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The Mark
Tori always thought the birthmark on her ankle was just a freckle. But when she discovers it's really a set of strange symbols and that others have the same mark, she soon realizes they'll all need to work together to save their real homelandan ancient culture that's been hidden for centuries. Filled with fantasy, suspense, and romance, The Mark is a spellbinding thrill ride you won't want to put down.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 27, 2010
2.5 stars.
Negative:
- It is kind of slow.
- The plot consists mainly of talking, gazing into each other's eyes and being needy.
- It, or to be fair the first third, is noticably repetitive.
- It features a girl consumed by infatuation who is more than willing to give up her dream university to be near to the boy she is addicted to. For about a paragraph she mourns the good program she is about to miss, but after that she smiles and affirms that the only important thing for her is to spend her life - all of it - next to him. (Oh, the physical pain of separation! You get the drift. I admit it is romantic and heart-warming, but I think the theme should not be overused in YA. Life shows enough of those guy-centered decisions.)
- It features a boy who is genetically programmed to be "the protector", which worked as a great excuse for him to have the right to control the girl's doings and goings.
- Several times it hints at important discussions the heroes have in the heroines' absence, which lead to major decisions - which stroke me the wrong way.
- Like the heroes and heroines in, for example, T. Sutherland's Avatars, Book One: So This Is How It Ends the four boys and girls dominating this story adapt rather quickly to their great tasks and superpowers.
- It lacks visuals and details in places I want them: Can you imagine five teenagers hiking through the Himalaya into unknown regions, who have only trained by jogging each morning? Nothing is said about equippment, how the landscape looks, how the weather is, the hardships of climbing etc ...
- Many aspects and turns of the story did not convince me in the least - and I DO want to be convinced of the improbable. That's one of the joys of delving into a story. Reading "The Mark" I wanted to whip out a red This-Is-Unbelievable-Sticker and plaster it across the pages again and again.
Positive:
- The friendships, both guys' and girls'.
- The siblings. Chelsey was cute and refreshing.
- The romance: If you are into constant blushing attacks, hearts that threaten to break through ribcages and hot guys who declare "I love you more, no, I really love you more and you know it." this should be on your wishlist.
- Another romance: If you are a fan of Mr. Darcy, you'll be pleased to find a teenage 21st century version tucked into this novel. Conceited, prejudiced but able to evolve.
I strongly believe "The Mark" is meant to be the beginning of a series. I won't read on and I won't keep it - if I can help it, but I do not resent finishing this installment.
Thank you for swapping, Jessi.
Negative:
- It is kind of slow.
- The plot consists mainly of talking, gazing into each other's eyes and being needy.
- It, or to be fair the first third, is noticably repetitive.
- It features a girl consumed by infatuation who is more than willing to give up her dream university to be near to the boy she is addicted to. For about a paragraph she mourns the good program she is about to miss, but after that she smiles and affirms that the only important thing for her is to spend her life - all of it - next to him. (Oh, the physical pain of separation! You get the drift. I admit it is romantic and heart-warming, but I think the theme should not be overused in YA. Life shows enough of those guy-centered decisions.)
- It features a boy who is genetically programmed to be "the protector", which worked as a great excuse for him to have the right to control the girl's doings and goings.
- Several times it hints at important discussions the heroes have in the heroines' absence, which lead to major decisions - which stroke me the wrong way.
- Like the heroes and heroines in, for example, T. Sutherland's Avatars, Book One: So This Is How It Ends the four boys and girls dominating this story adapt rather quickly to their great tasks and superpowers.
- It lacks visuals and details in places I want them: Can you imagine five teenagers hiking through the Himalaya into unknown regions, who have only trained by jogging each morning? Nothing is said about equippment, how the landscape looks, how the weather is, the hardships of climbing etc ...
- Many aspects and turns of the story did not convince me in the least - and I DO want to be convinced of the improbable. That's one of the joys of delving into a story. Reading "The Mark" I wanted to whip out a red This-Is-Unbelievable-Sticker and plaster it across the pages again and again.
Positive:
- The friendships, both guys' and girls'.
- The siblings. Chelsey was cute and refreshing.
- The romance: If you are into constant blushing attacks, hearts that threaten to break through ribcages and hot guys who declare "I love you more, no, I really love you more and you know it." this should be on your wishlist.
- Another romance: If you are a fan of Mr. Darcy, you'll be pleased to find a teenage 21st century version tucked into this novel. Conceited, prejudiced but able to evolve.
I strongly believe "The Mark" is meant to be the beginning of a series. I won't read on and I won't keep it - if I can help it, but I do not resent finishing this installment.
Thank you for swapping, Jessi.
March 29, 2021
I liked the blend of paranormal magic with a touch of sci fi in this book. But I think I also wanted the character to be a bit more dimensional.
April 9, 2010
published March 8th 2010
by Bonneville Books (first published 2010)
details Paperback, 288 pages
isbn 1599553511
4.5 stars
Synopsis from Goodreads- She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.
All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.
I received this book in the mail after being contacted by the author as an autographed copy with bookmark and personal note. Now that is NICE! But that's not why I gave it 4.5 stars...the fact of the matter is this is an amazing book! The preface was a couple of pages long of background history that I struggled to understand. (go back and read them once you are finished) From Chapter one on I was reeled in hook, line and sinker.
Told from Tori's point of view, four teenagers soon unravel a mystery that links them as members of an elite society. They are drawn to each other by touch, the small birthmarks on their knuckles and an irresistible comforting pull. Soon they find themselves wrapped up in a dangerous journey of uncovering their past and discovering who they really are. The characters are fully developed and my favorites are Tori and Eric. Their chemistry is off the charts and Eric's charm undeniable as he becomes a protector of the group. The Mark is completely free of any swearing, sex or questionable material from a mother's point of view and I give it 4.5 stars for action packed excitement and swoon worthy romance! I sure hope there is a sequel in the works because this one was an absolute treasure!
My favorite quote from the book (spoilers here!) : "Shae snorted. We're definitely right-and can you tell me one thing we're doing right bow that isn't hard? We've just traveled halfway around the world and we're backpacking who knows how many miles through the freakin' Himalayas to get to some secret valley that may or may not exist, while be chased by a homicidal maniac--don't even talk to me about hard."
Check out the author's blog with contests and upcoming events
http://mrbunderson.blogspot.com/
Find Her on twittter @mbunderson
Add it on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...
by Bonneville Books (first published 2010)
details Paperback, 288 pages
isbn 1599553511
4.5 stars
Synopsis from Goodreads- She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.
All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.
I received this book in the mail after being contacted by the author as an autographed copy with bookmark and personal note. Now that is NICE! But that's not why I gave it 4.5 stars...the fact of the matter is this is an amazing book! The preface was a couple of pages long of background history that I struggled to understand. (go back and read them once you are finished) From Chapter one on I was reeled in hook, line and sinker.
Told from Tori's point of view, four teenagers soon unravel a mystery that links them as members of an elite society. They are drawn to each other by touch, the small birthmarks on their knuckles and an irresistible comforting pull. Soon they find themselves wrapped up in a dangerous journey of uncovering their past and discovering who they really are. The characters are fully developed and my favorites are Tori and Eric. Their chemistry is off the charts and Eric's charm undeniable as he becomes a protector of the group. The Mark is completely free of any swearing, sex or questionable material from a mother's point of view and I give it 4.5 stars for action packed excitement and swoon worthy romance! I sure hope there is a sequel in the works because this one was an absolute treasure!
My favorite quote from the book (spoilers here!) : "Shae snorted. We're definitely right-and can you tell me one thing we're doing right bow that isn't hard? We've just traveled halfway around the world and we're backpacking who knows how many miles through the freakin' Himalayas to get to some secret valley that may or may not exist, while be chased by a homicidal maniac--don't even talk to me about hard."
Check out the author's blog with contests and upcoming events
http://mrbunderson.blogspot.com/
Find Her on twittter @mbunderson
Add it on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...
May 19, 2010
This book really sucked me in it's story. I had a very hard time putting it down. Look out, within it's pages lies an emotional roller coaster.
The maine character Tori, reminded me a lot like Bella in the Twilight series, they have almost the same personality. They both cannot survive with out there love interest, they can they just wont. So that was a annoying for me to read. Tori's love interest, Eric becomes.......okay this whole loves story between Tori and Eric, is a lot like Bella and Edward, in Twilight. What is up with that? Eric not only needs to protect Tori but also the rest of them who has special gifts........what book did I just read?
Okay this book was about an advance secret society, one name is Atlantis among several, they almost wiped themselves out. So those who has survived secluded themselves, their society is in the Himalaya mountains. There is twist, turns, teen love, forgiveness, murder, mystery, plotting, prejudice, fantasy, puzzle, with an emotional roller coaster. This book was very clean, every time I think that the author will have the two love sick teens Tori and Eric do something, they don't do anything, Yay!
So in truth in my opinion this book is so much better, and cleaner, then Twilight, and no where as creepy. Eric doesn't watch Tori sleep without her knowing, she does fall asleep against his shoulder, but it's not creepy. The characters were well developed, some very small editing problems, but all in all good story to get sucked into. Clean and all around good fun book.
The maine character Tori, reminded me a lot like Bella in the Twilight series, they have almost the same personality. They both cannot survive with out there love interest, they can they just wont. So that was a annoying for me to read. Tori's love interest, Eric becomes.......okay this whole loves story between Tori and Eric, is a lot like Bella and Edward, in Twilight. What is up with that? Eric not only needs to protect Tori but also the rest of them who has special gifts........what book did I just read?
Okay this book was about an advance secret society, one name is Atlantis among several, they almost wiped themselves out. So those who has survived secluded themselves, their society is in the Himalaya mountains. There is twist, turns, teen love, forgiveness, murder, mystery, plotting, prejudice, fantasy, puzzle, with an emotional roller coaster. This book was very clean, every time I think that the author will have the two love sick teens Tori and Eric do something, they don't do anything, Yay!
So in truth in my opinion this book is so much better, and cleaner, then Twilight, and no where as creepy. Eric doesn't watch Tori sleep without her knowing, she does fall asleep against his shoulder, but it's not creepy. The characters were well developed, some very small editing problems, but all in all good story to get sucked into. Clean and all around good fun book.
April 1, 2010
Five teens discover they have many things in common that just can't be coincidence and embark on a journey of investigation that could endanger their lives and the lives of those they love. Stolen from their birth families and adopted into loving homes, unusual eye color, a birth mark that is more that it appears to be, a unique emotional connection whey they make physical contact with one another, and special abilities when they are together.
The story of how these teens find each other and their quest to find out who they really are was fascinating to read and I recommend it to all. When they realize someone is following them that wants to do them harm it becomes a mystery worth finding out the answers. The difficult choices they must make are daunting. What would you do if you found out you were from paradise but your family ties meant more to you than anything. Could you chose one over the other?
The Mark is part romance, part mystery, part fantasy and is a wondrous first debut for this author who I'm sure will bring about more fabulous reads in the future. Pick up a copy for yourself or your teens to read. It really is a great read! I won a signed copy from the author recently and couldn't wait to read it. You can be sure I'll be sharing this with the family! I know they will love it too.
The story of how these teens find each other and their quest to find out who they really are was fascinating to read and I recommend it to all. When they realize someone is following them that wants to do them harm it becomes a mystery worth finding out the answers. The difficult choices they must make are daunting. What would you do if you found out you were from paradise but your family ties meant more to you than anything. Could you chose one over the other?
The Mark is part romance, part mystery, part fantasy and is a wondrous first debut for this author who I'm sure will bring about more fabulous reads in the future. Pick up a copy for yourself or your teens to read. It really is a great read! I won a signed copy from the author recently and couldn't wait to read it. You can be sure I'll be sharing this with the family! I know they will love it too.
May 14, 2010
“The Mark” is a fascinating light fantasy perfect for the young adult audience. I was drawn in by its cover, with its almost hypnotizing pattern on the cover with its single golden mark.
In this fantasy/romance, we follow the lives of four teenagers brought together by the strange microscopic mark on their hands in the same spot, and other strange similarities in their lives, such as all being adopted. They have to find out their true natures, and it keeps you guessing until the very end of the book.
I found that I really felt for the characters and that they were given interesting traits, such as the main girl practicing her Gerswhin piece throughout the book, and showing the passage of time by showing her progress. The premise was original and I found myself walking down paths that didn’t feel like I had taken them before. Sometimes the dialog made it seem that the characters were older than teenagers, but overall, I enjoyed her use of dialog, even including some IM conversations. That was a very interesting touch that I think will appeal to teen readers especially.
From the way things ended, it looks like there will be a sequel, which I will definitely pick up. You can find more about Marilyn and her writing at http://www.mrbunderson.com/.
In this fantasy/romance, we follow the lives of four teenagers brought together by the strange microscopic mark on their hands in the same spot, and other strange similarities in their lives, such as all being adopted. They have to find out their true natures, and it keeps you guessing until the very end of the book.
I found that I really felt for the characters and that they were given interesting traits, such as the main girl practicing her Gerswhin piece throughout the book, and showing the passage of time by showing her progress. The premise was original and I found myself walking down paths that didn’t feel like I had taken them before. Sometimes the dialog made it seem that the characters were older than teenagers, but overall, I enjoyed her use of dialog, even including some IM conversations. That was a very interesting touch that I think will appeal to teen readers especially.
From the way things ended, it looks like there will be a sequel, which I will definitely pick up. You can find more about Marilyn and her writing at http://www.mrbunderson.com/.
August 17, 2010
I think 2 stars is actually being somewhat generous for this book. I had to give it 2 for the plot /storyline. It has great potential and I could imagine how good it could have been. It is very sci-fi (stargate-ish, maybe) and has good mystery, but is very under-developed. The whole story wraps up in the last 5 or so pages, and those the details and questions surrounding the events of those 5 pages could have been several more chapters, or even another book.
The writing...
I almost felt like I was reading a 9th grade creative writing assignment or something. The conversations were very forced, not realistic or believable. The characters were under-developed, very one dimensional and unbelievable. I almost put it down for good several times. The only thing that kept me going was that I had to see how it ended. (The ending had potential too, but was frustratingly simple and rushed.) I like authors that make me "see" in my mind what's going on, and feel like the characters are real people that I "know". This book did neither.
The writing...
I almost felt like I was reading a 9th grade creative writing assignment or something. The conversations were very forced, not realistic or believable. The characters were under-developed, very one dimensional and unbelievable. I almost put it down for good several times. The only thing that kept me going was that I had to see how it ended. (The ending had potential too, but was frustratingly simple and rushed.) I like authors that make me "see" in my mind what's going on, and feel like the characters are real people that I "know". This book did neither.
April 29, 2010
3 1/2. There were things that I really liked about this book. Including: it is written by a local author (even better a neighbor of a mother-in-law of a friend), it was interesting to read about the mystery of where these kids came from and where they go from there, it was creative and had some great story telling elements and I like books that can draw me in enough that I can get through them quickly.
Things I didn't like: just one, but it went on through the entire book. I can't stand reading about characters that are constantly wondering "does the boy I like, like me or not? did he change his mind? maybe we aren't MFE. Other than having to deal with that(and having to remember how much I dislike Twilight for this of many reasons)it was very interesting read that took me about a day to get through.
Things I didn't like: just one, but it went on through the entire book. I can't stand reading about characters that are constantly wondering "does the boy I like, like me or not? did he change his mind? maybe we aren't MFE. Other than having to deal with that(and having to remember how much I dislike Twilight for this of many reasons)it was very interesting read that took me about a day to get through.
May 19, 2010
If I could use only one word to describe this book it would be sophomoric. It was unrefined in writing style and content. The idea was sound, just poorly executed. It is a Cheeto read. Cheetos are the lowest life form of food, they taste good while you are eating them but you immediately regret eating them when you look at orange fuzz all over your fingers and you are hungry an hour later. And yet, sometimes you grab the orange bag and over look all the other good chips on the aisle. That's how I feel about this book.
The romance was boring and tired. The character's behavior unreal. And the plot formulaic. The characters were spoon fed everything they needed to know to move the plot and even then the ending was chaotic and rushed.
The romance was boring and tired. The character's behavior unreal. And the plot formulaic. The characters were spoon fed everything they needed to know to move the plot and even then the ending was chaotic and rushed.
February 27, 2010
I loved this book. It was action packed with some great elements that drew me in. The two main characters are drawn together when they touch hands and see another world that they both vaguely remember. This creates a mystery to solve and I found it very interesting. I couldn't put it down. I also liked that it was clean.
January 24, 2016
The storyline of this book is amazing and incredible unique. I have never read a book like this one and that is refreshing. However, I wish it was fleshed out more. The characters needed more to them they were all very 2 dimensional. Also the story could have been written smoother and could have been told better if it was longer or a series. I also would like to know what happens after.
February 3, 2011
Could not put it down! It was great!
July 26, 2018
The sci-fi element of the story was unusual. I liked the characters with their lavender eyes, gifts and connections, and of course the birthmarks. After that, the story took on the feeling of a "Lost Horizon" novel. It would be an interesting sequel should there be one.
September 29, 2022
This book is more of a 3.5 star. Liked it over all was a little choppy it summed up in the last 6 or 7 chapters.
December 26, 2023
This was a fun, light-hearted read for over Christmas break. My biggest complaint was that the ending happened too fast. I would have liked more details.
October 30, 2010
3.5 stars
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's because I wasn't whisked away into the story right away, or at times I felt the romance as a little too intense for two teens who just met. I did like that The Mark has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. The pace was a little slower than what I'm used to reading, but it fit with the plot, as Tori and her friends are trying to uncover the mystery of who they really are and where they came from. Had that been rushed, but it wouldn't have seemed very realistic.
I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters. I would definitely pick up a sequel to this story if there is one, as the ending is both satisfying and open to continue the story.
Merged review:
3.5
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. The book has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters.
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's because I wasn't whisked away into the story right away, or at times I felt the romance as a little too intense for two teens who just met. I did like that The Mark has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. The pace was a little slower than what I'm used to reading, but it fit with the plot, as Tori and her friends are trying to uncover the mystery of who they really are and where they came from. Had that been rushed, but it wouldn't have seemed very realistic.
I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters. I would definitely pick up a sequel to this story if there is one, as the ending is both satisfying and open to continue the story.
Merged review:
3.5
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. The book has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters.
September 23, 2010
To start, I have to first say that this author, M.R. Bunderson, is my cousin, and I am SO PROUD of her for writing a novel and getting it published!! How exciting for you, Marilyn! So if my review is a bit biased, that's why, but I will try to be objective.
What I liked:
I loved the premise of the story and was impressed with the author's ability to create another world...I'm always envious of that level of creativity! :) I thought the idea of a hidden society was a great one, and it was fun to read about the main characters and how they found each other and what their different abilities were. I liked being along for the ride as they tried to solve the mystery of their marks and their origins...it kept me up reading past my bedtime, which is always a good sign! :)
What I thought could have been improved:
I thought some of the dialogue was a bit stiff, but I know how difficult it can be trying to write natural dialogue, and for a first novel, I thought she did a great job. I also thought that some of the concepts were rushed through and not explained as thoroughly as I would have liked, such as how their powers are influenced by their connecting (example: p. 216), or why Eric and Tori are so careful not to kiss again when the one kiss they share in the book (outside of dreaming) works fine. There are some other minor issues like tense situations resolving too easily (Tori's separation from Eric at the end of the book when he goes back to look for Marco could have been drawn out a little to build more suspense, and Marco is captured very quickly and easily...again, could have been a bit more suspenseful). Finally, I thought the characters could have been fleshed out a little more so that I felt like I knew them better individually. Also, my personal preference is for the main romance to take a while to develop, and Tori and Eric got together a little too soon and too easily for my personal tastes...I guess I like a lot of tension since I actually thought Amanda and Sebastian's relationship was more interesting and would have liked to see that develop from one of their points of view.
Okay, so overall, I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to a sequel. Marilyn, I'm hoping there will be more books in this series, right? Again, I am SO PROUD of you and would be happy to be part of a test audience for the sequel! ;)
What I liked:
I loved the premise of the story and was impressed with the author's ability to create another world...I'm always envious of that level of creativity! :) I thought the idea of a hidden society was a great one, and it was fun to read about the main characters and how they found each other and what their different abilities were. I liked being along for the ride as they tried to solve the mystery of their marks and their origins...it kept me up reading past my bedtime, which is always a good sign! :)
What I thought could have been improved:
I thought some of the dialogue was a bit stiff, but I know how difficult it can be trying to write natural dialogue, and for a first novel, I thought she did a great job. I also thought that some of the concepts were rushed through and not explained as thoroughly as I would have liked, such as how their powers are influenced by their connecting (example: p. 216), or why Eric and Tori are so careful not to kiss again when the one kiss they share in the book (outside of dreaming) works fine. There are some other minor issues like tense situations resolving too easily (Tori's separation from Eric at the end of the book when he goes back to look for Marco could have been drawn out a little to build more suspense, and Marco is captured very quickly and easily...again, could have been a bit more suspenseful). Finally, I thought the characters could have been fleshed out a little more so that I felt like I knew them better individually. Also, my personal preference is for the main romance to take a while to develop, and Tori and Eric got together a little too soon and too easily for my personal tastes...I guess I like a lot of tension since I actually thought Amanda and Sebastian's relationship was more interesting and would have liked to see that develop from one of their points of view.
Okay, so overall, I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to a sequel. Marilyn, I'm hoping there will be more books in this series, right? Again, I am SO PROUD of you and would be happy to be part of a test audience for the sequel! ;)
October 7, 2010
The Mark is a wonderful book. It has romance, mystery and a paranormal element. Marilyn paces the book wonderfully and has written very good characters. The premise for the book is very intriguing to me, and I love how the characters have a special connection to one another. They are mysteriously drawn together, having unique characteristics in common. As they uncover more information, they realize that the further they go could lead to an amazing discovery, but what happens when mysterious powers do not want them to know more?
So that is best as I can talk about the plot and what I liked without giving spoilers. I can talk about the characters themselves a bit more. Tori is a good protagonist- she has an active voice, and the writing is descriptive so that I could connect with her and understand what she is going though and feeling.
She has a wonderful best friend Shae, who even though is not directly affected by the mystery surrounding Tori and her other friends, she is accepting and wanting to help. Tori also builds a wonderful friendship with Eric, Amanda, Miles and Sebastian- the ones who share the unique characteristics and are directly involved. These characters all have unique personalities and voices and this is nice to have because sometimes when you get numerous characters they can be hard to distinguish.
The relationship between Tori and Eric is nice. They have the paranormal element that contributes to the fairly quick progression, and they were also questioning it, and I feel like that is a good thing, because real life relationships and characters that I relate to easily have basis in real world even if they are paranormal. Another element that I saw and like that the trend seems to be reversing is that Tori's family was involved in her life. Although they weren't huge characters in the book, Tori's respect and love for them, and their love and protectiveness for her was shown.
A minor complaint is that I don't like it seems like some events were cut out, but there was still build up to them- such as the dance that was mentioned.
The end wraps things up well so that it could stand alone, but I have a feeling that there will be more storyline because there is so much more that could be done.
So that is best as I can talk about the plot and what I liked without giving spoilers. I can talk about the characters themselves a bit more. Tori is a good protagonist- she has an active voice, and the writing is descriptive so that I could connect with her and understand what she is going though and feeling.
She has a wonderful best friend Shae, who even though is not directly affected by the mystery surrounding Tori and her other friends, she is accepting and wanting to help. Tori also builds a wonderful friendship with Eric, Amanda, Miles and Sebastian- the ones who share the unique characteristics and are directly involved. These characters all have unique personalities and voices and this is nice to have because sometimes when you get numerous characters they can be hard to distinguish.
The relationship between Tori and Eric is nice. They have the paranormal element that contributes to the fairly quick progression, and they were also questioning it, and I feel like that is a good thing, because real life relationships and characters that I relate to easily have basis in real world even if they are paranormal. Another element that I saw and like that the trend seems to be reversing is that Tori's family was involved in her life. Although they weren't huge characters in the book, Tori's respect and love for them, and their love and protectiveness for her was shown.
A minor complaint is that I don't like it seems like some events were cut out, but there was still build up to them- such as the dance that was mentioned.
The end wraps things up well so that it could stand alone, but I have a feeling that there will be more storyline because there is so much more that could be done.
December 1, 2010
3.5
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. The book has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters.
The Mark is a good, clean cut fantasy read, with mystery and romance. It follows the story of Tori and 4 other teenagers all brought together by their strange colored eyes, mysterious birthmarks and the strong connection to each other. This connection leads them to discover who they really are and where they came from, an elite and highly sophisticate society hidden away from the rest of the world for centuries.
I liked Tori's voice and how relatable she is. I really liked getting to know her wonderful best friend, as Shae was her voice of reason more than once. Then I met Eric, someone Tori felt an immediate connection with. I'll admit, that cliche bothered me with the story, but it also made sense, because of Tori's special ability. I don't want to say too much, as it will giveaway part of the plot. While Eric, Tori, Shae & Amanda are seniors, Miles is a college freshman and then there's the mysterious Sebastian. Five of the teens all have a special ability and connection. I liked that each of them has an unique ability which helps them on their journey to find the hidden land they were born in. Eric and Tori's instant connection made for a very strong relationship. Where Tori feels connections, Eric is a protector. Eric's ability comes in handy not just for Tori, but for the team, as someone is trying to stop them from discovering the truth into who they really are.
It took me awhile to really connect with The Mark and I'm not really sure why. The book has a great history, a lush and vivid setting where the kids come from, and it's also set in urban America, where 4 of the 5 kids live. Each of the characters have real, relatable chemistry, and when they discover the truth about their past, they make responsible choices about their futures. I would recommend this books to fans of fantasy, who love a mystery, mixed in with a great romance and a fantastic cast of characters.
April 9, 2010
WOW, what a great story...
Smooth details, with an elegant story...
A really solid first book, it's left so open I can only imagine there will be a sequel, or I hope so.
Couple things bothered me, first - the story starts and BAM we are already learning about the strange birthmark - it seemed a bit fast. Secondly, we bounced around a lot, one minute we would be in a scene where the main character is talking about, or looking forward to an event - the next scene the even had already taken place...that bothered me a bit, I wanted to SEE the big even! KWIM?
But all in all, I really enjoyed the story, as well as the characters - it's defiantly original, and though it's fiction, I felt as though the basis of the story was based in enough reality to be feasible - if you know what I mean, it was not THAT big a leap, for me anyway.
Also, I found it intense and interesting that the author used dreams - after having seen inception, though this book is NOTHING like that, it was a neat twist....I loved how Tori and Eric are able to "share dreams" - so perfect and beautiful.
Another area of the story I loved is the setting, where some authors REALLY describe each thing that's going on, sometimes with to many details, Ms. Bunderson does not, dont get me wrong, she gives you enough information to get a "sense" of a place, but not so much that your drowning in details. I loved that I could add my own "sense" to both the characters and the settings!
Full review to come
Smooth details, with an elegant story...
A really solid first book, it's left so open I can only imagine there will be a sequel, or I hope so.
Couple things bothered me, first - the story starts and BAM we are already learning about the strange birthmark - it seemed a bit fast. Secondly, we bounced around a lot, one minute we would be in a scene where the main character is talking about, or looking forward to an event - the next scene the even had already taken place...that bothered me a bit, I wanted to SEE the big even! KWIM?
But all in all, I really enjoyed the story, as well as the characters - it's defiantly original, and though it's fiction, I felt as though the basis of the story was based in enough reality to be feasible - if you know what I mean, it was not THAT big a leap, for me anyway.
Also, I found it intense and interesting that the author used dreams - after having seen inception, though this book is NOTHING like that, it was a neat twist....I loved how Tori and Eric are able to "share dreams" - so perfect and beautiful.
Another area of the story I loved is the setting, where some authors REALLY describe each thing that's going on, sometimes with to many details, Ms. Bunderson does not, dont get me wrong, she gives you enough information to get a "sense" of a place, but not so much that your drowning in details. I loved that I could add my own "sense" to both the characters and the settings!
Full review to come
January 6, 2013
Hmm...This book was quite a so-so compared to other books i have read for fantasy and teenage romance. The sypnosis is good, a few chapters at the front engaging to the readers but what went wrong was the ending..It's really lame. When i was reading the chapters infront, i thought that the ending would be somewhat interesting and unique,but it was such a waste to end a good book like this and i was disappointed at the end. For the romance part, the author wrote about how they were 'magically'attracted to each other from the very beginning.(That was going quite well actually.)But at the end, she didn't say anything about their romance, why are they attracted to each other in the first place and it's really annoying for not mentioning anything about their future lives. So is Eric and Tori still together during college? And what happened to Amanda and Sebastian? Extremely disppointed, i have to say the author needs to add in more feelings to the characters and the relationship between the couples should have been written more. What did they say when they returned to the real world, to their adopted parents? How would they explain? There're a lot of loopholes in this book which left uncomplete. So unless there's a continuation of the series, i don't think this is a really good book to read and it can be confusing at times.
September 9, 2010
Eh. This is one of those books that could have been awesome had it not been ...well, a little bad.
It wasn't VERY bad, it was only a little bad. I just didn't really like Tori very much at ALL. And the going on and on about how she felt about Eric drove me a little crazy. It only started to get really interesting once they left for Nepal.
I would like to read more about Eirini. I think that would be very interesting. I want more details about life there, and what the characters learn, etc etc. Just for that, I hope there will be a sequel - maybe one focusing on Amanda or Miles instead of Tori and Eric and how they lurve each other so much and they FEEL and OH THE FEELINGS OF EMOTION! THE EMOTION! EEEEEEMOOOOOOTIIIOOOOOOblegh.
Also, there were a few editing errors that REALLY irked me. Eric says something like "Amanda, I love you," when he CLEARLY means Tori. And there was at least one instance of using "it's" when that was REALLY VERY DUMB. Little errors like that drive me nuts and distract me from the story. Not that that was hard. Because I really did not like Tori and her emoting all the time.
So, read it, but do not buy it. And maybe only read it if another one comes out and you are totally lost as to what happened in the first book.
It wasn't VERY bad, it was only a little bad. I just didn't really like Tori very much at ALL. And the going on and on about how she felt about Eric drove me a little crazy. It only started to get really interesting once they left for Nepal.
I would like to read more about Eirini. I think that would be very interesting. I want more details about life there, and what the characters learn, etc etc. Just for that, I hope there will be a sequel - maybe one focusing on Amanda or Miles instead of Tori and Eric and how they lurve each other so much and they FEEL and OH THE FEELINGS OF EMOTION! THE EMOTION! EEEEEEMOOOOOOTIIIOOOOOOblegh.
Also, there were a few editing errors that REALLY irked me. Eric says something like "Amanda, I love you," when he CLEARLY means Tori. And there was at least one instance of using "it's" when that was REALLY VERY DUMB. Little errors like that drive me nuts and distract me from the story. Not that that was hard. Because I really did not like Tori and her emoting all the time.
So, read it, but do not buy it. And maybe only read it if another one comes out and you are totally lost as to what happened in the first book.
April 18, 2010
Fabulous debut! Full of mystery, friendship, and romance!!…It has all the components to become a really good saga. I do hope there is more to come …right?
Tori soon will find out her world is not what it seems and her life is tangled with four other teens. The journey won’t be easy but she is not along and soon will discover a lot of challenges ahead.
I really enjoy this book; I just wish I had more time to finish it sooner! The mystery is pretty good and it really drove me crazy (in a good way). I had tons of theories but nothing came close! The characters are really well portray but some people might find the love story to come a little to soon; kind of like the famous shiny-vampire with the clumsy human but once you read more of the story everything will become clear and it’ll make more sense.
The Mark is great debut and I honestly hope there is more to come I would love to find out what is next in store for the characters.
Fans of Sci-Fiction and Paranormal will definitely enjoy this book!
Tori soon will find out her world is not what it seems and her life is tangled with four other teens. The journey won’t be easy but she is not along and soon will discover a lot of challenges ahead.
I really enjoy this book; I just wish I had more time to finish it sooner! The mystery is pretty good and it really drove me crazy (in a good way). I had tons of theories but nothing came close! The characters are really well portray but some people might find the love story to come a little to soon; kind of like the famous shiny-vampire with the clumsy human but once you read more of the story everything will become clear and it’ll make more sense.
The Mark is great debut and I honestly hope there is more to come I would love to find out what is next in store for the characters.
Fans of Sci-Fiction and Paranormal will definitely enjoy this book!
August 8, 2013
I hated this book. The idea is good, but the diaologue is not genuine, she makes the teenagers sound like they are overly polite 40 year olds that are constantly afraid of hurting each others' feelings. She also feels the need to literally state everything the characters are thinking or reacting to, instead of implying or letting the reader make the connection themselves. I also hate the ending, the first 220 pages of the book are devoted to uncovering this mystery and taking a journey to this community, then everything about integrating into the community and the main characters' roles there is summed up in less than 10 pages. What the hell?! I seriously thought there must be a sequel because the author couldn't wrap things up that quickly. Apparently you can, you just can't wrap it up well, horrible ending!
April 12, 2011
I had a gift card to the Borders by us (which is closing) and by the time I got there to spend it, the place was pretty well cleared out. I found this book and thought it looked sort-of interesting. Unfortunately, it was just that. Sort-of interesting. The story itself was a good idea: four babies kidnapped from their secret society forced to grow up in the outside world. They discover that they're different, they discover each other, and they attempt to get back to their secret society while an evil dude tries to keep them out. There were even a few unexpected twists and a couple of tense moments. However, the characters were not well-developed and the dialogue was contrived. Also, the romance between Tori and Eric was just annoying. There was way too much talk of their emotions. It was very much an okay book - just okay.
April 2, 2010
I really wanted to like this book. Although I thought the plot was interesting, the book really seemed to drag and it wasn't as exciting in the end. The way everybody seemed to accept everything was non-believable and it seemed like all the explanations were too convenient. No real mystery, some stranger/stawker will come and explain everything and we'll all believe and follow him because we really trust him. right... The romance in the story was too 'twilighty' in the sense that they fell completely in love in all but one date and it was such 'angst' to be apart. oh please. The ending was a let down and I think there might be another book. Just not one I'm interested in. sorry...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2010
* * * * 1/2
--This book in 6 words:
cryptic puzzle with sweet young romance
--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
After reading the summary for The Mark by M.R. Bunderson, I instantly signed up for the book tour via Around the World Tours. I’m so glad I did!! This book had me guessing until the end (I still have a few questions..). The mystery kicks off very early and sustains the whole way through. The romance was well-done (I’ll talk about this in characters section) and the pieces of the puzzle came together quite nicely. Was this perfect? No. Is it an excellent debut? Yes! I really hope there will be a sequel (and soon)!
--Read the full review here : http://www.25hourbooks.com/2010/06/th...
--This book in 6 words:
cryptic puzzle with sweet young romance
--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
After reading the summary for The Mark by M.R. Bunderson, I instantly signed up for the book tour via Around the World Tours. I’m so glad I did!! This book had me guessing until the end (I still have a few questions..). The mystery kicks off very early and sustains the whole way through. The romance was well-done (I’ll talk about this in characters section) and the pieces of the puzzle came together quite nicely. Was this perfect? No. Is it an excellent debut? Yes! I really hope there will be a sequel (and soon)!
--Read the full review here : http://www.25hourbooks.com/2010/06/th...
May 9, 2016
When I started reading this book, I didn’t think I would like it at all, but It wasn’t that bad. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sci-fi and/or fantasy. The book is about five kids and their adventures trying to find a lost civilization, which made the book interesting. If there was a second book I would definitely read it. The book starts off slow which I didn’t like about it. The book is mainly just two or more characters talking to each other. One of the characters is really clingy and needy of her boyfriend, which is annoying because it's not a romance novel. The last five or so chapters wrap up the book, but are very rushed, unlike the rest of the book, which is drawn out. It could have been made better, but it's not that bad of a book.
July 15, 2010
Okay, 3 1/2 stars. I loved the story, the book was good. It drew me in and held me. The mystery of who these kids were and the why and how was all good. My only issue with the book was this: The early development was good, drawing us in, but the end of the book felt so rushed and undefined. Early in the book, I felt and saw everything that the author was saying, but the end, when the description and the details really felt necessary, was completely lacking. It felt so abrupt and anticlimactic.
I would still recommend the book, I enjoyed it, I just wish the author would have spent a little more time on the end.
I would still recommend the book, I enjoyed it, I just wish the author would have spent a little more time on the end.
July 29, 2010
This was a pretty good book. I enjoyed learning about the special abilities of the main characters, how they were drawn to each other, and how they discovered where they came from. Once in a while, some of the researching dialog dragged on a bit, but for the most part I was entertained. I loved all the dating that went on - high school should be that kind of fun. However, I was as frustrated as much as Tori was with her romantic situation. (Though, we’ll both survive.) I liked the mysterious Marco and Sebastian. They helped quicken the pace. There was just a bit of kissing, but no swearing. I'd rate it for 12 and up.
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