What a super fun and sweet romance fantasy. I loved how the author played with memory in this book and the romance between the two main characters was wonderful. This book was featured in our November box as well.

Rosemarked, the first book in a new fantasy series, introduces a plague ridden world where the authoritarian rule of the Amparans tyrannizes the people they subjugate. The story is told by Zivah, a Daran healer, who has contracted the rose plague when she treats infected occupying Amparan soldiers, and Dineas, a Shidadi soldier rebelling against Amparan rule. He has survived the plague and is now umbertouched or immune, but she is highly contagious and can expect a shortened life span. Because Zivah saved the life of the Amparan commander, she is invited to live in the Capital to heal other plague stricken Amparans. When the Darans ally with the Shidadi, the two are engaged as spies in order to find a weakness in the Amparan forces. Dineas infiltrates the Amparan military to learn the empire's plans for dealing with the rebels and then reports to Zivah in the Capital. As they join together to fight a mutual oppressor, Zivah and Dineas develop a deep affection for each other. The detailed world building and complex characters will engage readers in this tension filled page turner. The unresolved ending sets up the sequel Umbertouched, which will be released in 2018.

This book had me hooked from the beginning! I read it in two days because I just could not bring myself to put it down. The character building is just so intense and I love the story that the author builds in this new world.

It's a bit difficult to categorize a book like "Rosemarked." It has flavors of high fantasy in its world building but no magic (or apparent magic), while taking place in a land that is reminiscent of ancient Rome without being historical fiction. There is some romance, but not the sickly type, and the stakes are literally life or death. The characters also go through a crisis of identity, but they wrestle with issues not typically seen in a young adult novel. My preconceived notions eventually unraveled, and "Rosemarked" proved to be a story filled with subtlety and gray areas, with a fascinating struggle with morality and personal purpose.

The book follows the journey of a young healer, Zivah, and a tribal warrior, Dineas, who come together in an uncomfortable alliance to save their homeland from invasion by the Amparan empire. Both bear the scars of the deadly Rose Plague, while Dineas carries the additional wounds of torture under the empire's heavy hand. The story is told in chapters with alternating perspectives, which is similar to Blackburne's previous duology ("Midnight Thief"). Although this is a common devise in other YA novels, I found it became somewhat complicated by a later development in the book (no spoilers here) and therefore more intriguing. I resonated a bit more with Dineas' voice, which is filled with sarcastic wit and humor, but Zivah's internal turmoil, although more subtly parsed out, was more real to me and aligned with many of of my own experiences with longterm uncertainty.

While the start of the book was a bit slow for me, the narrative eventually reached a pace that kept my attention through the end. Some of the twists and turns were a bit predictable, but others were a surprise and kept me reading to see how things would pan out. I enjoyed seeing how Zivah and Dineas' initial black-and-white views developed to more balanced yet conflicted views, with the other characters' presence playing a strong role. In particular, I loved seeing Dineas' growing camaraderie with his fellow soldiers and Zivah's friendship with Mehtap. Mehtap ended up becoming one of my favorite characters in the book, although I wish there was a bit more fleshing out to her character.

The world of Ampara and Monyar is expansive, beautifully illustrated by the map included in the book, but in the narrative I wanted to learn more about the different people, their migrations, their cultures, and their influences outside of physical description. I was curious to learn more about some of the shared heritages revealed in the story, but the author often left these as asides rather than delving into them.

Rosemarked was one of my favorite reads of 2017, and I can't wait to see how Zivah and Dineas' adventure continues in the sequel!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

A tale of political intrigue and espionage told in the alternating voices of two teens living under an oppressive regime. Zivah is a gifted healer who has trained her entire life to reach the level of a master. As she celebrates her achievement, a battalion of the occupying Amparan Army falls ill with rose plague, the contagious disease that kills most who contract it within a few days. A lucky few survive for a few more years, but they are “rosemarked“ with red blotches, contagious and forced to live apart from the general population. The luckiest few survive the disease and become “umbertouched”, covered with dark spots that indicate the person is completely cured and immune to further infection. Zivah herself falls to the disease, rosemarked and destined for a lonely and uncertain future. But she is remembered by the Amparan general whose life she saved; he rewards her with an offer to live in the capital and train with the medical experts there. As she ponders that offer, she meets Dineas, a young warrior from the rebel Shihadi tribe, who has escaped from the Amparan prisons. Umbertouched after his bout with rose plague, he is now on a quest for vengeance against the Amparan leaders. The two teens, so different in temperament and outlook are brought together by their tribal leaders to fight against the empire. Together, they travel to the capital to spy on and sabotage the rulers. They come to rely heavily on each other and a strong attraction begins to form as they work on their dangerous mission. Rosemarked is the first book in a new political fantasy/adventure series. The novel is slow to start but builds in intensity as the teens go deep undercover to strike against the oppressive regime. The novel explores such themes as social and racial prejudices, medical ethics and the fight of a conquered people against oppression. There is solid character development with heroes and villains who are nuanced and fully fleshed out individuals, each with positive and negative traits that humanize them and make them believable. Recommended for fans of tales such as The False Prince or Ember in the Ashes. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers waiting eagerly for the next volume.

DNF @ 38%

This isn't a <i> bad books</i> it just couldn't hold my attention. While reading this my mind would keep wandering and pulling it back to the book was a chore.

I do not know exactly what it is that keeps it from having my attention. I think I would have preferred more insight into the characters, although there is already so much given. Perhaps my biggest issue is that I felt most of the story is told at a surface level. While details are given, even about fictional diseases, antidotes, and animals, I did not feel like we were given a chance to dive into something. Every time I felt like I could settle in, the POV changed. Usually, I really like stories told in multiple POV, but it seemed to be used as a way to skip parts or not go into needless detail --which usually I'm all for.
So, I'm not sure why this book just didn't do it for me.

The healer and warrior characters, both with their own problems, will strike interest in many fantasy readers. The fact that this is fast-pace (kinda) with shorter chapters will also help the appeal factor. While there was not enough suspense for me, the adventure of the book can make for that.

So, I quit because I did not want to push myself through reading this and end up disliking it even more. Yet, this is one I would potentially suggest to others.

I've discovered Livia Blackburne a couple of years back, on Twitter, and followed fascinated her blog, A Scientist's take on writing. I've followed her insights about the brain reactions to (good) writing and also had a look at Poison Dance, her novella, which I've found interesting but not perfect enough to make me very 'wow'-ish about it.
However, Rosemarked, a story following very different character, the healer Zivah and the soldier Dineas, brought together by fate and a strange malady spreading over an empire, is an outstanding literary YA fantasy achievement. Through words and well crafted actions, Blackburne created a fantasy world in itself, with its own borders, legacy and history, where the readers is subconsciously made part of and hard to leave at the end of the story.
'Everyone knows the stages of rose plague. First commes the fever and the delirium. It kills most people up front, though a few manage to stay of execution - their fever ebbs, and they regain their strength, but their rash stays red, which means they can still pass the disease to others. Those are rosemarked, and they're banished from society until the fever reclaims them a few years later'. Zivah is an experienced healer, with a deep knowledge of the natural and animal world and the potions that can be made using this knowledge, that caught the incurable illness, while Dineas is a traumatized soldier. Both of them are together on a spying mission against an oppressive kingdom. One can read the story as a fairy tale packed with actions and noteworthy moments of suspense, but also with at least few human questions: how to treat those different, especially sick ones? how to cope with death and afterlife? what is the responsibility of (mis)using an acquired knowledge under harsh polistical and social conditions? (Zivah's standpoint was: 'I can use my skills only to heal, not to harm (...)')
The writing is flowing and you are instantly wired to the action, especially in the last part of the story. The sentences are build in such a dynamic way, packed with verbs, which creates a good page turning reading pace. And when you are at the end of the book, all you wanna know is what's next. Enough to move even the laziest readers among us.
Last but not least, the cover is an outstanding choice too.

Zivah is a talented healer but even she is susceptible when a deadly plague threatens her village. She saved the life of a famous General but falls ill herself. Out of gratitude the general sends her to work in the city where his own daughter is recovering. Contracting the plague results in three outcomes: you die, you survive with pale scarring and are immune from further contagion or you survive with Rosemarked skin, a sign that you are contagious, will have a recurrence and die before long. These last cases are treated like the lepers of old – shunned and feared. Zivah and the General’s daughter are both Rosemarked.

Blackburne makes the plague an essential part of the plot, a presence almost like a character. There is a realism here that makes the book stark and pointed. Romance takes a back seat and is subtle in presentation. Dineas is Zivah’s friend and he is a survivor who is able to be near her without any danger. He has a fascinating dual personality that is unique and quite engaging. He adds great depth to the book, a likable sympathetic character. But the other characters are also complex. Even the General and his daughter have different sides to them and are complicated. Through the course of the novel Zivah grows a great deal, becoming a person of increased strength. There are surprises in store and developments that will definitely hold readers’ interest. A great beginning to an intriguing series.

"It's just the two of us this time; the rosemarked healer and the soldier with no fear of her disease. Together, somehow, we are to steal Ampara's secrets"

* * * *
4 / 5

Soft and almost melodic, Rosemarked is a lengthy, slow-burn YA fantasy novel. We follow two lovely characters: Zivah, a gentle healer who loves her people but must be quarantined due to a plague, and Dineas, a young warrior who serves his people, the Shidadi, in resisting the onslaught of the Empire. Rosemarked wasn't the most face-paced, exciting, or even believable book I've read recently, but it was fun and enjoyable and eloquently written and made me feel thing, which was all just what I needed.

"We are never really orphans in this tribe," he says. "Shidadi blood runs deep"

The Amparan Empire has been expanding for many years, turning it's greedy eyes to country after country. Dineas' people, the Shidadi tribes, are fighting back, leading resistance parties and shooting the soldiers of the Empire on sight. Zivah's people, the Dara, are quiet village dwellers who have surrendered to the rule of the Empire. Zivah has just passed her trials to become a well-respected healer when soldiers stationed in her village are infected with the Rosemarked plague: most die, and those who do not bear the angry red marks of the disease, a warning that they will become sick and die in a number of sparse years. A very lucky few are Umbertouched: they recover fully from the plague and are now immune.

Dineas is Umbertouched whilst Zarah becomes Rosemarked and quarantined from the rest of her village. She is just becoming accustomed to her solitary life when Dineas crashes into her life, bringing with him a plot to infiltrate the Amparan Empire. This is where the plots requires a bit of suspended disbelief: Zivah uses her skills as a healer to wipe Dineas' memory, able to restore it with just a few herbs when convenient, so that he might join the army and gain secret knowledge without being aware that he is a spy and so arousing less suspicion. It did strike me as a bit ridiculous and farfetched, but also led itself to some fairly humorous scenes involving the "other, memory-less Dineas".

"I'm sorry," Zivah says softly. "Sorry?" Sorry is a word for a stubbed toe, a keepsake gone missing. Not the betrayal of your soul

I loved the slow burn and the sweetness of Dineas and Zivah's interactions; at first they are hostile, she thinks he's a blood-seeking warrior who thinks only of vengeance, he thinks she's a peace-loving delusional woman whose people are cowards. But they put this aside for the sake of their families and learn to trust each other. I also empathised with Zivah and her quest to reinterpret herself: she devoted herself to becoming a healer and just when it became possible, her future was torn away from her by a plague.

Perhaps there could have been a little more action, a few more heart-pounding moments or clever twists of intrigue, but Rosemarked is solidly enjoyable and I look forward to reading the second book in this duology.

4/5 Stars. This book was an entertaining read! The characters were likable, and I thought the idea of the rosemarked and the umbertouched was fascinating. I think the world-building of Ampara and Dara was adequate, just enough to put the reader into the setting. Zivah's skill with herbs and snakes made her an interesting character. There wasn't as much romance as I had been expecting, so it definitely was not insta-love. The relationship between Dineas and Zivah developed slowly.

I did have mixed feelings about the potion that could wipe Dineas' memories, then bring them back after one drink. On one hand, it is a really creative concept. But on the other, it eliminated a potential source of tension in the story; it made it really easy for the "new" Dineas, emotionally, to get along with the Amparans. If he had remained the "old" Dineas," there would have been more potential for deeper emotional turmoil and opportunity to explore the times when he zones out because of his past trauma. I sometimes had a hard time reconciling the two versions of Dineas. When the "old" Dineas states his feelings, it felt quite blunt and I hadn't expected it at that moment because I didn't feel the romantic connection between that Dineas and Zivah so deeply. There was the possibility of him losing his memories for good as a result of the potion, but that danger was not really explored either. And there were some other places where I felt there could've been more tension/conflict. One example would be Dineas' training with the Amparan soldiers; his test to get into the elite group seemed fairly easy for him.

Also, perhaps the potion felt out of place because it seemed to be presented as herb science, which is more rational and not "magic." But for something "scientific," controlling someone's memory with a potion felt slightly far-fetched since there is no other "magic" in the story. Instead, Zivah demonstrates her intelligence through her herb skills, which are really cool.

The beginning drew me in, but I did notice a slower pace in the middle chunk of the book. However, it picked back up nicely at the end. The exciting ending made me want to find out what happens in the next part of Dineas and Zivah's journey! Overall, this was an engaging story with lovely writing!

(This review has also been posted on my Goodreads page.)

I haven't read the Midnight Thief duology. I was expecting to like this based on what I had heard about Livia due to that. But I didn't like Rosemarked that much. This was 50-50 for me.

The start was quite promising what with the healer learning venom business. In short I liked Ziva and her healer journey. But sadly that's about it.

I didn't like the romance, the characters also were somewhat dreary. The world for me was also drab. It is a cruel and saddening world but I wasn't interested.

This was YA but it read like MG. Or seemed MG to me. I felt the characters were more childish/childlike.

That's all I have to say about it. I don't think I'm really into this world or it's characters. Won't be reading the next book that eagerly or I might not at all but that is mostly because I won't have time due to adulthood.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this review copy.

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

It took me a long time to get through the first fifth of Rosemarked, but once I did, I flew through the rest of it. All of the characters were so complicated and well developed. I loved them all, and I loved getting to read about main character who is a healer for once. We don't get enough of those. I also loved all the politics and everything. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.

This one... was just mediocre? It wasn't bad, but it didn't really stand out to me either. I thought the writing could have had a little something *more* to it, because it came off at flat--the main characters didn't really have a voice to me, which made it hard to get into.
I was intrigued by the whole disease thing in the book. I'm hoping it plays into book two and that it ups the stakes, something ROSEMARKED could have used!
Overall, 3 stars.

I really wasn't planning on reading this book either, but this is twice now that Disney has sent me a book I didn't plan on reading and I ended up enjoying it a whole lot. So, points to you, Disney.

The thing is, while the plot sounds right up my alley (fantasy, conspiracy, hate-turned-love romance, war, spies, etc.), Livia Blackburne's books and I have a love-hate relationship. I adored her short story Poison Dance, and I was so excited to read the series it was setting up, but when it came to the actual novel I couldn't even finish it. It felt like it was written by a completely different author. I figured the short story was a fluke and I pretty much wrote off anything else she wrote. Which is why I hadn't even bothered considering Rosemarked.

And, to be honest, it was all smooth sailing. There was this distance with the characters that made their narrative voices feel muffled and monotone. Sure, there was emotion, but it felt dull and muted like it was underwater. Had the book not been so long, giving me enough time to really get to know them better and become invested in their stories, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.

But, the book is long, and so we got to spend a lot of time together. The chapters alternate between Zivah and Dineas's narrative focus and that switching combined with fairly short chapters and a slow-burn plot kept me engaged. Their voices were distinct enough, though I appreciated the chapter headings indicating who was speaking. By about halfway through I solidly cared about them and that feeling only grew as I read more.

As the plot progresses the emotions run deeper and deeper and I found myself invested not just in the characters and the story, but also in the idea. I know that doesn't make much sense, but there's an almost philosophical conundrum the characters experience that made me wish I was reading this with a book club so we could discuss all the angles and ramifications.

The plot and world building are intriguing and I enjoyed reading about them in their own right. The crows, snake, and disease were interesting and well thought-out. I could wish for a little more depth to the empire/conquered peoples, but maybe that will unfold more in the sequel.

I was disappointed when the book ended because even though it was long, I wanted to keep reading. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one.

It took me a long time to get through this book. While I liked the plot, the characters were really hard to connect to and I think I would have enjoyed the story if they author would have stayed in one POV.

In ROSEMARKED, the rose plague affects every part of the novel, from setting to characters. There are frank descriptions of everything, from infections to the remote, and desperate, lives of the infected. There is no magical cure and no kindness for those who are rosemarked. There’s a fantastic balance between exposition and description as each chapter examines Zivah and Dineas. However, the real gem of the novel is that, although there are only two main characters, there are three POVs as one of the characters goes undercover.

Zivah has trained to be a healer for most of her life. It’s her purpose and what she believes she was meant to do. When she contracts the rose plague and is left a carrier of the disease, she’s left without direction. Even though she joins the rebellion, Zivah remains the moral centre throughout the novel. She values her healing, her religion, and her country. Zivah is the embodiment of ‘do no harm’. Although there are times when her skills are almost too handy (knowing every venom or herb for any situation), it never feels like a deus ex machina.

Surprisingly, Dineas is the standout character of the book. Dineas is introduced as angry and tortured. His character grows throughout the novel as you experience two different men that Dineas can be: the fierce warrior who hates his enemies and the new soldier who is loyal to his friends. Betrayal is a constant part of spywork, it’s worse when you make friends along the way.

I wish there had been more breathing room near the end of the book. The middle of the novel lingers on the Zivah and Dineas’ learning and growth, but the last few chapters are a race to the finish line. Greater focus on Zivah’s friendships within the rosemarked village, would have added more emotion to the final stages of the book. With complex character and world building, ROSEMARKED never flinches from depicting the consequences of actions.

Absolutely enjoyed this book! As a nurse, the premise of the disease and being quarantined but also having a skill that can help in a time of crisis intrigued me and this book didn't disappoint. I was hesitant to start the book given that sometimes when dealing with medicine, books/tv/movies can get everything horribly awrong but this story used it in a way that was convincing but still removed from our own world. It was easy to see the more primitive use of medicine (compared to what we use today) but still had a fantastical element to it that made it new and exciting. I was very much enjoyed the description of different herbs and venoms for use with patients.

As far as the story goes, it picked up quickly and the pace was enjoyable. I felt like it skipped over boring/unnecessary parts while still explaining them enough that you weren't left feeling lost and the backstory provided early on in the book set the scene for the events that take place during the book. I will admit that I had every faith that the events would work out for the two characters, which detracted from suspenseful feeling but I was still anxious to see what was going to happen.

The two main characters were fantastic. Of course I felt a kinship with Zivah and her desire to heal and I loved how the really utilized her knowledge. I was cringing when I saw the sentence that foretold of her contracting the Rose plague but I also fully understood her fear and wariness. Dineas was a hardened character but I liked him from the first moment for his instincts and desire for survival. The predicament he finds himself in later in the book was intriguing and heartbreaking and the fall out from it in book two will definitely be interesting. The slight romance that occurs later in the book was natural and not forced--and took a complete backseat which was refreshing to read.

I am very interested to see what happens in the sequel and definitely plan to pick it up as soon as I can.

I had some issues reading this on my Nook. For some reason it wouldn't load so I had to wait till it came out! Fantastic story though! Loved all the elements of seeing through somebody else's eyes, betrayal, forgiveness, politics. I'll definitely be picking up its sequel!

I've been craving a sweeping YA fantasy story since the beginning of the year, and sadly before I read Rosemarked, I could not find it. Then came this brilliant book, which completely swept me off my feet and took me on an amazing journey. Engrossing stories like this are why I simply adore reading. By the end of Rosemarked, I was desperate for the sequel - I mean, isn't that just a sign as to how amazing this book was?

In YA fantasy, I've always loved side-characters that are healers. It's such an intriguing element, especially with the mirroring of reality, but healers are hardly ever the center of a fantasy series, so it was refreshing to see that here in Rosemarked. There's a lot of rich history, world-building and politics in this book. The author does a stunning job at making her world come to life here with her prose. I sometimes find YA fantasy tedious to read because it can get very entangled quickly, but here everything flows smoothly, and I was able to pick up every detail. Then, there's the plague itself, the rose plague, which is at the center of this story, and which felt a lot like a character. I thought it was absolutely terrifying, yet intriguing. There was lots to learn about this plague, and I liked how Livia Blackburne, only slowly revealed to us its true extent and secrets.

Of course, a YA fantasy can't be a top read without a well-developed cast. In Rosemarked, we get the points of view of two lovable characters, Zivah and Dineas. As you can probably tell, I loved these two. Zivah with her huge heart, her generosity and her utmost love for her family and village stole my heart. She was a character who was incredibly easy to connect with. It broke my heart watching her go through the plague, and then having to upend her life to go serve the sick people of a neighboring city. What was empowering about Zivah was how she was muttered not a word of complaint as she went through hell and more. She has a secret weapon, her skills in making potions, that wield incredible power. We see immense growth in her character, and I'm excited to watch her grow into an even more powerful young woman.

Dineas was also a fantastic character here. This fighter's abuse-riddled past just about shattered me, and I was incredibly nervous for his well-being as he volunteered to infiltrate the Army to spy on the secret-riddled Amparan empire. He does so with the help of Zivah's potions that pushes him into an amnesiac state. His point of view was especially interesting to me because we essentially see two versions of him, the soldier with amnesia, and the real Dineas. It was fascinating, but simultaneously nerve-wracking that he had to put himself in this position. He did accept the position willingly, but it was still daunting, and emotionally-draining. As the spy, he was more flirty and charming. As the real Dineas, he was tougher and more guarded with his emotions. A subtle romance develops between the two, as they find comfort  and companionship with each other in this otherwise harsh circumstance. As you can imagine, it has some of its complications, but it was still a satisfying romance.

You can probably tell that I loved pretty much every aspect of Rosemarked. The only thing I don't like is that I now have to wait for the sequel to be out, but if that will be anything like Rosemarked, then it will be worth the wait.