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A review by aksmith92
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
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
4.0
The Setup: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is a thrilling blend of Arthurian myth, Southern Black heritage, and contemporary fantasy, delivering an emotionally charged and action-packed story that stands out in the YA fantasy genre. This novel, the first in The Legendborn Cycle, introduces readers to Bree Matthews, a fiercely resilient protagonist whose journey is as much about grief and identity as it is about magic and secret societies.
After the sudden death of her mother, 16-year-old Bree escapes to a prestigious (yet fictitious for this book, by the way) early college program at UNC-Chapel, hoping for a fresh start. However, her plans are upended when she witnesses a magical attack on campus, leading her to the secretive Legendborn society, those descendants from Arthurian knights tasked with battling supernatural threats.
Bree quickly realizes that there is more to her mother's death than she was led to believe, and her investigation into the Legendborn reveals deep-rooted secrets about her own ancestry and power. As she navigates the rigid traditions of society, one filled with privilege, elitism, and prejudice, she begins to unearth an alternative, hidden history of Black magic and rootcraft, a system of power tied to her maternal lineage. Torn between the Legendborn's rigid hierarchy, and of course a cute boy (duh, it's YA), and the ancestral magic calling to her, Bree must decide where she belongs, all while preparing for an imminent war that could change everything.
What I Loved: First and foremost, Deonn did a phenomenal job deconstructing the Arthurian legend's often whitewashed legacy, introducing a fresh and necessary perspective. On top of the deconstruction, because it wasn't unwoven completely, she also fantastically immersed us in other history, folklore, and contemporary social themes with striking precision. Bree's journey was as much about reclaiming her own narrative as it was about unraveling the mysteries of the Legendborn society.
Secondly, the world-building was intricate and engaging. Though the magic system, especially the Legendborn's hierarchy, could sometimes feel overwhelming with its many rules, ranks, and lore, I still enjoyed it (especially as a high fantasy reader). The world-building complexity ultimately served the novel's themes, reinforcing the exclusivity and gatekeeping that Bree navigated - it was almost as if Bree was learning and possibly getting slightly confused about it all, and we were too, which I appreciated.
Lastly, while I slightly counter this point below, one of the novel's greatest strengths was Bree herself. She was an incredibly well-developed protagonist (almost too much for a 16-year-old). She was sharp, angry, vulnerable, and determined. Her grief over her mother's death was palpable, and Deonn never shied away from showing the messy, complicated ways that loss manifests. The exploration of generational trauma and the way history was rewritten to erase Black voices added layers of intense importance to the story. Everything flowed together, keeping me absolutely hooked from about the 35-50 percent mark.
Why Not Five Stars? While fitting for a 16-year-old protagonist, the romance subplot leaned into familiar YA tropes, including a predictable love triangle. Additionally, I’ve outgrown the “grumpy boy” love interest - being mean isn’t endearing, and I hope Selwyn gets more depth in future books. On the other hand, Nick was refreshingly kind, which some found boring, but I appreciated.
After the sudden death of her mother, 16-year-old Bree escapes to a prestigious (yet fictitious for this book, by the way) early college program at UNC-Chapel, hoping for a fresh start. However, her plans are upended when she witnesses a magical attack on campus, leading her to the secretive Legendborn society, those descendants from Arthurian knights tasked with battling supernatural threats.
Bree quickly realizes that there is more to her mother's death than she was led to believe, and her investigation into the Legendborn reveals deep-rooted secrets about her own ancestry and power. As she navigates the rigid traditions of society, one filled with privilege, elitism, and prejudice, she begins to unearth an alternative, hidden history of Black magic and rootcraft, a system of power tied to her maternal lineage. Torn between the Legendborn's rigid hierarchy, and of course a cute boy (duh, it's YA), and the ancestral magic calling to her, Bree must decide where she belongs, all while preparing for an imminent war that could change everything.
What I Loved: First and foremost, Deonn did a phenomenal job deconstructing the Arthurian legend's often whitewashed legacy, introducing a fresh and necessary perspective. On top of the deconstruction, because it wasn't unwoven completely, she also fantastically immersed us in other history, folklore, and contemporary social themes with striking precision. Bree's journey was as much about reclaiming her own narrative as it was about unraveling the mysteries of the Legendborn society.
Secondly, the world-building was intricate and engaging. Though the magic system, especially the Legendborn's hierarchy, could sometimes feel overwhelming with its many rules, ranks, and lore, I still enjoyed it (especially as a high fantasy reader). The world-building complexity ultimately served the novel's themes, reinforcing the exclusivity and gatekeeping that Bree navigated - it was almost as if Bree was learning and possibly getting slightly confused about it all, and we were too, which I appreciated.
Lastly, while I slightly counter this point below, one of the novel's greatest strengths was Bree herself. She was an incredibly well-developed protagonist (almost too much for a 16-year-old). She was sharp, angry, vulnerable, and determined. Her grief over her mother's death was palpable, and Deonn never shied away from showing the messy, complicated ways that loss manifests. The exploration of generational trauma and the way history was rewritten to erase Black voices added layers of intense importance to the story. Everything flowed together, keeping me absolutely hooked from about the 35-50 percent mark.
Why Not Five Stars? While fitting for a 16-year-old protagonist, the romance subplot leaned into familiar YA tropes, including a predictable love triangle. Additionally, I’ve outgrown the “grumpy boy” love interest - being mean isn’t endearing, and I hope Selwyn gets more depth in future books. On the other hand, Nick was refreshingly kind, which some found boring, but I appreciated.
The book's first quarter felt overwhelmingly YA, heavy on telling rather than showing, and I was initially hesitant. As a 32-year-old reader, I’m picky with YA, and while Bree's youthful impulsiveness occasionally grated on me, I did recognize it’s part of the genre and her journey through grief.
Finally, the ending felt somewhat rushed - not in the action itself, but in the setup. The idea of convincing a group of 16- to 20-year-olds to go against much of what they've been taught stretched believability (vague, because no spoilers!). Despite these flaws, the book remained compelling and kept me hooked.
Overall, I still thought this was a standout in the YA fantasy genre, blending classic myth with modern themes in a way that feels both timely and timeless. Deonn delivered a powerful, thought-provoking novel. The novel's emotional depth, cultural richness, and gripping plot make it a must-read. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series!
***
No one wants to hear the real answers. What the Sorry for Your Loss Crowd wants is to feel good about asking the questions.
Some truths only tragedy can teach. The first one I learned is that when people acknowledge your pain, they want your pain to acknowledge them back. They need to witness it in real time, or else you're not doing your part.
She eyes me as if gauging my mood. "'I hate tiny parties - they force one into constant exertion.'" I squint, searching my memories for the familiar words. "Did you - did you just Jane Austen me?"
"The Unsung Founders Memorial. Carolina's way of acknowledging the ensalved and the servants who built this place," she says, her voice wavering between pride and disdain. "We get this memorial, and it's something, I suppose. It was a class gift. Not unimportant. But how can I be at peace when I look down and see that they're still working? You know?" I do know what she means. This type of knowing is an expensive toll to pay. I can't forget the knowledge just because the price is high. And yet, sometimes we have to tuck the reminders away today in order to grow power against them tomorrow.
He was foolish to think that was ever possible. For bigots, it doesn't matter how or why I'm truly here; the fact that I'm here at all is wrong enough.
"Everything has two histories. Especially in the South."
He reaches across the table to take both of my hands in his. "Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Colonisation, War
Minor: Cursing, Vomit
Rape is implied but not depicted on page. It is brief, but a pivotal point to the story.