“It all comes down to one simple fact – the children of the {gem} are perfect. We are the ugly and imperfect. We are the {blemish}.” {sarah dalton}

{my thoughts} - This book is about a girl named {mina hart}. She is what is considered to be {blemished}. There are two classifications of individuals in this book the {blemished} and the {gems}. {blemishes} are trained to be the servants of the {gems}. Their sole purpose in life is to be slaves or maids. The {gems} are {genetic enhancement ministry} in other words they are spoiled rotten, they are entitled, and they are self-absorbed. They are created in test-tube environments in order to cater to the desired offspring that parents ideally want. They are fashioned to be perfect, flawless and the new future of human kind.

This book really surprised me. It wasn’t what I was expecting and I enjoyed reading it. Its about a teenage girls desire to overcome diversity, to become more then she is meant to be, to show that she is worth something, and to save her life despite the odds against her. She has three main friends {angela}, {danial} and {sebastion}. Together the three of them go on an incredible journey to prove they are more and can become more then they have been predestined to be.

{reason for reading} - I had been accepted to read an ARC for the second book in this series {the vanished}. Before I could read it I knew I needed to read this book. I don’t like reading in mid-series and being completely lost. ( )

'As I followed degraded streets the sky turned to black in shadowy degrees, as though God had pulled a dark cloak above my head, except I knew that it was impossible because this world was Godless. It had to be.'

Plot

In a world full of beautiful clones, Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes aren't perfect, which makes them useless. In this world, being Blemished takes away your rights to an education, a normal life, and even to have a child.

Mina has a dark and dangerous secret that she's never shared with anybody until now. Angela is the first real friend that she's had, and she feels like she can trust her straight away. However, that friendship is put to the test when Mina meets Daniel, Angela's adoptive brother.

Mina finds herself drawn to Daniel's mysterious power and his impulsive nature. Then there's Sebastian, a gorgeous clone that Mina is forbidden to even talk to. But something keeps drawing her to him, and she will suffer consequences for her rebellion.

My thoughts

I read this book for a group read through December and was provided with a copy of the book by the Author. Although this was for the group read, I'd been interested in reading this before, as I'd read a novella by the same Author and enjoyed her work.

This book is set in a frightening Dystopian world in the near future. Britain has been taken over by the Genetic Enhancement Ministry, who are obsessed with perfection. Anybody with faulty genes were declared Blemished, and as such were banned from having children. People with perfect genes were chosen to have perfect children, cloned from perfect DNA. The GEM children are considered superior over the Blemished children, and they have access to education and wealth. The Blemished only learn how to serve the GEM's.

What made this book so real to me, is the fact that elements of this could very well happen in the future. We know that it's possible to clone genes now, so this book really gave me something to think about. Of course, cloning people to keep society perfect is ridiculous, as human beings aren't meant to be perfect. Having flaws is what makes us human, so for me, the clones in this story are not human at all.

Mina has a hard enough life already, being Blemished. She lost her mother when she was young, and has grown up only knowing her father. Blemished girls are expected to wear a uniform, and cover their hair with a headscarf around GEM's, as well as keeping their head down and not drawing attention to themselves. This is made all the more difficult for Mina, as she has a power that must be kept secret at all costs. If she is discovered, it could not only mean death for her, but also her father and friends.

As if this wasn't enough, there are boys on the scene too. Blemished girls are forbidden to look at boys, so it's bad enough that she starts to develop feelings for Daniel, who is also Blemished, but Sebastian, a GEM, is another matter altogether.

I really enjoyed this story and thought that it had everything to keep me entertained. It was fast paced and exciting and had me turning the pages frantically to see what happens to Mina and her friends. There were shocks and revelations that I wasn't expecting at all, which definitely made the story even more enjoyable. Just as you think they're safe from harm, something else comes bursting into the story and puts them in danger again.

If I had to say that there was anything wrong with this book, it would be that I didn't get to know the characters as well as I would have liked. While I enjoy a fast paced story, this didn't seem to leave enough time for the characters to develop in my opinion. However, I loved the story, and definitely want to read the next in the series.
( )

First off, AMAZING cover! If I rated this book based on the cover alone it would definitely receive 5 stars. Also, the synopsis – wonderful! As soon as I read the synopsis I knew I'd have to read this book. You can imagine how delighted I was to see it available in an ARR! :)

Unfortunately, reading it was a slight disappointment. Probably only because I had such high expectations for it, but still. It was still a good book, just not as great as I'd hoped. The story was actually really great but there were too many other aspects of the book that were lacking which is the only reason I couldn't give it any more than 3 stars.

Most importantly, the characters. It may have just been me but quite a few of the characters were annoying. The main character, Mina, was just so whinny half the time. But then, all of a sudden, she'd stop being that mopy girl and turn into one of those kick-ass characters who won't let anyone mess with her or her friends and family. I'd have preferred her to be somewhere in the middle all the time instead of bouncing between the two extremes. Two of the other important characters, Angela and Sebastian, were a bit 2D. By the end of the book they began be feel real, but throughout the first three quarters they were really flat and boring. At least by the end all the characters were much better so I doubt I'll have this problem with The Vanished. The dialogue was a bit stiff at first too, but again, by the end of the book that problem was gone.

Anyway, it had a really interesting plot and the ending was great. In fact, the last 20% or so of the book was very good, good enough for 4 or 5 stars. I can't wait to read The Vanished (and luckily I don't have to) because all the worst bits of The Blemished had been ironed out by the end so the sequel should be super. :D ( )

For some reason I started this book with super low expectations. That might have been because someone else bought it for me, or because I didn't like the cover. But I was completely blown away by this one . It has been a while since I devoured book as fast as I did with The Blemished.
The Blemished follows Mina heart, a girl with "blemished" genes. The blemished are second class citizens, they are considered worthless and become slaves for the Children of the GEM. "GEMs" are genetically modified clones and the only ones who are allowed to pass on their genes.
Mina also carries a secret, she is telekinetic . She tries to stay under the radar at her new school to hide her gift . But for the first time she's made friends with Angela and Angela's adoptive brother Daniel, who carries a secret as well. Mina can't help but stay out of trouble as she attracts the attention of both Daniel and Sebastian, a GEM boy. Looking out for herself and all of her friends, Mina wants to fight back

This book was incredible . I picked it up and never put it back down until I was finished . The relationships between the characters and their struggles really touched my heart. I think character development was done really well, even for minor characters . The Blemished is definitely a fast paced story, it's not very easy to find a spot to stop reading with this one, so make sure you have the time before you start because otherwise you'll be upset any time you have to put it down.
Obviously I have been in a reading slump, but this book pulled me right out of it, AND compelled me to write a review. I bought the rest of the series as soon as I finished it ( )

I received a copy of the Blemished Boxed set as a gift from the Author. I had read her previous work of the Mary Hades series and was completely engrossed and spellbound by that series, (see my reviews on Amazon, Library thing and Goodreads).

The first book of the Blemished is FANTASTIC! I love this adventure so much that I wanted to get this review out before sinking into book 2 The Vanished. The Blemished is a fantastic tale of societies interference with human life. The “politically correct” world that some are trying to push us into could very well end us and the world as we know it and we could wake up in a world like Minas’, the main character of this book.

Mina’s world is bleak and hopeless. People are separated for reasons that you really need to read the book to believe. But Mina is strong, stubborn and too full of hope to give into the chains that bind. Brace yourself for a wonderful adventure.

This book is fast paced, wonderfully detailed and very engrossing. I am off now to read book 2!