Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Lendários by Tracy Deonn

182 reviews

knockoffrainbow's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Cursing, Bullying, Blood, Mental illness, Sexism, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Violence, War, Racial slurs, Child death, Misogyny, Racism, and Body horror

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Slavery, Torture, Alcohol, and Transphobia

Minor: Infidelity

depmythmoon's review against another edition

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

kaylokay_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Classism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Car accident, Racism, Racial slurs, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcohol

antonebooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious

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

4.5

William Herondale?? Jem Carstairs?? What are you guys doing here???

In all seriousness this is a beautiful book about trauma, grief, and adventure. Exposition dumps are plenty and frequent but as someone with very little knowledge about Arthur and his legend I welcomed it. Also this poor MC faints/“darkness overtakes her” a lot lol. 

So since Lancelot betrays Arthur by hooking up with his beau does that mean Nick and Sel will kis-

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Car accident

Minor: Sexual assault

maistfu's review against another edition

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

This might just be one of the best books I've ever read.
The world building in first books of a fantasy series are tricky but this was done so wonderfully. And I loved the way the author incorporated and addresses trauma, therapy, racism, intergenerational trauma experienced by descendants of enslaved people and their history and mythology is amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Sexual violence

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 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? 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

spicycronereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I delayed finishing this book because it was so fun. I didn’t want it to end. Bree, the FMC is independent, smart, and funny. The MMC, Nick, supports her and, I think, fits the definition of the golden retriever boyfriend. He definitely has some trauma of his own to work through, but he supports Bree all the way. 

There are a few strong secondary characters. Alice is a lot of fun and provides an important foil to Bree. I look forward to seeing her story develop in subsequent books. Selwyn is the darker, more morally ambiguous counterpart to Nick. I sometimes struggle with a love triangle. But this one I didn’t mind too much. The author does some creative things with it.

The book deals with Arthurian legend in a novel way. With a really interesting magic system. The book also deals with the legacy of the history of slavery in the United States, and in particular, with the experience of being a Black student in a space that isn’t welcoming.  I thought these were both done really well. It does seem a little didactic from time to time, but it is a YA book and so I think that’s necessary for this primary audience. The story is well-paced and the action is well-written. There were a few twist and turns that I didn’t see coming.

With multiple BIPOC women characters, as well as queer, genderqueer, and disabled characters, this book has lots of diverse representation.

This is a YA book so spice expectations must be adjusted. There is longing; there is kissing; there is swoon. 🌶️

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next one of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Slavery and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

SA is off page and does not involve any of the MCs.