Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

46 reviews

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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kaybob_0708's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Um that ending!!!!!!! I was so hoping an happy ending for the trio but damn I just got my heart ripped out of my chest an stomped on. I also just want to throw out a connection that I realized Bree is connected to Nick bc he’s the the descendent of Lancelot but idk how they are gonna do the rest of the story there bc the legend goes that Lancelot betrays Arthur by sleeping with Guinevere so I’m curious to see that play out an also that her an Sel definitely have a lot of chemistry due to the fact that he is a descendent of Merlin so of course he would feel a pull toward Bree even while being Oathed to Nick. I know it’s a stretch but I’m more team Sel than Nick just bc Sel an her have the best relationship an yes it started out being very toxic with him trying to literally unalive her in the first half of the first book but damn this book just solidified team Sel

she made a bargain with the shadow king to save Sel so tell me she doesn’t have stronger feelings for Sel then Nick.

Anyways aside from that this book is an absolute soild 1000⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me I loved that this book was deeply enriched in POC representation an history an that they didn’t stick to stereotypes, I felt rage, an heartache for what the characters went thru an faced an the nod to POC history an slavery at the hands of white Americans as a white women myself it was definitely an eye opening read an I am amazed at the strength an courage POC have to continue to educate an break down centuries worth of racism an inequality. I don’t want to drone on an sound like a broken record so I’m gonna end this review with saying this will probably be my top read of 2023 an I am highly anticipating the third an final book which I hope gives us Team Sel endgame an finally lets our broken love trio have there peace also just a quick throw out FUCK TOR I never liked her in the first book an I sure as hell hate her guts in this

for putting Bree in a situation where they were literally torturing an going to experiment on my girl

so yeah okay I’m done now

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crownoflaurel's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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hmstaab's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.75

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litstyleguide's review against another edition

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5.0

THIS SERIES. I absolutely loved this sequel. It was action packed, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

This series really blows my mind. It’s so layered and so f*cking smart. The way Tracy uses the legend of King Author to help create this world, but then also weaves in Black history and everything that comes with that, is just really incredible. We see slavery, racism, grief, generational trauma, but also Black joy and claiming what’s yours. Brianna, our FMC, is just amazing. The chokehold this series has on me, I just can’t. The sequel JUST came out and I am pining for the third.

If you aren’t reading this series, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!

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laleha's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

And now the wait for Book 3 begins…

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scrubsandbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

Do I think my powers are worth the cost? The wound of grief from losing my mother sits open in my chest. It feels like it will never truly heal, no matter how much I acknowledge its presence. Then there are wounds my ancestors carried from one generation to the next. All the loss, multiplied and compounded and cumulative. All that running.
Don't be scared. Fight.

This was absolutely phenomenal. There's always this thing with second books in series where things don't live up to the hype of book one and it ends up being a filler between beginning and conclusion. It definitely was not the case here at. All. The stakes were high, much higher than they were at the end of Legendborn and this book surpassed all my expectations. Books where things are happening one right after another tend to be overwhelming for me and leaving me wondering if half of it was necessary and this was an exception. Every event, you learned something new, you met a new person who ended up being pivotal to the main character's story. Tracy Deonn has done an amazing job of bringing the pieces of the puzzle together. There is so much to love about this and nothing to hate (except for the obvious bigots and bad guys, of course). Tracy had even making me feel bad for

Jonas and his betrayal because of what he went through and what he thought would be brought on by doing what he did to Bree

.

The world-building in this book with the Order and the Rootcraft seems to only expand even further, and I absolutely loved that we got to see more characters involved in Rootcraft and learned more about the magic itself. And a former plantation become a safe haven for Rootcrafters called Volition? Chef's kiss, all of it, ESPECIALLY the title. I loved the inclusion of Alice and William in this journey, as well as seeing more of Selwyn outside of the Order, and how his friendship with Bree continued to grow and evolve. And Bree. Bree is the most beloved of all, faced with so much betrayal and pushback, but holds her head up and keeps fighting. I want nothing but the best for her and I cried so much for her in this book because of everything she went through at the hands of the Reagents. Oh, how I wanted to reach into the book so bad to give her a big hug. Or punch some racists. OR BOTH.

"You don't believe history is true. You won't even admit it's possible. That I am Arthur's heir not by choice or honor, but by violence." [...] "You won't say it out loud, but I will," [...] "I am the Scion of Arthur by rape. I am your proof."

This book, this series, is too important to not at least give it a chance. Eagerly awaiting book three!

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katherinek's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

4.5

So brilliant! The world building of this series is just detailed enough so it’s elaborate but not confusing. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book after the first 70 pages or so. I kept finding myself covering pages with my hand so I wouldn’t accidentally spoil it for myself! Every now and then things get a tad repetitive or dialogue is a little cringey, but I was still entertained throughout the whole book. I loved the dynamic between Bree and Sel, especially the firefly scene! Along with the diverse cast of characters, Volition was very refreshing to read about. Some of Bree’s choices confused me at the end, but maybe we’ll get answers in the next book!

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kelsokake's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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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kyladenae94's review against another edition

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4.75

this one meandered a bit in the middle, and the end felt a little rushed (i think it was just the crammed exposition;

having a not-quite-there viewpoint character doesn’t lend itself to measured storytelling, but she did well with what she had

). but it was excellent despite that, and i’m excited for the next book!

i’m also giving a pass for the edward/bella vibes i got from too many of the sel/bree scenes, because like. they’re good tropes. But Also. let’s be real. that’s what they were.

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