Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth does it again with the first book in her newest series, Carve the Mark.  Set a long time ago in a galaxy far far away (though she never uses that phrase), the author of Divergent sets her sights on a deeper world building goal.  As far as I’m concerned she pretty much nails it, as expected.
Told in alternating POV between Akos and Cyra two children of rival nations, Carve the Mark introduces new cultures organically through the protagonists.  Cyra’s part of the story is told in first person, much like Triss in Divergent.  Akos is a third person narration.
While the POV shift in part one didn’t seem to make much sense at first, the transition opens up new story and deeper character development especially with Akos.  The science fiction naming conventions Roth uses are a little confusing, but it doesn’t take away from the story at any point.
I loved it I can’t wait to read more.

Little Girl Lost by Wendy Corsi Staub

What do a cult, a cop, and a foundling have in common?  This is the question I spent the hours I read Wendy Corsi Staub’s newest novel, Little Girl Lost.
Staub writes in a limited third person POV which definitely works for this type of thriller, though I would have preferred fewer and deeper characters.  In the first few chapters, the plot leaps are somewhat nonsequetous, but once the three main conflicting stories are introduced, it evens out nicely.
This is the type of book I may have to read more than once to catch everything.  It’s intelligent, edgy, and twisted in that special way thrillers often are.  Any mystery or thriller fans will love this book.  Personally, I’m going to look into some more work by Staub, I thoroughly enjoyed it.