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A review by cemeterygay
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
The beginning of this book is quite slow and I initially thought it was only going to be a three or four star read but I am incredibly happy I was wrong.
When this book picks up, not only did I not want to put this book down, I grew to love this book so deeply. I was already a big fan of Arthurian inspired stories and retellings and not only did this fulfill that interest but it gave a very interesting take on Arthurian myth.
Bree is such an amazing protagonist. I was rooting for her at every step along the way and was deeply invested in her growth as person. Bree learning to handle her grief and to confront generational trauma was so wonderfully handled and served as such an amazing and steep contrast to the privilege and generational concepts of debt and duty that permeated among the Legendborn students.
I thought many of the side characters were very interesting. While I didn't personally like Sel or Nick that much I think they were both really interesting characters as were most of the mages. I also really liked the therapist and how she really helped not only develop more of the world and Bree's mom but really helped Bree grow throughout the book and confront her grief.
The discussions of generational trauma, exploitation, and systemic racism and violence were so well blended into the main plot and Bree's growth and struggle with grief. The discussions of family dynamics, roots, the relationships between parents and children, and descendants and ancestors was so well handled with all of the characters in which it is brought up but especially for Bree. The ending of this book was absolutely phenomenal, at times almost leaving me in complete tears, and I cannot wait until the next book comes out.
When this book picks up, not only did I not want to put this book down, I grew to love this book so deeply. I was already a big fan of Arthurian inspired stories and retellings and not only did this fulfill that interest but it gave a very interesting take on Arthurian myth.
Bree is such an amazing protagonist. I was rooting for her at every step along the way and was deeply invested in her growth as person. Bree learning to handle her grief and to confront generational trauma was so wonderfully handled and served as such an amazing and steep contrast to the privilege and generational concepts of debt and duty that permeated among the Legendborn students.
I thought many of the side characters were very interesting. While I didn't personally like Sel or Nick that much I think they were both really interesting characters as were most of the mages. I also really liked the therapist and how she really helped not only develop more of the world and Bree's mom but really helped Bree grow throughout the book and confront her grief.
The discussions of generational trauma, exploitation, and systemic racism and violence were so well blended into the main plot and Bree's growth and struggle with grief. The discussions of family dynamics, roots, the relationships between parents and children, and descendants and ancestors was so well handled with all of the characters in which it is brought up but especially for Bree. The ending of this book was absolutely phenomenal, at times almost leaving me in complete tears, and I cannot wait until the next book comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Vomit, Gore, and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
CW: Discussions of past slavery, racial micro/macroaggressions. discussions of systemic racism, elitism, mind control/memory manipulations