Branded by Joseph T. Humphrey || Book Review

Another book request from NetGalley.

I love getting books from the site sometimes because you get to read books that haven’t been published yet and you get a sneak peak into what’s awaiting the public (I read this after it was already published but you get the basics of the concept).

Sometimes you get a great pick, and sometimes they fall short. You can’t pick and choose before the time, you’re pretty much going in blind and hoping for the best.

The cover is stunning but unfortunately the book fell short for me on a few things.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

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Originally published: 2021

Pages: 494
Format: Paperback

Plot: from GoodReads:

Henry Murphy’s parents never told him he was from another realm. They couldn’t, because they have become as unaware as Henry. Everything was forgotten—memories siphoned away by the dark force that stalked them. For the last seventeen years, Henry has been living a lie.

All those years of hiding have been compromised. Henry’s parents fled as refugees after stealing the location of the furnace—a source of power that would have allowed the Nekura uncontested rule over all life. But with their memories silenced, the Nekura have closed in on them unnoticed.

The first warning was the screaming girl. After she broke into Henry’s high school classroom and screamed for him to run, she was hauled away and disappeared. The only friend Henry finds to help him is Charley, a strong-willed orphan girl with a fractured past.

Henry is thrust into a reality he never knew existed and must fight against sinister creatures he cannot touch for reasons he doesn’t understand. What he doesn’t know can still hurt him, and it is hunting him down. Their only hope is the Light—a legendary force that bestows intangible power for those connected to it. Henry must uncover the shrouded memory of his family’s past and race to find the furnace before the Nekura tear his family apart and destroy both worlds in the process. Henry will learn the heartache of the forgotten, the joy of the reclaimed, strength beyond himself, and the unbreakable ties that bind family together.

Thoughts:

The base plot line had potential and that was what originally made me request the book, but it lacked much to reach that bar.

The chapters are short but there are many and some could’ve been blended to throw a better punch with emphasis and growing suspense. The many chapters caused the tension in the book to break, then it had to be built up again only to be broken again and so forth. It could’ve had a greater impact if the tension was slowly built up layer by layer to keep the suspense and plot line running smoothly.

There were some intense and interesting parts in the book that ultimately made me continue reading the book.

The writing style wasn’t always consistent, switching from simple and basic to interesting prose which was confusing.

There are definitely some religious undertones in the book and symbology to wrap your head around, even though it’s not blatantly stated, it’s there. There were other parts in the book that were quite ‘up in your face’ and it would’ve been better if they were instead a little more subtle. Some balance of the two aspects would’ve levelled the field in a pleasant way.

I’m not entirely sure why this book is classified as ‘Young Adult‘ as most of the language used isn’t really used by that age group.