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A review by quirkykayleetam
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
emotional
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
I tried to rate this book lower than a 5 and I could not. This is a true sequel to Legendborn.
As the heir of two magical bloodlines, the descendants of King Arthur and the daughters of Vera, black women who have sacrificed themselves since slavery so their daughters could stand when they had to run, Bree Mathews may be the most powerful human on the planet. Now she has to deal with the expectations that power comes with. How does she supposed to rule as King over a racist institution with manipulative adults working their own schemes that she never fit into? How does she rescue her boyfriend from demons and white supremacists who think he is the heir to the throne? How does she control her power as her different strains of magic interact with each other in unprecedented ways? How does she chose her own destiny?
Bloodmarked has many of the same flaws as Legendborn: Just when you get a handle on the magic system, the novel throws you for a loop, changing the rules at play for Bree again. Playing to YA tropes, the book focuses too much on the tension within the "Love Triangle," when the characters interact beautifully when all three all together. Additionally, Bloodmarked sidelines many beloved characters from the first book. While the sequel introduces incredibly new characters in their place, a part of me wanted more of the minor Legendborn Scions we fell in love with in book one.
However, Bloodmarked also has all the strengths of the first book. I am whiter than a country club golf ball and I connect to the way Deonn illustrates the lived experience of black women living in the South today. One scene shows how white women will stand up to the patriarchy about rape, but will bury the issue of race when a white man rapes a black woman. The entire concept of Volition beautifully, beautifully shows why African Americans need safe spaces.
This book is imperfect, but important. I cannot stop thinking about it and I do not think I ever will.
As the heir of two magical bloodlines, the descendants of King Arthur and the daughters of Vera, black women who have sacrificed themselves since slavery so their daughters could stand when they had to run, Bree Mathews may be the most powerful human on the planet. Now she has to deal with the expectations that power comes with. How does she supposed to rule as King over a racist institution with manipulative adults working their own schemes that she never fit into? How does she rescue her boyfriend from demons and white supremacists who think he is the heir to the throne? How does she control her power as her different strains of magic interact with each other in unprecedented ways? How does she chose her own destiny?
Bloodmarked has many of the same flaws as Legendborn: Just when you get a handle on the magic system, the novel throws you for a loop, changing the rules at play for Bree again. Playing to YA tropes, the book focuses too much on the tension within the "Love Triangle," when the characters interact beautifully when all three all together. Additionally, Bloodmarked sidelines many beloved characters from the first book. While the sequel introduces incredibly new characters in their place, a part of me wanted more of the minor Legendborn Scions we fell in love with in book one.
However, Bloodmarked also has all the strengths of the first book. I am whiter than a country club golf ball and I connect to the way Deonn illustrates the lived experience of black women living in the South today. One scene shows how white women will stand up to the patriarchy about rape, but will bury the issue of race when a white man rapes a black woman. The entire concept of Volition beautifully, beautifully shows why African Americans need safe spaces.
This book is imperfect, but important. I cannot stop thinking about it and I do not think I ever will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Rape, Slavery, and Violence