From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Bloodmarked (The Legendborn Cycle, #2)

Tracy Deonn

Start date: July 1, 2025

Finish date: July 31, 2025

Discussion: Book of the Month

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 3 topics — 644 comments total

Book of the Month

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Previous BOTMs
By Felicia · 11 posts · 732 views

last updated Dec 27, 2024 06:25AM

* BOTM Polls!
By Alaina · 23 posts · 213 views

last updated Aug 21, 2025 09:47AM

showing 10 of 35 topics view all »

What Members Thought

May 12, 2023 Ashley Lewis rated it liked it

“You excel at so very many things, punishing yourself is a great example.”

The war between Legendborn and Shadowborn is coming, and Bree is intent on finding Nick before it happens so that they can fight it together. While she wants to fight, the rest of the Order wants to hide her away, for her protection, and to get a better understanding of how her power works. Bree and her friends run from the Regents so that they can rescue Nick themselves and hopefully find some knowledge a long the way as ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 04, 2025 Ellen-Arwen Tristram rated it liked it

Shelves: book-box

Well, what a book - in many ways.

I went in knowing I'd find this a bit of a struggle - as I did the first book - because of the sheer number of characters and complexity of plot, but this took things to a new level! Just when I felt like I was getting the hang of the world-building and the current cast of characters, something new was thrown at me, or sprung up again from the first book, and I had to remind myself... or just keep reading and remain confused. (I mainly took the second route, let Well, what a book - in many ways.

I went in knowing I'd find this a bit of a struggle - as I did the first book - because of the sheer number of characters and complexity of plot, but this took things to a new level! Just when I felt like I was getting the hang of the world-building and the current cast of characters, something new was thrown at me, or sprung up again from the first book, and I had to remind myself... or just keep reading and remain confused. (I mainly took the second route, letting some of it wash over me; maybe this was doing the book a disservice, but I felt if I took the time to go back and remind myself of the hierarchies etc it would slow me down so much I'd grind to a halt).

The love triangle with Bree/Sel/Nick was, for me, unnecessary. I know it's YA and therefore there's an unspoken rule that there needs to be some romance related angst going on at all times, but it felt like a distractor rather than an addition. I know that I'm probably in a minority here, but just saying.

Without spoilers, the ending was simultaneously exciting and a let-down. Having it reported to us didn't work for me; I wanted it on page. The conclusion felt... kind of rushed, while the book was meandering... a lot happened (and I mean a LOT) but there wasn't a clear pathway to follow. Having recently had a lot of conversations recently about YA publishing and 'what sells/gets literary agents' attention' this wouldn't fit the bill... every scene does advance the plot, but there's also a lot of retrodden feelings/vibes even if the actual events are different.

The expanded world-building was good in theory, but in practice made for just too unwieldy a novel. I admire what Tracey Deonn has done (which she articulates fairly well in the afterward), but I feel like there's at least three separate novels in here - a retelling of the Arthurian story, an exploration of grief, and a very personal but also ancient almost polemic about Black subjugation and White Supremacy. Each of these is a novel/series in itself; trying to get all of these in one is just too much - for this reader at least.

I don't think I'll continue with the series - I'm curious as to where Deonn will take Bree and co next, but not that curious. I am willing to put effort into reading (honest! I'm not an entirely lazy reader), but the sheer angst and confusion made the reading experience as a whole not all that enjoyable. That's not to say that I think Deonn hasn't created something remarkable here; I just needed a little breathing room to absorb it all.

If she chooses to write more about Black heritage in the future, I'd be interested in reading it, but not in a novel so complicated by Welsh Kings and secret societies... they almost got in the way. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 15, 2024 Ashlyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rating: 3.5 stars

Well, this book is slightly hard to rate for me. I was in a reading slump for the first 50% of the book and I honestly wanted to DNF so many times. Then I read a completely different book that got me out of my reading slump. The last half was so much easier for me to get through. Did I find it amazing? No. Was there so much that was unexpected and it kept me engaged to finish? Yes. While I didn't find the writing to be anything amazing, I did enjoy the world. I do feel like a to ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2025 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Hmmm middle books are always a slog but this one really slogged in the middle. The ending was kinda ho hum. Kinda hand wavy. I’ll see how book 3 and reserve judgement.

Like · see review

Jan 22, 2023 Alexandra Murphy rated it really liked it

It all got a bit confusing when Bree got trapped in Arthur’s dream realm…..

Like · see review

Dec 07, 2022 Isabella rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2022-publication, published-november

4,5 stars, leaning towards a 5.
This was hella brilliant, and quite possibly better than the first book. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series, especially after that cliffhanger!

Like · see review