Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

45 reviews

abookwormspov's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • 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


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ayoung720's review against another edition

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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

4.5

Another amazing entry in the series, I love how the world has opened up to the diverse forms of magic and comparing how they all view power and heritage. Sel has become a much more well-rounded character with a storyline beyond "brooding bodyguard who hates the protagonist" and Bree and her friends have really developed too. Bree does make some absolutely infuriating decisions throughout the book which made me want to reach through the page and shake sense into her, but that's the beauty of having a teenage protagonist trying to navigate their way through this new world - she will make mistakes and not know what to do, while we get to see her grow on that journey. I do wish the book hadn't ended on yet ANOTHER one of her dubious choices, especially because her status within the Legendborn society was already so in doubt before the final scene, but I'm very much excited for the following entry! 

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saltylane's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

The two books in this series (so far??) are full of emotions and plenty of drama & action. There are many mysteries intertwined, and by the end, most are buttoned up nicely… Others are left to either set up for an additional book or  to give readers something to think about after. 
It’s rough listening to some scenes, especially because the reader is excellent at inflecting intense emotions in their voice acting. There are heartbreaking moments, as well as moments that will leave you mentally yelling at the very-much-flawed characters when  they make questionable decisions. 
The author has a good method of fleshing out characters in a way that makes them very three-dimensional and making their interconnected relationships really show in the best and worst ways. The twist endings and plot points are also ones that make sense and aren’t there only to mess with the reader expectations. The end of this book especially makes me want to know the answers to the many questions left by the last words. If there’s not an additional book in the series, the ending still works, even with threads hanging in uncertain directions. 

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mimo_'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

5.0

tracy deonn, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly.

i am shaking and crying

i want pg 479 printed onto my forehead and framed above my bed


ALSO WHY DID IT END LIKE THAT PLZZZZZZZ

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martin27's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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

I had a lot of high expectations set by the first book, and this sequel goes above and beyond. The characters from the first book are just as enjoyable and easily remind me why I love them, and the new characters fit in seamlessly. I especially love that Alice got to be a main member of the cast for this one, since she spent the first book mostly as a background player. 

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).

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jennie_white2008's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious 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


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arobear's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

This book wasn't perfect, but I still fell in love with it. The characters are a strong point, and this direction away from the university setting was an improvement from the last installment in terms of deeper characterization and fleshing out the lore. It does strike me a funny that
no one cares Bree (an unaccompanied minor) and a bunch of other students left the school with no warning, but I can let that slide lol.


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.
I'm also pretty fucking salty about what happened to Alice. Please don't kill all my gays!! :'(


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! 

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mpbookreviews's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

5.0


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jenny_librarian's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

I want to throw this book at the wall so bad! Not because it’s bad, but because of that ending that both seems absolutely hopeless and calls for a third book.

I was rooting for a triad the whole freaking book, and I gotta say this author had me worrying multiple time this would be yet another cliché love “triangle”. I really hope wherever she decides to go next with the characters breaks that boundary and allows us to get the beautiful triad we deserve (all romantic or romance and QPR, I don’t care. As long as we *get* it!)

If you think book one delved into Black trauma, I got some news for you… Tracy Deonn took what she included in Legendborn and dialed it to 11. It is BRUTAL, so make sure to check the triggers.

I’m excited for the next book, but I’m worried about all the feelings she’ll make us go through 😵‍💫

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nomonbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

 

Okay so the first quarter of this book annoyed me because I felt like the characters were constantly making bad decisions! I know they are teenagers, but some choices just seemed silly. Then, I guess in this book I decided I didn’t like Bree’s fire as much. I think it entirely makes sense with her character but the lack of respect in so many ways! However, she is very clever and the conclusion of the book is entirely unexpected and entirely brilliant. The world grew by orders of magnitude in this book; and complexity. Also, I can’t think of what the next book will contain, so I can’t wait for its release. This one was a mixed bag but at the same time necessary to continue the story. I loved some of the places this book created; Volition, in particular and the growth of the magic of ancestors and how that worked.

This is an audiobook so I also need to review the reading of Joniece Abbott-Pratt. Again she did a pretty good job – I think my only down side was Lark – I didn’t always understand his accent (supposed to be Scottish I think?) and it wasn’t great. Thankfully he was not in the book all the way through, but I missed some words he said.

And.. I must say the cover art on these books is gorgeous. I love how Bree's hair is half in the blue of ether (next to Sel) and half in the red of root; and the drawing just looks so real, especially her cornrows and the flowing arcs of the magic.

 

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