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Banded #0.5
Banded: The Prequel
This is a prequel story of what happens BEFORE the first novel in the Banded universe. While it doesn't need to be read to enjoy the Banded series, it will outline events before the first book and the main character, Kalenna Slater, in her time before becoming banded. The first book is currently free for you to download and enjoy.Ìý If you like a dystopian book with action, adventure, and romance, it is for you.
In the dystopian future, the nation is divided into six city-states that are all further separated by the benefit each citizen can provide to their society: Stalwart (strength), Astute (intelligence), Collusive (greed), Radiant (beauty), Quixotic (no life direction), and the Altruistic (willingness to help others).Ìý On a citizen's sixteenth birthday, a computer suggests a new zone for them based on their inherent benefit to society.Ìý This chronicles the life of the main character, Kalenna Slater, before she is sorted and given her band.Ìý During sorting she receives a device known as 'The Band'.Ìý It's a large watch-like device that never comes off, and it measures a citizen's karma on a scale from one to one hundred.Ìý If a citizen does good, they gain points.Ìý If a citizen does bad, including breaking laws, they lose points.Ìý When your number reaches zero, the band acts as judge, jury, and executioner, and you are injected with toxins that kill you within minutes.
In the dystopian future, the nation is divided into six city-states that are all further separated by the benefit each citizen can provide to their society: Stalwart (strength), Astute (intelligence), Collusive (greed), Radiant (beauty), Quixotic (no life direction), and the Altruistic (willingness to help others).Ìý On a citizen's sixteenth birthday, a computer suggests a new zone for them based on their inherent benefit to society.Ìý This chronicles the life of the main character, Kalenna Slater, before she is sorted and given her band.Ìý During sorting she receives a device known as 'The Band'.Ìý It's a large watch-like device that never comes off, and it measures a citizen's karma on a scale from one to one hundred.Ìý If a citizen does good, they gain points.Ìý If a citizen does bad, including breaking laws, they lose points.Ìý When your number reaches zero, the band acts as judge, jury, and executioner, and you are injected with toxins that kill you within minutes.
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2015
21 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2015
INITIAL THOUGHTS
So approaching this prequel I was ready for a dystopian/post apocalyptic fix. As you all probably know and are sick of hearing I love a good dystopian/post apocalyptic. I wanted a short read as I was awaiting a book I was "booked" to read.
MY REVIEW
I purchased (or rather downloaded) this prequel for free from Amazon UK. The cover features some gorgeous colours on it, very eye catching! It also has the skyline on it too.
Would the cover make me pick this one up from a store shelf? Yes the bright colours would be certain to catch my eye!
The main character in this prequel is 15 yr old Kalenna, who has finished school and will soon be 16 yrs old. All citizens at age 16 are "sorted" into one of the six City states that make up this universe. Those citizens are also "sorted" by a computer by how they will be of benefit to society. The six benefits to society are as follows, Stalwart ~ strength, Astute ~ intelligence, Collusive ~ greed, Radiant ~ beauty, Quixotic ~ no life direction, and the final one Altuistic ~ willingless to help others. At the same time as this sorting the 16yr olds are fitted with a band. They will wear this band for the rest of their lives. The band is important as it displays the points you have. If you do good thing you have points added on, however if you do or say anything that those in power think is bad, then you lose points. The scale of points ranges from 1 to 100. If for any reason you ever lose all your points the band automatically injects you with a toxic substance that kills the band wearer almost immediately. So in a way the wearer of the band is quite literally, continually carrying a possible death sentence on their wrist.
Kalenna is in the "in-between" phase of being too old for school and yet not old enough to be given her band yet, so she finds herself with a lot of time on her hands. Kalenna is also anxious about being given her band. She is quite literally going stir crazy being in her home alone. Kalenna reminisces about sitting by the window awaiting her fathers return from work every day, until one day he just never came home. Kalenna wishes he would return home, and imagines that perhaps if she waits by the window long enough and often enough he may magically appear. Kalenna feels sorry for her mother, and younger sister, 10 yr old Tria, that they will still be here in this downtrodden part of town after she leaves when she is sorted. Kalenna doesn't hold out much hope for being placed in her own area Quixotic, only one in four citizens remain in their own zone.
Kalenna decides to go to a nearby rooftop to look at the night sky and her zone for one last time. It's a risk, as it's past curfew but if she is quiet enough she can pull it off like she has on numerous occasions before. So Kalenna checks her mother and sister as fast asleep and sneaks out one last time. Kalenna sits on the rooftop fantasising about being sorted and being placed as a Collusive or Radiant, neither of those groups has a curfew. Though there are both positives and negatives to each society group. Once she has been calmed by being outside she decides to head home whilst the zone appears to be deserted. All goes well until on her way back she loses concentration and forgets to check both directions and is discovered by an auto robot. It orders her to stay where she is, whilst it tries to work out who she is. It's harder to be recognised prior to having your band fitted. The robot is struggling to identify Kalenna so she makes a run for it. It's a silly mistake like this that could lose her points when she does get her band.
This prequel sets the scene and gives the reader the basics of the dystopian society very well. We also learn about Kalenna and her family and the struggles they face on a daily basis. I was a little disappointed with the ending, I really wanted more. I wanted the prequel to have gone on a little further and perhaps ended as Kalenna was leaving for her sorting/banding ceremony. It stopped a little too short for me. Having said that I did enjoy what I read. I think this prequel was wrote after the initial books of the series, so was a bit of an add on/after thought to introduce and give a teasing taste of the series. The only other thing I would say is that the zones and qualities of each of the benefits to society groups did remind me of a cross between the Hunger Games (zones) and Divergent (benefits to society).
So did I enjoy the book? I really did enjoy the prequel, I didn't want to put it down and in fact I didn't, I read this novella in one reading sitting!! Would I recommend the book? I would recommend the book, especially if you are unsure as to whether you will like the society. This novella covers all the basics. Would I want to read more in this series? Definitely, I have purchased book one to start reading as soon as I have time. Would I want to read other books by this author? I have already downloaded a book from another series by this author to read too.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Left me wanting more!
January 20, 2019
This is the introductory novella to the Branded series and� a little dull. There’s a lot of telling, to the point where I got a little bored and was wondering if anything was ever going to happen.
It’s a good introduction to the world, but I cant say that it's a gripping read. There really was no climax to the slim plot there was. It’s obvious this was written as a quick freebie to introduce the series, but IMO it’s not really necessary.
As far as writing style, I have no complaints. I’d read more from this author, the low rating is simply because this story was not engaging for me.
I downloaded and read the first book in the series as well, and that one is a better choice to start with.
It’s a good introduction to the world, but I cant say that it's a gripping read. There really was no climax to the slim plot there was. It’s obvious this was written as a quick freebie to introduce the series, but IMO it’s not really necessary.
As far as writing style, I have no complaints. I’d read more from this author, the low rating is simply because this story was not engaging for me.
I downloaded and read the first book in the series as well, and that one is a better choice to start with.
September 3, 2018
A nice little prequel.
Isn't really much of an origin story, just some of what the main characters life was like before the events in Book 1. While reading I felt like I was there viewing everything happening. This novella is written very well.
Isn't really much of an origin story, just some of what the main characters life was like before the events in Book 1. While reading I felt like I was there viewing everything happening. This novella is written very well.
January 11, 2019
This is an interesting beginning to this dystopian world. For Kalenns, it's about trying to enjoy what will be the last freedoms until her new life what could be a different group than her family. Very good read.
February 18, 2015
More like .5 on this one. If this intro was an attempt to show off bad writing then Byrne succeeded! Here's an early example: "Tria was ten now, me and I was fifteen and weeks until sixteen, which was the worst age to be."
I am reading this after struggling through the whole series, and it is clear this book was the authors attempt to gain speed for the books, but much like the series is lacking of real original ideas, and is filled with exposition and bad writing.
I am reading this after struggling through the whole series, and it is clear this book was the authors attempt to gain speed for the books, but much like the series is lacking of real original ideas, and is filled with exposition and bad writing.
March 14, 2015
it is interesting. the writing does not flow as smoothly as it could. needs a better editor. =D
the premise is not entirely new, but there is some promise that the story that follows is interesting enough that I may check it out down the road.
the premise is not entirely new, but there is some promise that the story that follows is interesting enough that I may check it out down the road.
January 30, 2017
Decent prequel
Not too much description which is good as books can give too much and your left waiting for the dialogue. A good balance of action and a first look into the main characters world.
Not too much description which is good as books can give too much and your left waiting for the dialogue. A good balance of action and a first look into the main characters world.
February 6, 2015
An interesting prequel
An interesting prequel!!! It gave me just enough insight into this world, so that I want to read the next book very much.
An interesting prequel!!! It gave me just enough insight into this world, so that I want to read the next book very much.
July 21, 2016
Have you ever read Divergent? Same thing, different names.
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