Review: Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Mark of the Thief
by Jennifer Nielsen
A slave working in the Roman mines, Nic spends his days beneath the earth performing backbreaking labor. Were it not for his sister, he would have nothing. When a great treasure trove belonging to Julius Caesar is discovered underground, Nic is summoned to retrieve a special relic - a bulla, or charm, that once belonged to Caesar and is rumored to grant power to its bearer - for a powerful Roman general. Nic succeeds in retrieving the bulla, but he must face a great monster to escape. In the struggle, he is marked by the gods and gains great magic. His new powers and possession of the bulla makes Nic the target of every powerful man in Rome, and they all want him dead. Unable to control his magic and hounded by senators, soldiers, and the Emperor himself, Nic must find his sister and stop General Radulf from taking Rome for himself.
If you were disappointed when Rick Riordan’s Blood of Olympus series ended, Mark of the Thief is a great new series for you. It uses a combination of real historical figures, Roman mythology, and engaging characters to bring the adventure to life.
As a slave, Nic knows little of life in the city of Rome, but events soon bring him to the great city. His wonder and thrill of discovery as he enters the city walls quickly spreads to the reader, and as he gapes at the buildings and the crowds, you feel like you’re walking right next to him. Rome has never seemed grander. But Nic also witnesses the harsh side of the Empire, whether it’s the hard life of the slave or the quiet suffering of the impoverished.
At Nic’s side for much of the story is a girl named Aurelia. She’s not a slave like Nic, but her family abandoned her when she was a baby so she has struggled to make her way in the world. Brash, bold, and tough as nails, Aurelia is never a damsel in distress. Although the love-hate relationship between the two of them borders on cliché at times, their banter is entertaining and it’s great to see a strong female character striding with the hero.
The fantasy elements of the story are very well-handled, too. Not everyone can wield magic. In this world, magic is a gift and curse granted by the mercurial gods. The deities never appear in the story, but knowledge of their spheres of influence is helpful in understanding why Nic can one minute rattle the earth and make the ground shake beneath his feet, and at other times the same emotions or gestures yield no results.
It is a dark story that might frighten younger readers. It’s not scary, per se, but it is quite grim. Children fighting in combat with gladiators and wild animals and innocent peoples’ homes destroyed for no reason other than to demonstrate the villain’s power. Nic is frequently beaten and his injuries are described graphically. The book is recommended for readers ten to fourteen, but parents will be the best judges of whether their children are mature enough for the story.
4 out of 5 stars
To read more about Mark of the Thief, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2014: Author Event: Chris Taylor and How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
2013:
2012: Sailor Moon Vol. 7 by Naoko Takeuchi
2011: Taking a break - thank my teachers for it
2010: Essay: Confessions of a Used Books Salesman
2009: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
2008: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
by Jennifer Nielsen
A slave working in the Roman mines, Nic spends his days beneath the earth performing backbreaking labor. Were it not for his sister, he would have nothing. When a great treasure trove belonging to Julius Caesar is discovered underground, Nic is summoned to retrieve a special relic - a bulla, or charm, that once belonged to Caesar and is rumored to grant power to its bearer - for a powerful Roman general. Nic succeeds in retrieving the bulla, but he must face a great monster to escape. In the struggle, he is marked by the gods and gains great magic. His new powers and possession of the bulla makes Nic the target of every powerful man in Rome, and they all want him dead. Unable to control his magic and hounded by senators, soldiers, and the Emperor himself, Nic must find his sister and stop General Radulf from taking Rome for himself.
If you were disappointed when Rick Riordan’s Blood of Olympus series ended, Mark of the Thief is a great new series for you. It uses a combination of real historical figures, Roman mythology, and engaging characters to bring the adventure to life.
As a slave, Nic knows little of life in the city of Rome, but events soon bring him to the great city. His wonder and thrill of discovery as he enters the city walls quickly spreads to the reader, and as he gapes at the buildings and the crowds, you feel like you’re walking right next to him. Rome has never seemed grander. But Nic also witnesses the harsh side of the Empire, whether it’s the hard life of the slave or the quiet suffering of the impoverished.
At Nic’s side for much of the story is a girl named Aurelia. She’s not a slave like Nic, but her family abandoned her when she was a baby so she has struggled to make her way in the world. Brash, bold, and tough as nails, Aurelia is never a damsel in distress. Although the love-hate relationship between the two of them borders on cliché at times, their banter is entertaining and it’s great to see a strong female character striding with the hero.
The fantasy elements of the story are very well-handled, too. Not everyone can wield magic. In this world, magic is a gift and curse granted by the mercurial gods. The deities never appear in the story, but knowledge of their spheres of influence is helpful in understanding why Nic can one minute rattle the earth and make the ground shake beneath his feet, and at other times the same emotions or gestures yield no results.
It is a dark story that might frighten younger readers. It’s not scary, per se, but it is quite grim. Children fighting in combat with gladiators and wild animals and innocent peoples’ homes destroyed for no reason other than to demonstrate the villain’s power. Nic is frequently beaten and his injuries are described graphically. The book is recommended for readers ten to fourteen, but parents will be the best judges of whether their children are mature enough for the story.
4 out of 5 stars
To read more about Mark of the Thief, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2014: Author Event: Chris Taylor and How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
2013:
2012: Sailor Moon Vol. 7 by Naoko Takeuchi
2011: Taking a break - thank my teachers for it
2010: Essay: Confessions of a Used Books Salesman
2009: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
2008: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld