Division of the Marked (The Marked Series Book 1)

It captured my imagination from the start. Once your mind puts together the imagery the story unfolds so effortlessly. Truly worth downloading! The other reviews are correct it will keep you reading start to finish. Make some time for it because once you start it'll be hard to put down, so enjoy fellow storytellers!

I consider myself to be very critical of books, and rarely leave reviews. I highly recommend Division of the Marked. It has good pacing and a fascinating plot. I won't spoil it for you, you should just read it!

Well written and extremely interesting fantasy. The ending keeps it from being a great stand alone book. Left me feeling very dissatisfied. Also the infrequent use of profanity was a turnoff for me. If not for that I might recommend it to younger readers.

This book transported me to another place and time. I fell into this place each time I opened the book. The characters are so clearly drawn that I felt like I knew them. I can't wait to read their next adventure.

This book had similar elements to many YA fantasy/sci-fi books that are so popular right now, but enough original elements to set it apart. The characters are all believable and likable, and there are plenty of twists you don't see coming. I will be promptly purchasing the next book in the series.

I absolutely loved the book! I finished it quickly, purchased book 2, and read that in a day or two also. I enjoyed McCarron's style of writing and the progression of the story. I really hope a third book will be added to the series soon.

Over the past several months I've read many books that ranged from very badly written to excellent. Fortunately, the very bad were only 2% of the total and the good to excellent made up the next 97%. Division of the Marked exceeds the definition of excellence and is solidly a 1%'er. This novel has everything anyone could possibly want in a thrilling read. Technically in the fantasy genre, there are broad strokes of action & adventure, suspense, science fiction, mystery, drama and yes, even romance. All of these sub-genres provide foundation to the primary plot in order to create the invaluable illusion of verisimilitude, that I feel essential to a great work of fiction. In particular the romance between Yarrow and Bray, although consistently in the background of the main events, is written to perfection and one of the strongest parts of the story.

It is difficult to write a novel that seeks to provide moral, ethical and / or philosophical lessons without slowing the action down for a page or two or three in order to express these ideals; and Division is no exception. These "slow down" moments are spread throughout, but they are always brief, to the point, and the story subsequently reignites with the action and suspense that make it a top notch novel. All of the characters and their interactions are beautifully described in a "showing" method that allows the reader to instantly associate and empathize with them as each new situation arises. Equally well established is the how and why of Chisanta, the markings, and the rigors each of the chosen children must learn in order to earn their individual gifts; all of which is ingeniously devised and truly fascinating.

When reading fiction there is a requirement to suspend disbelief that often comes with a degree of difficulty, not so in Division of the Marked. Ms. McCarron executes exemplary writing skills to create a very real and believable world and a cast of characters that make the suspension of disbelief a foregone conclusion. If I didn't know better, I'd swear the author was a seasoned writer and regularly listed on the bestseller charts. The end, as it should, left me yearning for more. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel; I hope it's already nearing completion and publication. I refuse to compare this novel with other like-type genre novels. Division of the Marked is uniquely different than any other. I will predict however, that Ms. McCarron and Division of the Marked, along with the remainder of The Marked Series, will follow the same path to fame that Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games now enjoy.

Division of the Marked was a magical journey for the children of the marked. They were born special and as I got to know the main characters, they truly were, each having their own unique personality. I really loved Yarrow and his compassion. I couldn't help but feel for him. It was a fun adventure getting to know them as children and then as adults as the book went on. I liked the mystery they were trying to solve and the betrayal they found. It kept me on the edge of my seat, especially once I got to part 3. The book is well written with magical prose and almost no mistakes ( I think I only found 2)

The one thing that was off for me were the numerous references to what I assume are martial art poses because I am unfamiliar with them. When the poses were called by name, I lost the visual, not exactly sure what they are doing, but I can imagine for myself the grace they moved with when they were doing those. The scene from Karate Kid on the beach kept coming to mind.

I would highly recommend Division of the Marked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!

It began with excitement! I was so enjoying this book. The characters were interesting, the landscape, the "history" behind the story, it was wonderful! Suddenly the author inserts mundane subjects like homosexuality and mundane swearing like the"f" bomb. It was a dousing of ice water that destroyed the mood and tore away the extraordinary world the author had created. Suddenly the story was just ordinary and the mood shattered. So much for looking forward to the sequel! Having the fun and extraordinary fantasy blow up like that is more than my imagination cares to endure. So, no sequel is on my horizon. My heart can't take that wrenching from the heights to the mundane with such violence a second time.

Division of the Marked was a magical journey for the children of the marked. They were born special and as I got to know the main characters, they truly were, each having their own unique personality. I really loved Yarrow and his compassion. I couldn't help but feel for him. It was a fun adventure getting to know them as children and then as adults as the book went on. I liked the mystery they were trying to solve and the betrayal they found. It kept me on the edge of my seat, especially once I got to part 3. The book is well written with magical prose and almost no mistakes ( I think I only found 2)

The one thing that was off for me were the numerous references to what I assume are martial art poses because I am unfamiliar with them. When the poses were called by name, I lost the visual, not exactly sure what they are doing, but I can imagine for myself the grace they moved with when they were doing those. The scene from Karate Kid on the beach kept coming to mind.

I would highly recommend Division of the Marked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!

5 Stars! Sometimes when I receive a book recommendation with such high praise, I am a little wary. Not that I don't trust the person recommending the book, but because the hype often sets me up for disappointment. Nothing could be farther from the truth with this book. It is a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of redundant book themes and overdone characters. March McCarron creates a mystical world ripe with loads of Asian flavor and characters that transform into spiritual, scholarly warriors with superhuman gifts that allow them the power to do unworldly things. (Note: I did receive this book from the author in exchange for a honest review).

It all begins on the day of Da Un Marcu or Day of the Marked when once a year 50 boys and girls, all aged fourteen years, wake up with a mark on their neck denoting them as Chisanta, which is a honored society of scholars and martial artists. As they join the Chisanta, they endure a fighting test which divides them into one of two sects, Cosanta and Chiona.

The story follows the journey of Yarrow and his companions as they are initiated into the Chisanta. Yarrow finds himself Cosanta while his love interest Bray is Chiona. They are trained and live their lives separately, never forgetting their affection for one another. They are reunited 10 years later as they team up to investigate the disappearances of marked children that started 10 years before and is rapidly growing, thus depleting the power and numbers of the Chisanta. Their reunion is filled with suspicion of one another as the prejudice between the Cosanta and Chiona is great.

This story is ripe with intrigue and all the angst that YA readers are looking for. If that isn't enough to stir the reader's appetite, the martial arts and transforming superpowers add plenty of drama...the fight scenes are spectacular. I appreciate the fact that this story is not just a warrior's tale, but it delves into the spiritual aspect of martial arts and that makes the story richer and on a higher level than most YA books. Of course I can't forget the suspense...the mystery of the missing marked children is cleverly woven through out the story and is perfectly played. This book is intelligently written, but highly entertaining at the same time. The ending is not the end...big sigh, I must wait for the next book.

This is a totally enjoyable book that talks about friendship, loyalty, betrayal and young love traveling different paths that eventually converged after several years to reach a common goal.

Every year, on the day of Da Un Marco, fifty fourteen years old will be magically chosen to become members of Chisanta and will bear its mark. Half of them will belong to the Cosanta group which uses peace and relaxation to develop their gifts or abilities, while the other half will become Chiona members who harness their fierceness and fury to obtain these gifts. This concept makes me think of the yin and yang that balances each other out. But in this world, the Cosanta and Chiona are suspicious of each other's motives and don't strive to be complementary to each other due to an old prophecy that brought discord between the two.

Yarrow and Bray were two of these fourteen year-old children that had the mark during Da Un Marco. They became fast friends and then young love bloomed. They soon found out that their affiliation to a certain group will only be revealed after a harsh trial. They eventually passed their tests but with different results. One belonged to the Cosanta and another to Chiona.

When I started reading the story, I was wondering why there were two main point of views narrating their experiences. I soon understood that this was essential to each of the characters' development. These narrations were easy to follow and allowed me to understand the contrasts between the two. It got really interesting when the main characters met again after ten years. The different cities they've also traveled and the descriptions, are very well done and believable.

All in all, a great read and definitely worth your while. I'm so looking forward to the sequel.

Division of the Marked by March McCarron starts out with Yarrow, who has just been marked as one of the Chisanta, a special group in their society, who are privy to information and secrets and have special abilities. The children chosen are random and often have faults, often physical. Unlike many stories where magic is dependent on race, refreshingly, this story didn't go that way. Once Yarrow become part of the Chisanta, he meets the copper haired Bray, who is also marked as one of the Chisanta. Yarrow is immediately smitten with her.

The story moves along, introducing us to the world they live in as they journey to the temple and once they are at the temple. This is one of those fantasy novels where you are not sure of the time period, it feels almost medieval, but then like feudal Asia. There is the expected conflict between the various characters and the character development that goes with that, done in a realistic manner. The settings are real and you are drawn into the world. I was reminded of the monks in China at first, but the discipline and structure of the Chisanta wasn't the same in any way.

Eventually a mystery is uncovered, and Yarrow and Bray must come together and discover what is happening to some of the Chisanta and why some of them never arrive at their destination.

There were some lines that I smiled at and I enjoyed very much,

"Aren't you going to tell me how nice I look?" she asked.

"Putting a beautiful thing in a fancy wrapper cannot inherently improve it," he said.

"So I look unimproved?"

"You look uncomfortable."

While at other times I had a hard time with the stiffness and formality of the narrative, and some odd capital letter usage was a distraction.

All in all I enjoyed the book, the romance between Yarrow and Bray, and the interaction of the characters and the mystery, made it a lively and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to future books.

I really enjoyed this. It's well written, creative, and beautifully presented.

That said, I had some issues with the plotting. The middle section felt like it belonged to a different book than the first and third acts, and the changes to the characterizations in that section did not feel they meshed with the existing characterizations. Plus, in the third act, there was a plot point that could only be attained by ignoring an obvious solution. It felt like there were a few bumpy areas in the way the worldbuilding intersected with the plot and the characters. I'd be on the edge of giving the book five stars, if it wasn't for those concerns. They really threw me as a reader.

You'll want to go look for book 2 right away. This ends with a solid lead-in. The characters are engaging, the magic system encourages a volatility and action-focused style of conflict, and it's a lot of fun. Aside from the weaker second act, it's a great story!

This is a perfect example of why Self Publishing is a great option for writers. March McCarron has written an amazing story that kept me on the edge of my seat every moment I was reading it. I laughed, I cried (literally!), and I am now waiting with high expectations and hopes for the next book!

McCarron sets a high bar with her polished editing, beautiful cover art, and talent for storytelling. Her writing style is mature and crisp, her characters are deep and complex, and her story is rich and beautiful. Were I to have any criticism of this book it would be the printing - the cover on my copy was laminated poorly. However, that is hardly something McCarron can be blamed for!

Being a professional editor and an avid reader it takes a very solid writer to impress and capture me the way McCarron has. And if you give her the opportunity she will enthrall you equally. All I can truly say further is: buy this book. You won't regret it!

This is a wonderful story of a fantasy world where children who have been identified with a mark at the age of fourteen are taken from their family home to follow their destiny as one of the marked.
Two such children are the main characters, Yarrow and Bray. This pair are easy to relate to for the reader and I found myself spending the novel wondering whether they were destined to end up as a couple.
They are separated when they are sent in different directions as their new-found skills decree they are each of the extremes of the marked children.
Later they are reunited to investigate the mysterious deaths of a number of children who never made it to the temple. Their relationship never falters as they solve the mystery whilst facing great danger.
The magic and fantasy of this novel never wanes. I did find I needed to concentrate to follow the plot but I was happy to do this as the story was so well-written and the adventure is full of excitement.

Division of the Marked is a fantasy novel with well-crafted characters and a story that keeps reader's attention from the first to the last page. The world that Mrs. McCarron created, as the setting for the story about fifty boys and girls chosen to be "marked" and separated from the society in order to be trained as "knowledge-keepers, martial artists, and possessors of strange and wonderful abilities", could be an unlimited source for many more adventures of the characters inhabiting this fictional realm.

Aside from some discrepancies in the plot development of the three part novel, it was a delightful read. The characters of Bray and Yarrow are believable, likable, and well balanced throughout the story. Contrary to this, some of the side characters and the background structure of the two Chisanta groups - Chiona and Cosanta seem to be a bit unexplained. But I don't see this necessarily as a drawback. Perhaps it was done on purpose. In any case, it didn't take away anything from the overall reading experience.

While I am really impressed with this work, I am even more fascinated with the potential that Mrs. McCarron's fictional world has for the creation of future adventures, maybe even a whole series of books. With the writing skills that Mrs. McCarron displayed in this novel, it is quite possible to become a great success.

This book has everything needed to appeal to a wide audience – not just Young Adults, and all are explored by an expert Wordsmith.
You have the mystery of an increasing number of the marked disappearing each year; you have a romance, spanning over ten years and not approved by the society in which they live (The main characters are brought up to hate each other.) You have a mystery to solve and you, the reader, know as much as the hero does. All this, while you learn more and more about the world in which the story is set, ready for the next adventure in the saga.

March McCarron is one awesome storyteller!!

She did an amazing job creating a world that I wished would never end. I loved the characters, and even shed a tear or two. You can’t help but get wrapped in her world because it’s written so smooth and every detail laid out perfectly.

My only disappointment was the end… I have to know what happens!!!

I was given this book for exchange of an honest review, and I don’t give out 5 stars easy. But hands down this is a 5 star book! Check it out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed:)

I loved this book. Characters are all very well developed, with their own unique voices and characteristics, great plot, unique, wonderful pacing and Ms. McCarron's ability to create a world is remarkable. May not be suitable for some of the younger crowd as there are some themes that I don't believe my kids (11 and 8) are ready for, but I'd say it's appropriate for the 13+ crowd. Very well done. I'm off to read Elevation of the Marked!!