Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of Bloodmarked in exchange for an honest review.
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Bloodmarked is the perfect sequel to Legendborn, a true upscaling of tension, plot, character development, and EMOTIONS. Bree’s story is a necessary one for so many reasons...

Full review on my blog, www.litandleta.ca.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Tracy Deonn is a goddess. Her writing is phenomenal. Legendborn was such an amazing book, and Bloodmarked is no different. She knows how to write and how to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Book 2 in many book trilogies often falls victim to the dreaded ‘Second Book Slump’. The author is expanding their world and usually setting up a larger scale conflict than the first book and can often get bogged down the exposition, world building and plot details that don’t have a satisfying conclusion. Bloodmarked was not one of these books. I can say with confidence that this is one the best sequel book I have ever read in a series. I loved it so much.

Yes there was an expansion of the world and society from the first book and yes the central conflict and stakes were bigger and higher than the first book, but it felt natural and exciting. I found myself engrossed in every moment. And boy was there a lot happening in this book! It is action packed from start to finish and the journey Bree continues on in this story is so touching and heart wrenching at the same time. The exploration of community and generational trauma was just immense and the this was a real emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. To top it all off, I love how much page time of Sel we had in this book! He’s such a compelling character and it was so interesting to see how Bree’s personal growth was reflected in her relationships with Sel and Nick. This book is a shining example of the amazing and diverse storytelling that the YA genre has to offer and I will be eagerly awaiting book 3!

A fabulous sequel with lots of action, description, and unique concepts. I really enjoyed reading Bree through her journey to find herself and to understand her past, present, and future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2022! To say it did not disappoint is an understatement. Bloodmarked, like its predecessor, is an absolutely powerhouse, very much like its protagonist, Bree Matthews. A masterpiece through and through, both expanding on the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table while infusing it with Black history, and the end result was refreshing, enticing, and absolutely glorious. This series is my brand-new obsession. Bree's journey and development are something that is richly unique and stands out against so much of YA fantasy these days, and it does so effortlessly. It weaves in diversity and careful, sensitive conversations seamlessly, and that continues in Bloodmarked, the way it was piloted in Legendborn. I cannot gush about Bloodmarked enough. A spectacular sequel that left me on the edge of my seat and GASPING from beginning to end. I cannot wait until the last book because this BETTER be a trilogy. A staple of YA fiction that will go live on as a classic. Tracy Deonn, I owe you my life and then some. Bloodmarked was excellence in every form.

This book has left me begging for a sequel and I am not okay 😅

Bree is a powerhouse, and throughout this novel, a rage burned inside me for the way that she was treated. This series does not shy away from the brutal history of slavery among Black people, and the continued racism and structures that hold them down. It is a testament to the battle that is fought in every day life, and how wrong it is that anyone should have to fight to live their life.

I loved Bree’s journey to learning to use her power, and the connection that continues to forge between her and Sel.

We covered so much, and yet I am hungry for so many answers. Can the finale be out already?? I wish I could say more in a review without spoiling anything. Tracy Deonn knows how to capture my soul, and I can’t wait to see what she creates in book three!

Book 2 of The Legendborn Cycle was everything I wanted.

We pick up where we left off with Bree figuring out her new status in the secret society of magic wielding members that are descendants of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable and Merlin. All while trying to understand her ancestral power and the history that is buried with her ancestors. The Regents want to do whatever it takes to understand Bree and hide the war which has Bree running with her close friends while trying to dodge threats from all angles and trying to get back Nick, the boy she has a deep connection with.

The action, romance, magic, friendship, and overall story telling is *chef's kiss. I love Bree even more and love her arc in this book. We learn so much while also getting more questions. I love how Tracy Deonn can give you so much hope while also keeping you sweating with anxiety for all of the characters. I also love seeing things from a different perspective. Representation matters. The author's note at the end is so informative and important as well! If you can't see by how many times I've said "I love" in this review, I loved this book. I'm so excited to see what comes next for Bree.

I was able to switch between reading this ebook and the audiobook and also highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Joniece Abbot-Pratt is amazing and does such a wonderful job at bringing the characters to life.

4.5 stars!

Okay this was so good and I am fully obsessed with Sel. THAT ENDING. Holy. I didn't see any of this happening but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved seeing Alice becoming so much more involved in things and ... SEL. Book three needs to come out like now please!!

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC! I devoured this honestly, such an amazing sequel that I can't wait to recommend to customers. The character development was wonderful and the themes were so strong, I can't wait for the next book!

Bree isn’t a princess, or a queen; she’s a king. But, the Legendborn order is a corrupt boys club who isn’t ready for her. Well they better get ready!

Bloodmarked was an amazing sequel to Legendborn, part of why I loved it so much is it took me somewhere I wasn’t expecting. Where Legendborn gave me Harry Potter vibes, Bloodmarked veered into Artemis Fowl territory .

This was one of those books where I was already planning a re-read 100 pages in. BUT, the ending was not satisfying for me because I have a hard time reconciling it with what I know of the characters. I need book three now!!!!

Honestly the first book of this series was a masterpiece so I was so excited to jump right in with the second book!
This was a rollercoaster truly and the characters are always the best part in my opinion especially Briana. The character development was insanely good I felt attached to Brie even more after all she was put through. The writing is beautiful in a way that you are drawn to the atmosphere and want to know what happens next!

Go get it now this is a marvelous sequel!
Can't wait to know what happens next !
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me an e-arc of this book!

This is the second instalment of this series and it definitely keeps up with the action and mystery like the first book. I really liked how this is a fantasy story but it also deals with racism of now and in the past and makes you acknowledge and be aware of how similar situations are occurring in reality too. I very much enjoyed getting to know some of the characters more and meeting new and interesting ones too. It ended on quite the cliffhanger and I can not wait to see what happens after.

No spoilers review!!

@tracydeonn and @simonschusterca really hooked a girl up with this one!!

Please flood my DMs if you’re planning on reading this next week.

PUB DATE: November 8th.

😭 Tracy Deonn ate and left NO crumbs! From the beginning to the end every single chapter had me on the edge of my seat! The plot twists!?! The betrayal!?! The darkness! Bloodmarked is definitely much darker and heavier than the first book and made me feel every single emotion thought possible.

I did not think that I could fall in love with the characters or this book any more than I did in book one but I stand corrected.

I am obsessed with this world that Tracy Deonn has created and I need more 😭😭

You guys are not ready for this masterpiece!!! 😭😭😭😭😭 I finished the book and I’m honestly still not even ready 😫 I will be processing the unraveling of this story for a while! I know I said this with Babel but I’m saying it again, I will never recover from the rollercoaster of emotions I felt reading this book.

My new 2022 favourite!

After she is revealed to be the rue Scion of Arthur, Bree is eager to prove herself and to finally get some answers. But Bree feels like even more of an outsider than before. Instead of embracing her new identify, it is hidden when the Regents who rule the Order arrive and cover up the truth about everything and pin all the blame on Sel. Though they claim to be protecting Bree, Bree feels like they are only interested in covering up the danger they should be preparing for. Bree and her friends take matters into their own hands, but first she must learn to control her powers so that they can rescue Nick and prepare for battle.
Bloodmarked was an exciting followup to Legendborn. A perfect sequel full of myth and magic.

Bloodmarked is one of the best books I have read this year. Bloodmarked is the second installment of Tracy Deonn's Legendborn Cycle, which is maybe THE best YA Fantasy series I've ever read. I am in awe of Tracy Deonn and the world she has created in The Legendborn Cycle. Bloodmarked features grade A character development, expertly crafted tension and masterful pacing. I don't have a single piece of constructive criticism for this novel. The Legendborn Cycle tackles critical race theory in a very approachable, digestible way. If you read this book and somehow still don't understand what the term "systemic racism" means, I proclaim you a lost cause. I truly believe all humans, or at the very least all Americans should give this a read. It should be taught in schools. It should be worshiped as not only the YA Fantasy series we need, but the YA Fantasy series we deserve (and I mean deserve in every sense of the word). I am not messing around when I say I would die for Bree and the squad. My emotional investment in these books is probably not healthy. Impeccable.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Legendborn, when I read it with @the.bookish.mama’s group! I was excited to get back into this world, I really love the author’s writing.

This one picks up right after the last one. I don’t even know if I can do the plot any justice, so I’m not even going to try. Basically this is a complicated fantasy novel, bringing in the legend of King Arthur, root craft and an ancient community with intense rules and traditions.

I have to say I have been confused many times in this book. I should have done a reread of Legendborn maybe! But even though I still get characters mixed up and their roles don’t always make sense to me, I’m still loving the story.

Bree is an amazing main character. I appreciate the honesty and clarity she brings to the racial discussions. She is simply a kick ass lead. The pacing of this book is perfect. It’s so exciting and there is rarely a slow chapter.

Highly recommend this series if you are into fantasy and myths. Definitely one to take your time with though, as there are a lot of details that you need to pay attention to! It is really such a unique and cool story. Thanks to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for the arc! This comes out tomorrow.

What did you read this weekend?

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I'm not sure why I spent the majority of this book thinking this was a duology, but at some point you start thinking to yourself.. there's too much going on here to be tied up in the next 20% It was around then that I was like DAMNIT, but then also pleased because there will be more.

We don't get a lot of Nick in this book, because it's Sel's time to shine, or exude some kind of dark mist, whatever the broody, angsty demon boy version of shining is. We start off approximately where we left off at the end of Legendborn. Bree has Arthur's aether powers, but she cannot control them. Nick is missing, and she desperately wants to find him, but she's is pretty much in lockdown because of the Arthur situation, and she's going stir crazy. She pushes the boundaries imposed upon her, and people around her suffer because of it.

It's difficult for her initially to understand the implications of being the stone tossed into the pond and all the waves that creates affecting all the people who surround her. She's the king, but she's being stymied and lied to and manipulated, and she finds herself with all the power and none at all.

We follow Bree as she runs from those that would cage her and tries to find Nick. The rules state that the bloodlines must never be crossed, so a relationship with Nick (Lancelot) is forbidden, but that doesn't mean her feelings go away, and she has to contend with that as her feelings for Sel grow and change as they travel together.

Bree also learns about herself on this journey, who she is, who she came from, and who she wants to end up as well as what she's willing to sacrifice and who she's willing to sacrifice it for.

I'm interested to see how things play out in the next book. The Morgaines are a new player in the game. There's a chance that Alice may end up with some powers of her own. There's romance on the horizon for William. We learned in the last book that Sel had feelings for Nick. Now Bree has feelings for both and both for her. We have Arthur and Lancelot and a bit of a love triangle, does that make Sel Guinevere? *strokes air beard*

TRACY DEONN HAS DONE IT AGAIN 👏 I absolutely loved and adored Legendborn, so I was very very excited for this one. AND IT WAS SO GOOD!! This series is definitely in my top 5 of all time.

I loved that in Legendborn you were constantly finding out new things and there were constant plot twists/reveals, and that definitely continued in this book! It was so fun trying to guess what would happen! We also continue to learn more about the Order, Root, about Bree’s ancestry, etc., and I loved diving deeper into all of these.

AND THE CHARACTERS!! My favourite thing about this book was the main cast… without giving too much away, you’ll be seeing more of Bree, Sel, William, and Alice, and I LOVEDDDDD their dynamics and humour. (I definitely need more of this group😭)

The plot was amazing, the characters were amazing, Bree’s journey was so fun (and emotional) to read… I genuinely loveddd Bloodmarked. I really could go on and on and on about this series and this book, but if you liked Legendborn, you’ll love Bloodmarked. This isn’t a filler sequel… it is action packed and wonderful and amazing and I was screamingggggg the whole time. (Like seriously, get ready to be internally screaming for many chapters)

And the ending 👀 prepare yourself for those last few chapters. When I tell you my jaw dropped!… the! plot! twists!!

(And to my fellow Sel fans… hehehe get excited for this book 😌)

Anyways, I cannot wait for Legendborn 3 and for everything Tracy Deonn will write in the future.

Thank you endlessly to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this arc, I love you both 😘

okay i havent finished it yet but it expires soon and i absolutely want my review to be hre!!!! please please please read this series, it is amazing!!! it is everything everyone wants in a great urban fantasy and perfect for those who love the arthurian myth and all.

lots of twists and turns so far and great characters who arent perfect but you still love them!!!

tysm simon teen for this book!!!!!

1000 million thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

That being said, the one thought on my brain after having finished the book is WOW (all caps intended).

This book was nothing short of insane.

I don’t know what I was expecting of it, but the reality was definitely nowhere even NEAR what I could have conceptualized. This story goes well beyond the bounds of the legendborn world and explores things, places, and characters I never could have anticipated.

Seriously, SO MUCH happens in this book. I am fully convinced at this point that Tracy Deonn is a master at literary tension because she knows exactly how to keep readers in their toes. The pacing of the book is phenomenal, with the perfect layering of intense scenes in between calmer/happier/etc. moments, and it all builds to an absolutely jaw dropping climax that I seriously have yet to develop words for. The entire book is filled with plot twists and revelations that carry you along and make it impossible to put the book down and leave you desperate for more. Seriously, props to the author 👏🏼👏🏼

Beyond that though, I also want to acknowledge how well this sequel dives into the concepts of power and powerlessness through the use of enemies and problems that well surpass those of the first book.

Now I will say that I’m still uncertain about how I feel about the ending. So much happened so quickly and I am still trying to process it all and what it will mean for the story at large. Most likely though, I won’t have answers to any of those questions until the long wait for the third book is finally fulfilled (which is such distressing news).

But one thing I can say for certain is that this sequel will not disappoint and gives me a lot of hope that when this series is finally done, it will be an altogether STELLAR one.