Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Bloodmarked

Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

42 reviews

corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't even know how to begin to write this.

Genuinely, I haven't been this affected by and in love with a book series in ages.

I'll try really hard to write a spoiler free review as I normally do.

Often second books in a trilogy are a bit slow and just setting up the third book. Not this one. This book is strong and twisty and emotional all by itself. I laughed, I cried, 1 yelled at Sel.....

Bree continued to make her space as one of my new favorite FMCs, and I love the way she is allowed to be kind of a hot mess and actually struggle for much of the book while still being strong and loved. One again, the last couple of chapters broke me, in the best way, as we watched her truly claim her power for herself.

I liked how we saw even more of Nick's courage and fire in this, while letting him continue to be Bree's safe space.

(Yes, this made the ending worse. No I am not okay.)

Sel's development in this book was extremely well done, and I literally cried when he held Bree together but also I wanted to strangle him for so much of the book because of some of his other choices. He is the illusive actually morally grey character everyone wants, but also just a traumatized baby.

Also, this is probably the first time l've actually cared about a love triangle and genuinely don't know how I want it to turn out. And a straight love triangle at that. My lesbian ancestors are ashamed of me.

The side characters continue to be a highlight of these books. Especially Alice and William. But really, William. I love him so much. I also enjoyed some of our new side characters, especially Valec, Hazel, and Lu, as well as Mariah's increased role.

Also, that plot twist with Arthur? My word.

Also, I want to give mention again to the expert handling of racism and the history of slavery in these books. So often books use those issues and stories just for fake depth, but this series is so much more, and I can't explain it.

I thought I knew what the plot would be going into this book, and I most certainly did not. It was, instead, about 500 times better. These two books together have rewritten my soul, and I apparently have to function now? And cope?

And wait for the naw hank?

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julie2525's review against another edition

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adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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peachani's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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sammymilfort's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

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meghansarmiento97's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Wow. Just wow. Also, I need fanfic rn rn (why are there so little on ao3 this is so sad)
This book has reminded me of how bad I am at spotting plot twists (there is foreshadowing I just can't find them until hindsight kicks in). There isn't rlly an overarching plot throughout the book; it's more of a series of events and characters' reactions to them -> plot harder to follow than that of 1st book. Somehow has more fight scenes than prev books.
Love love love how the magic system & thus world got expanded. Treasured this series so much I was sort of procrastinating reading it so I could keep reading it for longer. This book sure is heavier than the first with how much more racism shows up & affects the plot + Bree's heritage gets explored. Also I just love when writers explore intergenerational trauma. I think Bree's character arc should have had the turning point during the climax instead of after so I felt like the character development could have been stronger.
Two main parts that I am rlly interested in: 1) love triangle & 2) legendborn cycle as ecoliterature
1) Before I read this, I thought that I'd end up shipping the 3 of them tgt as a throuple but now idk if I ship any of them w/ any of the others💀.

Bree's reasoning for kissing Sel even with her rship with Nick does not make sense to me at all. Liked Bree X Nick before that aghhhhhh why did that have to happen :( *Technically* still salvageable though. There is just so much to unpack between Nick & Sel and I worry about whether the author would have time for them to both get past it and also fall in love + they might get more baggage between them as the series progresses :sigh: Sel & Bree has that 2 year age gap which while does happen irl, I feel weird about. Anyway, I loved loved loved the dream sequences where Nick showed up & the parts where all 3 were together were some of my favourite scenes. WHEN NICK LEFT THEM I FELT SO BETRAYED (I kind of feel like Nick killed that mageguard bc of Sel'd bloodlust?) Why did they have to all get seperated as the ending😭😭😭 Now praying for multi POV Oathbound

I would like to take a moment to say that sonnet xvii by Pablo Neruda fits ot3 brilliantly it's like it was written for them.
2) Aether as metaphor for western imprialism's extractivism that is unsustainable w/ a high price (planet dying just like Abatement) while root as metaphor for a more balanced way of interacting and living in nature.

Volition is self-sustaining while the Order felt a need to expand to the point where they have Vassals in power in many places. The way root is more communal and not used for violence while aether users fight the never-ending war against the Shadowborn -> system that cultivates burnout just like a capitalistic society. There is something to be said about the story sold to Legendborn & those who wish to be Scions on how cool & powerful they'd be just like the legends vs it's actl the Regents in power just like the American dream vs extreme wealth inequality in USA w/ very little social support. The way aether users hunt root users down just like how USA interfered in leftist states to prevent their success. Dreaming as a sort of bridge between the past and present, as well as a way for connection (similar to Avatar) & ✨problem solving✨(like Word for World is Forest). "Sometimes, our dreams are memories revisted, sure, but other times, dreams depart from what was, and become something else."

There are sooooo many good quotes it's unbelievable. I'd like to specifically highlight

"There are many reasons to hid the truth from those you do not know. But when there is care between two people, and trust built, there is only one reason that lies continue: not fear of safety, but fear of judgement."
"'Think of the power you possess and the woman who gave it to you.' I used to think that woman was my mother, and, through her, you. Tried it her way, and it didn't work." "And why is that?" "Because you all didn't give me my power. I did"
"You said they ran so I wouldn't have to. But I think they ran so that one day I could choose. And today, I choose me."
"By burning away their roots, I am finally free to grow my own."

Has its flaws but it really is something special so 5 stars anyway. (Also I want to come back and see how long of a review I ended up writing lol)

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