Books On Board
series Reading Order

Carve the Mark Books in Order

2 Books
2017 – 2018 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order
01
Carve the Mark
Carve the Mark
2017
Amazon
02
The Fates Divide
The Fates Divide
2018
Amazon

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, you should read the main duology in publication order before diving into the companion stories. The short stories serve as supplementary world-building and character studies rather than essential plot continuation.

  1. Carve the Mark (Book 1, 2017) – Start here to meet Cyra and Akos and learn the rules of the current-gifted galaxy.
  2. The Fates Divide (Book 2, 2018) – The high-stakes conclusion to the main storyline.
  3. The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future (Collection, 2019) – Read this next to find the two companion stories set in the same universe.

The Main Duology

The core story of the series is a duology published by HarperCollins, focusing on Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth as they navigate the warring factions of the planet Thuvhe (also known as Uhtas to the Shotet people):

  • Carve the Mark (2017): Introduces the planet Thuvhe, where a mystical force called the current flows through everyone, granting unique powers called currentgifts. Cyra's gift brings her constant physical pain and makes her a weapon for her brother, while Akos has the rare gift of neutralizing others' powers.
  • The Fates Divide (2018): Resolves the political struggles between the Shotet and Thuvhe peoples, exploring how the characters challenge their prophesied fates.

Companion Short Stories

Veronica Roth expanded this universe with two short stories included in her 2019 anthology collection, The End and Other Beginnings. They are not essential to understanding the main plot, but they offer extra depth for fans of the world:

  • “The Armored Ones”: Features perspectives from Teka and Akos, expanding on characters and lore from the main series.
  • “The Transformationist”: Set on the planet Zold, this story focuses on a different cast of characters, centering on a prisoner named Otho.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Carve the Mark series?

You should start with the first novel, Carve the Mark (2017), followed by its sequel, The Fates Divide (2018).

QAre the short stories prequels to the main books?

No, they are not direct prequels. While “The Transformationist” and “The Armored Ones” take place in the same universe, they function as standalone companion stories and are best read after the main duology.

QWhere can I find the Carve the Mark short stories?

Both short stories are published in Veronica Roth's 2019 science fiction collection, The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future.

QIs Carve the Mark related to the Divergent series?

No. Although both are written by Veronica Roth, Carve the Mark is a space opera/sci-fi fantasy set in a fictional galaxy, whereas Divergent is a dystopian earth-based story.

QIs the Carve the Mark series finished?

Yes, the main storyline is fully resolved in the second book, The Fates Divide. No further novels or sequels have been announced by the author or publisher.