Bloodmarked (The Legendborn Cycle Book 2)

Tracy Deonn has written another spellbinding addition to the Legendborn saga. She has masterfully combined Arthurian legends with African American culture, blending them into a contemporary fantasy that satisfies as well as sheds light on the underbelly of colonialism.
It cannot be overstated how pivotal Bree’s character is in examining how the history of enslavement remains an issue not fully healed or addressed in our country. It was a major cliffhanger that would be hard to see coming from book one, that Bree is actually the descendant of Arthur and not Nick Davis. In a secret society that views itself as heroes of humanity, fighting the righteous fight against demons since the 15th century, what a shocker that it is discovered Bree is the scion, and not because of her ancestors loving each other to bring her lineage forward, but because her many great-grandmothers, Vera, was an enslaved woman on the Davis plantation and through the violence done to her, Bree inherited the magic of Arthur.
That history has also bound the descendants of Vera into a Bloodmarked oath from a surprising source when she was desperate to escape from Davis with her unborn child. Our character, Bree, through forced resilience, finds herself immensely powerful, a target on her back from all sides, untrained, and trying to understand and move forward with a legacy from both ancestors that she never imagined. It is a powerful viewpoint that most people picking up a fantasy aren’t expecting to find themselves simultaneously entertained by an epic hero quest while also seeing Bree navigating in a world that was not built to include her. As a reader, we are rooting for her while being aware of the real-world implications this sheds light on.
There are so many things to love about the unique twist the author has brought to this story. I loved the agency Bree’s character has. She does not plan to be led around as the show pony, but means to succeed in her mission to win Camlann. I love that the racists and bigots can’t dim her shine or hide her away and pretend she’s not the most important person in the room. I love the concept of Volition plantation reclaiming and deciding who may enter. I love that the African American characters have magic, too, called rootcraft. Even though the European descendants have tried to ban it and kill it, they flourish in an underground system of support.
Sel’s character is always compelling, and the chemistry with Bree is certainly page-turning. Her best friend Alice is such a brilliant source of fun and delight amidst the heaviness of Bree’s burden. The mission to find Nick or have Nick be part of the story wasn’t as much of a focus as I thought it would be.
This is a fantastic second book that moves forward the overall story arc while also taking time for Bree to understand herself, her powers, and decide for herself what she plans to do aside from her ancestors' wish for her. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.