Now that we know what to expect, Blackburne creates interesting dilemmas for Dineas. With the temporary one, full memories are restored, obviously, but when it wears off, the memories formed under the antidote are also wiped away. There are two antidotes: one that wears off and one that is permanent. So really all that is missing is experiences. However, the memories made while under its effects are still intact, as well as knowledge of the world around the patient and muscle memory. It removes all memories the first time around. Blackburne solves that problem by having Zivah explain to Dineas how the potion works. One of the problems with amnesia as a plot device is that the audience has no idea what to expect, meaning the author could use it as a magical hand-wave for any plot they want. Fortunately, Zivah knows how to create a potion that will wipe away his memories. Dineas has PTSD from his experiences and would be unable to successfully act as if he doesn’t want to murder his entire battalion. Their respective leaders propose a mission: Zivah will work at Shehmar City’s, Ampara’s capital, rosemarked compound and introduce Dineas, posing as a rose plague survivor with amnesia, to Commander Arxa, the leader of the troops that infected Zivah and the on who ordered the torture of Dineas.

Our two heroes meet when Dineas breaks into Zivah’s cottage and Zivah ties him up. However, Dineas became umbertouched, meaning he beat the disease completely, and reunited with his tribe. After catching rose plague, Dineas was thrown into a pile of corpses to die. Dineas has been tortured by the Amparans for a year. Our second protagonist is Dineas, a Shidadi rebel. Now she searches for a cure for Rose Plague. Zivah used to be an excellent healer, before she fell ill. She caught rose plague from the Amparan soldiers, and has turned rosemarked, meaning she is still contagious and will die in ten years, if she’s lucky. Our first protagonist is Zivah, a former healer. Rosemarked follows the story of two people wronged by the Amparan empire and striking against it from the inside. This book proves that amnesia is not a cliche and can make an excellent story. Such stories make the audience roll their eyes at the cheap drama. You know the type: character forgets who they are and have to regain their memories, often etching out a completely different one.

Rosemarked by livia blackburne