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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
I wanted to like this book so I stuck with so much world building. I do not like fantasy novels because they are long and too much stuff. But I found the braiding of fantasy and real African American life history so beautiful I could not put this book down.
Bree finds herself in a story where you are the main character and are being told over and over that you are not the main character because you are both a woman and black. She is ultimately told to bow out to make room for a white male to take that power.
This story is deep and strong and powerful and filled with the magic of generations of being told no and what it’s like to look stolen power in the eye and say “yes I will take my place.”
This is not to say what this book says about grief and living with memory that is painful and filled with loss. 10/10. One day I will read the rest of this series.
Bree finds herself in a story where you are the main character and are being told over and over that you are not the main character because you are both a woman and black. She is ultimately told to bow out to make room for a white male to take that power.
This story is deep and strong and powerful and filled with the magic of generations of being told no and what it’s like to look stolen power in the eye and say “yes I will take my place.”
This is not to say what this book says about grief and living with memory that is painful and filled with loss. 10/10. One day I will read the rest of this series.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
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:
Complicated
I’ve been holding off this book for a very long time because there was so much hype around it and I was deep into a lot of other fantasy series, but I’m glad that I was finally able to pick it up. I dual read this as a hard physical copy and an audiobook. The audiobook definitely brought the story to life. I loved how the author tied in so many different themes that were both important and interesting to learn more about. The tie in of King Arthur mythology, colonization, slavery, and the unfairness and politics of academics was admirable and easy to understand and empathize with which a lot of people are not able to do in a book let alone a series. I’m excited to start the second one and see where Bree’s journey leads her to. Shout out to everyone who recommended this book.
Honestly such a good read. Might come off as a tad bit slow in the beginning due to world building, but it has everything and more. This was definitely something I would recommend to any YA reader and has one of the best endings i’ve read in a while.
medium-paced
If I could give this story 900 stars, I would! It’s so wonderfully written, a mystery that’s woven throughout the fabric of the entire book and threads beyond, each piece important and coming together until it culminates in the end. Bree’s journey with her grief, her rage, the racism she experiences resonates with me; I could see a lot of myself in her when it came to the way white people looked at her. And the rage, that knee-jerk flash that overtakes you, was familiar too, like looking into a mirror. While I was a little annoyed at times with Bree’s reactions—largely in response to her friend Alice’s questions—it also made Bree feel more realistic, well-rounded. Like an actual person. Tracy weaves an incredibly complex, realistic portrayal of grief and trauma and rage from the perspective of a girl who, feasibly, could’ve been me. Then fantasy she threads into her words is revealed bit by bit, though I would’ve probably enjoyed a glossary since it was a little confusing. I loved Nick and Bree’s chemistry, how genuine Nick was, sweet their romance was. I even grew to like Sel, who I rolled my eyes at the minute he showed up because of course he’s broody and mysterious—he’s the black-haired white guy in what I think is a love triangle. His story’s a heartbreaking one. Each of these kids have sad stories, actually, and I feel like it only added character to them! By far my favorite read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse, Classism
I really liked this book. Not only does it touch on real life issues but intermingles reality with fantasy in a way that makes me feel like a kid again believing anything is possible.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The first YA book I have read and the main character is a black, smart, beautiful teenager. Her skin color is actually important to the character and the plot. Also loving the princess, king, and knight trope.
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