<b>“You are the point of our arrow […] the tip of our spear. The bow of our ship. The flame of our long-simmering heat. You are the living embodiment of our resistance. The revelation after centuries of hiding. The pain-welded blade. Wound turned weapon.” </b>

I have been waiting for <i>Bloodmarked</i> with baited breath since first blowing through <i>Legendborn</i> last year. That excitement only (somehow) grew upon completing my reread of Legendborn last week where I was again reminded of all the many things Deonn not only got right, but hit out of the park, alongside all the crumbs and threads left that I was eager to see fleshed out.

All that excitement and optimism to say that I felt more than ready to tackle Bloodmarked. I’ll start with the positives before going through some of the critiques that I feel held this back. First, as in Legendborn, Deonn doesn’t shy away from putting slavery and the theme of racism front and center, demonstrating in micro and macro ways the ways racism continues to run rampant and power current structures and systems. The racism Bree experiences from those within the Order meant to protect and uphold her manifest in many ways, some shocking, some, sadly, familiar. Deonn deftly puts these on the page and Bree has many memorable moments where she refuses to let the Order ignore what circumstances and systems of power put her in her current position as Arthur’s scion. The challenge of what is acceptable, palatable, better left unsaid so as not to make white people uncomfortable is what continues to make this series so incredibly important.

<b>“They will still find a way to claim my power as their own. Ignore its origins, because those origins discomfort them. And expect my humility for surviving the violence of a system they helped build, maintain, and benefit from.” </b>

Another aspect I liked, though one that I think contradicts some plot points made in Legendborn, was the diversity included of several new characters, many in positions of power within the Order. From lieges to mageguards, we find a cast of characters that starts to look a lot more like our society than just the very old white money of an old southern institution. I say this contradicts from Legendborn plot points because we find that Bree as a black squire is not actually the first, and that other minorities are embedded in the Order in other positions of power. It may be just that the racism may be more pronounced or felt in the southern chapter than some of the others, but I’m not totally sure it checks out. it’s a minor quibble in continuity I’m willing to overlook because I think the representation is itself more important.

Now for some aspects that weren’t successful for me. Diving into this one felt daunting because it felt somehow like there was an immediate reset on the characters from where we find them at the end of Legendborn. The connection between Bree and Sel seems unnaturally frayed and fraught with tension — and not in the teen pining way, and Bree herself felt a bit disconnected. After everything that’s revealed at the end of Legendborn, it doesn’t seem that the months between that and the beginning of Bloodmarked (~3 months) find Bree adjusting any better to her circumstances or having come to any processing of it all. But nonetheless, the action immediately picks up with new factions involved. Quickly on, the Legendborn world is expanded significantly with more layers to the Order revealed. While the expansion was creative and interesting, I’m not convinced it was cleanly done. Despite entire paragraphs of info dumps, I don’t quite understand each Regent’s position or motivations and the Order system and hierarchy felt muddled and confusing. Within the first 100 pages, there’s almost too much introduced information wise, but not enough character wise.

Bree feels like a mere shadow of herself, which is saying something as I didn’t leave Legendborn with a solid grasp on who Bree is as a a character outside her trauma and grief. Despite being so connected and in love with Nick (or whatever emotions), Nick often felt like an afterthought in Bree’s thoughts, instead of up front and center as an emotional driver. Bree also doesn’t seem keen to look into mastering or understanding her powers for 300+ pages, despite wanting to keep throwing herself into danger unprepared, and knowing that such actions could cause the death of all those connected to her through the Lines. Bree simply just felt wooden and flat. In Legendborn we got to see clever aspects to her - we’re told she’s academically gifted and smart, putting clues together about the Order on her own, manipulating Nick into making her a page…but here, all that seems to vanish. She’s just a figurehead - and while that’s fine for other’s to see her as, I expected more of a reaction from Bree about this than just doing nothing.

Sel as a partner to Bree during Nick’s absences felt like a squandered opportunity to begin these two even closer and leverage the ~feelings~ developing and hinted at in the end of Legendborn. It’s not clear why their relationship backtracks so starkly in the beginning, but this persists for several hundred pages. Sel also goes off on other things that further removes him and Bree from connecting on any level and because it all happens away from the eyes of the readers, we really have no sense for what’s going on with his character. Where his angsty attitude in Legendborn was starting to come together and make sense, here it felt forced and too drawn out. I also expected Sel to have stronger feelings about Nick’s kidnapping, given the bond and oath that keeps them so intricately tied together. There are moments of….something with Sel and Bree that I think are meant to keep the love triangle aspect alive, but they felt cringey and inauthentic because these two would immediately go back to being cold and combative. It’s not the push and pull of opposites attract, it’s like they literally resent the other, so the romance just felt toxic and unhealthy, especially with what we know about Sel’s background and how he’s always been used.

<b>“You invoke grief now so that death will never surprise you again. You imagine how it could happen, so that you can imagine how it cannot. You wish to destroy it before it destroys you.” </b>

As I mentioned above, it takes Bree 300+ pages to decide she’s going to learn how to master her powers — this did not make any sense to me. It did not make sense given how clever and eager she was to learn weaponry and fighting for the tournament in book 1, and especially now that people have died and betrayals are afoot. I can understand not feeling worthy enough of being king, or not even wanting to, but the emotional drivers of Nick and wanting to save her friends should have been enough to spark….something. Time and again, Bree just makes matters worse, knowing she can’t help in battle.

<b>“This world wants my suffering, and I cannot keep giving it to them.” </b>

While the middle suffered from pacing issues, the ending introduced so many elements and Plotinus without really seizing any of them that it makes me confused about the direction of the series. There are the Morgaines, the Shadowborn, Sel and his demonic, Nick, and all the truths that Bree uncovers about herself. None of these is fleshed out and many of them are left conveniently on pause. You might say this is so that they’ll be picked up in the next book, but without going into spoilers, I jus don’t see how they can all be connected well and without making things feel so convoluted. There were opportunities to stick the landing with introducing these elements, the Morgaines especially, that didn’t happen, so I wonder if they shouldn’t have just been left out and saved for the next book. Too many new things at once — you don’t know where your attention should be going and it doesn’t feel satisfying. ANd if you’re wondering where Nick is in all this — so am I. He was a non-starter throughout and an afterthought repeatedly, which was surprising given his role in Bree’s life in book 1. I suspect Deonn is still figuring out what to do with him now that we all know how he and Bree are connected, not just through the Order, but by family histories.

The ending itself is where I feel the most unmoored and letdown. I’ll put spoiler tags.

<spoiler> When Bree refuses her oaths to Arthur, that made sense, though it’s just not clear how she can do this and this requires much more explanation of the magic system rules. However, when Bree renounces her family line, Vero and all her ancestors, I just….I have to say, I feel like that was disrespectful and the antithesis of the themes presented in the book and ethos of Root, how its taught, used, passed down, borrowed by those who need it from ancestors. It felt like Bree was spitting at her family line because she couldn’t make both fit and it felt like such a spoiled position. It felt like Ike it sent a message that they were weak, that they just ran while Bree would be stronger, without acknowledging what they had to sacrifice and live through just for her to exist and have these privileges. It just felt harsh, abrupt, and so out of character.

I have hope subsequent books will have Bree realizing she’s acting like a petulant ungrateful child and that the real work is finding a balance between her family history and trauma and who she is as a person today. It’s hard to carry the mantle and trauma of our families and their history, as a child of immigrants I get that it feels like we’re weighed down by things we had no voice in inheriting, but cutting it all out isn’t, to me, the answer, because all of that still makes us who we are. Volition may be intention, but there’s a reason Volition is so powerful and a place of safety, because the ancestors made it so, because they remember and they provide safe passage, learning and knowledge, and comfort to those that come after.” </spoiler>

Overall I highly respect what Deonn is trying to do with the story and her voice is incredibly powerful, but I feel that Bloodmarked was too much at once without a clear direction and without deference to the characters. I’m still committed to the next book and series (I suspect it will be more than a trilogy, or I hope so given all that was introduced), but I do hope we see much more of Bree as a fleshed out character, get more from the supporting cast, and explore Nick and Sel each more deeply, and get a clearer picture of all the magical elements and players circling around. Despite all my thoughts, I still recommend this series, there’s more to come and I will be eager to see where Deonn takes this.

Thank you Simon Teen and Fantasy Frenemies co-hosts for my galley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.5 /5, rounding up to 3.

After reading Legendborn, I was chomping at the bit to find out what happened next. The sequel kept up the fast paced plot with all the twists and turns. I loved watching Bree's story continue and I know my students will be as well. I will be purchasing for my library.

Bree Matthews has now realized and displayed her power but finds herself feeling powerless. Trapped at the Lodge and trying to learn the ins and outs of the Order, she slowly realizes that those in charge may not have her best interests at heart. Still reeling from losing Nick, she tries to balance being the Scion King and a loyal friend. When people she cares for find themselves in greater and greater danger, she must decide what her next moves will be and learn how to control her power. The world that Deonn built in the previous book continues to expand and provides great detail so the reader understands the dynamics of the Order and what is at stake. There are moments at the beginning of the book where the multiple new characters from the Order and the descriptions may keep readers from getting into the book quickly, but those who continue through the first few chapters will be rewarded. Legendborn is a fast-paced book filled with action and surprises that will hook reluctant readers. Recommended where the first book in the series was popular. I can already tell at our library it will not stay on the shelf for long!

“But wishes are the dangerous mind games we play with ourselves. The only way to win is not to play.”

Let me start by telling you guys that I wish I had Bree’s restraint. I couldn’t have her kind of power because I would’ve lost my cool a million times and just root them 👀 She’s so much stronger than I’ll ever be 🙈

Ok, so I didn’t see the very last twist 👀 it was quite 🤌🏼 and I’m in a bubble of denial because no. Nope. Make it right. I swear this will make perfect sense once you read it (and yes, you should). But book 2 reviews without spoilers are harder than controlling Arthur.

And I’m sorry but I need to vent about the love triangle 🙈 Absolutely team Sel. Except when I’m team Nick. But mostly Sel. Although Nick has my heart too. I demand this becomes a “why choose.” Please and thank you 💁🏻‍♀️

One last note: the new characters. THE NEW CHARACTERS 😱 🤌🏼

This book is perfect for those who love:
🖤retellings
🖤complex magic systems
🖤betrayal
🖤found family
🖤love triangles

Young Adult. 4 stars ⭐️

(Big thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for giving us this eARC in exchange for an honest review!)

The amount of happiness and pain I went through realizing that Legendborn is in fact, not a duology, and that it will be either a trilogy or quartet. Thank god because I need more Bree, Sel, Alice, and William in my life, but I have to wait another couple of years to finally reach closure because we all know that every book until the last book in this series will end on a heart-wrenching cliffhanger. Everything about Tracy Deonn's writing leaves me in complete awe and admiration. The Legendborn world contains some of the best worldbuilding I have ever read with so many nuances and levels that keep growing with each book. Typically, the second book in a series will always be a little less perfect than the rest of the series because it's faced with the responsibility of continuing the plot and filling potential plotholes, which leads to a bland book. Bloodmarked is the complete opposite of that. Each chapter left me literally screaming about what would happen next and what cruel and unusual punishment Bree would be faced with. The plot never slowed down and the twists were actually unbelievable. Not only did the plot destroy me, but the characters somehow wedged themselves even deeper into my heart. Bree is so so powerful and inspiring, not because of her strengths but because of her flaws. Her character is so realistic that I constantly want to hug her after all the battles she faces while simultaneously also wishing I could slap her for her stupidity. AND NOT TO MENTION SEL. I would dedicate my entire being to him. How dare Deonn make me hate him in the first book and then develop his character so well that I had to fall for him. It's embarrassing the number of snarky dark haired male interests with traumatic pasts that lead them to hate the world that I become obsessed with. I am begging on my hands and knees that Deonn please spare my children some trauma in the next books, but alas, that would be futile.

I honestly don't even know how to comprehend Bloodmarked enough to write this rave review. One of the things I loved the most about Legendborn is how Deonn examines this idea of a chosen one. Of who gets to become a legend. And all the ways the playing field isn't level before the game even begins. But in Blodmarked, Deonn only continues this theme. In this sequel, Bree comes up against the intersection of power and racism. All the 'excuses' people have once it turns out their savior is Black or that they are the ones in power. The ugliness that this intersection brings out.

Some of the situations Bree finds herself in because of this - cannot spoil! - feel particularly impactful given the history of racism. The ways in which Black people have been dehumanized, stripped of power, and taught to suppress their selves, to be controlled. And that's just the tip of the iceberg introduces us to. Throughout Bloodmarked, Deonn examines how we don't want to attribute faults and blame to those we 'worship'. How we won't believe their misdeeds. As someone who grew up in a community of silence and denial, this felt particularly meaningful.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better than the first book, Bloodmarked drops. Tracy Deonn writes so effortlessly, which makes for an easy read and you will fly through this almost 600 page book. There is non-stop edge of your seat action from beginning to end that will thoroughly keep you engaged. I constantly had anxiety over what was going to happen next and to whom. The TURMOIL! I enjoyed that there was more history behind the lines. I fell in love with the characters even more in this one, Alice Chen is a serious badass. Let's not forget about Selwyn Kane and Bree, the tension was PALPABLE and I was here for it. My nerves were on edge the entire time, just to be left with that ENDING! WHY? I am not well. I need book 3 immediately.

This is truly how you write a sequel, it gave me everything I wanted and more (along with more questions). Tracy Deonn did not hold back on the emotions or the action and the way Bree's character arc is influenced by her history is done brilliantly. This book is darker, more complex but the light it throws on the characters is insane.

I went into this book absolutely loving Legendborn but i wasn’t sure if I. was going to like Bloodmarked. I was proven completely wrong. I absolutely loved Bloodmarked. Tracy Deonn has phenomenal writing style and her writing and dialogue and characters internal monologues never ceases to amaze me. I would absolutely love if the publishing company is able to send me a physical arc or finished copy

All Bree had wanted to do was learn the truth behind her mother's death. So, she infiltrated a secret society called the Legendborn Order in order to reveal her mother's secrets. What she hadn't expected was to awaken a completely new power, one that no one was prepared for. 

As the shadows start to gain power and the war between the demons and the Order gets more and more dangerous, not everyone wants to fight. Those in control want to keep the war hidden. So, Bree and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands. But in order to save her friends and get an edge in this war, Bree has to first learn to control her powers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn to review! Legendborn was one of my top reads of last year, and this was one of my most anticipated sequels. If you loved Legendborn, you'll love this follow up.

Sometimes, sequels can fall victim to second book syndrom, but this book definitely does not. Everything that I loved about Legendborn I still got in this book. Deonn expands the vast world that she already build in the original, and I loved getting to see new elements of it. There is a lot of world building in these books, but it is balanced out with the characters that Deonn created.

If you loved Sel in the first book, I am happy to tell you that you get so much more of him in this one. The relationship between him and Bree is a complicated one, and it is fully explored here. Man, the chemsitry between them. It just adds to the world and the plot and is part of what makes this book work so well.

Additionally, Bree isn't afraid to tell people like it is, especially when it's about race. There are some great moments in here where she pushes back against this old society run by pretty much all white people. And she just keeps overturning their expectations.

Before reading this, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a duology or a series. Now, I'm 100% sure it's going to be a series because it can't just end where it does. I need another book already!

All in all, if you love a strong YA fantasy with King Arthur vibes, you're going to love this series.

I got an ARC of this book through NetGalley – it comes out on November 8, 2022. This is another YA fantasy series that I’m completely obsessed with. It’s the sequel to Legendborn, which I read last year, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting it for months now. The series is really cool because it’s (loosely) based on the magic of King Arthur and Camelot – I am far from an expert, but it’s still fun to read and see the parallels. In Legendborn, Bree enrolls in a pre-college program at a university because it’s where her mother, who passed away recently, went to school. In an attempt to learn more about her mother’s life, she gets drawn into the Order… and learns that there was a lot about her mom she didn’t know. In Bloodmarked, Bree is embracing her power and her place in the Order, but has to fight against centuries of oppression and tradition and white supremacy culture. When her boyfriend Nick is kidnapped, Bree and her friends go against the Order’s wishes to try to get him back. But there’s a lot about the history of the Order, and about her powers themselves, that Bree still doesn’t understand – and she has to grapple with that, along with her attraction to Nick’s childhood best friend Selwyn. It’s such a captivating story, and I love how it adeptly combines issues of race with the legends of King Arthur. I highly recommend preordering!!

This was a great second book. I always worry about the second book slump. I can’t wait for book three.

Tracy Deonn's second book does not disappoint! The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat - and wishing for the next book! Deeper and deeper into this magical world of Arthurian legend, you will find yourself not wanting to leave.

Oh man I thought I already reviewed this? BLEH. I read it awhile ago. UM I was really excited to read it after the cliffhanger from Book 1 but then this one left me hanging on another cliffhanger!! I feel like it suffered from middle-book syndrome but I still love Bree as a character and will defo read the next one.

This was an amazing sequel. There was more of everything I wanted in the first book (which I also really enjoyed) more Alice, more Selwyn, more Bree delving into her history and coming into her own- despite the evil machinations of the Order (at least some of them!)
This book definitely took a darker turn than Legendborn, which makes sense. The war is looming ever closer, and there is a schism in the Order itself and no one seems prepared to accept Bree as the Scion of Arthur.. All those who should be on her side, are working against her. Except, of course, the ever loyal Alice and Selwyn! Some chapters from Alice's POV would be amazing (maybe a bonus chapter in a future book- hint hint!)

And that ending! I cannot wait to read more!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Took a while to get there, but I appreciate the resolution of this book: everyone else is trying to use Bree, so she refuses to be a pawn and forges her own path.

All I can say is wow.
Deonn does not disappoint in this sequel to Legendborn. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, a new twist was thrown in. And that’s what I absolutely love about her writing. Just like Legendborn, I read Bloodmarked in the edge of my seat. I consumed this book.
We meet a variety of new characters as well as delve into relationships with established characters. We see more of Bree’s power, her history, and just what her lineage is.
We also see way more interaction between Bree and Sel, which made my morally gray loving heart so very happy. 🥰
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I just have to hope that this series will be a trilogy because I don’t know if I will be able to handle waiting even longer for the conclusion!
As always, thank you to the publisher, Simon Schuster as well as NetGalley for an ARC of Bloodmarked in exchange for my honest review. ❤️

I felt like it was slower than the first, and there were a lot of things that had to be built up before it could move forward, so that didn’t help pacing. However, it does mean it can be read without reading book 1 first, which is always a plus. Bree is only 16, but somehow she feels even younger in this book than she did the first.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

This book was everything I expected it to be and more! The continuation of the series flows so well. The first book is recapped seamlessly in the narrative. I enjoyed learning more about Bree's powers and the world of the Legendborn and Root Crafters. I thought the conflict was a natural evolution and that it was really well written. The character development across the board was fantastic. I will continue to recommend this series to everyone.

Bloodmarked will demand ALL your emotions.
It will take every single one of them and use them for its own use but don't fight it, take a deep breath and let go.

This sequel to the critically acclaimed Legendborn, picks off exactly where we left off. In Legendborn we covered a lot of breath, but Bloodmarked Tracy focuses on depth.
Bloodmarked goes deep into the world of Bree, and the world outside of her. Every bit of world-building is done purposely, beautifully, and powerfully. If you thought Legendborn blew your mind, prepare your mind cause this is larger than I ever imagine.
Bloodmarked also goes deep into our central characters. Everyone is given an added layer of humanity and complexity and its beautiful (and terrifying) to watch in this new world.

Overall, I think this was a phenomenal sequel. Provided the right amount of action, world-building and character development expected of a second book in a trilogy. There is also quite a bit of politics and romance, both of which were absolutely mesmerizing and I would take more of both please.