It's pretty safe to say that I loved everything about this book. I mean, I was already in love with Roth's writing style, and that's half the battle, though I found myself often forgetting that this was written by the same author. The story stood in a field all by itself, without needing to be compared to her previous works. 
 I would absolutely love to live in this world. I mean, without all the fighting and war and stuff, but, you know, with the currentgifts! Every person is "gifted" with a special ability, usually around when they hit puberty. These gifts reflect something from within, and are each as individual as the characters themselves. Our main character, her chapters told in first person, is Cyra. Her gift is one of pain, inflicting it both on herself and others, by touch. She lives with a constant pain coursing through her body, and it's incredible to see how this has shaped her. The chapters are then shared with Akos, told in third person. Akos and his brother are abducted from a rival nation, Thuvhe, and are then made to serve the Shotet ruling family. 
 The characters were definitely the driving force behind the story, but nothing could stand in the way of that plot. Carve the Mark was emotional, complex, and there were hidden depths beneath the cover. The world building was so tightly wound that I had no trouble believing in magic. Oracles and Fate seemed natural, and when I finally looked up from the pages of the book, I was almost disappointed with my surroundings. *sigh* Back to the real world.