But Ryzek has eyes everywhere, and a gang of thugs to support him. By touching Cyra, he can control her pain enough for Ryzek to have her to appear in public with him and do his bidding (which usually involves torture).Īkos is desperate to get Eijeh out of Shotet, because the gift Ryzek has is destroying Eijeh. Akos is useful since his gift is to disrupt the current of the gifts of others. Ryzek wanted Eijeh because Eijeh’s gift is to prophesize. Her evil brother Ryzek, now the leader of the Shotet nation, uses Cyra as his “scourge” to punish his enemies.Ĭyra’s people, the Shotet, manage to kidnap two Thuvhens, Akos and Eijeh Kereseth, from across the border and bring them to Shotet.

It is so intense that prolonged contact with Cyra can kill the other person.

You will be shocked, shocked to learn there are two attractive 16-year-olds, one from each nation – a boy, Akos, and a girl, Cyra, that are destined to get together.Ĭyra Noavek has an unusual “currentgift” – more like a curse, at least at first – she has chronic pain, which she can transfer to other people by touching them. Two warring nations on one particular planet are the focus of the story: Shotet and Thuvhe. In this world, there is a “current” circling the planetary system, and everyone comes into a “gift” from the current when they reach puberty. And in fact, Roth spends much of the book on world-building rather than on character-building. This beginning of a new series has many elements in common with the “Divergent” series, but in a very different universe.

Carve the mark first look veronica roth