Legendborn

I already came into reading this book with high expectations (thanks to my sister for the high recommendation), and I was absolutely blown away. I finished the majority of the book in a day and just ate it up. I love a re-telling, as I was raised on Percy Jackson, but this new lens of Arthurian legend with the multiple layers of diversity in not only the characters, but the weaving of history from a intersectional point of view really made the story so much deeper and meaningful.

Bree's trauma and grief play a large part in her "hero's journey" if you will, and as a mental health professional, the symptoms and behaviors were not manipulated or dramatized to bluster the plot, but rather helped dictate the reality of an individual going show more through familial death. And, the additional ways that Bree's families story weaves into the world she in entering into helps move the plot forward in such an interesting and compelling way. The world building was so lovely. I think this re-telling really is unique and weaves history and fantasy in such a delicate and meaningful way. You can't help but love all of the characters, and you connect with them quickly. I really can't say enough. Hands down one of the best books I've read all year. show less

This Arthurian-inspired fantasy follows Bree, a brilliantly academic Black teenager in the South, as she navigates grief after the loss of her mother, enrols in an early college programme, and stumbles upon the Legendborn: a secret society of Arthur’s descendants sworn to protect “onceborns” from demonic forces. What makes this novel stand out is the way it layers Western myth with a contrasted Black cultural heritage including magic, exploring how racism and generational memory shape Bree’s journey as she learns to harness her own power.

Bree is a compelling protagonist, with a strong voice and a clear sense of her priorities. Her emotional arc - especially her navigation of grief - is powerful, and moments of cultural show more resonance, such as her reflection with two other Black women, bring added depth and authenticity. The supporting cast is engaging too, with meaningful inclusion of non-binary and LGBT characters, handled without homophobia (and limited transphobia), which felt refreshing in a story that still acknowledges other systemic prejudices. The twists are well-plotted, pulled through multiple narrative strands so that the reveals land as both surprising and inevitable.

That said, there are points where the narrative leans on tropes that feel a little forced. Bree’s intelligence as a “smart girl” protagonist is occasionally undercut by plot-convenient lapses in judgement/attentiveness - most notably her disproportionate shock around Nick’s choices at the end. Some of the romantic moments also slipped into cliché, with scenes of being swept away in strong arms that undercut the otherwise nuanced treatment of gender dynamics. The love interest is more rounded than usual in YA, and it’s satisfying to see a “good guy” at the centre, but there are clear signals that this dynamic will shift in later books.

Overall, Legendborn is an ambitious, engaging read that blends mythology, social commentary, and coming-of-age themes with style. If some romantic beats felt familiar, the strength of the voice, the cultural reworking of Arthurian legend, and the emotional depth more than carried it. I finished it eager for the sequel. show less

This YA fantasy novel is a little bit King Arthur retelling, a little bit Supernatural, and a dash of the feel of Kindred. I cannot express strongly enough how much I love the premise of this book and the way Arthuriana and magical traditions born out of West Africa and developed by enslaved people in North America clash and interrogate one another here. And the reveal that our Black teenaged girl protagonist, because she is the descendent of two lines through the rape of an enslaved women, is the descendent of Arthur who will inherit his power, thereby bringing together the power of the mythologies of the colonizers and enslavers with the enslaved because she is descended from both lines is just. I think I was chanting "yes!" at the show more book as it was coming together. (Don't miss the Author's Note, where Deonn talks a bit about this theme.) That being said, I found the writing and the characterization a little flat. I sometimes felt like everything in the story was given equal weight, which can be tedious and plodding. I also thought that the bits where Bree interacted with her family and learned about her heritage were much more "alive" than her forays into the Arthurian secret society, and I wish there had been even more of that aspect of the story. I love love love that this book is out there and hope it is striking a chord with a lot of teens, but I'm undecided about whether I'll keep going with the series. show less

Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

It’s taken me a long time to find the words to write this review because Legendborn is not just a fantastically written novel, it’s an important novel. There are some novels that you read that just stand out from the crowd, and for me, Legendborn is one of them. You might be thinking, oh yeah, here’s another white girl jumping on the Black Lives Matter bandwagon. I grew up in London and people of colour make up a good percentage of London’s population and unfortunately while racists do exist there (and are on the rise again), most of us have grown up alongside people of colour. They’re our friends, our neighbours, they are our teachers, etc.

So reading a novel like Legendborn set in the US, show more and particularly in a part of the US where racism is rife, isn’t just a massive culture shock, it’s sickening. In a way, it was also educating because as a disabled bisexual pagan I’ve had to deal with my fair share of prejudice and yet there were things I hadn’t even considered that black people might notice or feel. For example, the feeling of being unwelcome in historical buildings because they were built for white people. That one completely floored me. I also understood it because when I walk into old churches and cathedrals I feel like an imposter as a pagan. I feel a little uncomfortable and a small part of me expects someone to turn to me saying “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”. However unlikely that sounds some extremely devout men still do say that to women with bright coloured hair, tattoos and piercings in the UK. Any discomfort I may feel in a religious building is due to my religion not because the building was designed for me to never enter. In fact, it was designed exactly with people like me (“heretics”) in mind. I can’t even begin to comprehend the visual monument of being unaccepted and unwanted that these buildings represent to the black community.

That is just one example of how in-depth and personal Legendborn gets with racism. I’m probably making it sound like this book isn’t a fantasy novel at all, however, Tracy Deonn expertly weaves Bree’s racial identity and the racism she encounters with the main plot of the novel. As Bree looks for answers about the magic she’s witnessed has to contend with a secret society that is predominantly white, and when she has to infiltrate it to find out more she has to contend with racism from multiple fronts.

Bree is also still struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death and when her father grows worried about her he signs her up for therapy. This leads her to new information about her mother and her extended family, and through the connection with her therapist, Deonn explores several main themes; Bree’s family, the history of racism in the US, and her struggle with grief. I was really impressed with how Deonn wove Bree’s grief and journey with her grief into the story. You didn’t feel like you were reading a novel about a girl who had lost her mom, just like you didn’t feel you were reading a book about a girl who struggled against racism; you were very much reading a fantasy novel based on Arthurian Legend.

It’s this ability that Deonn has to weave everything together so that it feels genuine that makes Legendborn so important. It’s a book that people can enjoy for the world-building and magic, but it’s also one where they can relate to Bree and her friends as well. Because life is messy, life isn’t split into these nice neat compartmentalized blocks where only one thing happens at a time or one person only has one thing to deal with. Ok, so most people aren’t going to be infiltrating a secret society of the Knights of the Round Table but they know what it’s like to say the wrong thing to their best friend and upset them.

On the topic of magic and world-building in the book, I’m not sure how much I can say without giving major spoilers. It’s one of the most unique takes on Arthurian legends I’ve seen. The synopsis explains that the Legendborn are descendants of King Arthur’s knights but there’s so much more to it, and like all magic systems there’s a drawback. By the end of the book, everything has been completely turned on its head and you won’t see it coming. Throw in an interesting and varied cast of characters and Legendborn is an amazing book that I really can’t recommend enough. Even better, it’s the first book of the series so there’s more to come!

For more of my reviews please visit my blog! show less

*checks Goodreads for book two*

Noooooooooooooooooooo! *breath* Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy!

I utterly loved this book!. The story was so amazing and the Arthurian legend deftly woven together with aspects of US history was masterful. I actually swooned with delight at how magnificent and engaging the world was. I loved the magic system and felt the written descriptions of this magic in action were so well done that I could visualise it. There were feels, rep appreciation, cover-crushing, goosebumps, gasps, minor panic attacks and the best setup for a second book I have ever read! I appreciated the use of some YA tropes because they are just elements of storytelling and are part of the many tools that authors use to let us know what we are in for show more and to help deliver their story. In this instance they worked extremely well.

Now I would like to be ‘mesmered’ please. I need to have my memory of this book erased (preferably by Sel) so I don’t have the agony of waiting until the next one is written.

AMAZING! show less

Southern Black Girl Magic meets King Arthur mythos at college.

Bree Matthews gets early early admission into UNC Chapel Hill. She is still grieving her mother, who died in a car accident not too long ago. At her first college party, she stumbles upon a group of students who battle strange creatures that most other people cannot perceive. Magic is real, and she keeps stumbling upon it in unexpected places.

Deonn is good at conveying Bree's discomfort and pain in different situations: living in a dorm that was built by enslaved people, perhaps by her own ancestors; being the only POC allowed in a particular social group; building a support system almost from scratch; and how grief can overwhelm and isolate.

I really liked it. The ending show more sets up the next book, which I will happily read. I just hope that we'll get an OT3 instead of a love triangle between Bree, Sel, and Nick. All of them take turns being heroes and damsels in distress. show less

this is one of the greatest, if not the greatest urban paranormal fantasy novels i've read in a long time... or maybe ever.

from the well-written characters to the incredibly deep worldbuilding, legendborn is a gem in a world full of booktok fodder. the way this novel intertwines such unique characters, a brilliant multi-faceted magic system, romance, trauma, grief, racism, sexism, stigmas, and arthurian legend in a world so parallel to our own is unfathomable to me. i'm proud to say that this story is set in my southern home state of north carolina and focuses so much of itself upon that fact. it's long for a first in a series, but it's worth it when you realize how much great lore it has to pack in. if you are a fan of urban paranormal show more fantasy or just great literature, please, please give this a chance. it's basically arthurian shadowhunters.

also i was firmly team bree and nick but y'all... that ending may have turned me into a bree and sel shipper bye

Pre-Reading Updates: i see “unc chapel hill” and i instantly go into fight or flight mode we- show less