Bloodmarked

by Tracy Deonn

I’m obsessed with this series and I have a fan theory to include with this review!

I’m going to break all the rules and just say:
TL;DR: Just read it. So, so good.

Alright, back to keeping to the rules, let’s continue this review like normal.

Before I really get into it, thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing over on Netgalley for approving my request for the e-ARC of this AMAZING book! I’m so thankful I got to read it early, so many thanks for giving me the opportunity!

Just to go back in time a little, since I didn’t do a review for Legendborn – I was originally drawn to this story because I was told it was a modern King Arthur retelling with Southern Black Girl Magic, so I was sold immediately.  Little did I know just how sold I was going to be.

Legendborn showed up as a paperback in an Illumicrate monthly box. As soon as I could squeeze it into my TBR, I did [much to the annoyance of the other books I had planned to get to].

And. I. Was. Hooked.

I don’t know why I never wrote a review for book one.  I may go back and reread Legendborn and Bloodmarked eventually [for reasons], and I may do a “Reread Review” of Legendborn, but I’m not sure what my schedule will look like at that point, so we’ll see.  I’d love to, though, if I can!

But, first things first: Goodreads summaries!  If you want to read a synopsis of Legendborn [since I didn’t do a separate review for it and you’re thinking of starting the series], you can find that Goodreads summary here.  If you want to read of synopsis of the book that’s currently taken over my brain, the one I’ll need to read a cleanse book before moving on from, aka Bloodmarked, you can find that Goodreads summary here.

Alright, second things second: recommendation time!

Recommendation: Read it.  Seriously, it’s so, so good.  Obviously, if you even liked Legendborn, you’ll probably love Bloodmarked.  If you loved Legendborn and can’t imagine loving the sequel more, be prepared.  If you’re on the fence about the whole series and missed out or put it off until now, do it.  It’s so deep, rich, and full of modern twists – both technologically and societal-ly.  The not-so-underlying tones of Legendborn just grow in Bloodmarked, and I can’t even begin to tell you how absolutely incredible this book is.  I’m.  Obsessed.

Aaanndd third things third: my fan theory!

Fan Theory:  THIS ISN’T THE END OF THIS SERIES!  I think there’s a book 3 that hasn’t been announced [I’m still trying to figure out what the name would be – Hunted? Descendants?  Neither seem quite right, but maybe I’ll keep this post updated with my title guesses], and that would make it the second duology-turned-trilogy this year!  [I also knew at the end of The Ballad of Never After that the duology would be announced to actually be a trilogy, I just couldn’t get my review up fast enough to include that theory!]  Just like with what I’m calling the Broken Heart series, I don’t mind at all that there’s going to be more in these universes!  I’m so, so excited by this possibility! Did I mention yet that I’m obsessed with this series?  You couldn’t have made me happier, honestly. Yeeeeeeess!  BRING ON BOOK THREE!

[Please note – I will strive to make this review as spoiler free for Bloodmarked as I possibly can, but it won’t be Legendborn spoiler free. If you haven’t read Legendborn and want to avoid spoilers, stop now!]

Anyway! I’m not going to lie to you, because I’ve been thinking about this book almost non-stop since I finished it, I’m going to struggle to get non-spoiler thoughts out, but I’ll do my best. I wish I had been able to squeeze a reread of Legendborn in because I forgot how complex and term-heavy this world is and exactly how much happened in it. I definitely had to pause and think back to everything I could dredge up from my memory to catch up at first. BUT – it didn’t take me long to get back into it, and Bree welcomed me back with open arms.

Bree. Incredible, headstrong, stubborn, strong Bree. She’s so, so smart, but just a little behind the ball at the start of this book. That doesn’t stop her, though, and everyone not on her side should watch out. The King is coming through! All [semi] jokes aside, Bree is a powerful force to be reckoned with, more in this book than ever before. Throughout both Legendborn and Bloodmarked, I couldn’t help but find myself so, so proud of her, and the person she’s becoming as her story goes on. I really don’t know what else to say without giving away any more spoilers, but Bree is definitely pushing her way onto my short list of favorite female MCs. She’s incredible.

It’s hard to talk about Nick without spoilers for this book, so we’ll talk about Sel. I forgot how much I both love and am annoyed by Sel. He’s incredible and also an incredibly large pain in the neck. But the role he plays in this book is pivotal, and, not only would there not be much of a story without him, but I can’t deny that a lot of the parts he impacts are why I want to reread not only this book but the current series as a whole. It’s hard not to talk spoilers with him, too, so I guess we’ll just push on for now.

Seriously, this series is amazing, and it deserves not only all the reads, but maybe all the rereads too. But, onto spoilers!

**SPOILER LINE! I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH, SO I GUESS A GUSHING WARNING MIGHT NOT HURT! I CAN’T WAIT TO TALK ALL THE DETAILS, SO BE PREPARED, WHETHER THAT MEANS GOING AND READING THE BOOK AND COMING BACK, OR BEING READY TO BE SPOILED WITH THE CONTENTS OF BLOODMARKED!**

Bree is forced through so much that a teenager shouldn’t have to deal with. The choices she has to make, the choices made for her, all of it – she’s incredible and stronger than any teenager should have to be.

Personally, I think I ship Bree and Sel harder than Bree and Nick, but maybe that’s just because we don’t really see much of Nick in this book, and the parts we do see aren’t really doing him any favors. [I mean, I get why he chooses to be on his own, but, really, man? Seriously?]

That said . . .

SEL BETTER BE OK AND RECOVER, OR I SWEAR!

Ok, threats aside, I’m obsessed with this book, and it’s a good thing I’m planning to read another book I’m obsessed with after this one [and a cleanser read], because I’d likely be in a reading slump if I didn’t, just constantly wanting to come back to this world for more. Did I mention I love this book yet? Because I do.

But the Regents? I mean, I know a society/order like this is bound to breed power-hungry greediness into people, especially if they dreamed of glory and never got their chance when they were a Scion, but c’mon! And then the underlying racism is just – ugh, I felt physically ill, reading it. I knew they were awful but UGH! I don’t think it was done heavy-handedly, either. I think it’s exactly what it need to be, in every way. To think it’s ok to drug-up, repeatedly wipe the memory of, and then essentially lock-up a teenager – nay, just a person in general! – is just next level.

The only possible inconsistency I’m seeing is that a lot of liberties are being taken with Bree’s root abilities. To be fair, I guess it technically is established that her root isn’t like the typical root powers you’d normally see because of that accidental deal with a demon. That said, it does feel a bit like a catch-all. All in all, though, I’ll definitely be coming back for what is most assuredly going to be a third book. I need more, and I need answers!

While I’m sure the endgame is Nick and Bree for the full act of rebellion, I could see her being with Sel also being a full act of rebellion – it’s never been done before either, right? So there’s still hope for Sel and Bree, right? Right? [Joking – Nick and Bree would be a great endgame, too.]

I love how well created and well balanced this world is. It works well and balances the Scion-world and the root-crafter world, using both to demonstrate how the same price can be paid in different ways, which is what makes them similar but also uniquely different.

I love the “role” the ancestors play and Volition as a general idea. I hope it can become real, at some point. [Magic aside, of course.] I love the idea of the land that caused such suffering being reclaimed and repurposed for their good and as a safe haven.

But, seriously, if you were on the fence and my gushing review still didn’t convince you, pretend I did, and read it because I doubt you’ll regret it.