Bloodmarked
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | November 8, 2022 |
| Founder | Tracy Deonn |
| Products | Young adult fantasy novel |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
Bloodmarked represents the second installment in The Legendborn Cycle, authored by Tracy Deonn and released on November 8, 2022, through Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. This sequel picks up the narrative a month after the events of Legendborn, centering on Bree and her companions as they recuperate from recent conflicts and endeavor to save Nick Davis, Bree’s boyfriend and the Scion of Lancelot, who has been abducted.
Plot summary
Following Nick Davis’s abduction by his father, Bree remains confined within the Lodge for her own safety. Growing restless, she secretly ventures out to practice her magical abilities but is caught by Selwyn Kane, a Merlin assigned to safeguard the Order of the Round Table. Their encounter is interrupted by a demon assault, during which Bree is extracted from the fray by a Mageguard member—an elite soldier serving the Order.
As the Mageguard fortify the Lodge in preparation for a Council memorial honoring fallen members, Bree faces pressure during the Rite of Kings to swear an Oath and claim her rightful title as King. However, she rejects this expectation after witnessing Nick occupying Lancelot’s place and experiencing ancestral visions. Shortly thereafter, she loses consciousness following an injection of a mysterious serum.
Bree repeatedly regains consciousness under intense Council interrogation concerning her magical abilities and her mother’s identity. William, her friend, discloses that they have been detained for three days in a facility designed to suppress their powers through serum administration and hypnotic control. Through enduring pain, Bree eventually breaks free from the mesmer’s influence. After two additional days, loyal Order members facilitate the escape of Bree, William, Alice, and Sel to a secure location. During this journey, Bree connects with Nick via a visionary experience.
At their refuge, Bree faces an assault by a formidable demon known as a goruchel. It is revealed that their host had struck a bargain with this demon aiming to eliminate Bree and extinguish the Order’s bloodlines. Before defeating the creature, Sel and Bree uncover information about "The Great Devourer," a demon that preys on humans to amass power—an entity linked to Bree’s recurring visions of a figure called the Hunter.
The group subsequently relocates to a bar frequented by magical beings where they encounter Valec, a demon broker overseeing supernatural transactions. Recognizing Bree’s potent abilities, Valec introduces them to another Rootcrafter who offers sanctuary. While there, Bree experiences another vision disclosing Nick’s whereabouts. She and Sel attempt a rescue but observe Nick violently retaliating against his father’s assailant before fleeing into the forest. They repel an attack from Erebus but are ultimately saved by Valec when demons target their safe house.
Feeling vulnerable, they move to Volition, a place shielded by ancient Rootcraft protections. There, Bree hones her skills in summoning both aether and root magic until Mageguard forces track them down and try to apprehend her. In self-defense, she channels King Arthur’s power but loses control as Arthur seizes command of her body, imprisoning her consciousness within his centuries-old mental labyrinth. Sel and Nick aid in her liberation; however, Sel pays a heavy price, sacrificing much of his humanity in the process.
Bree learns that Erebus—the dreaded "Great Devourer" with whom her ancestor Vera forged a blood pact—is someone familiar to her personally. Determined to end his curse with herself, she strikes a deal: she will accompany Erebus if he locates Selwyn’s mother, the sole Merlin capable of restoring Sel’s humanity.
Characters
- Briana "Bree" Matthews—The main character and descendant of Arthur, Bree is a student at UNC Chapel Hill Early College who inherits both Root magic and aether through her dual heritage from King Arthur and Vera, an enslaved woman who entered into a demonic pact.
- Selwyn Kane—A descendant of Merlin, Selwyn possesses magical talents such as heightened senses and the ability to erase memories through mesmerism. He holds the position of Kingsmage and is bonded to Nick Davis.
- Nick Davis—A scion of Lancelot, Nick was initially believed to be a descendant of Arthur. He is Bree’s boyfriend and has been abducted.
- Alice Chen—Bree’s closest friend from high school and fellow Early College student, Alice does not have magical powers but acts as a Vassal within the Order.
- William Sitterson—A descendant of Gawain and healer for Bree’s Order chapter, William’s abilities are most potent during the hours between midnight and 2 a.m.
- Erebus Varelian—The Seneschal of Shadows and leader of the Mageguard, Erebus is recognized as the most formidable Merlin in existence.
- Valec—A demon who brokers deals between humans and demons, Valec becomes an essential ally to Bree and her companions.
Themes
While Legendborn focused on Bree’s mourning over her mother’s passing, Bloodmarked expands on this theme by delving into Black identity within spaces that contest it. Author Tracy Deonn highlights the redefinition of Blackness alongside the impact of Black history and enslavement on American mythmaking, underscoring a deliberate emphasis on representation in fantasy literature.
Reception
Bloodmarked debuted at number one on The New York Times Young Adult Hardcover Best Seller List and remained there for ten weeks. It also appeared on the Kids Indie Next List for Young Adult books. Critics praised Deonn’s candid examination of systemic racism and acknowledged the novel’s compelling storytelling as a strong successor to her debut. The School Library Journal endorses it as a must-have for library collections.