Review by withlivjones - Bloodmarked

withlivjones 's review for:

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A relatively strong sequel that builds on the world of the original book, focusing particularly on Bree’s Rootcraft magic inherited from her mother’s ancestors. I liked the worldbuilding, I like the magic system and the idea introduced that nothing is black and white and there is no right way to practice magic. I really loved the idea of Volition and the ancestors reclaiming a place where they suffered and died, and part of me wishes we could have spent more time there. I still dislike the love triangle, probably even more than in the first book, and I’m holding out the (unrealistic) hope that it ends in polyamory rather than at least one of the boys ending up evil and/or dead.

I also really did not vibe with the ending - the reveal of Erebus being the Shadow King felt very abrupt and has left a couple of plot holes. And Bree binding herself to him and leaving behind the people she loves felt like such an out of character decision? Even if she did it to try and save Selwyn (and sacrificing herself for a white boy she’s way too good for? a choice), after burning away her ties to her (enslaved) ancestors and deciding to do things for herself, why would she give her freedom away to the man who arranged her ancestors’ deaths and kidnapped and tortured her?? The math isn’t mathing

That said, I still enjoyed the majority of the book and its discussions about grief and generational trauma, and I look forward to reading book 3.

Content Warnings