Book Review: Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

The Legendborn Cycle series by Tracy Deonn currently consists of three books: ‘Legendborn’ (2020), ‘Bloodmarked’ (2022) and the highly-anticipated ‘Oathbound’ (2025).

At the time of reading this book, I hadn’t been aware that the series, which when I bought the first two books, was still believed to be a trilogy in the works, was to be extended.

After being possessed by Arthur Pendragon, and Sel using his powers to absorb Bree’s during a Bloodwalk, Sel found himself succumbing to demonia, and in a desperate attempt to save the boy she may love, Bree begged for him to be taken to his mother, to be saved, while she was taken away to nurture her powers.

Bree had made a deal with The Shadow King, or, Erebus Varelian, as she knew him previously. And in doing so, and in order to access her untapped full potential with Root, Bree lost her memories. While she did not forget her previous training with the Order, she did forget the faces and voices of her friends. She wouldn’t remember them, even if they were right in front of her.

Instead, she was to train alongside two Cambians, children born of a demon and a human union. These children, were balanced, with a 50/50 genetic split between demonia and humanity, and were wards of The Shadow King, learning how to be his emissaries.

When Zoe and Bree’s mission goes awry, and Bree finds herself reunited with Mariah, and Nick, Bree has to trust them to be transparent with her, and learns the extent of the magic forced unto her, and the way the Order is struggling to stay afloat as the war against demonkind grows stronger.

This book, moreso than Bloodmarked, could be considered the filler book of the series. However, there was no moment in this story that felt like filler or unnecessary information. Deonn crafted this instalment of her series meticulously and ensured that while the book wouldn’t be the conclusion to her story, it would orchestrate amazing character development for Bree, and Mariah especially.

I loved this book, and while I was frustrated when I realised that there was no way in which the series would be concluding with ‘Oathbound’, as I had initially believed, I found myself eager and excited to read the next instalment of the series, hungry for immediate gratification.

Tracy Deonn told another powerful, compelling story in this book, and I look forward to seeing what will happen upon the release of the next book.