Review: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

publisher: HarperTeen

released: October 4th, 2011

paperback, 342 pages

intended audience: Young adult

series, book one

rating:


source: from publisher for honest review

description:

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Review: I, along with most habitual readers of paranormal YA, have been salivating for this book for months now. Ever since the books first press release was spread online as the the first book to be plucked for the online writing community, InkPop, and the simultaneous reveal of one the most gorgeous covers to hit shelves this year, I had pined for it. So...as you can see from the cupcakes up there: it wasn't awful, but it didn't hold the WOW factor for me that I'd hoped for either.

The Irish setting was done really well, I loved being sort of immersed in the lifestyle and how it differed from what the main character, Megan had encountered before in all her moving around. The uniforms, the school system, the landscape, the slang---I've always loved reading accents and picturing characters with them. I really liked Caitlin, a girl who befriends Megan from her first day there and really comes through as a great friend to her and a great supporting character. I also like the the easy-going relationship between Megan and her dad. Megan, herself, was just kind of "take her or leave her" for me. She was easy to relate to as just a normal teen, but when it came to discovering her powers, I found her reactions just a little off-putting. As far as the love story is concerned, I just wasn't drawn in and romanced by Adam and Megan's relationship. I did love that they were both tripping over their own feet around each other, it wasn't just here loosing her cool around him while he stands perfect and beautiful---he was just as bad, even ran into a wall! It was just very instant and there isn't a lot of depth to it even after they get together. At one point in the story, Megan questions whether their feelings for each other are just a side-effect of their powers, and honestly, I had a hard time arguing with that.

The paranormal aspect is interesting and unique, having to do with four kinds of elemental powers. While the major detail given about the history of their powers was a little overbearing, and delivered in such a textbook manner that I had a hard time staying interested, what I really loved was the personal stories that went along with it. The backstory we get on Rían, Adam, and especially Fionn's part in the whole elemental alignment prophecy was compelling and emotional.

My biggest quirk with this one is how formulaic this stories set-up was. It took a turn of it's own eventually, but for the first 200 pages, there was just too much that felt a bit déjà vu. A new girl move to town, new school, a few new friends...the unapproachable boy that everyone drools over but no one has been able to attract before suddenly has eyes for said new girl...strange, unexplainable things start happening...boy has a perky sister that wants to be girl's best friend...boy's other sibling seems to absolutely loathe girl and wants her to stay away from them all...there is even a mention that if boy and girl have a baby, it will be some sort of monster or darkness. Sound familiar? Yeah, it kind of does. :)

The ending was what pulled the book together for me and really made my decision to continue with this series. Very exciting stuff and I was ultimately glad that I stayed with this one through the entire ride! I think now that the story has been set up and the history has been laid down, it has the potential to really take off in the second book. At least, that is what I'm crossing my fingers for! I'm not giving up on this one yet!

Visit Leigh Fallon's site here!

Purchase at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound

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