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erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bree's mom has just died in a car accident, but she has just been accepted into an early College plan, and she needs to get away from the house where her Dad is pining. She finds herself embroiled In a magic school with a twist, when she is drawn into a secret society that may or may not have something to do with the death of her mother. The story is somewhat romantic, but with a little bit of a triangular.. thing.. going on. Either way there is very little mooshy stuff and no hanky let alone panky.
Being one of the few Black girls on campus, Bree finds being in an elite society of blood and oath bonded mages pretty irksome. She is continually reminded that she doesn't belong, whether being mistaken as wait-staff, assumed to have been allowed entry as "affirmative action", or just wandering in the school gardens and finding a monument to the nameless slaves who built the campus.
Her boyfriend's paranoid bodyguard is sure that she's actually secretly a demon who is trying to manipulate or kill him... and just when she feels like she might be getting a grip on what is going on, she meets with a woman who used to know her mother, who tells her that this order of Blood Mages she has met with, are colonial scum who have stolen their magic, who never consider balance, and who are causing most of the imbalance that is drawing evil manifestations into the world.
And how do you learn all this stuff and still keep it secret from your childhood best friend.. with whom you are supposed to be living the college dream? To get anywhere Bree is going to have to start being honest with herself, get in touch with her own power, and be vulnerable enough to ask for help from unlikely places.
We've got a bit of diversity despite things being very White-centric. One of the main characters has relationships with guys and girls, another is non-binary gender (they/them), and Bree's best friend Alice is Taiwanese American. I've listened to a few books that have been read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and she does a solid job, but in this particular book where most of the characters are White, it makes my brain work doubly hard. I have to keep reminding myself that the young men she is hanging out with are not Black. It's very easy for my brain to be lulled into the idea that Selwyn is a Black lad, because that's how his voice sounds in the narration. Maybe I just need to concentrate harder.
Quite a lengthy book, but it really does close off with a "first book feel" that leaves you wondering about enough to bring you back for another round... maybe later though.
Being one of the few Black girls on campus, Bree finds being in an elite society of blood and oath bonded mages pretty irksome. She is continually reminded that she doesn't belong, whether being mistaken as wait-staff, assumed to have been allowed entry as "affirmative action", or just wandering in the school gardens and finding a monument to the nameless slaves who built the campus.
Her boyfriend's paranoid bodyguard is sure that she's actually secretly a demon who is trying to manipulate or kill him... and just when she feels like she might be getting a grip on what is going on, she meets with a woman who used to know her mother, who tells her that this order of Blood Mages she has met with, are colonial scum who have stolen their magic, who never consider balance, and who are causing most of the imbalance that is drawing evil manifestations into the world.
And how do you learn all this stuff and still keep it secret from your childhood best friend.. with whom you are supposed to be living the college dream? To get anywhere Bree is going to have to start being honest with herself, get in touch with her own power, and be vulnerable enough to ask for help from unlikely places.
We've got a bit of diversity despite things being very White-centric. One of the main characters has relationships with guys and girls, another is non-binary gender (they/them), and Bree's best friend Alice is Taiwanese American. I've listened to a few books that have been read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and she does a solid job, but in this particular book where most of the characters are White, it makes my brain work doubly hard. I have to keep reminding myself that the young men she is hanging out with are not Black. It's very easy for my brain to be lulled into the idea that Selwyn is a Black lad, because that's how his voice sounds in the narration. Maybe I just need to concentrate harder.
Quite a lengthy book, but it really does close off with a "first book feel" that leaves you wondering about enough to bring you back for another round... maybe later though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Slavery, Bullying, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, War, Child abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Gore, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Cancer
ianreadsbookssometimes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
arobear's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
4.5
This book is a great read, especially the last half as we get deeper into the lore and complexities of connections/relationships. The perspective from a black woman as a main character is so needed in this space! There is a lot to explore in terms of legacy and how it intertwines with personhood, family, duty, and grief. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it does start off slow and I was confused by the many characters and kept getting them mixed up, but overall I would highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and War
Minor: Police brutality, Rape, and Slavery
teacherkmd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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: Violence, Slavery, Racial slurs, Grief, War, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Police brutality, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident and Rape
bookthief's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
A couple of years i ago I watched the BBC series Merlin and I loved it and when I heard about this book, which has a modern day retelling of a modern day Arthurian Legend, I knew I would love this book!
Bree was a fantastic character. She was strong, brave and resilient. I loved how throughout the book she accepted her grief for her mother and used it to discover the story of her origin through her ancestors. I was so surprised at the end that Bree was actually the Scion of Arthur. But I’m so glad that she is because she would be a great leader and king. Her powers are incredible and awesome and super strong. I can’t wait to see what type of king she will become in the next book!
Nick was an incredibly kind and determined person. The way he helped Bree when they had only known each other for less than a day was very sweet, and putting his life on the line several times for her. I would love it if Nick and Bree got together and stayed together as they work so well together. However a small part of me wants Sel to swoop in and be with Bree:)
The writing of the book was brilliant. The organisation was done perfectly as everything flowed smoothly and leaving mysteries at the perfect time.
I would definitely recommend this book to those of you who like fantasy and retelling of Arthurian Legend.
Bree was a fantastic character. She was strong, brave and resilient. I loved how throughout the book she accepted her grief for her mother and used it to discover the story of her origin through her ancestors. I was so surprised at the end that Bree was actually the Scion of Arthur. But I’m so glad that she is because she would be a great leader and king. Her powers are incredible and awesome and super strong. I can’t wait to see what type of king she will become in the next book!
Nick was an incredibly kind and determined person. The way he helped Bree when they had only known each other for less than a day was very sweet, and putting his life on the line several times for her. I would love it if Nick and Bree got together and stayed together as they work so well together. However a small part of me wants Sel to swoop in and be with Bree:)
The writing of the book was brilliant. The organisation was done perfectly as everything flowed smoothly and leaving mysteries at the perfect time.
I would definitely recommend this book to those of you who like fantasy and retelling of Arthurian Legend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexism, War, Car accident, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
llams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Racism
Minor: Rape
rosenau's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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, Violence, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Kidnapping, Slavery, Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Cursing, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Transphobia, War, Bullying, Rape, Slavery, and Sexual assault
karly_ackley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Classism, War, Racism, Blood, Grief, Medical content, and Colonisation
Moderate: Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
marippe's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had high hopes for this one and it went beyond my hopes! I loved Bree a lot, although it is a fantasy book, the focus on grief/trauma alongside the modern day impacts of racism coinciding with the fantasy made such an interesting and equally sad adventure. Bree’s struggles as a black woman trying to be seen in a white dominated system with the “subtle” racial transgressions were so well written.
I also loved both of her love interests, with Nick surprising me with how well rounded he was- I was expecting him to be a lot more puppy ish but he pleasantly surprised me. I love Selwyn a lot and I’m excited to learn more about him!
More about Selwyn:
Ok but the dynamics of the love triangle in this book are very interesting. It's actually a LOVE TRIANGLE!!
I also loved both of her love interests, with Nick surprising me with how well rounded he was- I was expecting him to be a lot more puppy ish but he pleasantly surprised me. I love Selwyn a lot and I’m excited to learn more about him!
More about Selwyn:
Ok but the dynamics of the love triangle in this book are very interesting. It's actually a LOVE TRIANGLE!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, and War
lisyasversion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Everything from start til the end is captivating and enthralling. Truly adore the narrative.
Bree is such a girl crush. Out of context, I ship B and Nick at first. But the tension between her and Sel just hit different.
“I must admit, Brianna, I’m curious what twist of the universe has set you in my path again?” he asks, his voice quiet, wistful. “Alas some mysteries, must remain forever unsolved.”
Bree is such a girl crush. Out of context, I ship B and Nick at first. But the tension between her and Sel just hit different.
“I must admit, Brianna, I’m curious what twist of the universe has set you in my path again?” he asks, his voice quiet, wistful. “Alas some mysteries, must remain forever unsolved.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Racism
Moderate: Bullying