Branded

Branded by Abi Kitner and Missy Kalicicki 

Publication Date: January 12, 2014
Length: 318 pages
Format/s:
Paperback: $11.58
Kindle Edition: $4.99



Amazon: Branded (A Sinners Series) (Volume 1)
Goodreads: Branded

Blurb

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.

My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Review

Cover: 5
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
 
Overall Rating: 5

"Even if it was only for a day, an hour, or a minute—I would risk everything just so I could be with you."

In a world where corruption and death lies, a sadistic ruler emerges. The Commander is a dictator who murders anyone who crosses his path, he believes that the seven deadly sins is the main cause why society has fallen and sinners are entrapped in a prison which he called the Hole. Lexi was wrongfully judged like some of the people who was imprisoned in the Hole and there she was assigned with a guard named Cole. She realizes that not everything is what they seem and she will fight tooth and nail to get out.

Branded was a book that would make you sit on edge waiting for anticipation and make you fall in love with the characters page by page. The way the characters were portrayed made you feel like they're truly there and you feel a deep connection with them. When Lexi's father died, her brother left and her mother remarried.  Her stepfather was evil personified and he was the reason why she was imprisoned.

Inside the Hole she sees evil of the purest forms and also others like her who was wrongfully judged. Cole was assigned with Lexi as and unlike other guards out there, he takes his job seriously and tries not to get Lexi killed. At the beginning of the story, Cole was cold and aloof towards Lexi but he slowly warmed up to her. Before Lexi was assigned to him, he doubted the Hole already but his doubt solidified when an innocent like Lexi ended up as a prisoner. Even though Cole was cold and aloof at the start I was crushing on him already since he was very protective of Lexi and I loved his no nonsense manner in life.

Relationships between a sinner and a guard is forbidden and the punishment for that is being tortured to death so there were a lot of consequences with the relationship Cole and Lexi has. Knowing that, Lexi was very adamant in trying to ignore the growing feelings she has for Cole and Cole slowly falls for her when he realizes that unlike other Sinners, Lexi has a good heart.

I don't exactly know where I stand with their relationship since on one hand I admire how they would risk their very lives just to spend just one glorious moment with each other but on the other I feel that the Romeo and Juliet romance they have is somewhat dumb of them since they aren't the only one who will die and a lot of people are depending on them.

There were some sex scenes in the books though it wasn't given great detail so it's still readable for young adults out there.

Compared to other dystopian books out today in the market, the plot of this book was really unique and well thought. I wasn't too keen to read this when I realized that this book was made by two authors but the cover and the blurb really drew me in, and I was not disappointed.

  

Branded was just wow and was really an unforgettable read AND you would be really missing out a lot if you decided not to read it.