Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

Over the past several months I've read many books that ranged from very badly written to excellent. Fortunately, the very bad were only 2% of the total and the good to excellent made up the next 97%. Division of the Marked by March McCarron exceeds the definition of excellence and is solidly a 1%-er. This novel has everything anyone could possibly want in a thrilling read. Technically in the fantasy genre, there are broad strokes of action and adventure, suspense, science fiction, mystery, drama and yes, even romance. All of these sub-genres provide foundation to the primary plot in order to create the invaluable illusion of verisimilitude that I feel essential to a great work of fiction. In particular, the romance between Yarrow and Bray, although consistently in the background of the main events, is written to perfection and one of the strongest parts of the story.

It is difficult to write a novel that seeks to provide moral, ethical and/or philosophical lessons without slowing the action down for a page or two or three in order to express these ideals; and Division is no exception. These "slow down" moments are spread throughout, but they are always brief, to the point, and the story subsequently reignites with the action and suspense that make it a top notch novel. All of the characters and their interactions are beautifully described in a "showing" method that allows the reader to instantly associate and empathize with them as each new situation arises. Equally well established is the how and why of Chisanta, the markings, and the rigors each of the chosen children must face in order to earn their individual gifts; all of which is ingeniously devised and truly fascinating.

When reading fiction there is a requirement to suspend disbelief that often comes with a degree of difficulty, not so in Division of the Marked. Ms. McCarron executes exemplary writing skills to create a very real and believable world and a cast of characters that make the suspension of disbelief a foregone conclusion. If I didn't know better, I'd swear the author was a seasoned writer and regularly listed on the bestseller charts. The end, as it should, left me yearning for more. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I refuse to compare this novel with other like-type genre novels. Division of the Marked is uniquely different than any other. I will predict however, that Ms. McCarron and Division of the Marked, along with the remainder of The Marked Series, will follow the same path to fame that Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games now enjoy.