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meghansarmiento97's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Violence
andelion'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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Murder
darkhorse488's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy shit this might be in my top 3 fantasy series of all time. By far one of the most creative magic systems I have ever read and the world building is top tier. The characters are also so richly drawn and continue to deepen in this book and I simply adore them. My only quibble is with the romance subplot here, but I can’t fault a YA book for reading like YA at times.
I absolutely loved Book 1 in this series but Book 2 is truly SOMETHING ELSE. The plot almost never lets off the gas past the first 50 pages and I was up reading this until 3 am last night. Bloodmarked is arguably even better then Legendborn which is extremely rare for a fantasy sequel. I truly cannot wait until book 3!
I absolutely loved Book 1 in this series but Book 2 is truly SOMETHING ELSE. The plot almost never lets off the gas past the first 50 pages and I was up reading this until 3 am last night. Bloodmarked is arguably even better then Legendborn which is extremely rare for a fantasy sequel. I truly cannot wait until book 3!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Violence and Racism
Minor: Slavery
charliebites's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, War, and Hate crime
Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, and Vomit
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wow. Just wow. Also, I need fanfic rn rn (why are there so little on ao3 this is so sad)
This book has reminded me of how bad I am at spotting plot twists (there is foreshadowing I just can't find them until hindsight kicks in). There isn't rlly an overarching plot throughout the book; it's more of a series of events and characters' reactions to them -> plot harder to follow than that of 1st book. Somehow has more fight scenes than prev books.
Love love love how the magic system & thus world got expanded. Treasured this series so much I was sort of procrastinating reading it so I could keep reading it for longer. This book sure is heavier than the first with how much more racism shows up & affects the plot + Bree's heritage gets explored. Also I just love when writers explore intergenerational trauma. I think Bree's character arc should have had the turning point during the climax instead of after so I felt like the character development could have been stronger.
Two main parts that I am rlly interested in: 1) love triangle & 2) legendborn cycle as ecoliterature
1) Before I read this, I thought that I'd end up shipping the 3 of them tgt as a throuple but now idk if I ship any of them w/ any of the others💀.Bree's reasoning for kissing Sel even with her rship with Nick does not make sense to me at all. Liked Bree X Nick before that aghhhhhh why did that have to happen :( *Technically* still salvageable though. There is just so much to unpack between Nick & Sel and I worry about whether the author would have time for them to both get past it and also fall in love + they might get more baggage between them as the series progresses :sigh: Sel & Bree has that 2 year age gap which while does happen irl, I feel weird about. Anyway, I loved loved loved the dream sequences where Nick showed up & the parts where all 3 were together were some of my favourite scenes. WHEN NICK LEFT THEM I FELT SO BETRAYED (I kind of feel like Nick killed that mageguard bc of Sel'd bloodlust?) Why did they have to all get seperated as the ending😭😭😭 Now praying for multi POV Oathbound I would like to take a moment to say that sonnet xvii by Pablo Neruda fits ot3 brilliantly it's like it was written for them.
2) Aether as metaphor for western imprialism's extractivism that is unsustainable w/ a high price (planet dying just like Abatement) while root as metaphor for a more balanced way of interacting and living in nature.Volition is self-sustaining while the Order felt a need to expand to the point where they have Vassals in power in many places. The way root is more communal and not used for violence while aether users fight the never-ending war against the Shadowborn -> system that cultivates burnout just like a capitalistic society. There is something to be said about the story sold to Legendborn & those who wish to be Scions on how cool & powerful they'd be just like the legends vs it's actl the Regents in power just like the American dream vs extreme wealth inequality in USA w/ very little social support. The way aether users hunt root users down just like how USA interfered in leftist states to prevent their success. Dreaming as a sort of bridge between the past and present, as well as a way for connection (similar to Avatar) & ✨problem solving✨(like Word for World is Forest). "Sometimes, our dreams are memories revisted, sure, but other times, dreams depart from what was, and become something else."
There are sooooo many good quotes it's unbelievable. I'd like to specifically highlight
"There are many reasons to hid the truth from those you do not know. But when there is care between two people, and trust built, there is only one reason that lies continue: not fear of safety, but fear of judgement."
"'Think of the power you possess and the woman who gave it to you.' I used to think that woman was my mother, and, through her, you. Tried it her way, and it didn't work." "And why is that?" "Because you all didn't give me my power. I did"
"You said they ran so I wouldn't have to. But I think they ran so that one day I could choose. And today, I choose me."
"By burning away their roots, I am finally free to grow my own."
Has its flaws but it really is something special so 5 stars anyway. (Also I want to come back and see how long of a review I ended up writing lol)
This book has reminded me of how bad I am at spotting plot twists (there is foreshadowing I just can't find them until hindsight kicks in). There isn't rlly an overarching plot throughout the book; it's more of a series of events and characters' reactions to them -> plot harder to follow than that of 1st book. Somehow has more fight scenes than prev books.
Love love love how the magic system & thus world got expanded. Treasured this series so much I was sort of procrastinating reading it so I could keep reading it for longer. This book sure is heavier than the first with how much more racism shows up & affects the plot + Bree's heritage gets explored. Also I just love when writers explore intergenerational trauma. I think Bree's character arc should have had the turning point during the climax instead of after so I felt like the character development could have been stronger.
Two main parts that I am rlly interested in: 1) love triangle & 2) legendborn cycle as ecoliterature
1) Before I read this, I thought that I'd end up shipping the 3 of them tgt as a throuple but now idk if I ship any of them w/ any of the others💀.
2) Aether as metaphor for western imprialism's extractivism that is unsustainable w/ a high price (planet dying just like Abatement) while root as metaphor for a more balanced way of interacting and living in nature.
There are sooooo many good quotes it's unbelievable. I'd like to specifically highlight
"'Think of the power you possess and the woman who gave it to you.' I used to think that woman was my mother, and, through her, you. Tried it her way, and it didn't work." "And why is that?" "Because you all didn't give me my power. I did"
"You said they ran so I wouldn't have to. But I think they ran so that one day I could choose. And today, I choose me."
"By burning away their roots, I am finally free to grow my own."
Has its flaws but it really is something special so 5 stars anyway. (Also I want to come back and see how long of a review I ended up writing lol)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Confinement, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical content, Death, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Abandonment, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Torture, Colonisation, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Rape
Police brutality is by magic police (or close enough) not actual police.elustrabable's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
SPOILER WARNING
Bree was the absolute downfall of this book. So many times she had SO many chances to actually be useful and make smart decision but instead she let her stubbornness and hot-headedness ruin any semble of a plan and then go on to cry about it like girl... grow a spine??? SO many times her selfish actions willingly put all the characters around her in danger that at many times I did not feel bad for her. It became so repetitive too. She does something selfish, people around her get hurt, she feels bad about, get depressed, and then go back to do it all again. She does not learn and she does not grow as a character at all. Even more frustrating is that she even ACKNOWLEDGES when she messes up!! And she STILL go on to let her emotions and hot temper ruin a situation.
The whole plot for saving Nick too was such a mess. It just kept going back in circles and every time I think they are FINNALY moving forward, they get right back the beginning with nothing being done to advance the plot because Bree got hurt and nearly died. Again. For someone so powerful, I don't think there ever was a time Bree was ever useful in battle. She got tapped so many times and nearly died during all of it it was very frustrating. I felt so bad for William like he trully was the only thing keeping this story together because of his healing ability. The story wouldve ended like 10 different times if it wasn't for Will healing Bree from death.
The romance was atrocious too the whole time I was literally screaming "BREE YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND!!!" ugh..... Bree downright cheat on Nick but it's all okay because Sel had a crush on Nick when Sel was 14... 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️ This was not a love triangle, this was Bree cheating on her missing boyfriend with the guy who told her to her face he had planned to kill her in the first book. Absolutely no chemistry between them too just a bunch a "oh look he has a hot body" and "oh no I can't do this im dating Nick"
The ending was just terrible. There was no indications, no hints at all that even remotely showed Bree had any clue or plan of what was going on in the story. Throughout the whole book 90% of it was them running around in circles not getting anywhere and then suddenly in the last pages Bree solves the big mystery and then dissappears. What a let down.
This such a shame too because Tracy is an amazing writer who I immediately fell in love with. She has so much skill and range as a writer especially with the themes she tackles. Sucks her main character is so unbearable in this book.
Bree was the absolute downfall of this book. So many times she had SO many chances to actually be useful and make smart decision but instead she let her stubbornness and hot-headedness ruin any semble of a plan and then go on to cry about it like girl... grow a spine??? SO many times her selfish actions willingly put all the characters around her in danger that at many times I did not feel bad for her. It became so repetitive too. She does something selfish, people around her get hurt, she feels bad about, get depressed, and then go back to do it all again. She does not learn and she does not grow as a character at all. Even more frustrating is that she even ACKNOWLEDGES when she messes up!! And she STILL go on to let her emotions and hot temper ruin a situation.
The whole plot for saving Nick too was such a mess. It just kept going back in circles and every time I think they are FINNALY moving forward, they get right back the beginning with nothing being done to advance the plot because Bree got hurt and nearly died. Again. For someone so powerful, I don't think there ever was a time Bree was ever useful in battle. She got tapped so many times and nearly died during all of it it was very frustrating. I felt so bad for William like he trully was the only thing keeping this story together because of his healing ability. The story wouldve ended like 10 different times if it wasn't for Will healing Bree from death.
The romance was atrocious too the whole time I was literally screaming "BREE YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND!!!" ugh..... Bree downright cheat on Nick but it's all okay because Sel had a crush on Nick when Sel was 14... 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️ This was not a love triangle, this was Bree cheating on her missing boyfriend with the guy who told her to her face he had planned to kill her in the first book. Absolutely no chemistry between them too just a bunch a "oh look he has a hot body" and "oh no I can't do this im dating Nick"
The ending was just terrible. There was no indications, no hints at all that even remotely showed Bree had any clue or plan of what was going on in the story. Throughout the whole book 90% of it was them running around in circles not getting anywhere and then suddenly in the last pages Bree solves the big mystery and then dissappears. What a let down.
This such a shame too because Tracy is an amazing writer who I immediately fell in love with. She has so much skill and range as a writer especially with the themes she tackles. Sucks her main character is so unbearable in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Slavery
staticz77's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this book so much!! I loved how well it tied into the first one, I found the king Arthur stuff a bit less confusing the second go around!! I really love how incorporated her rootcraft is, and how everything is revealed!! Like her being marked by the shadow king? Absolutely fucking amazing. I loved but also didn't love how she got with sel, But I mainly love it. The ending was so juicy!! The biggest flaw I found with this book was just that it was very confusing to me, there would be pages and pages I wouldn't understand but I'd have to act like it. But all in all, I really liked it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Torture, Gore, Kidnapping, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Rape
Moderate: Racism
areyoubibliokay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, and Death
Minor: Grief, Rape, and Forced institutionalization
imds's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Body horror, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Colonisation, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Rape, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
gabriella_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
This book has almost everything. Structures of oppression, intergenerational trauma, grief, romance, war, friendship conflicts, learned bigotry & privilege, and governmental conspiracy. It scratches any itch you have from Harry Potter, Maximum Ride, and The Hunger Games all rolled into one. Shit, it even satisfies the Warriors cat series fans too. It does all this will surpassing all of these series. Wish I had this when I was a younger, more voracious reader.
Tracy Deonn one-ups herself in this sequel book. This book further expands on characterizing her central cast while also giving other (more background) characters a chance in the limelight. She developed a core ensemble cast that feels compelling and stand-alone. This book made me cry, especially whenBree talks with her mother - Bloodmarked is raw and real. Bree is one of my favorite series protagonists I’ve ever read. She feels so real. I love reading about a protagonist who is strong, really strong, and in more than just a physical (or even girlboss) way. She has grit and emotional stamina and she’s navigating through systems rigged against her.
More random things I love about this book that didn’t seem to have a place for me to write them in this review:
Tracy Deonn one-ups herself in this sequel book. This book further expands on characterizing her central cast while also giving other (more background) characters a chance in the limelight. She developed a core ensemble cast that feels compelling and stand-alone. This book made me cry, especially when
More random things I love about this book that didn’t seem to have a place for me to write them in this review:
- The rest of the cast - especially Selwyn - tugs at my heartstrings.
- Tracy Deonn’s dream sequences are an amazing exploration of themes that are relevant later in the book and offer a refreshing way to engage with old magic.
- The descriptive settings!!
- The use of LANGUAGE. Ugh. CARIAD!
- The men in this book have a “written by a woman” charm. Well, the men that matter do, at least.
I love the way this author lays the groundwork for future plot twists - she has a gift for finding a way to keep the reader on their toes without insulting their intelligence AND while still making the twists believable. Some you can see coming - but that’s a credit to her foreshadowing.
I just want to keep gushing about this book because honestly it left me soooo hungry for the next book in this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Death, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Grief, Physical abuse, Stalking, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Torture