I've been following C.G. Malburi for years, and I'm so thrilled to see her become a published author.
I knew I was going to like everything she wrote, and this book didn't disappoint.  

The story is a new and refreshing take on "soulmates" stories, with impressive world-building, a unique magical system, and characters that you can't help falling in love with.
I love the simple way the author creates this complex world and makes it feel real without overwhelming the readers with information. The book has a great pacing, and every scene feels in place.
I like the dynamic between Ruti and Dekala and the slow progress of their relationship. I also appreciate that I couldn't predict how it all going to work out. It felt original and I couldn't put the book down until I got to the end.
The side characters in the story also add a lot. I like Orrin, and I especially adore Kimya- a markless child who talks with her hands that "adopts" Ruti as a big sister and becomes her sidekick in the story.

This is one of the best fantasy books I read lately, easy to read and sink into with a sweet queer love story that defies fate!
The cover art is also gorgeous and is part of the reason I'm considering getting the physical book.

Thank you to @levinequerido for making the ARC of 'Markless' by C.J. Malburi available for review on @netgalley

I want to say, first and foremost, I really enjoyed the concept of this book.

A woman from a downtrodden class of people getting caught up in royal intrigue? Great!
That woman having access to a power that makes her both a danger and an asset to the same people that have kept her down? Also great!
Singing as part of (one of) the magic system(s)? Not only wildly underutilised in general, but a sure-fire way to warm this former choir boy's shrivelled little heart.

There are so many elements to this book that I really enjoy, and found to be genuinely creative.

I also think this might be the first time I've actually found a love triangle to be properly utilised. This isn't one of those situations where there's one obvious candidate, with a second option being provided for the sake of some fake drama. There were actual reasons why things could have gone in different directions at various points throughout the book, and that's to be commended.

Where things fell apart for me is in some of the world building. I found a lot of things could have used more of an explanation (witches vs. Marked was a big one for me), and I actually wish this had been fleshed out into a duology to allow for that. This also could have helped with providing some plot points the opportunity to be fleshed out further, so they didn't feel quite so rushed.

This is one of those situations where I feel like the full potential of the story wasn't quite achieved, but I still think what we get is worth a read. And I'd like to return to these characters/this world again in future.

Rating: 3.5 (up to a 4 on Good Reads)

This book was a DNF for me. I could not get into the world building and felt like I needed a primer or introduction. I would still recommend this novel, it just was not for me. I did feel like readers of Tasha Suri’s Jasmine Throne might like this story.

(3.5 stars)

The worldbuilding and the magic system in this story is phenomenal. The world is incredibly rich and each province is fleshed out, and the social commentary is incredible. The magic system is quite unique too, I liked the soulbond concept - although I didn’t like how heteronormative it was - but I felt like the song magic was a bit convienent in some places.
The characters by themselves are rather dynamic, and I liked Ruti being the sole narrator, but the relationships, save from the chosen family sisterly bond of Ruti and Kimya, didn’t really make sense to me. The romances felt flimsy and rushed, and plot twists at the end just kind of happened, they weren’t really hinted at beforehand.
Nevertheless, this was a fun action-packed fantasy with a brilliant and easy to read writing style.

Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

Initially I loved the world building and I loved the unique magic system. I’m also always on board with the concept of soulmates.

However, I didn’t care much for the main character and I really disliked the love interest. I couldn’t for the life of me understand how or why Ruti could fall for Dekala and their relationship sparked nothing for me.

Also the way we were suddenly kept in the dark about the main characters actions until a certain reveal towards the end made for very confusing reading. So many of the characters actions didn’t make sense during this period and the reveal, while enlightening, still didn’t make up for this. I actually almost DNF’d during this part but figured I was close enough to the end to push through.

While the sapphic romance in this book was intriguing, I wished for a deeper exploration. Some plot twists left me puzzled, and crucial events in the finale seemed rushed, lacking the emotional impact I would have liked. Nonetheless, I adored the side characters, particularly Kitya, and overall, I found the book enjoyable. It's a definite recommendation for those seeking a sapphic YA fantasy fix.

This book was spectacular. The magic system was an interesting blend of soulmates, the four elements, spirits, and music. The characters were great. The twist on soulmates and the scrutiny it gave those tropes was really interesting, and watching the characters start to question the soulmates thing was also fun. All four of the main characters (yes, even Orrin) had fun development and made for a great team. This book has it all: enemies to lover, soulmates, getting kidnapped by pirates, political intrigue, the whole nine yards. I loved it.

This book was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read. I found the magic system/world a little difficult to get into and understand at first. It would have been nice to have some explanation or “setting the stage” at the beginning to make it a little more understandable. That being said, the story was really interesting and gripping. I enjoyed Ruti and Dekala’s interactions and Ruti’s growth overall.

Definitely a worthwhile read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!

I wish that I had ended up liking it better. For the first two thirds it seemed like it was setting things up to go in a direction I could love, but the last 25% or so felt like nonsense to me. This is mostly because the narrative, which was close third person up till that point, decided to try to keep the reader dark on the main character's plans and actions. This was weird since up till that point we'd always been on the same page as the protagonist, information-wise. This was an attempt to end the book on a series of surprising reveals, I guess, but rather than being excited I just felt like the character's actions made no sense at all... and I didn't feel much better about that fact when it revealed that the reasons their actions were completely disconnected was because they did a bunch of stuff off camera which the POV withheld for the reader in an extremely awkward and disconcerting way.

Besides that, I just could not see Dekala as being someone worth fighting for. She gets to act completely selfish the entire book, except for a couple of pet-the-dog moments where she saves someone from danger that she created, and by the end of the book Ruti, the protagonist, is completely lovesick with her to the point that it just gets sort of frustrating and ridiculous. Like, girl, I kept saying to myself, have some self-respect. This is getting embarrassing.

The worldbuilding had a lot of cool ideas and interesting executions of those ideas, regarding the spirits. I just kind of wish it had been more about that, in the end. Given that people seem to hate Markless because they aren't loved/marked by the spirits, you would think that Ruti being an extremely powerful witch, extremely loved by the spirits, would challenge people's thoughts on that issue, but strangely that never really comes up at all. Witches, in general, were sort of an under-explored concept, and I wish I could have learned more about the spiritual side of the setting.

This was an ARC I received from the publisher.

I overall found the plotpoints to be mildly interesting but the world building couldn't outweigh how flat the characters felt.

Markless by C.G. Marlburi

Ruti is a social outcast, first for being “Markless”, meaning she can’t form a soulbound signified by the lack of markings on her palm. Being Markless puts her in the lowest rungs of society. Second, shes a witch, able to sing to the gods and ask for their favors in specific ways, soemtimes with small offerings to assist her song. Ruti and her ward Kimya are captured by the royal princess and her bodyguard, as the princess has a request to ask of the gods.

I found this book to be interesting in a number of ways, more than I can really say that I enjoyed it. I found the magic system to be really interesting, particularly as its described in sort of a purple prose kind of way, much more so that magic systems usually are. I think this idea where not having a soulmate is super stigmatized, to such a degree that “Markless” people are shunned, is super interesting, especially with how obsessed we are with finding our romantic partner and living happily ever after, etc.

Overall, I liked the journey of this book. It’s exciting and well paced, it takes lots of turns and is a really fun read. But I found the characters to lack much depth. The love interest has a very cliche life philosophy (I guess you could call it) that never really acquires any sort of depth or meaning, and just stays surface level cliche through most of the book. The bodyguard, who we end up spending a lot of time with, is also kind of one note. We see a touch of a different note at the end, but thats pretty much it. And the book tries to say a few things about soulbounds that the ending sort of undercuts, and its just left me wondering what we’re saying here.

So, in the end, if you’re looking for a fun fantasy adventure you’re willing to take at face value, this one might be for you. (This book might also be an interesting book to talk about with people.)

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Levine Querido for a copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.

"Markless" was an exciting fantasy filled with interesting world-building. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters--Ruti was challenging and fierce, Kimya was quick and trusting, and Dekala was a mystery until the very end. I love characters that feel real and have flaws, and Dekala's arc was really up my alley in that regard. At times, it felt a bit rushed, especially towards the end.

In a world with magic, people receive a mark when they are young that symbolizes the natural element that they are born with. To be able to control their power, they need to bond with their soulmates. The children who don’t receive a mark are abandoned in the slums to fend for themselves. Our protagonist, a witch, manages to survive in the slums, learning song magic. After a display of her powers, she is recruited by the princess to help her stay unbonded forever.
 
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I was intrigued by the magic system and its lore. I loved the concept of soul bonds and how it was deconstructed in the book. Thinks started falling apart in the third act.

The author doesn’t understand how systems of oppression work. The discrimination is seen as cultural, and nobody actually ever challenges it in a meaningful way, not even our markless protagonist. There are minor concessions that we are supposed to be awe of. We are supposed to believe that the ruler of this kingdom is unable to enact economic and penal laws to stop people from abandoning their small children because they don’t have a mark on their palm. The previous ruler is regarded as good for building a barely functioning orphanage for the markless children with no food service.

The princess never apologizes for the treatment of our main character; she is rude with her, constantly calls her slurs, and is horrified by the thought of touching her. She never confronts her prejudice directly, and our protagonist never challenges her views directly or indirectly; she’s just grateful for the bare minimum. Our protagonist never once confronts how her beliefs about herself as worthless are wrong or how the fact that she doesn’t have a mark doesn’t make her less, and she is deserving of love, compassion, and respect from others.

The plot twist at the end didn’t work. The unreliable narrator works if we are fed information that is ambiguous, not if we are fed lies by our first-person protagonist, and at the end we realize that her thoughts were lies.

I hated that the markless underground city remained underground, and they were still seen as less. I hated that the effort to recover the markless children of a neighboring kingdom who were sold as slaves was underwhelming at worst and laughable at best.

None of the main characters who treated our protagonist like a thing took responsibility for their actions. I guess doing the bare minimum makes all the bad actions go away. None of the main characters are seen as anything other than good, even when they do and say objectively bad things. I would have preferred the cast to be seen as selfish characters who didn’t want to change the system that benefits them.

4.25 ⭐️

Markless is a strong debut featuring a diverse cast and a unique magic system. I really enjoyed how the magic system was layered and complex but not difficult to understand.

Those with magic fall into one of three categories: Bonded, Unbonded, and Witches. Our main character, Ruti, is a Markless witch living in the slums of her city. We watch as her circumstances change and her worldview shifts in a positive way. Markless are looked down upon and treated as less than human by most. I enjoyed watching each of the main characters with Marks unlearning their prejudices and growing as people.

Ruti is a very lovable character, so much so I found myself crying when she was going through something particularly painful.

However, there was a portion of the book that had me confused in an unpleasant way because it didn’t make a whole lot of sense with how our third person limited view is focused. It wasn’t enough to turn me off of the book but could definitely irritate other readers, so that’s something to keep in mind.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a honest review.*

I really enjoyed reading this and the world was so immersive! I fould myself really invested in the main character and wanted her to succeed.

There were parts that felt a bit rushed were time jumps weren't really clear and that took me out of the story, but I was always excited to find my way back in.

I loved this book so much! I’m really hoping this turns out to be a series. There is great found family, LGBTQ representation, & enemies to lovers. Ruti and Kimya are some of the sweetest characters I’ve ever read about! There is so much potential for the story to continue. My only complaint is that the ending seemed a little rushed if it does turn out to be a standalone.

Why is this book not a TRILOGY?? I want more! I've grown all attached to Kimya's steadfast understanding of human nature even if only a child. I've grown accustom to rolling my eyes and slapping my forehead at Dekala's icy exterior. And, of course, I've grown to love Ruti as she makes her way into the hearts of even the coldest of queens with her song.

The author makes you feel as if you were luxuriating in a palace bath, then trudging through the muddy slums, swaying across the seas on a pirate ship, tripping over roots in dense forests, then slinking through a child sized tunnel. Their imagination is spellbinding and their ability to weave this story into existence makes it hard to put down.

You will fall for the Ice Queen just as hard as you'll fall for the Markless Witch and her ward, but when the closing chapters arrive, you will only wish for more.

Truly a fabulous read.

This was a cute YA LGBTQIA+ novel. We follow Ruti, a Markless witch and Kimya a 7 year old mute markless child who uses sign language as they are taken to the palace and forced to try and help Princess Dekala fight her fate. Dekala is a strong and stubborn Princess who does not want to find her soulbond and become bonded to unlock control over her powers. They sneak away and travel across kingdoms to find some way to fight the soulbond so she can rule by herself instead of beside one of her suitors who all wish for power and to control Dekala. I loved watching Dekala and Ruti grow closer and reading how they each care for Kimya.

This book was a masterpiece. The first book in a long time to grip me from the beginning and make me want to keep coming back whenever I had a chance. The world-building was great, the magic was sooo interesting, the romance was spot-on.

This book is about a girl named Ruti who has mastered the art of witchcraft. Part of what is so fun about this book is the way being a witch works in the world the author has built. Her abilities are what has kept her alive in a world that is harsh for those like her: Markless. If you are fortunate enough to be born with a mark on your palm, which grants power, you not only are viewed as worthy of basic respect, but also as someone's future soulbond. To be Markless is to be discarded. Through a mishap, Ruti meets the Heir of the kingdom. The Heir is headstrong and cold and sees an opportunity when she witnesses Ruti's magic. The story that follows is beautiful and a joy to read.

If you're into cool magic systems, strong character development, and a sapphic enemies(ish)-to-lovers romance, this one is for you!!

I read the ARC from netGalley and provide an honest review on this story. I am not the target reader (but I do read a lot of GL books). 4 stars rating ⭐.

The cover looks good. Meaningful, but could be misleading. I am attracted to this book cover, thinking it might be something more artistic and poetic type of literature.

The blurb served its purpose, conveying its intended story. Based on my reading experience, most books of this kind tend to feature character artwork on their covers.

The fantasy world is described in vivid detail, bringing that deeply problematic social stratification between Marked and Markless people to the stage. The magic system in this world revolves around the clash between elemental magic and animal spirits.

The story is heavy on royalty/nobility trope, focus on the power politics and family feuds. While the protagonist served as a liberator heroin, through her love a affection, guiding the somewhat ruthless future queen towards a compassionate rule.

The story is tailored for teen readers, with polished prose and sentences that surpass those found in web novels. If you’re looking for a sapphic-romance fantasy-drama, Markless is the right story you want. I am glad to read this book, since such genre combination is rare even within the web novel realm.

I may consider buying the ebook.