Rating: 
Summary: A very entertaining read
Review: Emphasis on "entertaining". Scriptural content is kind of light here, but the story is gripping. Nicolae's personality is almost cartoony at this point (why is his middle name "Jetty"? Where did THAT come from?), but there's a lot more characterization and detail than the last one. As for the Chang controversy, since he didn't technically "take" the mark, perhaps it doesn't count? Unfortunately the Bible doesn't have anything to say about that. Altogether, though, it's an enjoyable book.
Rating: 
Summary: Taking the "flip book" approach
Review: Just how did I manage to finish "The Mark," the 8th book in this interminable series, you may ask? By major PAGE SKIPPING, that's how! This past weekend, not an idle one by any means, I "read" books 5 through 8 of this series. It's easy when you skip the long sermons, and the inane dialogue and wait until some kind of action happens.That said, I do keep reading the books, though thanks to the American library system, I have not had to shell out a dime for the privilege. Though thin on substance, the first books did have enough meat to be occasionally satisfying. That hardly seems true of the last books, which seem to have hit some sort of time dilation mode where one book can spend hundreds of pages chronicling a few dull days. What's wrong with these books? For one, outrageous premises. Knowing the level of rabidity of American gun enthusiasts, who could imagine US citizens (militias excluded) eagerly acceding to the removal of 90% of our weaponry? We're a paranoid bunch! We spend more money on arms than the next ten countries combined, and we are still afraid of being outmatched. Yet in Left Behind, we give it all away --- to the UN, of all groups! It's not that this is an impossible scenario, but Lahaye and Jenkins don't even bother to acknowledge the problem. And wouldn't it be interesting if L&J were more up front with which of our planet's 6 billion souls would not make the cut into the 1 billion who are saved? Why not fess up that practically all Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims would land in hell? How about having Tsion put that in his pipe and smoke it? Did the Muslim children get raptured? Do Christians who were left behind still continue to their pathetic church attendance, not realizing that they are the "wrong" kind of Christians? And how about the wholesale, unimaginative ripoff of the Bible, as when Tsion has a dream that is taken straight out of Revelation 12? Couldn't the mark of the Beast have been something more original than the tired, old computer implanted scenario? And how about a little work convincing the reader that implanting the mark in hand or forehead wouldn't be a colossal tip-off, even to the biblically illiterate? This entire series is bloated, lazy and offensive. I have been skimming along, hoping for imaginative treatment of the Apocalypse. Yet now that I am 8 books into the series, I'm afraid that even skipping the dreary parts is becoming an exercise in futility. It's really a feat to make the end of the world seem so tedious. By the way, it's awful to see the supposedly Christian heroes of this series act in such an ungospel manner. Except for the imbecilic Hattie Durham, there is barely a whit of caring for the throngs of the damned. Steele realizes that Carpathia is about to vaporize a whole city, and all he worries about is that his own family makes it out. Steele nurses vengeance against the Antichrist without even an editorial tsk-tsk from the authors. I guess "turn the other cheek" went out the window after the Rapture. Hint to L&J: read a little less of Revelation and a lot more of the Gospels!
Rating:
Summary: Can the World Resist 'the Mark of the Beast'?
Review: 'The Mark,' book #8 of the 'Left Behind series' the Beast Rules the World. His Excellency Global Community Leader Nicolae Carpathia is resurrected and indwelt by the devil himself. The Beast tigthens his grip on the world. The Tribulation Force (Rayford, Buck, Bruce and Chloe) now undercover outlaws spread the truth about the AntiChrist. Can they help save millions from being branded with "the mark" that will seal their eternal doom? It is written in Revelation 14: 6-13. It is this time, that Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:14, the gospel would be preached throughout the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come [Matthew 24:15-35].
Rating: 
Summary: The continuing story of those Left Behind...
Review: After reading "Conquest of Paradise" by Britt Gillette, I was instantly turned on to biblical end times literature, and I quickly began reading the Left Behind series. From book one, I was totally hooked, and I've read up through book eight in less than a couple of weeks. In "The Mark", LaHaye and Jenkins continue their unique view of the prophesied end-times. Having been assassinated in book six, and indwelled by the devil in book seven, antichrist Nicolae Carpathia counterfeits the resurrection when he rises from the dead after three days. The world stands in awe and begins to worship Carpathia as a god, giving birth to a new religion known as "Carpathianism"! Followers of Nicolae must be branded with a loyalty mark on their right hand or forehead, and those who refuse it are put to death. "The Mark" is one of the more gripping and edge-of-your-seat thrillers in the series. It will cause you to empathize with the characters, questioning whether you would accept the mark given similar circumstances. I can't wait to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading books eight through twelve, and I encourage other Left Behind fans to pick up "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller" as additional reading. That book got me interested in this series, and what a great book! What "Left Behind" lacks in realism, "Conquest of Paradise" adds in abundance. The prose is much more advanced and the international politics are identical to the current world scene and the war on terror. Peppered with biblical verses, "Conquest of Paradise" will turn even the most hardened skeptics into believers, or at least it will make them think twice. It's one lovers of end-times fiction shouldn't miss. Book nine, "Desecration" continues the adventures of the Tribulation Force, and deals with the antichrist's desecration of the Jewish Temple long ago foretold by Jesus and the Old and New Testament prophets. Can't wait to read the rest!
Rating:
Summary: If you enjoyed Left Behind . . .
Review: If you enjoy Left Behind, I would strongly second what so many other reveiwers have already said and suggest The
Christ Clone novels and We All Fall Down by Brian Caldwell. Both are similar to Left Behind but vastly different in aproach. I read them while waiting for the eleventh Left Behind and, while I love that series, found them to be just as good, and possibly better.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a perfect series but better than some give it credit for
Review: So far, I've read all eleven Left Behind novels, and while they are not perfect, I think that some people don't give it enough credit because of unfair comparisons. People often point to We All Fall Down and The Christ Clone trilogy as better novels, and in a way, they are, but they are also very different. Left Behind seems to be more of an introduction to the subject of the End Times, a series that is reaching out to all people of different ages. It's not particularly well written, but it is clear and straightforward. The characters are not particularly realistic or interesting, but these are not character studies, these are novels that are trying to give people an overview of this concept, and they do that quite well. To compare these to other novels with similar themes is a little bit unfair. We All Fall Down is much better written and more intelligent, but the focus of that novel is much more intensley spiritual and more of a character study that uses the End Times as a backdrop to explore complex issues of evil and salvation. It is for more mature, serious readers and it's aim is very different from Left Behind. Likewise, The Christ Clone is more of a techno-thriller, interested in exploring how, realistically the End Times could arive. I will admit that I enjoyed these other books more than Left Behind, but that does not take away from the fact that Left Behind still does a decent job with the subject. They are not great novels, but they are nowhere near as bad as some people are saying.
Rating:
Summary: THE MARK
Review: Did you think the Left Behind series couldnft get any better? IF youfre one of those people who thought that, than youfll be totally surprised after reading the eighth book, The Mark. After reading the seventh book in the series, The Indwelling, I could not wait for the eighth book to come out. After starting the series over a year ago, I had the feeling that nothing could top the first book, Left Behind. Thought Ifve been proved wrong time and time again. The seventh book had left off with the reincarnation of Nicolae Carpathia, with Satan indwelling the former manfs body.
This book picks up right off with the bat with the action and suspense the left behind series are known for. IN the beginning of the book Annie is still missing while David frantically searches, and eventually finds her. Rayford, Abdullah, and Mac continue on their "flighty" adventures on dangerous missions, one including the rescue of Hattie... You find out that more near and dear friends are added to the list of believers. Chaim continues his studies with Tsion, and is preparing for a huge "responsibility", unsure whether he is ready to accept it or not. The mark of the beast is finally put into affect much to the dismay of the rest of the Trib Force. The resulting consequences for not choosing the mark, is having to go through the "loyalty enforcement facilitators". Find out what David has up his sleeve, with the help of Chang, to help them get out of this mess!
The reading of this novel was great, I never experienced a dull moment; for the most part, I could hardly put the book down. I love the way the book is set up, with getting bits of pieces of different characters situations and missions in the same chapter. It reminds me of a soap opera; it keeps you on the edge of your toes constantly wondering what happened to one character while indulging into the next characters charades. The book plays on your emotions, as the author takes you through the line of brave men and women awaiting their turn to be beheaded for refusing to deny their faith. Each character stands bravely until the end, always continuing to preach the gospel through the beatings, the torture, the rude comments. It takes you back to the book of Acts from the Bible, in the days of the apostles, and how they suffered the same way. You sympathize with the characters and want to cry out, gno, donft do it!h as the prison guards beat them almost to the point of death. And these strong brave souls get back up and glorify the name of Jesus once again.
The book is completely believable, with Lahaye and Jenkins continuing to use scripture from the Bible throughout the story. You can see where they are coming from, that it is not just coming off the top of their heads. The book of Revelation has been thoroughly studied by LaHaye, and is tied in with the fiction plot line.
The book runs about three or four plot lines at a time. It has you flying around with Rayford, Abdullah, and Mac around the world hiding from GC; or you stay back at the gsafe househ in Chicago learning the behind the scenes work of the Trib Force; or you are in the GC palaces with David, Chang, Nicolae, Moon, and other characters seeing eye to eye the battle between good and evil from the front row seat.
My only complaint in this book, is that once again, it is awful to come to the ending of the book, and realize that you must purchase or search for the next book in the series. Or sometimes in my case many times, you have to wait six months or more for the next one to come out! Sometimes it is hard to remember what happened in the previous book with that much time between each one. Another thing I didnft like about the ending of the book, is that it built up to this big traumatizing climax, and then just suddenly dropped up and ended right there. I think the ended could have been held out a bit more, so to me, the ending was really disappointing compared to the rest of the book.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to anyone following the Left Behind series. Its high packed adventure, excitement, and continuing episodes of the tribulation wonft leave you disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: This is the last one for me
Review: I really enjoyed the first three Left Behinds. However, the forth one began a slow decent in quality and this one just seems like complete filler material. It seems fairly obvious that these novels could have been finished in a series of six. It's a shame that these books are still just as popular as when the first one came out, especially when there are much better End Times novels that cover the subject more fully and with more intelligence than Left Behind. James Beauseigneur's Christ Clone Trilogy is very good and Brian Caldwell's We All Fall Down is even better, probably the best in the genre. I'd strongly suggest picking up either one of these novels and dropping what has become a very thin attempt at simply making money.
Rating:
Summary: It's a either/or choice but not both
Review: When I read the part about Chang taking the mark of the beast even though he was a Christian, I became worried. I became worried that millions of people who are not familiar with Christ will think that they can be both Christian and have the mark of the beast and be ok. I feel that if you refuse the mark but they try to place it on you anyway that the power of God would prevent them from doing so. I began to wonder who side the authors are really on (satan has many disguises). I feel that if Chang didn't want the mark, he was supposed to claim that he was a Christian and DEMAND that the mark of the beast not be placed on him. Also, the rise of the antichrist will not be so cut and dry as the writters describe in the series. It could be happening now, sneaking up on us for all we know. The authors could get to the point of the series if they left out such trivial scenes such as Buck, who manages to find an excuse to be away from his wife and child, and Chloe debating whether or not to have a child during the end times--I mean they're Christians who know that the Tribulation is happening --give me a break. Go to your local library if you want to save money; even buying the books at discounts can become expensive. Most of the books are good, including this one, BUT they could have been condensed into a shorter series. I do wish the authors would hurry it up and get to the ending.
Rating:
Summary: The Beast rules the world.
Review: The eighth book in the seemingly endless End Times series Left Behind stayed true to form for me. While the odd numbered titles maintain my interest and keep me entertained, the even numbered ones just do not work for me well at all. As was the case with The Indwelling, The Mark picks up at the precise moment the previous book concluded and, for the first hundred or so pages, everything seems fine. Author Jerry B. Jenkins sets up a rolling procession of cliffhangers for his characters to work through and, as long as he keeps them moving towards some sort of goal, the book works just fine. But once the rescues are finished, the new and improved safe house is set up, and new believers surface to replace those that have died, the book stalls, and badly. Why? Because Jenkins focuses on emotional and religious issues and, since his characters cannot be read as anything other than props in a narrative, it is a chore to get through, because none of the weeping and testimonial sharing really rings true. Also frustrating is knowing that Jenkins is setting up for events that will take place in the next series entry, not in this book. Also obvious is that the backlash against the Left Behind series really got rolling with this entry, with a Christian character taking the mark of the beast. That Jenkins would twist prophetic beliefs just to keep his simplistic story moving in an easy to control direction just goes to show that, from a writer's perspective, Jenkins is deathly afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty with the real work of telling a credible End Times fantasy yarn. Can't recommend this one, sorry.
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