Branded (Inked, #2)

Eric Smith returns to the world of Inked in this adventurous new sequel. No longer a sheltered farmboy, Caenum is caught in the crossfire of the rebellion he ignited. As the final battle with the Citadel approaches, he must choose his own destiny one last time...or let the Citadel choose it for him. In Inked , Caenum discovered his destiny. Now, in Branded , he must fight for it. As the final battle approaches, Caenum must choose his own path one last time . . . or it will be decided for him. After narrowly escaping the soldiers of the Citadel six months ago, farmboy-turned-rebel Caenum is now at the head of the rebel army. He and his fellow Conduits, practitioners of an ancient, forbidden magic, have spread across the Realm, freeing city after city from the Citadel's tyrannical grip. But in the midst of their rebellion, a traitor lurks. And when their safe haven is destroyed, Caenum and his friends must flee deeper into the wilds than ever before. Because he has something the Citadel wants—a weapon that could change everything...a weapon he must protect at all costs. In this thrilling new sequel to Inked, Eric Smith delivers a heart-pounding conclusion to the battle between magic and free will. PRAISE FOR INKED: " Inked is an action-packed read with a hero I could root for, magic I wanted to have, and a vivid fantasy world to back it all up. Smith's prose had me turning pages way past my bedtime." —Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author Truthwitch "A fast-paced page-turner from Eric Smith filled with magic, mystery and mayhem." —Kristi Helvig, author of Burn Out "With a lively cast of characters and a captivating idea, Inked draws its readers into a world where magic lives on every page." —Kat Zhang, author of The Hybrid Chronicles series In Inked, Caenum discovered his destiny. Now, in Branded, he must fight for it. As the final battle approaches, Caenum must choose his own path one last time ... or it will be decided for him. After narrowly escaping the soldiers of the Citadel six months ago, farmboy-turned-rebel Caenum is now at the head of the rebel army. He and his fellow Conduits, practitioners of an ancient, forbidden magic, have spread across the Realm, freeing city after city from the Citadel's tyrannical grip. But in the midst of their rebellion, a traitor lurks. And when their safe haven is destroyed, Caenum and his friends must flee deeper into the wilds than ever before. Because he has something the Citadel wants--a weapon that could change everything ... a weapon he must protect at all costs. In this thrilling new sequel to Inked, Eric Smith delivers a heart-pounding conclusion to the battle between magic and free will