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PrintMarch 2017 Local Authors
New and recent book releases by local authors
CARVE THE MARK
The ultimate dystopian fantasy from the author of Divergent
From Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling book and movie trilogy Divergent, comes the first in a new science fiction series. Carve the Mark is set on the planet Urek, part of a constellation of nine nation-planets regulated by the Assembly. Warring factions rule, with the Shotet settled in the warm equatorial region and the Thuvhesits in the colder north. A mystical “current” flows through all living things and is visible in space as the “currentstream.” It bestows unique “currentgifts” on adolescents approaching adulthood, endowing them with powers that are meant to shape their futures. Each gift has the ability to mold the character of the person who receives it, magnifying both the strengths and the flaws. Some possess a gift that heals, others the power to destroy.
Cyra lives with the gift of constant pain, which — at the bidding of her brother, a brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet with an iron first — can be inflicted on others though skin-to-skin contact. Akos, son of the peace-loving oracle of the Thuvhesit, has the power to interrupt the current, enfeebling the gifts of others. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world after his capture by Shotet soldiers, the enmity between their families and their countries seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive — or to destroy one another.
Rich with plot twists, political intrigue and complex, conflicted characters, Carve the Mark combines nascent romance with jaw-dropping adventure.
Raised in Barrington, Roth is a graduate of the creative writing program at Northwestern University.
SKIN DEEP
by Samantha Dench, Elmhurst
Licensed esthetician Samantha Dench explains how to care for and protect the skin from the inside out. This self-help guide covers everything from healthy diet and daily hygiene to skin care products and treatments, all with the goal of preventing skin issues, halting disease, and slowing down the effects of aging. Readers will learn techniques to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize the skin so that it is able to protect and heal itself.
DIPPED IN DANGER
by Helen Macie Osterman, Homer Glen
A woman in Oregon suffers a trauma leading to memory loss. Meanwhile, in a sleepy Chicago suburb, Net Petrone, a feisty senior citizen and amateur sleuth, discovers a break-in at The Toffee Shop where she works. The women’s worlds collide as Net gets involved in solving a mystery that puts her life in danger. An entertaining page-turner with a surprising twist.
100 THINGS BLACKHAWKS FANS SHOULD KNOW & DO BEFORE THEY DIE
by Tab Bamford, Westchester
Newly revised and updated, this one through 100 die-hard’s guide to must-do activities associated with the Chicago Blackhawks also includes interesting facts, stats and trivia. Read up on big wins and losses, curses, superstitions and the best places to grab a bite before the puck drops. An entertaining checklist for fans and superfans.
ACRE'S BASTARD
by Wayne Turmel, Oak Park
This historically-based suspense novel is set in The Holy Land in 1187. Salah-adin is poised to conquer the Kingdom of Jerusalem. For 10-year-old Lucca “the Louse,” it’s life as normal. The streets of Acre —the wickedest city in the world — are his playground. But when a violent act of betrayal leaves Lucca homeless and alone, he’s drawn into a terrifying web of violence,
espionage and holy war.
