⭐️⭐️ 2.5 stars
🌶️ 0.5 spice (really nothing graphic)

A big thanks to Angry Robots and NetGalley for providing me the ARC for The Branded!

The story features our FMC, Nara. She is a Mor (a “pure” blooded woman raised to be given to pure men), and has been raised in the citadel with her sister Osha since her Amma died. Here she has been brainwashed to believe what the leaders tell her, until one day everything falls apart for her. She is betrayed by her maid after she is caught smuggling goods out to the Settlement, and she is discovered to have the Brume, and a small brand is on her scalp. She is immediately exiled from the citadel, and goes to live with the maid with the rest of the branded.

Honestly, I forgot she went to live with the maid because it’s almost like she’s forgotten 40% through the book. Nara gets back with Osha during a bathing session gone awry at the Moon Pools, and thus we continue our long, long journey to Olyth(Oryth?).

I just can’t stand Nara unfortunately, and it made this book hard for me to get through. Everything is about her, and she goes back and forth so much on Brim and the Wrangler I just can’t. Her actions really bugged me throughout the book.

I also fully believe she is the Elith and she is too blind to see it, even though it’s very obvious.

I’m not really a fan of a love triangle, so I didn’t enjoy the one with Nara, Brim, and Nixim. Also, why does the love interest always have to be secretly betrothed? I also thought Osha and her love interest (I forgot his name) became too involved too quickly.

The mole on Nixim’s face was brought up so many times it really irked me. I don’t need to know about a mole so much.

I also found incorrect words used at times (home instead of hone, etc) that pulled me out. There was also a long period of the beginning of the book where it felt like the author pulled out a thesaurus and replaced every common word with a synonym, making me confused.

Lastly, the words really bothered me. “What the fec”, “What the pox”, “Holy Mother’s holes” really just ground my gears.

I gave it 2.5 stars because I believe it has potential to have something. Unfortunately it just was not for me, but might be for someone else!

Book rating : 3.5 stars

Genre - Romantasy

"Perhaps we were unafraid because the greatest dread of childhood had already happened to both of us: the loss of our parents.
We were orphans together, egging each other on, making a competition of our recklessness."

I had requested the book for the sole reason of the pretty cover , ain't that all readers want especially when it comes to fantasy genre. Also the premises looked promising.

When a plague wipes out huge population, the world is left with people who have markings known as branded and those who have no residual markings as pure breed. The pure women are mostly looked down (or upto??? But definitely not treated so) as commodities to have more pure breed.


" A man might lose his horse, his blade, even his brotherband, but he should never lose his bloodline."


This is a story of Nara and her sister Osha who both are pure women and live in a privileged place, protected and prevented from doing much. The character development is good but I would have liked to know more about the world setting as we do not really the whole lot about the world this happens.

Nara is not likeable in the start but she improves as the time goes.

“We’d sell our souls for the ones we love, Frida.”

There's a love triangle kind of relationship but it is not annoying or infuriating. Brim takes a backside most of the times but even then Nixim or Wrangler isn't a character I cared for or even liked. To be honest, the love story wasn't even that engaging.

Overall a good book but then it could have been better.

Thank you Netgalley and Bolinda audio for the audiobook ARC and angry robot for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

The Branded was a great read, it had it all and it kept me gripped. I did think it started off slow as it was laying out the groundwork for the storyline but half way through it picked up and I was hooked. I really liked the characters and their developments, Nara was a likeable main character and she had an essence around her that makes me think there's more to her than we are seeing. Brim, urgh, towards the end I started to dislike him, Wrangler/Nixim on the other hand I was really drawn to his character.
The writing in this novel was really captivating and it really set out the details of the world building and the characters, I really enjoyed delving further into the story and towards the final chapters I was already wanting book 2, but after reading the ending I definitely need book 2. I have so many questions that needs answering.

!!! Okay !!! I’m so invested in this series now.

I really liked the concept of this book and that it focused on Nara’s flaws. It’s mostly well written, has a really good plot that I could imagine playing out in my mind like a movie.

It started off a bit generic - a girl hunting in the woods (where have we seen that before..) but hear me out .. it’s actually relevant to the FMC 🤐👀 It quickly evolved into a really interesting plot and I began to love (and hate!) certain characters.

Brim is such a gaslighter! I need him eradicated in the most satisfying way possible for the next book pls 😅

I grew to love Osha’s character, especially that she’s presented as strong in a different way to Nara. Hopefully she’ll get the life she deserves in the next book 🥲

I’m obsessed with the couples we’ve seen so far and the spice was entertaining. The book left off in a way that is really enticing for the reader to come back to it and its successors.

I like when fantasy books have little unique tidbits to the world building that will actually be relevant later on. (E.g the snake poison to induce visions). The witch was a nice addition without making the story too superficial (aka using ‘suriel-like’ characters to advance the plot).

I’m not a fan of using made up words as an alternative to swear words, especially when the book isn’t YA but I could look past this quite easily as the plot did a good job of diverting my attention and it was a unique way of doing it too. I’ll definitely be recommending this!

I was not initially feeling excited about reading The Branded as I have found myself not in the mood for much fantasy reading lately. This book, however, reignited my love for the genre, giving me the same feeling I had when I started reading again after a long break.

The branded feels like a blend of the handmaids tale, shadow and bone, and the hunger games, taking some of the better elements of each to create a unique story that kept me hooked the whole way through.

While I loved the story, a map could have really enhanced the reading experience as location was an important aspect of the narrative and having no visual guidance was a tad disorientating at times.
I also would have really loved some multiple pov (a rare request from me). It would have been great to see some alternative perspectives particularly when characters were separated, and I think it could have added some real depth and nuance.

Overall a fantastc read and I can't wait to read the sequel

It’s a classic rich vs poor trope and I really enjoyed it. It gave me almost hunger games vibes in the rich vs poor divide. The characters quite well written, however, I found that the end was quite abrupt but overall very good read I will probably buy the physical copy and definitely recommend it to my friends

I loved this story! It's a rich fantasy with a touch of romance—not quite a fantasy romance. dynamic between the branded and the pures was very interesting, and as described gave me very much hand maids tale vibes which i loved! I Can't wait for the next book, especially for the unhinged female main character—I'm hooked!

The Branded by Jo Riccioni is a dystopian novel where centuries ago, a Great Malady happened, and the brume virus spread, decimating most of the population. It resulted in most of the population becoming more physically weaker and vulnerable to disease and infection. The virus left a blue mark on their skin like a brand, and they became known as the Branded. A smaller part of the population became physically bigger, and stronger, and were immune to disease and infection. They became known as the Pure.

As a result of these changes, the Pure became the dominant class in society in some parts of the Continent and the role of Pure women changed, with an emphasis on their ability to breed. They have become a commodity, and in Isfalk they are kept hidden away in a citadel under the guise of it being for their protection.

Meanwhile, the Branded live in squalor in the surrounding village. They are told that they must keep the Pure wardens fed as the wardens keep everyone safe, including them, so they must give their harvests to the Pure. In actuality, it’s so that the Pure can live in luxury and have an overabundance of food. The Branded who have less visible brands are allowed to serve in the citadel. It is a crime for the Branded and the Pure to have relationships in Isfalk as the Branded have a chance to pass on their physical weaknesses to their offspring, however, that does not stop Pure males from spending time in brothels in the Branded village.

The Branded tells the story of twins Nara and Osha, two young women who grew up with their grandmother in the forests before losing her in a vicious attack. With no details about their parents, the children fled to the citadel. Once it was established that they were both Pure, they were integrated into the restrictive and religious society of the citadel. While her sister seems to fit right in, Nara hates everything the citadel stands for, especially the expectation that young women will meekly accept being paired to a male Pure and give birth to a child every year for the rest of their lives.

She longs for the freedom she and her sister had before they came to the citadel, the freedom to choose her future. Nara doesn’t want to sit at home in luxury as someone’s wife, she wants to become a warden. But Pure women, Mor, are not even allowed outside the citadel without a cadre of wardens to protect them. They’re certainly not allowed to fight.

When Nara is unexpectedly thrown out of the citadel, she gets her wish but for the first time, the sisters are separated. Alone and in danger, she has to rely on the mysterious Wrangler, a Branded that seems to know more about Nara and Osha and their past than they do. As she tries to find a way back to her sister, Nara begins to learn things about herself and revelations that will change everything they know.

I enjoyed The Branded, it has an interesting story with good pacing, well-written characters and solid world-building. Unfortunately, there are some issues with this book that I can’t overlook. As a disabled reader, I’m interested in speculative fiction that has themes of illness. While this is a main theme in The Branded, I was disappointed to learn that it isn’t mentioned as one of the book’s main themes. Instead, it is being promoted as a “speculative novel with explosive ideas around gender and class“. Additionally, Riccioni’s author bio states that this series is inspired by her desire to “see women and women’s issues at the heart of the epic fantasy canon”.

The problem is that The Branded is not a book about gender and class; it’s a book about how a pandemic caused humanity to split into two groups. The resulting society that is created is founded on eugenicist beliefs, leading to a rigid class system with strict gender roles.

Although Riccioni has written a speculative fiction novel that mirrors our society and the divide between healthy people and the disabled and neurodivergent community, I do not think this was her intention. The Branded are subject to social barriers that negatively impact their lives, something that is very similar to the social model of disability.

Rather than bringing women’s issues into epic fantasy canon, I fear that this book represents the book world’s dismissive attitude towards the inclusion of disability-related topics in the genre. Riccioni has ample opportunity to include disabled characters, instead choosing to change her narrative to avoid them. When Nara journeys outside Isfalk she meets more Branded and learns that they aren’t as weak as the Isfalki have been told. It’s not unbelievable, as it’s one of many lies she learns that the Pure have been told. This doesn’t change the fact that it’s a very convenient way to avoid having to include disabled characters.

The Branded reminded me of Burrowed by Mary Baader Kaley, another dystopian book where society is split into two groups after a worldwide pandemic; one physically strong, and one weak and vulnerable to infection. Riccioni makes the same mistake that Kaley did by not considering the long-term effects of a low immune system. Both authors make multiple references to the weaker group being more prone to infection and illness, but there is no mention of chronic illnesses developing as a result. This oversight is not surprising since like Kaley, Riccioni appears to be non-disabled.

Ironically, there is one chronic illness represented in The Branded and that is arthritis – in a Pure man. Riccioni makes the point that despite living longer and being physically stronger, the Pure have some physical limitations. While they appear to live for much longer, they still have to deal with the effects of old age, including wear and tear. I think it says a lot that the only disability representation in this book is in association with ageing.

Disabled representation is not the only representation missing in The Branded. There is hardly any diversity in the entire book. Nixim, aka, ‘the Wrangler’ is the only BIPOC character for the majority of the book, with others only appearing very briefly. His people, the Reis, are called barbarians who spin fantastical stories and exploit people with their “dark arts”. I felt like these descriptions embodied quite a few racist beliefs, including the ‘good’ white people with their acceptable religious beliefs (Isfalk) and the ‘bad’ black people with their ‘hooky’ spiritual beliefs (Reis). While it does become evident that the Isfalk are not necessarily ‘good’, an anti-racism narrative would have felt more believable if there was more than one Reis character present.

Similar to race, there is only the briefest of mentions of LGBTQIA+ representation. One of the young Mor women is accused of “unnatural liaisons” with a Branded maid that goes against the “First Mother’s Natural Order”. As mentioned relationships between the Branded and the Pure are considered abhorrent, a crime that goes against the Isfalki religious beliefs. While the rhetoric used in the accusation is from the Isfalki’s religious doctrine, it uncomfortably echoes the views held by many anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigners. If there was any genuine LGBTQIA+ representation in the book I could believe that was meant to highlight prejudice, but since there is none, it feels uncomfortably deliberate.

This book had so much potential, and instead of utilising a great setting to discuss disability issues, Riccioni has actively removed any diversity from The Branded. She wanted to write a book that brought women’s issues into fantasy, and apparently, that meant white heterosexual women. While the world she has created includes a large group of physically vulnerable people, the only health issues featured are those that would concern mothers; pregnancy issues, fertility issues, infections (especially for children), and old age.

While we do need more books in fantasy that focus on women and family, I don’t believe that The Branded did that successfully. Although the characters fight against a restrictive society where women are forced into the role of motherhood, I like the book was predominantly shaped by ideas of motherhood. As a chronically ill queer woman who is not a mother, I felt like this book was written with people like me not in mind.

Although I have added the second book in the duology to my TBR, I do not hold out much hope for any improvement when it comes to the representation in it.

Nara and Osha are sisters born as Fornwood solitaries, living outside of any settlement, in a world where plague has devastated everyone and divided them into two categories— the Branded and the Pure. The sisters are Mors, female Pures, who now live in the Isfalki settlement in the school for Mors before their pairings.

But as the two get closer to the time for their Pairings, Nara grows increasingly concerned and frustrated with the limiting nature of Isfalki society. When the worst happens, can the sisters figure out a way to stay together? And what is life really like outside of Isfalki prejudices?

The Branded is an amazing introductory novel to the world of Jo Riccioni. It certainly gets off to a slow start, but the second half of the book makes up for it. The Branded is great for folks who enjoy the premise of the Handmaids Tale and feudal-fantasy books. It does contain graphic violence, substance abuse, semi-graphic sexual assault, racism, and death.

The Branded
by Jo Riccioni
The Branded Season #1
Fantasy New Adult
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
Angry Robot
Ages: 17+

Nara and Osha are Pure, citizens of Isfalk who are healthy and live sheltered lives as they wait to mature and be paired with a Pure man so to produce healthy children.

Beyond those walls are the Branded, weaker, lower-class people who are marked for all to know they are vulnerable to any and all diseases.

But even though Nara dreams of escaping the safety of the walls, she is forced out, leaving her sister behind, and puts her trust in a Branded man called the Wrangler, (who I do not care for at all) and she discovers that maybe there is more to her hunting ability than she thought.


Riding on the tropes of disease wiping out most of the human race, rich vs poor, and women are broodmares, The Branded is still a unique story.

The world does need a bit more history to allow the reader to really immerse and relate to it. Knowing more history would give the reader something to grab onto. Though I have many ideas of where this series is going, and while I can't wait to find out, I'm also fearful that some of my lamer ideas will come to pass.

This book stayed at a good pace and I have already added the next book of the series to my TBR.

3 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley & Angry Robot for providing an eARC of The Branded in exchange for this honest review.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Published Date: June 11 2024
Vibes:
- plagues
- women as property
- caste system
- you can feel the Australian accent
- love triangle-ish situations

Quick Synopsis:
After the Brume plague swept the continent, people have been marked by the disease at birth with a blue-black smattering of pox on their skin. Those without any marks are considered Pure and live stronger, healthier lives than the Branded.
Nara lives in the citadel with her sister, Osha, protected as Pure girls with the title of Mor. They are approaching their Pairing with a Pure man to breed strong and healthy children for the citadel.
She is, however, not really good at being what the citadel wants. Growing up in a cabin with just her sister and grandmother before a raider attack led to the death of their grandmother, Nara was forced to flee to the citadel with Osha for safety. Since then, she has struggled to fit into the prim & proper role of being Mor; Nara loves to hunt and be out in nature.

Review:
This was absolutely excellent up until that last chapter. The cliffhanger of Nara's relationship and Nixim's reveal is unforgivable, an absolute crime by both Nixim and the author.
BESIDES that, I fell quickly in love with the world here. We get to experience a couple different societies and how they treat people of Branded/Pure status. There's also just a ton of interesting magical aspects going on with the Sway that bring the political intrigue of Iness into play. I kept trying to figure Nixim out early on without enough information, which was fun since it always kept me guessing.
When I saw that Jo Riccioni lives in Australia, I could not stop hearing Nara's voice with that accent!! The banter is delightful, but I will warn people there is a love triangle situation (and then some?) going on so... be prepared if that isn't your vibe.
I hope im the next book we get a true reveal that Branded/Pure literally has no impact on the health of a child, but that it is all environmental/situational due to Pure people being given more space, food, and resources.

Thank you for letting me ARC read this wonderful book.

While it started off slow and took me a little bit to get into - once it got going, boy did it get going!

I loved seeing the characters develop throughout, particularly Nara, her behavior changed the most throughout the story, and I wonder how it will continue to change in further books.

I liked the premise of how such a simple thing as a mark on your skin can completely change your life and the meaning that others give it.

The enemies-to-lovers aspect of the story was a slow burn, however, it felt like a natural progression for the characters rather than forced which was really nicely done.

The Branded by Jo Riccioni
4/5 stars!

I struggled to get into this at the beginning, however stick with it! It definitely gets better as the story unfolds, it is a slow burn romance, enemies to lovers fantasy! It alludes to themes which we face in general day to day life and it was interesting to see how Nara's behaviours change throughout the duration of the book. I cannot wait to see where the story will take us in the next book!

Thank you Netgalley, the Publisher and Jo for this arc!

I found this book to be really interesting and read it so fast!

It combines magical and dystopian elements and creates a world where a little mark on your skin will put you in an inferior class and only the Pure deserve what is best. The twins had pretty sheltered lives, but soon they are forced to face the reality and the story takes a darker turn.

The only problem I had with this book is that at times it felt a bit chaotic and at times I felt a bit lost and had to re-read.

“Remember to look for answers within as well as without” - @joriccioni

This book is Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing (sans dragons) in a Grieshaverse (Leigh Bardugo) type setting. I couldn’t put it down.

Nara and Osha are twins living in the high echelon capital where all the Pure live. They are not “branded”-showing marks on their skin that supposedly make them inferior. The Pure are doted on by “brands” and married off to other Pures to breed strong offspring (love be damned). Osha is skilled at healing while Nara is an exceptional hunter- to the point that they’re both maybe a bit too skilled... She’s grown up with Brim- his uncle is a founding family. She and Osha were taken in to the family after their grandmother was gruesomely murdered.

Nara learns quickly that the station she has lived in is not as it seems. She’s thrust into a situation where she has to trust a “brand”, fight for her freedom, and challenge the beliefs she’s built her life around.

There is a prophecy, adventure, tons of awesome fight scenes, a rich universe to explore, strong kick ass female leads, and romance. Go get this one. Pub date was 6/12. Thanks @netgalley and @angryrobotbooks for this #advancedreaderscopy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#2024bookchallenge54of75
#book63sy2324
#netgalley
#TheBranded

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

This book is the handmaids tale meets acotar and I really enjoyed the concept of all the different communities and how they had all grown up with misconceptions about each other and had to unlearn their biases. Both Nara and Osha are complex well written characters and I lovedddd Nixim as a love interest.

I did however find at some points that the writing was quite messy at points and jumped around a lot which made it difficult to follow what was happening!

This novel combines high stakes, thrilling conflict, and heartfelt romance, all set against a vividly painted backdrop that pulls you in from the very first page.

Nara and Osha are compelling protagonists whose journey is heart-wrenching. The world of Isfalk, with its clear divisions between the Branded and the Pure, is richly detailed and immersive, allowing readers to easily envision the stark contrasts and complex societal structures. Riccioni's descriptions are so vivid, you can almost feel the oppressive air of the citadel and the wild freedom of the Fornwood.

The relationships in The Branded are masterfully crafted, particularly the bond between Nara and Osha. Their loyalty to each other amidst the chaos and their growth as individuals are beautifully portrayed. The introduction of the enigmatic Wrangler adds a layer of mystery and tension, making you question motives and alliances at every turn.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to tackle heavy themes such as gender and class inequality without losing the narrative's pace and excitement. The speculative elements are seamlessly woven into the story, providing thought-provoking commentary on societal structures while keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The twists and turns in the plot are well-executed, with some revelations being truly jaw-dropping. Riccioni's ability to balance the fast-paced action with deep emotional beats is impressive, ensuring that the story is not only thrilling but also profoundly moving.

The Branded is a five-star read that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next installment. The cliffhangers and unresolved mysteries have me on tenterhooks, impatiently waiting for February to arrive. If you enjoy rich world-building, complex characters, and a narrative that challenges societal norms while delivering an exhilarating adventure, The Branded is a must-read.

Jo Riccioni has crafted a tale that is not only entertaining but also deeply reflective, making it a standout in the speculative fiction genre. I can't wait to see where Nara's journey takes her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and AngryRobot for the opportunity to read this amazing story

I finally finished this and I’m not sure how I feel. It was good, but I had trouble focusing on it. So much coming on, yet nothing. I found it a bit hard to follow.

I may try it again maybe it was just not the right time for it for me.

The Branded follows twin sisters, Nara and Osha, as they are sequestered in the citadel among the unbranded - those who are without the mark of disease. However, Nara soon finds herself on the run joined by Osha traveling to Reis, the city of her family's demise and those supposedly accountable for her grandmother's murder.

Dear Jo, I sincerely need you to send me the ARC of The Rising because I actually cannot wait until February 2025 for the second book to hit the U.S.

This one was a quick read for me and I can contribute that to the compelling storyline. There is fun banter between characters, a love triangle, chapter ending cliffhangers, revealed prophecies, seers, sways, and more. These are all things that I adored throughout the book and was genuinely curious to see where the writing went.

However, on the flip side, there were a few things I wish we had gotten in this book. First being a map! There is so much traveling going on in many different instances that I really think we would have benefitted from one. The second being the world building. There are far too many things over-described multiple times throughout the book & then far too little where I think it should have mattered more.

I also would have appreciated more depth into a few of the side characters or subplots. For instance, a big discovery is that the Council in the Citadel is secretly partaking in trafficking woman to outside parties and throughout the entire book there is talk about how dangerous the outside world is and how cruel some of the men can be. But we don't really see that or come across it through Nara and Osha's journey. There were a few instances where the Wrangler is traveling with Hrossi men and although Nara gets an elbow to the gut one too many times (another thing over-described), that's the extent of their "bad behavior". For a world that is supposed to be cruel and unforgiving, we only see a very brief glimpse of that in Orlath.

Regardless, there's enough for me to want to see this one through and I will be picking up the sequel come February (or if by some miracle I can get my hands on it, earlier!)

I enjoyed this book a lot. The world building is very good and whilst at the beginning I did find the protagonist, Nara, a little annoying she did grow on me by the end of the book. The story focuses on Nara and her twin Osha, who are Pures and so cannot get sick like lower classed Brands. However this means they are essentially treated like breeding mares in their society. I thought the concept was quite interesting and the consequences of being a Pure women were portrayed really well throughout the book.

I would recommend this if you enjoy dystopian fantasy and will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes.