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wherethemarigoldsgrow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Easily the best YA book I’ve read in a while! And the best love triangle I think I’ve ever read in anything ever. I listened to it on audiobook and Joniece Abbott-Pratt gave an incredible performance!
please let them be in a poly relationship I will personally buy every single copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
The death of a parent isn’t explicitly shown but it is talked about throughout the entire bookcaoimhe9876's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Dementia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality
rachaelsfantasyland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Full review to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
melody__'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this,, sO MUCH. All the characters are soo good and well-written and have really good dynamics. It works through so many different themes super well and the internal and external conflicts were so well intertwined. The LGBTQIA+ characters were just there and lovely and awesome and and I just-ugh, I love it so much. Nonbinary, bisexual/pansexual (not explicitly stated), lesbian, wlw and mlm rep <3 ahh, it’s so good. The main character, Bree, isn’t explicitly queer, but a lot of the other characters are. I can’t say much about the POC rep because I’m white, buut, the focus on mother/daughter relationships made me want to ball and all the women/nonbinary character(s) made me feel so validated and fluttery. 10/10 would recommend (and support the hell out of Tracy Deonn, she is awesome as all hell)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, and Transphobia
foxindocs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: Rape and Transphobia
caregorman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Um omg...this was one of the most complex yet applicable yet accessible fantasy books I’ve read in a while. The conversations about grief, trauma (esp intergenerational), MI, and race were so rare in this genre and enhanced the read. I WILL say I AM dumb and know nothing about King Arthur so all the jargon was a BIT confusing. I’m so interested in where this trilogy? Series? Idk will go tho esp regarding the low key love triangle!!! Kinda conflicted on which team I’m on tbh...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Rape and Car accident
mo345's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-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, Racial slurs, Slavery, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Transphobia, Bullying, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Stalking
Minor: Blood
cactuscloudsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved it so much that I opened it right back up to immediately read it again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
Written very well into the plot to give important lessons.elissareadsbooks'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? It's complicated
5.0
this is literally one of the best books ive read in a long time. i adore it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Transphobia, and Child abuse
Minor: Police brutality
bookish_otaku's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5/5 stars.
Story has TW for grieving of a family member, violence, moderate gore, racism, sexism, and some transphobia as well. Also death but I figured that was obvious.
Can I just say the entire atmosphere of this book, I don’t even know how to sum it up satisfactorily, but it felt safe. Like it was a safe place to shrug off that surface layer you don for white society, and just be your unadulterated self, and I loved that. Short disclaimer, I am not black, but I do fall under the giant umbrella of POC. Even though I’m not black like Bree, she still offers a unique view point to other POC readers, particularly WOC (women of color) as she navigates a PWI (predominately white institution). Getting to read from such a marginalized character, but also one that was so relatable, was so refreshing and definitely created an affinity space of sorts between the pages of this book. Of course, the plot, characters, and entire world building were nothing short of wonderful as well.
We have Bree, a black 16 year old who has entered the Early College program at USC in Carolina and is constantly finding herself undermined by the white patriarchy, of course things get more interesting when she witnesses a magical attack of sorts and becomes privy to the entire legacy of the Knights of the Round Table. I can’t lie, I’ve never read a book that focuses on that legend, but I think Deonn takes such a unique idea, and takes a critical view that makes it entirely her own. Arthurian legend is of course, the glorification of a bunch of holier than thou white, cis, straight dudes that were, not going to lie, probably also very rich. I loved how Deonn took the opportunity to not only include a story that isn’t common, but then decided to take a deeper and in my opinion, more modern look at it. If that isn’t fresh, then I don’t know what is.
Bree was such a great character to read about, and her friendship with Alice was so wonderfully realistic. I love seeing female empowerment and this, like the way it looked at Arthur, had a very realistic approach. It wasn’t over glorified and it had its fair share of bumps, but in the end it’s a truly empowering relationship between the two that I feel gets ignored a lot of the time. Sure it wasn’t an in your face sort of relationship, but boy did I appreciate it.
Then the romance! Oh my gosh, I have a theory for what’s going to happen that I’ll hide under spoiler tags, but Deonn really just grabs you by the nose, and just when you think things are going to be smooth sailing, she’s like LOL.I think that she’s going to fall for Sel in the end and there are so many tiny little pointers towards it. Of course, first we’ll have to go through a love triangle, but you know, no pain no gain am I right? Unless she decides to make Sel the second male lead... That’s too much pain please no
Also character development? Loved it. I think the character we see grow the most was probably Sel, but it’s hard not to go from -38 to literally anywhere in the positive spectrum. Deonn sort of pulled an Azula and though he seems very dark and brooding and honestly just mean at first, he’s a very nuanced character that I’m very intrigued to explore. I would have perhaps liked a little more growth with Bree, but perhaps I just haven’t had time to process her whole character arc as it’s quite nuanced as well. I won’t lie, Nick was just Prince Charming, so I’m hoping there’s some further development in the next book.
Also can I get a whoop whoop for the casual representation that Deonn just oh so casually slides in there. The Order is so white it could outwhite a Colgate commercial, but she still manages to show that there are other forms of diversity, and even touches on the topic of biracialness and “passing.” Although they certainly aren’t main focuses, I love the casual way she pulled this off, putting some depth to the side diversity characters while also not taking the spotlight off of Bree.
And lastly, the microaggressions in this book. I don’t think people realize how often these things happen, and how when they pile up for an entire lifetime it becomes so unbearable. This book doesn’t discuss that, but SHOWS it which is so vital to understand the struggle of minorities, particularly of the black community in historically white spaces. I cannot stress enough how validating it is to read a character calling out a microaggression, because more often than not if we do it, we get gaslighted. I mean, all I can really say is this book felt like a safe space, and that is just one of the many reasons it deserves 5 stars.
Story has TW for grieving of a family member, violence, moderate gore, racism, sexism, and some transphobia as well. Also death but I figured that was obvious.
Can I just say the entire atmosphere of this book, I don’t even know how to sum it up satisfactorily, but it felt safe. Like it was a safe place to shrug off that surface layer you don for white society, and just be your unadulterated self, and I loved that. Short disclaimer, I am not black, but I do fall under the giant umbrella of POC. Even though I’m not black like Bree, she still offers a unique view point to other POC readers, particularly WOC (women of color) as she navigates a PWI (predominately white institution). Getting to read from such a marginalized character, but also one that was so relatable, was so refreshing and definitely created an affinity space of sorts between the pages of this book. Of course, the plot, characters, and entire world building were nothing short of wonderful as well.
We have Bree, a black 16 year old who has entered the Early College program at USC in Carolina and is constantly finding herself undermined by the white patriarchy, of course things get more interesting when she witnesses a magical attack of sorts and becomes privy to the entire legacy of the Knights of the Round Table. I can’t lie, I’ve never read a book that focuses on that legend, but I think Deonn takes such a unique idea, and takes a critical view that makes it entirely her own. Arthurian legend is of course, the glorification of a bunch of holier than thou white, cis, straight dudes that were, not going to lie, probably also very rich. I loved how Deonn took the opportunity to not only include a story that isn’t common, but then decided to take a deeper and in my opinion, more modern look at it. If that isn’t fresh, then I don’t know what is.
Bree was such a great character to read about, and her friendship with Alice was so wonderfully realistic. I love seeing female empowerment and this, like the way it looked at Arthur, had a very realistic approach. It wasn’t over glorified and it had its fair share of bumps, but in the end it’s a truly empowering relationship between the two that I feel gets ignored a lot of the time. Sure it wasn’t an in your face sort of relationship, but boy did I appreciate it.
Then the romance! Oh my gosh, I have a theory for what’s going to happen that I’ll hide under spoiler tags, but Deonn really just grabs you by the nose, and just when you think things are going to be smooth sailing, she’s like LOL.
Also character development? Loved it. I think the character we see grow the most was probably Sel, but it’s hard not to go from -38 to literally anywhere in the positive spectrum. Deonn sort of pulled an Azula and though he seems very dark and brooding and honestly just mean at first, he’s a very nuanced character that I’m very intrigued to explore. I would have perhaps liked a little more growth with Bree, but perhaps I just haven’t had time to process her whole character arc as it’s quite nuanced as well. I won’t lie, Nick was just Prince Charming, so I’m hoping there’s some further development in the next book.
Also can I get a whoop whoop for the casual representation that Deonn just oh so casually slides in there. The Order is so white it could outwhite a Colgate commercial, but she still manages to show that there are other forms of diversity, and even touches on the topic of biracialness and “passing.” Although they certainly aren’t main focuses, I love the casual way she pulled this off, putting some depth to the side diversity characters while also not taking the spotlight off of Bree.
And lastly, the microaggressions in this book. I don’t think people realize how often these things happen, and how when they pile up for an entire lifetime it becomes so unbearable. This book doesn’t discuss that, but SHOWS it which is so vital to understand the struggle of minorities, particularly of the black community in historically white spaces. I cannot stress enough how validating it is to read a character calling out a microaggression, because more often than not if we do it, we get gaslighted. I mean, all I can really say is this book felt like a safe space, and that is just one of the many reasons it deserves 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, and Sexual violence