Marked by J.P. Ramzy is a thrilling drama that follows Devyn, a young woman who is trained to be an assassin for the Vatican. Devyn is a troubled girl whose life was taken away from her, but she is rescued by Father Laney, who trains her to be ruthless. Devyn owes everything to him and does all that he tells her without hesitation. But then, Father Laney tells her to kill Dr. Isaac Young, a geneticist known for his work in cloning. The order does seem right to her. For the first time, she starts to wonder why the church wants this man dead. Instead of pulling the trigger, Devyn defies everything she has ever known and decides to protect her target. After questioning Dr. Young, Devyn realizes a larger conspiracy is at play, and the people she was sent to kill in the past may have been targeted to cover up a long-held secret. Everything was a lie, and she may have to switch sides.

Marked is the first book in the Game of Deception series by J.P. Ramzy, and it introduces readers to a wonderful cast of characters and an intriguing story. At first, I thought this was just a story about scientific advancements in human cloning versus the Catholic Church’s opposition, but it was so much more. It highlights the battle between light and darkness and how some people are ready to sacrifice even themselves to gain power. I loved the story's setup and narrative because, midway through, the author narrates from a different character’s perspective and throws in a plot twist that will stun you. The story is engaging and suspenseful from start to finish. I read it in one sitting because I did not want to miss anything. Devyn’s journey is not over, as she is more motivated to take down everyone who lied to her. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to future books.

Marked: Game of Deception by J.P. Ramzy is a suspenseful story about betrayal, manipulation, and power. It centers around Devyn Prescott, a girl who finds herself in a tough situation when she is expelled from a Catholic school due to violent behavior. She is returned to Avail, a prison-like orphanage, but she does not want to be there because of the severe bullying she will face. She pleads with Father Laney to save her, and he comes through, taking her in and training her to be an assassin for the church. Although young and unprepared, Devyn becomes a very skilled assassin. Unfortunately, her next target, Dr. Isaac Young, has her conflicted. The human cloning project he is about to be killed for is not for dubious reasons but stems from his desire to reunite with his dead family, something Devyn also wishes for herself. Just as she is about to kill Isaac, Devyn changes her plans and instead confronts him about his research. This leads to a terrifying discovery.

Marked: Game of Deception is a gripping drama that combines action, science, religion, and political elements. Devyn is a character who you cannot help but root for; her origin story is touching as she lost her family and just needs love and guidance, but she finds herself at the center of a conspiracy. The storytelling style is something I really like. J.P. Ramzy introduces characters slowly and only tells us small pieces of information about them using flashbacks and their thoughts. This is the first book in the series, and it ends on a cliffhanger that left me with questions, especially about the villains. Their unpredictable behavior and secrecy really stood out. The story mainly centers on manipulation and betrayal. This is an amazing read and a great start to the series. I truly enjoyed this book and think it is a great choice for anyone who loves stories about power, deception, and finding redemption.