What a wild ride! I love EVERYTHING about this story!

First off, the main character, Bree Matthews, is amazing. She's whip-smart and fierce. I love that she doesn't back down, and her simmering anger makes her a little unpredictable. Her grief over the loss of her mother and her drive to prove her mother's accident wasn't an accident motivates her to take some crazy risks. Hurray for us readers because her adventure is bonkers good fun!

Legendborn has several types of magic, trials, and swoon-worthy love interest(s), but my favorite part is the Secret Society. If you love The Legend of King Arthur, then this is the book for you! It takes the legend and tosses in some extra magic, then twists it up to keep us going "WHAT!?".

Also eye-opening is the white privilege and flat-out racism. It's triggering, and I'll be the first to admit that I was surprised by a few actions that I didn't, as a white person, realize were truly hurtful. However, sometimes good intentions aren't enough, and I appreciate that I came away feeling educated. Well done, Tracy Deonn! Empathy is wonderful.

This twisty, heart-pounding, emotional rollercoaster of a book is a win. I could rave about it all day, but I'm afraid of spoilers, so I'll just sum it up by recommending that you do what I'm planning on doing, and grab a copy on September 15. Five stars!

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and am leaving an honest review.

In the book we follow 16 years old Bree who recently lost her mother and is excepted into a program for bright high schoolers at a university. At this university she discovers well is more attacked by magic. Bree ends up joining this group called the order to find more about this group and the magic they have because she believes they are linked to her mother’s death.

That was a very bad, very summarized version of a description. I firstly want to just say this book lives up to the hype it has been given and I’m wishing I would have read it as soon as I got the arc not over almost 2 months later.

Bree is such a great main character and I feel like she narrates the story perfectly. I would say Bree is a very smart, curious and brave lead who is headstrong even while dealing with the grief of losing her mother. I also did really enjoy the characters of Nick, William and in the last half of the story Selwyn.

This book has a variety of characters who are LGBTQ+ which is a good think as well as a decent amount of characters who are POC. Both of which are things I rarely see in books together which needs to be done more, most fantasy books especially either only have one or the other.

The Order is slightly confusing at first but it’s confusing a a good way if that makes any sense. Even when your given information sometimes your not given the full version until later. There is so much more I want to say about the order but I don’t want to say much more due to spoilers or ruining the experience but I will say The Order is super interesting and the history and the way it’s written makes it feel super real.

The magic and all of that is kinda cool especially the Merlin’s, a character I mentioned earlier, Selwyn is a Merlin and we learn a lot about Merlin’s from him in the second half of the book.

Speaking of the second half of the book, the last 50% of this book had me on the edge of my seat (not actually but you get what I mean) and just needing to know what’s going to happen next. The ending had me shocked and kinda being like I though that might happen but brushed it off and said no way that would happen and then it did.

I’m so curious as to what’s going to happen in the sequel and this book isn’t actually released yet. I slightly sense that there might be a love triangle in the next book as when we end this one feelings aren’t 100% fixated and I’m 100% down for a love triangle if the Author decides to do I love triangle I’m all for it (and I already know who I’d root for.

Overall I loved this book and honestly I think it might have saved me from a minor reading slump I’m having. I might even film a spoiler filled review/book talk on my YouTube channel once this book is released.

Legendborn is an enchanting modern-times, contemporary fantasy.

Bree and her friends are compelling, appealing characters. The clever world-building around King Arthur’s knights and Merlin, love it—immediately captivates the reader’s imagination. The involvement of modern-day issues easily engages emotions. Rich in action and plot twists.

This fabulous, magical debut from Tracy Deonn, without a doubt, leaves definite anticipation for sequels and the reader wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the read of Tracy Deonn’s, Legendborn.

Opinions expressed are my own.

5 stars is not enough for this book! I realise it is out of 5 but truly this book is just.... perfect.

I requested Legendborn by Tracy Deonn because it had a cute cover, sounded fun, and I am trying to read more BIPOC books. I read it all in one sitting-- finishing at about two am with wicked eyestrain and a NEED for the next book.

I have read so very many novels and this is perhaps the best debut book I have ever read and is definitely in the top 3 books of 2020 (alongside heavy-hitters Chain of Gold and Crescent City).

If you want a book with fantasy? This is it. Book that discusses police brutality? This is it. Racial discrimination in schools? Read this. King Arthur mythology? Has it. Discussions about the different types of magic? In it. Slavery? Discussed thoroughly. LGBTQ+ characters? Several.

Fantasy is supposed to enact social change and question norms and this book does it all so beautifully. At varying times I forgot I was reading words I was just so involved in this world. This book has amazing friendships, nuances, and also -- most importantly-- is an #ownvoices story where a Black author is writing about a Black character. Many of us who adore fantasy see books with white people and with people who are not human and BIPOC people get erased. Bree (the main character) is Black and being Black is a huge part of who she is and the story shows those of us that are not Black that we don't know as much as we think we do and how we need to be better allies. For example my mom, who read it at the same time I did, did not know that kinky hair has to be washed differently than curly hair. Things like this are just so underrepresented in literature and they need to not be.

Legendborn is not just important in what it teaches-- it is also HILARIOUS! On more than one occasion does the medic-figure put sticky notes of instructions on people for them to read when they wake up. It is AMAZING. After I recovered from eye strain I immediately wanted to reread it but was annoying prevented by things like my Master's thesis and the tens of books I have to read for it.

Truly this is one of the best books I have ever read. It changed how I look at fantasy and I am much the better for it.

If you're a huge fantasy nerd, preorder this! We need to preorder more books by Black authors and this is definitely one you will want a first edition of!

This book was amazing! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. 4.5 stars. I highly recommend this.

I couldn’t put this book down. What a wild ride! The story is fast-paced. The characters are well-drawn and so interesting. Bree is phenomenal.

This truly has one of the things I love about fantasy: a new take on a complex mythology/legend. I love seeing how someone else reshapes something I’m very familiar with already, as long as it’s not silly. This wasn’t. I’m not even a huge Arthur fan, but I really loved the magic system and how the myth played out. It wasn’t perfect and there were times when I felt things got a bit trope-y. Overall, I just want to know more and for me, that’s what makes a great read! There better be a second book and I hope it comes soon!

The twists and surprises actually felt surprising. They kept me guessing. I like that. Some things I guessed and some I didn’t. It did feel a bit long and drawn out. I kind of liked it. I just wanted more story and to figure out the secrets. There are definitely things to learn in the second book.

The romance was my least favourite thing in this book. While there was some awesome chemistry, there was also some insta-love and I wasn’t feeling it. Bree is so well thought out and beautifully brought to life. My only complaint was that she does not feel 16. Actually most of the characters felt older than the ages they were given; same general area, so not a huge complaint. This is billed as YA and was appropriately family-friendly for a novel set at college. Some mature themes and sex-adjacent jokes, but other than a bit of kissing, nothing else to worry about. Hence, the 4.5 rather than 5 star rating.

I am so glad I read this. I really enjoyed it and I’ll be keeping my eye out for the sequel!

This book is fucking phenomenal and without a doubt one of my favourite reads of this year.

YA fantasy can fall into repetitive tropes and magic systems: that is NOT the case with Legendborn. I've never read any sort of worldbuilding like this before—a heart-pounding urban fantasy that tackles grief, inherited trauma, legacies of colonization and chattel slavery, being a Black woman in the South, and redefining the legends we thought were set in (Excalibur's) stone.

My god. I am BLOWN AWAY.

And I'm seriously waffling between 4 and 5 stars—by the time I post my full review on Goodreads, it might just be 5 stars. (The reason why it's 4 right now is because, despite its fascinating worldbuilding and important, moving subject matter, this book still leaned on several YA clichés that grated on me. I'm really conflicted in my reconciling of these contrived bits with the parts that were transcendent and powerful and heart-hurting.)

I could write a goddamn 5000-word essay about this book, I SWEAR. Instead, I'm going to just say this: I IMPLORE you to read Legendborn. Deonn will reshape YA fantasy as we know it with this series, and I cannot put into words how excited I am to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (As an aside, Simon & Schuster Canada honestly have the best Own Voices YA books - I can always trust that their offerings are going to be amazing!) Okay, on to my review...

WOW. Wow. Wow. I hope you’re ready for me to gush about this book, because Legendborn was everything! Not only was it a thrilling fantasy story with a secret society, demon battles and an oh-so-adorable romance, it was also a powerful and moving story about grief and how the lives of our ancestors affect us in the present day. I actually thought it was genius how Deonn took on these concepts and racism, colonization and Black Girl Magic, all within the context of an Arthurian Legend modern day retelling.

The Basic Plot: Deonn takes the legend of Arthur and the round table and turns it on its head, creating a modern day Order set at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (her alma mater) who use the power of their knightly blood lines to fight the Shadowborn (demons). She then explores what happens when Bree, a teenage Early College student, gets caught up in the goings on of the Order while on a mission to find out what happened to her mother who passed away only months before.

Bree was such a wonderful main character - my heart went out to her for her grief, but she’s strong and you know she's going to make it, even through these toughest of times. She isn’t afraid to stick up for herself and to take her rightful place, even when no one else seems to think she belongs.

My other favourite character was Sel. I’m getting major Rhysand (ACOTAR) vibes from him and I hope hope HOPE I'm on the right track with where I think things are going! I also loved that there was a non-binary character, Greer. This is my second book this year with a non-binary character and I’m loving the representation!

All this to say that I cannot recommend this book enough! Seriously you need to pre-order it right now! Even though I got an eARC of this book for free, I’m still going to buy a copy because a) it’s just that good and b) it’s a series! For this to be Deonn's debut novel is just incredible and I can't wait to read more of her work.

I really wanted to read this book, but the file formatting made the book illegible. I'll have to wait until the release. As this is no fault of the book's content, I'll rate a neutral 3 stars.

Legendborn
Tracy Deonn
Love, love, loved this novel. From the first page until the last I was swept away in the story Deonn has written. I’ve always been a sucker for stories about secret societies that may or may not exist on campus, any campus. What would make someone special enough to be admitted to one? What rituals take place? Is there a price to pay?
Bree is our protagonist. She is beautiful and brave and has a huge chip on her shoulder since the trauma of her mother’s fatal accident. Needless to say when she has the opportunity to attend a boarding school for gifted students she jumps at the chance if only to escape the memories of her mother’s death and the guilt she possesses for the cruel way she spoke to mother at what would be their last conversation.

Strange things start happening right from the onset of her move. She can see “things” other people cannot see. What are these terrifying flying creatures that create mayhem and chaos among her fellow students? And who if the breathtakingly handsome young man who is trying to modify her memory?
Bree soon finds out the answers to these questions but in the meantime faces a plethora of other questions about her identity, her legacy and most importantly, the identity of her mother.

Spoiler alert...this story touches upon the Arthurian Legend, which is a tale I adore!

With the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement, I have been consciously trying to read more novels written by black authors. I was so grateful that Netgalley and Simon and Shuster Canada sent me a free advanced copy to read.

Legendborn will be an obvious addition to any classroom or school library. It will also make a perfect novel for a choice in classroom literature circles. Not only is the plot entrancing, and the characters dynamic, the discussion of the various themes presented would be beneficial in any classroom. It is also so well written it can serve as a mentor text.

Received an advanced copy from NetGalley for honest review.

I have to DNF this at 40%. I just have no desire to pick it up and every time I do I don't remember what happened in the last chapter because I just zone out.

Concept - AMAZING! Who doesnt love Arthurian legends? AND this book is full of some Black Girl Magic! The MC Bree faces racism, both subtle and blatant, in this book and the author doesn't shy away from critiquing the Euro-centric view of history and mythology.

These are the reasons I was so excited to read this book!

Execution - meh

It pains me to say it. It really does. But I could just not jive with this writing. While Bree is an amazingly strong character, her immediate acceptance of magic and the secret society of Arthurian warriors was just too far fetched to me. I couldnt even explain the hierarchies of this secet society to you because I still don't understand it. There's Scions, Pages, something called Camlann? I reread several chapters and still had trouble connecting the dots. Maybe I need to brush up on my Arthurian legends but I feel like it shouldn't be this painful.

The only other character I was interested in besides Bree was Selwyn, and even at 40% we've learned next to nothing about him or really any of the other characters.

Perhaps one day I will pick this back up, but for now I'm shelving this.

*chanting* READ THIS BOOK! READ THIS BOOK! READ THIS BOOK!

Like, I don't know what else to tell you. Tracy Deonn has taken my heart and crushed it into a thousand glittery pieces. LEGENDBORN is a brilliant synthesis of old Arthurian legends and fresh contemporary issues, managing to feel both timeless and timely. It involves infiltrating a secret society, uncovering a possible murder, rootcraft, demons, arrogant-yet-beautiful sorcerers, kings with golden hearts, and at the center of it all, a heroine who is built of anger & grief & bravery.

I adored every word of it.

Because of the nature of the story, I don't want to get too deep into plot or characters for fear of accidentally spoiling something. This is a relatively long book, but it twists enough to keep your adrenaline rushing the whole time. The cast is wonderfully queer; Deonn provides a harrowing glimpse into the ancestral reality of growing up Black in the south, with a wonderful balance of #BlackGirlMagic; there's a LOVE TRIANGLE; the themes of memory & legacy will hit you right in the Feels; there are swords and tunnels and it's an irl college setting; just ... READ THIS BOOK!

My only caveat is that occasionally, the language associated with the Legendborn felt a little confusing. There are lots of complicated roles & power hierarchies at play, along with a large cast of secondary characters. But it all gets clarified in the end.

So, overall, it's a huge recommend from me. I can see this series-starter having wide appeal to all kinds of readers, and I'm already itching for the sequel. 5/5.

Thanks, Simon and Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for an arc! This is an honest review of my thoughts.

Legendborn is the story of a Black girl, Bre, living in a world where she is always the 'other'.

She is the 'other', as a Black girl in a very small white town in the South.

She is the 'other', as a high school student accepted to an early college program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She is the 'other,' as non-descendent of King Arthur and his Knights when she discovers the secret demon-fighting society on campus.

Without any spoilers, I think this book was great. It reminded me a little bit of The Mortal Instruments at the beginning except, unlike the Mortal Instruments this author actually took time to world build instead of just focusing on a love triangle. Bre is an interesting character whos problems stem from her mother's recent death and it felt like a very real and raw issue. As she tries to dig into what really happened to her mother on the night of her death she's thrown into magic, danger, and the unknown.

That being said, I think if anything my biggest issue with this book was as followed:

1. There were far too many characters and character names to remember.
2. The book felt as though it was part one of a story rather than a complete story itself. About 80% through, the novel began to ramp up in a way where I thought "there is NO way that this book will not have a sequel". To combat this, however, the novel did answer many questions that it brought up instead of pushing them to be answered in the sequel and I think that if anything is what earned the book a 4/5 instead of a 3.5/5 in my eyes.

As a black girl who is usually 'the other', I found this as a fun, solid book to read and I would recommend it to most of my friends.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

On the surface, this book pretty much has everything I'm normally very interested in; fantasy, a woman of colour lead, magic, romance, family drama, and a stunning cover. For the most part, it does deliver.

Legendborn follows the story of Briana (Bree) Matthews as she copes and comes to terms with the loss of her mother at such a young age, a concept the author does very well and one that I personally relate to. Of course, secrets come to light that her mother kept from her, and in order to get to the bottom of things, as well as to better understand herself, Briana joins a magical cult of sorts on her new school campus, where her mother once attended as well. She's immediately considered different, not only for how her powers manifest, but also for her skin colour and her gender. To make matters even more complicated, she becomes rather entangled with the group's prodigal son and notorious leader, Nicholas Davis, as well as his prickly Merlin and protector, Selwyn Kane.

It took me a while to really get into this book. The beginning is a bit of a slow crawl, with a lot of very convenient tropes and characters that often felt very one-dimensional. Bree herself, as much as I wanted to like her and root for her, was still too much of the "perfect" character typical in most YA; very smart even when she doesn't have to try, very pretty, very strong, etc. Her most compelling attributes were those that tied to her familial history and roots, but most of that doesn't really come into play until halfway through the novel.

Her friend, Alice, is very one-dimensional and quite forgettable, seemingly only there for convenience of causing unnecessary drama, or to help drive the plot forward.

Selwyn, otherwise known as Sel, had a very intriguing backstory and his relationships with Bree and Nicholas are actually far more compelling than Bree's budding romance with Nick. However, his intial hatred and mistrust of Bree in the beginning felt very misplaced and aggressive, even after we are told the explanation later. Sel's character doesn't really become interesting or likeable until well into the book. At first, he simply exists to antagonize Bree in some pretty horrible ways.

Nick himself is probably the most bland character in the entire thing, despite being arguably the second lead protagonist. I truly did want to like him, and he started off quite strong with his bubbly attitude and eagerness to help, but he is perhaps the only character who winds up becoming less interesting as the story progresses. Eventually, I found his interactions with Bree to be far too trope-y and uninteresting to me, to the point that no matter how much the author wanted me to see him as this golden boy, I really just couldn't wait to move on to other characters.

The magic and fantasy in this book are based heavily on Arthurian legend, and although it was quite difficult to follow and enjoy in the first half of the book, once the ball was rolling, I truly did find the concepts quite original and intriguing, especially when Bree's ancestral "Root" magic is brought into play. The culture and race issues the author voices through the difference between these magics was perhaps my favorite part of the entire novel. I also enjoyed that the author seamlessly introduces LGBT+ characters in natural, believable ways while still highlighting the struggle people face for being different.

The end of the book did leave me feeling a bit lukewarm. Although I did enjoy the twist, and seeing Bree overthrow some very serious racist and sexist ideologies, I don't know if I care enough about this cast of characters and their stories to continue with it.

Nonetheless, I do applaud the author for introducing concepts to YA readers and the fantasy genre that are unique and reflective of the struggles of people of colour and the LGBT+ community. Despite my personal feelings towards enjoying this novel or not, I do think it is important for young readers to pick up more fantasy books with leads like Bree.

This book was phenomenal!

Legendborn was everything I never knew I needed. My first time delving into Arthurian mythology. My first time experiencing magical secret societies. All things I’m eager to see more of in the future. This paired with the intricately planned plot made for a really wonderful story!

~★~ What is this book about? ~★~

After the death of her mother, sixteen year old Bree is hoping to get as far from home as possible. So, when she gets accepted to an early college program for bright high school students, Bree thinks she’s discovered the perfect out.
Things take a turn for the worst during her first night on campus, when Bree witnesses a demon attack that no other students can see.
When Sal--a teenage mage--attempts to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw, it backfires, awakening startling powers in her. Powers that show her there is more to her mothers death than she originally thought.
Upon discovering a secret society within the college, Bree is convinced she’s found the people who can help her uncover what really happened to her mother. The group consists of “Legendborn”, descendants of King Arthur and his nights. Those with powers to expel demons in effort to prevent an oncoming war.
When Bree swears oath to the Legendborn hoping to learn the truth behind her mother’s death, she unknowingly binds herself to a lifetime of trouble.

~★~ Plot ~★~

Legendborn had me hooked from the very start. The pacing moved steadily and quickly, ensuring that I never grew bored. Deonn’s prose is thoroughly planned and executed, as is evident in the way her story unravels on page. The magic system is explained with crystal clear clarity; I was in awe of the small intricacies. Each chapter contains plenty of action and detailed revelations, leaving me breathless and painfully invested in what was to come. The plot twists were fantastic, I’m so eager for the continuation of this series!

~★~ Characters ~★~

Legendborn contains a cast made up of several diverse characters, which is always something wonderful to see represented in fiction! Our protagonist Bree is black, her best friend is asian and lesbian, while other side characters are gay, bisexual, nonbinary and people of colour!

Tracy Deonn perfectly includes commentary on racism, slavery and colonization in Bree’s narrative, which is great to see brought up in a fantasy novel. These important topics played a really significant role in the outcome of this story, and ended up giving me added perspective on what horrible treatment black people received not only in the past, but in the present.

Bree’s character was a really strong lead; her voice became steadily more powerful as the novel progressed. Deonn does a great job developing her side characters as well, and when considering the large number of them, it’s an impressive feat.

~★~

This was a spectacular debut, one I’m so eager for people to read!

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to how good this book is. While I was reading it all I could think was “wow, wow, wow,” and once it once it was finished I was left utterly speechless and absolutely desperate for more. This is probably one of the best YA books I’ve read in a while if not ever. I already know this series will be immortalized in the hall of unforgettable books that never stop being sold and there are a million reasons why. This book is in a league of its own, completely unique and yet the perfect blend of everything people love and have loved in their YA literature over the years.

It has the unique and awesome magical world and LGBTQ+ representation that everyone loved in the mortal instruments series. The heart wrenching love triangle that I could imagine fans being as divided on as they were with twilight. The royalty elements that fans of the selection series swooned over. The relevant story of a black girl in modern day America that echoes the hate you give. And yet it also had so, so, so, much more that makes this book stand out leagues above the rest.

For example, Bree. Not only is she a character that has been super fleshed out, but she is generally just an amazing character. It wasn’t long into the book that I could already tell that she is an incredibly intelligent person who was also incredibly broken. Her struggles were real and the growth she went through as a character not only made sense, but elevated the plot.

There is also no forgetting that Bree’s story is relevant. I seriously cannot stress enough how REAL her character was. She is a real black girl living in real world America with all the troubles that come with it, and the author demonstrates it perfectly! Regardless of what race you are, her story is one everyone can learn from or relate to and that is why this story is not only amazing but powerful. I say this because I know that Bree’s story is shared so perfectly here that it has the power to resonate and enact change in the hearts of its readers. Even though most readers will come for the general story itself, they will leave changed and with their eyes opened thanks to Bree’s story specifically.

I also can’t not mention how great the plot itself was. Some plots string readers along with the same unanswered questions and just leave readers feeling frustratedly baited but this was not one of those stories. Every time we learned one thing, 3 more questions sprung up in its place so it was this amazing journey where we were certainly not lacking for content, there was always something to learn that left readers with the undercurrent of expectation knowing an answer could come at anytime and yet still not stop the plot from driving forward.

I already know I’m going to end up reading this book, and eventually this series, again because it was just that good. Every time I thought the book was as good as it could get, it got better! I’m not even exaggerating. This book was everything I didn’t know I needed and I’m over the moon to have gotten to read it.

I was so looking forward to this book and I definitely did a happy dance when I got my hands on it. I have also pre-ordered this book so I can hold it in my hands hopefully the day it comes out if CanadaPost doesn’t mess up somehow.

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One thing you may or may not know about me is that I love Arthurian myths, but one thing they definitely lack in (well two things) is women who aren’t evil, and diversity. But seriously. So much love. I named my dog Merlin.

I have seen BBCs Merlin so much that I probably know that show better than I know myself. (I should probably be embarrassed to admit that)

So this book? Extremely exciting for me. And when I started reading it I became even more excited because this book? Is awesome.

Bree is awesome. She is confused and conflicted and she’s been traumatized but she is strong and fierce and she speaks her mind and it’s wonderful. I know what it’s like to lose a parent young, and that confusion and emotion were brought out in me as I read this book but for once I didn’t shy away from it. I leaned in and allowed myself to experience it as I devoured the pages.

In a way, a lot of the children in this book are lost, but they find their ways amongst each other, not without issue.

The problems with racism are also not shied away from in this book, nor are the problems with sexism. They are boldly discussed, and I learned so much from reading this.

The action sequences, which I normally shy away from in books (because how hard are battles to write) are fulfilling and easy to read.

The cover is stunning. Seriously. Stunning.

Tracy Deonn is a fantastic, vivid writer. I thank her for writing this, and I will eagerly await the next book in this series.

I became interested in reading "Legendborn" by Tracy Deonn based off of the beautiful cover and the synopsis, and I was honoured to receive an e-ARC copy from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"Legendborn" is a contemporary fantasy novel that follows 16-year-old Bree Matthews, who is accepted to an Early College program at UNC-Chapel Hill with her best friend, Alice. Still grieving over the recent death of her mother in a car accident, Bree views the Early College program as a fresh start. On her first night on campus, however, she is witness to a demon attack and is plunged into a dark, secretive world of magic and Arthurian legend. When a memory of the night her mother died resurfaces, Bree discovers her own magical abilities and becomes convinced that there is more to the death of her mother than what is written in the police report.

She recruits Nick-- a self-exiled Legendborn-- and infiltrates the ranks of the Legendborn" herself. While Bree contends with a rigorous initiation process, she and Nick attempt to discover the truth behind her mother's death. As they dig deeper, they grow closer, and the society's secrets grow darker. Soon, a magical war is brewing and Bree must decide how far she's willing to go in her search for the truth. Will she use her magic to fight with the society-- or tear it down?

This book was honestly extraordinary! It was dark and intellectual, and it balanced the contemporary elements with the fantasy elements very well! The magic system in the book is both unique and intriguing, Bree as a main character was absolutely incredible, and Tracy Deonn's writing was both vividly descriptive and wholly immersive. I COULD NOT stop turning the pages, and the ending definitely left me wanting more, which given that this is said to be the first book in a series is a VERY GOOD THING!

"Legendborn" establishes author Tracy Deonn as an exciting new voice in the fantasy genre. If you enjoyed "Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi, "Ninth House" by Leigh Bardugo or "Middlegame" by Seanan McGuire, this is definitely a book that you DO NOT want to miss!

"Legendborn" is scheduled for release on September 15, 2020. Special thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read it early!

I devoured this e-ARC practically in one sitting, and it’s not a short book! But I was so caught up in the story and so invested in the characters I didn’t want to put it down.

With strong, supple prose, rich worldbuilding rooted in Welsh legend, American history and African spirituality, compelling characters, high emotional stakes, gripping action, and some truly shriek-worthy twists, LEGENDBORN is one of the most absorbing YA fantasies I’ve read in years. But it’s also a thoughtful and thought-provoking look at grief, generational trauma and the dark legacy of enslavement, oppression and exploitation in the American south. Tracy Deonn has pulled off a tremendous balancing act with this story, and I can’t wait to see what happens next (but I’ll have to!).

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an eARC!

I put Legendborn on my to-read shelf on a whim, I thought I would try one of the new Arthurian retellings that has come out recently. I came for Arthur, but I stayed for the characters, the emotions, and the relationships.

One of the first things that grabbed me in this book was that it's written in first person POV. Bree just grabbed me in with her story and her voice. It felt like I was right there and that she was telling the story to me personally. I got wrapped up in Bree's emotions and very involved in her life very quickly. I cried at scenes in the book which were painful for Bree because I felt her pain. Bree is such a great character, everyone would benefit from reading with her for 500 pages.

I also loved the absolutely diverse cast of characters. Everyone walked up to the page fully formed. I didn't feel like any of the side characters were pointless or one-dimensional. Although Bree may not have been involved in the other's lives as much, I could see that they all had distinct relationships with each other and every single character grew over the course of the book.

I also loved the relationships in the book. I haven't read something so wholesome and so focused on consent for a very long time. Thinking of the relationships which formed in this book just makes my heart swell with joy. I love the way that they treat each other and I am so happy to watch their relationship continue and grow.

I also would like to point out that the existence of a romantic relationship in the book did not diminish the opportunity for other relationships in the book. That's actually one thing I loved, after establishing a romantic relationship, Bree goes on to continue to establish relationships with other characters, both male, female, and non-binary. She doesn't stop growing as a character because she is kissing the same boy.

Bree is also a Black girl living in the South and with the Black Lives Matters movement, I know many people are trying to diversify their reading. Being Black is a huge part of Bree's identity and it was important for me to see the world through her eyes to educate myself. There are a million things that I've never thought about, because I come from a place of privilege, that Bree pointed out by just living her life every day.

One of the main things is how do you take a Black girl and put her in an Arthurian myth? In contemporary culture, the Knights of the Round Table are white, straight, dudes from sixth century Wales. Where does Bree fit into this, without just inserting a Black character to tokenize the story?
I absolutely love the way that Deonn made Bree a part of the Round Table. My jaw dropped, and the rest of that discussion is too spoilery for an ARC review. It has been a very long time since an author completely surprised me with a plot twist.

The only reason I knocked off a star was because I struggled with the pacing. The first third is an introduction to the Round Table, which was fine, although a little slow. Once we determine Bree's place at the Round Table, we switch to a discussion of her Black roots. I loved the middle of the book, and I can see how the beginning ties together now, but while I was reading I was wondering why we were talking about the Round Table so much when the most interesting stuff had nothing to do with the Round Table.

I can't wait for the sequel, and I'm really hoping to see the characters I loved, and more of the characters we didn't see as much of (Alice in particular).

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a digital ARC of Legendborn in exchange for an honest review.

Do you guys remember when Ninth House was announced and everyone got excited about secret magical societies in a modern university setting only to get their hopes and dreams crushed?

Legendborn is that if Ninth House was a) well paced, b) actually interesting, c) had likable characters, d) had a magic system that made sense, and e) followed through on its attempts to tackle real world issues.

Legendborn is absolutely incredible. Tracy Deonn somehow managed to combine Arthurian lore with her Rootmagic system based off of african-american histories and spiritualities and it never once feels info-dumpy or out of place. This is honestly the most well thought out magic system I've read in a long time and its TWO systems. Incredible.

Also, using magic as a commentary on real world issues is one of my favourite things ever and the way this book uses its two magic systems to provide commentary on colonization and racism as a whole? Incredible. Genius. I can't wrap my head around the fact that this is Tracy Deonn's debut.

I only really have two issues with this book, the first being how quickly Bree is to be like "oh yes magic" (someone says Merlin and she instantly goes "Like king Arthur? Is magic real?") but at the same time if that didn't happen I'd probably be sitting here complaining about how oblivious of a protagonist she is. I also just could not stand Sel BUT it was for the exact same reasons I can't stand Rhysand from the ACOTAR series so I'm sure everyone but me will be lusting after him in due time.