Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Underland Chronicles, #4), Suzanne CollinsGregor and the Marks of Secret is a high fantasy/epic fantasy novel, the fourth book in the critically acclaimed The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. It picks up soon after the end of Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods. The novel opens with Gregor's little sister Lizzie preparing to go to camp, while Gregor and Boots head down to the Underland. Ripred introduces Gregor to the now-teenaged Pearlpelt so Gregor ca...

There are so many fans out there of the Hunger Games books, and every time I encounter one of them I tell them I really liked that trilogy but I absolutely love the Underland Chronicles. With each of the books in the quintet I appreciate the writing and stories more. The growth and development of the characters and the plot is amazing. Watching Lexa and Gregor grow is a wonderful experience. Not since reading Madeleine L'Engle books years ago have I wanted to know what was happening with the cha...

"Life is short. There are only a few good things in it, really. Don't pretend that one isn't happening."°•*⁀➷I think this is going to be my favorite of the series simply because it's got the best message in it. That time goes on no matter if good or bad things are happening, and you have to see the good as often as you see the bad. That's something that I think I will always struggle with when the bad is overwhelming. It's so difficult to see the good when everything else is so much easier to fo...

Such a flipping great series. Only one issue...as much as I love Boots and she is adorable (and a bit heartbreaking), I question why you keep bringing her on dangerous adventures. She's 2 years old man, give her a break. The first three it is kind of justified because she is the prophecies, but not this one. Oh well.The story is still great and it's also so harsh. The poor mice :'( *SPOILERS AHEAD*....The bit where a load of mice die gives an image of what gas chambers must've been like during t...

So far this is the most mature and well-formed book in the series. The focus on ethnic-cleansing resonated with my Jewish heritage. Characters and story elements have finally begun to mature and pay off.The old contrivances are still there, including childish prophecies, the 'rager' conceit, and dragging a toddler into the most dangerous situations imaginable. They continue to hold back what could be a pretty cool story.The biggest complaint I have is that the Underlanders, despite having intere...

This wasn't my favorite of the Underland Chronicles so far. Mostly, I think, it just felt like a prelude to the final book. I did like that Gregor continues to think about his role as a warrior and what that really means. I also like that no clear-cut answer is reached. Peace isn't always the right answer, but then neither is war. I'm glad the complexities of the issues weren't oversimplified for the target audience. I imagine there will be more in the fifth book as well.I found it interesting t...

Wow. I can’t believe these books keep getting darker and darker. We’re sort of left on a cliffhanger and I’m concerned because so many have died already and the last book sounds ominous cause of this prophecy that no one will explain to Gregor. Also...MOUSES (as Boots would say). My whole Merlin vs Mordred theory seems to be coming to fruition. I feel so sorry for Luxa cause no one can really understand what it’s like for her and her anger feels more justified by the end. Yes, she takes it out o...

So this is how a war starts, thought Gregor.Not with two armies facing off, waiting for the signal to charge. Not with a wave of rats invading the avenues of Regalia. Not with a formation of bats swooping down on an unsuspecting colony of rats. It begins much more quietly. In a room, on a field, in a remote tunnel when someone who has power decides the time has come.My Underland Chronicles buddy read with Stephanie continues! I liked this one much more than the previous, largely because of that

Better than the third. With a clever hidden prophecy and the return of so many likeable characters this was a win for me. Although I will note, this volume takes a markedly darker and more serious/mature tone than the previous entries. Younger readers may not be as prepared to deal with themes like genocide, mass murder, and heavy war.

I’m getting quite bored of this series. I’m not sure why I chose to start it honestly, I recall my brother very much liking it when he was a kid. it’s obviously for younger readers and I knew that before I started it but idk, the adventure sounded intriguing. And it very much is, and I also really like the characters, so I’m not sure why I found this particular book so boring. It actually started to pick up at the end I did sob my eyes out at one point. I’m actually quite shocked this is for you...

For any Hunger Games fan, the earlier Suzanne Collins series is a worthwhile read. While it doesn't have the depth of THG, and is written for a younger age group (11-12 year olds), it carries many of the same themes as THG: the conflict between different groups, poverty vs wealth, violence and war. In fact, I would consider this series to be more violent and have more death, but the majority of it happens between animal species such as bats, rats, and spiders, and then humans. Various warfare is...

This installment is a little different as Gregor and Luxa defy the adults and strike out on their own. Needless to say, it doesn't go well. Exceptionally powerful and difficult themes for a MG book.

Gregor and the Marks of Secret, fourth of the Underland Chronicles, is really the first of a two part finale. In the Underland again both to visit his Mum (who is still recuperating from the Plague which afflicted her in the previous book) and for Hazard's birthday party, he is quickly once again embroiled in adventure, when Luxa is summoned to aid the nibblers in keeping with her promise in the preceding story. At first, their plight is unknown, but it soon becomes clear that the Bane is gather...

Gregor and the Marks of Secret is a book I am finding difficult to review. It would be easy to simply say the book was pleasantly engaging and full of the fantastical chaos I crave from the middle-grade genre, but then I would be lying. Granted, the book does feature the aforementioned; at the same time, however, owing to how shrewdly this book evolved into an increasingly dark storyline I was left agape! That said, I greatly appreciated the thought-provoking themes and allegorical r

Actual rating: 2,5/5.

Another good story, lots of conflict and adventure, and fun to read. There was more friction between the characters, and I felt a little less connected to them. It did bother me that they again take the pups (kids) into a very dangerous situation, this time through a few poor decisions rather than necessity.Unlike the previous three, this book is unresolved at the end. The next book will be a continuation of this story rather than the beginning of a new episode. I am hoping that the last book wi...

This book seems to have so many hidden meanings. So is the white rat Hitler and the mice the Jewish people? Or is the white rat any power hungry person, bent on suppressing the little people? Whatever Suzanne Collins was thinking, this is a heavy story for young ones. Yet my 11 year old niece loves this series and highly recommended it. This is an exciting, endearing, and heart breaking story. The humans and the animals living in this world are fighting for survival. If possible, can a truce be

“So this is how a war starts.... Not with two armies facing off, waiting for the signal to charge.... It begins much more quietly. In a room, on a field, in a remote tunnel when someone who has power decides the time has come.” ~GregorThis felt like a filler book, where at the end of the day, not a whole lot happened. However, it did help propel the story and my kids still enjoyed it. We're excited to read the last book in the series and I hope it ends well.

4.25 stars

This review is for Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, and Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Underland Chronicles, #2-4). I've really enjoyed reading this series to my kiddos! We're on the last book now (Gregor and the Code of Claw) and had stop due to uncontrollable crying (mine). I don't think I'll be able to keep reading this one to them before bed, because my tears make them think something is wrong with me. It's hard to explain that nothing is physically w...

Holding that one star because I was sulking..hmmph..*crowd a corner*There`s one thing that I hate the most in this world, aside from liars. That is not knowing of things..And the name for this one, 'Marks of secret' was enough to fuel me into detest and much angriness..I want to know things, learnt them by reading, and not just be speared with reason that tells me that I`ve enough to just know, but not to learn from it..Understand? No?Ok, imagine HP, clueless with the infos on deathly hallows an...

Shortly what I have to say about Gregor and the Marks of Secret:Like I've enjoyed the other parts of this series, I really enjoyed this one, too. This books are fast-paced and easy to read. Suzanne Collins' writing style is gorgerously vivid and I love it. Having different kinds of characters, all the different animals, is fun and refreshing. I still think that Ripread is like another version of Haymitch, both are these crumpy mentors. That's propably why I love Ripread so much. :D I think Grego...

I am reading the series with my 12 year old. We are really enjoying the series. However, I was vaguely dissatisfied with the ending. This time the adventure didn't end. Maybe Collins bit off more than would fit in one book and just divided this story into two books. The horror of the mice being poisoned also got to me. 5/1/10Finished reading this with my youngest and started the 5th right away. I told him I would read to him this morning, if he got up before I went to work, since he didn't want

While reading this book, I started talking to Sakina about how we thought these books might be different if they were published now. The conclusion we came to is that they'd be cursed. So I'm glad they were published when they were.Don't let the fact that they're older or middle grade or whatever keep you from picking them up, each individual book is incredible, and as a series, they're a masterpiece that deserves just as much hype as The Hunger Games.

Give me more!!! I love Suzanne Collins and her writing style is awesome. This book was a fast read, and I can't wait to get my hands on the last book of the series. She just loves leaving you hanging. I really enjoy that the characters are so likable, and seem so realistic. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to enjoy this series.

I liked this better than book 3 as the plot progressed more, but it's still not entirely living up to it's potential. It's main problem, IMHO, is that the protagonist keeps pulling his 2 year old sister along on ridiculously dangerous missions. It worked for the first 2 books, but then it started to get a bit hard to believe that events force him to bring her along over and over again.

This is by far the best in the series so far! The writing style is the same, but the story is so much deeper. Not as dependent on the inevitable prophecy as the others, although of course it's there! But the characters are maturing, and the historical allusions are powerful. Gotta go get the last installment!

"well, that takes the cake." -mrs cormaci"...now it's a little more real than i was counting on." -mrs cormacip8: it was inhabited by giant talking animals -- roaches, bats, rats, spiders, and a whole slew of others -- and a race of pal-skinned, violet-eyed people who had built a beautiful stone city called regalia.

When Hazard says that thing about his heart being so full already...I CAN'T EVEN.Sorry if these reviews are useless, but I have so many feels right now.

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