Why did I love this book?
I had the honor of reading this in a critique group before it came out and again when the editors were done with it.
Mariikel Serix is an alien tattoo artist trying to pay back for a wrong he'd done and finds himself embroiled in a shipwide political struggle against the clans. It's a great SF story with deeply woven themes of personal honor and doing the right thing when society pushes you to conform.
The world-building is amazing, especially the tribal society of a generation ship that's part of a nomadic fleet. It's a beautiful book and a great adventure.
1 author picked Markmaker as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
He swore to paint the truth. Now he is living a lie.
For the Noxxiin people, tattoos define identity: they commemorate birth, ancestry, accomplishments—even crimes. As a tattoo artist living on an ancient generation ship, Mariikel Serix has sworn to record the truth. So when he becomes an unwilling accomplice in the banishment of an innocent man, he is horrified that he has broken his oath—and his eyes are opened to the misery of the Underbelly, the realm of the outcasts.
Despite the risk to himself, the young markmaker begins secretly helping the ship’s exiles. But more trouble is brewing.…