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gagereadsstuff's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, and Car accident
litoreads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
pastelmeganes's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Slavery
mel_muses's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Car accident
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, and Car accident
afloodofbooks's review against another edition
- 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
After an attempt to wipe her memory reveals Bree’s own unique magic, she realizes another Merlin was at the hospital when her mother died. With this realization she goes on a mission for the truth, which includes infiltrating the group of Legendborns. When it’s revealed the Legendborns are the descendants of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table, and that they’re on the brink of a magical war, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and decide how she wants to use her magic in the coming war.
I will never forget Bree. Or her family. Legendborn is truly an epic fantasy tied up in Arthurian legend. I felt like the book really kept moving and all of the characters were so robust and interesting. I loved Bree’s personality, her strength, her wit, and no nonsense attitude. She was never afraid to be, or celebrate herself, while also deeply loving and celebrating her family; finding strength in their lives and the struggles, pain, and hardship that surrounded them. I can’t wait to read the next book and continue to watch Bree grow into her own.
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
elinesv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
mykindamagical's review against another edition
- 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
It's just wonderful. Helped me so much with managing my grief. I couldn't be happier that this book is doing so well. A MUST READ for young people of color.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping
gabi_715's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs and Slavery
readsandsuch's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape