Marked

Bridget E. Baker

Sept 2018 · Sins of Our Ancestors Book 1 · Purple Puppy Publishing

About this eBook

The world we knew is GONE.

Ruby had barely started kindergarten when the world collapsed, but by now she's over it though, like, really over it. To celebrate their upcoming graduation, the teenagers in Port Gibson are gathering to play a forbidden game from Before, a game called spin the bottle. 

Pretty much every girl in Port Gibson likes the same two guys, and Ruby knows them both. Wesley, the charismatic son of the town Mayor who's being groomed to step into his dad's job, and Sam, the ripped but terrifying second-in-command to the town's Security Chief. But only Wesley's graduating with Ruby, and if he shows up, she's determined to finally seize her chance to kiss her long time crush.

When things go sideways, endangering her dear Wesley's life, there's only one person Ruby can ask for help, no matter how scary and enigmatic he is: Samuel Roth. Can Ruby convince Sam to risk his life to save Wesley's? And can Ruby navigate the post-apocalyptic world in time to save her crush, or will the long forgotten past come back to claim its due?

Kirkus Reviews said of Marked, "Baker’s prose is sharp and vivid, and she manages to immediately plunge her readers into the world of the novel. The story is swiftly paced and features some surprising twists and intriguing characters. The combination of sci-fi, mystery, and teen romance makes for a compelling adventure.

A promising YA debut about a girl’s search for a future in the wreckage of the past."

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Ratings and reviews

If one touch can infect. . . Then a kiss is deadly. . . Marked is the first book in a new YA post-apocalyptic trilogy and it was very hard to put down. I have to say that it was one of the best self-published books I've ever read. In fact I really couldn't tell it was a self-published book. It didn't have a lot of the issues I've run into while reading most of them. The plot was good, there were no grammar or spelling issues that I noticed, and I felt like the characters were consistent. As for the characters, for the most part I liked Ruby, although she annoyed me a few times with her self-loathing and headstrong behavior. Despite those weaknesses, she was a strong, independent thinker. I kind of liked that her strengths were not in physical strength or combat, but in other areas. I also felt like the love triangle was handled pretty well, and the fact that there was a love triangle in this book didn't annoy me at all, which was a relief, because sometimes they can be so bad. The guy who becomes the main love interest in the book was a bit over-protective at times, but at least he listened to her when she asked him not to do something, and I was also really happy when she called him out on some of his behavior. That's more than I can say for some of the adult characters I've read about in books. There were some nice twists in the book. I did predict a couple of them, but that was ok, it didn't make the book any less enjoyable. I recommend this if you like post-apocalyptic YA books. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

The background, setting, and themes of the work are unique! So many twists and turns just keep the reader turning pages! You will cheer! Loved it!! ~ Teacher (girlrunning)

This book pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my chair the whole time. Ruby is intelligent and determined. Her original thoughts on adulthood seem to have taken a turn, but it seems like it's for the best. I can't completely decide if I can trust all the characters, but I have my favorites and the ones I'm voting to save the world. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series develops.

About the author

 Bridget loves her husband and all five of her kids (most days). She has a springy dog, backyard chickens, three goofy horses, two lions' head rabbits, and two demanding cats. Every day is a battle between playing with kids, riding her horse Leo, and writing. If her publication speed has slowed down, you can blame the kids and the horse.

She makes cookies waaaaay too often, and thinks they should have their own food group. In a possibly misguided attempt at balancing the scales between overconsumption and exertion, she kickboxes every day. So if you don't like her kids, her cookies, or her books, maybe don't tell her in person.