Bloodmarked
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Description
“Deonn expertly weaves together a universe that both shines a light on the pervasive nature of racism and also harnesses the complexity of Black identity within this space. Deonn writes so much more than simple fantasies or Arthurian retellings.” —Booklist (starred review)
The “worthy successor to an explosive debut” (Kirkus Reviews)—the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!
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.
Book Information
Posts
I'm struggling to rate this book. So let's start with some things I liked: Deonns writing is wonderful. Her way with words reveal her very intricate, thought through worldbuild that never ceases to impress me. I liked that the book continues to show that the Order is a deeply bigoted old white men's club that is merely invested in self preservation for preservations sake. I also liked the ending. It's unexpectedly painful but a good conclusion to the story told. I'd be satisfied if the story stayed a duology but I also wouldn't be mad if it became a trilogy eventually. Unfortunately, there were a number of things I didn't like 1) the book feels very bloated. In Legendborn, it felt like Bree had accomplished a lot of thing throughout the story, like dealing with her mother's death, and adjusting and adapting to this twofold magic world she had only just begun to discover. I'm missing that sense of accomplishment in Bloodmarked. Brees main objectives at the start of the book seem to be "Find Nick" and "Learn to control both my root and Arthur's powers" While she sort of does both in the very very end, for 90% of the book she is just running around doing nothing and being attached by demons left and right. Generally, I felt like the pacing was off and for long stretches very little of actual relevance happended. 2) Bree My god this girl was annoying. I remember liking her in Legendborn but in Bloodmarked, she misses. The main plot for about two thirds of the book revolves around Bree not listening to anyone ever. Sometimes, stubborn main characters with very little regard for their own safety and wellbeing can be sort of endearing. This is not the case here. Bree is Arthur's Scion. If she dies, the world will go to shit. Best case scenario, she is killed by a human. The spell stays intact but Arthur's legacy goes to some unbeknownst relative of hers and the table is left without a king during camlann. worst case scenario, she is killed by a shadowborn and the spell ends leaving most of the world defense less. Bree knows this, mostly because everyone tells her every two to three pages. Still she refuses to listen because "I just... I don't like feeling coddled and useless. I'm not some damsel" Her entire thing is wanting to prevent more deaths and yet, she risks her friends deaths again and again by being incredibly reckless, full well knowing that each one of them would gladly sacrifice themselves to save her and keep the spell intact. Still she is obnoxious, careless and more than once pulls the "I'm your king you have to do as I say" card. She also spends a significant amount of time whining about how no one will let her make decisions and guess why girly? Because every decision you've made thus far has been fckn stupid and when her friends (very reasonably) suggest that being in the field is too dangerous for her she acts like it's the biggest betrayal in the world. Girl chill. Speaking of her friends. They're all obsessed with her and I can't figure out why for the life of me. I never liked Alice as a character that much in the first place because she very much felt like a plot device and that hasn't changed here. Most of her interactions with Bree are her telling Bree how strong brave kind amazing and special
This book took a lot from me. After devouring the first part in the series, it took me way to long to dive into the second part, but everything I felt in Legendborn was right there again in Bloodmarked. The world Tracy Deonn created here is not only magical and wonderful, it is deep, there is so much insight into the world of a black girl, it is absolutely stunning. I loved everything about it. Sadly, part two actually gave me kind of a hard time, because I had to fight myself throught the book. I wanted to finish the book more than anything! It was great! But somehow it took me a great deal to make it through. It wasn’t the story at all. Because just like in book one, there was so much happening. There was so much happening! I loved it so much! You barely had a moment to breathe between everything that happened and you just never lost interest. But somehow it still couldn’t catch me as much as part one did. Let‘s make this rather short: I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the story. It just couldn’t capture my heart the way its predecessor did.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT TILL MARCH FOR THE NEXT ONE?!? It sometimes felt a bit long but I couldn't say any parts or plots were unnecessary. I'll annoy everyone and their mother to read this series. I didn't care for the characters that much in a long time. They're so well written and have depth and flaws that make them feel realistic and not all too polished. . . . . . . THE END LIKE ENDING ON A CLIFF HANGER AGAIN I'M FERAL FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!
This book is the definition of hate-love. I love it endlessly but I also want to throw it at a wall with all my strength (even Arthur's strength). With that I'd be 5 stars but I kind of struggled a bit at the beginning. But like the first one it wasn't a bad struggle it just wasn't as good as the ending, which is normal for a book. Whatever it's amazing. Read it.
Ich bin durch dieses Buch richtig durchgejagt, weil ich wissen *musste*, wie es weitergeht, man ist sofort wieder total drin und fiebert mit Bree mit. Jetzt kann ich den Reread kaum erwarten, um noch mal ganz tief in die Welt einzutauchen und jedes Detail aufzusaugen. Diese Reihe ist etwas sehr besonderes und eine unbedingte Empfehlung!
Gute Fortsetzung
Am Anfang etwas langsamer als der erste Teil, aber immer noch ein immens gutes Buch! Teil 3 wird sowas von vorbestellt -Mild Spoiler ahead- My heart broke for Will just as Brees did. Musste seit langem mal wieder ausdruckslos an die wand starren. Ich hoffe echt, wir kriegen eines Tages ein Buch aus seiner POV.
Holy Moly, the second one is even better than the first ... As Bree struggles to understand and direct the power she holds within her, it's seems as if everybody is against her. Whilst on the hunt for Nick, she has to overcome challenges and prejudice and has to deal with a leading body that is not keen on having "someone like her" be a leader ... *SPOILER* The ending wrecked me ...
While I loved the first one, this sequel had me wondering at times. I sometimes feel like second instalments come with problems: pacing, new characters, old character’s development. And this happened in Bloodmarked as well; we get to meet new characters and like them - only for them to disappear into nowhere for the second part of the book and to have more new characters plop up which does none of them justice. Then there is the love triangle and I have to remind myself that they are 16 and somewhat in their early twenties respectively so making mistakes, being stupid, learning about love / expressing it, learning about oneself and growing as a person is a big part of becoming mature. Maybe I am growing too old for YA (you’re as old as you feel? Damn.) That being said, I enjoyed Bree finding out more about her powers, specifically about her non-traditional Western root. We get a view in to century-old powers and different types of power. It was an interesting take how it likely would play out maintaining the power throughout such a long period. Some takes on the traditional Arthurian legend may be different than expected and I am still intrigued to find out how the stories unfold. Overall I thought this second instalment to be not as strong as the first but I will continue and read the next one.
This book just gave you Plottwist after plottwist and I loved it. For me the start felt stronger than the end but I still loved emerging more and more into the world and getting to know more. I really don‘t know what to say other than you should read this series because it is really something else and I can‘t wait for the third book.
Description
“Deonn expertly weaves together a universe that both shines a light on the pervasive nature of racism and also harnesses the complexity of Black identity within this space. Deonn writes so much more than simple fantasies or Arthurian retellings.” —Booklist (starred review)
The “worthy successor to an explosive debut” (Kirkus Reviews)—the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!
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.
Book Information
Posts
I'm struggling to rate this book. So let's start with some things I liked: Deonns writing is wonderful. Her way with words reveal her very intricate, thought through worldbuild that never ceases to impress me. I liked that the book continues to show that the Order is a deeply bigoted old white men's club that is merely invested in self preservation for preservations sake. I also liked the ending. It's unexpectedly painful but a good conclusion to the story told. I'd be satisfied if the story stayed a duology but I also wouldn't be mad if it became a trilogy eventually. Unfortunately, there were a number of things I didn't like 1) the book feels very bloated. In Legendborn, it felt like Bree had accomplished a lot of thing throughout the story, like dealing with her mother's death, and adjusting and adapting to this twofold magic world she had only just begun to discover. I'm missing that sense of accomplishment in Bloodmarked. Brees main objectives at the start of the book seem to be "Find Nick" and "Learn to control both my root and Arthur's powers" While she sort of does both in the very very end, for 90% of the book she is just running around doing nothing and being attached by demons left and right. Generally, I felt like the pacing was off and for long stretches very little of actual relevance happended. 2) Bree My god this girl was annoying. I remember liking her in Legendborn but in Bloodmarked, she misses. The main plot for about two thirds of the book revolves around Bree not listening to anyone ever. Sometimes, stubborn main characters with very little regard for their own safety and wellbeing can be sort of endearing. This is not the case here. Bree is Arthur's Scion. If she dies, the world will go to shit. Best case scenario, she is killed by a human. The spell stays intact but Arthur's legacy goes to some unbeknownst relative of hers and the table is left without a king during camlann. worst case scenario, she is killed by a shadowborn and the spell ends leaving most of the world defense less. Bree knows this, mostly because everyone tells her every two to three pages. Still she refuses to listen because "I just... I don't like feeling coddled and useless. I'm not some damsel" Her entire thing is wanting to prevent more deaths and yet, she risks her friends deaths again and again by being incredibly reckless, full well knowing that each one of them would gladly sacrifice themselves to save her and keep the spell intact. Still she is obnoxious, careless and more than once pulls the "I'm your king you have to do as I say" card. She also spends a significant amount of time whining about how no one will let her make decisions and guess why girly? Because every decision you've made thus far has been fckn stupid and when her friends (very reasonably) suggest that being in the field is too dangerous for her she acts like it's the biggest betrayal in the world. Girl chill. Speaking of her friends. They're all obsessed with her and I can't figure out why for the life of me. I never liked Alice as a character that much in the first place because she very much felt like a plot device and that hasn't changed here. Most of her interactions with Bree are her telling Bree how strong brave kind amazing and special
This book took a lot from me. After devouring the first part in the series, it took me way to long to dive into the second part, but everything I felt in Legendborn was right there again in Bloodmarked. The world Tracy Deonn created here is not only magical and wonderful, it is deep, there is so much insight into the world of a black girl, it is absolutely stunning. I loved everything about it. Sadly, part two actually gave me kind of a hard time, because I had to fight myself throught the book. I wanted to finish the book more than anything! It was great! But somehow it took me a great deal to make it through. It wasn’t the story at all. Because just like in book one, there was so much happening. There was so much happening! I loved it so much! You barely had a moment to breathe between everything that happened and you just never lost interest. But somehow it still couldn’t catch me as much as part one did. Let‘s make this rather short: I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the story. It just couldn’t capture my heart the way its predecessor did.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT TILL MARCH FOR THE NEXT ONE?!? It sometimes felt a bit long but I couldn't say any parts or plots were unnecessary. I'll annoy everyone and their mother to read this series. I didn't care for the characters that much in a long time. They're so well written and have depth and flaws that make them feel realistic and not all too polished. . . . . . . THE END LIKE ENDING ON A CLIFF HANGER AGAIN I'M FERAL FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!
This book is the definition of hate-love. I love it endlessly but I also want to throw it at a wall with all my strength (even Arthur's strength). With that I'd be 5 stars but I kind of struggled a bit at the beginning. But like the first one it wasn't a bad struggle it just wasn't as good as the ending, which is normal for a book. Whatever it's amazing. Read it.
Ich bin durch dieses Buch richtig durchgejagt, weil ich wissen *musste*, wie es weitergeht, man ist sofort wieder total drin und fiebert mit Bree mit. Jetzt kann ich den Reread kaum erwarten, um noch mal ganz tief in die Welt einzutauchen und jedes Detail aufzusaugen. Diese Reihe ist etwas sehr besonderes und eine unbedingte Empfehlung!
Gute Fortsetzung
Am Anfang etwas langsamer als der erste Teil, aber immer noch ein immens gutes Buch! Teil 3 wird sowas von vorbestellt -Mild Spoiler ahead- My heart broke for Will just as Brees did. Musste seit langem mal wieder ausdruckslos an die wand starren. Ich hoffe echt, wir kriegen eines Tages ein Buch aus seiner POV.
Holy Moly, the second one is even better than the first ... As Bree struggles to understand and direct the power she holds within her, it's seems as if everybody is against her. Whilst on the hunt for Nick, she has to overcome challenges and prejudice and has to deal with a leading body that is not keen on having "someone like her" be a leader ... *SPOILER* The ending wrecked me ...
While I loved the first one, this sequel had me wondering at times. I sometimes feel like second instalments come with problems: pacing, new characters, old character’s development. And this happened in Bloodmarked as well; we get to meet new characters and like them - only for them to disappear into nowhere for the second part of the book and to have more new characters plop up which does none of them justice. Then there is the love triangle and I have to remind myself that they are 16 and somewhat in their early twenties respectively so making mistakes, being stupid, learning about love / expressing it, learning about oneself and growing as a person is a big part of becoming mature. Maybe I am growing too old for YA (you’re as old as you feel? Damn.) That being said, I enjoyed Bree finding out more about her powers, specifically about her non-traditional Western root. We get a view in to century-old powers and different types of power. It was an interesting take how it likely would play out maintaining the power throughout such a long period. Some takes on the traditional Arthurian legend may be different than expected and I am still intrigued to find out how the stories unfold. Overall I thought this second instalment to be not as strong as the first but I will continue and read the next one.
This book just gave you Plottwist after plottwist and I loved it. For me the start felt stronger than the end but I still loved emerging more and more into the world and getting to know more. I really don‘t know what to say other than you should read this series because it is really something else and I can‘t wait for the third book.