I was highly anticipating this sequel. The first book was one of my favorite reads of last year and the follow up did not disappoint. The blend of histories and fantasy is just perfect!

I am not a reader to seek out or attempt to predict the reveal in novels, but I love to appreciate the masterful manipulation authors can create. Deonn is a master of this in her storytelling, leaving the reader breathless through the final act and begging for the next installment.

This book may make my top 10 for the year. The way that Deonn portrayed the absolutely rage-inducing way that the system will stomp all over the truth to maintain their own power not caring who they hurt, kept me so engaged and feeling things deeply. I loved the character development, the relationship building, and the twisting plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for my special editions to come in February.

Legendborn was an amazing read and I've been anticipating Bloodmarked since I read the last page of Legendborn. This book was worth the wait and did not disappoint. The book immediately picks up where we left off in Legendborn with Bree coming into her own and finding her place with the descendants of king Arthur and the Knights of the round table. It's full of action and magic. This book was all I'd hoped for an more. These are the books I wish I had growing up and I'm even more excited to introduce more readers to this series!

Y'ALL... this book. Once you start, you will not be able to stop, and when you reach the end you will join me in agonizing over needing the next book to be available NOW so you know what happens next because... THAT ENDING. You are not prepared. BLOODMARKED does not suffer from 2nd-book-in-a-series-syndrome, Deonn builds on everything that happened in LEGENDBORN and takes it up a couple of notches. As Bree learns more about her connection with King Arthur and her root craft magic, she also learns that there is a wider world of magic out there - and that the Order hasn't been fully honest with her (shocking, I know).

I am very happy that Deonn sent Nick off to the sidelines to give readers the Bree and Selwyn show this time around. Let's face it, Nick is cute and all, but Sel is WAY more interesting than Nick could ever hope to be. I said what I said. I also love that Alice has become a larger presence in the Order part of the story, she might not have magic, but that girl is strong in her own way and a needed piece to this whole puzzle.

This book is intense, it does not let up, but it's a ride you won't want to get off of. I have no idea where Deonn is going to take this story next, but I am anxious to see how the plot will continue and if certain characters are going to be ok. The books in this series are not short reads, but they don't feel like you're reading over 500 pages. So I hope the size of them does not deter readers because Deonn is an excellent storyteller and this is becoming one of my favorite King Arthur retellings.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Bloodmarked felt like an epic, superhero movie with an amazing group of a characters.

One of my favorite things about this series is how the author takes her time with Bree’s growth. Bree isn’t immediately kicking ass and taking over the world. She is slowly discovering the heart-breaking reason she is in this position and figuring out how to emotionally and mentally deal with it. It is almost like a slow-burn of learning about herself and what she can do. It feels real and honest. Sometimes, she makes bad decisions and has to deal with consequences. Other times, she is smart and knows what is best for the people around her. Tracy Deonn is intricate in the way she writes Bree’s journey of self-discovery and magical history. I loved it.

This fantasy series contains shocking twists, crazy action scenes, and most importantly, LOTS OF SELWYN KANE. The tension and back and forth between Bree and Selwyn warmed my romance-loving heart, especially since that is obviously not the main focus of this series. It was nice to get glimpses of longing between these two characters.

I must say that there were moments where I was really confused. It could be because I have not read a YA fantasy series in a while and I regretfully did not reread the first book in the series before continuing. There were a lot of new characters introduced and at that point, I was just going with the flow. I probably should have refreshed my mind with the Order’s hierarchy before reading Bloodmarked but I still really enjoyed it.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me this ARC to review. Bloodmarked is available now!

Themes:
- Urban Fantasy
- Chosen One
- Powerful FMC
- Betrayal
- Unique Magic System
- Teenage ANGST
- Emotional

Ratings:
Overall - 4⭐️
Shock - 4😱
Tears - 1💧

I didn't think it was possible for the Legendborn series to get even better, but Tracy Deonn proved me wrong with Bloodmarked. This is a story that will make people fall in love with reading. The characters are so lovable, so complex, and so multidimensional that you can't help but feel deeply attached to them with each page that goes by.

Bloodmarked is even better than Legendborn, and I am already counting down the days for when the next book comes out!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of #Netgalley and the publisher.

I had read the first of this series and LOVED IT. This book was a typical sequel/filler book, though, so I was actually a bit disappointed. It didn't grab my attention quite like the first book in the series did. There was action, adventure, and intrigue, yet the story was lacking in something. Truly, I love this author. I'm just hoping that the next book in the series is just as good as the first and that this was simply a fluke!

[Posted on my blog on 11/8/22]

I'm obsessed with this series and I have a fan theory to include with this review!

I'm going to break all the rules and just say:
TL;DR: Just read it. So, so good.

Alright, back to keeping to the rules, let's continue this review like normal.

Before I really get into it, thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing over on Netgalley for approving my request for the e-ARC of this AMAZING book! I'm so thankful I got to read it early, so many thanks for giving me the opportunity!

Just to go back in time a little, since I didn't do a review for Legendborn - I was originally drawn to this story because I was told it was a modern King Arthur retelling with Southern Black Girl Magic, so I was sold immediately.  Little did I know just how sold I was going to be.

Legendborn showed up as a paperback in an Illumicrate monthly box. As soon as I could squeeze it into my TBR, I did [much to the annoyance of the other books I had planned to get to].

And. I. Was. Hooked.

I don't know why I never wrote a review for book one.  I may go back and reread Legendborn and Bloodmarked eventually [for reasons], and I may do a "Reread Review" of Legendborn, but I'm not sure what my schedule will look like at that point, so we'll see.  I'd love to, though, if I can!

But, first things first: Goodreads summaries!  If you want to read a synopsis of Legendborn [since I didn't do a separate review for it and you're thinking of starting the series], you can find that Goodreads summary here.  If you want to read of synopsis of the book that's currently taken over my brain, the one I'll need to read a cleanse book before moving on from, aka Bloodmarked, you can find that Goodreads summary here.

Alright, second things second: recommendation time!

Recommendation: Read it.  Seriously, it's so, so good.  Obviously, if you even liked Legendborn, you'll probably love Bloodmarked.  If you loved Legendborn and can't imagine loving the sequel more, be prepared.  If you're on the fence about the whole series and missed out or put it off until now, do it.  It's so deep, rich, and full of modern twists - both technologically and societal-ly.  The not-so-underlying tones of Legendborn just grow in Bloodmarked, and I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely incredible this book is.  I'm.  Obsessed.

Aaanndd third things third: my fan theory!

Fan Theory:  THIS ISN'T THE END OF THIS SERIES!  I think there's a book 3 that hasn't been announced [I'm still trying to figure out what the name would be - Hunted? Descendants?  Neither seem quite right, but maybe I'll keep this post updated with my title guesses], and that would make it the second duology-turned-trilogy this year!  [I also knew at the end of The Ballad of Never After that the duology would be announced to actually be a trilogy, I just couldn't get my review up fast enough to include that theory!]  Just like with what I'm calling the Broken Heart series, I don't mind at all that there's going to be more in these universes!  I'm so, so excited by this possibility! Did I mention yet that I'm obsessed with this series?  You couldn't have made me happier, honestly. Yeeeeeeess!  BRING ON BOOK THREE!

[Please note - I will strive to make this review as spoiler free for Bloodmarked as I possibly can, but it won't be Legendborn spoiler free. If you haven't read Legendborn and want to avoid spoilers, stop now!]

Anyway! I'm not going to lie to you, because I've been thinking about this book almost non-stop since I finished it, I'm going to struggle to get non-spoiler thoughts out, but I'll do my best. I wish I had been able to squeeze a reread of Legendborn in because I forgot how complex and term-heavy this world is and exactly how much happened in it. I definitely had to pause and think back to everything I could dredge up from my memory to catch up at first. BUT - it didn't take me long to get back into it, and Bree welcomed me back with open arms.

Bree. Incredible, headstrong, stubborn, strong Bree. She's so, so smart, but just a little behind the ball at the start of this book. That doesn't stop her, though, and everyone not on her side should watch out. The King is coming through! All [semi] jokes aside, Bree is a powerful force to be reckoned with, more in this book than ever before. Throughout both Legendborn and Bloodmarked, I couldn't help but find myself so, so proud of her, and the person she's becoming as her story goes on. I really don't know what else to say without giving away any more spoilers, but Bree is definitely pushing her way onto my short list of favorite female MCs. She's incredible.

It's hard to talk about Nick without spoilers for this book, so we'll talk about Sel. I forgot how much I both love and am annoyed by Sel. He's incredible and also an incredibly large pain in the neck. But the role he plays in this book is pivotal, and, not only would there not be much of a story without him, but I can't deny that a lot of the parts he impacts are why I want to reread not only this book but the current series as a whole. It's hard not to talk spoilers with him, too, so I guess we'll just push on for now.

Seriously, this series is amazing, and it deserves not only all the reads, but maybe all the rereads too. But, onto spoilers!

**SPOILER LINE! I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH, SO I GUESS A GUSHING WARNING MIGHT NOT HURT! I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK ALL THE DETAILS, SO BE PREPARED, WHETHER THAT MEANS GOING AND READING THE BOOK AND COMING BACK, OR BEING READY TO BE SPOILED WITH THE CONTENTS OF BLOODMARKED!**

Bree is forced through so much that a teenager shouldn't have to deal with. The choices she has to make, the choices made for her, all of it - she's incredible and stronger than any teenager should have to be.

Personally, I think I ship Bree and Sel harder than Bree and Nick, but maybe that's just because we don't really see much of Nick in this book, and the parts we do see aren't really doing him any favors. [I mean, I get why he chooses to be on his own, but, really, man? Seriously?]

That said . . .

SEL BETTER BE OK AND RECOVER, OR I SWEAR!

Ok, threats aside, I'm obsessed with this book, and it's a good thing I'm planning to read another book I'm obsessed with after this one [and a cleanser read], because I'd likely be in a reading slump if I didn't, just constantly wanting to come back to this world for more. Did I mention I love this book yet? Because I do.

But the Regents? I mean, I know a society/order like this is bound to breed power-hungry greediness into people, especially if they dreamed of glory and never got their chance when they were a Scion, but c'mon! And then the underlying racism is just - ugh, I felt physically ill, reading it. I knew they were awful but UGH! I don't think it was done heavy-handedly, either. I think it's exactly what it need to be, in every way. To think it's ok to drug-up, repeatedly wipe the memory of, and then essentially lock-up a teenager - nay, just a person in general! - is just next level.

The only possible inconsistency I'm seeing is that a lot of liberties are being taken with Bree's root abilities. To be fair, I guess it technically is established that her root isn't like the typical root powers you'd normally see because of that accidental deal with a demon. That said, it does feel a bit like a catch-all. All in all, though, I'll definitely be coming back for what is most assuredly going to be a third book. I need more, and I need answers!

While I'm sure the endgame is Nick and Bree for the full act of rebellion, I could see her being with Sel also being a full act of rebellion - it's never been done before either, right? So there's still hope for Sel and Bree, right? Right? [Joking - Nick and Bree would be a great endgame, too.]

I love how well created and well balanced this world is. It works well and balances the Scion-world and the root-crafter world, using both to demonstrate how the same price can be paid in different ways, which is what makes them similar but also uniquely different.

I love the "role" the ancestors play and Volition as a general idea. I hope it can become real, at some point. [Magic aside, of course.] I love the idea of the land that caused such suffering being reclaimed and repurposed for their good and as a safe haven.

But, seriously, if you were on the fence and my gushing review still didn't convince you, pretend I did, and read it because I doubt you'll regret it.

Book Report for Bloodmarked (The Legendborn Cycle #2) by Tracy Deonn

Cover Story: Back to Back
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 8
Talky Talk: Modern Fantasy (On the Run)
Bonus Factor: Rootcraft
Anti-Bonus Factor: Love Triangle
Relationship Status: Making Room in My Dresser

Red alert! Bloodmarked is the second book in the Legendborn Cycle. If you have not read the first book in this series (Legendborn), man your battle stations turn away now, as there might be spoilers in this review. If you’re caught up, however, feel free to continue below.

Cover Story: Back to Back
The covers for this series continue to highlight Bree and her powerful gifts, and I adore that. I also adore that Sel’s featured on this cover, rather than Nick. I think it hints at the true partner Bree needs. (Am I reading into this because I’m #TeamSelwyn? Likely.)

The Deal:
During a battle with Shadowborn in which Bree pulled the legendary sword Excaliber out of a stone, Bree discovered that she was the true heir to King Arthur and his gifts.The Legendborn society which she is now “ruler” of is split on their feelings about this revelation; some folks are treating her like she should be treated while others question her worthiness (*cough*racism*cough*). But she can’t quite get Arthur’s gifts to work like they should, and her rootcraft—also immensely powerful—seems to only come out when her life’s on the line.

While trying to discover how to use both sides of her power, and how to make them work together, Bree ends up on the run from the very people she assumed would protect her, the Crown Scion. Sadly, old prejudices and the lust for power run deep, even in organizations that are supposed to be all about the safety of humanity.

BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Our girl Bree has a lot on her mind and her plate in Bloodmarked, and that makes her a bit flighty when it comes to being a friend. But that doesn’t make her any less of an excellent one, on the whole, and her connections to the wild secret Legendborn society and it’s Mess would be worth the price of admission. (The price of admission sometimes being your safety, stability, and even your life. Poor Alice. I’d give her a BFF Charm in a heartbeat, too.)

Swoonworthy Scale: 8
The CHEMISTRY in this book, I tell you. Very little happens, in a physical sense, but the lead up to what does happen and the TENSION between the two folks it happens to had me fanning myself in glee. I’m not going to spoil who the swoon happens between, because Bree’s got options, but I am knocking the score down a notch because of the love triangle-ness of it all. I am completely uncertain about who Bree will eventually end up with (if anyone) and nervous that Deonn might have to get brutal when resolving the whole thing.

Talky Talk: Modern Fantasy (On the Run)
Thanks to circumstances, Bree spends much of Bloodmarked running for her life around the southern U.S. There’s a heightened urgency to Bloodmarked that wasn’t in Legendborn because of this, and the book rarely lets you pause to catch your breath. That said, it did feel a bit bridge book-y; although a lot happens, the plot doesn’t progress as much as it could have. It expands outward, with more worldbuilding and character development, but the timeline feels super short.

Bonus Factor: Rootcraft
Where Legendborn focused more heavily on the Arthurian side of Bree’s gifts (in that we needed to learn about the workings of the society and the magic that comes with), Bloodmarked focuses a bit more on the other side of Bree’s powers, the rootcraft. It’s fascinating to read about, and a great opposite (and sometimes complement) to Arthur’s gifts.

The rootcraft community at Volition, a safe haven for rootcrafters and Black folk, specifically, is a truly beautiful setting, too.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Love Triangle
There were already hints to the triangle in Legendborn, but things get SO MUCH WORSE (in the best way?) in Bloodmarked. I truly cannot deal. But I’m really trying to trust that Deonn knows what she’s doing and won’t break our hearts too badly before the end.

Relationship Status: Making Room in My Dresser
You had me at “Black girl is heir to the King Arthur legacy,” Book, and you’ve kept me with “Unapologetically powerful Black girl is the heir to King Arthur’s legacy but also so much more than that.” There’s definitely chemistry between us, and I’m excited about the possibilities in our future.

This was a really good sequel. But I do admit I struggled a little in the beginning to get into it. I think I might have enjoyed the first one a little bit more. Also the ending caught me so off guard I was not expecting this series to be more than a duology and I'm sad that now I have to wait to find out what is going to happen in the next one. There was a lot of action in this one which I liked and I liked see Bree really come into her own in this one. Can't wait for the next one!

One of the best books I've ever read.

Tracy Deonn does it again with this stunning sequel to her debut novel, Legendborn, and I CANNOT WAIT to see what she does next. I need news, immediately! I need a new book from Tracy because this one is SO good I will have a book hangover for a while.

I have too much to say about this book. It's beautiful and intense and I cannot wait for the next one.

After LEGENDBORN blew me out of the water, BLOODMARKED easily became one of my most-anticipated reads of 2022. While I’m not usually a fan of Arthurian retellings, Deonn created a masterpiece via a beautiful compilation of themes with an absolutely jaw-dropping conclusion.

My aforementioned feelings make this review that much harder. Like its predecessor, BLOODMARKED is lengthy, but unfortunately, the first half was a struggle to push through. Don’t get me wrong; I wanted to finish the book. I just wanted to fast-forward over some of the sections that seem to meander along. While the pace picked up, some of the elements that made LEGENDBORN so incredible were seemingly discarded. That being said, I always read the Author’s Note, and Deonn provided some explanation for some of the decisions Bree made throughout BLOODMARKED.

Overall, I enjoyed this installment, and I know that I will be reading what comes next. I am curious as to whether this will be a 4+ book series due to the number of open storylines at the end of book two. This review was left intentionally vague to avoid spoilers. A huge thank you to Simon Teen and the #fantasyfrenemies cohosts for the gifted eARC!

After the first book cliffhanger, the second book immediately picks off where it left off. And it does not stop rolling. Bree is facing some struggles throughout the book that makes her question everything.

I don’t know where to start since it was pretty chaotic. But Bree is the ultimate star of the book. She kept on going, and didn’t stop for anything. It’s pretty amazing, but it’s also heartbreaking. It just shows how much people will do in order to prevent Bree from being in charge. They forget that she is the reason why they are alive. And I can’t wait for Bree to unhinge. It’s going to be awesome to read.

So much has happened in Bree's life that she really does not have time to focus on her romance dilemma. There is a love triangle between Bree, Nick, and Selwyn. It changes the game, but I knew this was coming from the first book. I felt more for Bree and Selwyn than Bree and Nick. They have more passion whenever they are fighting each other or helping each other out.

This was a solid sequel in a trilogy. The story definitely doesn't stand on its own, and I felt like it was a bit repetitive. I will for sure read the 3rd installment to find out what happens. I really love the characters, so I'm hoping their stories get wrapped up with the next book.

🥳HAPPY PUB DAY🥳

Thank you so much to @simonteen @elle_mentbooks and @momandmadread for this ARC!! Love my Fantasy Frenemies!

I just finished reading this right right on the heels of finishing Legendborn. The two books seamlessly mesh and I was immediately engaged. As the book went on I was happy to see how strong Bree continues to be. There are so many great characters, Nick and Sel, to name a few. So well written with strengths and weaknesses that make you want to root for them and strangle them at the same time. There is, of course, some explaination of the first book but it wasn’t heavy handed at all and a nice refresher for people who read the book a while ago.

Absolutely my favorite book I've read in years. Tracy can truly do no wrong. Somehow this book is even better than the first. The story is so well thought out, the love triangle is perfection, and the world-building and magic system is incomparable. An easy 5 stars.

*Possible spoilers.

An interesting and complex story concept.

Before I get into this review, I want to say the cover is stunning. I have much admiration for the author and applaud her for publishing her second novel!

Now. Onto the review.

I really hoped Bloodmarked would be a lot better than Legendborn.

Bree is now trying to navigate her newfound powers as King Arthur's heir and crowned scion, but everyone keeps getting in her way when she tries to help someone. I understand everyone's need to protect her because of her newfound title, but sometimes I really wish she was more defiant so we could see what she is made of. I wanted her to show up as a badass with her once-born power a lot more.

She also went back and forth from "I'm the king" to "I don't want this." And there are ways to do that tastefully to where you admire the character. But in this case, it felt like she only pronounced herself king when she needed people to listen, only to walk back on those words.

I don't feel like there was enough training of her powers throughout, and I would have liked to see more of that. I did enjoy the tension between her and Sel, but there were many times when this story dragged on for me. I also hoped this wouldn't be a whole book about finding Nick. While, yes, I think that is important, I wanted to see more focus on Bree getting stronger.

I also wish, and this is more of a personal preference, that she would have had people call her queen instead of king. It seemed a little weird to keep calling her king throughout. Ancestors be damned, especially when I learned about how her line was formed.

Tracy Deonn's Bloodmarked is a satisfying continuation of the Legendborn saga, developing the complex Arthurian world of which Briana, the novel's protagonist, is both the legitimate heir and the hunted. While I preferred Legendborn's exploration of Briana's two worlds-- the realistic and the magical-- particularly Briana's grief, loss, experience, and relationships among family and friends outside the magical realm, I do think Bloodmarked's full immersion in the magical world Deonn is building is exactly what her staunchest fantasy fans anticipated and will love in this sequel. And it ends with a huge cliffhanger! I'm looking forward to Book #3!