Legendborn

slight spoilers?

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! you might need a cheat sheet to keep characters, welsh words, or legendborn vocabulary together. otherwise, this is an awesome ya fantasy centered around grief, the black experience, and some fucked up family stuff. hard to explain. just read it.

what i liked:

the writing itself was very craftful. the language, specifically when we're dealing with grief, ancestry, and slavery, is sensitive and careful. then, when we get to fighting scenes or moments of argument/frustration, the dialogue is powerful. the movements are easy to follow and imagine, in my opinion.

i loved the details that were realistic, down to earth, teenage things. the father checking up on her. the onceborn friend who show more worries and cares. the washing of hair. taking classes. liking boys. being embarrassed and scared. all the while, being a badass mf. i think it's also a wonderful intro, where she has just gotten here and talks about ppl jumping/being scared to jump. we get this idea that she truly is just a kid. and then this shift is even more contrasting.

before and after bree. this detail that keeps coming back is incredibly impactful to me. the grief has transformed her own personhood. it's insane. and genuinely heart wrenching.


what i wish was different:

too many characters. even 2-3 less characters would help. greer feels like they are simply filling a role as a non-binary character and there is very little else importance to them otherwise. even in the second book, (i have not finished) they seem to be a very flat character that does not influence bree at all, yet is mentioned often for some reason? vaughn is a character i wished we could get into more (after a ~certain~ scene, his resentment and jealousy for bree seems extremely important to me!).

i came into this with 0 knowledge on King Arthur. it was something i had to get used to and pretty much refused to google until i started book 2. read this for school and a visitor did a presentation on the myth of arthur which is what informs my understanding almost wholly. i wished we got a little bit of info on him. i understand many people already know about this stuff, but we are literally NEVER told ANYTHING about arthur on a level that matters. it was actually kind of jarring. and with that, we are told so so so much about the 'lines' and all this ancestry the present pages (ex. what each color means for each line)... for what? if you aren't explaining the ultimate ancestor why does this in-depth description of descendants matter? ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, i don't think writing exists in a vacuum and a readers lack of knowedlge is somewhat their responsibility to deal with. This is why I still think this book is 5 stars. This detail (or lackthereof) does not, at all, take away from the excellent representation of micro aggressions and racism, as well as the grief bree endures throughout this series. if i am somehow missing an entire background revolving around king arthur's myth/legacy, please let me know where in the book that occurs.

small moments i love:

“The unsettled spirits, the eager ones, look for ways in and you’re much more open to your ancestors now. And listen, this is the South; there are a lot of unsettled Black folk in the ground.”

“Then I will give you the power to do so, wound tight with truth.”

“She smears her blood onto the fruit and the flowers, presses the mixture and her hand as deep into the ground as they’ll go, and calls the ancestors to aid in a rhythmic chant of her own making.” show less

*E-ARC received from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline with the understanding that I would post an honest review. No money or other goods were exchanged, and all views are my own.*

Bree Matthews and her friend Alice are in the Early College program at the University of Carolina. She's still reeling from her mother's death, which happened just after they had a huge argument about her going in the first place. Only a few days into the semester, she witnesses a magical attack and shakes off an attempt to change her memories. Realizing her own strange abilities and the fact that someone adjusted her memories in the hospital after her mother's car accident, she joins a secret society in hopes of figuring out the truth.

This was a unique spin on show more Arthurian legend, bringing it to the American south and transforming it with the American history of slavery and racism that still affects the present day. The stakes continue to grow higher as Bree falls in love with Nick, the heir apparent, and learns more not only of his society's rules and history, but also an alternate approach to magic that her mother used that sharply contrasts with that of Nick and his friends. Maybe a little on the slower side because of all the aspects that Bree has to learn, but ultimately very satisfying how all the revelations come together in the end, and I enjoyed going along for the ride. It's left wide open for a sequel in this planned trilogy. 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 is a phenomenal book. Whispers of Octavia Butler, full flushed out lore times 2. Deep characters, flaws and strengths. I laughed, cried, yelled, gasped, everything.

There were a couple pieces of exposition and dialogue that were a little dry, but overall a fantastic read.

Myth, ancestry, magic, demons, and secrets unite to form an exciting read, which draws in and holds tons of surprises.

Sixteen-year-old Bree has just lost her mother, and she hopes that by entering the pre-college program with her best friend away from home might be the distance she needs. On the first day, she already runs into trouble as she goes against better judgement, is picked up by the cops, and comes face to face with a demon, hunters, and magic. When forgotten memories begin to pop up, she realizes that the same type of magic has been used on her at her mother's death. Now, she's determined to get to the bottom of what really happened, even if it draws her into a world, in which she doesn't belong, and has her facing monsters show more worse than demons.

This is a rich novel and well-written in many ways. The world building is strong, the characters fleshed out, and there are themes such as racism, gender identity, friendship, death, and such wrapped up in there, too. Add magic, a traditional myth, spirits, power plays, world destruction...and well, it's clear that there's more than a little going on. The author uses every page to dig in deep and weave her story web as intricately and tightly as can be. Especially the ending packs an extreme twist, and that sends the entire plot flying in an unpredictable direction, which works marvelously. If book two was out, I would have already grabbed it up.

The main characters, Bree, has a lot of depth. She's got an attitude and is a bit prickly, but she's dealing with the fresh parting of her mother, and seeing how she's discovering all these secrets and hidden dealings, won't be buttercups and sunshine. She is determined and ready to stand up for what she believes, which makes her easy to root for. On the other hand, she makes rash decisions, is headstrong and carries an attitude. But considering her situation and age, it's understandable and also makes her relatable to a certain point. I did have a problem with her supposed age of 16 because she doesn't act it. She's on a college campus, describes those around her 'guys' as manly, and...nothing fits on that front. But that's a small detail to be easily shoved aside, since it's not an issue in the book, anyway.

There is a ton of richness in the world of the Legendborn. The author dribbles in the background bit by bit, which is necessary since it is so intricate and different. Much of this comes across well, and with the addition of Bree's own side (which I won't go more into due to spoilers), this is a complicated mix. Still, there are holes in the magic explanations and lack of reasons for the entire demon-battling origins with enough terms thrown-in to make things muddled and missing, at times. It's not that any space is wasted in the 500 pages. It's simply that there is that much woven into this tale. As long as the reader doesn't think too much and lets some spots slide over, especially those first chapters, then it's not an issue. I do hope, though, this is revisited in the upcoming books because I'm so curious and would enjoy understanding more.

And on to the romance: It's a tending triangle with a bit of insta-love but not completely. The guys are pretty interesting (one more than the other), and there is tension on that end to make it very unclear where things are headed. The build-up of chemistry is missing a little, but there are more books on the way, which leaves room to expand. I am hoping that one end uses much more build-up and depth because killing to love isn't an easy twist and needs reason and time. But this can all turn out wonderfully. It's now about the wait to see.

All in all, it's a well-woven read. I enjoyed all of the various directions and how well they come together. As said, I'm keeping my eye open for the next book's release and hoping this continues in the direction it needs to make it even better.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed quite a bit about this one. 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!

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