Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn Book Review

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Blurb

The shadows have risen, and the line is law.

All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new:

A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion.

But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped.

Bree wants to fight, but the Regents who rule the Order won’t let her. To them, she is an unknown girl with unheard-of power, and as the living anchor for the spell that preserves the Legendborn cycle, she must be protected.

When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death.

If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first—without losing herself in the process.

Sensitive Content

There are no content warnings given for this book. Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading this book:

• Blood
• Car Accident
• Death
• Grief
• Gore
• Kidnapping
• Profanity
• Racism
• Rape
• Slavery
• Torture
• Violence

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

Overall Rating

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bloodmarked had me in knots. This epic sequel answered so many questions that I had from the first novel but opened up so many more discussions. On the run and struggling to survive, Briana Matthews is not the same after what she has been through in Legendborn. This Bree is learning how to be a leader. I love how strong Bree is and her determination to do what’s right. Her thought process and narrative is so familiar and comfortable to read. I love the dialogue and her voice. THis book is told from solely her perspective and i don’t mind it. Bree is tough, stubborn but also extremely generous. Her heart and compassion are what make her so

The magic system is one of my favorite parts about these books and Legendborn did not disappoint. There is less combat and action scenes like in the first book but there are plenty of times that we see Bree struggle, learn and improve her magic. Tracy shows us everything about the system that this magic has to offer. We learn from new characters and old about what these powers have in common, how to control them and the dangers of possessing the knowledge and abilities. I loved being a part of the journey these characters take as they try to rescue Nick.

The pace of this book is a bit slower than the first and I chose to read the book more slowly, as well. Between lots of new locations, all the new characters (as well as the plethora of the old), and the information gathered from all these different sources there was a lot to understand. The world is immense and so immersive, there was always something to keep me interested.

My heart broke for the romantic subplot throughout the story between Bree, Nick and Sel. I LOVE a love triangle! And this one is done so well. There were moments reading Bloodmarked where the tears just had to break through for these kids. I love Nick and Sel and I still have so many unanswered questions about the dynamic of these characters just I loved all the crumbs of love that we got in this one. I love Nick. I love Sel. I don’t want anything to happen to either of them. I was on the edge of my seat and nearly tipping out of it at the sweet slow moments these characters get to share in between the horrible chaos their lives had become after the ending of Legendborn. Chapter 42&43 had me ugly crying by the end.

I highly recommend this series! I love this world and look forward to the next one!

Genre

Young Adult Fantasy

Favorite Quotes

“Because death breaks our connection… Death is not a thread. It is the sharp cut that severs us. Death separates us from one another, and yet it holds us close. As deeply as we hate it, it loves us more.”

“Sometimes… Hunting and running blur together. You start out with a goal to chase down the bad thing, all good. But if you can’t catch it, you dial your own hunger up, let your instincts take over… then alla sudden you become the most deadly thing in the woods.”

“No other Merlin can protect you like I can, because no other Merlin feels about you the way I do. I want you to live, because I want you to be happy. Not because of a spell, but because so very many things would break and go dark if you weren’t in the world. Myself included.”

“But grief isn’t a competition. It’s not an identical pain that we all meet one day when death finds us. It’s a monster, personalized by our love and memories to devour us just so. Grief is suffering, tailored.”

“Wishes are the dangerous mind games we play with ourselves. The only way to win is not to play.”

“Power is one thing; control is another.”

“The two meet eyes over me. Something about that shared glance, the worry there, the care… makes the dream feel too good to leave. Makes me want to stay there between them, even if it’s all a lie in the end.”

“But you pulled the blade when you did and how you did because you put yourself in the right place to do so. Not your mother, not your grandmother, but you. You brought honor to your Line, and I don’t mean Arthur’s. You don’t need the sword, Bree. You are the sword. Their sword. Our sword.”

“Just know, Briana Matthews… that you are worth this and more.”

“See? This is why I date girls. Taste!”

“You don’t need the sword, Bree. You are the sword. Their sword. Our sword.”

“And… you’re also the most wondrous being I have ever encountered, will ever encounter. And I believe there is nothing in this world that you cannot do.”

Intrigued?

Check out Bloodmarked on Amazon here.