clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Classism, Pregnancy, War, Murder, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Car accident, and Stalking
xlipkins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Torture, Racism, Violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Misogyny and Cursing
Minor: Stalking
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Is this the best YA fantasy book ever written? Maybe?
At least, it's one of the best I've read. Truly, the writing is fantastic. I laughed, I cried, I was at the edge of my seat and turned page after page after page. And I just found out this is Tracy Deonn's debut novel?! What?!
Loved the writing. Looooved the characters, the character work, development, their dynamics are so good. There are some tropes I usually don't enjoy that much, but here I didn't mind, I was even invested. I'm here for it. And there is so much LGBTQ+ representation! Gay, Lesbian, Bi Characters, a non-binary one. And the way they are casually part of the story made me SO happy.
Also, Bree as the protagonist is such a delight to follow. Even when she is grieving and angry. I love her.
I'm a fan of Arthurian legends. One of my first fantasy books ever was a retelling of the legend. Since then, I've encountered many more and this one is so unique. I have to admit, it is confusing at the beginning. There is a lot of world building (A LOT), a lot of names, and details. The magic system is wild and equally confusing. And then halfway through the book a second magic system comes into play. And I loved this one even more. But it worked for me. In the end everything came together perfectly, the plot, the characters, the mysteries. The ending is so satisfying.
And all that, the character dynamics, the friendships, the romance, the magic, the (for me perfectly paced) plot is interwoven with themes like grief, racism, colonization, slavery, generational trauma in such a brilliant way. I could say so much more and talk about this book for hours on end, but I don't want to spoil anything. I'm just in love which this story and can't wait to continue with Bloodmarked right away.
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Stalking, Car accident, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gore, and Rape
lectricefeministe's review
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Slavery, Violence, War, Transphobia, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Misogyny, Stalking, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism
rayreyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ever ever ever.
Moderate: Slavery, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Rape, Blood, Violence, Torture, Stalking, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Classism, Infidelity, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, and Alcohol
hayzey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Stalking, Slavery, Medical trauma, Racism, Racial slurs, Gore, Death, Blood, Bullying, and Torture
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Murder, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Blood, Alcohol, Violence, Torture, Stalking, Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Gore, War, and Infidelity
Minor: Torture, War, Slavery, Mental illness, Grief, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Classism, Blood, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Murder, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Car accident, Alcohol, Stalking, Rape, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
penofpossibilities's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Moderate: Police brutality, Car accident, Slavery, Murder, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Transphobia
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Slavery, Car accident, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, Medical content, Racism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Rape
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The pacing was a little off and the characters were 8/10. Some of the side characters were a little stiff or spare and felt like part of the scenery, even some of the “bigger” side characters. Why was I supposed to care when that one dude (?) died? Sad I guess but, like, your after school club is “war but with mythology intertwined” lol so idk it just didn’t hit like I thought it should.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, can’t wait to read more, and will definitely be picking up book #2.
Spoiler
I thought her romance with Nick felt really rushed & not super believable but then we find out that SHE is the scion of Arthur & HE is the scion of Lancelot so that makes a lot more sense to me. She doubles down on “loving” him at the end but her connection with Sel is much greater & the chemistry there is electric. I’m not big on love triangles in YA books but I’m willing to give this one a shot and keep reading because I do like the MC and I also enjoy a good enemies to friends to dating (feels weird to say lovers about minors)—which is where I hope things are going with Sel.Graphic: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Racism, Sexism, Grief, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Alcohol
jhaneveauguste's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Slavery, Racism, Stalking, War, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Blood, Bullying, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Misogyny