This was a book I heard of through other reviewers. From the synopsis, I immediately knew that it was something I would be interested in. I pre-ordered it in late May 2014 and was delighted when it had come early, so I managed to finish it before the official release date. Branded is the first book in a YA dystopian series by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki. The story is set in an extremely developed America, fifty years after World War V.
The Commander believes that the seven deadly sins are the downfall of society, so sinners are branded around their neck and placed into the Hole, a city-like prison with no rules.
The story is told from the point of view of eighteen year old Lexi Hamilton, who has been branded with the blue of list – but she is innocent. We follow Lexi's life in the Hole, the constant struggle to keep from harm and death.
She is given a guard, Cole, who watches over her all the time. Guards are usually assigned for 48 hours, but for Lexi it's different. Cole stays with her for the whole time, for a reason we do not find out until the end of the book.
I thought this book was very well written and I was immediately sucked into this new world. It was also credible, which was a plus, as it's not extremely far from the ideas of today's society - the wealthy and the poor - and is something I could see happening in the future. I also found that I could relate a lot in personality to one of the younger characters, Alyssa.
Branded was full of unexpected events, plot twists, links and mysteries, which was the main reason I was not able to put this book down until I finished. The book ended brilliantly, leaving me with a mixture of emotions. 'Hunted' is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2015 and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next.
• To find out more about Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki, head to their Facebook page.
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