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tetrootz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Acephobia/Arophobia
spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
I delayed finishing this book because it was so fun. I didn’t want it to end. Bree, the FMC is independent, smart, and funny. The MMC, Nick, supports her and, I think, fits the definition of the golden retriever boyfriend. He definitely has some trauma of his own to work through, but he supports Bree all the way.
There are a few strong secondary characters. Alice is a lot of fun and provides an important foil to Bree. I look forward to seeing her story develop in subsequent books. Selwyn is the darker, more morally ambiguous counterpart to Nick. I sometimes struggle with a love triangle. But this one I didn’t mind too much. The author does some creative things with it.
The book deals with Arthurian legend in a novel way. With a really interesting magic system. The book also deals with the legacy of the history of slavery in the United States, and in particular, with the experience of being a Black student in a space that isn’t welcoming. I thought these were both done really well. It does seem a little didactic from time to time, but it is a YA book and so I think that’s necessary for this primary audience. The story is well-paced and the action is well-written. There were a few twist and turns that I didn’t see coming.
With multiple BIPOC women characters, as well as queer, genderqueer, and disabled characters, this book has lots of diverse representation.
This is a YA book so spice expectations must be adjusted. There is longing; there is kissing; there is swoon. 🌶️
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next one of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️
There are a few strong secondary characters. Alice is a lot of fun and provides an important foil to Bree. I look forward to seeing her story develop in subsequent books. Selwyn is the darker, more morally ambiguous counterpart to Nick. I sometimes struggle with a love triangle. But this one I didn’t mind too much. The author does some creative things with it.
The book deals with Arthurian legend in a novel way. With a really interesting magic system. The book also deals with the legacy of the history of slavery in the United States, and in particular, with the experience of being a Black student in a space that isn’t welcoming. I thought these were both done really well. It does seem a little didactic from time to time, but it is a YA book and so I think that’s necessary for this primary audience. The story is well-paced and the action is well-written. There were a few twist and turns that I didn’t see coming.
With multiple BIPOC women characters, as well as queer, genderqueer, and disabled characters, this book has lots of diverse representation.
This is a YA book so spice expectations must be adjusted. There is longing; there is kissing; there is swoon. 🌶️
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next one of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
SA is off page and does not involve any of the MCs.cturn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Car accident, and War
litoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
TL;DR:
Someone let Miss Tracy Deonn cook and she created a masterpiece. Five Stars.
The story starts with the heartbreaking loss of Bree Matthews' mother. A few months later, she heads off to USC, the same university her mother attended. Shortly after arriving at the school, she stumbles upon the exclusive Order of the Round Table, a modern-day rendition of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
As mysterious and perilous incidents unfold on campus, Bree seizes the opportunity to join the Order as a Page, facilitated by Nick, the prospective King and heir to King Arthur's throne. Amidst her training to be a Squire, escalating violent events prompt the original Knights to call upon their Scions to Awaken, signaling an impending war. The catch is that if Arthur's Scion (Nick) is Awakened and falls victim to the Shadowborn demons,15 centuries of Legendborn magic lines will vanish, plunging the world into darkness and chaos .
Simultaneously, Bree undergoes therapy where her therapist unveilsthe magic system, Rootcraft , and cautions her about the dangers posed by the Order. After consulting with her ancestors, Bree resolves to infiltrate the Order to uncover the truth behind her mother's fate, as her mom was a Rootcrafter adept at manipulating plant energy .
I won't spoil the rest for you; PLEASE READ IT. I couldn't contain my excitement and literally yelled and felt chills when the climax was revealed.
On the downside, I found a minor issue with Bree's frequent lack of awareness in certain situations. For instance, moments where she unexpectedly realizes actions she apparently performed without conscious awareness felt a bit inconsistent for a character with suchlegendary power . Unfortunately, this is a typical trope found in YA novels. Beyond this, the rest of the story is exceptional.
Here's what I appreciated:
- The engaging narrative
- Rich lore
- Well-crafted magic system
- Compelling characters, particularly Bree, Sel, Nick, and Alice
Bree's perspective as an intelligent Black woman resonated with me, offering a poignant exploration of how White society incessantly thrusts her race and gender in her face. As a person of color myself, I identified with many parallels, and the portrayal of racist interactions at times moved me to tears.
The inclusion of queer representation in the story is commendable. Same-sex relationships are normalized, and I applaud the matter-of-fact acceptance within the narrative. The diverse sexual orientations of characters, including Sel being bi (we need more bi men in books) and Alice being a lesbian, along with queer figures in high-ranking positions in the Order, is a refreshing and welcomed aspect.
Tracy Deonn's debut novel is a tapestry of adventure, gripping battle scenes, dynamic characters, a captivating magic system, and creative, imaginative lore rooted in Arthurian legend. It lays the foundation for apotential love triangle in the sequel as well as a larger war with incredibly high stakes . If you're a fan of fantasy, magic, and coming-of-age tales, this book is an absolute must-read.
Five stars.
Someone let Miss Tracy Deonn cook and she created a masterpiece. Five Stars.
The story starts with the heartbreaking loss of Bree Matthews' mother. A few months later, she heads off to USC, the same university her mother attended. Shortly after arriving at the school, she stumbles upon the exclusive Order of the Round Table, a modern-day rendition of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
As mysterious and perilous incidents unfold on campus, Bree seizes the opportunity to join the Order as a Page, facilitated by Nick, the prospective King and heir to King Arthur's throne. Amidst her training to be a Squire, escalating violent events prompt the original Knights to call upon their Scions to Awaken, signaling an impending war. The catch is that if Arthur's Scion (Nick) is Awakened and falls victim to the Shadowborn demons,
Simultaneously, Bree undergoes therapy where her therapist unveils
I won't spoil the rest for you; PLEASE READ IT. I couldn't contain my excitement and literally yelled and felt chills when the climax was revealed.
On the downside, I found a minor issue with Bree's frequent lack of awareness in certain situations. For instance, moments where she unexpectedly realizes actions she apparently performed without conscious awareness felt a bit inconsistent for a character with such
Here's what I appreciated:
- The engaging narrative
- Rich lore
- Well-crafted magic system
- Compelling characters, particularly Bree, Sel, Nick, and Alice
Bree's perspective as an intelligent Black woman resonated with me, offering a poignant exploration of how White society incessantly thrusts her race and gender in her face. As a person of color myself, I identified with many parallels, and the portrayal of racist interactions at times moved me to tears.
The inclusion of queer representation in the story is commendable. Same-sex relationships are normalized, and I applaud the matter-of-fact acceptance within the narrative. The diverse sexual orientations of characters, including Sel being bi (we need more bi men in books) and Alice being a lesbian, along with queer figures in high-ranking positions in the Order, is a refreshing and welcomed aspect.
Tracy Deonn's debut novel is a tapestry of adventure, gripping battle scenes, dynamic characters, a captivating magic system, and creative, imaginative lore rooted in Arthurian legend. It lays the foundation for a
Five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and War
erinbeee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
maladaptivebookdreaming's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I would love to write an in-depth review about this book but truly? Ms. Tracy has me SPEECHLESS. For this to be a mother frickin DEBUT? Consider me guffawed. There are no words to describe my feelings on this book other than after three years of hearing about Legendborn and NOT reading it?? I feel like I’ve missed out for no good reason. The grief, anger, laughter, and absolute joy I got from this book is without words. As someone who doesn’t relate to YA as much anymore and HATES love triangles? I was hooked! I was enraptured! As a fellow black girl from NC the relatability of what Bree goes through hits even deeper because I get it. I get it, I get IT.
A fantastic debut and man what a damn writer. I am so excited to get my hands on the second book!
A fantastic debut and man what a damn writer. I am so excited to get my hands on the second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Misogyny and Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault
tey_lynn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
between_2worlds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexism and Sexual assault
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Completely lived up to the hype! If you're looking for a YA magical adventure that centers diversity and reimagines Arthurian legends in a fresh and genuinely interesting way, this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Car accident
saraseisolieb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Car accident
Minor: Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Death of parent, and Pregnancy