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A review by betweentheshelves
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
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
All Bree had wanted to do was learn the truth behind her mother's death. So, she infiltrated a secret society called the Legendborn Order in order to reveal her mother's secrets. What she hadn't expected was to awaken a completely new power, one that no one was prepared for.
As the shadows start to gain power and the war between the demons and the Order gets more and more dangerous, not everyone wants to fight. Those in control want to keep the war hidden. So, Bree and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands. But in order to save her friends and get an edge in this war, Bree has to first learn to control her powers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn to review! Legendborn was one of my top reads of last year, and this was one of my most anticipated sequels. If you loved Legendborn, you'll love this follow up.
Sometimes, sequels can fall victim to second book syndrom, but this book definitely does not. Everything that I loved about Legendborn I still got in this book. Deonn expands the vast world that she already build in the original, and I loved getting to see new elements of it. There is a lot of world building in these books, but it is balanced out with the characters that Deonn created.
If you loved Sel in the first book, I am happy to tell you that you get so much more of him in this one. The relationship between him and Bree is a complicated one, and it is fully explored here. Man, the chemsitry between them. It just adds to the world and the plot and is part of what makes this book work so well.
Additionally, Bree isn't afraid to tell people like it is, especially when it's about race. There are some great moments in here where she pushes back against this old society run by pretty much all white people. And she just keeps overturning their expectations.
Before reading this, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a duology or a series. Now, I'm 100% sure it's going to be a series because it can't just end where it does. I need another book already!
All in all, if you love a strong YA fantasy with King Arthur vibes, you're going to love this series.
As the shadows start to gain power and the war between the demons and the Order gets more and more dangerous, not everyone wants to fight. Those in control want to keep the war hidden. So, Bree and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands. But in order to save her friends and get an edge in this war, Bree has to first learn to control her powers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn to review! Legendborn was one of my top reads of last year, and this was one of my most anticipated sequels. If you loved Legendborn, you'll love this follow up.
Sometimes, sequels can fall victim to second book syndrom, but this book definitely does not. Everything that I loved about Legendborn I still got in this book. Deonn expands the vast world that she already build in the original, and I loved getting to see new elements of it. There is a lot of world building in these books, but it is balanced out with the characters that Deonn created.
If you loved Sel in the first book, I am happy to tell you that you get so much more of him in this one. The relationship between him and Bree is a complicated one, and it is fully explored here. Man, the chemsitry between them. It just adds to the world and the plot and is part of what makes this book work so well.
Additionally, Bree isn't afraid to tell people like it is, especially when it's about race. There are some great moments in here where she pushes back against this old society run by pretty much all white people. And she just keeps overturning their expectations.
Before reading this, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a duology or a series. Now, I'm 100% sure it's going to be a series because it can't just end where it does. I need another book already!
All in all, if you love a strong YA fantasy with King Arthur vibes, you're going to love this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Sexism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Vomit