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A review by lostlenore_
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
4.0
Tracy Deonn's whimsical writing in combination with Abbott-Pratt's mesmerizing narration made this book a delightful and unique listen for me. At first, I was a bit reluctant to get into the story since I'm not that much into sororities and mysteries surrounding them.
Once the book introduced root magic, it took a huge turn for me, and I understood then the many layers of this book. It's not only about defiance against the white patriarchal system, it's not only about the struggles of a black woman in the US but it's also about finding your identity by owning your past.
The story could have been shorter and the love triangle trope, even if catchy, didn't convince me so much. I'm #teamselwyn all the way--who cares about Nick the spoiled brat?
I could write a 1000 review for this book and still not being done with it. I felt like the Arthurian take was a bit too much and if there weren't so many details about it, the balance between the two different magic systems the book introduces would have been better. Root magic was what preoccupied the author most and this should have been her main focus.
At the same time, there's a great deal of reversal of tropes in this book. "The Chosen One" is turned upside down and the dynamics between the three main heroes, Bree, Nick and Selwyn, are ever-changing something that accounts for stronger plot hooks and intense character-driven arcs.
Tracy Deonn brainstormed A LOT about this book, and her complicated world only shows just how much work she placed in to make this book the well-written example of black YA fantasy everyone should read and love. It's strong, it's powerful, it's meaningful and it's inspirational. Really deserves all the praise it gets.
However, I insist on the Arthurian part of the story--it really was for me just a justification to get into the main juice of the story.
Once the book introduced root magic, it took a huge turn for me, and I understood then the many layers of this book. It's not only about defiance against the white patriarchal system, it's not only about the struggles of a black woman in the US but it's also about finding your identity by owning your past.
The story could have been shorter and the love triangle trope, even if catchy, didn't convince me so much. I'm #teamselwyn all the way--who cares about Nick the spoiled brat?
I could write a 1000 review for this book and still not being done with it. I felt like the Arthurian take was a bit too much and if there weren't so many details about it, the balance between the two different magic systems the book introduces would have been better. Root magic was what preoccupied the author most and this should have been her main focus.
At the same time, there's a great deal of reversal of tropes in this book. "The Chosen One" is turned upside down and the dynamics between the three main heroes, Bree, Nick and Selwyn, are ever-changing something that accounts for stronger plot hooks and intense character-driven arcs.
Tracy Deonn brainstormed A LOT about this book, and her complicated world only shows just how much work she placed in to make this book the well-written example of black YA fantasy everyone should read and love. It's strong, it's powerful, it's meaningful and it's inspirational. Really deserves all the praise it gets.
However, I insist on the Arthurian part of the story--it really was for me just a justification to get into the main juice of the story.