Branded (Fall of Angels #1)

Jessica had the nightmares for as long as she can remember. Nightmares of being judged by people who have died, of being branded by the angels. Her friends and family think she's crazy because of it all. Yet she carries the mark of the condemned, seared into the back of her neck, and hides it and herself away from the world.

But when two men she can't ignore enter her life everything changes, including the nightmares. The two of them couldn't be more different. She will do anything to be with one of them. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck. But one of the two has set events into motion that will pull her toward her own judgment and turn her into the object of her greatest fear.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Keary Taylor delivers a heart-wrenching tale in which the main character stands trial for those who die, either being exalted or condemned. And oh-my-wow, what a tale it is. The storyline had me hooked from page one. I've been voraciously reading for the past two days and it was definitely worth it. 

Jessica Bailey is the main character. A twenty-year-old girl who ran away from home before her mother could institutionalize her because of her nightmares. The nightmares where she is judged for acts she never committed. She finds herself in Washington state acting as caretaker for a lake house, where no one can hear her screams as she fights off sleep and the trials. Jessica is an innocent character, very down to earth (surprisingly), and has all of the characteristics of the average young woman. She prays that the trials will stop and she'll be able to lead a normal life. Readers will connect with Jessica based on her personality and the empathy she evokes. As she attempts to make new friends, become socially active, takes care of her mentally troubled neighbor, and falls in love, readers will come to see Jessica as a close friend. 

The plot line follows Jessica's nightmares, which have always been consistent, until now. The dreams are starting to change as well as the angels within them. As the dreams change, so does her everyday world. Certain things become more intense and Jessica starts wondering if the angels could follow her into reality. Taylor does a wonderful job crafting a supernatural story that convinces the reader that it could be real. There were a few parts where a clue to the plot repeated itself and the end was a little less extreme as it promised. But that won't stop me from reading the rest of the series. Definitely going on the TBR. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Branded: Fall of Angels