Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - Bloodmarked

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)

Content Warnings

cturn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.25

Content Warnings

kiwij96's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Bloodmarked really continued the adventure from Legendborn in a way I didn't expect. The characters really came into their own here, granted they were all under a lot of stress. This history and heritage and culture was beautifully done. The Iaeth Cymraeg (Welsh Language) which was also used in the story brought so much joy to my proud Welsh heart.

The friendships, the betrayals, the romance, the plot twists, the community, the grief. Everything was so wonderfully written with a great amount of depth for a story that was so action-packed. I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen next and I just couldn't put it down.

This is a YA that I would also highly recommend to adults.

Content Warnings

lqne's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

staticz77's review

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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

areyoubibliokay's review against another edition

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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

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Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

gracepizza40's review

danysgirl's review

charliebites's review against another edition

some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

cturn's review against another edition

kiwij96's review against another edition

lqne's review against another edition

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

staticz77's review

areyoubibliokay's review against another edition