Rosemarked

By: Livia Blackburne

Narrated by: Angela Lin, Vikas Adam

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

A healer who cannot be healed....

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it's only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she's destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art - until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.

A soldier shattered by war....

Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he'll do anything to free them from Amparan rule - even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.

Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn't be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

This smart, sweeping fantasy with a political edge and a slow-burning romance will capture fans of The Lumatere Chronicles and An Ember in the Ashes.

©2017 Livia Blackburne (P)2017 Recorded Books

My first book review ever (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

This was the first audiobook I had ever listened to. It seemed a little strange at first but after awhile it seemed not much different from reading an actual book, (maybe because even when reading print or ebooks I imagine the characters having different voices). I was able to picture the scenes in my head no different.
The story was mostly political and less so fantasy but I was expecting it to be that way and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I was very much filled with joy when I found out this was going to be the first book, I for some reason thought that it was just a stand alone.
I hope that the protagonists have the chance to grow their relationship further so that they can truly and whole heartily love one another, with as little a wall between them as possible. Although at the same time it saddens me for Zivah is slated to die even if they somehow survive the impending war that is soon to fall upon them. That is unless they find a cure for the sickness.
Speaking of the sickness, wow it got me. I can't think of any illness that is like it (maybe there is but I'm just not aware of its existence). It saddens me greatly that such a horrible disease effects people. The people in the rose marked compound, wow. I have so much sympathy for them.
Learning that the prince turned Emperor had poisoned his men was something I had suspected. I have a feeling that the disease itself could have been concocted by the physicians in the emperor, maybe so the lands that they conquered were easier to gain control over when a sickness has killed so many people in the first place. The reason that it effects the loyal subjects being that it just got out of hand, especially with its easy way to pass it along to someone else. Controlling a dangerous weapon such as a disease can lead to the harm of unintended targets.
Wow, I rambled, main thing is that I enjoyed the book. I will definitely read the next one, still debating honestly if I want to got the audio version or get a print copy. Sucks that I'll most likely have to wait at least a year until the next book.