Reviews tagging 'War'

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

158 reviews

bzliz's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

I waited a long time to read this because people spoke so highly of it and I was worried it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype. I’m so delighted to say I had nothing to worry about because it exceeded my expectations in every way. 

I immediately fell in love with Bree and I wanted nothing but good things for her. I’ve never been hugely into Arthurian legend but I enjoyed the dip into that world in a modern context and I was completely engrossed in every twist she encountered. The beautiful balance between aether and root was so cool and Bree’s journey to learn both paths was so fun. 

The biggest compliment I can give is that I want to immediately dive into Bloodmarked but I need to give it a few days so I don’t get them confused with each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, War, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Sexism, Vomit, and Grief

Moderate: Kidnapping and Slavery

Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

Child abuse (off page):

mentions of the way Nick and Sel were raised involving physical abuse under the guise of being part of training for their duty.

Rape (off page): Mention toward the end of the book of one of Bree’s enslaved ancestors being raped by the master of the house, then threatened after she became pregnant. It’s not explicitly called by that name but it’s definitely what happened. Racism (on page):

Bree faces multiple instances of micro aggressions and overt racism. Nobody outright calls her any slurs but it’s pretty unrelenting because just like in real life even people who don’t mean harm can still cause harm.

klsreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

God-tier. An absolutely perfect debut. This book made me cry so hard, and I loved every minute of it. I loved the characters and their relationships (don't talk to me about Bree and her mom). There are non-tokenized queer and nonbinary characters and a bisexual male love interest (!!!!!!!). It reckons with grief, racial trauma, colonization, and the premature deaths of Black folks in America. It meditates on history, who is remembered, and what it means to be cut off from ancestral knowledge and power (literally and figuratively). It mythologizes and reckons with real racial struggles and white supremacy.The magic system is so unique and fun. Sprint to get this book. Tracy Deonn is unbelievably talented, and I will read whatever she writes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, Bullying, Colonisation, Death of parent, Mental illness, Murder, War, and Blood

Moderate: Medical content, Car accident, Rape, Alcohol, Torture, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Body horror

Minor: Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Vomit

mamatrauma's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Cursing, Violence, Racism, Medical content, Death, Murder, Gore, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

laurenbeetea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

katebella's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Death, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Torture, War, and Sexual assault

sn03's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

Moderate: Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Misogyny, Slavery, War, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Grief, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol

pho_ar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

Honestly, may be the best book I read this year so far, but I don't know if any will top it. 

This is an incredible retelling, recontexualizing of King Arthur legends that made my younger self smile with glee. Combining  the legend with the tradegey with resilience and love that in so many ways mirrors the nobility of those legends. 

I am not going to tell you anymore because you should simply read it. You won't regret it. 11/10 stars!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, War, and Grief

Minor: Rape

lri_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Racism, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Slavery and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Kidnapping

pagecalico's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

If i could rate this book 10 stars i would.

I dont even know what to say but this is genuinely the best book ive ever read in my life.
Everything about this book is beyond perfection. From the writing to the storytelling to the ways it conveys emotion through its characters.  
I absolutely LOVE Briana!! She is genuinely so relatable and loveable to me. I love the way shes isn't afraid to express her anger and how shes proud to honour her ancestors. The way her grief is displayed throughout
the book I don’t even know how to describe is so touching and powerful i nearly cried multiple times every time her mum is brought up. 
Words cant even describe how sorry i feel for her, I mean

imagine that the only reason you are a DESCENDANT OF KING ARTHER is because one of his descendants (who was a slave master) raped his slave who happened to be your ancestor :///

I LOVED the author’s note and seeing her inspiration for Legendborn is so beautiful yet so heartbreaking, you can just tell the love and effort that went into this book, Deonn needs to be given her flowers!!
Overall, this book got be giggling, screaming and cursing out loud like no book has ever before. i cant WAIT to read the squeal!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Rape and War

asuenram's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Car accident, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, and War