spellbindingtomes's reviews
354 reviews

Weyward by Emilia Hart

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Car accident

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵. 𝘐 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘮𝘦.

I GET THE HYPE. I've not had a fantasy series captivate me this much since the Green Bone Saga. I've always been interested in the legend of King Arthur, but wow what Tracy did here absolutely blew my mind. 

After her mother's death, 16-year-old Bree Matthews joins a UNC-Chapel Hill program but witnesses a supernatural attack on her first night. When a teenage mage fails to erase her memory, Bree discovers her own magical abilities and a possible connection between her mother's death and a secret society of "Legendborn" students who hunt magical creatures.

The first few chapters took me awhile to get through because it contained a lot of information about the lore and magic, but once I got past that this was completely unputdownable. Tracy combines the famous Arthurian legends with issues of race and identity in such a brilliant way.

Bree as a main character was so relatable, both in her grief and anger. She's refreshingly complex, strong, and fiercely determined—navigating a world that wasn't built for her to pursue the truth about her mother all while challenging centuries-old traditions in the process. I'm so excited to see how she grows throughout the series. 

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴. 𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘥.

Okay, so the love triangle. I don't LOVE love triangles, but I didn't mind this one. Though I found the romance between Nick and Bree somewhat rushed, Nick seems like a good guy who genuinely cares for Bree. BUT on the other hand, the complex relationship between Bree and Sel just stole the show for me. I think they have similar personalities that clash, creating some great tension and angst between them. Sel also keeps this tough brooding exterior but is extremely loyal to those who have earned his trust. I am firmly on TEAM SEL. 

This series has completely taken over my reading life. I immediately dove into book 2 & I'm thrilled to see where Tracy takes these characters next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Classism

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

funny lighthearted 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

3.75

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Death of parent

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

funny lighthearted fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Abandonment