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sp00ky_n3rd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was fast paced and enjoyable to read. It was a fun story with likeable characters, and the author did a really good job of exploring themes of grief and mental health. It also gave wonderful insight into the black experience that I just don't have. I need someone black to tell me if racial things like that happen to them as often as this book suggests or if it was more exaggerated in the book because it was also part of the story. I'm interested to know!
There was some repetitive language (horror went through her many a time hahaha) which I couldn't help but focus on but other than that really good fun! Looking forward to reading the next one and really hoping for the romance ending I want!
There was some repetitive language (horror went through her many a time hahaha) which I couldn't help but focus on but other than that really good fun! Looking forward to reading the next one and really hoping for the romance ending I want!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, Death of parent, Racism, and War
Moderate: Car accident, Colonisation, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Sexism
marissaumble's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Racism, Blood, Death, and Death of parent
katiemcgregor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I waited years to read this so I wouldn't have to wait for the sequel to release only to find out that it's actually a series (not a duology?!) and I'm still going to have to wait for more books 🤡
Anyway, I was an Avalon High girlie growing up so I had high expectations for Legendborn. I love all of the historical and fantastical aspects Deonn is weaving into the story but take some issue with execution. While I think that the showing not telling was successful in conveying that Bree is a quick thinker, I feel like I, as the reader, was left behind in the dust. It took so long for me to grasp this world, it's hierarchies, and magic system, and I don't feel like I usually struggle with this in fantasy novels? There was a lot of information in the first half of the book and not enough time to process it. I would really love a chart to get a visual of all of these key pieces.
The big twist wasn't entirely surprising to me, but it was just mysterious enough that I needed the book to fill in the gaps of what I hadn't already figured out. Despite the convolution, I do think that important information was delved out reasonably.
As for the love triangle...
I'm not opposed to love triangles but the issue I usually have with them is that one party is far more appealing or interesting than the other contender vying for our protagonist's affections. This issue is present in Legendborn. The Nick x Bree thing felt instalovey and Nick didn't have must personality outside of the lineage that makes up his whole identity. I get that he's supposed to be a charismatic golden boy but he's boring. Based on the ending of book 1, I'm excited to get into book 2 simply because of the dynamic shift in the love triangle.
I'm definitely intrigued and hope that Bloodmarked will be easier to grasp now that I have some understanding of the world.
Anyway, I was an Avalon High girlie growing up so I had high expectations for Legendborn. I love all of the historical and fantastical aspects Deonn is weaving into the story but take some issue with execution. While I think that the showing not telling was successful in conveying that Bree is a quick thinker, I feel like I, as the reader, was left behind in the dust. It took so long for me to grasp this world, it's hierarchies, and magic system, and I don't feel like I usually struggle with this in fantasy novels? There was a lot of information in the first half of the book and not enough time to process it. I would really love a chart to get a visual of all of these key pieces.
The big twist wasn't entirely surprising to me, but it was just mysterious enough that I needed the book to fill in the gaps of what I hadn't already figured out. Despite the convolution, I do think that important information was delved out reasonably.
As for the love triangle...
I'm not opposed to love triangles but the issue I usually have with them is that one party is far more appealing or interesting than the other contender vying for our protagonist's affections. This issue is present in Legendborn. The Nick x Bree thing felt instalovey and Nick didn't have must personality outside of the lineage that makes up his whole identity. I get that he's supposed to be a charismatic golden boy but he's boring. Based on the ending of book 1, I'm excited to get into book 2 simply because of the dynamic shift in the love triangle.
I'm definitely intrigued and hope that Bloodmarked will be easier to grasp now that I have some understanding of the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Car accident, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer and Vomit
toastyghosty13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book has a very unique magic system and a loveable main character. I found it to be a really engaging story, but the magic system was a bit harder to follow (I mainly blame this on the fact that I was listening to an audiobook). Once I understood it further, it was a lot more interesting and hard to put down.
I do wish there was a bit more action than just at the beginning and end of the book. There was a lot of world building, which can sometimes get a bit boring, but it pays off in the end because it is really interesting once it comes together. The characters (the likeable ones, at least) were also super interesting with their own personal backstories of mystery and intrigue.
I have not read many books about magic that take place in the south (Beautiful Creatures is the only other I can think of) but I really liked that setting for this book and also really liked Bree as the main character. She has her own mysteries to unravel about her past and family (namely her mother who died when she was a child). I have plans to read the rest of the series.
I do wish there was a bit more action than just
I have not read many books about magic that take place in the south (Beautiful Creatures is the only other I can think of) but I really liked that setting for this book and also really liked Bree as the main character. She has her own mysteries to unravel about her past and family (namely her mother who died when she was a child). I have plans to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Rape, Classism, Racism, Pregnancy, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent
alexiconic's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
legendborn manages to be a great action-filled book that made me turn the pages as fast as i could and have a main character that struggles, has feelings she is processing, and side characters that were fun and (mostly) different. it has a serious message and bree is struggling with the real questions of coming of age, but she is also in love, and she does badass magical things. it was great fun all the way through.
i don’t know if this is a perfect book.i am on the fence about the sel/nick/bree relationships, for example, and was afraid for a long portion that it would be a typical “she falls for the blond good guy but now here is a dark mysterious hottie and she will go for him” situation. buuuut it feels like that is a misread of the situation - the three have complicated relationships with each other (and really each other person). sel is bound to nick, has loved nick, nick and bree are in love, but bree is also in a unique relationship with sel because of their ancestors.
i don’t know if this is a perfect book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Confinement, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, Medical content, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal death, Car accident, Classism, and Gaslighting
baileymalaylee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
the CHOKEHOLD this had on me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Grief
katdotniche's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the second time I've read this book, I managed to get a hold of the sequel recently and realised that I needed a recap of what happened in this one first. It was amazing the first time, I devoured it in one sitting and I did the same this time. It is genuinely one of the best books I have read in a while, definitely a 5 star read and I would recommend this to anyone from older middle-grade, right up to adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Car accident, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Misogyny, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
samellecooke's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was touch and go for me until about 70-75%. I came very close to a DNF on this one, but decided to power through and, boy, am I glad I did! The difficulties for me laid in the foundation of the magic system and construct of the fantasy world. I didn't understand a lot of things, haha! I didn't get how the power worked, how the order was formed, King Arthur fit in. I was confused by Bree's mom's death and how children were allowed to basically run the roost at UNC (crazy, I know, being a fervent Harry Potter fan where literal children were fighting off murders, but that's neither here nor there!).
Getting to the real meat of the story and understanding the magic felt like a slog I couldn't overcome what with all the hype this book got. I felt lied to. I'll explain more, but...spoilers. All this said, the writing was good, characters well-developed, and the topics explored resonated with me personally. I especially loved how Tracy Deonn approached different topics of prejudice. I thought this was incredibly well done and I don't think we see enough of this in fantasy. Sure, we see a lot of underdog stories or female empowerment, but this is different.
What initially turned me off with Legendborn was the magic system...or maybe more accurately, systems. You have people with magic with roots in the myths of King Arthur and the Round Table that are referred to as Legendborn, as well as something called Root Craft. It took my awhile, but my perception is that the Legendborn Cycle series explores the social constructs of race and sex. King Arthur is a white man's tale and historically those who are Legendborn are white and male. While females seem to be more prevalent in recent times, it's very rare for other race to become Legendborn. Meanwhile, Root Crafters are not only exclusively female, but to my knowledge are all of Black decent as well with deep roots in slavery. While I love how Tracy has developed these themes, I just found the building of this world and converging of the different systems, lines, magic whatever you want to call it, incredibly distracting and confusing. Once I understood where we were going, it got easier and more enjoyable for me.
I also was not at all expecting the twist at the end of this book, the true identity of King Arthur's line in Bree and Nick actually being of Lancelot's line.
Getting to the real meat of the story and understanding the magic felt like a slog I couldn't overcome what with all the hype this book got. I felt lied to. I'll explain more, but...spoilers. All this said, the writing was good, characters well-developed, and the topics explored resonated with me personally. I especially loved how Tracy Deonn approached different topics of prejudice. I thought this was incredibly well done and I don't think we see enough of this in fantasy. Sure, we see a lot of underdog stories or female empowerment, but this is different.
I also was not at all expecting the twist at the end of this book, the true identity of King Arthur's line in Bree and Nick actually being of Lancelot's line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Sexism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
mae_dexter_author's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This audiobook was absolutely amazing! I was never a huge fan of the legend of King Arthur. But WOW this audiobook changed that for sure. There is so much going on in this story it’s hard to talk about without spoiling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Rape and Slavery
risaleel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, and Murder
Minor: Slavery, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and War