I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was a seriously interesting dystopian read that had me hooked from the start. Set in a bleak future where everyone is “branded” to fit into a strict social order, the system described in the story is all about keeping people in line and under control.

The story follows Josi, who starts off pretty much brainwashed but slowly starts to see through all the lies around her. The world-building is dark and immersive (definitely gives "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" vibes but with its own unique twists). Josi is a solid character to root for; her journey from blind obedience to full-on rebellion is well done. If you're into dystopian stories with big themes like freedom and self-discovery, "The Branded" is worth picking up!

Riccoini has successfully written an excellent introduction novel into a series!! Absolutely loved the world building and characters! Honestly, a fun (as fun as Dystopian can be) and enjoyable read. I found the pacing was good, story development was well done and the characters were easily relatable. Told in first person POV, Nora was a great character. I really am looking forward to more in this series.

And props to beautiful cover art.

I was really loving the start of this one. But past 8% it was so boring I just couldn’t continue there was nothing for me to really grab onto to care about the characters. I was intrigued by the romance at the beginning and was hoping that was going to be enough for me to but it was wasn’t.

The story needed something to hook me and this just didn’t have it.

The book was enjoyable, but I feel there is room for improvement in developing the characters and world-building. But it doesnt elevate any experience to me.

Liked this book and it was interesting to read. I like really much the dystopian plot and i cannot wait the book 2

The excellent start of a new fantasy series featuring intriguing characters and set in a fascinating world.
I liked world building, magical system, and the fleshed out characters.
Can't wait to read the next one
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was sent a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.....for a full review please see my Amazon and Goodreads accounts

Really enjoyed this fast paced fantasy. Narrated by Nara, the story moves along, the world building is seamless with the action and I found myself involved with the characters. It’s an interesting set up, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I was feeling pretty nuetral about this book for the first half but things really started to pick up and I ended up really liking it.

The story is set in a dystopian world where disease has essentially wiped out the "Old World". Most people are born with a visible mark on their bodies that is referred to as a "brand" and is supposed to indicate that they are weaker and more prone to disease. People born without a brand are "Pure" and they basically run shit. The marks are genetic so they are essentially just running a massive breeding program trying to get Pures to have babies with other Pures to repopulate the world and of course women are treated like livestock. There are some Handmaid's Tale vibes and a pretty standard awful class system. You start out with a very narrow understanding of the world, and as you move through the story and travel throughout the continent you're able to get a better picture of how utterly messed up everything is.

Nara is your typically fiery fmc that strains against the bonds of the life she was born into. I thought at first maybe she was going to be too predictable (and sometimes that was the case) but there were times when she made me laugh out loud with her antics. There was a decent amount of action and twists. I was entirely satisfied with the romance, its a slowwww burn. Enemies to maybe friends who wanna see each other naked then back to enemies, then lovers and then, and then and then.. it's honestly great. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger so I'm really looking forward to continuing the series.

Interesting world building, but I wanted to know more as a personal preference. The Branded is a unique story, bordering on a fantasy dystopia where there is a clear dissension between the classes, a nod to a health pandemic, and a society that oppresses women.

It was a bit hard to read at times, in terms of content, but again it was a personal preference. I enjoyed the writing style, and the foundation of this world.

Overall an enjoyable read.

This book was really fast paced and a great start to a series. The world building was well written, immersing readers into the very unique dystopian aspects of this story. The characters were also very well written, including an immense amount of depth to the story. Thank you Angry Robot Books for sending me this book.

The Branded surprised me; it was rather slow in the beginning with the Handmaids Tale, forced/coerced breeding, but then turned into something more fresh and exciting. I imagine we will return to that plot point, but liked that it didn’t continue to be an central to the story as we progressed,

I loved Nara, plus the Narkat nickname was pretty cute. I liked the relationship between Nara and Osha as the “flamehead” twins with the added dynamic of the hunter and healer. I liked starting to get a glimpse into the world of magic with the sways and intrigued as to where this story is going. I also liked Nixim with Nara and I need to know what happens next!

Pretty quick read, but very enjoyable and like the direction this series is going in. Looking forward to the next instalment!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of The Treasures of Egypt. All opinions of this ARC are honest, unfiltered, and solely my own.

ok, first and foremost, can we talk about the cover? Um, spectacular. This is one of those books I am immediately attracted to for the shelf aesthetic. As a bonus, it also happens to be fabulous to read. Incredibly well-written, intricate yet tangible storylines, great character building, and the romance? Uh, *chef's kiss. This one really had me turning page after page and enjoying every minute of the experience. I felt connected to Riccioni's writing style in a way I truly fell in love with. After this experience, I would read anything she put out. Thank you.

In this world, there are the Branded and the Pure. The Branded are outcasts - smaller, weaker, prone to disease. The Pure are stronger and have immunity to all disease. Nara and her twin sister Osha are orphans raised in the school for Pure girls who are raised to breed with the ruling families of Isfalk. Nara discovers the rulers of Isfalk are lying to the citizens and she and her sister get pulled into a prophecy that says there will be a savior to rebalance the power dynamic between Pure and Branded.

I loved this fantasy adventure. Nara and Osha are strong female characters that fight for what they believe in. And the slow burn of the romance in this book was so good. I will definitely be looking forward to the sequel!

An original, gripping fantasy duology!

The world is divided between two types of people: the pure or Mor they are called, a healthy span of the population unlikely to get any disease and the branded, who are subject to sickness and infection. They have a distinction on their skin, a brand. They are treated differently, the Mor getting respect and worshipped for their breeding abilities while the branded live in poverty and scarcity.

Nara and Osha are orphan sisters, taken to Isfalk since their grandmother died, they grew up among Mor and treated like them. But secrets and lies from the past threatens their peaceful life…

The world building was great in this one, hooking us from page one. We have great banter, enemies to lovers, complex characters and an interesting storyline. The FMC is fierce and hot-tempered, the MMC is really secretive and we never know his motivations for sure and I really want to know what he’s about.
The ending left me intrigued for the next installment to say the least!

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A really enjoyable read, full of action and adventure with a twist I did NOT see coming. I'm already looking forward to Book 2!

The Branded unfolds in a fortified settlement where twins Nara and Osha have grown up since childhood. Narrated from Nara's perspective, the story begins when they are 17 and their world suddenly unravels, forcing them on a journey filled with character growth.

Nara is impulsive and headstrong, often speaking without thinking, which shapes her role as the protagonist struggling to navigate trust and conflict. Set against a backdrop of division between the 'pure' and the 'branded' due to an ancient disease, the novel explores themes of sexism, prejudice, and indoctrination, challenging Nara to question her beliefs and fight for independence.

I really enjoyed this book! There were times I was a bit put off by how strong willed the characters could be, but I definitely enjoyed watching their growth. The twists definitely caught me off guard!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

The Branded by Jo Riccioni is an epic speculative fantasy fiction with gender and class discrimination as its core concepts. The book revolves around two sisters, Nara and Osha, who are orphans living as Pure Mors within the citadel of Isfalk, a city divided into two classes – the Branded and the Pure. Where the Branded, presumed to be weak and vulnerable, are left to a life of squalor, poverty and disease, the Pure, with their unbranded skin and stronger immunity, live a privileged life of good health and wealth. Both sisters love each other but are as different as chalk and cheese. Where Osha is gentle and a healer, Nara is a fighter and protector; where Osha wants to seek change while living within the city's walls, Nara itches to leave the citadel and all it means. Whilst the sisters are trying to overcome their dilemma, circumstances take place where they are forced to run from the city, taking the help of a man known as the Wrangler. What follows is a thrilling tale full of twists and turns, including unexpected alliances, betrayals, and revelations, that doesn't fail to disappoint the reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was hooked from the first page. The premise of class difference, while not unique, was handled in a way that made for an intriguing and engaging read. The plot moved at a very even pace, making it an easy and interesting read. I couldn't put it down and had to know what happened next. The characters were not just interesting, but also deeply developed, and their backstories were well-written as well. The author has put in a lot of effort in making the characters grow individually whilst also taking care of ensuring that their interpersonal relationships grew organically and weren’t forced.

The writing was simple and fast-paced, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The banter between the two main characters, the Wrangler and Nara, was fun to read and had me smiling and laughing in places. The only problem I had with this book, if I may call it that, was the lack of action or the simplicity of it. However, you may argue that this book is just a prequel to the battles that will follow in the next one. If that is true, I understand the lack of action in this one. However, despite the lack of action, I enjoyed this book and am eagerly looking forward to reading the next one in the series when it is released.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with a copy to review.