While this book was fast-paced from the very beginning it still took a couple pages for me to get into the story. But once I was into the story it was an amazing ride.The magic systems well were explained and they were quite interesting. I loved the fact though the different magic systems were coming from basically the same place the branches were so different. Also the fact that the magic used by Black people is connected to Black History was a really great story element. One detail that I loved immensely even though it definitely wasn't put into the story for enjoyment purposes per-se was the fact that Tracy Deonn didn't shy away from showcasing the everyday struggles with racism that Black people go through. I don't know why but I was kind of expecting the story to just focus on the magic and glance over the everyday details. I also loved the mundane moments that in the midst of the action and magic.I loved Bree as I character and the other characters were very 3 dimensional and intriguing. I also loved Nick and Sel as characters as well as love interest for Bree ( I know the romantic relationship in this book is between Nick and Bree and I love that but I saw something between Bree and Sel and I don't hate it.) Almost finished I want to mention that this book had Non-Binary, Sapphic and Bi or Pan Representation. Also the plot twists !!

I wanted to love this so much, but... I just didn't. This had all the makings of a book I thought I was going to love, but for whatever reason I just didn't.

I think the topics that were explored in this story such as, grief, institutional racism, and slavery were well explored and brought a side to ya urban fantasy that I haven't seen before. My issues with the book had to do with the execution of the story and how certain tropes were used. Which sort of leads me to think maybe YA urban fantasy isn't for me anymore?

The first maybe 30-40% of this book I felt like I didn't know what was happening. The whole legendborn system was very confusing, I couldn't keep straight who was a scion, who was a squire and what it all meant. This made it really hard for me to get into the book. By the time I started to feel like I understood what was going on I'd already checked out from the story and didn't really care anymore.

I did like the secondary magic system that we were introduced to. I thought how it brought in Bree's family history, and America's history of slavery and white supremacy was really interesting. I also liked how it ultimately tied in to the rest of the story.

I wasn't a fan of the characters. Bree was super stubborn and made some *questionable* decisions which lead to some funny one liners at times, but ultimately I just found her annoying which made it hard to read from her perspective. Her relationship with her best friend Alice was also a big disappointment to me. For being Bree's best friend I feel like she's the side character we see the least of. The story starts off with them in a huge fight that... made no sense to me. I get it, they're 16, communication is not the best at that age. But Alice gets mad at Bree for not "being the same" when Bree's mom died like... 3 months ago?? I felt like that Alice was actually wrong here was not acknowledged. Even after they made up I found it really odd how Bree kept hiding everything from her.

As for the other characters, I just didn't care. I wasn't a huge fan of the romance, Nick felt pretty generic to me, but I didn't mind him. Not a fan of the love triangle thing that started happening towards the end/second half. Hate to love really just doesn't work for me when one of them is trying to kill the other.

I did appreciate the exploration of grief in this book. Bree's mom's death was the driving force of the book, and I thought Bree's actions and thoughts around that were well done. I also appreciated how even though her dad wasn't physically present he wasn't absent.

Overall this book was just not for me. I'd recommend it if you are big fan of urban fantasy and want to try something with a different take because like I mentioned it does bring a lot of new things to the table.

DNF
I'm setting aside the ebook for now and going to try and get an audiobook. Though the book is fun, I'm overwhelmed with the world-building.

When I say that this book is a wild, awe inspiring, covered from head to toe in black girl magic, I mean it! Loved, loved, loved this book! Out of all my reads for 2020 thus far, Legendborn is my favorite. The imagery, story, plot, character developments and twists in this book will leave your jaw on the floor. Bree is a beautifully written character, full of hope but also despair. After losing her mother suddenly, all she is left with is anger, guilt, frustration, and the desperate need to understand what happened and why she can't remember what one of the men looked like at the hospital that told her about her mother's death.

The novel starts of at a heart shattering point for Bree, still reeling 3 month later after her mother's death she is given the chance to go to her mother's alma mater, a chance to runaway from the pain. Little did she know she would be stepping right into a full blown Arthurian legend. The magic, mystery, and ancestry roots Bree discovers on her journey leave her to wonder just who she is, and more importantly what she is. 

I had no complaints with this book. It was insightful, charming, full of love, hope, dealing with grief, and the message that we make our own destiny by learning from our past. If I could give this book a 10 out of 5 stars I would! Thank you Netgalley for this amazing opportunity to read this novel. Can't wait to add the physical copy to my bookshelf!

When it comes to infiltrating a magical group of mages, who makes for a better sidekick that a self-exiled Legendborn who wants payback? Granted, their allegiance is based on self-serving purposes, but once you gain trust, how can you help but consider the person who helps you get closer to the truth of your mother’s death a friend?

I saw the cover and heard that it was a legend of King Arthur re-telling mixed with Southern Black Girl Magic, and I knew I had to have it! Legendborn blew me away! The magic system and the world building are both incredible, and it was refreshing and eye-opening to get a POV where Black culture, Black history, and everyday life were all front-and-center. I can't wait to read more from Tracy Deonn (especially Legendborn 2!).

Not going to lie Bree worked my last nerve in this book. Then I had to remind myself she’s 16 and give her a pass. The pacing of the story could have been better as it did stall at times. The action scenes especially towards the end had me on the edge of my seat. This story tackles everyday racism us Black people face in America. That ending was something else and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Bree Matthews's last words with her mother were angry and resentful.  How she wishes she could take them back, but her mother was killed in car accident that very evening.  Trying to escape her guilt and sorrow, she enrolls in a program for advanced high school seniors at UNC-Chapel Hill.  On her very first night at her very first college party, she meets some unusual people and witnesses a terrifying creature appearing out of nowhere.  In the chaos, Bree is busted for so many things that she's put on probation in her college program and set up with a mentor, handsome and charming, Nick..  Her father also sets her up with a counselor on campus, one of the only other Black professors and one of her mother's acquaintances. As Bree settles in with herself and her new surroundings, she inadvertently ends up at a society dedicated to protecting the human race from demons encroaching on the world.  Her mentor, Nick, is Legendborn - a descendant of King Arthur.   The other members of the society, also Legendborn - are descended from the Knights of the Round Table.  Bree uncovers a connection between this group and her mother's death, and discovers she has some powers of her own.  The problem arises when Bree's powers are different from the Merlin's and the rest of the Legendborn.  Add some terrifying encounters with increasingly sentient demons and a romantic attraction to Nick and you're set for a truly excellent new fantasy.  This is the first fantasy I've read that had a  Black woman as the main character.  Also included is a gender-neutral character.  All the characters are well-developed and atypical.  The plot is fast-paced and intriguing.  Hopefully Deonn is setting us up for a series.  Fans of Holly Black, Cassandra Clare will love this, as will any reader looking for a great new fantasy!  I appreciate the chance to read Legendborn as an ARC.

This book was so stunning that I wanted to take my time and savor every bit of it — and it's a good thing I did, because this was so richly dense with Arthurian myth (updated with a few contemporary twists, of course) and had so much to really unpack in terms of the heroine's journey. It's an amazing meditation on grief, growth, loss, magic, heritage, the racism and oppression built into the history of this country, and finding your own inner power. (Also, this is how I know I'm primarily a romance reader, because my thoughts automatically turned to the ideal throuple situation rather than a love triangle between Bree, Sel and Nick. Look, they're all Oathed to each other, it practically writes itself!)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Legendborn will be — I can almost guarantee — one of the best YA Fantasies you'll read this year, purely because it is so layered. With complex characters, an intricate magic system based on legacies and privilege, and, as promised in the synopsis, southern Black girl magic, Legendborn plays with several classic YA tropes and turns them into something new and incredibly memorable.

CHARACTERS + TROPES ⚔

One of the most common factors you've probably seen in all of Legendborn's reviews has to do with its usage of tropes, and how there's a lot of them. It's an undeniable fact: Legendborn is tropey, but it's good-tropey, and manages to execute all the tropes in a perfect manner. A conversation we've had to have too many times — about how no trope is "overused" until an author of color gets the opportunity to write it — definitely comes into play, but regardless, Tracy Deonn's storytelling is powerful, and the sheer way she rewrites all these classic YA tropes is simply amazing to witness.

Bree, our main character, is such a lovely head to be in — stubborn, fierce, yet excruciatingly vulnerable at the same time, Bree is a main character you can't help but love and root (haha) for. I loved how Tracy Deonn explored themes of grief, trauma, the reality of racism, and the legacy of slavery through her character.

Nick, the reluctant king of the titular Legendborns, is charming and sweet, the effortless golden boy. Is his romance with Bree instalovey? Yes. Is it enjoyable and well-written? Also yes! On the flip side, we have our bad boy with a tragic backstory, Selwyn Kane — the tall, dark, and enigmatic boy we've all seen in YA before. There's a slight love triangle at play, but I didn't mind. Again, what really sets this book and its tropes apart has to do with the depth of the tropes. The love triangle is a medium to explore power imbalances, and the exploration of themes through tropes that have historically been called "trashy" is so incredible.

AN INTRICATE MAGIC SYSTEM ⚔

One of the things I loved the most in Legendborn was how it had, in its essence, two separate magic systems, and how, when tied together, they illustrated a dynamic and painful story.

On one hand, we have Legendborns, descendants of the spirit of King Arthur and the Round Table, and made of the rich families of the South: In other words, white. The Legendborns are, for a lack of better words, cruel and aggressive, as most are when given so much power.

On the other hand, we have a magic known as Rootcraft, a soft magic practice revolving around healing and protection.

Without giving anything away, here's what I can say: Tracy Deonn has used these two magic systems to spin a narrative we don't hear often enough — the story of slaves, of excruciating pain, and of legacies that can't be claimed. Of violent monsters, and how sometimes, the most monstrous are human. Of privilege and wealth, power imbalances, and the difference between asking for and taking.

THEMATIC DEVELOPMENT + WRITING ⚔

I want to finish this review off with this: the story itself aside, the execution is brilliant. The build-up and pacing of the story is perfect, and Tracy's writing? The best.

There are quotes in there that make your lips slightly part, a soft [oh] escaping you, because the way things are being put together, falling in place and falling out of place, all at the same time, is simply oh-inspiring. Tracy doesn't sacrifice reality for fantasy, and the quiet, righteous rage that Bree feels echoes and strikes through the pages — and again, it's perfect.

IN CONCLUSION ⚔
I highly recommend this book to everyone!

A vivid, thoroughly engrossing fantasy about a Black teenager in the south discovering her power while investigating her mother's death. Complex, with a strong, totally organic bite of social reality. I knew it was set at UNC, and, to be honest, that’s largely why I’m reading it (I went to UNC J-School for my PHD), but no one told me LEGENDBORN was THIS Tar Heel-centric. It uses the school's very real and problematic history as a central driver of the narrative. Deon masterfully blends fantasy, history, and real life horror.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn was a great read. I featured it as Book of the Day on my social media platforms and included it in a roundup of new releases on my blog.

Legendborn is the story of high school junior Bree Matthews who recently lost her mother to an accident and is enrolled in an early college program at UNC Chapel Hill. A college gathering gone wrong introduces Bree to a mysterious world of magic on campus, and a series of events and revelations lead her to believe that this world is connected to the death of her mother. The story follows Bree as she discovers a world hidden in plain sight, the mystery of her matrilineal line, and her own identity. 

The fantastical lore of Black Southern magic Deonn developed in concert with that of King Arthur and the Order of the Round Table is captivating and well executed. Bree's character is believable, endearing, and complex. Other characters are well developed and have their own drives and motivations aside from their existence in Bree's world. A dominant theme throughout the book is the role of grief in one's life and how coping with that grief can be internalized and integrated into one's sense of self. Deonn, inspired by events in her own life, explores intergenerational trauma, resilience and inheritance against the backdrop of college life in the modern day South. The magic, intrigue and storytelling will be exciting for readers who love fantasy or are new to the genre. Further, the themes of grief, destiny, love and friendship will be relatable and validating.

Absolutely amazing. One of the best fantasy books I've read in a while. The story, historical context, modern twist and full-on black girl magic is everything! LOVE LOVE LOVE. The characters are well written and really keeps you interested.

I absolutely loved this book! It spoke to my love for Black Girl Magic, Arthurian Legend and Secret Societies. I loved it so much that I preordered a copy immediately upon finishing.

First of all thank you so much hear our voices tours and publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book. It was my most anticipated releases of this year. Second this cover is gorgeous!!

King Arthur meets city of bones, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (@tracydeonn ) is a YA fantasy that's a full-fledged brilliance.

This book follows Bree a southern black sixteen-year-old girl who recently lost her mother and is on a mission to de-attach herself from her family and past memories. She got into UNC Chapel hill through a residential program, which turns out to be a perfect escape from the very situation.

On first night in her campus, she saw flying demons feeding on human energies. After digging more she discovers a secret society of legendborns. The more she knew the more the secrets revealed. Was her mother's death natural or was there a secret allure behind it?


First of all the thing that flashed out was the characters. I adore each and everyone. I can't believe Tracy wrote them with such intricacy and grace that they felt real. For instance Bree, her character was beautiful she wasn't potraied as someone who's strong and badass towards the things she had to face. Instead she felt things, the things that you can connect to. She was frank and didn't hold back anything. She's absolutely strong and cunning even without trying to show it once.

The plot was so engaging and here's the thing- I. Can. Not. Put. It. Down. I am going to reread it very soon once this comes out.

Writing of this book - mesmerizing. I was devouring the writing style of Tracy and now I'm addicted. I learned so many things about black community and there past which I was unaware of being an Asian. This was really sensitive for me to read about I'm a full anti-racist,  the things were heavy in this book but I don't think anyone else could have done it like Tracy did.

This novel is, quite simply, stunning. Rich world-building and complexly crafted characters set the stage for this action packed Arthurian adventure which is sure to claim space as a YA classic for years to come.

I did not want this book to end. I truly did not because it is everything I wanted in a story I wish I had access to as a teenager: magic, King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, fighting, parties and, of course, really cute boys. But Legendborn also captures the everyday feelings and challenges Black women encounter. Being seen as less than, not good enough, not worthy. Being told to be smaller because our entire beings are too much for insecure people to handle. Bree infiltrates a secret society that was never meant for her, didn’t even have her in its trajectory. She is an outsider with a power inside of herself that too many try to crush. She is a Black woman in a world built for white men. 

I am usually pretty animated when I read a good book, but this one had me on E for Extra. Most of the time, I wanted Bree to stand up and fight but had to remember that she is a 16-year-old girl who is grieving. She is thrust into a world no one would ever think to be in. So her fear is justified. Her anger is justified. Her imposter syndrome is justified. Bree is every Black woman and girl who has to navigate themselves safely in a racist world. Bree is all of us. 

But it ain’t all doom and gloom because Ms. Bree is surrounded by hot boys. And this is for the future casting directors who will be in charge of choosing Nick and Selwyn for the inevitable film or television series that will be adapted: don’t eff this up. You’ve got one job. Do it well. 

I am PSYCHED for the next book in the series. I am excited to see what is next for Bree, Nick, Sel and the rest.

I LOVE this book. I am amazed by how breath-taking it is. I have a deep fondness for King Arthur retellings, and I have read quite a few. Some good, some bad, some meh. This was incredible. It was magical realism at its best, with multiple magic systems, secret societies, demons, and King Arthur mythology with incredible Black Girl Magic. I need more stories like this, I WANT more stories like this. 

There are so elements to this story that were incredible. The exploration of Bree's grief and her need to find the truth was captivating. Insert creatures from hell, magic and mages and you become entranced by Bree's story. I loved Bree diving into her history and her acceptance of that history as well as it being a source of power for her was masterfully done. 

This was a bold, magical retelling that ignites one's imagination and demands the attention it deserves. I have become a life-long fan of Tracy Deonn. I wish I had the next book in my hands already.

"That's what this is. A show of power. A reminder that no matter how much I know, I don't know enough to survive in this world. That I'm not worthy." 

Whew! Tracy Deon did the thing with this one. The amount of times this book had me screaming at my phone in the middle of the night is embarrassing 😅

Bree, a 16 year old girl living in the US south has just lost her mother in a car accident and moved to university with her best friend Alice.

As she tries to get into the groove of uni classes while grappling with her grief, she stumbles on a secret society with ties to King Arthur's legend that teaches her what it truly means to be brave.

Weaving two narratives that are usually never told in tandem, the Legend of King Arthur and the the history of the slavery of Africans in the US, Deon masterfully sets out this YA fantasy like pieces on a chess board.

At first I had to pay close attention to grasp all the elements of the lore, as happens with all fantasy books, but once I had that down, it was a ride filled with Drama with a capital D.

Not only does Bree have to deal with fitting into a very white, very purebred secret society that makes sure she knows she doesn't belong at every turn, but there's a brewing love triangle that doesn't end up how you think it will, trust me. All I'll say is, between Nick, King Arthur's heir, and Selwyn Kane, his Merlin, Bree has a lot to deal with 😊

At times I felt like some aspects of the story came too neatly and quick but I get that there are word count constraints so not everything can be explained at length.

It honestly reminded me of the TV show Merlin, because it incorporates Black people in the Arthur narrative. 

All around a good time!