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Branded #1-3
Branded
The city of London is infested with vampires.
Only one person can stop them from rising up and wreaking havoc.
Too bad she’s a twenty-something goth working a desk job in a lost property office.
This is the boxset of the complete "Branded" series.
Includes:
Sanctified
Turned
Bloodline
Only one person can stop them from rising up and wreaking havoc.
Too bad she’s a twenty-something goth working a desk job in a lost property office.
This is the boxset of the complete "Branded" series.
Includes:
Sanctified
Turned
Bloodline
576 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2018
4 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
David Bussell
37 books180 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 18, 2023
In the midst of the pandemic, a friend of mine gifted me the first 3 trilogies of the Uncanny Kingdom universe: London Coven, Spectral Detective and Dark Lakes. David Bussell and Matthew Stott immediately raced to my Top 15 writer favourites list. Jake Fletcher's series reminded me of an English Harry Dresden, only less corporeal, and while I don't have a writer's name at the forefront of my mind for the Joseph Lake Trilogy "Dark Lakes" it had enough Fantasy meets Horror in a quality way that this series too bumped my TBR Dean Koontz novels, and others, aside. Getting Hexed Detective, the Inked series and eventually Branded turned out to be a no-brainer.
Bussell and Stott's novels are very "English". If you've ever watched a British series and then the American remake, you might understand the difference. American work is just slightly (or a lot more) polished, whereas the Brits keep things more real, darker, grungier... and a tad more political. That is certainly the case with these books, too, and the humour comes with it. I'm a huge fan of the very dry, often sarcastic, English sense of humour, nor do I mind the fact that characters are unapologetically themselves; a swear word every other sentence (or word) included. While I'm well aware of the fact that some American writers are able to do the same, the reason I love Jim Butcher f.e., they stand out because of it.
What's weird is that I actually found Abbey Beckett's story in Branded the least typical English, as well as the least typical "Uncanny" of them all. Whether that is because she's a vampire hunter and I somehow link that to all the well-known American titles, or the vibe and tone of the books is really so, I can't completely tell. But Branded stood out for me in a different way. It's also the first time that a hero - or more anti- hero as most of them are or start out as - has such an important relationship in the regular world; Abbey here having a relationship with her non-Uncanny and chronically ill boyfriend Neil and desperately trying to save said 'ship. The result is that a large part of the books, and even the plot, revolves around saving Neill in more ways than one. Her feelings for others often become center stage in the three books as well.
I think that bit might have been particularly different from the books I've read so far (Stella Familiar, Jake Fletcher, Joseph Lake and Rita Hobbes are all loners without those strong ties, mostly because they wish it), and is what makes me think of a large variety of other paranormal romance and urban fantasy series.
That doesn’t mean that the Abbey Beckett books are a dime a dozen. While I dó have more appreciation for Spectral Detective and Dark Lakes, the Branded books rate somewhere along the line of the London Coven books for me (okay, below). Though they are a little less original, and the world building is quite iffy in some cases. Bussell's and Stott's books always read easily and are often funny - same for the Branded books. This is why I still enjoyed myself and read the trilogy in 2 days. They're not of the high standard I expect now from this author duo, but I would buy & read a 4th book. Eventhough I somehow fear there will be none, despite the major cliffhanger at the end.
So, what is the Branded/Nightstalker Trilogy all about:
Abbey is stuck in a dead-end job at the cities' Lost and Found when she finds herself thrust in the Uncanny Kingdom universe by accident. While entering a found briefcase in the database during a night shift, her curiosity takes over, and she opens the case. The dagger she finds in there forges a bond, and suddenly, Abbey's body doesn't just have a brand (an N for Nightstalker in her palm), but superpowers. Which is useful, as she's now the UK's newest Nightstalker, a.k.a God's chosen vampire hunter against the Judas Clan - yup, thàt Judas.
The explanation for how the Judas vampires came into existence is weird, even taking any suspension of disbelief into account, and badly explained (the angels fighting them in the book don't know exactly either and that's the excuse the author uses "we don't know exactly" to not have to explain himself), and the same goes for the "whole no vamp females-oh wait, we do have females" nonsense. It's a huge world building hole that leaves a reader also searching for what separates these vamps from other bitey peeps, as well as what their powers actually are.
Abbey supposedly has major powers, too, but while some arise during dangerous moments for her to figure out, the majority is unreachable... Also because she has no idea which powers she actually has, nor how to access them. While the sidekick Angels in the book - who for strange reasons have been kicked out of Heaven by the Big Man, but still do His work - seem to know quite a few of those powers "You should have immense strength and excellent fighting skills by now!", "You can raise the dead", they either keep their mouths shut entirely or vaguely hint at them.
Meanwhile, they let Abbey struggle on and be killed off almost a dozen times "because she needs to find out on her own". The why of this is never explained. While there is some jealousy involved from the female Angel Gendrith, making her attitude a tad understandable, the reasons for her so-called mentor Vizael to stay mum and not actually mentoring her at all in any way shape or form, remains incomprehensible. And at some point, it becomes highly annoying. Especially because the vampires constantly seem to outsmart, outmagic and outfight her, and Abbey only survives/wins with angelic assistance and/or by the seat of her pants. I'm all for sticky, exciting situations and fight scenes, but not when they solely exist as a result of forced incompetence.
The Abbey Beckett series, or Branded (or the Nightstalker series if you will), seem very much to have been an idea that wasn't fully worked out yet, but still put in print. As a result, you get the problems above, a cliffhanger ending that hasn't even solved a huge particularly story yet, and the idea this is not really part of the Uncanny Kingdom universe as I've come to love it. I liked London Coven and Hexed Detective less than Spectral Detective and Dark Lakes, but they - as series AND characters- do fit the Uncanny world much better than Abbey ever will. Maybe I might have liked and appreciated the series more had I read these books before the others, but I wonder if that's really true.
Branded is partially saved by its sense of humour, Abbey's character, the fast- paced writing, and the giant possibilities, making you curious about what's to come. It also helps that old stomping grounds (The Beehive) and favourite characters (Stella, Jake) pop op in the 3rd book.
Would I recommend the Branded trilogy? If you're a die-hard vampire urban fantasy fan, then yes. If you want to read everything "Uncanny Kingdom", then obviously. But while I did read the books in one go and had a bit of fun, be aware (particularly when you've read their other work) that the Abbey Beckett -Nightstalker books are simply a bit of vampire fantasy that need work to become truly good. When you consider them in-between amusement while you're waiting for the next Dark Lakes book, you'll be okay...
3 stars ✨️.
Bussell and Stott's novels are very "English". If you've ever watched a British series and then the American remake, you might understand the difference. American work is just slightly (or a lot more) polished, whereas the Brits keep things more real, darker, grungier... and a tad more political. That is certainly the case with these books, too, and the humour comes with it. I'm a huge fan of the very dry, often sarcastic, English sense of humour, nor do I mind the fact that characters are unapologetically themselves; a swear word every other sentence (or word) included. While I'm well aware of the fact that some American writers are able to do the same, the reason I love Jim Butcher f.e., they stand out because of it.
What's weird is that I actually found Abbey Beckett's story in Branded the least typical English, as well as the least typical "Uncanny" of them all. Whether that is because she's a vampire hunter and I somehow link that to all the well-known American titles, or the vibe and tone of the books is really so, I can't completely tell. But Branded stood out for me in a different way. It's also the first time that a hero - or more anti- hero as most of them are or start out as - has such an important relationship in the regular world; Abbey here having a relationship with her non-Uncanny and chronically ill boyfriend Neil and desperately trying to save said 'ship. The result is that a large part of the books, and even the plot, revolves around saving Neill in more ways than one. Her feelings for others often become center stage in the three books as well.
I think that bit might have been particularly different from the books I've read so far (Stella Familiar, Jake Fletcher, Joseph Lake and Rita Hobbes are all loners without those strong ties, mostly because they wish it), and is what makes me think of a large variety of other paranormal romance and urban fantasy series.
That doesn’t mean that the Abbey Beckett books are a dime a dozen. While I dó have more appreciation for Spectral Detective and Dark Lakes, the Branded books rate somewhere along the line of the London Coven books for me (okay, below). Though they are a little less original, and the world building is quite iffy in some cases. Bussell's and Stott's books always read easily and are often funny - same for the Branded books. This is why I still enjoyed myself and read the trilogy in 2 days. They're not of the high standard I expect now from this author duo, but I would buy & read a 4th book. Eventhough I somehow fear there will be none, despite the major cliffhanger at the end.
So, what is the Branded/Nightstalker Trilogy all about:
Abbey is stuck in a dead-end job at the cities' Lost and Found when she finds herself thrust in the Uncanny Kingdom universe by accident. While entering a found briefcase in the database during a night shift, her curiosity takes over, and she opens the case. The dagger she finds in there forges a bond, and suddenly, Abbey's body doesn't just have a brand (an N for Nightstalker in her palm), but superpowers. Which is useful, as she's now the UK's newest Nightstalker, a.k.a God's chosen vampire hunter against the Judas Clan - yup, thàt Judas.
The explanation for how the Judas vampires came into existence is weird, even taking any suspension of disbelief into account, and badly explained (the angels fighting them in the book don't know exactly either and that's the excuse the author uses "we don't know exactly" to not have to explain himself), and the same goes for the "whole no vamp females-oh wait, we do have females" nonsense. It's a huge world building hole that leaves a reader also searching for what separates these vamps from other bitey peeps, as well as what their powers actually are.
Abbey supposedly has major powers, too, but while some arise during dangerous moments for her to figure out, the majority is unreachable... Also because she has no idea which powers she actually has, nor how to access them. While the sidekick Angels in the book - who for strange reasons have been kicked out of Heaven by the Big Man, but still do His work - seem to know quite a few of those powers "You should have immense strength and excellent fighting skills by now!", "You can raise the dead", they either keep their mouths shut entirely or vaguely hint at them.
Meanwhile, they let Abbey struggle on and be killed off almost a dozen times "because she needs to find out on her own". The why of this is never explained. While there is some jealousy involved from the female Angel Gendrith, making her attitude a tad understandable, the reasons for her so-called mentor Vizael to stay mum and not actually mentoring her at all in any way shape or form, remains incomprehensible. And at some point, it becomes highly annoying. Especially because the vampires constantly seem to outsmart, outmagic and outfight her, and Abbey only survives/wins with angelic assistance and/or by the seat of her pants. I'm all for sticky, exciting situations and fight scenes, but not when they solely exist as a result of forced incompetence.
The Abbey Beckett series, or Branded (or the Nightstalker series if you will), seem very much to have been an idea that wasn't fully worked out yet, but still put in print. As a result, you get the problems above, a cliffhanger ending that hasn't even solved a huge particularly story yet, and the idea this is not really part of the Uncanny Kingdom universe as I've come to love it. I liked London Coven and Hexed Detective less than Spectral Detective and Dark Lakes, but they - as series AND characters- do fit the Uncanny world much better than Abbey ever will. Maybe I might have liked and appreciated the series more had I read these books before the others, but I wonder if that's really true.
Branded is partially saved by its sense of humour, Abbey's character, the fast- paced writing, and the giant possibilities, making you curious about what's to come. It also helps that old stomping grounds (The Beehive) and favourite characters (Stella, Jake) pop op in the 3rd book.
Would I recommend the Branded trilogy? If you're a die-hard vampire urban fantasy fan, then yes. If you want to read everything "Uncanny Kingdom", then obviously. But while I did read the books in one go and had a bit of fun, be aware (particularly when you've read their other work) that the Abbey Beckett -Nightstalker books are simply a bit of vampire fantasy that need work to become truly good. When you consider them in-between amusement while you're waiting for the next Dark Lakes book, you'll be okay...
3 stars ✨️.
June 7, 2018
Sanctified
A great early Christmas present for me (it's Christmas Eve as I write this, I know, I should have something better to do on Christmas Eve but there is nothing better to do on Christmas Eve than wax lyrical about another supercalifragilisticexpialeidocious new series set in the Uncanny Kingdom!) and I loved it. Boom, straight out of the gate and straight into my heart. Abbey is such an unusual heroine and I felt for her all the way through the book. She is drawn into a the world of the Uncanny quite by accident (or is it an accident?) and she reluctantly embraces her destiny but not before making me laugh along the way. I loved her new "friends" Viz and Gen but her boyfriend Neil was a marvellous and also unusual character and he stole my heart. I can't wait to see what fate has in store for him as well as for Abbey.
The writing is smart, sarky, and humorous with well defined characters, great imagination, and set in a London with hidden depths that seem completely plausible to me. I love how David Bussell and Matthew Stott take the very ordinary and turn it completely on it's head.
The earlier books set in the Uncanny Kingdom have all been must-reads for me and this one is no exception. Treat yourself and dive in. The previous three series (London Coven, Ghosted and Dark Lakes) all crossover slightly but all stand on their own as well. I guarantee that once you've read one, you'll have to read them all.
Turned
What a follow-up to Sanctified this Turned out to be (excuse the pun!). I was looking forward to finding out how Abbey was going to deal with Neil's turning and she certainly is given the runaround trying to find a cure. She is on a tight timescale and the action is non-stop and relentless. She is confused by her new friends and meeting a seemingly kind, handsome man does nothing to alleviate her worries about their intentions. We also meet a character familiar from another Uncanny Kingdom series, London Coven, and that was a source of delight because he is such an enigma and any glimpse of him is very welcome.
Abbey is becoming stronger and more confident in her new role as the Nightstalker and her actions seem completely in harmony with what we know of her character so far. The whole story gels beautifully, picking up right where Sanctified finished, and the characters leap fully formed off the page. I love the interaction between Abbey and Gen - definitely frenemies, at least for now.
Abbey has to fight to the end of the story to help Neil and it seems that everything she has done will be in vain but you'll have to read this fantastic book to find out. In fact, spoil yourself and read all the Uncanny Kingdom books.
Bloodline
Straight back into the action, following on from where Turned finished. Poor Neil has been in the wars again so Abbey is out for revenge and she's not short of targets. Chasing around London with Gen by her side, "Stabby Abbey" is kicking arse and taking names. The Clansmen don't know what's hit them but is it enough? Abbey may be looking in the wrong direction but she certainly throws herself into the chase wholeheartedly. And my day was made by yet another cameo from a favourite character of mine from the Uncanny Kingdom (and one of his reluctant side-kicks, who would definitely baulk at being called that!).
The story has twists and turns, the relationships between the characters are progressing, and Gen is unexpectedly mellowing slightly. I love how Stabby Abbey is coming to terms with her new reality and finding out what powers she actually has. She runs at everything full tilt throughout the story right up until the end, which I really did not see coming and quite frankly left me gaping in shock. David Bussell knows how to grab your attention and hold it from first page to last and this book kept me up till the early hours, unable to put it down.
Each series set in the Uncanny Kingdom is marvellous and you should read them all now. David Bussell and M.V. Stott are authors not to be missed.
A great early Christmas present for me (it's Christmas Eve as I write this, I know, I should have something better to do on Christmas Eve but there is nothing better to do on Christmas Eve than wax lyrical about another supercalifragilisticexpialeidocious new series set in the Uncanny Kingdom!) and I loved it. Boom, straight out of the gate and straight into my heart. Abbey is such an unusual heroine and I felt for her all the way through the book. She is drawn into a the world of the Uncanny quite by accident (or is it an accident?) and she reluctantly embraces her destiny but not before making me laugh along the way. I loved her new "friends" Viz and Gen but her boyfriend Neil was a marvellous and also unusual character and he stole my heart. I can't wait to see what fate has in store for him as well as for Abbey.
The writing is smart, sarky, and humorous with well defined characters, great imagination, and set in a London with hidden depths that seem completely plausible to me. I love how David Bussell and Matthew Stott take the very ordinary and turn it completely on it's head.
The earlier books set in the Uncanny Kingdom have all been must-reads for me and this one is no exception. Treat yourself and dive in. The previous three series (London Coven, Ghosted and Dark Lakes) all crossover slightly but all stand on their own as well. I guarantee that once you've read one, you'll have to read them all.
Turned
What a follow-up to Sanctified this Turned out to be (excuse the pun!). I was looking forward to finding out how Abbey was going to deal with Neil's turning and she certainly is given the runaround trying to find a cure. She is on a tight timescale and the action is non-stop and relentless. She is confused by her new friends and meeting a seemingly kind, handsome man does nothing to alleviate her worries about their intentions. We also meet a character familiar from another Uncanny Kingdom series, London Coven, and that was a source of delight because he is such an enigma and any glimpse of him is very welcome.
Abbey is becoming stronger and more confident in her new role as the Nightstalker and her actions seem completely in harmony with what we know of her character so far. The whole story gels beautifully, picking up right where Sanctified finished, and the characters leap fully formed off the page. I love the interaction between Abbey and Gen - definitely frenemies, at least for now.
Abbey has to fight to the end of the story to help Neil and it seems that everything she has done will be in vain but you'll have to read this fantastic book to find out. In fact, spoil yourself and read all the Uncanny Kingdom books.
Bloodline
Straight back into the action, following on from where Turned finished. Poor Neil has been in the wars again so Abbey is out for revenge and she's not short of targets. Chasing around London with Gen by her side, "Stabby Abbey" is kicking arse and taking names. The Clansmen don't know what's hit them but is it enough? Abbey may be looking in the wrong direction but she certainly throws herself into the chase wholeheartedly. And my day was made by yet another cameo from a favourite character of mine from the Uncanny Kingdom (and one of his reluctant side-kicks, who would definitely baulk at being called that!).
The story has twists and turns, the relationships between the characters are progressing, and Gen is unexpectedly mellowing slightly. I love how Stabby Abbey is coming to terms with her new reality and finding out what powers she actually has. She runs at everything full tilt throughout the story right up until the end, which I really did not see coming and quite frankly left me gaping in shock. David Bussell knows how to grab your attention and hold it from first page to last and this book kept me up till the early hours, unable to put it down.
Each series set in the Uncanny Kingdom is marvellous and you should read them all now. David Bussell and M.V. Stott are authors not to be missed.
April 12, 2019
I love the writing style, humor, characters, outrageous descriptions and incredible imagination of the Uncanny Kingdom writers. It may not be to everyone's tast, but it suits me fine.
SANCTIFIED: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (Branded Book 1) by David Bussell
Abbey Beckett becomes the vampire-killing machine who strikes fear into the hearts of the undead. Her new job: to avert a vampire apocalypse. She has been Sanctified. She is the one who will destroy the vampires before they bring about the End of Times. There is evil in this world, real evil, and she is going to put a stop to it. The dagger has chosen her to kill the vampires, and kill the vampires she will. She's been trained by angels, found out God is real, has donated blood to a vampire, and chowed down on a vicious fairy. Now she's ready to kick some vampire arse.
The Sanctified one AKA Abbey Beckett AKA Nightstalker must avert a vampire apocalypse
Turned (Branded Book 2)
Neil, beloved by Abbey (AKA Nightstalker), has been turned into a bloodthirsty Nosferatu trying to tear out her jugular. Neil is now a bloodthirsty vampire trying to tear out Abbey's jugular. And there's no cure for him. At least until her fallen angel handlers, Viz and Gen, get a recipe from God. In order to cure him, she needs, among other difficult-to-obtain ingredients, Pope blood. Then she needs a powerful magician to put it all together before Neil is completely turned. But when Abbey gets 'involved' with a very 'friendly' vampire, who she comes to trust, she doesn't know who to trust - a vampire or the angels. We find out who are the good guys at the smashing, slashing conclusion… But wait! There's more! It's to be continued...
Bloodline (Branded Book 3)
The Judas Clan are bloodsucking monsters with a taste for blood that's matched only by their hunger for riches. They've marked Niel with a threat, 'Blood for Blood'. So Abbey AKA Nightstalker decides, let's bring the hurt to the vamps, no more mucking about. Whoever was leaving her death threats spelled out in flesh and guts were going to wind up on the wrong end of her dagger. It turned out to be Savina Iscariot, the first female vampire, come to enlist the Nightstalker in her vendetta against the Judas Clan. While eating at Cath's Caff, Jake Fletcher, the Spectral Detective, made an appearance to all but Neil, who doesn't have the Sight yet. He, too, has a bone to pick with Savina. So with some help from Jake and Jazz Hands, Abbey, Gen, Viz and Neil against Judas and his clan, and Savina and her clan for the grand showdown. For a nominal 'Horror' story, there is a lot of humor in descriptions, dialog, situations and characters' interactions.
SANCTIFIED: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (Branded Book 1) by David Bussell
Abbey Beckett becomes the vampire-killing machine who strikes fear into the hearts of the undead. Her new job: to avert a vampire apocalypse. She has been Sanctified. She is the one who will destroy the vampires before they bring about the End of Times. There is evil in this world, real evil, and she is going to put a stop to it. The dagger has chosen her to kill the vampires, and kill the vampires she will. She's been trained by angels, found out God is real, has donated blood to a vampire, and chowed down on a vicious fairy. Now she's ready to kick some vampire arse.
The Sanctified one AKA Abbey Beckett AKA Nightstalker must avert a vampire apocalypse
Turned (Branded Book 2)
Neil, beloved by Abbey (AKA Nightstalker), has been turned into a bloodthirsty Nosferatu trying to tear out her jugular. Neil is now a bloodthirsty vampire trying to tear out Abbey's jugular. And there's no cure for him. At least until her fallen angel handlers, Viz and Gen, get a recipe from God. In order to cure him, she needs, among other difficult-to-obtain ingredients, Pope blood. Then she needs a powerful magician to put it all together before Neil is completely turned. But when Abbey gets 'involved' with a very 'friendly' vampire, who she comes to trust, she doesn't know who to trust - a vampire or the angels. We find out who are the good guys at the smashing, slashing conclusion… But wait! There's more! It's to be continued...
Bloodline (Branded Book 3)
The Judas Clan are bloodsucking monsters with a taste for blood that's matched only by their hunger for riches. They've marked Niel with a threat, 'Blood for Blood'. So Abbey AKA Nightstalker decides, let's bring the hurt to the vamps, no more mucking about. Whoever was leaving her death threats spelled out in flesh and guts were going to wind up on the wrong end of her dagger. It turned out to be Savina Iscariot, the first female vampire, come to enlist the Nightstalker in her vendetta against the Judas Clan. While eating at Cath's Caff, Jake Fletcher, the Spectral Detective, made an appearance to all but Neil, who doesn't have the Sight yet. He, too, has a bone to pick with Savina. So with some help from Jake and Jazz Hands, Abbey, Gen, Viz and Neil against Judas and his clan, and Savina and her clan for the grand showdown. For a nominal 'Horror' story, there is a lot of humor in descriptions, dialog, situations and characters' interactions.
March 17, 2019
So a fantastic fantasy boxset full of the things I like in a book. Vampires and magic how can you go wrong. I am so glad I met Abbey, she’s one mean son of a gun. Cannot wait to see ,what happens next. Highly recommended.
January 17, 2020
I love that this series flows on at a good pace. It's non stop action packed with engaging characters that you become emotionally attached to. The last book has left me in tears. I feel like I lost a family member. Will be holding my breath until the next book is released. I received ARC.
September 3, 2018
This series was fun and exciting! An entertaining set in the Uncanny Kingdom universe!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews