cover image Division of the Marked

Division of the Marked

March McCarron. March McCarron, $2.99 e-book (362p) ASIN B00E2QYVLM

McCarron manages to successfully bridge modern ideals and an ancient world in this coming-of-age tale. On the day of Da Un Marcu, 50 teenagers receive marks on their necks and are forced to leave their homes and family to become part of the Chisanta, people with supernatural abilities. At first, Yarrow Lamhart and Bray Marron struggle to understand what it means to shoulder the responsibilities of becoming Chisanta. Years later, when the number of marked children begins to dwindle, it is up to Yarrow and Bray to unravel the conspiracy behind the disappearances. Unfortunately, the passing of years has driven a wedge between the two, and what was once an amicable friendship has turned into hostility, aided by the split of the Chisanta into two rival groups. Though the pacing and character development can get awkward at times, especially with the large time jump, McCarron does a fine job of keeping up with the events surrounding the disappearances and Yarrow and Bray’s inner challenges as they grapple with the past and what needs to be done for the future. There’s plenty here for fans of character-focused fantasy quests. (BookLife)