Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne! Zivah has been an apprentice for years and now she’s a healer because she has passed the required test. Rose plague has broken out and Zivah is helping the other healers take care of the ailing patients. Dineas has suffered through the rose plague, healed, recovered and developed brown splotches and has been labeled as umbertouched. They meet under wary circumstances but become allies. The storyline becomes complicated but the author describes everything perfectly, which erases all confusion. I enjoy Dineas’ humor and personality and Zivah’s perseverance and outlook on life. Wonderful characters and an ending that leaves me anticipating the sequel make a 5-star fantasy adventure!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary consideration.

Zivah has barely become a healer when she is tasked with caring for the ill soldiers of the nation oppressing her own. Eager to save as many soldiers as she can—to keep her people safe—she cares for the commander, who survives, but Zivah falls victim to the plague. She knows she’ll die from the plague, she just doesn’t know when.

Given the chance to continue helping her people. Zivah agrees to a spying mission with Dineas, a warrior broken by torture who lives only to overthrow the empire intent on crushing both their people. The two will have only each other to rely on as they journey into the heart of enemy territory, desperate to find any chance of saving their people.

Rosemarked is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. From the first page, I was enthralled by the world, the plot, and especially the characters. The concept of the rose plague is fascinating—a deadly virus that kills most of its victim, leaving only some alive as carriers destined to die, and a few lucky immune, both forever marked by the virus. Zivah struggles with pitting her beliefs against her loyalty to both her people and Dineas, and her conflict weaves throughout the story. Dineas is so emotionally scarred all he can see is revenge, yet he is conflicted after getting to know some of the enemy. The dynamic between the two is absolutely riveting. You MUST read this! I cannot wait for the next book.

(Galley provided by Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I’m a bit surprised at how quickly I became swept up in Livia Blackburne’s story. I’ve had a disappointing run at YA novels lately, and I was desperately hoping for something good — and Rosemarked is good.

At the heart of Rosemarked is a mystery: How did the initial outbreak begin? Blackburne’s plot keeps circling back to that question, and as the answer unfolds, you realize how much more interconnected things are than initially thought.

Rosemarked’s main characters — Zivah and Dineas — are about as different as two people can be. Those differences both clash and compliment each other, bringing a healthy dynamic to the plot. And there are some fascinating things that have to do with memory throughout, and that really strengthens the characters along the way.

Rosemarked is a strong YA that moves quickly. Blackburne’s prose is comfortable and her character development strong. I only wish that the second book in the duology was being released at the same time because I want to know how the story ends!

Rosemarked is a well-written YA novel with great crossover potential. It has everything from romance and action to politics and fantasy. The world created is well-crafted with plenty of detail. I'm excited to explore more in future novels. Zivah's story keeps you rooting for her. She's a strong protagonist impossible not to empathize with. There are many layers to the story keeping everything fresh. The characters are complex. And there are several twists throughout. Be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Really enjoyable characters with a unique story, pretty much sums this up for me. Seeing the two different personalities of Dineas was really interesting and makes you think about how our experiences shape us through life. Zivah was an amazing heroine that you could really empathize with. Even the secondary characters brought more dimension to the story because you didn't just look at them as "the bad guys". Besides being a bit long (I think this could have been edited down a bit) this was a good solid read.

After reading the summary of the book, I wanted to read it. It has all those classic YA tropes that I love.  The book alternates between two viewpoints, Zivah - a Rosemarked healer and Dineas - a Shadadi fighter. I wanted to love this book but I couldn't seem to form an attachment to the characters.

Zivah is an incredible healer that has been stricken with the rose plague. If there is a cure for something, she'll know the exact combinations of ingredients to combat it.  Dineas is a Shadadi fighter who survived rose plague and wants to save his people, even if it means taking the fight to the empire.

I wanted to love this book, but I didn't love it. Zivah and her potions came across as too deus ex machina for me. Also, the plot involving the generals' daughter and the emperor was pretty easy to see through, and honestly felt way too unrealistic. There is no way that Zivah and Mehtep would have been permitted to get so close. While I did really like the world created, I really felt nothing for the war that was happening. 

I'll read the sequel because I hope that I'll get into it more, but for me, the first book didn't really capture my heart.

Rosemarked, by author Livia Blackburne, is the first installment in the authors Rosemarked series. The story kicks of with readers meeting 17-year old Zivah. Zivah, who lives in a village called Dara, has passed all her required tests in order to earn her healers sash. She's spent 10 years of her life getting to the point where only a dangerous final test stands in her way of a life that she has chosen. After becoming the youngest healer Dara has ever seen, she gets very little time to prove her worth when the Empire's guards are struck down with the dreaded Rose plague. 

As a healer, it is Zivah's responsibility to do whatever she can to easy their pain and suffering. Unfortunately for Zivah, she gets no chance to preen at her successes before she, herself, is struck by the Rose plague. Now labeled as Rosemarked, she is no longer able to do what she's trained so hard for. Zivah is sent away from the village where she is supposed to spend the rest of her time alone. But, Zivah has other ideas. Zivah has a brilliant mind, but the one thing she can't comprehend is her inability to heal herself. Zivah's world will be even further stretched when she is chosen to go on a dangerous mission to the Central Empire to act as a spy. 

The second primary character in this story is 18-year old Dineas. A Shidadi soldier who was caught, tortured, infected with the rose plague, and dump outside of his prison, Dineas finds himself a umbertouched. Umbertouched basically means that he was exposed to the virus, but his body rejected the virus. He doesn't have the classic signs of being Rosemarked like Zivah does. Dineas is a character who is battle hardened. He hates villages like Dara who willingly bowed down and surrendered to the Central Empire. He wants revenge. But, what he gets is a partnership with a healer that sends them deep into the heart of the Empire itself. A partnership that may lead to a cure for the rose plague or certain death if they are caught.

I can't say that I was a fan of the so called romance. What's curious about the romance is that Dineas takes on a split personality thanks in part to a potion that makes him lose his memories. One of the ravaged soldier, and the other who develops feelings for Zivah while he doesn't remember who he really is. Zivah is by far my favorite character in this book and it is because anyone who can allow herself to be bitten by snakes, scorpions and spiders and survive, has got some moxy. She's also courageous to experiment with different methods of healing herself of the plague. Zivah won't be going down without a fight, and you better watch out for her pet snake!

Review written by Asma for IceyBooks:

That. Was. Amazing.

The first few chapters had me doubting ROSEMARKED and whether or not I should continue, but by the time I turned the last page I was wholly in love. The final chapters had me flipping the pages faster than I could read them and the suspense was palpable.

GUYS. I LOVE BOOKS THAT LEAVE YOU WORRYING FOR CHARACTERS AND HAVE UNEXPECTED TWISTS. And while I initially thought that ROSEMARKED was a standalone, I'm glad there's more. Because it was incredible.

Zivah was an incredible character from the start and I loved how smart she was with her herbs and potions. It's rare reading characters who have other methods of destroying bad guys other than stabbing them repeatedly. Dineas, on the other hand, wasn't exactly my favorite character. He was... interesting. But I spent more time getting annoyed at him than anything else. Although I really did like his 'other half'. (THERE'S SOMETHING INCREDIBLY APPEALING ABOUT COMPLETELY INNOCENT CHARACTERS. They're just so rare!).

ROSEMARKED had an amaaaazing plot that I loved so much. The beginning was kind of slow and it took some time to pick up, but when things started getting tense, the entire book took a turn for the better. (Seriously though, if the beginning is boring you, <em>don't give up</em>. I promise, it gets <em>way</em> better).

The world of ROSEMARKED is vast and complex, sending our two main characters all over the place. The deadly rose plague was interesting and it was fun reading about it while our healer protagonist studied it. It also made for a different plot since Zivah herself was inflicted with the disease and has to live with it.

The ending was by far the greatest part of the book and was what finally made me fall in love with it. While the ending isn't exactly the <em>happiest</em>, it's not a cliffhanger and that's good enough for me.

I am super duper excited for the sequel AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SUFFER SOME MORE. I can probably gush about this all day, but I'll stop now. Suspense, intrigue, and deadly missions, ROSEMARKED is an incredible novel that will definitely keep you hooked.

Plot: Rosemarked has received nothing but rave reviews and I completely understand why! I absolutely loved the complex layers of this one, especially learning about the characters through dual perspectives. The pacing was just right and Blackburne wove her story masterfully; I was never bored and I always questioned the loyalty of certain parties. It's easy to have clear-cut villains in fantasy novels, but I've always enjoyed fantasy books with morally-grey characters. Of course, the Empire was written as the Ultimate Bad Guy but there were different levels to this in Rosemarked, not everyone in the Empire was a bloodthirsty dictator and I liked that Blackburne challenged Zivah and Dineas' existing prejudices.While Rosemarked didn't end on a cliffhanger, it did leave the book with high enough stakes that you'll be counting down the days until Umbertouched.

Characters: What made Rosemarked such a joy to read was the complexities of both Zivah and Dineas - especially Dineas. Zivah had her life planned out and was on her way to serving her Goddess until a sickness took all that away from her; her desperation to make a difference was admirable and I also loved her subtle bravery.

Dineas was a whole different creature, he was raised and trained to be a warrior for his people but a year of torture shook him up quite a bit. I fell in love with his vulnerability and attempts to keep others at a distance. I lived for Zivah's interactions with Dineas and how the two played off of each other's strengths to complete their mission.

Worldbuilding: The dynamics between the expanding empire and various villages was intriguing and easily explained, which is always appreciated in a new fantasy series. Rosemarked was clearly influenced by Eastern and Southeastern Asian cultures (hello PoC) and I loved how Blackburne was able to make the world her own, even with those influences.

Short N Sweet: Rosemarked is everything I want in a fantasy novel, and I want more!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne
Book One of the Rosemarked series
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

A healer who cannot be healed . . .

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.

A soldier shattered by war . . .

Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.

Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

This smart, sweeping fantasy with a political edge and a slow-burning romance will capture fans of The Lumatere Chronicles and An Ember in the Ashes.

What I Liked:

Perhaps this is my impression of the book and its marketing, but it seems like this book is flying under the YA radar. Which is a real shame, because it is excellent. I hate to say it but it seems like this book is going to be a seriously underrated publication of 2017 and that is so sad. Hopefully I'm wrong - maybe there are armies of people that are excited about this book, and my tiny corner of the YA blogosphere is the only quiet one. I'm so happy that I enjoyed this book because my favorite book-related thing to do is gush about books. So here I go!

Zivah is a talented healer who has just become the youngest high healer of Dara... only to succumb to the rose plague. Now covered in rosemarks and isolated from the rest of Dara, Zivah lives in a cottage and tends to venomous snakes and scorpions. One of the many people she treated before she became rosemarked was Commander Arxa, one of the most powerful Amparans in the empire. He invites her to live in Sehmar City among the rosemarked, and treat those inflicted with the rose plague. She would no longer be in isolation, but she would have to leave Dara indefinitely. She almost refuses the offer, but fate throws Dineas in her path. Dineas is a warrior of a nomadic tribe caught in the middle of the Amparan wars. Dineas wants nothing more than to cut down every Amaparan who captured and tortured him, and when an opportunity presents itself for him to go to Sehmar City and pose as an Amparan soldier, he doesn't refuse. Dineas and Zivah didn't see eye-to-eye on anything at first, but circumstance and love for their homelands has drawn them together. They sacrifice everything they have to live a lie in Sehmar City, where they could be caught and killed for betrayal.

I've read Midnight Thief, and Daughter of Dusk, and the short story Poison Dance. But I have to say, Rosemarked is Blackburne's strongest novel yet. I love seeing an author grow as he/she writes and publishes more books. It was so clear to me that Blackburne's craft has gotten better since Midnight Thief. I really enjoyed Midnight Thief, her debut, but Rosemarked outranks the book any day.

This book is written in dual first-person POV, present tense. I love dual narratives but oftentimes, I don't like one of the characters as much as I like the other. That was not the case with this story. I adored Zivah, and I adored Dineas, and I loved reading from both of their POVs.

Zivah is a dedicated healer, and she is an accomplished scientist (though she wouldn't be called that, in this world). She is so smart and creative, with her experiments and conjectures relating to the rose plague, and her duty to studying the venom of her pets. Zivah is a kind healer with a spine of steel. She isn't a warrior heroine that kicks butt in a physical sense, but she is just as kickbutt. She wields the power of a good brain, and a strong will. She is quietly strong, and one of the most likable YA heroines I've come across in a while.

Dineas is a warrior and a soldier through and through. He is quite a skilled soldier and he also has a talent with commanding crows. Dineas is the physically strong, brave, selfless hero puts lives like he has nothing to lose. He is hardened and stubborn, and he is determined not to like Zivah at first. He puts everything on the line for his people, including letting himself lose his memories while they are at Sehmar City.

Losing his memories is a huge part of this story. Going through forced amnesia isn't easy, but Dineas does it willingly, to protect himself and Zivah (since he is posing as a rosemarked soldier looking for a place in Arxa's army). It was heartbreaking to see him lose himself as he retained no memories of himself. Zivah gave him temporary antidotes when they communicated with each, which meant that she had to watch him lose himself every time she and him finished their meetings. Blackburne wrote this aspect of the story so well, though it broke my heart every time.

There are a lot of pieces set in motion in this story. It isn't just about Dineas and Zivah going to Sehmar City to spy on the empire and Arxa and the prince. The rose plague is spreading, and no one can figure out how and why... especially when it starts to spread to higher ranks. Meanwhile, Dineas loses parts of himself every time he fights in Arxa's army. The rose plague is such an interesting part of the story - it definitely makes the book even more unique.

This story was exciting and intrigued from page one. I was hooked and didn't stop reading until I was finished - and I was looking for the rest of the story. I so thought this book was a standalone, and I was about to be quite upset! I'm glad there will be a sequel.

There is a subtle romance, as the synopsis implies. Dineas and Zivah fall for each other very slowly, and more visibly on Zivah's side. Well, on Dineas's too, but remember that his memories are taken away and given back and taken away. In any case, the romance is there and it's sweet, and also love-triangle-free. I'm rooting for more of a romantic presence in book two, because it's barely there in this book. It's there though, and a perfect amount, honestly.

I really enjoyed Rosemarked, possibly even more than I expected. While I liked Midnight Thief a lot, I didn't enjoy Daughter of Dusk. But I'm glad I gave Rosemarked a shot. It is Blackburne's strongest book, and it was an excellent read.

What I Did Not Like:

I'm curious to see if there are repercussions to all of the memory-hopping that Dineas has to go through... he takes a potion to lose his memories, and then takes a temporary antidote for every time he and Zivah communicate in person. But then that wears off and he is back to being amnesiac. Zivah has a permanent antidote so it isn't like he is stuck amnesiac forever, but it seems too clean, to be able to go back and forth between having full memories and being a completely blank slate.

I wouldn't have minded more romance. It's there, and I like it, but I'm hoping the sequel will have more. The romance in this book was sweet but also a little sad.

Would I Recommend It:

YA fantasy fans should definitely pick this book up. I don't usually compare books to other books, but the synopsis of the book is pretty accurate so I will use it - this book definitely compares to An Ember in the Ashes, and in a good way. It features a world just as brutal and hopeless as EMBER's, with a likable cast of protagonists, and villains you aren't sure are completely villainous. There are people on both sides of fight that are fighting for the "right thing" on their side. This book blurs that line and really makes you think about who is "right", in a war.

Rating:

4.5 stars. This book was spectacular and one that I'll be thinking about in the future. It's funny - I love the warrior/healer trope in adult romance novels; it's a trope that really works for me. You don't see it often in YA though, especially not from a romantic sense. But this book features a warrior and a healer and they do slowly fall in love... I love it. And of course there are many parts of this book that I loved, besides the trope. I highly recommend the book!

Rosemarked was a good start to this series (duology?), reminding me somewhat of Maria V. Snyder's Touch of Power since it also features a talented healer. Zivah has just achieved the rank of healer only to fall victim to the deadly plague that separates her completely from her family and the rest of the people of her village. When she is approached to offer her skills for rebellion, she accepts since she doesn't want her life to end simply because it has been shortened due to her contagious disease. Dineas is a young soldier who has gained immunity to Zivah's disease and is invested in the rebellion against those that oppress his people. Dineas had been captured and tortured and is recovering from that psychological damage when he is thrown back into the battle as he accompanies Zivah into enemy territory. The attitudes of these two characters couldn't be more contradictory; however, both are forced to look outside their own beliefs when they are immersed in their task. Complicating matters is Dineas' chosen memory loss to make his immersion into the enemy army all the more believable. When his memory is gone Dineas is a different person, a person that Zivah finds herself falling in love with, and Dineas is all that happy with that development.

Rosemarked is a solid start to a fantasy series. However, I felt that the relationship between Zivah and Dineas could have been fleshed out more. Zivah's skill in removing Dineas' memory really complicates their growing friendship and romance, making it hard to believe that there is much foundation there at all. My hope is that this will be further explored in book two. Zivah and Dineas don't spend a lot of time together when Dineas has all of his memories, which makes readers question how deep that bond actually is.

I liked Rosemarked and will certainly be back for the next book. The conflict in belief between the two characters is a really interested in conflict as will the way that the author reconciles these two contradictory beliefs. Zivah in particular has challenged her entrenched healer tenets with her actions in helping in the rebellion and I'm quite curious to see how that plays out in book two.

This YA novel has everything a teen reader could want. Rosemarked is a mixture of dystopian fiction and fantasy fiction and it combines the two genres perfectly.

Author Livia Blackburne has done an astonishing wonderful job of world-building. She has created not just a single city and its surrounding geography, but an entire continent.

She has created distinct races, each with their own distinct culture, religions and in some cases, language.

The two main characters are Zivah and Dineas. They come from completely different backgrounds and their life philosophies could not be more different. Yet their lives are inextricably entwined whether they like it or not.

As often happens in reality, the more time Zivah and Dineas spend together, the more they realize that despite their outward appearances, they are not so different after all. This is a lesson that readers will hopefully take to heart, and transfer into their own lives; thus reducing racial discrimination in the real world.

Those who enjoy books with lots of action, some intricate politics, and a dash of romance will love ROSEMARKED. It is for this reason that I am rating this Young Adult novel as 5 out of 5 Stars and I predict that ROSEMARKED will take ìts rightful place on Teen Bestseller lists shortly after its release on Tuesday, November 7th.

Rosemarked is a fast-paced fantasy novel set in a world similar to that of ancient Rome. The plot centers around a world that is plagued by a disease named Rose Plague that takes the life of most who contract it. When a league of soldiers contract Rose Plague while staying in Zivah's town, the town and its surrounding villages are thought to have infected them. Zivah, a healer who has been touched by the disease, in league with Dineas, a warrior who is immune to the disease, team up to infiltrate the city in hopes of discovering what the empire has in plan for their people.

I initially had some trouble getting into this story since it starts out with a strong focus on the disease. The book, however, isn't really about the disease, but about Zivah and Dineas learning the secrets of the empire and finding ways to protect their people. What I think makes this book stand out, though, is the characters. Similar to the plot, I didn't initially find Zivah or Dineas' characters particularly interesting, but they grew on me throughout the book and I ended up liking both of them. I think their characters and their characters' experiences are what makes this story unique. Both of them are strong, capable characters for different reasons. Zivah is a healer who is smart and uses herbs and poisons well. Dineas is a warrior who is admired for his skills and is capable of using strategic thinking. Both characters are reliable and think things through, anticipating challenges before they come. Rarely do I find a YA novel where both characters are admirable and capable on their own. So, while the plot was engaging, the characters made this novel.

Zivah has just passed her exams to become a healer when the rose plague hits her village. She was infected and lived but is now a carrier of this disease and it is only a matter of time before it will finally kill her. Her life can be lonely or she can choose to use her gifts to help her people overcome the Amparan Empire. Dineas has also survived the rose plague, but his healing was complete. As these two unlikely people work together to infiltrate the capital, they must weigh the cost of spying alongside the chance that their hearts may be broken.

Rosemarked is the first book in the Rosemarked series. The story is told in the alternating voices of Zivah and Dineas, yet Blackburne has created a story that moves along smoothly as the reader unravels new information. It is hard to put this into any one genre. It is obviously not our world, but there isn’t a lot of magic or non-human creatures that would lend it to a fantasy classification. It still gives off a fantasy vibe and readers of that genre will be excited to delve into this world’s issues. A great read with just a little bit of romance along the edges.

4.5/5 Stars

Discovering awesome upcoming titles is such a joy! Upon hearing about Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne I immediately knew I had to request it. Color me surprised though when it was actually accepted. Zivah and Dineas' journey was an intense high stakes mission full of secrets and spying with so much heart and emotion behind it. Thankfully I loved it!

For me, the aspect that stood out the most was how disease and healing features prominently. Only a small percentage fully survive the rose plague while those who do not succumb are left as outcasts waiting for the sickness return. I love the juxtaposition of a healer who cannot heal. Plus the medicinal treatments explored throughout really added depth.

An easy way to know if a book will deal in politics is if an empire is involved. Of course the Amparan Empire is as brutal as they come, torturing prisoners, laying waste to villages, and creating carnage at every turn. Blackburne deals with this well and a I appreciated the focus on espionage, the risks involved, and the motivation behind it. It's all woven into the narrative without any pesky info dumps.

Most importantly the characters brought life to the story. Zivah is compassionate and caring even while trying to find balance between her own sickness and healing others. Dineas is fiercly loyal and a gifted fighter. He builds up walls as he struggles through past trauma. The two of them compliment each other well, softening each others hard edges and egos, while working towards a common goal.

Overall Livia Blackburne's Rosemarked was an excellent start to a fantasy duology. With amazing worldbuilding, a focus on healing, and tons of political intrigue, I was thoroughly enthralled. Dineas and Zivah were extremely vivid characters that I instantly connected with and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Highly recommended for those who love stories ripe with tension.

Cover: 4
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Plot: 4
Swoon: 4
Overall: 4.4
Rosemarked is about a girl name Zivah, whose only dream is to be a great healer. Zivah is the most gifted healer of her time and the youngest to become a healer. But when soldiers from the capital, Amparan, pass through her village they have no choice but to accommodate them. But then the soldiers fall ill with the deadly rose plague.
Zivah works tirelessly to care for the sick; she even nurses the Amparan general back to health. But in doing so, she ends up catching rose plague herself. Instead of being left umbertouched and basically non contagious, she is left rosemarked. She will be contagious until the end of her days.
Zivah is prepared to live out her days on the edge of her town, forever separated. But when rebel soldier, Dineas, escapes an Amparan prison cell he is on the run. And he runs right into Zivah.
They meet on the worst of terms and neither Zivah nor Dineas trust each other. But they are forced to work together for their people; because one thing they agree on, Amparan cannot continue to run their people as they do now.
Zivah and Dineas must go under cover into the rose plagued city near the capital to find information on the Amparan army.
I really loved this book. It was quickly paced but had a very slow burning romance. Enemies to…more, doesn’t happen overnight after all. Rosemarked is definitely THE book of November. Told in dual point of view by Zivah and Dineas, you really get to delve so deep into these characters. I’m not sure if this series will have only one book more or many more, but I do know that I’m going to read them all!
The only thing I would have like more of was the romance. The tension was palpable, and I wanted these two MC’s to come together much earlier than they did. Hopefully book two will hold way more swoon. Also, I can’t wait to get this in hardcover so I can read it again.

3.5 Stars

When I first saw this one, I was very intrigued. I love the idea of a healer teaming up with a soldier to save the world. This story contains potions and spying, and the main character is admirable. Unfortunately, the pacing of the story is too slow for my liking, so the book wasn’t as enjoyable as it could have been.

I always love a good political fantasy novel. Rosemarked tells the story of a world contaminated with a plague, where those who contract it are rejected by society. An exiled healer who is infected then joins forces with a soldier to sneak into the capital and try to stop a war. In order to gain information effectively, the soldier’s memories are temporarily removed, which I found to be an interesting tactic. It’s almost like he is two different characters, which added some tension. I also really enjoyed the healing aspects of the book, since I haven’t read too many books that have a focus on potions and herbs. This book is original and complex, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of books like The Winner’s Curse.

I loved Zivah’s character! She is a very gifted healer who is pretty experimental. Zivah is actually so badass, and not afraid to use her pet snake as a weapon, which surprised me. I really sympathized with her, since she is Rosemarked but can’t do anything to heal herself. Zivah is so caring and willing to help others, and I really admired her determination.

The only thing that I found unenjoyable about this book was the pacing. I loved the beginning where Zivah is taking the test to become a healer, but after that, the plot fell flat. I found the story difficult to get through, since there is almost no action until the very end. There is a lot of character development, but I would have preferred more suspense and excitement in a book like this.

Rosemarked is a political fantasy in which two characters sneak into the capital to stop a war. I loved the main character and her healing abilities and the use of potions. However, the slow pacing of the book was frustrating, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

I'm actually pretty ambivalent about fantasy books overall, but when they get it right, I adore them. Livia Blackburne really delivers with Rosemarked and I was riveted throughout the entire story. It almost reminds me of one of my favorite fantasy series, The Lumatere Chronicles, with the deceptive plot, intricate character dynamics and layered political intrigue.

I loved this book so much. I thought that the characters were great and the story was so interesting. The way they went about using memory loss as a way to infiltrate the empire was so unique. I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel.

This story begins a new fantasy trilogy. The Amparan empire is on the move. Zivah is a healer for her agricultural village. They surrendered peacefully and are now forced to house Amparan troops and pay the required tithes for the empire. When the troops currently in their village come down with the Rose plague, Zivah and the other village healers need to tend to them so that the emperor doesn't believe that they let the troops die. Zivah tends to the commander of the troops and manages to bring him through the disease but catches it herself.

There are three outcomes for those who catch the Rose plague. First and most commonly, they die. Second, they survive but end up rosemarked - still able to spread the disease and with a lifespan that could be measured in months or up to ten years. Third, they could end up umbermarked. The umbermarked are immune from the plague and can go back to their ordinary lives. The commander Arxa ends up umbermarked while Zivah finds herself rosemarked.

Dineas is a Shidadi tribesman. The Shidadi didn't peacefully surrender and are still fighting. Dineas was captured and tortured for information until he caught the Rose plague and was discarded with a bunch of other corpses. He survived umbermarked and managed to get back to his tribe. His leader and the leader of Zivah's village are in talks about uniting in opposition to the empire.

When Zivah is given an invitation to the emperor's city to be a healer to the city's rosemarked, that seems to be a good opportunity for Dineas and Zivah to act as spies for the rebels. Zivah will be living with Arxa's rosemarked daughter. Dineas will take one of Zivah's potions which gives him the amnesia that is often a side effect of the plague and join the troops.

Zivah and Dineas have different viewpoints and Dineas doesn't really respect Zivah. However, once he takes the potion he becomes a different man. He is lighter and friendlier and becomes Zivah's friend and even falls in love with her. Zivah is torn because she knows that the other Dineas is so different. She begins to love the new Dineas but doesn't want to all in love because she is living under a death sentence.

Together the two discover a number of things and pass the news back to their elders. When they are discovered, they are forced to flee which is where this story ends. I am eager to read the next book in this trilogy to find out how their relationship develops now that there are no more potions between them. I also want to know if the seeds they planted with General Arxa will cause changes in his loyalty.

I thought the characters were well drawn and interesting people. I especially liked Zivah's struggle with her duty as a healer and her need to be a spy for her people. I also liked both Dineas versions and could understand how different it would be to balance both personalities.

I recommend this for readers looking for a new fantasy world.