The stakes are higher, the plot has thickened, the danger has surged, Bloodmarked has arrived.

The reader was too stunned to speak.

Holy shit.

Holy SHIT

What a rollercoaster. I sat staring at the final page for a solid ten minutes before moving again, jaw dropped, tears in my eyes, unable to do anything but grip the book in silent agony. Bree didn't have a single moment of peace.

I am still unsure of what I should write here. Bree is everything I look for in a main character: passionate, caring, hilarious, unapologetic, vulnerable, flawed, the list goes on. She captivates you from cover to back like the sword-wielding King she is bound to become, someone so mesmerising you cannot look away. The distinction between Before-Bree and After-Bree that was so prominent in Legendborn slowly dissipates until we are left with Bree , someone I don't ever want to leave behind, and someone I will NEVER get sick of.

And Selwyn. Oh, my dear Selwyn Kane how I laughed, cried and rhapsodised about Bree right with you. Selwyn Kane is the dark-haired, magic-wielding, morally grey anti-hero I am convinced everyone needs. With Nick taken, Sel is even more central to the plot than in Legenborn. He's witty, proud, impulsive, protective and absolutely hilarious. Let's be honest, he does not succeed at hiding his attraction to Bree, but, as we all know, Sel isn't great at being vulnerable. Bree and Sel together means flaming chemistry and the best banter I have read in a while. They're both unwilling to outright admit what they feel for the other, and reading them had me giggling like a kid and kicking my legs in excitement.

There are but a few flaws: some questionable grammar and punctuation (because I am an editor in training now, and, unfortunately, I cannot help but notice these kind of things), and two or three minor, minor plot holes that made me think I missed or skipped pages that just weren't there. The distance and time between several places was unclear, and character's actions weren't always well developed.

However.

I knew about halfway through that this would become one of my all time favourite reads. And I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I rated this anything under 5 stars. Five isn't enough, I need Goodreads and StoryGraph to have more.

The only reason I wouldn't recommend you to read it right now is because the third instalment won't be published until the BEGINNING OF 2025?! Nevertheless, if you do read it right now then we can cry about it together. Hit me up if y'all want to rave about this book with me. I don't think I'll shut up anytime soon.

If you have come this far, I am very much looking for more book friends! You can find me on:
IG: kimschouwenaar
TT: _kimschouwenaar
Goodreads: Kim Schouwenaar

- <3