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Bloodmarked (2) (The Legendborn Cycle)

Tracy Deonn

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An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

“Deonn writes…stories that humanize Black protagonists, like Bree, giving them agency and a place to both fail and, ultimately, to ascend.” —Booklist (starred review)

The “worthy successor to an explosive debut” (Kirkus Reviews)—the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!

The shadows have risen, and the line is law. 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.

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 12 2022

my autumnal reading plans | FALL TBR

BOOK OF THE MONTH is coming to CANADA 🇨🇦 https://www.bookofthemonth.com/ca This video was sponsored by Book of the Month!

📚 join my book club 📚 read books by BIPOC each month and join me during monthly liveshows to discuss! 🤍 announcement Video: https://youtu.be/u-aI8tD1RcQ 🤍 discuss on Fable: https://l.fable.co/readincolour 🤍 discuss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readincolourbookclub/ 🤍 discuss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadinColorClub

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faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

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🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

17 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Dec 30 2025

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://theskyylife.binderybooks.com/item/x2UKpPxnzcOfsh1ndmb0/)

2025 Reading Wrap Up - Which books are at the TOP of the list?

2025 has come to an end, and here are my top reads from each month in 2025! I've read some amazing books this year, and it has been such a busy, blessed year; I'm surprised I was able to read as much as I have.

What books do you think I should read in 2026?

CHAPTERS ◡̈ 00:38 Black Romance 02:22 YA Fantasy 04:43 Adult Fiction 05:59 Adult Fantasy Duology 09:50 Adult Romtantasy (Standalone) 13:36 YA Fantasy 17:05 Graphic YA Novel 18:30 YA Mystery/Thriller 19:12 Dark Dystopian Romance 23:16 YA Mystery/Thriller

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🎧 Libro.FM *my favorite Audible/Everand alternative where you actually OWN the audiobooks you purchase, and credits don't expire*: https://libro.fm/referral?rf\_code=lfm785266 (If you use this link, I will receive an audiobook credit when you start a new one-credit membership.)

#booktube #booktok #bookrecommendations #booktuber

16 books

The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Dec 30 2025

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2025 wrap up is here! I finished a book recently but it didn’t top my earlier pick for December. I a

2025 wrap up is here! I finished a book recently but it didn’t top my earlier pick for December. I am in the middle of 2-3 other books right now but I’ll tell y’all about those in the new year — to see more regarding these amazing reads — subscribe to my youtube channel! 🔗 in bio videos have been recorded, will be in the lab editing this week to start the new year off on the right foot! 😌

What books do you think I should inread in 2026?!

#readingwrapup #bookrecommendations #blackbookstagram #2025reads📚

12 books

Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Oct 22 2025

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\ \ I'm currently reading Blood Slaves by Marcus Redmond and it got me thinking about the numerous books out there with "blood" in the title. So I pulled together 12 BIPOC books with "blood" in their titles that I thought would be fitting reads for spooky season!\ \ Let's get into them:\ \ Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond \ \ For fans of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and readers of Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones, and Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, this ingenious reimagining of the vampire origin story set during the early days of American slavery blends alternate history with supernatural horror, as the last surviving member of an ancient African vampire tribe meets a slave desperate for freedom, and together, they lead an army of enslaved people in a cinematically blood-soaked battle for freedom and revenge.\ \ -Penguin Random House\ \ The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le \ \ Nhika is a bloodcarver. A coldhearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch.\ \ In the industrial city of Theumas, Nhika is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure. And in the city's criminal underbelly, the rarest of monsters are traded for gold. When Nhika is finally caught by the infamous Butchers, she's forced to heal the last witness to a high-profile murder.\ \ As Nhika delves into the investigation, all signs point to Ven Kochin, an alluring yet entitled physician's aide. Despite his relentless attempts to push her out of his opulent world, something inexplicable draws Nhika to him. But when she discovers Kochin is not who he claims to be, Nhika will be faced with a greater, more terrifying evil lurking in the city's center...\ \ Her only chance to survive lies in a terrible choice—become the dreaded monster the city fears, or risk jeopardizing the future of her kind.\ \ -Macmillan\ \ Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi \ \ They killed my mother.\ \ They took our magic.\ \ They tried to bury us.\ \ Now we rise.\ \ Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.\ \ But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.\ \ Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.\ \ Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.\ \ -Bookshop.org\ \ Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun \ \ A brilliant new voice brings us a brilliant new epic fantasy novel: Ehigbor Okosun’s first book in an action-packed, poignant duology inspired by Nigerian mythology—full of magic and emotion and set in a highly atmospheric, complex world in which a young woman fights to survive a tyrannical society, having everything stripped away from her, and seeks vengeance for her mother’s murder and the spilled blood of her people.\ \ -Harper Collins\ \ Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury \ \ A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.\ \ -Simon & Schuster\ \ Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams \ \ A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical. Enroll in the debut of a fresh fantasy series unlike anything you’ve seen before.\ \ -Penguin Random House\ \ The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport \ \ Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.\ \ -Harper Collins\ \ Blood & Brujas: An Elements of Iteria Novel by Mikayla D Hornedo \ \ From the moment Dayanara could wield a blade, she's been used as a weapon for Caldera, a kingdom of fierce brujas. Whenever her mother, the all-powerful Acna, points her in the direction to kill, Dayanara follows.\ \ After centuries of war against the vampire kingdom at their border, her mother offers their king Dayanara's hand in marriage as a truce. Their agreement is bound by magic, and Dayanara must decide if she wants to kill the king, seduce the king, or embrace the union.\ \ On the bright side, the marriage is set to make her the next Acna, granting her all the power that comes with the role. Depending on how much the Goddess Naom gifts her, it could be enough to regain control of her life. Or maybe everything will crumble beyond repair.\ \ -Bookshop.org\ \ Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis \ \ Legendborn meets The Vampire Diaries, in which an 18-year-old girl is mysteriously accepted into a university in a midwestern town known for its legends about werewolves and vampires...\ \ BLOOD MOON is a dark and thrilling, intensely romantic ride, a fresh take on a werewolf love story for a new generation of paranormal romance readers, and is the first book in a series. It is set against a high-stakes paranormal backdrop—a world ripe with secret identities, rich supernatural lore, and a forbidden romance... that comes with a deadly bite.\ \ https://www.britneyslewis.com/bloodmoon\\ \ \ \ Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn \ \ Book 2 of the Legendborn Cycle\ \ The shadows have risen, and the line is law.\ \ 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.\ \ -Simon & Schuster\ \ Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye \ \ Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, Deborah Falaye’s debut novel, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of Children of Blood and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.\ \ This is what they deserve.\ \ They wanted me to be a monster.\ \ I will be the worst monster they ever created.\ \ Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.\ \ Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.\ \ -Harper Collins\ \ Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker \ \ Thirty years ago, a young woman was murdered, a family was lynched, and New Orleans saw the greatest magical massacre in its history. In the days that followed, a throne was stolen from a queen.\ \ On the anniversary of these brutal events, Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family—are mourning their father and caring for their sick mother. Until, by chance, they discover their mother isn’t sick—she’s cursed. Cursed by someone on the very magic council their family used to rule. Someone who will come for them next.\ \ Cristina, once a talented and dedicated practitioner of Generational magic, has given up magic for good. An ancient spell is what killed their father and she was the one who cast it. For Clement, magic is his lifeline. A distraction from his anger and pain. Even better than the random guys he hooks up with.\ \ Cristina and Clement used to be each other’s most trusted confidant and friend, now they barely speak. But if they have any hope of discovering who is coming after their family, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other and their family's magic, all while solving the decades-old murder that sparked the still-rising tensions between the city’s magical and non-magical communities. And if they don't succeed, New Orleans may see another massacre. Or worse.\ \ https://tjbentonwalker.com/blood-debts](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/CQj2mSuPhTXp7uyXlZni/)

Books by the Blood: BIPOC Books for Spooky Season

12 books

The Skyy Life\ \ Erika\ \ • Oct 10 2025

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The creator adult book fair was a DREAM!

The creator adult book fair was a DREAM! I was able to yell & yap (yap & yell) about my favorite books, authors, series, my favorite graphic novel, meet book besties IRL+ make new ones, debut @charmmeetcute, be on the panel for the first time EVERRRR 🥹

Special thanks to @fullcirclebookstore for hosting and letting me be apart of such an impactful and magical day!

So grateful to be on the panel with genuine and inspirational creators — @seekingdystopia @thesmallestbookclub — and author Gwenna (momma cusses) with @the_boozy_baking_bibliophile as the perfect moderator/influencer as well.

So happy to have been able to do this with new found book besties and influencers who are definitely changing the game. I am glad we got to do this together — @thewindedbibliophile @jadedubya @_novelreadswithbree @overbooked_okc @bookishfangirlco @bubblegumbookshelf @reading.with.hotchocolate @preshreadsss

#bookfair #bookishcommunity #blackbookstagram #bookrecs #booktok #bookstagram #booktuber #arcreader #diversebooks #diversereads #kindlecharms #bookishlove #bookworm #bookevent #okcbookstagrammer #books

23 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • May 5 2025

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Hey Large Creators, it's time to let go of Harry Potter

I've seen so many large creators jumping on the Harry Potter train and I am begging y'all to find another ride. That one's broken.

8 books

Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Apr 8 2025

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\ \ It's time for my March Reading Wrap-Up! I read 5 books in March, mostly in a hybrid format (audio & print).\ \ The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family by Kerri K. Greenidge \ \ Unlike many other books on the Grimkes, this one depicts the family members, white & Black, as nuanced people who simultaneously fought for abolition while upholding white supremacist culture. The story of the Grimkes is one of enslavement, violence, anti-Blackness, abolition, women’s suffrage, colonialism, colorism, racism, queerness, homophobia, classism, & generational trauma. Check out my full review here: Instagram\ \ Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn \ \ Deonn did an amazing job at showing how Bree's "strength" & "resilience" became detrimental to her as a Black girl. We feel the pressure to persevere because just about every system is working against us & our ancestors worked so hard that we are afraid to seem as though we don't appreciate their struggles. I'm not sure that white folks & other BIPOC realize how much pressure there is for Black women & girls to be "excellent" or risk being nothing at all. Full review here.\ \ Oathbound by Tracy Deonn \ \ This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I’ve read in my life. Throughout this series, Deonn explores the ways that white supremacy tries to suppress Black folks' power when they can't use us or profit off of us. I don’t want to share too much & spoil the book for anyone so if you want my full review, check it out here: Book Review: Oathbound by Tracy Deonn\ \ The Gatekeeper’s Staff (TJ Young & The Orishas, #1) by Antoine Bandele \ \ This is a heartwarming yet action-packed YA Fantasy championing late-bloomers. I love the themes of teamwork, honesty, connecting w/ nature, & dedication throughout the book. It was also amazing to have a story that follows someone who is Nigerian-American at a magic school w/ no basis in the usual Western deities. The cast features folks from across the African diaspora! It’s a great series, so far.\ \ Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez \ \ I really wanted to like this book. Growing up, I was obsessed w/ Ancient Egypt so when I read the 1st book in this duology, I paid no mind to Ines’s naïveté. After all, this is a YA book & Ines was a bit pampered growing up. What frustrated me was the fact that she never seemed to learn from her mistakes. The story had a steady pace & the concept of this duology was intriguing but I found the execution lacking in depth & consistency.\ \ As always, please read the content warnings for each of these books on Storygraph!!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/q4Crut6M5s2ysPwuk7Lx/)

My March Reading Wrap-Up

5 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Mar 24 2025

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Oathbound: Review and Giveaway of two signed copies!

Here is my spoiler-light review of Oathbound (I do not share any details of the events in the story but I am discussing the themes of the book) and a giveaway of two signed-copies! If you want to participate in the giveaway without the review, just skip to the bottom! Thanks!

3 books

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Mar 18 2025

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PHEW! The proposal for my Master's thesis is officially submitted — everyone please do me a big favor and cross all your fingers and toes that the feedback is nothing but positive... I beg you. \ \ In addition to being one step closer to finishing grad school, it also means I get a bit of a break until thesis research kicks off in earnest in May! (Don't worry. That, too, will involve lots and LOTS of reading.) Until then, I get to make a massive dent in my endless TBR and finally catch up with you lovely folks here! \ \ So here is what's in the works.\ \ OATHBOUND \ \ I am halfway through my Lengendborn reread (yes, I need to reread in order to feel fully immersed — it isn't that I've forgotten major elements; it's that it feels better to me!), and my aim is to be DONE with all three books by the time the Trans Rights Readathon kicks off on March 21st. Speaking of which... \ \ TRANS RIGHTS READATHON \ \ For anyone who may not know, this is a ten day lead-up to Trans Rights Visibility Day on March 31st that encourages readers to focus on books written by and/or featuring characters who are trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender-nonconforming. (And if you haven't already devoured The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa, this is a great time to do that.) \ \ More details can be found on their website: https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/ I'll also post here later this week with what I plan to read during those ten days! \ \ Methinks I'll need to whittle the list down a bit, but Prince of Sorrows and Dragonfall are definitely up there. \ \ FUN LOCAL THINGS \ \ There are two (TWO!!) new independent bookshops opening in my area within the next few weeks, and I am elated. I've slid into the DMs of both shop owners and had the loveliest of coffee dates with one. \ \ The Book Market is an adorable little book truck that will launch at Laudenbach Brewing on March 22nd from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. \ \ NOVEL is sharing space with a new plant shop (!!!) on William Street in Fredericksburg. Their grand opening is planned for Friday, April 4th at 3:00pm. \ \ If you happen to be in the area or even passing through at some point in the future, please come support a couple of women-owned small businesses. Downtown Fredericksburg couldn't be more charming (just you wait until the farmer's market kicks back up again), and you will not be in want of great local business to patronize for eating, shopping, and other frivolities. \ \ GIVEAWAYS \ \ Paid subscribers (hi, lovelies!) are already automatically entered for March's box (it's so good). The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 29th, and the goodies will be shipped that day! (I'll contact the winner privately for details.) \ \ Additionally, I would love to spread some joy in the form of a few reading journals I was delighted to find recently and some sticker packs from my favorite local stationary shop! I'll be putting together FOUR of these to send out no later than Wednesday, April 9th. \ \ This one is for ALL subscribers (paid and free), and it's open to all NEW folks who subscribe within the next few weeks. If you have anyone in mind who would love a shiny new journal and some adorable stickers, spread the word! If you refer any new subscriber directly, let me know in the comments here, and you'll get an extra entry! \ \ And that is officially the longest newsletter I've done so far on Bindery. Thank you all for letting me yap a bit, and thank you extra for your loving support! \ \ Join for free or login

Updates & Upcoming Goodness

6 books

chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Mar 17 2025

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MASSIVE March TBR

The ending is sooo vague but idk what I’m allowed to say 🫣🤐 #booktok #marchtbr #tbrbooks #toberead #tbrlist #tbr #fantasybooks #fantasybooktok

16 books

Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Mar 16 2025

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\ \ Advice to those who haven’t read Oathbound yet: \ \ Brush up on your knowledge of the characters in Legendborn and Bloodmarked! I reread Bloodmarked because I knew I’d struggle with remembering everything and I’m really glad I did. If you don’t have time to do all that, you can utilize this Legendborn Wiki or my lil wrap-up below:\ \ Who’s who: \ \ Bree aka Briana Matthews\ \ Our main character, of course!\ \ Sel aka Selwyn Kane\ \ The Kingsmage to Nick and a Merlin. He and Bree were hot and cold throughout book 2.\ \ Nick aka Nicholas Davis\ \ The scion of Lancelot though everyone originally thought he was the scion of Arthur. Bree and Nick have been in a situationship since book 1.\ \ Will aka William Sitterson\ \ The Scion of the Line of Gawain and friend of Bree’s. He often heals Bree and spend most of Book 2 trying to save her from the experimentation in The Institute.\ \ Alice Chen\ \ Bree’s bestie since childhood. At the end of book 1, Alice is made a Vassal to the Line of Gawain to help Bree. She stays by Bree’s side throughout book 2 but gets seriously injured when Arthur possesses Bree.\ \ Dr. Patricia Hartwood\ \ Bree’s therapist and a rootcrafter who introduces Bree to their world in book 1 through memory walks.\ \ Mariah\ \ A junior at UNC and a Rootcrafter. Lucille is her aunt and she helps her out on the weekends sometimes. She and Valec are cousins seven-times over, but not by blood. Bree meets her in book 1 during her sessions with Dr. Patricia Hartwood.\ \ Valec aka Valechaz\ \ A cambion and the proprietor of the Crossroads Lounge. Bree witnessed his birth in a memory walk through Dr. Hartwood. He is known for making deals between humans and demons and has been referred to as a "crossroads child." Lucille is his great-great niece.\ \ Lucille\ \ Mariah’s aunt and the Grand Dame of the territory in rural Georgia where the Crossroads Lounge is located. Valec introduces Bree, Alice, William, and Sel to Lucille in book 2. Her partner is Hazel.\ \ Miss Hazel\ \ Her house is a station used by Rootcrafters who need to avoid the attention of Merlins. Miss Hazel is the conductor for Bree and her friends to get to Volition.\ \ Larkin Douglas\ \ A Merlin who Erubus wants to be Bree’s Kingsmage. He begins guarding her in the beginning of book 2 and is loyal to Bree.\ \ Natasia Kane\ \ A Merlin and Sel’s mom who was supposedly dead in book 1. She was close friends with Bree’s mom, Faye Matthews. In actuality, Natasia was imprisoned for allegedly opening gates and “succumbing.” She escaped and Bree directed the Shadow King to bring Sel to Natasia at the end of book 2.\ \ Erebus Varelian\ \ A high rank merlin (Mage Seneschal at Arms in the High Council of Regents) who was close to Natasia Kane. In book 2, he helps The Order interrogate and study Bree in The Institute. At the end of book 2, it is revealed that he is actually The Shadow King aka The Great Devourer aka The Hunter.\ \ Don't Read Any Further If You Haven't Read The Book Now! \ \ Trust me, the author advised folks to go in with nothing but your knowledge from the last books and the book description for Oathbound.\ \ With that said, Tracy Deonn is out here writing for her life!!!! The book description on her website for Oathbound says: \ \ Severed from the Legendborn. Oathbound to a monster.\ \ Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe.\ \ But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé.\ \ Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war while their Round Table is fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to grant him an audience, the Order’s Merlins imprison him. No one knows what he will demand of the Regents...or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table.\ \ As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.\ \ My thoughts \ \ There comes a time when the hero realizes that fighting alone makes them more susceptible to mistakes and I thought Bree had learned that in book 2, but I hadn’t accounted for the new circumstances: her profound guilt, distrust of The Order, and emotional burnout. She was out there thinking that what Arthur did to Alice was all her fault for allowing him to take hold of her body again. That kind of pain is hard, generally, but add in that she’s a 17 year old girl who lost her mother not that long ago, found out that she was the scion of Arthur (unwillingly), met her ancestors through a memory walk, was imprisoned by The Order, and learned she was bloodmarked by the Shadow King and her reaction to it all is completely valid. In fact, most would say she deserves the time to flip out. Our girl, Bree, is traumatized to the MAX!\ \ I love that this book brought us into the minds of William, Mariah, and Natasia in addition to Bree because it really helps to flesh out those characters and the folks with them. I think this adds even more depth to Bree’s story and hammers home that she is not alone in this fight. It seems like her friends are all fighting this notion that they could have done something differently and ultimately changed their circumstances and are suffering for it. \ \ This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I’ve read in my life. Throughout this series, Deonn explores the ways in which white supremacy tries to suppress Black folks power when they can't use us or profit off of us.\ \ The Order ignored Bree, denied her rights, and repeatedly claimed that she was unworthy of being a part of The Table, let alone being the scion of Arthur. Arthur manipulated Bree for his own gain and eventually convinced her to let him take possession of her body. He didn’t want it to protect her, he just wanted power again. Now, Bree knows that the Shadow King has branded the women in her family for generations. He protected them only because he wanted to eventually consume all of the power their heir possessed. After witnessing Bree’s powers, the rootcrafters at Volition hope that she will save them all from the Shadow King. So we see that, at almost every turn, someone is trying to use Bree. The rootcrafters are the only ones seeking protection and peace while the rest are re-enacting enslavement! I feel like Bloodmarked and Oathbound really nailed this in their storylines.\ \ I don’t want to spoil this book for y’all because you really do need to experience it for yourselves, so I’m gonna stop here. Suffice it to say, I’ve reflected a lot while reading this series and the themes that have stuck with me are \ \

We are deserving.\ \
We need to give ourselves the space to grieve but need to keep moving forward.\ \
Our ancestors did what they thought was best at the time in order to survive but their sacrifice should not overshadow your own hopes and dreams. They give context to the chaos that can help you make wise decisions.\ \
Sometimes we have to trust that our friends can save the day with us.\ \ \ Request this book at your local libraries!!!!\ \ If you absolutely need a copy of this book (or the whole series), you can purchase them here: https://bookshop.org/lists/the-legendborn-cycle-bookish-afrolatina\\ \ Join for free or login](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/dRNhWBUZn3buxfazzLdc/)

Book Review: Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Mar 8 2025

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Oathbound Family Night!

Hurry up and finish Oathbound so that you can come talk trash with Krystal and I on Tuesday night!! AHHH!!!

3 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Mar 8 2025

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Four Takeaways From The Oathbound Tour Event Tonight!

Tracy, if you're reading this, just know I am never going to stop annoyingly sucking up. SOWWY! bahahaha

3 books

Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Mar 5 2025

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\ \ Like many folks with great taste, I am very excited about the latest book in the Legendborn Cycle: Oathbound. Since my physical copy of the new tome doesn't arrive from Bookshop.org until this Friday, I'm rereading Bloodmarked this week.\ \ Currently, I'm a little over halfway through the book and have paused reading my arc of Lore of the Tides, which comes out in July of this year, so I can finish Bloodmarked ASAP.\ \ If you haven't read Legendborn and Lore of the Wilds yet, I need you to rethink your reading priorities, friend! Both are amazing series with Black female leads who are strong-willed, powerful, and are given space to be vulnerable. The Legendborn Cycle is a Young Adult series that takes place in the modern-day United States and is inspired by Arthurian lore and Black American spiritual traditions like rootwork aka hoodoo. So far, there are three books in this series.\ \ The Lore of the Wilds duology is a New Adult series set in a magical land ruled by Fae. This duology is special to me because it has an all Black cast and uses inclusive language. I requested the arc for review from Netgalley and hope to finish it soon so I can share my review with all of you lovely people!\ \ What are y'all reading right now?\ \ Join for free or login](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/zFwqBxpStxVhvIWXI54I/)

Currently Reading: Bloodmarked & Lore of the Tides

5 books

Moonlit Fables\ \ Rupali\ \ • Feb 27 2025

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⋆｡°✩ reading vlog ⋆｡°✩ | getting out of a reading slump, finishing bloodmarked, crocheting

we're almost finished with january and i haven't finished even one (1) book?? trying to motivate myself to read has been HARD especially while reading the stormlight archive, but hopefully i can continue this habit of reading through the year!

˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹

FOLLOW ME! instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readwithrups goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/readwithrups

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

\\─── ･｡ﾟ☆: \.☽ .\ :☆ﾟ. ───**

filmed on Sony ZV-1F. edited in Final Cut Pro all music from Epidemic Sound

3 books

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Feb 23 2025

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Loves, my reading this week was all over the place... \ \ I made a dent in The Poppy War and another in House of Frank. I enjoy both — though for entirely different reasons, as you might imagine. \ \ Additionally, I finished Halfling by S.E. Wendel, which had its charming moments along with its steamy ones and is a significant improvement from my previous venture into orc-ish romantasy ( Bound to the Orc Ranger by Krista Luna was simply not to my taste at all). \ \ Did I also get just a little sidetracked by Forged in Blood (and subsequently Promised in Blood) by Sadie Kincaid? Yes, I did. I'm very unsure why I bothered with either because even if it was intended to scratch a reverse-harem-vampire-academia sort of an itch, I can't say it necessarily... did. Blame my sick need for resolution and a meager wish that a series has the potential to improve. \ \ On that note, remember my mention a few days ago that I rarely offer one-star ratings but that Cloak of the Vampire was among them? Well, folks. It has a second book, Blood of the Gods by Sapir A. Englard. I sampled it and DNF-ed at 10%, which should tell you all you need to know. \ \ Now, on to happier topics! \ \ Grappling with dissertation proposal research led me right into the arms of Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, Destroyer of Light by Jennifer Marie Brissett, and Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald, all of which I plan to sink my teeth into within the next few weeks. Any guesses as to what my research might entail...? \ \ I also think we're honing in on the perfect time for a Legendborn and Bloodmarked reread in advance of Tracy Deonn's Oathbound release on March 4th. \ \ Anyone else have an ambitious TBR to wrap up February?

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up

11 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 17 2025

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Black Authors Who I Think History Will Remember

I started this post as a Bluesky thread a few days ago, but I realized I needed more space than a social media post would allow. So here are some of my favorite Black authors! Enjoy!!!

27 books

Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Feb 17 2025

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Genre Fiction Books by Black American Authors (My B&N had not one single table set up)

I think a few of the booksellers at this location follow me so if you see this 👀👀👀 “accidentally” send it to your manager. 🧍‍♀️ There are DOZENS of tables at this store alone and not one was set up for Black History Month when I was there twice last week. We should be celebrating black voices in publishing all the time, but to not be doing so at a bare minimum of during BHM?? There’s like 4 different subgenres of romance tables but not one Black Voices table, c’mon. Anyway here’s like 30 books I quickly pulled off my own shelf, a mix of books I’ve read and loved and books on my TBR 📚 #booktok #bookrecs #tbr #barnesandnoble #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #yabooks #bookshopping #sacramento #booktoker #emmaskiesreads #books

13 books

Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 6 2025

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Why I Am Beefing With Tracy Deonn

I am sure you know the answer to this question, but read the essay anyway.

3 books

Bri's Book Nook\ \ Bri Le Fae\ \ • Feb 3 2025

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Happy Black History Month!

January had me and my e-reader SPARRING! I finished probably 2 of the various books that I started in the month, and the slump was real! For that reason, I didn't want to make a concrete reading list, but here are some I am setting out to read!

🔹️Lore of the tides by @analeighsbrana 🔹️Rise of the Dark Throne by @lygiawrites 🔹️Ella Gets the D by @tanvierwrites 🔹️Perfectly Candid by @jsjsprwrts 🔹️Outdrawn by @deannagreyy 🔹️Where We Found Our Home by @natashabishopwrites 🔹️Legendborn series by @tracydeonn

What's on your list this month?

#blackreads #blackbooks #blackfantasy #fantasybooks #blackromance #romance #bookstagram #bookcommunity #booklover #sapphicbooks #romantasy #representationmatters #books #readingispolitical #blacklove

8 books

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Feb 2 2025

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Poll:\ \ What should I read next? \ \ Things everyone tells you about grad school: it is a ton of reading. \ \ Things they emphasize when it's a literature degree: it's even more reading. \ \ I mentioned it counted when I read for MA research, which is why I'm including The Handbook to Literary Research. No, I don't expect anyone to pick this one up. While it certainly has its interesting points and is valuable to my current purpose, it's also fairly dry in comparison to my usual titles. I don't expect that particular link to get a lot of clicks. \ \ Amidst dissertation proposal research, I did finally get to Only When It's Us, and while I was appropriately warned in advance that I would weep, I was not expecting it to be so persistent! The tears didn't let up for a good twenty or so pages in there, and I'm expected to recover enough to focus on dissertation prep?? Rude. I recommend that one to any contemporary romance readers (specifically sports romance folk) who can handle a good cry. \ \ I also made headway in Onyx Storm (nearly done!), and I'll go ahead and admit that it won't be getting a high rating from me... please don't come for my neck. \ \ Coming up this week, aside from yet more grad school reading, I really want to reread Legendborn and Bloodmarked in anticipation of Oathbound coming out in March. I did also download the ebook of House of Frank earlier this week, and I'd love to have something cozy and hopeful lift my spirits in a time of turmoil.

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up

7 books

Written Reveries\ \ Krystal\ \ • Jan 23 2025

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Vlog | Katabasis Proof | Current Events | What I've Been Reading | Upcoming Releases

Weekly reading vlog: I got a Katabasis proof! & some other book mail, my thoughts on everything that's been going on in the U.S. and the TikTok ban, my plans for my content moving forward, what I've been reading and loving.

bindery: https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.... tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@krystallotuslang insta: https://www.instagram.com/krystallotuslang/ storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile... email: krystallotuslang@gmail.com

11 books

Bri's Book Nook\ \ Bri Le Fae\ \ • Dec 1 2024

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Anticipated releases!

Last December was the moment I officially took the time to take the Legendborn series off my TBR and read it. It was also the first time I decided to immersion reading, checking out the audiobook f...

3 books

Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Nov 20 2024

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