Title: The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2)

Author: Veronica Roth

Pub. Date: April 10, 2018

Rating: ♥♥♥♥ – 4.5

---

Fate brought them together. Now it will divide them.

The lives of Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth are ruled by their fates, spoken by the oracles at their births. The fates, once determined, are inescapable.

Akos is in love with Cyra, in spite of his fate: He will die in service to Cyra’s family. And when Cyra’s father, Lazmet Noavek—a soulless tyrant, thought to be dead—reclaims the Shotet throne, Akos believes his end is closer than ever.

As Lazmet ignites a barbaric war, Cyra and Akos are desperate to stop him at any cost. For Cyra, that could mean taking the life of the man who may—or may not—be her father. For Akos, it could mean giving his own. In a stunning twist, the two will discover how fate defines their lives in ways most unexpected.

---

Like with most of my reviews, the first part will be spoiler free, followed by a spoiler section.

I listened to this on Audible, and I highly recommend both Carve the Mark and The Fates Divide as audiobooks. It took me forever to get into the first one reading it in physical form, but the audiobook changed that. The narrators are enjoyable to listen to, and I think listening to these two books just adds something extra to the story. Though I will say that there is one downside I’ve found with audiobooks – I don’t know how to spell any of the character’s names!

The Fates Divide is the second and final installment in Veronica Roth’s Carve the Mark duology. This book splits into four points of view, Cyra, Akos, Cisi, and Ryzek/Eijeh. It takes place directly following the first book, and the characters are in a bit of a turmoil. Akos struggling with the fact that he couldn’t save his brother, Cyra having to occupy the same space as her brother who she has come to hate, Cisi who has to reconcile with loss and the return of her brothers, and Ryzek/Eijeh who have to learn to live with each other.

Their fates rule them, constantly looming over their head, and with a war between Shotet and Thuvhe bubbling to the surface, it feels more obvious than ever that they will be fulfilled. Akos thinks his end is near, Cyra may or may not have to take the life of the man who she’d always thought to be her father, who has seemingly risen from the dead to reclaim the Shotet throne.

I really enjoyed Carve the Mark – the world, the characters, I fell in love. I will fight you for Akos, he’s mine. I loved how all the characters were flawed and so human. More than once I was caught up in everything that the characters were feeling. The Fates Divide was no difference. Once again, Roth wrote a book that sucked me in, had me feeling everything the characters felt. I could feel Cyra’s and Akos’ frustration and fear. I could feel Cisi’s need to be able to express herself, her need to help people. In Ryzek/Eijeh’s case, I could feel my burning hatred for Ryzek. (I don’t think he could ever have a redeeming arc, in my opinion). I would have been okay if his POVs hadn’t been in the book.

There was a moment in this book where, if I had been reading a physical copy I probably would’ve dropped it and screamed. Something that Roth does really well in these two books is making the characters and readers go through the same revelation at the same time. The twist that occurs in this book – I didn’t see it come at all. It was a shock, it blindsided me, but I wasn’t angry about it. It actually made complete sense, and it was oh so clever.

Overall this book was so good! If you liked Carve the Mark then you definitely want to check out the second and final installment. If you want political intrigue, manipulation, love, heartache, coming to terms with ones fate, family and the fight to survive, then you probably want to check this book, and the first one out!

Now for the spoiler section.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Last chance!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

I mentioned this earlier, but that big plot twist that I’m sure had everyone gaping and that blew everyone’s minds – yeah that one.

HOLY CRAP.

They were switched at birth.

Again. Holy crap.

Did not see that coming.

And then we find out that Cyra’s true fate had been completed when she refused to torture Akos, and she died. And that Akos inherited her fate to cross the divide. They had both been living in fear or at least apprehension of their fates their whole lives only to have already completed them. Which then leaves one thing left that has to be done, kill Lazmet Noavek.

Okay, to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to talk about in this spoiler section. The only thing I really wanted to talk about was that major Fates plot twist and threw the whole book on its head.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than the first one. I liked that there was less world building and more character development. I liked how the story progressed and the reader could see every move that was happening, from multiple different angles. The political intrigue and manipulation on all fronts was so interesting, and I was engaged with the story the whole time.

There were moments when I wanted to shake Cyra and Akos for not trusting their feelings for each other, and I wanted to smack Ast. From the first time he was introduced I knew he wasn’t good news. He. Made. Me. So. Mad.

Okay, to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to talk about in this spoiler section. The only thing I really wanted to talk about was that major Fates plot twist and threw the whole book on its head. I’m glad Ast ended up being sent away.

OH! Another thing. Who all thought that Akos was going to die in the end when he faces off Lazmet. Because I did. I honestly thought she was going to do the same thing as Allegiant. I wouldn’t have been mad if he had died because it really felt like it w

as going to happen. I would have been mad because it would have felt like a copy of Allegiant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so freaking happy that he lives, because I love him, but there was a moment when I didn’t think he’d get back up.

I did think that the book ended a little abruptly, and a little too happy, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this duology, and it’s definitely a new favorite!

If there’s anything I missed that you’d like my thoughts on, feel free to comment!