if *I* knew someone was about to die?")

Nadol did a great job dealing with both Cassie's discovery of, and coming to terms with, her unusual "gift". Believable, and at times heartbreaking, Cassie's journey is a fantastic read!

[Anastasia Hopcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, thought-provoking book! Cassie is a wonderful heroine---a very real girl that I would enjoy hanging out with. She hasn't had an easy life, but she never comes across as a 'poor me' type of person. The Mark even made me cry at times, and I think it was because of how well-drawn the characters were. I can't wait for more from Jen Nadol!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one more. Really. But though The Mark was enjoyable to some extent, it just didn't suck me in the way I was hoping it would. However, The Mark does pose a very interesting question: if you know someone's going to die within 24 hours, what do you do? And as a side note, don't go in expecting an action-filled or even a fast-paced read because you won't be able to appreciate The Mark for the gradually developing and thought-probing story it is.

I'm going to divert from the norm here and start off with the positive. I really liked Jen Nadol's concept, though I do find it a bit ironic that a death is foreshadowed by light. It's nothing extremely weird, and in fact, it sort of makes me feel happier about the idea of death - it's not darkness, it's light. I clearly saw Cassie's internal debate between tell and don't-tell, and though I had my own opinion from the very beginning, I could understand her struggle and cheered when she reached her "larger insight." Lucas definitely played devil's advocate for Cassie, and I groaned every time she succumbed to what I knew, knew!, wouldn't yield pleasant results. That being said, Cassie isn't an extremely weak character, she's just naive (which can get annoying, though not majorly so) and a teenage girl with some believable flaws.

I mentioned Lucas, and I never, ever liked him. *wants to bash him a few times with a rock pebble*
...
Okay, so maybe I had a minor crush on him the first time he was described as the intellectual-coffee-shop-cute type, but my mind was waving player alert; I swear! Once I started getting around that, I found Lucas had an annoyingly strong sense of morality and mistrust and that, to put it simply, made him a jerk. I think he was mainly placed as an obstacle for Cassie, though, ugh, he was just so predictable and unlikable. As for the other characters, with the exclusion of Cassie, I had neutral feelings for. Cassie was brought to the forefront in The Mark, and the secondary characters faded into the background. There were mentions here-and-there, but the other characters would basically come in for some time, play their part when convenient, then leave. Like Lucas, they were more like obstacles and aids rather than characters with clearly defined personalities and motivations. The brief appearances were bad in that I didn't feel like there was enough support, but good because it set-up for a sequel.

Overall, I think what really determines how much you'll like The Mark is how much you like the focus of the book, which is ALL on Cassie. On the plus side, I really got an in-depth view of her, and I liked the varying philosophies Jen Nadol brought up. On the other hand, there were some very predictable parts and the middle section got monotonous; there was the introduction, a lull, then multiple surprising revelations at the end. My final verdict: interesting, but nothing in particular stood out or really captured my attention.

Bottom Line: The Mark was an enjoyable book, though there was never an extremely exciting or loveable part that made me feel fully invested in the story. It wasn't extremely thought provoking, but it was definitely thought probing and had an interesting mix of depth and simple teenage issues. In general, a good start for debut author Jen Nadol, and I'll be looking forward to where she takes this unique premise that will hopefully only improve from here on out. If you're looking for something that's light yet will keep your mind on its figurative toes, look no further than The Mark.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly under a 4.


I had been hearing a lot of good stuff about The Mark, a debut by Jen Nadol, and I was intrigued by the premise which, though gaining in popularity and starting to crop up everywhere, was a bit fresher at the time. I have to say, overall I enjoyed it, but I do have some reservations.

It took me awhile to get into the story the way I wanted to. It was never that I disliked it, because I didn't, but it took me quite awhile to feel invested in Cassie and her story. It just felt a little soft to me. I don't know if that will make sense to you, but it's a book about death, essentially, and everything was just a bit too rose-colored for me. There was a disconnect, and as I was reading, I felt like, okay, that's nice...but forgettable, essentially, and it took me about 1/2 of the book to feel invested and start caring.

I think what brought me around was that at one point, the book becomes very philosophical (the result of Cassie taking a summer philosophy course and beginning to question her ability and its implications). I read one review where the reader didn't like that the book sort of rotated on this, and became more a coming of age book, all about self-discovery rather than the paranormal romance she thought she was going to be reading. I get that, but for me, it was the questions that made it. Nadol was able to depict that endless cycling of ifs and buts that would come from trying to work your way through this type of ability. Cassie came alive for me in this, because I thought her reactions and thought processes felt very authentic. She was realistic and hesitant and very, very cautious, which played well off of Lucas' self-righteousness and easy morality. This finally allowed me to connect to Cassie, and changed my opinion of the book enough so that I felt it actually was a pretty successful book in the end. Except --

Except for the end. Well, not the very end, but near to. Without giving anything away, up until that point, Cassie's ability and its origins was fairly ambiguous, and I enjoyed that. I'm all for willing suspension of disbelief, and I don't feel everything has to be explained or clear so long as it works. If Cassie doesn't know, we don't know, and that makes sense. But then right at the end, there was something thrown in that sort of changed the whole thing for me, and I am not sure how I feel about it. I don't know if this is going to be a stand-alone book (I would respect it more, honestly, if it was), but because of the element introduced at the end and a few loose ends, I have a feeling there is more coming. If said element was to lay groundwork for a series, it felt a little sloppy to me, and a little silly, if I'm being honest. After all of the well-thought philosophy, it really disappointed me because it felt like a ploy. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but it is what it is, and it knocked back my opinion of the book again. Not enough to outweigh that I did enjoy it. But between the beginning where I didn't care, and the end where I felt a bit cheated and irritated, I feel like I only got about 1/3 of a solid story that I care about. It was a good 1/3, and I would recommend this*, but it bears mentioning.

So, all in all, a solid debut with some downsides, but still likely to win over teens and not-so-teens.


*I know, I know. You're thinking, why did you have to tell me all of these negatives just to say, But you should still read it... Why do I do this? Because I can.

^_^

[Brianna (The Book Vixen) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie is a sweet, smart 16-year old girl with an unique ability: she sees “the mark”, a glow around a person as if being illuminated by candle light, the day they are going to die. At first, Cassie tries to figure out what the mark means. Soon enough she realizes that the mark means the person is going to die but it takes her a while to figure out that the day she sees the mark on a person, is the last day of life for them. She discovers this the day she sees the mark on a man and decides to follow him only to watch him get hit by a car. Then there’s the patient sharing a room in the hospital with Nan, her grandmother. Then she sees the mark on Nan. Cassie tries desperately to stop the impending death, and is unsuccessful.

Cassie had lived with Nan ever since she was two years old, when her parents died. After Nan died, Cassie is forced to return to the town she’s from and live with her aunt for the summer. To keep herself busy, Cassie signs up for a philosophy class. There she meets Lucas, the TA, and he becomes her boyfriend. Due to certain circumstances, Cassie finds herself trying to explain her ability to Lucas. Once he’s convince that she’s not delusional, he pressures her to try to stop death to her best ability. He got all philosophical on her trying to convince her that she was given the ability for a reason; that this is her purpose in life.

(Lucas drove me nuts. I wanted to slap him.)

The Mark started off great. I really got engaged in the story right from the start. Here’s the first line:

There is nothing like the gut-hollowing experience of watching someone die, especially when you know it’s coming.

This book makes you think about life and its value. What would you do if you had Cassie’s ability? Would you try to warn the person? Try to avoid death? Would you do it for a stranger? What if that stranger was a tiny little baby?

See what I mean? Deep. (I cried.)

I didn’t really care for the cover in retrospect of the story and its meaning. The cover feels too whimsical for me. It’s a nice cover, I just didn’t feel that there was a significance to the story.

I felt the need to follow Cassie as she tries to get a hold of her bearings and prepares for a lifetime of trying to avoid the impossible and dealing with the repercussions. Cassie's only trying to do what she thinks is the right thing.

Nadol mixes Greek mythology and philosophy to cover such a deep and heavy topic. I thought about this book for days after I finished reading it. It’s haunting, really. The ending didn’t feel complete to me; I didn’t get closure. However, in my opinion, I do see it fit for a sequel…a sequel I will be reading.


Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.

[Chanelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wrote a long review of this book and my browser decided to exit out of this webpage tab. Now I'm annoyed and won't be doing another long one.

Basically, I felt cheated. I thought the book would be something it really wasn't. The description did not give away the true explanation of the book and the kind of journey the characters would take. I thought it would be about one girl's adventure using a supernatural ability. The ability to know when someone was about to die. But what this book was, was a huge philosophy lesson told in the POV of a sixteen year old girl learning it for herself.

The book centres around the question: if you know it is a person's last day on Earth - do you tell them? Cassie opts not to. She feels that nothing good can come of telling a person they're going to die. She feels like she won't be able to change anything. Then during a philsophy class and by meeting other people, she realises not everyone shares this view and Cassie is confused.

That's about it really. Cassie moves to stay with her aunt. She gets a job in a coffee shop. She signs up for a college course and meets a guy there. She sees a few people with the Mark and does nothing. She works and sleeps and dates and studies. She sees more people with the mark and does nothing. Then her boyfried gets the mark and he is the first person she tells except for her nan. Now this might be the point where you'd assume a plot would start to manifest. Wrong. Then for another five or so chapters, she tries to persuade him she's not crazy. She let's someone with the mark die in front of him to prove it. After that, back to the same routine. Work, studying, dating, sleeping. I struggled to keep reading, hoping something more would happen. Something exciting - something out of the box with an ability that could lead to endless possibilities.

The ending of the book finds Cassie trying to tell people it is their last day and not digging this new way of dealing. She then finds out a family secret which is what the rest of the book deals with. Research - which is as boring to read about as doing yourself. The mythology added at the end was an interesting turn of events. The first in fact.

Cassie was boring. Plain and simple. Her best friend stood out more than she did. I guess when you're constantly dealing with death you're going to be somber. But she was somber and boring. I didn't root for her. I didn't want her to succeed. I didn't care about her welfare. This is a failure.

All in all, I guess the book did succeed in keeping me reading as I did finish it. However, it didn't succeed in much else. I won't be buying any following books in this series, but I might read them if I won it or borrowed it. This, for me, was one huge mislead.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick & Dirty: A well-written and thought-provoking tale that will have you intrigued.

Opening Sentence: There is nothing like the gut-hollowing experience of watching someone die, especially when you know it’s coming.

The Review:

Cassie Renfield has the freakish ability to see The Mark, an aura surrounding someone indicating that they will soon die. To make matters worse, Cassie sees The Mark around her grandmother and is haunted by the fact that she wasn’t able to save her. When Cassie’s grandmother dies, she is forced to relocate and live with her estranged aunt, who only cares about her own life and career. Cassie begins to search for answers and her inner struggles drive the plot forward.

Cassie is immediately likable, and her situation is compelling. It’s interesting seeing Cassie grapple with trying to understand her ability and its ramifications. She struggles with the burden of choosing between trying to help people or letting fate run its course. There’s also an intriguing mystery surrounding the death of her parents. Less intriguing though is Cassie’s relationship with her romantic interest, Lucas. Although their relationship is characterized by manipulation and deception, it falls a little flat and I for one simply couldn’t get into that part of the story.

Some other parts of the otherwise compelling story fall a little flat. The ending in particular is a little anti-climatic. In fact, the story generally could use more action. If you’re hoping for a book driven by a solid romantic plotline, this isn’t it. While Cassie does have a relationship with Lucas, this story is more about Cassie’s self discovery. In addition, I felt that the secondary characters were a little lacking.

Overall, I did enjoy reading The Mark. While neither an action packed story nor an angst laden romantic melodrama, Ms. Nadol nonetheless pens a thought-provoking novel filled with grief, heartache, and isolation. It’s certainly unique and does an excellent job of showcasing the ambiguity surrounding fate. The psychological and philosophical themes of the novel were compelling and will certainly keep readers guessing.

Notable Scene:

As I walked home I kept replaying it. Blood and broken glass on the pavement. The wide, unseeing eyes of the man who had hit him and the cell phone spinning brokenly on the shiny asphalt. I didn’t know what was worse: what I had seen or what it meant.

FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury provided me with a copy of The Mark. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

[Krystle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book such a long time ago that I have difficulty remembering much of anything about it, but I’ll try my best.

The romance is actually a surprise – yes, we start out with the typical girl falling absolutely in love after a few short encounters, but then it develops into a very different direction. Once Lucas finds out about Cassie’s ability he becomes obsessed and driven with this vendetta that she can use it for some humanitarian effort. And, well, this of course drives the couple apart and they don’t end up with their happy end. Shocked? Yes, considering that most of these romances end up so neatly wrapped up.

If you’re into philosophy then that whole debate section with the different approaches to a person’s way of thinking and beliefs might tickle your fancy. But, for me, I found it heavy handed and just a way to cause unnecessary tension between them, not to mention it sort of throws these ideologies into my face that I don’t especially have a great interest in.

The writing doesn’t appall or wow me. It’s just there. Although, there’s this one scene in the beginning of the book that tugged at my heart for a teensy bit because it was filled with very realistic emotions that I could relate to. It’s a short book, so it’s a pretty quick read.

Okay. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a little more out of this one. It felt like the prologue to a longer, move involved book, which, unfortunately, seems to be the trend in YA lit right now. It was one of those where the ending wasn't really any kind of ending at all.

The writing is pretty good, but I just didn't think the story was that great. I would have liked the story if it had explored the Greek mythology of the fates more. That was a more interesting angle for me, instead of spending the whole book with her debating whether or not she should tell someone when she saw the mark on them. I mean, it is an interesting dilemma, but there just wasn't enough there to make this story very interesting, for me.

The characters felt flat to me, and although Cassandra's story could have been very emotional, I just wasn't feeling it. The other characters really weren't fleshed out enough for me to care about them one way or the other. Still, it wasn't bad, just a little wasted potential, I think.

If you're really into YA fiction, give this one a go, but there is a lot of other, better YA lit out there right now.

[~Tina~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I expected going into The Mark, but I didn't expect this. In a way it was something more and something less.

The plot concept was both intriguing and mind boggling and the writing was very well done. But I can't help but be overly annoyed by one of the characters and it made the experience less enjoyable.
Not that all the characters were bad, but this one disappointed me in a way that I can't seem to shake off. Books are as great as the characters that are written about them, they are the glue that holds up the interest for any story and while this was only one character in an entire novel, it made a big difference, for me at least.

While this was indeed a very interesting story, I think it just rubbed me the wrong way.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

... not really worth ranting about.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out so well. The protagonist (Cassie) is stalking this poor middle-aged guy to see if he dies. Yeah. How macabre is that? Cassie sees a glow around certain people and it's not until she's sixteen that she figures out that it probably indicates that the person is about to die. Poor Mr. Glowing Mark is the test case to see whether the mark indicates death. It does. Mr. Glowing Mark is not long for this world.

With such a deliciously horrific beginning and a premise that lends itself to an intriguing plot, this book should've been good. Instead, it was slow.

Either nothing important happens for long stretches, Cassie is stupid, or there is a too-convenient plot key, or all three at the same time.

Cassie (and of COURSE her name is Cassandra, her and every other fictional girl who can glimpse the future) has a grandmother she loves a lot. Who is sick. I wonder if she survives the first act? She does not. Her grandmother's death is pretty much just to set up Cassie being shipped off to Kansas for a few months as per her grandmother's will. Because...why? Cassie has an aunt she has never met in Kansas and it would be logical her grandmother would make this aunt, Cassie's last living relative, Cassie's permanent guardian. But no, it's only for four months, and then Cassie inherits everything, including the house, and can live on her own. Why would her grandmother cryptically force Cassie to a state she's never been to and live with someone she has never known just long enough to be inconvenient (even though her grandmother has kindly died just before summer break, so Cassie doesn't have to miss too much school)? Grandmother's death/will is actually a plot key! There is important information in that Kansas town that Cassie needs to know. Even though the book that REALLY explains everything is sitting in the house Cassie already lives in. And Grandma COULD HAVE just written a frickin' note or something explaining everything to be read upon Cassie's inheritance. Grandma, however, decided this would make things too easy and off to Kansas Cassie goes.

Cassie befriends a young, hip psychologist on the airplane. It's a bit random. It's in fact so random that I knew it had to be important later. I was right! This psychologist is a plot key for clues about Cassie's mother.

Cassie gets a job at a coffeeshop. This is entirely irrelevant and leads to nothing, especially since by the end of Cassie's stay in Kansas she misses nearly every shift (she's too being depressed and/or stalky) and then just ups and quits. Cassie also enrolls in a local college philosophy class. Plot key! This class is mostly to (poorly) debate the ethics of telling people they're going to die and for Cassie to spend more time with Lucas, her creepster TA.

A lot of my problem with this book is Cassie and the guys she's involved with. There's a normal, nice high school guy she knows and has a crush on, but when she leaves for Kansas he's mostly shunted aside. I think he's being saved for sequels, which is annoying. Instead, Cassie randomly starts attracting older men. Her boss at the coffeeshop keeps hitting on her and gets petulant when she gets a boyfriend. That’s creepy! And it’s not okay since he’s young; he’s still a decade older than her AND HER BOSS. And then Cassie goes and starts dating her TA. Another guy too old for her and a semi-authority figure (and even though she’s not graded, he does punish her in class when their relationship sours. Which is why you don’t date someone who has authority over you!!). It was just REALLY weird that Nadol had two guys have inappropriate feelings for Cassie (Cassie herself finds nothing odd in this, even though there's no indication she's had so many older men interested in her before). And that Cassie lied to Lucas (the TA) about her age. Umm...just because he thinks you’re 18 because you told him so, it’s still statutory rape if someone (like...her aunt, maybe?) decides to get him arrested. It is morally wrong to lie to a guy about your age and then have sex with him. It’s exposing him to a danger he doesn’t deserve and it’s selfish. Also, if you can’t be honest about something like that, you have no business sleeping with the guy. The relationship is already in trouble.

Lucas was a pretty limp romantic lead to begin with and then turns out to be a dick. For a philosophy major, this guy is really closed minded. Also, dumb. And doesn’t know how to use the Socratic method (well, Nadol doesn’t know. My Constitutional Law professor is a god of Socratic Method and let me tell you nothing in this book even came close to capturing the true essence of it).

Lucas is especially dickish when he learns (and FINALLY believes in) Cassie's powers. Lucas then illogically decides that it is Cassie's duty to tell everyone she sees with the mark that they are going to die and there is almost nothing they can do about it. And if she doesn't she is a terrible person. Cassie does not point out as strongly as she should have that Lucas, her boyfriend, thought that she was absolutely off her rocker until she could PROVE her power to him. What is the likelihood that strangers would take her prediction at face-value? Cassie also should have told Lucas: “You want me to warn people, even after you treated me like a goddamn lunatic and almost broke up with me after learning of my ability? How about I spot the people with the mark and YOU try to convince them. Let’s see how duty-bound you feel then, buster.” Instead, she for some reason feels obliged to try and please Lucas and goes around stalking people who she knows will die. This ends well for no one.

Really, Cassie's power is just too overwhelmingly sucky. Knowing how someone is going to die and then being able to prevent it, fine. But Cassie just knows that someone is going to die soon. Not how or when or why. Just soon. It could be a heart attack or an aneurysm in which case...warning them will not help, even if she KNEW that they would believe her. It could be a car accident, which Cassie could possibly prevent, but not if she has to spend her entire life stalking people with the mark, leaping out in front of danger for them. Lucas' brilliant idea to warn people isn't really healthy, either. Some people might want to settle their affairs. A lot of people would just panic and feel terrified that they're going to die and there's nothing really they can do about it and they don't even have time to go through the five stages of grief.

The revelation of why Cassie is the way she is....is strange. I don't like it.

Anyway, I’m not sticking around for the sequels. This book was just too convenient and slow and flat.

[Autumn]

EpIC

[Rachelia (Bookish Comforts) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review (and more!) can be found at my blog {Bookish Comforts}.

One thing you should know about me is that if I start a book, I’m very likely to finish it even if I don’t like it at all. Why? Well, I usually still want to find out what the author does with the story. Sometimes I am just too far in to give up, and figure I might as well finish reading. Both of these reasons apply to why I finished The Mark.

Cass has a gift, or maybe it’s a curse, but whichever it is, it means she can see this aura or glow around a person that lets her know that person has only hours to live. She doesn’t know how she knows this, or why she has this ability, she just does. As many would, Cass struggles with the ethical dilemma of telling the people she sees that they have a very limited time on earth, or letting them go about their last day without the knowledge of impending death. This dilemma becomes closely personal when Cass has to make some important decisions about those she loves. Should she tell? Or maybe more importantly, CAN she?

I like the premise of The Mark – the examination of the ethics behind knowing that it someone’s last day and whether one should tell them or not – but the execution of the novel really fell flat for me. For starters, I never made a connection with the main characters. Some pretty important stuff happens, and yet there I was, not truly caring what happened to them, even the characters I wanted to love. I’m a crier, but not a tear was shed, even at some of the really emotional parts. I just couldn’t do it. The character development seemed very rushed to me, and the characters flip flopped around a bit. One page they would say something, pretty definitively I might add, but then easily go against their previous declaration a few chapters later. They may or may not have been a few dramatic eye rolls given throughout this book. I’m just saying.

Cass was said to be being smart and mature, however, some of her actions and attitudes did not reflect this at all, and she actually came across as very immature to me. Her relationship with Lucas seemed very contrived, and was very weird. *SPOILER* There was hardly any build up and all of a sudden they were sleeping with each other, which was very out of the blue and seemed to go against the little I knew about Cass. *SPOILER END* I didn’t really find their relationship engaging either. I did, however, find myself interested in some of the minor characters such as Cass’s best friend, and the coffee shop guy, Doug, but these characters were hardly given any page time.

If the problem was just character development, and The Mark had a great plot driving the story I might have been able to give this book a rating of 2.5. But nothing ever seemed to really happen. Everything seemed very rushed, yet at the same time there were hardly any developments. I know that doesn’t make a ton of sense… but that’s how it felt. A few times something potentially interesting or exciting would happen, but it would be quickly resolved, leaving me disappointed and feeling as if I was on a treadmill, experiencing much of the same dialogue again and again, with the same points being rehashed. Also, the leaps forward through time with very little explanation were jarring, and were done too easily in my opinion, as if the author didn’t know how to write the characters and plot going from Point A to Point B.

Overall, I just couldn’t get into this book – it didn’t do anything for me. I found myself frustrated with the characters and plot numerous times. The ending seemed too neatly wrapped up, but it apparently is a trilogy, and the sequel has already been released. I’m not going to say don’t read this book, or the sequel, because my opinion of the book won’t necessarily be yours.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought by OBS staff member Katlyn
http://openbooksociety.com/article/je...

Summary
Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?

Most importantly, if you know today is someone’s last, should you tell?
Source: http://www.jennadolbooks.com/html/mar...

Review
‘The Mark’ was truly an invigorating novel about making choices when faced with a seemingly impossible situation. Cassie Renfield already lost both her parents long ago and was living with her grandmother. She was born with a terrifying gift of seeing a glow (‘The Mark’) around people before they die. She was faced with the choice many times on whether to tell them or not. Would you?

I was absorbed in this book from the first page. This idea of seeing The Mark was so interesting and I could not wait to see where it lead our protagonist. All she wanted to do was have a normal teenage existence that would never be a choice for her because of this curse. She was burdened by her gift and the only person who believed her was about to become exposed to her terrifying world as well. Without giving too many spoilers, Cassie spent the summer away from her home and tried to start anew when she found a young man that understood her grown-up intellect. But when he was exposed to her secret the views of both of them related to each other changed drastically.

This novel took me to places I never expected and I was glad for it. Since I read so much I can usually tell the ending before halfway through but not in this case. There were many new directions the book pulled me in from chapter to chapter, I just went along for the ride and stopped trying to guess. By the end of the book I felt like Cassie aged about ten years with all the growing up she did over one summer. She was thrust into adult life by making very hard decisions and accepting those decisions that were made for her. This was a great character-development story that will stick in my mind for a long time.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story and how real they were. With Luke and Cassie it was a perfect relationship until her gift was exposed and she had to deal with her philosophical-obsessed boyfriend. Although he may have treated her different, he forced her to explore her gift and it took her places she might not have had the courage to explore before.

I was interested in the reaction of those that Cassie told about seeing The Mark and how they did or did not change their fate based on the knowledge. This was one of the toughest things to think about when the book was finished. There are two choices to make, to tell, or not to tell, but each yields many consequences. Then there is one theory that if you save someone’s life, does another person take their place in death? Cassie had to battle her conscious every time she saw The Mark, but neither choice she made could ever be the right one.

I higly recommend this thought-provoking novel and I guarantee that the story will linger in your mind long after the last word is read.

http://openbooksociety.com/article/je...

[Laianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Cassie who is able to detect death before it happens in the form of a light around the person, which she calls "The Mark".

The Mark mainly chronicles Cassie's inner struggle in living with her ability as she experiences her first real boyfriend, losing her most important family member, and understanding who she was/is and what she can do about situations she can't really control.

Despite my initial disappointment at the lack of tingling romance, I thought The Mark was very well-written, especially for a debut novel -- the characters were spot-on, the plot was interesting, and the prose was quote-worthy without being ridiculous or dramatic. I especially enjoyed the philosophy course used as a plot device to stimulate Cassie's thought process. I'm only in high school so I don't have the opportunity to explore such a class myself, but it was extremely thought-provoking hearing what all those philosophers back in the day believed about such things as fate vs. free will, or knowing vs. not knowing, and how these things applied to us today, even without the seeing-a-death-mark aspect. :)

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 because I really related to the main character right from the beginning -- her feelings of knowing, but not being known, her difficulty accepting certain things about herself, and her willingness to take action if she has a smart plan, to name a few things -- and the story kept me going the whole time. There were strong emotional aspects, and I could understand perfectly how the main character felt the entire time.

The only thing I would change -- and this might even sound a little silly if you're not a sap like me -- is that I really would have liked a little more character love. It is left extremely vague what Cassie does with her boyfriend -- do we ever even actually see them kiss? -- and a lot of the supporting characters seem to just be friends of Cassie, if you know what I mean; it's like they're not flesh and blood people on their own because they're all defined by their actions with Cassie alone. Like, you remember Lucas, her boyfriend, because -- forgive me for minor-spoiling you, but -- he was a big jerk. I didn't like him from the beginning, and some may feel other wise, but I would have liked to see Cassie reach some kind of resolution with another love interest *cough*Jack*cough* by the end of the book, or at least express some interest in one of the other characters, even in a friend-way.

That being said, I was rather disappointed when it just seemed to end abrubtly. I liked the peace the characters got, and it was a decent ending, it just was sort of like "That was it?" to me. I feel like if this was a standalone book, the loose ends could have been tied up a bit better, but if it is first in a series, I will be very eager to see what happens next.

I'd recommend it to fans of:

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr The WAKE/FADE series by Lisa McMann.

It shared similar elements of "I have a gift/curse, what do I do?" to the WAKE series, and some of the "brought up by my grandmother who knows more about my parents than she's telling" trust stuff that Melissa Marr's faerie books offer.

Anyway, it was a very compelling read and it appealed to me even without big sexy descriptions, so I'd urge any fan of John Green's signature plot and deep motif sort of writing style to read it as well.

Hope you enjoy!

-- Laianna :)

[Andye.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

From http://www.readingteen.net/

Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since she was a child, but it's only been recently that she's understood what it means. When she sees the mark on her grandmother's friend, who dies that same day, she starts to realize that she is being warned that a person is about to die. Testing her theory, she follows a man with the mark until seeing his untimely death with her own eyes. Cassie is scared and confused, and when she loses her grandmother as well, she's left with no one to help her sort out her problem.

Cassie is shipped off to spend the summer with an aunt she's never met, until all the legal issues are sorted out. While she's there, she tries to put the past behind her. But, as fate would have it, the past has a way of catching up to her. And soon, with the help of her new boyfried, she is faced with a new question. If she knows that someone is going to die, should she tell them? And, if she does, can they change their fate?

I've been working my way down a list of The Tenners (YA authors debuting in 2010) and the next book on my list was The Mark by Jen Nadol. This book certainly lived up to the high standards that the rest of The Tenners' books (that I have read) have set. I really enjoyed reading about Cassie and her unusual ability/gift/curse. It was such a thought provoking book because questions were constantly being raised about whether or not she could or should mess with fate. And what would be the consequences if she tried? She really wanted to do the right thing, but felt like no matter what choice she made, it could have horrible consequences. I found myself going back and forth between, "Yes, you should tell, you should try to save people's lives if you can....or at least give them the chance to do what they want before they die." to "No, you shouldn't mess with things because that is the natural way and it is just their time." I think I was as conflicted as she was.

The book only took me a day and a half to get through, which means that it was an easy read, and it kept me wanting to read more. The only thing that I wish would have been a little better was the relationship between Cassie and Lucas. I didn't feel like their relationship had any flair to it. I didn't end up caring about whether or not they were together, or really about Lucas at all. It was like they went from having dinner to an old married couple in one night. Which leads me to my other issue. I really didn't like that she lies to him about how old she is, and there's never any ramifications to that. I just found out about a man who was in prison for 8 years because a minor lied about her age to him, and I just feel like firstly, she shouldn't have lied, and secondly, if she did, then there should've been some consequences. It's just not believable that he would never find out how old she is, especially since they're practically living together (which would be my third issue).

However, all that said, I really did like it a lot. I thought the writing was fantastic and the story was fascinating. I can't wait to see where the next book goes. Vision comes out in 2011, and I will definitely be reading it!

~Andye

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I have to say I met Jen Nadol at a book signing in Larchmont, New York. And I have to say that she is an amazing person. She's a sweet, down-to-earth person. She took pictures with us and signed our books. We stood around and talked about books and life in general. She's simply amazing.

So at the book signing she read a page from her book, and I just had to read it. Good move Jen. So here's a question for you readers, that Jen asked us at the book signing. If you had the ability to see that someone is going to die on a specific day, would you tell them? Now Jen kinda freaked me out with this question. I personally wouldn't want that "gift" at all. But had I had it, I don't know if I would be able to tell that person. Because as Jen said "What if you tell them, then you can ruin their last few hours because of it." So my question to you is: What would you do if you can see people with "The Mark?"

In "The Mark" You have Cassie a teenager with a gift of "The Mark". When she sees someone with "The Mark" it means that, that person will die that day. And to Cassie she didn't have that understanding of what she saw. That was until she saw a man actually get killed after seeing him with "The Mark". She begins to search deep into her memory and realizes that she has had this gift since she was a young child. After realizing that she can see peoples last days, she tries to come to terms with her gift. She starts questioning her gift. Should she warn people or not? And is she the only one who can see "The Mark"?

Without giving too much, I'll say Cassie is not your typical teenager. She has this "gift" if that's what you wanna call it, of seeing someones last day. Cassie has already been through so much in her young life and yet she has to come to terms on what to do with this "gift" she has. In other terms she is like your typical teenager. She has her friends and a boyfriend, she goes through her arguements and decisions. I felt bad for her. I really enjoyed this book. Jen pulls you in emotionally. You feel what Cassie feels. Her confusion, her gift and her search for what she has to do in life with her "gift". I can't wait to see how she comes to terms and learns how to deal with gift in the sequel which is called "The Vision". Which is due to come out in September.

I really, really enjoyed "The Mark" not too paranormal for me. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and it's a Definite Good Choice for Reading.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep in mind that whatever I say in this review will not do this book justice. This is one of the best books I've read in a really really long time. Sometimes I have a hard time writing reviews for books that I love because I don't know how else to say it but OMG I loved this book. I'll try to stay away from that.

The Mark starts out with a bang. Cassie has always seen the mark but she never knew for what it meant. Until the day she decides to follow a man who has it. This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. I was expecting the normal teenage girl who in between chasing after boys and texting realizes she has some sort of supernatural power. I was expecting fluff. What I got was a book that made me think. With a very mature and well developed main character.

Cassie's character made me realize how tired I am of reading about boy crazy immature girls. Although I will continue to do so. It was so refreshing to read about someone who could take care of herself and not rely on her friends and parents for everything. All the characters were so well written and I was so invested in their stories that I forgot I was holding a book in my hands.

The premise I will honestly say didn't grab me when I read the synopsis but from page one I was hooked. It made me ask myself all sorts of questions. What would I do if I were Cassie? I love books that make me think. I may have finished this in one day but I'm still thinking about it days later.

Like I said before, I know that my review will not do this book justice but I had to try. The first Tenner book you run out and buy should be The Mark. You will not regret it. Reading this book should be your New Year's Resolution!

http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/

[Christina (Reading Extensively) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since she was a little girl, Cassie Renfield has been able to see a bright light around certain people. It wasn't until recently that she realized that the bright light or mark as she calls it, means that person is going to die that day. It is a horrifying ability and one she doesn't understand. Is it her responsibility to warn people that they are about to die or to try to prevent it? Would people want to know?

Cassie is a young teen who is being raised by her grandmother after the tragic deaths of her parents when she was a little girl. When she is sent to spend the summer in her father's hometown with an aunt she didn't know she had, Cassie discovers a mystery about her parents that could provide her with some important answers about her abilities. She also meets Lucas, a handsome young man who helps teach a philosophy class at the local college. While taking the class and developing a relationship with Lucas, Cassie tries to decide what to do about her ability. The Mark incorporates Greek mythology, philosophy, and mystery in a moving tale about an unusual young woman who has had to deal with a lifetime of grief.

I didn't find this to be a typical paranormal YA book. I really enjoyed The Mark and I loved the unexpected twists to the story. Cassie is an intelligent character who really grapples with difficult questions, trying to make the right decision. I loved her character and the character of Nan, her grandmother. In a way, The Mark reminded me of a mashup of a Sarah Dessen-type book combined with paranormal elements. Typical of philosophy, there are more questions than answers so I look forward to the sequel to see where Jen Nadol is going to take the story.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts: We are first introduced to Cassie. She's just a normal girl who longs for a family. Yeah, sure she has Nan but she still wonders about her parents often. They were killed in a car crash when she was young. She has always seen the light on people who are going to die but she never knew what it meant, until recently. We are introduced to all the side characters. Nan is her grandmother who took her in when her parents passed away, schoolmates, and than the 2 guys who I adored at first glance. We meet Lucas who she meets when she goes to live with her aunt. He is a college TA and Cassie gets close to him and they form a relationship. We also meet Jack who is her friend from home. We don't get much interaction between Jack and Cassie but I tended to like him more than Lucas. We learn more about Cassie and how she can see a person's death. She dosen't know much about her gift, only that she sees the light and they die within 24 hours. I loved this book. There were times I wanted to yell, cry, and laugh! If you knew someone was going to die in 24 hours would you tell them? Would they want to know? If it was your last day on earth what would you want to do? Read this book to find out what happens to Cassie and which guy does she end up with? Who understands her? What happens? Does Cassie learn to deal with her "unusual" gift??

Overall: Really enjoyed this one! Read it in one sitting! I really liked Cassie and I liked the guys and how each one understood her and how they made her "feel."

Cover: I think the cover fits the book! And its soooo perty!!!

[Corbin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mark by Jen Nadol is a story about a young high school student who is living with a curse to see when people die. But she was not always like this not until her mother left and she was left with her grandmother who knows the secrets of the mark. The main character is “cassie” who lives with her grandma “nan”. At the beginning of the story cassie notices the mark for the first time on some kids playing in the park, later those kids died in a bus accident. Cassie also goes on adventure to find out about her mom and who she was. I personally liked nan the most because she was wise and helpful to those who treated her well.
I believe I relate most to cassie only because I am the curious type and always wants to find out more about something that interest me. My favorite part of the book was when cassie was getting a job at a coffee shop because the author used amazing words and phrases to pull the reader in to make them feel like they're actually there. The words and phrases that the author uses is what Jen Nadol did best at, But she could definitely improve on making the story flow better together while reading the book.
I would not recommend this book because the overall story was very boring and underwhelming. There are very few parts where cassie actually uses her mark and the rest is her talking to a boy and working at a coffee shop whiling learning little to nothing about her mother/family. If anybody would love this book it would be people who like a good romantic fantasy title.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book with such issues of life and death at hand, it sure was "fluffy" - that's the only way to explain it. I felt like it barely scraped at the deeper issues that are apparent from seeing such a "mark". Instead the novel focused more on every day issues such as life, love, and fear.

Cassie is a somewhat normal girl, until she realizes that she can see this mark on people, the day that they die. Throughout the book, she tries to save those that she loves, failing once and then trying again to find that she can make a difference. Unfortunately, this turn of events leads her to tell her new boyfriend Lucas everything. Only, once he believes her, Lucas becomes obsessed with the idea of having her save these people or at least let them know they are going to die that day.

Cassie resists the idea and starts to avoid Lucas - I would too - when he becomes more obsessed with her sightings of the 'mark' then actually being with her. Lucas even goes as far as to bring up the debate during their psychology class - a huge sign that what they had before has fizzled out.

Unfortunately, the big reveal about Cassie's background is left toward the end - why she sees what she does and the truth behind her parent's death. Something that saved this novel from being completely about her life and added a bit of a twist. Not sure if Jen is continuing this as a series, but I would love to know more about the background behind the 'mark'.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected so much more from The Mark. With such a thought provoking premise, it could have been so much poignant and had that much more of an impact—which of course it didn’t.

Cassie’s seen the mark on others before but doesn’t really think anything of it. When she finally realizes what seeing the mark means she’s conflicted over what she should do about it. She does feel for the people that have the mark and debates over whether she should tell them or not. She gets sad and scared about what will happen to these people, how it will happen and who they leave behind. I felt that the author was just scratching the surface and could have explored this idea further.

Her relationship with Lucas was pretty ideal at first. They were sweet together but then there are the lies and secrets that tear at the relationship. Once Lucas finds out about her ability he changes so much. He wants Cassie to seek out people with the mark and tell them that they’re going to die—something that Cassie is reluctant to do.

The first couple chapters were interesting but after that I realized that this is one of those paranormal books that doesn’t have a lot of action. More about Cassie’s origins is revealed at the end interwoven with Greek mythology. I believe that there is a sequel in the works and hope that it explores this further in the sequel.