Stars: 3.25/5.0

This is such a good debut novel!! The pacing is really good and steady and the world building and magic is quickly presented without it being overwhelming. I'm still left with many questions about the intricacies of the magic though. It's nothing crucial to understanding the plot but it leaves holes in the magic.

My two biggest issues is:
1. The romance. I do wish we got to see more of it.
2. The big plot twist relies on the reader not knowing things that are happening (which is impacting issue #1) but also it's so unbelievable too that you know it has to be happening (which I go back to is frustrating because it means we know issue #1 could be resolved by knowing whats happening, but we are left without information).

That being said, genuinely a good debut novel for Malburi and I can't wait to see their progression as an author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really love this fantasy. It’s original and the love story is quite cute!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This was absolutely wonderful! The story had me hooked early on, and I genuinely had trouble putting this book down. This is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance, which is not usually my thing, but this book just set up everything right and didn't move too fast. I quickly fell in love with Ruti and Kimya, and eventually also with Dekala and Orrin. I think the story really handles the dynamics between these four characters well, clearly establishing them at the beginning and then slowly fleshing them out.
The last fourth of the book was the weakest, in my opinion, as it started to feel repetitive, with the same conversation between Ruti and Dekala happening over and over again, without much new information being introduced. It also introduced an element of secrecy, as Ruti was privy to information she'd discussed with Dekala, but did not divulge it to the reader - ultimately leaving the section to feel somewhat disjointed. These issues did have me considering giving this book only 4.5 stars, but ultimately the rest of the story had so enamoured me that I could not bear rating it anything but 5 stars.

Fairly compelling start to a fantasy series. I enjoyed diving into this world & begin getting to know the characters, though at times the plot seemed to drag. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, especially for audiences looking for sapphic representation in a diverse fantasy world.

I enjoyed the book a lot, but I also missed a bit of world building, or a map, I admit I was a bit lost.
But I loved the characters, and the whole thing about destiny and where do they belong and how they should be treated.
It’s a magical world different from what we are used to now a days, and it felt fresh.
I think it’s a more young adult novel (it’s not bad, just an observation).

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

This was a surprising read for me. It took a while for me to be invested in the story, but once I was, I was excited to keep picking it up.

The story centers around a woman named Ruti, and the princess, Dekala. Ruti is a markless witch that helps other markless with magic spells, while Dekala is the heir to the throne and has one of the most powerful marks. All of the powers relate to some form of the elements.

I enjoyed the plot, it definitely picks up in the second half of the book, but I think where this story shined was the relationship between Ruti and Dekala. While a lot of it felt VERY YA to me, I found the ending to be very endearing. I was kind of sick of the soulmate trope, but I loved how this one played out.

I also loved the relationship between Ruti and Kimya. Even though Kimya couldn't speak, she wasn't afraid to say how she felt.

Something I really enjoyed about Markless was Ruti’s relentless determination to fight for the helpless (and her smart mouth 🤭), and Dekala’s headstrong determination to take control of her life, no matter what anyone in power tried to force her into. Unstoppable force meets immovable object…until the heart gets involved, of course. Then you’re subject to its whims more than anything else. 😏

There are a few things I would have liked to see go differently. Pacing was a bit of an issue to me, some of the plot reveals were not my fave, and the romance needed a some work, but overall I think this was a solid debut. I believe the author’s craft will definitely grow more with time.

Shoutout to Levine Querido for my copy!

When I picked up this book I didn’t realise that the author was formerly a fanfic author. I’ve read many books by former fanfic-turned tradpub authors (mostly romance), and many of them still have a fanfic vibe to them. Which isn’t a bad thing necessarily, it’s just a specific feeling I get when reading them. I’m not sure if it’s because this was primarily sci-fi/fantasy rather than romance, but this book didn’t have that fanfic vibe to me at all.

I went into this with high hopes because the blurb sounded really intriguing, but unfortunately it fell a little short of my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good book, I just felt like there were a few elements missing or not properly explored that would have made it a great book. The main thing for me was Dekala as a character, I felt like we didn’t get to know her as deeply as was needed to make sense of her decisions and overall characterisation. I wanted to love the romance but it just felt forced and a bit unrealistic, which I think in part was due to how Dekala was written. I couldn’t really understand what drew Ruti to her other than her looks.

The pacing was a bit all over the place but overall I found the world easy and enjoyable to immerse myself in. Overall this was a solid debut and I would definitely read more from this author in the future.


3.5 stars

In Somanchi, “Markless” is synonymous with worthless. Ruti is Markless, lacking the unpredictable power of a Mark that stabilizes when bonded to a soulmate. She raised herself in the streets, with help only from a mysterious old man who taught her her most valuable skill: how to sing to the gods in exchange for a different kind of power. When this power gets her out of a sticky situation, the heir to the throne seeks her help. Dekala is cruel and self-serving, even if she has her kind moments. But Ruti’s life depends on helping Dekala succeed, and what Dekala wants might be too much to ask of the gods.

I am so glad I saved this book for a weekend, because I flew through it in a day and a half. The worldbuilding is simple but immersive, and Ruti is a strong, well-rounded protagonist. I couldn’t wait to see what happened on her journey. MARKLESS is a nostalgic read for fans of fanfic, with an interesting and unique spin on the soulmate tattoo trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for the ARC and the opportunity to share my honest review.

I really enjoyed the story that i read less in a day. It reads quickly and makes you want to continue reading.
I love the tension between the two main girls and that made me want to read ,ore abaout them. I found really interesting the concept of the powers to the marked ones and the magic as is used.
Even though i enjoyed the reading I have to say that has lot of wasted potential mostly for the world building which is not entiretly missed but it deserves more deep to it. I could have pass on that because I was liking the characters but halfway throught the story i found myself not knowing more of the characters. It didn't explained all of their actions and it focused only their purpose to the story instead of being their own person. Like with Orrion and the princess. Last thing some things were predicteble and other which are plot twist felt rushed.
Although is a nice story and perfect for young adults because it can entartained you and its written well.

Grade: C (3.75 - rounded up for NetGalley)
It got 0.25 of a star more than I would have given it for the simple fact that I flew through it.
Otherwise, I found Ruti to be almost hypocritical? She goes on and on about how she refuses to dream b/c dreaming would kill you and yet she was stupidly impulsive. She accused Orrin of being less subtle than an ox and yet she's glaring at everyone and unable to hold her tongue when she disagreed with someone or didn't like them. I also found the singing/chanting as a form of magic to be a little unrealistic. It only takes too long for the magic to kick in when it's useful to the plot, otherwise it happens quickly. She just happens to have things for offerings on her all the time, like exactly what she needs, despite falling into rivers, being kidnapped, constantly making offerings and therefore using supplies. And she never doesn't have offering materials when she really needs them. The spirits also complain a LOT about answering her singing but aside from one time don't punish her at all.
Also, I found Kimya to be a hindrance rather than endearing, by the end.
I found the plot twist with the prince to be super satisfying though, that's for sure!

I really enjoyed this debut sapphic romantasy. The world was so unique and as well as the magic system. The disability rep was much needed and I can’t wait to read more of C G Malburi.

Thank you to NetGalley, CG Malburi and Levine Querido for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story that will stay with me for a long, long time. Ruti, Dekala and Kimya have wormed their way into my heart and I don't think they'll be leaving any time soon.

Ruti is born Markless in a world where people's Marks are both a source of power and belonging and a way to find their Soulbond. In the Zideshi slums that Markless are destined to live and die in, she has carved out a meagre life for herself, a small shop for a home, and a rotating cast of stray orphans that gravitate towards her for the magic that gives her a unique power among Markless. One such stray is Kimya, a young girl with a knack for pickpocketing who both surprises Ruti with how fiercely they come to care for each other and sets in motion the story that forces Ruti and the Heir, Dekala, together.

While the romance is a huge part of the storyline, it sits alongside a coming-of-age and a reckoning with identity for both Ruti, who believes she is destined to never have a family or any kind of close connection, and Dekala, who is trying to avoid finding or falling in love with her Soulbond so she can rule independently as Queen. The world of MARKLESS is one built on the tropes of marked soulmates, but different cities and cultures within the story reveal a myriad of attitudes towards the Marks and the Markless, as Ruti, Dekala and Kimya discover on their journeys. The forced proximity of a shared quest, as well as moments of tenderness and
desire that CG Malburi weaves alongside action and intrigue, help to bring both Ruti and Dekala out from behind their respective protective walls.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed MARKLESS and found myself picking it up again and again over a few short days, racing towards the end every spare moment I got. It's a masterpiece of fantasy worldbuilding, sapphic longing, found families, existing in a hostile world and coming of age despite it all.

I loved the concept for this book, its really unique and different compared to a lot of what's out there at the moment. The characters and their surroundings are really easy to envision as well which was nice as I didn't have to spend time trying to picture it all in my head.

I only wish things were explained a little better, how the powers worked, how/why they found their soul bond.

Do the ppl that live in certain areas just not greet others of the same sex by checking if they're bonded like they do with the opposite sex? Why not? It never really explained if it was frowned upon, just unheard of.

Also Dekala felt her soulbond and knew they were bonded without ever having to put their hands together, if they can just feel when their bond is close by and know it's them, why bother checking when meeting others by putting their hands together if they'd have already felt it before then?

When I first started reading I pictured the animals/spirits described as other worldly I.e. the fanged one for example, I enjoyed trying to picture what they may have looked like in this world, I was slightly disappointed to find out later on they were normal animals like snakes/leopards ect, it took the fantasy out of it slightly for me.

Otherwise I really enjoyed the story, I'm already familiar with this authors other works, which is what made me want to read her first published book to begin with.

This author is really good at creating angst for a purpose and not just to add it for the sake of adding it like a lot of authors do and I love that.

I will definitely be reading whatever else she comes up with!

*was given the book by netgalley in return for an open & honest review.

Rating 3.75🌟 (rounded up to a 4)
*All opinions are more own, thank you to Levine Querido for opportunity to read an ARC *

The story follows Ruti and her identity as being Markless. The entire society is run off of what mark you bear on your palm. For those without a mark, they are pushed to the outskirts and forced to survive the best they know how. I really loved the plot of this book. The magic, or lack there of in others, that we see in the slums was very interesting. The more we saw of Ruti’s gift the more I wished we had a little deeper insight of who these “gods” were. I think my only complaint is that I wanted more detail and descriptions to help me really envision what was going on. Specifically, in scenes like the forest, I couldn’t connect with what was singing vs what everyone was doing. Besides that I still think this is a nice fantasy read for anyone wanting a easy to read story.

I don’t read a lot of young adult books (they can be a little hit or miss for me), but sometimes I read a blurb and I don’t care if I’m the target audience or not – I’m definitely reading that book. I felt that way with Markless and I’m glad I gave it a chance because I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I don’t read a lot of fantasy with major romance plots (Romantasy? Is this romantasy?) but I do love the enemies to lovers trope and when it’s sapphic? Yes please! I also really like what Malburi did with the soulmates trope in Markless. I admit I haven’t read a whole lot of romance with the soulmates trope, so I’m not sure if what was done here is common or not, but I thought it was nice that it explored the idea that choosing your own soulmate is always a possibility.

The main character, Ruti, was so well-written. Not only did I love her, but I could easily feel whatever emotion she was feeling. If she was confused, so was I. Whether she was upbeat or distressed, I was too. The evolution of her relationship with Princess Dekala felt very natural, which I appreciated. Speaking of Dekala, she was… an enigma, but an intriguing one. My favorite thing about her was that she was so hard to pin down. Sometimes it was frustrating, but hey, I was only frustrated when Ruti was frustrated, so it was perfect!
I did feel that the magic system was a little confusing. As soon as I thought I had a decent understanding of it, something new was introduced that threw me for a loop. I don’t think I ever quite understood the limits of the world’s magic.

My only other issue was that towards the end of the book, there was a part that felt to me like the oft frowned upon “and then I woke up” moment used in some media. It wasn’t that, but it gave me a similar feeling, and I was disappointed. But the ending itself was great. It made up for some of that disappointment and left me feeling happy with the book overall.

Utterly fantastic world building. CG Malburi has true talent for the angsty romance.

Thank you to Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was an interesting, enjoyable, and intriguing read. Now that I am finished, I am having some difficulty in sorting out my thoughts about this novel, but I do know that I enjoyed it. I was enthralled for the majority of the novel, tearing through pages and needing to see what happens next, which is always a clear indication that the book did something right. The characters were interesting and complex. I found that I was invested in the story, these fictional kingdoms, and what was going to happen in the story. That said, there is something “off” that I am having trouble putting my finger on that is preventing me from giving this a higher rating.

After a lot of reflection, I think the plot was very well done. The details, the foreshadowing, everything, was well planned and executed. At the same time, some of the way it was presented to the reader, and the way the characters went about executing the plot, I didn’t like as much.

There were a few plot points, or choices made, that I just didn’t follow or didn’t make sense (but I don’t want to give a bunch of explicit spoilers here). I continued reading hoping that things would be explained later, and many things were, but not everything. This somewhat pulled me out of the story and took away from the overall experience. There was also a series of big reveals and climax at the end (as there often is) which was fine, but the way the author chose to approach this part of the novel I simply didn’t love. (so vague, I’m sorry, I tried)

The worldbuilding was well done, providing all the explanations required while avoiding infodumping. This novel had some unique and original elements which I enjoyed a lot. While reading through, the worldbuilding made sense and seemed to be very well constructed. That said, since I have started to reflect and think about things a little deeper, I have a lot of questions popping up that either poke holes in this fictional world, or the answers I need were not given or overlooked. Its giving Harry Potter vibes; makes perfect sense if you don’t think too hard, but then falls apart if you really start digging into the details.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this book was not for me, unfortunately.
I don't usually read fantasy, but I do try now and then.
And my biggest issue with this book was not the fantasy part, but the characters. Also, the author's writing.
I never felt invested in any of them and this book, in my opinion, is way too 'teen' for my taste. It should have been marketed as young adult.
I'm sure this book has its audience, but it was not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc of this book.
Markless was an interesting world with magic and political intrigues. I loved learning about this world. The characters were true to themselves, even as they grew and evolved. Which made the plot twist worth it (I was worried the characters lost themselves for a minute there). One thing that I found tend to lack in some books is the resolution of subplots and I feel like this one resolved them all.
The paced was perfect, I was always into the story. There were a lot of action but there were also calmer scenes, tying everything together perfectly.
My two negatives’ points: I wish there were more world building. I loved the universe, but I would have liked a little more explanations about the magical systems. And I wish we would have more interaction between Orrin and Ruti when they became friendlier.
If you want a magical world with a queen falling in love with one of her subjects, adventures, power, and stubborn characters, this is the book for you.