OMG was this book amazing! The world-building, the characters, the plot, THE ROMANCE! I had a blast listening to it, the narrator was great! It also explored very interesting themes, bordering on dystopian, if I'm being honest. The writing style was gorgeous and I loved listening to it. And the characters were just so good ugh. I have one thing to complain about and that is the pacing which I found quite slow and I struggle a little to get into it until maybe the 30% mark. 4.5 stars

For fans of:
- Blood of Fae Series
- Awakened Fates Series
- Naming of the Queen

Nara lives in a world plagued by illness where only a select few remain immune. Women who are immune to the disease, like Nara and her twin sister, are protected and coveted in their community as breeders. Despite their sheltered lifestyle, Nara dreams of life outside their community walls where she can be something more than a baby-making machine.

This book includes:
- forbidden love
- one horse trope
- twin sisters with opposite personalities
- gladiator games
- disease, poverty, prejudice, and famine
- clairvoyant abililites
- mysterious talismans
- cliffhanger ending
- check TW

This is a great romantasy in a world that explores the themes of segregation in a world where illness and immunity are the centers of all of civilization. Nara is daring and is brave enough to question the status quo. The book is engaging and I was fully immersed into the story the entire time.

I found it a little frustrating that we got 0 answers in this book, but I understand that it is the first book in a series and that's probably the point.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio, and Jo Riccioni for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one... I struggled a bit. But not because it's badly written au contraire it's because the subjects it deals with. Every time I see a book with The Handmaid Tales vibes, I stir away from it, and if I knew this had those vibes, I wouldn't have picked it up. Still. This was interesting, and although intense, it was also very engaging.
I liked the twins, Osha, a bit more than Nara and their journey.
I had the pleasure to get this on audio, and the narration was lively, and it added to the story.
Overall, this was a good book 1, and I'm definitely picking up the rising next!

To hunt or to cure - what do you choose?
A great fantasy book to escape from the real world. I was pretty invested in Nara and Osha's life and waited for them to find a happy end. But life in a world divided between pure and branded does not make it easy to be happier. As they grew up under their tyrant’s nose, Nara awaited an escape - and life offered it in strange form. But with freedom also comes danger, that may tinker with an unknown dormant power.

There are prophesies, special capabilities, hooking plot twists and sort of a love triangle to keep you engrossed. The stark contrast between the two siblings is apt! The world buildup is done at an expansive length (which I don't see that often) with grey sides to each character, no one here is totally good or bad, just human enough with their own traumas and abilities to deal with difficulties of life.

But... the author had to close this on a cliffhanger! I have no clue when the next part will be out and the ambiguity is killing me. Who drops a b*mb like that and then just poof 💨 acknowledgements... 🤷‍♀️

Thank you for the ARC @joriccioni @angryrobotbooks and @bolindaaudio
I hope I get my hands on the next part soon
Genre: #fantasy #adult

Loved this book. I'd describe it as a YA fantasy book, with a level of segregation based on if people are branded or not. There are strict rules and politics. It's well written and the world building is accessible to all. Can't wait to read the next one.

I did not want this audio book to finish. I loved the character and the world build, so vividly written that I could picture it. Outstanding. I can’t wait for more from this author!

It's a fantasy book with an amazing world building. As the book 1, the author indeed paid more attention to the world building and the background of the characters in the plotline.
I loved the way the plot is weaved in and the plot is well paced one. As an audiobook, it was an amazing experience to listen such a good book.

This book hooked me with its premise from the first chapter and kept me wanting to know more as the story progressed.

The challenging dynamic in this dystopian world between childhood friends as well as siblings leads the reader down a hole full of secrets and desperately hoping for relationships to be preserved.

As the story progresses, the action scenes intensifies and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat while being frustrated by some interactions between the FMC and her love interest. The angsty, slow burn is at a height in this book!

Finally, the ending made me stare in silence wishing I could pick up the next book of the series immediately to find out what is going to happen next.

The dystopian world building and depth of characters that Riccioni created in this novel has created a world that I am excited to launch back into at some point.

Audiobook ARC provided by #NetGalley.

The Branded, written by Jo Riccioni and narrated by Leah Filley, is the first part of a duology called The Branded Season.

The story follows a young woman named Nara, who lives in a world where the people are divided into two classes - the Branded and the Pure. Those who are Branded, born with marks upon their skin, are considered weak and prone to diseases. Those who are Pure, born with no markings at all, are considered, well, pure, and do not get ill. Nara, along with her sister Osha, are "Pure" and live among the privileged, taught and treated to be paired with Pure men to continue the lineage of Pure population.

The basis of the story feels like Handmaids Tale, but with a fantastical twist. Trials and tribulations, trust and mistrust, sisterly love, enemies to lovers, this book has a lot going for it.

I especially enjoyed listening to the audiobook, and Leah Filley's voice is soothing and brings life to the characters and captures their emotions and personalities quite well. I don't think I would have read this book otherwise. Leah gives characters a slight British accent, which sometimes with word pronunciations made me look at the physical version of the book to confirm what I was hearing was correct or not (Warder I kept hearing as Water).

Overall, a 4/5.

That cliffhanger of an ending has actually made me want to finish this series.

ARRRGH!! I feel like screaming from excitement. That's best way that I can review this book.
It's truly been a while (maybe years?) since I last dove into a book that I could not put down for the life of me. I finished the entire audiobook in less than 48 hours and threw out all ideas of a regular sleep schedhule until I had finished it. I truly adored all of the characters and already from the first chapter, I was captured by the story. The world building, the flawed yet lovable characters, the slow and steady building of tension.. This author really knows how to keep you on your toes and reveal just enough information to keep you massively engaged without spoiling anything. I can honestly say that I did not know where this book was going most of the time which was a great thing. It does not feel like a copy-paste version of so many other novels, where you can predict half the plot long before you get to those plot points.
I truly cannot wait to read the second book in this series. Jo Riccioni, I am hooked!

I found myself immersed in Jo Riccioni's fast paced adventure story "The Branded". The characters were well rounded, likable, and interesting. The narrator did an outstanding job bringing each character to life. The world building was perfect, my only question is will there be a part two?

As I've said a million times, I'm not a big romance fan. That being said, this sounded too good to pass on just because of romance. Luckily, the romance was pretty minimal and it wasn't the main plot.

Isfalk has two classes, the Branded, who are highly susceptible to disease, and the Pure, who are immune and therefore superior.

Nara and her sister Osha are orphans. Since they are Pure, the Citadel took them in. The Pure are raised there and prepared for their lives as breeders.
Nara hates it there. She wants to go home to the Fornwood where she lived before her family was killed.

Meanwhile, rebellion is brewing among the Branded. A Prophecy that may be about the sisters could put them in the middle of the two classes and also put them in danger.

I liked this a lot! The magic is great, and I thought the two classes were very interesting. The narrator is fantastic. I had a great time listening to her. There were still a lot of questions unanswered, so I look forward to the next one.

The Branded by Jo Riccioni is quite an engaging read. I enjoyed the world-building and the story-telling. The characters had depth and I really enjoyed Nara’s character. The story progressed at a good pace and there was enough action to keep the story ticking along. I thoroughly enjoyed my read of this and am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Firstly fantasy is not my usual genre hence I wanted to try something a little different and I was not disappointed by the Branded. For me it's like a mix of reality of outlander / mythical of Lord of the rings, similatities to handmaids tale, going back in time with honour, herbalists, beliefs of those who see intuitively are different all mixed with fantasty and magical style of time and space and even reality...

It's difficult to express too much on this story without giving away all detail of what actually happens other than the book description already explains. The book is full of questions of family bloodlines, the history of Nara and Osha's family searching their family herritage, who they are where they came from how the 2 sisters came to be different as they are. Prophecies, women warriors, spiritualism, honour, love, romance, magical timelines. It explores deeply the abilities of intuition being able to see another's soul, having visions, healers being able heal, illness, health, warriors having an uncanny strength fighting for themselves. The separation of 2 societies the Branded and true bloods making this story an all encompassing of how division can be caused so easily between people, families where love overcomes and unity brings the Branded and pure blooded together. It is extremely relatable considering all we have all lived through these last few years and how our world has been divided by covid with varying beliefs & understandings of this subject for me this could very easily be a book of the future in some way whilst living in the present!!

Regarding the narration wow ~ I absolutely was engrossed from the beginning the narrator was perfect for this story, the tones were all hit en point bringing all the emotions and feelings to life, pitch was poignant with the voice raising at appropriate times making the listener listen more closely. I honestly felt as if I was watching a movie in my own head it was all so easy to follow every single character sounded different and it flowed extremely well there wasn't a point where I felt i was left wondering who is who it was all very clear. Exceptionally well narrated.

I look forward to the next book becoming available on audio The Rising.

The book cover is absolutely beautiful and perfect for this book, it's simple but calls to you and captures the eye the colours are perfect as is the detail with the phoenix rising at the bottom just as Nara has done in particular throughout the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio & Jo Riccioni for the opportunity to listen to this book in return for an open honest review.

I just couldn't get into this book, which is unusual. The narrator was quite monotone and I found it really hard to concentrate. I didn't finish them book because of this.
However, just because it's not for me, didn't mean someone else won't enjoy it.

I received The Branded as both an audiobook and an ebook. I started with the audiobook, and while I enjoyed the narrator, I had a little difficulty with the world building. Words like "Mor" are significant in the book, but the audio was a little harder to follow to decipher the unique terminology. I switched to the ebook, and it was much easier to get into and understand.
This book was interesting as a fantasy novel. It has a unique magic system that I hope is explored more in a sequel. The caste system and blatant racism explored adds depth to the political systems. I enjoyed the intrigue more than the romance aspect. I wanted there to be more of that, but it seems that was also mostly left to a sequel.
Speaking of a sequel, it appears both The Branded and The Rising were published previously. I'm not sure if this is a rerelease or they were previously published only in a non-US market, but there were reviews posted under a different punisher.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, and I'd be happy to read a sequel when released!
Thanks to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and Bolinda Audio for the advanced copies to review!

I absolutely loved this book, my only regret was that it ended too soon. This book reminded me of a combination of books like Fourth Wing, Hunger Games, and shows like Handmaid's Tale. It's a dystopian world of survival, love triangles, and adventure. I really love the world building and character development throughout. This is a high school and older story. Some parts of the book were unable to put down and I am still thinking of this story days after finishing it. Reasons why I wish it was longer: I feel some of the scenes could have been elaborated on or detail could be more intense, certain parts felt rushed.

I do love that the story is told in 1st person so that you really feel what is going in the main character's head. I really am looking forward to the second and final book. I have tried to order it already from Australia because it was published there in 2023 but I am going to have to wait till next Jan. for the US release.

I also LOVED the narrator. I could listen to her all day, she did a great job of telling the tale and making you feel invested in the character.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like there were so many parts to it. It felt reminiscent of an early 2010s YA dystopia, then it turned into an adventure book, which quickly became a gladiator book?? And finally, back to adventure. There was a lot going on, with very little fantasy, but I enjoyed it.

The romance was super slow burn, but it was so worth it in the end. I liked how the relationship developed, but i also didnt like it. Not because it wasn't written well, but because of how it happens despite all the nonsense. I feel like Nara was just too trusting for me. The ending had a huge cliffhanger which annoyed me, mostly because there were answers I was looking for that were never addressed but maybe book 2 will fix that.

The audiobook was well done, the narrator did a fantastic job bringing this book to life. Definitely recommend it.

The story went along at a good pace, and the characters were relatable. I felt that the beginning enticed the audience in and remain engaged.

As the story progressed I found the FMC to be quite annoying with her attitude to the situations she found herself in.

However, the story overall was enjoyable.

Loved this audiobook! The narration was really well done and kept me thoroughly engaged. I would love to get the next one on audio when it comes out.

The story was really enjoyable. The pacing was just right for me- it built the world and introduced all sorts of characters and dynamics without belaboring any of it. I really enjoyed the premise of a plague dividing people, and the outcome was very Handmaid's Tale, which was awesome. Finally, the sisterly dynamics were really enjoyable.

Definitely recommend this to anyone interested in a well done fantasy romance audiobook.