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localogophile's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I LOVED this books. Like, I literally could not stop listening. The characters were well-written with reasonable motivations. Like, even the way Deonn wrote the villain characters was good. They were all fleshed-out with reasonable actions for their beliefs and veviewpoints. The plot was well-thought-through and reasonable for the characters — neither were forced onto the other. All the character's actions where for the progression of the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery
booked4adventure's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Was a good read but felt like it had a slow pace. I did find myself frustrated with the main character a lot of the time though. And this time around felt like Briana was making the same decisions that for the most part resulted badly. Would love to see more of William and Alice in next book and have them help move the story forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Racism, and Sexual violence
kaybee23's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, and Grief
pgmoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars!
WOW. This book really upped the ante from the first. I feel every aspect was done with care: the story, the worldbuilding, and the characters.
By far my favorite part of the book was Bree's growth with her magic and her character. The magic system in this is really inventive and interesting. As the main character is a WOC, the struggles she goes through specifically are so impactful and emotional. The scene when she is confronted by the Regents about their true plan truly brought me to tears. I was rooting for Bree everytime she spoke her mind!
Additionally, the small complaint I had in this book about some characters not getting development got remedied; by focusing on fewer characters, we got to know the select few much more. I ADORE Alice and am literally waiting on the edge of my seat after her story ended. Nicholas, despite not being in it much, has a little character development, and of course, the relationship between Selwyn and Bree is very interesting and nuanced! Because the characters got more screentime and we follow Bree's journey with her title and magic, the ending of this book was so thrilling and beautiful.
If I had any complaints, I will say it was sometimes hard to follow the world building with Arthur's memories, and the beginning of the story is a little slow-paced. But by the middle of the book I was very invested. I can't wait until Tracy Deonn drops the next book! I'm waiting patiently.
WOW. This book really upped the ante from the first. I feel every aspect was done with care: the story, the worldbuilding, and the characters.
By far my favorite part of the book was Bree's growth with her magic and her character. The magic system in this is really inventive and interesting. As the main character is a WOC, the struggles she goes through specifically are so impactful and emotional.
Additionally, the small complaint I had in this book about some characters not getting development got remedied; by focusing on fewer characters, we got to know the select few much more.
If I had any complaints, I will say it was sometimes hard to follow the world building with
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: War
Minor: Sexual assault
molliford's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault
tourmaline1703's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I adored Legendborn when I read it a couple of years ago and I can't believe it's taken me so long to get round to Bloodmarked. I cannot wait for the next book as I am pretty invested in this series and I think the stakes are going to keep ramping up throughout the next book.
The worldbuilding is beautiful and it's such an interesting concept. As it had been a while since I read the first book, it took me a while to remember everything but I got there eventually. We got to really dive deeper into the magic system, especially Bree's powers, of course, and got to understand how long rivalries and tensions had been around for. What of course makes me happiest, as a Welsh person, is the accuracy of the Welsh mythology, it is so pleasing to read.
The writing is wonderful, and the use of Old and Modern Welsh made me very happy. It felt like I was in on the characters' secrets because I could also understand what they were saying and the Welsh is written in beautifully. The start of the novel is written very cleverly as well with Bree's situation and I think the writing style reflected what she was going through very well.
The plot was well paced and I liked how that reflected the various obstacles characters were having to overcome. This novel isn't just characters on one mission and that's the sole plot, there are twists and obstacles in their way that keep the plot moving and changing. Despite this being a fantasy novel, the plot also deals with important modern issues such as racism and it discusses slavery a lot, which is incredibly important to discuss in the real world as well as its significance to the story.
I love the characters in this story and their dynamics with each other. It helped having a slightly smaller main cast of characters because we got to properly delve into their personalities and motives. It felt like there were actual risks as well, this isn't something where everyone constantly comes out unscathed, there are genuine risks. It is just fab.
The worldbuilding is beautiful and it's such an interesting concept. As it had been a while since I read the first book, it took me a while to remember everything but I got there eventually. We got to really dive deeper into the magic system, especially Bree's powers, of course, and got to understand how long rivalries and tensions had been around for. What of course makes me happiest, as a Welsh person, is the accuracy of the Welsh mythology, it is so pleasing to read.
The writing is wonderful, and the use of Old and Modern Welsh made me very happy. It felt like I was in on the characters' secrets because I could also understand what they were saying and the Welsh is written in beautifully. The start of the novel is written very cleverly as well with Bree's situation and I think the writing style reflected what she was going through very well.
The plot was well paced and I liked how that reflected the various obstacles characters were having to overcome. This novel isn't just characters on one mission and that's the sole plot, there are twists and obstacles in their way that keep the plot moving and changing. Despite this being a fantasy novel, the plot also deals with important modern issues such as racism and it discusses slavery a lot, which is incredibly important to discuss in the real world as well as its significance to the story.
I love the characters in this story and their dynamics with each other. It helped having a slightly smaller main cast of characters because we got to properly delve into their personalities and motives. It felt like there were actual risks as well, this isn't something where everyone constantly comes out unscathed, there are genuine risks. It is just fab.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Racism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Infidelity, Slavery, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment
savvyrosereads's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rating: 4/5 stars
This is the sequel to Legendborn and the second book in the series of the same name.
Selwyn Kane is EVERYTHING and honestly the primary reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Overall, I’d say this one suffered from a bit of a sophomore slump—I wasn’t as connected to or engaged with the plot, and I was a bit frustrated with some of the characters’ decisions and with the ending overall.
But SEL. When I latch on to a fictional character I never let them go, and Sel is absolutely mine now. I urgently need more books in this series specifically because I urgently need more of him.
Overall, even with some mild criticisms, I do enjoy this series and think the world and magic system here is so interesting! I highly recommend these books for anyone who enjoys older-YA fantasy, and particularly fantasy with diverse rep and Arthurian inspiration!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Arthurian legend; Welsh terms of endearment (IYKYK); Black Girl Magic (literally)
CW: Blood/injury/violence; grief; racism and sexism; discussions of slavery
This is the sequel to Legendborn and the second book in the series of the same name.
Selwyn Kane is EVERYTHING and honestly the primary reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Overall, I’d say this one suffered from a bit of a sophomore slump—I wasn’t as connected to or engaged with the plot, and I was a bit frustrated with some of the characters’ decisions and with the ending overall.
But SEL. When I latch on to a fictional character I never let them go, and Sel is absolutely mine now. I urgently need more books in this series specifically because I urgently need more of him.
Overall, even with some mild criticisms, I do enjoy this series and think the world and magic system here is so interesting! I highly recommend these books for anyone who enjoys older-YA fantasy, and particularly fantasy with diverse rep and Arthurian inspiration!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Arthurian legend; Welsh terms of endearment (IYKYK); Black Girl Magic (literally)
CW: Blood/injury/violence; grief; racism and sexism; discussions of slavery
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Confinement, Death, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Slavery
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
viktoriya_sk's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
3.75
Cozy YA book with a great plit and good characters except for the main character Briana. I found her to be extremely annoying, whiny, and dramatic. All the other characters acted fine in situations under high pressure, and then you get sentences like "the room is tilting in front of my eyes" in response to being asked to stay home. There were some good and serious themes, and the mc wasn't always that horrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Death, and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Genocide, and Pregnancy
Minor: War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
hailstorm3812's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
AHHHHHHHH. There are drugs in these books, one of those books where you look down and have read 100 pages and didn't notice. I think this book did a good job building on the themes and relationships of the first one while expanding into new territory. I really liked the dynamics of the quartet we have for most of the book. Also can I say how much I love Alice. I'm so glad she's in this book more. Also are we going poly ending?? I may be delusional but I think we could...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Hate crime, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Colonisation, Grief, Blood, Murder, and Genocide
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Torture
chloewilson_13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Racism, Death of parent, Death, Violence, and War