Bloodmarked

"Bloodmarked" is the thrilling second installment in Tracy Deonn's "Legendborn Cycle," continuing Bree Matthews's journey as she grapples with her newfound ancestral powers, including Root magic and aether. After her boyfriend, Nick, is kidnapped, Bree and her loyal friends go on the run from the very secret society she infiltrated, the Legendborn Order, who view her unpredictable abilities with suspicion. The book delves deeply into themes of identity, grief, and the insidious nature of racism, particularly as Bree navigates predominantly white spaces while embracing her Black heritage and the history of enslavement tied to her powers. It's a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure that combines Arthurian legend with contemporary issues, offering a powerful narrative about self-discovery, loyalty, and fighting for justice. Parents should be aware of themes of racial discrimination and some fantasy violence.

All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new: A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion. But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped. Bree wants to fight, but the Regents who rule the Order won’t let her. To them, she is an unknown girl with unheard-of power, and as the living anchor for the spell that preserves the Legendborn cycle, she must be protected. When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death. If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first—without losing herself in the process.