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The Blemished (Blemished #1)

by Sarah Dalton (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 100 ratings · 42 reviews

A beautiful world comes at a price...

In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.

Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But...more

Paperback, 328 pages

Published August 2012 by Feed a Read

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May 06, 2013 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

I did a promotion post for this book last year and the author sent me an e-book copy of the book to read if I could. As my mountainous pile has been hanging over me for the past year I hadn't got round to it. But tonight it called to me and as my pile is getting down to a more manageable size I got stuck in.
This book is a dystopian/paranormal cross. Set in a world where beauty and perfection are cherished and strived for anyone deemed at fault is looked down on - they are called the 'Blemished'....more I did a promotion post for this book last year and the author sent me an e-book copy of the book to read if I could. As my mountainous pile has been hanging over me for the past year I hadn't got round to it. But tonight it called to me and as my pile is getting down to a more manageable size I got stuck in.
This book is a dystopian/paranormal cross. Set in a world where beauty and perfection are cherished and strived for anyone deemed at fault is looked down on - they are called the 'Blemished'. The Blemished are children that have a family history of illness but were born the 'old way'. Most babies now are called 'GEMS' - they are genetically enhanced, almost like clones to be perfect - health, beauty, behaviour, it's all bred into them.
Mina is a Blemished but she has a special secret - she has a hidden power, but in a world where she should be hidden in the shadows and is looked upon as a waste, it's hard to stand up for what is right.

I liked the world created by Dalton here, it's scary because it's something that probably could happen, it's been on the news about genetic experiments with babies already so this isn't too out there, and the result is not positive. This is so well written the world comes alive off the page and I could visualize it all.

Mina is a great heroin, confused and a bit lost but with a great inner strength and feistyness that shows you she is willing to fight no matter what. She is loyal and caring and will stand up for those that need help.
Angela is Mina's new best friend, she's a bit of a gossip but seems generally quite nice, she has quite a hard time of it and handles everything as best she can, but I'm not sure how invested she really is in the friendship.
Daniel is Angela's adopted brother and has a secret power too, he becomes utterly devoted to Mina and Angela, willing to sacrifice everything to keep them safe. I loved his loyalty and fearlessness, but he did get a bit self-pitying at times which I wanted to slap out of him.
The whole controlling government set up was sufficiently terrifying and their teacher at the school made Miss Trunchball seem like a pussy cat!
There is a romance element to this book, some love triangles involved and it adds to the suspense, I'm not sure who I want to end up with who, but I was gripped to see how it would all unfold.

This book will totally hook you in. I read it in one sitting and did not want to put it down. I have also downloaded book 2 straight away to get stuck into. I have to know what will happen to everyone.

An excellent book and world, Dalton has some pure talent. (less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, adventure, romance

"The Blemished" is the story about a fractured society in Britain where class structure is dependent on a person's genetic makeup. GEMs, the genetically cloned are considered beautiful and have all the advantages society has to offer including education and wealth; the Blemished who are not altered learn skills to serve, have no privileges and at age sixteen undergo an operation that assures their submissiveness. In this oppressive society Mina Hart has a dangerous secret that could endanger not...more

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Jan 09, 2013 zapkode.marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, read4review

“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}...more

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Nov 16, 2012 DelSheree rated it 4 of 5 stars

GEMs and Blemished aren't meant to be together. Reproduction outside of genetic facilities is forbidden. Blemished genes can never be reproduced, and to make sure of that, Blemished women are subjected to sterilization. But Mina refuses to become one of those women. She yearns to live her life without the government hovering overhead. MIna's father attempts to keep her safe from GEMs and the operation alike, but Mina's special talent and the fact that she has set her mind to change the oppressiv...more GEMs and Blemished aren't meant to be together. Reproduction outside of genetic facilities is forbidden. Blemished genes can never be reproduced, and to make sure of that, Blemished women are subjected to sterilization. But Mina refuses to become one of those women. She yearns to live her life without the government hovering overhead. MIna's father attempts to keep her safe from GEMs and the operation alike, but Mina's special talent and the fact that she has set her mind to change the oppressive and frightening world she lives in pushes her right into the maw of danger.

The interesting thing about this dystopian fantasy is that it isn't that far distant. The main character Mina, is only a few decades late to experience the once beautiful and free England. Many of the older residents remember life before GEM took over and Blemished became segregated. Adding to the closeness of the story is that the idea of genetically enhanced humans is not that fantastical. Dalton did a good job of creating a world that was real enough to be frightening, but fantastical enough to be an enjoyable read.

The idea of how the classes had been segregated was interesting as well. GEM are afforded all the comforts they want while Blemished are trained to serve their betters. The interesting thing about the Blemished was that only the girls went to school. The boys were apprenticed out to learn trades and were not taught to read and write. The feminist slant to this setup was what the author intended, but I was not sure there was any reason behind this decision. With the GEM's fear of the woman's ability to birth children, I wondered why they wouldn't keep the women as ignorant as possible. My other concern about the structure of this society is that if the Blemished weren't allowed to procreate, when the last of them died, who would serve the GEM? There were a few issues with the structure of this society, but overall, it worked to show the vileness of the government and the desperation of Mina's situation.

The characters in The Blemished were very well done. The complexities of each person in the story added layers to every interaction. Dalton did well to show the hidden motives, uncertainty, or falseness of some characters through their words and actions. Murgatroyd was especially well done. This horrible woman clearly had deep seated issues that led to her actions. Readers get hints of what those are, but the majority is left to later books. I was very interested in learning more about her. Each of the characters experience emotional conflicts that tore at them, and their realistic reactions draw the readers in with every stab of pain or promise of happiness.

The romantic side of this story was intriguing. You get introduced to the suave and charming Sebastian right off the bat and know he will be a factor, but then you meet Daniel, a strange yet compelling young man, and know he too will tug at Mina's heart. Add in the fact that Daniel's adoptive sister is also in love with Daniel, but Daniel only views her as family, and things get even more complicated. I was quite drawn in by the romantic elements of this book, however, I did feel the ultimate choice of who Mina would choose was fairly clear from the beginning. Not that Mina does make a choice by the end of the book, per se, but it was obvious who she wanted. What continued to pull me to the love story aspect was that their were still barriers to Mina getting what she wanted. I know who she will choose, but I'm not sure how she will get what she wants.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. I am definitely interesting in continuing the series, however there were a few issues that will hold me back from giving this book my top recommendation. The beginning chapters were rather a rough start for me. There were too many moments were I felt the influences of The Hunger Games and books like Gattica were too strong for this world to stand out on its own. The reason for genetic modification to get rid of pre-dispositions to disease seemed right out of Gattica, while the ghettos divided up into Area 10 and Area 14 were very reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Steering away from such stark comparisons would have helped the first few chapters set this book apart much better.

There were some areas where the explanations of the world were doled out in big chunks rather than spread throughout the chapter that slowed my reading down a bit. At many times there were awkward transitions between scenes and I was left unsure for a few paragraphs of what was going on. Some areas were rushed through with a recap where it would have been more beneficial to experience the moment along with Mina. For example, the first time she witnesses Daniel collapse after a vision. There is also some language used, but it is infrequent. The editing was also in need of improvement. The use of commas between independent and dependent clauses was lacking, and there were multiple missing words. The editing errors did slow down my reading in many places.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. It was an entertaining read with good, deep characters.

Who would I recommend this book to? YA dystopian readers will enjoy this book. YA romance readers will enjoy it as well. This book does have crossover potential to adults, but I do think adults will be more bothered by some of the issues noted above than younger readers.

Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf (less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Danica Page (One Page at a Time) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dystopian fans

Shelves: favorites, floater, dystopia, e-book, out-in-2012, asked-to-review, blog-tour, reading-addiction-blog-tour, romance, young-adult, debut, 2012-debut-author-challenge, 2012-dac-read

Also, be sure to check out this guest post and enter to win a copy of this book by clicking here. And now for my review.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

My Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this book for review as part of the blog tour. I received no compensation for reviewing this book. However, Cami who sets up the blog was paid for her time in setting this tour up. Let me reiterate that the only compensation I got was the pleasure of reading this book.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressio...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Buffy Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sarah Dalton certainly wastes no time in drawing boundaries! In the first chapter alone, we learn how severely GEMs and Blemished differ in society, we meet two intriguing characters outside the protagonist, and we’re tossed into the mystery surrounding the big secret Mina. It’s definitely a great setup to expectations of more excitement throughout the rest of the book.

I have grown very tired of the love triangle thing that a lot of authors tend to include, and this one adds in a fourth angle. T...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-dac

I really enjoyed this book. I love dystopian novels, and this was both fresh and entertaining. The story is set in Britain where there are two kinds of people, the GEMS and The Blemished. With advances in cloning and genetic mapping, parents are now able to choose their children's genetic makeup, eliminating and outlawing the need for traditional pregnancy. Those who are genetically enhances are considered GEMS. Those who are not, are labeled as blemished and are forced to live segregated from...more I really enjoyed this book. I love dystopian novels, and this was both fresh and entertaining. The story is set in Britain where there are two kinds of people, the GEMS and The Blemished. With advances in cloning and genetic mapping, parents are now able to choose their children's genetic makeup, eliminating and outlawing the need for traditional pregnancy. Those who are genetically enhances are considered GEMS. Those who are not, are labeled as blemished and are forced to live segregated from the GEMS, wearing clothing identifying them as blemished, serving the GEMS, and are basically considered damaged goods. They are the result of a normal pregnancy but have some sort of genetic predisposition or familial trait that is undesired. Mina and her father have moved to a new town, a new area, in hope of a fresh start. Mina and her father are considered blemished. She meets a new friend on her first day of school, Angela, and they really click. Mina has a big secret, which she and her dad have tried to keep hidden. Then she meets Angela's brother Daniel, who also has a secret, a secret which involves Mina. Daniel is quite the hottie and he is very taken with Mina. Also is the picture is a GEM, Sebastian, who is very interested in her also, even though it is forbidden. Events unfold, friendships are formed, romance is kindled, and choices are made which will forever change the lives of Mina, her friends, and her family.

Wow, I was so delightfully surprised with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is original, fresh, and entertaining. The characters are so well written, and you really get to feel like you know them. I loved Mina. I loved her strength and her determination. I really like Daniel also. He is quite hot, and the chemistry between him and Mina is supercharged. There are quite a few secondary characters in the book that also add a lot to the story. The book is fast-pasted and filled with action, mystery, and murder, with twists and turns that keep you guessing and turning the next page to see what happens. I actually read it in one day. The romance is great. There is a bit of a love triangle, or "square" as Mina would say, and I am anxious to see how that works itself out in the next book in the series. Mina is quite the heroine, and no matter what, Daniel has her back. The Blemished is a great YA dystopian, with the romance included which in my opinion helps make the book. For all you dystopian fans out there, this is one book you should check out. Great debut novel from author Sarah Dalton.
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Jul 21, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, dystopian, own, young-adult, reviewed

***Review of an ARC***

First of all, the cover is really nice. That's what made me ask the author about getting an ARC for review. Plus the summary sounded like the kind of book that I would read.

Plot:
The summary sounded really cool and the actual turned out to be not bad. It moved at a good pace and it didn't drag on. The world building and dialogue could use a little work, but with some editing this could be a really great story. It wasn't completely original, but what is these days? Parts of i...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Elaine Joyce rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, dystopia, ebook, review

At first, it was hard to connect with the dystopian society because I was fed with lots of terminologies without explanations; but after reading a few pages I practically sped through it. It's really easy to read.

I like the concept of the world, and Mina is a good narrator of the story. She's not hard to follow. Actually, she's not your superhero type of character who wants to do good things and save the world, she's just a kid - a bit of a rebel and spoiled at times - which is why I like her. B...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Jennifer Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dissever is a unique supernatural story that takes us into the world of the Akori, a secret race whose purpose is to protect humans. We are introduced to this new world through the eyes of Addison Sanders (Addy), a human, whose family was chosen hundreds of years ago to protect the secrets and powers of the Akori. We follow Addy in her discovery that what she has always believed to be true of her family and the Akori is mixed with half-truths and lies.

When Addy loses her Grandfather, the head o...more Dissever is a unique supernatural story that takes us into the world of the Akori, a secret race whose purpose is to protect humans. We are introduced to this new world through the eyes of Addison Sanders (Addy), a human, whose family was chosen hundreds of years ago to protect the secrets and powers of the Akori. We follow Addy in her discovery that what she has always believed to be true of her family and the Akori is mixed with half-truths and lies.

When Addy loses her Grandfather, the head of her family and guardian to the Akori, her world is turned upside down. She learns that she is not who she was brought up to believe and that the legacy of her family is filled with lies and deceit which may lead to the downfall of the Akori and those she loves.

At the Tremain Estate, an exclusive, magically “travelling” palace where the Akori live, we are introduced to Gage, an Akori a few years older than Addy, whom she has known all her life, and Tanner, an unknown stranger who is inexplicably drawn to the estate. There is a little character development that leads to the chemistry between Addy and Gage but the somewhat quick about face of Gage’s behaviour towards Addy seems too abrupt and not as believable as it could be had there been a little more time spent on their relationship. A love triangle appears to be forming when Tanner also begins to show an attachment and protectiveness over Addy; their common goal to find answers and figure out their purpose for the Akori lends to the believability of their bond. One can sense Addy’s inner struggle with the decision to choose one over the other, which will likely last the duration of the series.

An aspect of Akori beliefs and laws that I found needed more development was the concept that relationships between the Akori and humans are not allowed. There are several instances of Akori-human relationships that occur without consequence, such as the one between Addy’s friends Kim and Matt and even that of Addy and Gage. We learn of the disadvantages of these relationships but I’m left wondering why the law was introduced as such a prominent rule in the beginning of the plot when in all the times the Gage and Addy are found in potentially compromising positions, barely an eyebrow is raised. The relationships would be much more believable with an added emphasis on the wrongness of them. I always like the triumph of realizing a forbidden relationship regardless of the cliché.

Dissever is a refreshingly new supernatural novel that deviates from the typical vampire, angel, demon and faerie plots. I look forward to the next book, Sanctify and the escapades of Addy and Tanner as they fight their way back to Tremaine and overtake their enemies’ quest to destroy everything Addy has spent her life learning to protect.Dissever (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: creative-world, good-plot, diseases

Thanks you, Ms. Dalton, for providing me a copy in exchange for a review.

I look for two things when it comes to a book I truly enjoy.
1. Creative world
2. Awesome characters

Did The Blemished meet these expectations and surpass them? Let's find out.

The Blemished appeared in my recommendations and the cover definitely intrigued me. The summary of the book is really something. A futuristic world filled with genetically-altered people and their not-so-perfect counterparts. Even though, it does seem...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thanks to Reading Addiction Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of the tour for The Blemished.

How about that cover? I think it's so pretty.

Any fans of YA dystopia out there? This will be another to add to your list. What makes so many dystopian books great is that they take "real" issue we have now, like cloning, and throw it into the future where it is ballooned into something especially frightening yet realistic. The Blemished is set in a world of clones. Anyone not cloned is said to ha...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Kiara rated it 4 of 5 stars

(I read this book for R&R program in YA making connection group, I received free copies for a honest review)

My first thought on this book is "oh great, another dystopian book" for I always love dystopian stories.

And well, I'm not wrong, Sarah Dalton successfully brings me into the new "British" world where Mina Hart live. Its a world where clones exist, more terrifying, they want to replace our existence with them.

The clones, known as GEM or Genetic Enhancement Ministry, is a perfect human,...more (I read this book for R&R program in YA making connection group, I received free copies for a honest review)

My first thought on this book is "oh great, another dystopian book" for I always love dystopian stories.

And well, I'm not wrong, Sarah Dalton successfully brings me into the new "British" world where Mina Hart live. Its a world where clones exist, more terrifying, they want to replace our existence with them.

The clones, known as GEM or Genetic Enhancement Ministry, is a perfect human, without ill disease, without obese, and a perfect DNA. It would be nice, if the ministry don't try to get rid of another human being, which known as the blemished.

Mina, our heroine is a blemished, she's been told that she is imperfect, ugly, and that her DNA is useless. That way, the blemished aren't allowed to have children, and must be GEM's slaves.

Mina didn't accept her fate, she didn't let the Ministry control her life. With her "gift" she will fight back. And that's where her adventure begin.

Our heroine is a rebellious, brave, and a leader type of girl. she didn't afraid to make changes. That's what I adore about her. If she just sit idly and accept her fate, the stories will be a complete different. After what people told her, she still believe that she is special.

As it not enough with rebellion, Sarah Dalton puts two guys in Mina's life. Daniel, and Sebastian. One a blemished, another one is a GEM. This is the part where I wanna scream actually, seriously another love triangle? I'm so tired with all the fans playing team who. LOL. And as reading this book, at times I want to shake Mina and yell "Just make up your mind! which one do you choose? pick up already!"

And oh, I love Mina's friendship with Elena, who used to be her bully, so much better than Angela, her so called BFF but totally being jealous with her and Daniel.

And don't forget about Mrs. Murgatroyd, Mina's teacher. Dang, I hate her so much. She's so mean and cruel and many times makes Mina life like hell. I just hope that the author will vanish her and she won't make appearance again in book two.

Well, overall this is a great debut book, a real page turner and definitely worth a read, I can't wait to read the next book (thanks God I already have it!)(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love dystopian novels, and really enjoyed The Blemished. It was a quick and exciting read, it was able to keep my attention from beginning to end.

The story was engaging and had a lot of twist and turn that kept me on edge. There were some questions that popped up along the way that made me want to read more. There was plenty of action throughout the story which made sure it never dragged, and some heart wrenching moments that made you feel for some of the characters. The is not just a love tri...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Novareylin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Extremely interesting and very scary plot! I’m sure you agree with me if you read that excerpt! The entire book was like this! Crazy!!! The idea that “normal” people are no longer needed to create human beings and are actual a disease so clones are made. Not clones, Gems (Genetic Enhancement Ministry). The very thought may not be too far from our future considering what some people may do to keep themselves or their children from getting sick and to look perfect.

Mina is one of the main character...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Kaytee (Dedicated Readers Only) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, 2012

I love dystopians so much! And this one was, after reading the description, sounding really good. And it was! I instantly got caught up in this story. Its clear right away the tensions between the GEMs and the blemished. The blemished are those people with genetic illnesses or predispositions for diseases. In order to stop these things from continuing, the Ministry requires the blemished women to go through a surgery at 16 that takes their ability to have children. it is also illegal for those t...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Cheyenne Teska rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, for-review, reviewed

In Mina's world, those like you and I would be considered "Blemished". The government has taken over and found a way to genetically modify humans so that they don't have to worry about disease or anything that could possibly make life more difficult. These "clones" are called GEMs and it seems as though they run the world, now. Poor Mina is forced to dress in drab clothing and become nothing more than a slave to those higher than her, but what no one else knows is that she holds an incredible po...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: buy-me

Mina Hart is 15 years old and Blemished. That means that she has bad genes - her family couldn't or wouldn't have genetically modified children, not like the GEM families. Mina's mother is missing, long presumed dead after losing contact with Mina and her father during a raid with the rebels. Mina's dad was a hostory professor once - now he's just a sad old man who is paranoid that the Ministry is watching the Blemished through their tv sets. And Mina is constantly bullied by the GEMs at the sch...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Jennifer R Ricketts rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review-from-author

Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review through the We Love YA Books group on Goodreads!

I love everything about this book! The cover is gorgeous and intriguing, the characters are realistic each with their own personalities, and the story is riveting and captured my attention from the start. The main character's name, Mina, is a name I love and think is unique--I haven't come across many books who have used this name for a character. I cou...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, breathless-read, dystopia, young-adult

Check out this review and more at: http://apocalypsereads.blogspot.com/

I really enjoy books that grab me from the start: “Once, my mum told me a story about a princess and it began with her stuck in a castle. My story begins with my head stuck in the toilet.” Needless to say I wanted to know why this story started with a girl’s head in the toilet.

Our protagonist Mina Hart is a “normal” person with genetic defect(s) somewhere in her family making her “blemished.” This might be ok if people weren...more Check out this review and more at: http://apocalypsereads.blogspot.com/

I really enjoy books that grab me from the start: “Once, my mum told me a story about a princess and it began with her stuck in a castle. My story begins with my head stuck in the toilet.” Needless to say I wanted to know why this story started with a girl’s head in the toilet.

Our protagonist Mina Hart is a “normal” person with genetic defect(s) somewhere in her family making her “blemished.” This might be ok if people weren’t genetically engineered. In Dalton’s society GEMs, those that are genetically engineered, have the upper-hand.

Though Dalton combines many of my favorite dystopian books and movies into one, it does not seem cliché. The Blemished has elements of oppression, rebellion, loyalty, friendship, betrayal, and survival. What make is it unique is the strong female protagonist who owns her choices.

What I loved:
• The way Dalton drew me into the story with the opening line.
• The fast-paced nature of the novel. I barely had time to breathe while reading. Danger and poor choices seem to lurk around the next page.
• Mina
o Though she is frustrating at times, I enjoyed her growth and ownership of her choices.
o A dystopian novel does not seem to be complete without a love triangle. Mina’s choice surprised me. Read to see who she chooses.
• Mrs. Murgatroyd aka Murder-Troll
o She is revolting to look at: “The collagen in her lips made her mouth baggy and shiny, like slugs inside loose skin.” Ew! She’s not hard to hate, but Dalton gives you glimpses of her true nature which made me question my hate.
• Choice Ownership
o It is refreshing to see Mina own her choices no matter how disastrous the consequences.
• The Ending
o Dalton ties up most of the loose ends. I know this is the first book in a series, but I am satisfied with the ending.
Check out The Blemished by Sarah Dalton if you are looking for a fast-paced dystopian adventure! Many thanks to Sarah for an ARC!
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Mar 16, 2013 Stacey rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is an interesting twist on your typical dystopian novel. I am noticing more and more dystopia books are taking place in the UK, this one does as well and it helps to create a different view of life in the future. The communities are split into different districts, and from there different social rankings. You have the GEM communities, which have genitically engineered children, their parents who's genes were not "blemished" with diseases such as diabetes, high bp etc. Plus these families al...more This is an interesting twist on your typical dystopian novel. I am noticing more and more dystopia books are taking place in the UK, this one does as well and it helps to create a different view of life in the future. The communities are split into different districts, and from there different social rankings. You have the GEM communities, which have genitically engineered children, their parents who's genes were not "blemished" with diseases such as diabetes, high bp etc. Plus these families all appear to be wealthy. You have the Blemished community. These are the cast offs with blemished genes, family history of mental illness and other hereditary illnesses. The females attend school in hopes to be employed for the Gem families, they have strict rules about their clothing, the girls cannot show their hair, they cannot speak to GEM's and at 16 they must have an operation that renders them sterile so the do no produce offspring. The surgery renders most of these women with severe side effects and they go mad! You then have the slums and these are the people who are just cast off and live even worse than the blemished. Our main characters posses special skills, Daniel has visions and Mina has telekenisis and this has gotten her in a bit of hot water and her and her father fled their district in search of safety and to create a new life. She is finally able to make friends in her new community and finds herself in quite a bit of hot water. She of course is smitten with two boys, as they are with her, yet there is a bit of a love square as her best friend is also in love with one of the boys.

I found at times there were a few inconsistencies in the story, such as Mina being locked in a room and using her power to unlock her door, however needing to go out once she is out to find a key to Daniels room...why not use her power again on that door? I did find myself wanting to know more about how come the enforcers seemed to be brain washed. I also was wishing that some of the characters in the book would have had the chance to make it to book two. I loved the character of Elena whom I felt was given a lot of depth and she really grew on me. The relationship of Sebastion and Mina felt a little bit forced but obviously that was intended. It felt really weird in the beginning to me. I enjoyed the character of Daniel, yet I also felt he "fell in love" pretty quickly and was quite unrealastic. I was hoping to get to know more about the resistance so I am hoping in future books I will get to know more about what they are doing. It would be neat to know if the Ministry really is keeping tabs on everyone via the tv.

All in all I did enjoy the book and finished it in a few days. I look forward to reading the second book that I won during a giveaway here on Goodreads. (less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The Blemished is the story of a girl named Mina who is Blemished: imperfect, not a standard beauty, and not worthy of reproduction. As a "Blem", it is her job to attend school to become a maid, a house worker, or some other low class occupation serving the Clones. The Clones are the beautiful, the literally cloned from people who had perfect features. While Mina may not like the system, she adheres to it in order to blend in, because she has a very big secret: she has telekinesis. When she gets...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Emma Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Just wow. And also, thank heavens!

It is rare for YA novels to deal so directly and so successfully with feminist issues, and this one does it brilliantly. Girls who pick this terrific novel up will be looking for their usual dystopian fare, and they will certainly get it in spadefuls: danger, excitement, adventure, overcoming the odds, romance, racing hearts and some fantastic surprises about who can be trusted and who can't.

But they will also get something different. They will find a heroi...more Wow. Just wow. And also, thank heavens!

It is rare for YA novels to deal so directly and so successfully with feminist issues, and this one does it brilliantly. Girls who pick this terrific novel up will be looking for their usual dystopian fare, and they will certainly get it in spadefuls: danger, excitement, adventure, overcoming the odds, romance, racing hearts and some fantastic surprises about who can be trusted and who can't.

But they will also get something different. They will find a heroine who refuses to be controlled by the rather sexy-sounding chaps that she seems to have at her beck and call. But this is no Lara Croft, ridiculous male-fantasy game. Oh no. Girls who read this novel will be exposed to some challenging stuff about women's place in society, and how all regimes, whether religious or political, have oppressed women since the dawn of time. We see girls being judged on their appearance, girls' fertility being surgically controlled (when it would be biologically simpler to control the fertility of men), girls in a servile role, girls being punished for their sexual desires, and older women thoroughly damaged and screwed up by all of the above. "Women are being punished," one female character says (delightfully, a character that thus far we had been led to believe had little to say for herself). And I cheered for the sheer joy and rarity of our youngsters being exposed to this. There is even a character called Eve with a painful story! I love it! Dalton has shown striking skill in exposing young people to these ideas in an accessible and exciting way. Like the best books that educate, they won't even know it's happening.

Even more so, and it is essential to point this out, the male role models are sound. Hoo-bloody-rah! How sick I am of the supposedly-devastatingly-attractive (bleurgh), controlling, manipulative, misogynistic and downright whining "heroes" that young girls (and, unbelievably, adult women) are exposed to in modern novels. Quite frankly, if we can't move on from the disturbing fantasies of 19th and early 20th century novels now we're well into the 21st century, then I despair for humanity. But in Dalton's novel the wonderful Daniel is flawed, vulnerable, and supportive when he can be; he cares fiercely for our heroine, but does not wish to control her. Hallelujah. Sebastian is further flawed, not least through biological interference, and we see him learning that it's not acceptable to control women, (and, by the by, that it's not acceptable to hit them). Revelation? I hope not. But rare to see in novels. I salute Dalton's male characters not only because they are better role-models for young girls to be lusting after, but also because I am heartily sick of young boys getting such a bad press; the world is changing, and Dalton seems to be one of the few authors that understand that.

When I finished the novel this morning, my overwhelming emotion was, "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!" I also found myself wondering whether girls who enjoy this will go on to read Maragret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" when they are ready.

And as for the planned sequels, all I have to say to Dalton is, "you go, girl! I can't wait."

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Oct 01, 2012 Shalini Boland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, dystopian-fiction, love-triangle, teen-romance, ya-lit, young-adult

I bought The Blemished on Kindle and didn't turn my light off till 1.30am this morning because I couldn't put it down! This is a great YA dystopian novel which ranks up there with Divergent and The Hunger Games.

Mina Hart has all the usual teenage worries and a whole lot more - from bullying and first love to the more sinister threats of 'The Operation' and 'Twitching Sundays'.

There are two love triangles, some terrifying characters and all this is set against the backdrop of a sinister and unr...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Nick Turner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fictional-world, human-evolution, close-relations, present

In the near future, British society is divided along lines of eugenic conformity. Clones with desirable genes are known as children of the Genetic Enhancement Ministry, or GEMs. There is a second-class of people who have imperfect genes - known as the Blemished, or Blems. Blemished are excluded from most jobs. Blemished girls are trained for lowly service positions, boys for grinding manual labour.

The Blemished is the first novel by Sarah Dalton. After reading a synopsis I eagerly applied for an...more In the near future, British society is divided along lines of eugenic conformity. Clones with desirable genes are known as children of the Genetic Enhancement Ministry, or GEMs. There is a second-class of people who have imperfect genes - known as the Blemished, or Blems. Blemished are excluded from most jobs. Blemished girls are trained for lowly service positions, boys for grinding manual labour.

The Blemished is the first novel by Sarah Dalton. After reading a synopsis I eagerly applied for an ARC (advance review copy) before its planned August publication. The novel includes mature themes. Content spoiler: (view spoiler).

Narrator Mina Hart is a 14-year old Blemished girl. The plot follows her first steps at a new school, making friends and enemies, meeting boys. Fraternisation with privileged GEM students is forbidden, but Mina soon comes face-to-face with Sebastian, a boy with charm and movie-star good looks. Could a boy like Sebastian really like a lower class girl? Mina can dream. But in a world of rigid social barriers, there could be consequences for Mina and her friends if she sees him again.

A first-person perspective narrator (unlike a convenient all-seeing narrator) can leave readers frustrated by the partial or incomplete view of events available to a character. In The Blemished the relaxed writing is kind to the reader, including obvious information which a strict first-person narrative would omit.

Occasionally, the language of young ill-educated characters is realistically blunt. In a way, it's ridiculous that teenagers who swear oaths are forbidden to view themselves in cinemas, but some readers may find this cinema verite distasteful.

The Blemished has a good balance of discursive character development and thrilling action scenes. After reading some novels, so little happened that you think "it was like a short story". In the Blemished you follow Mina through thick and thin - adventure and disaster. The ending leans on dramatic license but ties up the main plot threads satisfyingly.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Jonel Boyko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arrs, dying-to-read, first-installment-of-series-to-read, series-to-follow

This novel is extra scary simply because you can picture the events happening. Based on the storyline, it is so easy to see genetic engineering following this path that it makes you shudder. This leads to events and times that are completely heart wrenching. You can barely fathom the very real issues that these characters live with, yet they are brought to life so vividly that you feel for them. This realism combined with Dalton’s phenomenal storytelling creates a world that you feel completely...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Brittan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wip-5-read-in-the-last-two-weeks, to-review-in-the-next-week

This was originally posted on my book blog Written By Brittan

The Blemished is phenomenal and riveting. It is like no other book that I have ever read. I was wonderstruck by everything about this book; the amazing and extremely interesting storyline, the lively characters, the stunning world building, and the overall beautiful writing. This book blew me away, and I highly recommend it.

The storyline left me speechless. It was thrilling and unpredictable. You never know what is going to happen; Sa...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Cierra (The Book Lover's Report) marked it as to-read

**From The Book Lover's Report: http://thebookloversreport.blogspot.com **

As you all know, I love my dystopia novels (Divergent, Insurgent, The Hunger Games), so this book sounded very intriguing to me. I decided that after reading the summary, I would read this book, and hopefully enjoy it.
In the beginning of the book the main character, Mina, is starting out at a new district. We learn that in each district, the Blemished, or the non- GEMs have to wear tunics with a circle and a cross in them,...more
**From The Book Lover's Report: http://thebookloversreport.blogspot.com **

As you all know, I love my dystopia novels (Divergent, Insurgent, The Hunger Games), so this book sounded very intriguing to me. I decided that after reading the summary, I would read this book, and hopefully enjoy it.
In the beginning of the book the main character, Mina, is starting out at a new district. We learn that in each district, the Blemished, or the non- GEMs have to wear tunics with a circle and a cross in them, and they wear a head covering thing (it sort of reminds me of a hijab type covering). The GEMs do not like the Blemished. The GEMs are also genetically modified children, or 'designer' babies. Mina is in this 'Blemished' society. Around the place, there are people trying to fight against/ resist the movement of the 'Ministry'.
So, I did like this book. BUT the beginning was kind of slow; it really didn't hook me until about the middle. All I can say, though, when I did hit the middle of the book is 'Ahhh!!!' I mean, when I hit the middle, I really liked it.
In this review, I won't really tell a whole lot of things, 'cause I'm sure that I will giveaway spoilers, and I don't think many people will be happy with me if I did that. but, I will say that I liked the middle, and the ending left me hanging and wanting more, just like in the Divergent series. I can totally and completely see myself wanting to read the next book in this series. I'm actually pretty sure that this book will become popular soon, too. I mean... look at the cover; it looks good! And then, the summary sounds pretty hooking. And count in the fact that everybody wants to read dysopian right now... All good factors pointing in this book's direction. I'm glad that I was one of the first ones to read and review it... I can say that I read it and liked it first.
Those of you who don't like the dystopian genre, or don't think that you should buy into it because of the giant fad right now... Don't let that hold you back! There are really great books out here and there that haven't been brought to the spotlight yet, but would be a great book to do so...
Anyway, enough with the babbling... I give this book a 4.5 because I really did like it, but the beginning was sort of a bumpy ride for me.(less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Emma Adams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia

The Blemished is a wonderful dystopian debut by young adult author Sarah Dalton, set in a sinister re-imagined Britain which has fallen under the control of the Genetic Enhancement Ministry. The protagonist, Mina Hart, is Blemished: she has genetic defects, and the best she can expect from life is an operation preventing her from ever having children. The Blemished are the imperfect, with no rights, and only able to take on menial jobs like cooking and cleaning for the perfect GEM’s. But Mina is...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Lilac rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, tower-teams-2013

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...more

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About Sarah Dalton

Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader of most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.

Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Litera...more

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Books by Sarah Dalton

The Fractured: Elena (Fractured #1) (Blemished #2.5)

The Fractured: Maggie (Fractured #2) (Blemished 2.5)

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The Blemished (Blemished #1)

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