Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth-468 pages

I started reading this in June for the Teen books challenge, but didn't finish until now. I have read Roth's entire Divergent series and met her in person at an author event in St. Charles in April. I wanted to read Carve the Mark because of this and next I am going to read The Fates Divide, which is the next and final book in this duology. I enjoyed reading this book. It is not my favorite book, but I do enjoy a good Sci-Fi story and a good teen story and this hit on both. I am looking forward to reading The Fates Divide and seeing how Cyra and Akos's story ends.

Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne

Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne (audiobook)-110 pages in print

Teddy and Kathleen visit Jack and Annie in present day to deliver a message from Merlin. Jack and Annie's mission is to recover Merlin's staff from the Ice Wizard of Winter on the Winter Solstice, which actually turns out to be a message sent by the Ice Wizard to lure Jack and Annie to his palace to find his eye. They recover the Ice Wizard's eye from the Frost Giant who had been given the eye by the Fates. Teddy and Kathleen bring the Wizard's sister back to him and she forgives him, so Merlin and Morgan, who had been turned into white wolves by the Wizard, are humans again and the day is saved once again. I really enjoyed listening to these 4 Magic Tree House books on audiobook. I enjoyed reading them as a kid and they still bring some enjoyment, though not as much as back then.