Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: October 4th, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 342
Format: Electronic Copy
Acquired: Gift
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction

Honestly, I don't know why I bothered to read this. In the beginning I was excited to read this book, but honestly I fell in love with the cover a little more. And then I found out about the author and her poor behavior and this went automatically off my TBR pile. Well, a relative once heard how crazy I was about this book in the beginning and gave it to me. Man oh man do I wish I hadn't picked this book up and a little glad I didn't have to spend a dime on this. 

So, Megan moves to Ireland after her father gets a new job and while going to school she get's a strange feeling and for some reason the school snob, Adam, keeps giving her weird looks. Well, of course Megan would come obsessed with a guy she's never spoken to, has no idea who he is, and has been told repeatedly that he is out of her league. But, she's already head over heels for him, you know, like a normal teenager would fall for a guy that quickly (please make a note of the sarcasm). 

And goodness, Megan was the blandest of the bland. I could very well see the comparison's to Bella. Hates being the center of attention? Check. Obsessed with a guy she doesn't even know? Check. Zero personality? Check. Clumsy? Check. Makes the guy the center of her world when she does get him? Check. Co-dependent and sets a bad example for females all over? Check. 

Along the Twilight comparisons there is also the slow going plot, the mix of characters that are all obsessed with boys (because that's the important thing here, remember), Adam saves Megan but he denies everything, and suddenly a bad guy that comes out of absolutely nowhere and the reader is to just accept all this as normal. *shakes head* Honestly, is this really what's getting passed as good YA books these days? 

Oh, and here's the kicker. Megan's only duty and responsibility in life is to make babies. She is considered a "Carrier" which is a rare gene that let's her produce children who have the Mark. And the Order, the peeps in charge, decide who she can marry. And for some reason if Adam and Megan get together their child could destroy the world...And if you are currently raising your eyebrow wondering how that works out, don't worry, you're not alone. 

Honestly, I think this mythology would have been cool if a) it didn't make it look like the women only had one duty, which is to make babies, b) was given in little pieces and not a mad info dumb, and c) actually served a purpose. 

Truly, while Fallon was writing this did she even think about how bad this would look? And of course Megan doesn't want to be a Carrier if it means ripping her away from Adam, since he's the most important thing in the world. You know, because the safety of the world comes second to Adam, who's her true love, and if it wasn't for him she wouldn't have a life, and blah, blah, blah. Gag. 

Now, I am an aspiring writer, so I take advice from just about anywhere and everywhere I can get it. And if there's one advice that Fallon has ignored it's the obvious advice that when you put something on the page, it better serve a purpose. Instead, half the book was nothing more than fillers. In each chapter something should happen to get the story to move along, and if there's dialogue it better be important. It felt like someone tied me up to the end of a car and just dragged me around. Chapters are meant for things to happen, and I don't not count that monk that follows Megan around as something that's happened, nor the crow. Sorry Fallon, but some actual action is in need. 

If it's coming off that I'm attacking the author, please make note that this isn't the case at all. I am attacking her writing ability though, or lack of from what I'm seeing here. And I really hate how harsh I'm coming off. I never like to give low reviews, or dish out a long laundry list of issues, but sometimes one has to look at the reality. Now, I've heard good things from this book, but honestly, I personally could not see it.

I would recommend this if you truly had nothing to read. Or if this were the last book on the planet, whichever comes first. Is asking for a strong female lead really too much these days?