Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Legendborn - Der geheime Bund by Tracy Deonn

109 reviews

a_libra_library's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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? N/A

5.0


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soniajoy98's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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


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btg's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

Holy, holy crap. This is one of the best books I've read in a while. There are plot twists at every turn; Deonn never quite gives you what you expect. The whole book is written as a metaphor (or maybe a semifictional example) for heavy themes like grief, intergenerational trauma, and systemic racism, all of which are clearly well thought out and incorporated into the world-building and narrative. I love the characters so much and I want them to succeed with my whole heart. 

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aibird's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

A breathtakingly unique spin on the Arthurian legend, plus there's a nonbinary side character who is accepted (their gender is a nonissue) who survives to the end! It also explores intergenerational trauma and the grief of losing a parent in healing ways. 

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flyintothestorm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0


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hayzey's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.5


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signebrum's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny 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? Yes

4.5

This book was a fun read!

People have compared it to a series like the mortal instruments, and I definitely see why. Though it is its own entirely. 
Overall, I enjoyed it, however there were some drawbacks.

Spoilers below!


Firstly, the conflict between Alice and Bree in the first half seems rather forced, the fights merely a result of both girls just not communicating - miscommunication trope much?

I also must admit… Bree is not my favorite protagonist. I can’t exactly say why, sometimes she’s just a little too dramatic/self obsessed, but it doesn’t bother me too much - especially seeing as she gets a bit better in the end. Character development ftw!

Now, this book is no stranger to common tropes. I already mentioned miscommunication, but there’s definitely also the chosen one, instalove and I’m smelling a love triangle in the next book (I’m team Sel btw - what can I say, dark, brooding? What more could one ask for?)
I do think the tropes work though, and tbf, I’ve never minded either if only they’re done well, which they are so far.

As for the characters? Well, I’m gonna call it, Bree will end up with Sel - but that might just be my old fangirl-shipping-heart talking. 

Bree is strong, caring, and even though she isn’t my favorite protagonist ever, she had her charms, and she is going to make the world listen to her. I kinda had guessed the Arthur-twist, but that said, I’m really excited to see how things will work out.

As for Sel? I adore him. How couldn’t you? I’m guessing Bree and Sel will have some enemies to lovers arc, and honestly, I’m also hoping for it!
Sel on his own is badass, but also very much the mysterious brooding character, who wears a tight façade. So in short, every book obsessed girl’s wet dream.

Now don’t get me wrong, just because I’m team Sel, doesn’t mean I don’t like Nick. In fact I adore him, and I actually don’t mind his and Bree’s relationship. It is a bit insta-love, and I would have liked to bloom a little slower, but they are cute together. 
That said, Nick is the perfect opposite to Sel. An unselfish cinnamon roll, and honestly, I understand why everyone wants to protect him! 
Him and Sel definitely gives me the infernal devices Jem Carstairs/Will Herondale vibes (without being as close as those two maybe, but hey, Herongraystairs is one of the most beautiful YA love stories, and this series following those footsteps would be AWESOME!)



The rest of the characters are great. There’s quite a lot of them, but all see very real and three dimensional, which is difficult to do, with so many side-characters, so honestly, I applaud Tracy Deonn, because I love it!
The characters are also quite diverse! We have a black protagonist, an asian best friend, we have a character going by they/them, we have a wlw relationship and no characters etc. and I love the way each of these characters are introduced the exact same way as anyone else in the story - as it should be done.

All in all, I liked the story and will definitely read the next one! 

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tak_everlasting's review against another edition

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bblanka's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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

5.0


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haylzno's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging inspiring reflective sad 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 I could ever want in a YA low fantasy novel. 

Mixes our world with some King Arthur/ Knights of the Roundtable retelling and is just all around an epic novel. 
This novel has it all: found family, secret societies, dark, shameful pasts, corrupt higher powers, demonic enemies, and magical lineages that trace all the way back to Kind Arthur and his trusted knights.

Tracy Deonn knocked it out of the pack. I cannot WAIT for Bloodmarked!! 

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