Scarred By History

by Maggie Lynn

When dreams become nightmares and nightmares become reality…

After enduring a series of horrid events, Ira feels as though she has found her home in StoneGlass. The only problem? She knows it can’t last. The nightmares she was once able to control but have now taken on a life of their own are a sign of just that, filling her mind with images linked to her past, fears, and… scars?

When a new training instructor is brought to StoneGlass to help Ira find her affinity weapon, she becomes torn between the feelings she has for her soul bonded mate and the inexplicable draw she feels toward the instructor that has quickly made himself an expert in getting under her skin.

Between her failure to find her affinity weapon, her unending nightmares blurring her dreams with reality, and the eerie feeling that someone among them can’t be trusted, Ira begins questioning if she truly is the warrior her prophecy proclaims or if that destiny was never meant to be hers.

Genres: Fantasy

484 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

Maggie has dreamed of being an author since she first brought pen to paper and let her imagination run wild. When she’s not reading or writing, she usually has a case of the travel bug, and loves exploring new countries (which tends to bring a new round of inspiration to her writing). She has always been an avid believer that reading gives you the opportunity to escape the real world and fall into an entirely new one, which might be why she loves fantasy so much. She resides in Illinois with her husband, Alec, baby girl, and pup, Denali (who has rightfully earned the nickname Bad Dog D).

Reviews

[Tarynrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars✨️

How has Maggie Lynn made me love a love triangle???? On top of that, I love the guys equally. So I can't choose 😭😭

Jumping back into this world was so much fun. Maggie has created a world that I absolutely love. My love for all the characters grew even more in this one, and I can't wait to see where they go in future books.

Speaking about future books, I NEED the third book immediately because that cliffhanger??

[Maggie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you all love the second installment of my fantasy series as much as I loved writing it 💙

[KIKI · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: Scarred by History by Maggie Lynn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Maggie Lynn for providing me with an advance reader copy! All opinions are my own.

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this series! After devouring the first book, I had impossibly high expectations for Scarred by History, and somehow Maggie Lynn managed to exceed every single one of them. This is easily another 5-star read that I would give 5 stars again and again without hesitation.

The Plot Was PLOTTING 📚
Can we talk about how masterfully crafted this story is? Maggie clearly has so many secrets tucked up her sleeve, and I am absolutely living for it. The plot twists hit exactly when they need to, leaving me gasping and immediately flipping pages to see what happens next. You can feel the author's careful planning in every chapter, building toward revelations that I know are going to completely shatter me in the best possible way.

Character Development That Hits Different ✨
We dive so much deeper into Ira's story in this second installment, and watching her grow and evolve has been incredible. The layers being peeled back reveal someone even more complex and compelling than I initially imagined. Seeing familiar faces from book one felt like reuniting with old friends, while the introduction of new characters expanded this world in the most delicious ways.

Speaking of characters – I am wonderfully conflicted about how I should be feeling toward certain people in this story, and that's exactly how you know an author is doing something special. When a book makes you question your loyalties and second-guess your assumptions, you're in the hands of a storyteller who knows what they're doing.

Why You Need This Series 💫
This adult romantasy series delivers everything you want: complex characters you'll love and hate and love again, a plot that keeps you guessing, world-building that feels immersive rather than info-dumpy, and romantic tension that will have you clutching your chest. The pacing is absolutely perfect – never a dull moment, but also giving you time to breathe and process between major revelations.

If you loved the first book, this sequel will exceed your expectations. If you haven't started the series yet, what are you waiting for?

Final Thoughts
I cannot wait to see what Maggie has in store for the rest of this series. Based on the threads she's weaving and the secrets she's clearly holding back, I have a feeling we're in for an absolutely wild ride. This author has quickly become an auto-buy for me, and I'll be first in line for whatever she writes next.

Highly recommended for fans of: Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Rebecca Yarros, and anyone who loves adult fantasy with romance, complex characters, and plots that will keep you up way past your bedtime.

Expected publication: August 25, 2025
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Series: The Marked Series, Book 2

[Bree ♡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am absolutely floored by this book. what do you mean? actually, i don’t even think i want to know right now. the ending has me staring at my wall as we speak 😀

i need to take a moment to appreciate the writing and the makings of this world, because i just know it had to take a lot to get it to where it is and it’s absolutely beautiful. the magic system is so different from ANYTHING i have ever read before and i am so intrigued to learn more with following books.

the journey from the first book to the end of this one was absolutely insane. Ira went through so much and still remains one of the strongest fmcs i’ve ever read. this book is full of banter, angst, heartache, and so many heartwarming moments, i couldn’t stop myself from crying.

there is one trope that’s usually hard for me to read, (this is not a spoiler, the author has shared this trope) and that is love triangles. BUT LET ME TELL YOU. the angst these three characters had, had me kicking my feet and giggling so much, what do you mean it’s not a why choose?? she has to only choose one of them?😅

enough of my yapping. if you love fantasy and different magic systems, please please read this series, you will not be disappointed!💙

thank you so much for the arc maggie, i enjoyed every second of it and cannot wait for more!💙

[Charly Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!!!???!! I need a 6 star option on goodreads immediately. If you thought you were obsessed with book 1? JUST YOU WAIT. Book 2 absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. The banter??? The tension??? The spice??? THE NEW CHARACTER HELLO😏The amount of quotes I have highlighted on my kindle may honestly be a record for me. Everything about this book was perfection. I was either swooning, blushing, laughing, crying, or on the edge of my seat the entire time. To say I’m foaming at the mouth for book 3 now would be an understatement.

[Gabi Koz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ THAT ENDING!!!!!
I freaking love this world and these characters!!!! This series is so underhyped. I’m obsessed

[Tedlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️- You better be so forreal right now with that ending, bestie.

The sequel we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! Ira’s struggle to find her new affinity weapon continues—thank god for that, because it also brings us her new training instructor, Archer.

Now, let me preface this by saying I am 100% Team Kaiden. Like, if we were making team jerseys, mine would have KAIDEN in bold across the back. However… I wouldn’t say no to Archer cooking me dinner shirtless—extra butter, extra abs.

The tension in this book? Chef’s kiss. The plot development? Flawless. Thameus is still rocking that heart of gold, Nela is as sweet as ever, and Constance remains the sassy queen we all aspire to be.

Oh, and the name of Constance’s horse? I could never have come up with anything better—you’ll just have to read it to find out.

Run—don’t walk—to add this book to your cart. You won’t regret it.

Thanks, Maggie, for letting us live rent-free in this world again. Now… about that ending…

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eagerly awaiting book two of the Birthmark Series, and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed following Ira's journey of discovery in Marked by Destiny, and this book picks up where it left off seamlessly. I LOVE that the author included a summary of book one before diving into the story continuation. It had been some time since I read the first book, so it was so nice to have the refresher for the details!

There are many tropes covered in this book, such as: Love Triangle, Fated Mates, Found Family, Quest/Adventure, He Trains Her, Open Door Spice, and “Eyes on me”.

The spice is very nice! But in addition to that, certain lines in the book just made me swoon over the fated mate. I found this book to be a great mix of sweet and spicy with a big dose of adventure, and even a little suspense.

I highly recommend this series for those that love a great romantasy adventure. I cannot wait for book three 🙌🏼

Thank you for the chance to do this ARC read, Maggie Lynn 💕

[Geena Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you actually kidding me?! First of all, thank you to Maggie for letting me ARC read this for you! Your friendship is truly unmatched

But seriously - this book was a 6 star BANGERRRR for me. Book 1 got me hooked but book 2?! Book 2 had me in an iron grip for 2 whole days. I LOVE how much attention to detail was put in as well as little elements that were helpful to the reader (the book 1 synopsis in the beginning was SO helpful for me - a goldfish brained gal). Now don’t get me wrong I’ve always loved Kaiden and Ira together, but he can go ahead and move on over because ARCHER is HEREEEE. What a great character to bring into the mix - his banter with Ira and just natural swagger had me swooningggg. I also loved Ira’s relationship with Nela and Constance - girl gang forevaaaa vibes! Since this is a spoiler free review, I’ll keep it short and sweet, BUT THAT ENDING?! Totally unexpected. From 80% to the end, I could NOT put this down. The plot twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and overall the book in itself was such a great time. It really transported me into another world which is exactly what I look for in a book. Overall it checked all of my boxes and now idk what to do with myself

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so that ending had my jaw on the floor and that is all you really need to know! Go read this series now!
All jokes aside, I loved this second installment in the series, it felt very character-driven and I enjoyed getting to know them even more! Not to mention, my new favorite character was introduced!
Also…he trains her??? Enough said. One of my favorite tropes.

[Allison Mauerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved book 2 just as much as the 1st one . The found families troupe was done so well in this book ! It follows Ira who needs to find her affinity weapon as she hasn’t on her own so they bring in archer to help her figure out what that could possibly be? (Also new character and possibly new love interest) Ira has been having nightmares/ visions and doesn’t know what could be the cause of it . The twist I didn’t see coming but it made sense because of the dreams / visions she had been having . I definitely recommend this one if you love a good banter had me cracking up so much !

[Cara Williams-Nagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending has me staring at my wall. I hope this review even makes sense bc I can’t.

First off me not likening love triangles and eating this up like it’s my last meal. Let me tell you these three had angst and I was here for every minute. Bringing in Arches character (who I knew I would instantly love) just brought more yearning and that says core burning banter and the antagonizing that our FMC needed for growth. This love triangle was truly perfection! Speaking of perfecting I just love the magic system in this book it’s so different from anything I have read. It’s honestly my absolutely beautiful and each book we just keep learning more and already can wait for book two.

I still cannot get over the journey in these two books that my girl Ira has gone through. This women is such a baddie. Honestly I could keep going but why listen to my rant when you can go read this.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brb with my review 🥰

[Amie Wisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 5 star read for me (if I could rate higher I would!)

Can we talk about how amazing Maggie is for including a recap on Marked by Destiny at the beginning of Scarred by History? I literally squealed in excitement and put a million thank yous out into the universe. Honestly, more authors should take note and do the same for books in their series.

While not normally a fan of a love triangle, Maggie wrote this one beautifully. She has you yearning for both Kaiden and Archer and not being able to pick (although I must admit… I may or may not be leaning more one way and silently rooting … but also feeling bad for rooting for one 🤭).

Scarred by History gives you the warm feels by letting you see more of the female friendship bonds Ira has and is giving bestie goals. Warm feels also coming your way with the fatherlike bond between Ira and Thameus (I may or may have not cried 🥹💙).

But wait! There is also a possible traitor. 👀👀

Trust me when I say you need to pick this one up! I can’t wait to see what else Maggie has in store for us in her future books. Auto read author for sure. 🥰

[Kyla Honey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am speechless . Maggie I am so proud of you and this book. Thank you so much for trusting me to arc read & for listening to me crash out and spiral throughout the book. This was perfection.

Book one was perfect… but this one exceeded all expectations for me .

We’re introduced to a new man, Archer baby. 🥹 I have always been a Kaiden die hard but when I tell you — you cannot help but fall for archer I really mean that.

His flirty personality, his banter with Ira. Just everything about him will have you wanting more of him. I can’t choose and wellll I don’t want too… and I don’t think I’ll have too… but 🤭🤭

The plot picked right back up where we left off and honestly it never let up. It was so much fun, so much action . The twist and turns were there , I was on the edge of my seat — I literally could not stop reading and devoured it in a day basically .

I absolutely love every side character, maggie out did herself making you feel so strongly about everyone. It takes a good ass story and some good ass writing to make you fall in love with a character… but to make you fall in love with so many— PERFECTION.

I cannot wait to see where you go with this story, I can’t wait to be back in the world already and I barely just left.

Also the ending? Girls hang on because it’s about to get wilddddddd 🤭🤫☺️🥰

♾️♾️♾️ stars

[Allison Agnello · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 but rounding up because the ending was more than I hoped for!

This was such an amazing second book for the series and provided so much more character development, history/back story, and added more plot to the war. The betrayals, twists, found family with so much dysfunction continue to interest me. The way magic is used and welded feels really different than other fantasy worlds.

I really like how destiny is tied together in each person's being, but there is still choice. A good example of this is Emery. I have been really amused by her but am glad we get a little more emotion and background on her. I hope she joins this group even more in the next book(s).

Archer's character was such a good addition and added a really unique twist. Kaiden was frustrating to me in book 1 and I am still not entirely sold on him and Ira. I was rooting for Archer with my whole being in this book.

I still love Nela so much and really hope she continues to get all her magical moments. Her loyalty and quiet strength as a sorceress is so inspiring. I have a few ideas on why she and Ira look alike, but I am excited to see where that plot goes.

My favorite quote-, "I just listened, and any memory you talked about that made your eyes gleam with excitement, I held onto.”

I hope we get even more on Darsdafia in book 3 because I feel like there is more background that would really help us understand this war.

Information that felt important but not stressed and I want to remember before book 3.
"...fairies and elves hold magic while centaurs and dwarves help to fuel that magic from the land”
"....centaurs and dwarves pull the energy from the earth, and the elves and fairies can manipulate it from the skies or spirits.”

[Emily Bramlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarred by History took everything I loved from Marked by Destiny and raised the stakes even higher. This sequel is darker, steamier, and even more emotional—an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish.
Maggie Lynn weaves in so many of my favorite tropes—love triangle, fated mates, found family, training scenes, and a quest that had me turning the pages at lightning speed. The slow-burn tension from book one ignites here, with open-door spice and that delicious “eyes on me” intensity that made my heart race.

Ira’s journey in this book hit so hard. Her nightmares, her struggle to uncover her true strength, and the impossible choices she faces between loyalty, love, and destiny had me completely hooked. The addition of the new instructor brought just the right amount of angst, banter, and complication to keep me spiraling with theories.

What I love most about this series is how flawed yet relatable the characters are. The bonds of found family shine even brighter in the midst of betrayal, danger, and heartbreak. By the end, I felt both destroyed and desperate for the next installment.

If you love fantasy romance packed with heart, danger, high stakes, and tension that will leave you breathless, Scarred by History is a must-read. This series owns me.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 out of 5 stars (Rounded Up) | Book 2 in the Marked Series and WOW do I love this world. The first book was the perfect entry way into the world building and character development for this high fantasy series. I thought I could see where book 2 was going to go and I was so very wrong - which was amazing!

These characters are so easy to love and the magic system is truly fascinating. Maggie Lynn develops every single character thoroughly and even the plot points for the "side" characters feel incredibly valuable and emotional for the overall story.

I truly can't wait to read more of this series and I feel honored that I have been able to ARC read both of these first two books.

[Shannon Mungo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you, Maggie, for the ARC!

Now, it's time for the review. Writing a review for the second book in a series is definitely hard for me because I do not want to spoil anything. So I will say this.

This is a rare sequel where the second book was better than the first(not saying the first one wasn't good).

A love triangle where one of them trains her filled with tension and banter... 🤤 🤤 yes, please! Also, putting a love triangle in the second book is both genius and, say, diabolical, and I ate up every second of it.

the way Archer kept getting on under her skin, i ate up every second of it

Trying to choose which one you want her to end up with.... we'll I kept going back and forth

Honestly, if you loved the first book, you will love the second, and if you haven't read the first book, what are you waiting for

[Bry S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read. Even better than the first book which I didn’t think was possible!

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! I loved this all of it and cannot wait for book three are you kidding me?!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you again for the ARC Maggie, I’m so grateful to have gotten a digital copy from you to read but your cover is gorgeous so I’m also excited for my paperback to come in!

Let me tell you that after reading the first book I was not expecting some of the turns we had in the second book. At first I was like wait ma’am ma’am what’s happening, but the unexpected changes brought a new level of heat, fear, and banter that really added to the story and reading experience.

In the first book, Marked by Destiny, there is a lot of world building and getting to know the universe, the rules of it, the history, the people, etc. With book two, Scarred by History of course, it’s more relationship and character driven so while the plot slows down a little for the majority of it we as readers get a more intimate look into the characters and their relationships with one another. Ira is our main girl like always and she is struggling in so many ways. While the book is character driven, the overall setting has a foreboding backdrop, there’s so much unknown, a terror looming overhead, and Ira is quite literally plagued with it.

We meet new people, we get deeper with the originals. I for one became a huge fan of Emery and hope we get more on her background and I hope we get more about her life and relationships and everything. I loved getting to know Constance, Nela took center in the first book I feel like and even though she was still very much alive in this book we dove a lot more into Constance. My heart broke so many times for her but hope and heart flutters are on the horizons! (They better be)

Of course we met Archer who stole the show with his sensual humor, striking appearance, and all the chaos of an unexpected variable. I think we saw a more brooding side to Kaiden, we saw more complexity overall between Ira and Kaiden and their relationship really.

Overall this was a really great book full of complicated relationship dynamics and the gentle build of anticipation for what’s coming next layered with spice, tension, and a lot of “what is going on here.” (In a good way, the characters are trying to figure it out and so are we)

[Leigha Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Lynn’s Scarred By History is a powerful blend of fantasy, romance, and psychological depth that pulls you into a world where dreams bleed into nightmares and destiny weighs heavy on every choice. Both haunting and hopeful, this book is a riveting exploration of trauma, trust, and the fragile line between what we fear and what we’re meant to become.

At its heart is Ira, a heroine who is as complex as she is compelling. Scarred by a painful past, she clings to the fragile sense of belonging she’s found in StoneGlass, all the while knowing it can’t last. Her recurring nightmares—once controllable—have begun to unravel her, dragging her into visions that blur reality and force her to confront her deepest fears. Maggie Lynn writes these dreamscapes with such intensity and emotion that the reader feels just as trapped and unsettled as Ira herself.

The introduction of a new training instructor raises both the stakes and the tension. Charged with helping Ira find her affinity weapon, he becomes both a source of frustration and fascination. The romantic tension crackles as Ira struggles between her bond with her soulmate and the unexpected, undeniable pull toward this new figure in her life. The push-and-pull of loyalty, desire, and destiny adds a delicious layer of complexity to the narrative.

But romance isn’t the only thread here—mystery lingers in every corner of StoneGlass. Someone cannot be trusted, and Ira’s journey to uncover the truth is every bit as gripping as her internal battles. Between the shadow of prophecy, the weight of expectation, and the chilling sense of betrayal lurking nearby, the story maintains a perfect balance of suspense and emotional depth.

[Amy Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarred By History
By Maggie Lynn

This was an ARC read for me. Book two in the series.

I absolutely loved this book. I wanted to read it in one sitting. It was so good. The more I read, the more I loved it the more I was just hooked.

I absolutely loved the story and the characters. We got answers in this book along with more questions and cliffhanger. I need to know what happens next. I love the ending because it is getting me closer to what I wanted to happen 🤭

Because I keep my reviews and updates spoilers free, no one knows what I wanted to happen. Please read book one and immediately jump into Scarred By History. You will know what i mean by the end! Both books are a 5 star read!

I seriously need to know what happens next!!!

[Morgan Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension? Exceptional. I could cut it with a knife.
The love triangle? Diabolical.
The ending? Perfection.

Such an incredible sequel.

Thank you for allowing me to read this as an ARC, Maggie!

[Marisa Haartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you thought the chemistry in book 1 was good, wait until you meet the love triangle of book 2🥵 this book kicked the heat up a notch and took us on quite the adventure with all our favorite characters.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good! loved it just as much as book 1! loving where this story is going and can't wait for book 3!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

„You‘re my sunrise, Ira. In a world filled with darkness and unreliability, you are my light and certainty. But if the words you need to hear are I love you, then yes, I love you. With every fiber of my being, every breath I have to give, every morsel of my soul, i love you.“

While I could harly put book 1 down, book 2 couldn‘t captivate me as much. But I still loved to see how this unique story continues. The plot twists were plot twisting again, the magic system remains insanely good and unique and the character development in this is amazing!!

The found family trope is still my absolute favourite thing about this series. I loved learning more about all the characters and seeing their relationship grow. Nela is still my favourite character!!

There was, however, one thing that annoyed me and that was the love triangle… It did create tension, but it just wasn‘t for me. I think the biggest issue for me was the soul bond.

BUT I am still very excited for book 3 and can‘t wait to dive back into this incredible world.

[Bernie Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was so excited for this next instalment. I loved being back in Stoneglass with the characters we met in Marked by Destiny. Nela is such a sweetheart and i loved seeing her character develop through this book as she deserves all the good things.

Archer was a fantastic addition to the series and i was surprised to find myself rooting for him. There are a whole bunch of side characters who add so much colour and laughter to the book which i love.

I enjoyed getting to see a bit more of the world outside of Stoneglass and found that really interesting and am intrigued as to whether the characters they met will pop up again.

I would have liked to have seen the storyline progress a bit more, but i am so keen to continue this series and see where the story goes.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused as to why Ira hates Archer so much. I’m confused as to why Archer is acting the way he is toward Ira. Already getting under her skin? He said a couple words to her and boom he knows what makes her mad? It’s feels so forced. They’re “tension” feels forced. I hope I’m wrong… maybe it’s the 3rd person that’s got me feeling like this. It just felt off to me. I wasn’t at all surprised who betrayed them. Seemed obvious to me. And I’m not a fan of a love triangle.