Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

286 reviews

depmythmoon's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

“They are past-tensing my heart—my whole beating, bleeding, torn heart—right in front of me.” (pg. 2)

“Death is not a thread. It is the sharp cut that severs us. Death separates us from one another, and yet it holds us close. As deeply as we hate it, it loves us more.” (pg. 305)

I have heard nothing but good things about this book, and I now see why! This has easily become my new favorite book, and I cannot wait to get my grubby little fingers on Bloodmarked and Oathbound when it’s released next year 😭. I don’t know why I put off reading it for as long as I have, but I will not be making the same mistake with the others in this series.

Brianna “Bree” Matthews is an African American teen who recently lost her mother to a car accident and is currently attending an early college program at the University of California, which her mother just so happened to attend 25 years prior. While there, she discovers that the world isn’t exactly as it seems, and there may be someone who knows about the mysteries surrounding her mother’s death. This story focuses heavily on the grieving process and the lasting, current impacts of slavery. As a black woman, I was able to relate to these issues and the anger/injustice that Bree felt throughout the book, which added another layer of enjoyment. However, anyone from any race can enjoy this book and learn from it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in fantasy.

I’m not one to give out 5 stars so liberally, so believe me when I say that I really tried to wrack my brain for any possibly gripe I could have had with this book. None exist. This is an amazing book, 10/10, no notes. Period. Genuinely, I’ve sat with this book for a couple days, and I still am in love with it and I can’t even think to utter a negative word about it.

The background behind the magic systems was well thought out and helped push the theme even further. Bree was a complex character that helped spread awareness for PCBD, which is something I’d never heard of before reading this book. Alice was a true ride or die best friend that anyone would be lucky to have in their corner, and I loved their banter. There were cute, romantic moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet. And the TWISTS! My God! Towards the end of the book, my jaw gradually dislocated to the point that it hit the floor and beyond. I’m still picking it up to this day.

Ms. Deonn knows exactly what she’s doing!! I cannot wait to see where this story goes. I’m also curious about the end-game love interest. I have very high hopes for the rest of the series; I can hardly wait!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Slavery, Racism, Sexism, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Classism, War, Rape, Car accident, Racial slurs, and Alcohol

theaceofpages's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

Two faults. My race and my gender. But they are not faults. They are strength. And I am more than this man can comprehend.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed by this one. Don't get me wrong, it had good and important ideas, but I just really struggled to get into it properly. Maybe I'm just too old for it since I found a lot of the characters a little frustrating. I'm not saying that's a bad thing as they are teens and teens do act in the ways the characters did, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to get annoyed by them at the same time. I think younger me might have enjoyed it though so I'm going to skip rating it since it might just be me being the wrong age/ in the wrong mental space for it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, Slavery, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident

jei_reads_sometimes'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Slavery, and Medical content

Minor: Abandonment, Rape, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

aj9moon's review

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood

charliebites's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, Blood, War, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Car accident, Hate crime, and Slavery

Minor: Racial slurs, Body horror, Rape, Police brutality, Child abuse, and Vomit

elizas's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual assault and Racial slurs

fleur____'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Racial slurs, War, Blood, Death, Gore, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Rape and Slavery

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Slavery, Classism, War, Abandonment, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Mental illness, Torture, Bullying, Car accident, Gaslighting, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Acephobia/Arophobia, Police brutality, and Rape

some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Kinda wattpad-y at some points and some characters & characterisations remind me so much of Heroes of Olympus that I wouldn't be surprised if this was originally riordanverse fanfic/ the author is a fan. 
All in all, very gripping once past the first 50 pages -> I binged this. I love the characters so much + the exploration of how historical institutions are hostile to POC (esp in USA) stood out to me. 
Had some flaws (

Sel's monologue at Nick's dad's house just felt like infodumping

  + so many characters they're hard to remember + sometimes the writing just felt clunky) but I greatly enjoyed it so 5 stars it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Death, Slavery, Bullying, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, and Racism

Minor: Misogyny, Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, Alcohol, Car accident, Colonisation, Stalking, Transphobia, Self harm, Confinement, and Torture

Self harm is not in the mental health issues way but the for blood way.

midnightverde's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

Amazing! There is so much happening in the book and there are so many questions you ask yourself as you’re reading. I absolutely loved this and am eager to read the next books in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Gore, Bullying, Violence, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Infidelity and Rape