Dec 15

Dec 15 Bloodmarked - Tracy Deonn

We ran . . . so you would not have to.

Tracy Deonn, you have done it again. Bloodmarked, the second book in the Legendborn series, is simply amazing.

When I read the first book in the series, it moved me in a way that was hard to describe at first. But, as time passed during the hellscape we called the pandemic, I began to understand my feelings. As someone who grew up in the 80’s, most books and tv shows were white. Legendborn was one of the first books I’ve read as an adult that merged my love of the legend of King Arthur with a young Black girl who has skin like mine. Legendborn explored and expanded what it means to be a Black girl with real power fighting those who would take it away.

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ LEGENDBORN PLEASE STOP READING. THERE WILL BE MILD SPOILERS FROM THAT BOOK.

Now, our “brave Bree” has a new fight, as the Scion of Arthur, she is now King and head of the Legendborn and the Table. In a just world, everyone would fall in line to prepare for Camlann, the war with the Shadowborn, and also find Nick, the one everyone thought was the Scion of Arthur and Bree’s boo. But baby, this is America and Bree is Black. The idea of her being King and leading the other Legendborn was not well-received, to say the least. To make things worse, Bree can’t get a handle on her power, which is a combination of root from her ancestors, aether from Arthur and something else she can’t control. She has a power the Regents want to take and control for themselves.

Bree ends up going on the run with our favorite Kingsmage, Selwyn Kane, her best friend Alice Chen and Scion of Gawain and all-around good guy healer William Sitterson. The friends work together to keep each other safe, do their best to find Nick and help Bree get answers to controlling her powers.

I am in awe of Tracy Deonn. As a writer myself, I struggle with creating a world that feels real and relatable. Bloodmarked may have fantasy elements, but the struggles Bree experiences are extremely relatable. As the Scion of Arthur, a power her ancestor was given by force, Bree has to deal with the microagressions and downright racism (it’s on sight, Victoria) because she is deemed to be unworthy of having that power. But Bree is also a first: first woman to be Scion of Arthur and King; first Black person to be in such a seat of power as head of the Table and wielder of Excalibur; first of both lines of ancestors to access those branches of power. And ALL of this while trying to not be killed.

AND she’s gotta deal with her growing attraction to Sel, which baby, I wish I had that dilemma. On one side is Nick, now Scion of Lancelot, gorgeous, smart and completely into Bree. On the other is Selwyn, Kingsmage, also gorgeous, protector of the King and a cambion who may or may not fall to his demon blood. Reading about a Black girl who has not one but two hot guys falling for her makes my heart sing.

What I truly appreciate in both books is the author’s inclusion of enslaved people and slavery in general. Now hear me out. I say this because too many people want to whitewash history and make slavery seem like it wasn’t that bad. They want to minimize the stolen families, the beatings, the murders, the r*pes, the maimings. But not in this series. In Bloodmarked, the author writes an entire section dedicated to a place called Volition, which started as a place of slavery horrors but was turned into a sanctuary for Rootcrafters, The detailed descriptions of Volition gave me a sense of calm. At one point, Bree has a conversation with Lucille, another Rootcrafter, about the importance of Volition:

“Volition is both a gravesite and a refuge. A site of mourning and a site of hope If there’s any place in the country where the spirits of the dead can reclaim a place for themselves and their own people, it’s a house like this, don’t you think?”
I nod slowly, thinking of Vera’s escape from her plantation, the origin of her Line of power. Even as I have prepared myself to confront the Regents and force them—and the Order—to face the truth, I have run. I have hid. I have had to escape, time and time again. I have survived, but I have scars to show for it—inside and out.
“A place of our own,” I say “To rest.”
Lu links an arm with mine. “Where we get to decide what to preserve, and how.”

I cannot tell you how relieved I felt for Bree after reading that passage. To find a space of rest and safety in a country that hates you is hard to find in the real world. I’m glad the author gave her that safe place in the book.

All in all, Bloodmarked was definitely worth the wait. I’m not going to say much else because so much happens in the book and I don’t want it to be spoiled for you. Just know, like I did when I read the big reveal in Legendborn, I was squealing like a little girl when I read the big reveal in this book. I read the Barnes & Noble edition, which contains an extended Chapter 51, which I absolutely loved. The ending left me on the edge and I will be counting the days until the next book is released.

If Tracy Deonn ever reads this review, I just want to say THANK YOU. You have made the nerdy teenage version of me I carry inside feel very seen. Also, I am not above bribery if it means I can read an arc of the next book.

For a list of content warnings, please see here.

Where to buy: The Lit. Bar Loyalty Bookstores Amazon