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awkwardimagination's review against another edition
- 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
The amount of pain and trauma every single character has gone through in this book is absurd. Just bc the first one had more deaths doesn't make this one any better.
Because this is the second book all the characters are coming into their own more and becoming more loveable.
I'm still not onboard the Sel and Bree train, I wish they would be platonic like Will and Bree, but they are well written I'll give them that.
I'm looking forward to the next book, I need to know how this turns out.
Graphic: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Rape, Violence, Sexism, Torture, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Medical trauma, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Car accident, Child abuse, and Death
breannajailene's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Slavery, Torture, and Rape
shaipanda's review against another edition
- 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
Truly one of the best series I’ve ever read and worth every bit of hype it’s gotten and more imo :)
Is definitely a darker and more violent book/series at times tho so recommend checking trigger warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Racism, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: War, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Death, Rape, Torture, Toxic friendship, Slavery, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Abandonment
abookwormspov's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Slavery, Rape, Emotional abuse, War, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Colonisation, Racism, Cursing, Grief, and Classism
willow_heartfilia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Torture, War, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery and Rape
Regarding the slavery and rape content warnings, if you read the first book then you should know thatmartin27's review against another edition
- 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
The world building is incredible and the different real world inspirations are balanced so well. And Deonn is especially good at writing hooks that keep you reading just one more page, just one more chapter… until you’re halfway through the book in one sitting. The twists are wonderful.
Most of all, Bree is just such a wonderful protagonist. It’s impossible not to root for her (pun not intended). She’s a complex character with a lot of hopes, dreams, and fears, and she’s… well, as Valec likes to call her, a powerhouse. It’s so satisfying to see Bree call out hypocrisy and to push back when others want to make her choices for her. She’s a joy to read about, and I’m very patiently awaiting the next book in the series (well, sort of patiently).
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Torture, War, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit
Tagged “torture” because that is specifically what it’s called in the book, but it’s more similar to magical gaslighting, I guess. Tagged “medical content” because while most of the healing in the book is magical, the guy doing the healing is also a med student and usually describes what’s going onbookthief's review against another edition
- 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
Firstly, I was super shocked that the regents turned on Bree and took her away and was constantly mesmering her and asking questions repeatedly days on end. I thought that was very cruel considering Bree is still young and she is literally their king.
I loved the scene where she finally escaped the regents with the help of her friends and that she was clever enough to figure out that the poison was in her food.
I originally thought Sel was being really sweet and kind for helping Bree even though that meant going against his oath. I was super mad at him when Valec revealed that Sel had been mesmering Bree into thinking he wasn’t giving into demonia.
Throughout the majority of the book, they had been looking for Nick since he was kidnapped by his father at the end of Legendborn. And when they finally found him he ran away. I was in shock considering I thought he would be eager to get back with the gang since they got on soo well and spent so much time and energy trying to find him.
When Bree was at Volition I thought she would master her powers and that would be that, but instead her ancestors didn’t help her and the regents found her.
When she asked Arthur to help her and to possess her I was stunned as Bree did not trust Arthur at all. I felt very betrayed when he would not give the control back to Bree and locked her up in a dream prison.
I felt so bad for Sel at the end when he turned demonic since he spent so much time trying to help Bree and ended up folding.
The ending was shocking. I did not expect Erebus to be the demon king or Bree to make a bargain with him.
The book ended so suddenly I was in shock. I cannot wait for the third book to come out ( I hope that’s very soon)!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Racism, Torture, and Violence
ripxw's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Torture
arobear's review against another edition
- 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
In terms of what was not perfect, I continued to get new characters mixed up, and the ending also left me confused. The action leading up to it was interesting, but the resolution fell a bit fast and flat to me. I'm hoping we'll explore the emotional effects more in the next book.
On a more personal note, as a queer person and leader I connected with Bree's struggle to be the "first" of everything and follow a legacy that she didn't have a hand in creating, but still felt beholden to. The themes explored helped me look at my situation in a new light and reflect on what my goals are not what they "should be" according to others. I think the author does a great job interweaving the complex themes and relationships with a strong narrative when in other books it can easily become disjointed. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Rape, Death of parent, and War
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
- 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
Bloodmarked gives us a further look into Bree's exploration of her powers. Being a medium, a Rootcrafter, and the Crown Scion for the line of Arthur, Bree is being pulled in several directions at once. She must make difficult choices in attempt to save herself and the ones she loves, all while deciding who she can trust, which is proving to be much more challenging than she thought it would be. Of course as Bree struggles with this, I do, too. Deonn did a great job of planting little distrustful thoughts in our minds as the twists and turns of characters continued. The constant toying with my emotions made it stressful in the best way; I couldn't stop turning pages.
In addition to the new characters introduced in this book, we continue to see character development of Bree and several of the other characters from Legendborn. I love seeing the way their stories unfold. There is a lot of depth to Deonn's characters and she is masterful at tying up any loose ends that she may construct. Speaking of loose ends, the way she leaves us on a cliffhanger at the end of this book....so cruel, but so good.
As in Legendborn, the themes of feminism, racism/racial discrimination, and death and grief were all very prevalent. The way Deonn writes these, it is clear that these themes are deeply personal to her, which makes the depth of the story so much stronger. There is no doubt in my mind that book 3 will be anything short of brilliant, just as these first two have been. I don't know how I am going to contain myself in the meantime, but I will continue to recommend this series to anyone and everyone.
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing and Torture
Minor: Vomit and Rape