#BRANDEDVERSARY – Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
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.
To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.
Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.
Constant darkness.
Brutal and savage violence.
Excruciating pain.
Every day is a fight for survival.
But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.
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Review:
One of the main focuses of the book and what I think was a life lesson or moral of the story, was the seven deadly sins. There aren’t a lot of books that really approach the subject of this, but these two authors really manage to bring them into a story that can capture the reader’s attention and hold it captive long after the book is over.The way the authors wrote the book in first person by the character Lexi made the book so much more intense as the reader gets the opportunity to see the world that was created through the book in a personal experience. This book was definitely not lacking emotion as the authors write so much despair, and grief and hope into this book that it really takes a while to digest the multiple events in this book.The writing style was amazing and it really brought the book to life. I loved how the authors used the seven deadly sins to really add depth and intrigue to the book by focusing on some of the key points that we face in society today.
Lexi was a character that a lot of readers will connect with as she shows her strength as a girl put into several difficult positions. I loved how the authors made her into a character that was blind to how others saw her because it made her more unique and down-to-earth. Seeing the book through her eyes really brought the conflict to life and I really enjoyed how real the whole book felt.
Cole was so confusing because I was stuck between hating him for his position in Branded, but than he would confuse me with how he treated Lexi. I was never sure if her really cared for her because he was so ornery and would flip back and forth. I did love how Lexi reacted to him and how she felt like she could trust him yet held almost everything back. It was great seeing how they would protect each other yet not admit that they liked each other and respected each other.
One of my favorite characters (besides Lexi and Cole) was Alyssa Jenkins. She was such a darling girl and her situation was such a tragedy. I loved how she was brought out of her shell by Lexi, and how she brought Lexi so much fun and laughter even though there was plenty of heartbreak. It was great of the authors to make her almost a focal point because of how Alyssa’s situation affected later choices that Lexi made.
Another character that I liked was Dr. Sutton because he was always was one step ahead of everyone else and when his secret was revealed it was super surprising. I thought that he was a great help to Lexi and Cole and I loved how considerate and caring he was. It really helped when reading about the horrors of the Hole.
I absolutely loved the ending because of all the big reveals. It was just one event after another and really brought this book to a great conclusion. I also loved the people that Lexi ends up reuniting with and I think it’s an interesting way to bring the book almost back to the beginning but in a new direction.
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About the Author
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
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