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happilyeveralli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
BLOODMARKED is a stellar feat of a novel. Never have I been so captured by a book. And, though the writing was stronger than the first novel in the series (which I rated five stars), I shave off half a star for my gripes with the ending of the book. It feels all a bit..sudden. The alliances and choices made. The tone. Though, this is the midpoint of the series, so there is much room for change in OATHBOUND and the final book. I truly cannot wait to see where Bree and her friends go after this. I hope to see, I suppose, Bree processing and growing from her experiences in this book and even in the previous one (so many things have happened, so it’s very possible that Bree hasn’t even had the time to process the events of the original novel).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent and Rape
alicia_rausch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Selwyn Kane 🔛🔝
Tracy Deonn’s writing ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This felt like a grown-up Percy Jackson adventure and I ate up every second. The writing was gorgeous, the action was nonstop, and every single success felt earned and struggled for. Watching Bree truly grow into her power was so satisfying and the ending (!!). Her and Selwyn's relationship development alongside their personal development through this book was also everything and had me internally squealing and kicking my feet. I’m so excited for the final installment and can’t believe it took me so long to start this sequel. Going onto my list of “sequels that were better than the first book of the series” list right alongside Two Twisted Crowns and The Dragon Republic 👑
Tracy Deonn’s writing ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This felt like a grown-up Percy Jackson adventure and I ate up every second. The writing was gorgeous, the action was nonstop, and every single success felt earned and struggled for. Watching Bree truly grow into her power was so satisfying and the ending (!!). Her and Selwyn's relationship development alongside their personal development through this book was also everything and had me internally squealing and kicking my feet. I’m so excited for the final installment and can’t believe it took me so long to start this sequel. Going onto my list of “sequels that were better than the first book of the series” list right alongside Two Twisted Crowns and The Dragon Republic 👑
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Slavery, Death, and Rape
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.pastelmeganes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Okay so for this book I had more hope going into it because i felt legendborn had a lot to build upon but personally i think the author bit off more than they could chew.
To be frank, one of my main gripes with this installment is that racism is used as an avenue for the narrative constantly yet Bree makes little effort to really indulge in her Black roots. Speaking of that, i think the development of the “Root” magic system wouldve been a great direction for the story to go to flesh out the distinct difference from that of the others. I felt it also couldve allowed for more character growth on Bree and Sel’s part(especially since Sel DID dabble in micro-aggressive behaviors). Near the last act, things started happening very haphazardly.
Some things I enjoyed on this installment were definitely the fleshing out of some of the other characters. I found myself thoroughly enjoying William, Sel and Alice a lot more in this book, specifically Sel. Was Sel problematic and mildly racist in Legendborn? Yeah, but also hmmm the oath really made him “all or nothing” when protecting Nick so for ME he gets a pass. The expansion of the world in this book also kept me enthralled.
Im looking forward to the next book, if I had to root for a couple it would be Sel and Bree but thats because Nick is kinda cringey for me.
To be frank, one of my main gripes with this installment is that racism is used as an avenue for the narrative constantly yet Bree makes little effort to really indulge in her Black roots. Speaking of that, i think the development of the “Root” magic system wouldve been a great direction for the story to go to flesh out the distinct difference from that of the others. I felt it also couldve allowed for more character growth on Bree and Sel’s part(especially since Sel DID dabble in micro-aggressive behaviors). Near the last act, things started happening very haphazardly.
Some things I enjoyed on this installment were definitely the fleshing out of some of the other characters. I found myself thoroughly enjoying William, Sel and Alice a lot more in this book, specifically Sel. Was Sel problematic and mildly racist in Legendborn? Yeah, but also hmmm the oath really made him “all or nothing” when protecting Nick so for ME he gets a pass. The expansion of the world in this book also kept me enthralled.
Im looking forward to the next book, if I had to root for a couple it would be Sel and Bree but thats because Nick is kinda cringey for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Slavery
Minor: Rape
cturn's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Colonisation, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Rape
magdapuczynska's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
jokehelldo's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you for your service.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Drug abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Rape
kiwij96's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Gore, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Racism, War, Death, Death of parent, Slavery, Bullying, and Torture
Minor: Colonisation and Vomit
rachelmay15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? No
4.25
Incredible Fantasy YA with a smart, driven protagonist. How do you balance fun YA based around the lore of The Knights of the Round Table and subjects of institutionalized racism and generational trauma, and just show a teenage girl growing into her skin? … not sure, you’re gonna have to ask Tracy Deonn
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Racism
Minor: Rape
lqne's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, War, and Confinement
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Death of parent, and Death