Even though I loved this book; I didn't write a review right away. It was almost like there was so much to unpack and talk about here I didn't know where to start. Now it's been over a month since I read it and while many things are still crystal clear in my mind (because that is how good this story is); a lot of it has faded some. So I'm going to be more general than usual in this review.

Arthurian Legend
Tracy Deonn herself has admitted to a lot of influence from Arthurian legend. And it's obvious once you start to read this that she has intentionally used it to make her story feel familiar; yet different. These days I am not a huge fan of Arthurian legend being used as the basis for any fantasy world or idea. I got over dosed with it as a kid/teen (I'm 38 right now) and, regardless of Marion Zimmer Bradley's politics and personal opinions, my Arthur and his fellows is in Mists of Avalon. Therefore I was not excited to read more Arthur legend based stories.
However, Deonn has changed this enough that it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I still wish she'd just made up her own heroes and lore instead; but I do understand that the Arthur construct is easier to use and people are already familiar with it so it requires less explaining. All that said I still rolled my eyes when Excalibur came on the scene. Not only is it over the top and just outrageous; but it's also a catalyst for the story (sigh).

Themes
What isn't in this book? There are strong themes of grief and coping, oppression and slavery, teenage angst (including an almost love triangle), and then the overall construct of magic is also a commentary on power. My favourite part of the fantasy elements in this story is the magic. It costs practitioners and isn't infinite. I also really adore the struggles of one of both the main boys that are put in positions of "power" that they may or may not want. Each wrestles with the idea of duty, commitment, and wanting the ability to have more freedom and make their own choices. This is a reminder that not all chains are actual chains.

Own Voices Perspective
There is one huge take away from Legendborn that I do not think will ever leave me, or I hope it doesn't. Our lead gal is a black girl attending a historic college. Upon on entering the historic main building she thinks to herself that it's weird to be proud to be there as a black girl; but also to feel awkward knowing slaves built it. As a white woman I will confess I have never thought of this conundrum before. You want to be proud to be one of so few from your race or culture to 'make it' somewhere; and yet feel bad that you are benefiting from being somewhere that would have used slaves for labour.
THIS is really what own voices is all about in my opinion. Deonn takes a typical feeling of pride that many of us would have to attend a historic college and strips it away in one sentence. And she's absolutely right; we cherish our ancient buildings and monuments (the pyramids are a prime example) even though we know they were built by those being oppressed.
I don't have a solution for this conundrum; and I do love, love old things, especially buildings. But it is worth seriously thinking and remembering each time we enter an ancient/old place that someone likely shed blood and freedom for the place to exist at all.

Overall
Legendborn surprised me in a number of ways. I didn’t love everything about it but for a YA fantasy it’s top notch. Right up there with Bridget Kemmerer as a new YA fantasy author to stay with.
If nothing else it brought me out of a big time 2020 reading slump for which I am very grateful. I look forward to following Bree, the boys, and the creepy adults in the next installment of the Legendborn series.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

✨WOW! WOW! WOW!✨


I don’t have the words to describe how I feel about this book.

One of my favourite books of this year, and one of the best books I’ve read in a while!

Steeped in themes of legacy, and legend, and loss, and ancestors - of love and duty and honour and searching.

This book was unexpected in every way. So full of magic and heart - this book made me laugh, and cry, and rage, and feel butterflies in my stomach.

The plot was fast-paced, action-packed, and continued to surprise me at every turn. WOW.

Tracy Deonn is a BRILLIANT writer. Her debut is stunning - with its portrayal of a young Black teenage girl seeking roots, and legacy, and ancestory, in the face of the unimaginable and unexpected death of her mother.

In so many ways this book is about legacies - in every sense of the word. Legacies of loss, trauma, and pain. Legacies of privilege. Legacies of magic. This book asks tough questions, and answers them in this beautifully healing way - with resilience, and joy, and connection.

I loved this book SO much that I’m a little mad because I have no idea how my next read will live up to the magic Tracy Deonn created.

Legendborn is stunning, and I hope you have a chance to experience its magic.

This was such a refreshing tale on the Arthurian legend. It was such an immersive read, with such a rich history and lore that was described and portrayed. That being said, I did feel a bit lost at times, because it was so unique and the world building was a bit complex. I really had to pay attention to those scenes and moments where they magic system was getting explained. Overall though, it was a great book. I think the sequel will be even better because I feel like I do understand the world completely now.

Also this book has SUCH great diversity. Highly recommend this book on that aspect alone.

This was.... AMAZING. Seriously, my French-speaking brain can't think of a better word right now. Mindblowing? Fascinating, ABSOLUTELY! I loved that book so much, I had to take my time reading it, I didn't want it to end.

Secret society, demons, magic... And add a girl who knows NOTHING about all that, but sees it all, and you're sure to have an explosive story in hand.

I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book! It will be EPIC, I'm sure.

(So sorry about the caps, but I assure you, they are needed.)

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was amazing!

I received a digital copy from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada. I was really excited to receive this one because it's a book written by a Black author featuring a Black main character.

I started reading it closer to the release date and I was enjoying it so much I went out and bought a copy on release day! Then I realized I had barely got a third of the way through, which was wonderful, it meant I had a lot more of the story to read!

First off we have a super smart sixteen year old who gets into a residential school program for smart kids at a college, while trying to deal with the death of her mother. Then throw in magic, Arthurian legend, queer and non-binary characters, a Black main character and it's my favourite YA read of 2020!!

This book had everything! It was an urban fantasy that gave you reality and magic in such a way I was never bored, and completely enthralled.

The romance was pretty darn great too. Sometimes I feel like it can be an afterthought or just a bit off when it's done in fantasy books, but this one did it well!

The character exploration and background that was added in gave so much to the story. I love the way the author incorporated genealogy and ancestry into the story. That gave it another level of greatness that I looked forward to even as much as the other magic stuff. Honestly, I don't think there was a moment in this book where I got bored or felt like it was filler to get to the main story.

Then there was the ending!! Suffice to say I need the second book. As soon as it's released, I will have it in my hands. There isn't even a title for it yet, or a release year even. Still, I need it!!

This will be a book I will happily re-read when the next comes out so I can experience it all again.

Tracy Deonn's fiery retelling of the story of King Arthur and incredible world building puts Legendborn in my top 5 for 2020 - not to mention the much needed diversity that Deonn has brought forth on many different levels. Despite relying on some YA tropes, Legendborn was a great novel and I can't wait to see what Deonn publishes in the future.

We have all seen (or read) our fair share of reimaginings about Arthurian legend. Some have been successful at reinterpreting the heroic tales to emphasize certain themes, others, well…they were attempts. Tracy Deonn has done something that most writers perhaps dread, and that is set themselves up for the challenge of reimagining mythology that is so pervasive in popular culture, and folks, she did what she had to do.

This review will dive deeper into what is so wonderful about this novel; a start to a thrilling new YA series. So, if you are intrigued, please continue reading. However, I am neither as good a writer as Deonn nor as compelling, so please find the nearest book shop and buy Legendborn. It is one of the must-reads of 2020!

Legendborn follows Bree Matthews as she sets off to partake in a program for high schoolers at the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill. It’s through this program for young bright students (like Bree) where she is able to run away from the hurt of losing her mother. Bree is hardened and ready to detach completely from the pain, that is until she meets a mysterious young man with alluring eyes and dark hair, with trouble written all over him. Just as he, Selwyn, manifests from the shadows itself, Bree (unknowingly) is about to dive head first into a world of magic and demons.

Deonn takes on a couple of familiar narrative tropes such as the “chosen one” and “hidden magical worlds” but subverts expectations at every turn. Woven within a narrative that would sit alongside the likes of Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, and City of Bones, Deonn reimagines the narrative to uplift a heroine we rarely see grace the pages of such a story, and that is a Black girl.

The heart of this novel is Bree, and oh is she a delight! A headstrong, gifted, and talented young Black girl who is haunted by her past, but there still remains a light within her that propels her forward. Deonn’s writing is explosive and propulsive. It is impossible to lay the book down for long and part of the reason is Bree. Deonn so perfectly captures the voice of a young Black girl who is simultaneously being eaten away on the inside from her own insecurities, and on the outside by a thinly-veiled racist environment. Yet, the resilience that is so deeply burrowed into her DNA is what shields her and motivates her. Bree is a heroine that is not only discovering what it is to be a warrior or a hero, but she is on the path to claiming her heritage and her Black girl magic.


Character art courtesy of TracyDeonn.com
The story on its own is very exciting. Partway through you will get a good understanding of how the cookie will crumble, but the journey of this novel isn’t so much about getting to the destination. Instead, the excitement lies with the exploration of Bree’s purpose and destiny. Deonn’s ability to take on familiar tropes and themes from Arthurian legends and repurpose them to write a complete coming-of-age narrative with a healthy dose of Black girl magic is mighty impressive, and exactly what is needed. To reinterpret a famous myth one must have a purpose for it and Deonn certainly does. The story is lively with great attention to detail involving Bree’s surroundings and the monsters she faces. The characters that surround her are colourfully portrayed, each feeling like truly realized individuals. The story also has its fair share of romance and friendships that allow us to explore the people that matter to Bree and how they impact her life. Finally, it is an incredibly effective personal drama, with lots of heart. Tears will be shed.

As I mentioned, Deonn’s writing is truly key, it is electric and engaging. It is as if she knows exactly what words to use to incite our hunger and forces you to devour the novel faster. By the time it’s over, there isn’t a need to resign yourself to sadness. No, you pick up the book and start at Chapter 1, again. It’s addictive, passionate, and most of all, a testament to how powerful, heartbreaking and beautiful the resilience of Black women is. Deonn is not shy to express her admiration and sorrow for Black women who have endured so much, and still have to (as seen through our protagonist). It is in this seemingly ordinary YA adventure that we are given a deep dive into the mind and heart of a Black woman. A real-life hero.

Purchase Legendborn at your local bookshops or find an online vendor here.

1.5-2

it took me 3 tries to get through this book.. i always got stuck at the part where bree & alice were at the quarry (so basically right at the beginning) & i'd have to start over. i don't know why, but that part specifically was so hard to get through..

unfortunately, i did not enjoy this book :( i think it would have either worked as a fantasy or as a contemporary, but the whole combined contemporary-fantasy dynamic going on just did not translate smoothly. it's kind of like pouring oil in a glass of water.. you can see where everything separates & it does not blend well at all.

i think i'll start with the setting, it really just didn't make sense using a college with thousands of students as a location for the order of the round table because that secret is going to be exposed very quick.. & it just felt kind of messy.. it was a college, a legendborn location, a cemetery.. just way too much.. & the way different sections of the college were introduced were very immediate, like they came out of nowhere & weren't built up or described in much detail

i didn't care for the characters much, there were way too many of them, nick & bree's romance was kinda insta-love, the character plot twists did not surprise me at all because there was so many things incorporated in this story already that by an early point it just felt like overkill.. & it kept going.. so any sense of shock or reaction to any major event or revelation didn't matter to me because it was so constant. the only character that was okay was sel, but even then i didn't really care.

bree's character was up & down in the worst way possible (in a positive/negative sense) there was a part where bree was annoyed with nick for "withholding" info from her even though he just didn't have time to tell her, but she was & still is withholding so much info about herself to him. i get that bree was grieving, but she gets annoyed with people for trying to be supportive in any way they can. obviously there's nothing anyone can do about her pain, but when they try to offer any word of support she flares up & gets angry. i think she was an absolute horrible friend to alice, i think that was definitely a one-sided friendship where alice cared a lot more for bree & bree just soaked it all up & did not care to reciprocate the friendship. throughout i found that bree kind of expected everyone to know what she was thinking as well. i did like how bree stood up for herself, i like how she tried to push through how she was feeling, i liked how determined she was, but i feel like the bad outweighed the good because there were more downsides compared to upsides. & she had way too much going on, all of a sudden she was a medium, arthur's descendant & a bloodborn (?) as i said earlier i think it was overkill.

also i wanted to add that 40% of the book is explaining the order of the round table, merlins & all that & i still have no idea what camlann & abatement are.. i don't think any of it was explained clearly or concisely, it all jumbled together with rootcraft & other fantasy elements & magic.

i did like the rootcraft element a bit more than any other element in the book, i did read in the acknowledgements that rootwork is real & stems from spiritual traditions in african american culture.

the only part of the book i did like was the part where patricia took bree through her ancestors' memories & once another ancestor noticed her they took her through another memory.. it was still a lot to take in, but it was the one part i liked. i also liked how tracy deonn highlighted real life & important issues like racism & showed how bree stood up for herself, how it affected her & her reactions.

overall i think what it comes down to is the writing style, execution & storyline. i think there was way too much to cover, i think it wasn't translated well, & as a fantasy it just did not captivate me. i do believe in this case simple would have been a lot better, like sticking to a single genre (fantasy or contemporary) because by adding an excess amount of well.. everything. i found it blurred the storyline so much nothing was clear, there was no clear path & at times it felt like i was reading 7 different stories which is not fun. i also think most things weren't explained as well as others & i was just disappointed & i know the story won't stick for me.

This was such a fantastic book. It has been a while since a book kept me up all night. I could not put it down. The storyline is extremely intriguing and captivating. There were moments in the book that almost made me cry. Also, I loved the fact that the book takes place in a college instead of a high school.

Hands down one of the best books I have read this year.

Brilliant, mesmerizing, captivating. I really loved Legendborn! I can’t believe this was a debut! How??? I look forward to many more from Tracy. .

This has been, hands down, one of my favourite reads of the year (if not the favourite!…I haven’t had a moment to sit and really create a list yet…). As is the case with many other books, it took me a little bit longer to get into the flow of the writing, the setting, the characters–especially Bree.

She’s a character in mourning, and it was at times hard for me to read about that part of the story as I myself have been mourning family members since last summer and the grief is still raw. On the other hand, once I was a few chapters into Legendborn, having this in common with Bree also made me feel a lot closer to her.

I absolutely love the mix of an older college campus (the architecture and vibe…gah!) and the paranormal. There’s just something about it that really draws me in. I also liked that Deonn dove into the history of Black people at the campus on which the Legendborn story is set, as it was educational and eye-opening. Then there’s the story itself as a whole–which might have been my favourite part!

I was unsure about the Arthur legend retelling portion of it, but I really like how the author handled that! Legendborn was so much fun, and such a thrill to read! And I absolutely need a copy of the next book in my hands ASAP. If it’s not already obvious–I highly recommend!

I can't believe I waited to read this book! A diverse King Arthur retelling with mystery, magic and a secret society. There are much better review descriptions on here than mine, but what really got me is the author's notes at the end of the book telling why she wrote it and why she put in certain details. I feel there was so much research gone in to writing this book and so much real history blended into the fiction. Beautifully written and I can't wait for the next book in the duology.

Rating: 5 fucking stars

Legendborn was one of the most hyped releases in 2020 and you can guess that I was overwhelmed by all those pretty covers coming out at the same time. I didn't know where to begin but I've seen so many great reviews about Legendborn that I knew I had to buy a copy for myself.

Legendborn follows Bree who just lost her mom to a car accident and we see her completely closing her real self after that traumatic event. She goes to that college that she always wanted to go to with her best friend Alice and she soon finds herself in the midst of secrets societies and hunting demons. It's a loose retelling of King Arthur and I've never read these retellings before but man this book blew me away.

The first page starts off with Bree who just lost her mom and it's heartbreaking. It's a great punch in the gut for a beginning and it hooked me right away. We jump months later when she finally goes to this school and we quickly realize that Bree changed. After a traumatic event, she's mourning her loss and she has so much anger that she doesn't know what to do with it. If you know me, you know how much I love it when my heroine goes through an emotional journey. She gets into one of the secret societies in the hope of finding what truly happened to her mom. I really love this trope.

This book really had everything: grief, murder mystery, dark academia vibe, secret societies, love triangle THAT I LOVED 0.0 and so many twists and turns! I couldn't stop reading it and I'm honestly so sad that I have to wait for book 2. Bree was such an amazing character. She's so determined and she doesn't shy away because of the fucked up racist society. She stood her ground and I was rooting for my girl through and through.

I loved the themes that we have in this book. Racism, sexism, slavery, and colonization are heavily discussed and I just love how they connected to the plot. I honestly adored her friendship with Alice. We get glimpses of it throughout the whole book and it warmed my heart to see someone looking after Bree. I see that some people complained about the info-dumpy part but I didn't have a problem with it. I honestly thought that the world-building was freaking amazing and the author did such an amazing job with it that I felt like I was experiencing this world alongside Bree. The writing was captivating and I couldn't take my eyes off of this story. I needed to know what happened to her mother and what was the Order's goal. I loved the King Arthur retelling and since I'm not familiar with this tale, I was absolutely compelled by the intricate magic system.

The love triangle was the thing that made me shook because I usually hate them. I didn't know who to choose... both guys are freaking amazing and I didn't who should end up with Bree throughout the whole.. until the end. Now I can tell you that I do have a preference and my heart goes to Selwyn. He's badass and moody (totally my type). I was so intrigued by his character and motives. I do adore Nicolas. He's so sweet. He's such a cinnamon roll and he deserves a happy ending. I loved his romance with Bree, it was wholesome and genuine. This is why I was so confused because I love both guys. Ugh, it's so difficult to make a choice :')

Also, this book has an amazing diverse rep. I absolutely loved that we had gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters. How the author created this whole cast of characters was spectacular and for a debut author, she's done so much with her book.

Overall, this book is a compelling tale with magic, demons, and secrets societies woven with a lot of grief and anger. All of these elements come together in a beautiful way and I'm so excited to see where the author will take us next. One of my favorites reads so far this year <3

I highly recommend y'all TO PICK UP THIS BOOK ASAP. You'll do yourself a favor, trust me on this ;)

Great story about love, loss, family and belonging. Tracy does an excellent job with the story and the characters. And the twist at the end is great. Can definitely see her turning this into a series.
After Bree’s mother is killed in a car accident, she leaves her home to go away to early admittance into college. This is the same place that her mother went to school. On the first night on campus she convinces her friend Alice to attend a party. While there, they see some strange things and end up getting driven back to campus by the local sheriff. The next morning Alice doesn’t remember the strange incident, but Bree does. She goes in search of answers and finds the Legendborn. Soon she is immersed in their world of demons and magic, but not all is as it seems.
#legendborn #netgalley #indigoemployee

Bree had a compelling narrative voice that stayed authentic to her character. I love a persistent protagonist determined to achieve their goal. Her journey through the grief of losing her mother and discovering her heritage was very moving. Her father was the perfect mix of both the concerned and lenient parent. He let Bree go to the early college program while consistently checking in on her. I really appreciated seeing Bree go to therapy with a genuine and caring therapist. Even though her best friend Alice wasnt very understanding at first she does redeem herself. Once Bree fills her in on everything going on Alice totally has her back. Now that she knows what's going on and will be tagging along I'm hoping we get to know her better.

Bree gets put with a student mentor named Nick who she tries to avoid but once they finally meet their dynamic was amazing. Nick is really sweet and supportive but I just feel like the progression of their relationship from friends to more happened in the blink of an eye. It's probably because Bree doesnt think about their relationship all that much since she's focused on more important things. Theres something about Sels broken bad boy persona that is really hard to resist. I honestly hope they all end up in a polyamory relationship together, especially after Sels confession about having a crush on Nick when they were younger. Bree also makes some wonderful friends at school with William, Greer, and a couple other people.

The plot was gripping from the start. Bree is very intelligent and quickly picks up on the secret society link to the magical happenings around campus. When Bree suspects the supernatural world to be involved in her mothers passing she decides to join the secret society to uncover the truth. This includes passing a set of trials that added a fun competition element to the story. I liked the mystery of what happened to Brees mother and all their family secrets. We get some great reveals about her ancestors and what that means for Brees abilities. Theres also the danger of the increasing demon attacks and the suspense of trying to figure out why its happening before the knights of the round table call the heir of their blood line to war.

The Arthurian legend was woven into the story in such a unique and fresh way. We get a new perspective of history with the round table influencing events. Theres also an amazing magic system introduced. Bloodcraft has severe consequences due to its lack of give and take while Rootcraft has some limits and relies on ancestors but holds more of balance with the earth so the consequences are minimal. Despite being set on a college campus we hear very little about classes. Its mostly about the magical secret society which made this book feel more like fantasy. I cant wait to get my hands on the sequel. I finished this a while ago and I still find myself thinking about it few times a day even though I'm reading something else.

My Review: A Definite Favourite!
Rep: Black representation, LGBTQIA+

The Pros: What worked for me

The story is unbelievably imaginative! You’ve got King Arthur mythology, African-inspired magic, Black history … and it all works so well! If this isn’t genius, I don’t know what is. Hands down, this is the most unique book you will come across!
The author does not shy away from difficult topics around race and feminism. But she also isn’t too heavy-handed with these themes. This is something I really appreciate.
I really liked all of the characters, including Bree. Everyone is flawed, and readers can connect with all of them.
I love the magic system! There are 2 of them here and the way they intersect is absolutely fascinating. I’m sure the sequel will shed more light on this, and I cannot wait!

The Cons: What I didn’t like

At the beginning of the novel, there were some things that could have been explained better. However, the author fixed this as the story continued so it wasn’t a major issue for me.
The plot moves quickly (which is great) but it always took me aback that this story takes place over the span of a couple of weeks – a lot happens in a short time frame, and it is a bit jarring when you consider the timeline.

As someone who reads a lot of YA fantasy, I’m always hunting for something unique. I found that with Legendborn. The plot points all worked well together, the characters were interesting, and there is so much happening with this novel! I am extremely excited for the next book in this series – and I hope you’ll all consider reading this one!

You can read my full review at the link below but rarely do I give a book a 5-star rating, but here we are. "Legendborn" is more or less a perfect book, anything that is lacking can be attributed to the fact that it's an "Act One" book so the ending is a cliffhanger, leaving the reader with intentional questions.

Tracy uses her own voice to tell a wonderful story full of contemporary YA sensibilities, Arthurian lore, a perfectly executed love triangle, and sublime character nuance. It's also an important read as it tackles weighty themes such as representation, race, sexuality, gender, grief, loss, etc...And she does so with a mix of spot on writing prowess and thoughtful prose.

This feels like the future of writing to me.

I loved it and was fortunate enough to interview Tracy Deonn about it on the podcast I co-host called Put A Blurb On It. You can listen to parts 1 and 2 via the links (part 2 is a spoilery discussion).

Honestly, I shouldn't have requested this in the first place. I'm pretty good at picking out books I know I'll like, and avoiding ones I don't think I will. I can even sniff out which ones will be worth it anyway despite the red flags, and which ones, despite the high ratings and positive reviews, just aren't my thing. Which is why I know I should have avoided this one, because I now know my suspicions are correct that it is the latter. There are many positive things about it, such as the main character Bree, the Arthurian legend storyline, and the writing. However the urban fantasy, demons, and the complicated societal structures aren't something I'm interested in reading. Sometimes it's worth it in the end, but I don't necessarily want to stick around to find out if I'm not enjoying myself. I did give it a good college try, though. I hope others prove me wrong and that many will enjoy it much more than I did.

Unfortunately I Did Not Finish this book. I stopped reading just before they started the trials. It felt like that part was going way too fast, like it was only done to raise the stakes, rather than going with decent pacing.