Legendborn was one one my favorite books of 2020! I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and anything else Tracy Deonn writes! I was so captivated by her writing. I’m not usually interested in King Arthur stuff, but this retelling was different and interesting, and filled with Black Girl Magic! I loved the different magic systems talked about and can’t wait to delve more into that in the next book. Bree is one of my favorite characters I’ve read and I also loved her different relationships with all the people in her life. I know this has been compared to the Shadowhunters series, and while I can see similarities, in my opinion Legendborn is just so much better. I highly recommend giving this book a try if you enjoy YA Fantasy. I gave it 5 stars.

Legendborn is possibly one of the best Arthurian legend retellings I've ever read. There were just so many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and I definitely need book two to find out what happens to Bree, Nick, and the others. I cannot wait for book 2.

After the death of her mother, Bree Matthews wants to get away from home. She heads to UNC Chapel Hill for an early college program where she discovers the descendanta of Camelot embroiled in a generations battle with the Shadowborn. Bree just wants to know what happened to her mother, but you don’t just get out of this society, and there may be more to discover than the fate of her mother.

I mostly enjoyed this one, but holy mage, Batman! It’s a lot. Plot heavy, and the worldbuilding is impressive, but it does make for a rather long book, and I did get a taaaad lost here and there with so much information, characters, etc. That’s not a drawback, just an observation. I loved the representation of BIPOC and a bit of nonbinary rep as well. It’s set at UNC Chapel Hill, which is just over a half hour drive from me, so it was cool to have context in our world alongside the world of The Order.

If you’re prepared to get completely lost in a fantastic world that will have more books and can handle the stress, definitely check this one out. It’s available now wherever you like to get your books.

I absolutely loved Legendborn from the beginning to end. I loved the fantasy aspect, historical aspect, and the fact that the Bree highlights what it is like to be a Black girl and the micro aggressions we deal with often. I’m looking forward until part 2. Thank you for my gifted copy Netgalley and Margaret K McElderry Books.

A truly fantastic novel that combines fantasy and reality. I really appreciated how the author discussed a lot of the social and psychological situations African Americans face. A lot were things I had never considered before,, such as the lineage and how that affects Bree. The characters were awesome and I cannot wait to read the next book!

I devoured this book in a couple days and I absolutely loved it! If you love Arthurian legend, Black girl magic, Southern magic, secret societies, and just epic storytelling then pick up this book when it hits shelves this Tuesday, 9/15. I’m almost sad that now I have to wait so long for the sequel.

I haven’t read a book that has had me so engaged in a while and having a Black girl at the center of such a magical story like this was everything to me! The author does a fantastic job at talking about legacy and who gets a seat at the table. If you’re going to infiltrate a secret society that dates back to the 1700s, the institution of slavery cannot be ignored and let me tell you, Ms. Deonn took us there!

I was hoping that a new take on the King Arthur tale would overcome my general dislike for how pervasive the story has become. But, through no fault of the author, I could not get past my dislike for King Arthur's story. Honestly, I didn't make it very far before deciding to DNF and move on. I am hoping to try again in the future to see if maybe the general 2020 cloud of anxiety was also affecting my desire and ability to read when my heart craved stories of escape to things I found familiar and enjoyable.

Again, this is my personal issue and not the fault of author or publisher, but since I requested an e-arc I thought it only fair to share my thoughts after trying (and failing) to read this one.

I've always been a big fan Arthurian retellings, and Tracy Deonn has brought something truly new and exciting to the (round) table with Legendborn - an intimate look at grief and being Black in the South.

After the death of her mother, Bree Matthews escapes to the early college program at UNC-Chapel Hill. She's desperate to outrun her grief, but when she witnesses a demon attack off campus, strange memories come flooding back of the night her mom died. The memories lead her to the Order of the Round Table, descendants of King Arthur and his knights known as Lengendborn. The Order fights demons with the help of mages, and Bree now knows a mage tried to wipe her mind that night at the hospital. To discover the truth, Bree will have to infiltrate the Order by becoming their newest recruit.

Bree Matthews' quest to find the truth about her mother's death leads her to uncover a world of magic hiding in plain sight. This fantasy overlays the world of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table onto current day, mixing medieval European magic with African American root work. The worldbuilding is tight so the blend is smooth and believable. A fast paced plot, diverse characters and a strong narrative make this great book a must read.

I need at least 3 books in this series and a movie STAT! I really enjoyed this Arthurian-esque story. Twists I didn't see coming would have great cinematic possibilities.

It shows to be a very interesting story. I could not get past halfway since I've been in a reading rut, BUT the potential is there. I'm planning to reread it again, because I know its a good book.

I think this is will be the next YA fantasy? Yes, I think, if people don't sleep on it. Everything in this book is wonderful. I recommend this one.

A beautifully eloquent gem of a novel sure to set off a striking career for Deonn from this point forward.

DNF. I desperately WANTED to love this book, but I just couldn't. That said, I don't think that's any fault of the book, which is well-constructed and breathes new life into familiar tropes. I think it's just time for me to give up on this kind of urban fantasy - I just can't appreciate it properly.

This one really is me, not you!

Calling all King Arthur fans, this book will be your newest obsession. I’ve come across a lot of interpretations of the legend of King Arthur, but this one is the most unique. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I think you will too.

The main character of this book is Bree Matthews, a 16-year-old who has just lost her mother. Now, she’s attending classes at UNC as part of the early college program with her best friend. Bree has dreamed of getting into this program, but it’s jaded now by her mom’s disapproval. Bree and her mom hadn’t had a chance to resolve their argument before her mom died in a car accident. Now, she’s at UNC, but it’s not like she pictured. One day, she comes across magic and demons, and she realizes that UNC really isn’t like she pictured.

That’s all I’ll say about the plot. My advice for readers is to always go in blind. It’s much more fun that way.

What I will say about this book is that it’s incredibly diverse and inclusive. Tracy Deonn shows what it’s like for a young black woman, like Bree, to grow up in the South. She discusses the history of slavery and how that still affects people to this day. She also includes a cast full of diverse representation. Bree’s best friend, Alice, is Taiwanese-American and lesbian. There are also two bi side characters, a gay character, and a non-binary character!

I only have two complaints about this book. My first complaint is that this book is pretty long, and it felt long. It’s 512 pages, and usually, I’m all for a long book–the bigger, the better– but the pacing in this book was a bit slow for me. I put this book down for a while because it wasn’t fully captivating my attention. However, don’t let this dissuade you from reading this book because the last 30% of the book was PHENOMENAL. I couldn’t put the book down. I had to see what would happen next. My second complaint is that there are a lot of tropes in this book. Like a lot. There is insta-love (though it’s written well), the chosen one trope, and a love triangle. Albeit, the love triangle doesn’t really start to form until the second half of the book. Oh, both of the love interests are also tropes. We have the golden boy on one side of the triangle, and the dark, mysterious bad boy on the other. Whoever will she choose?

I’m not a fan of love triangles–at all–so when my spidey senses started tingling, I prayed I was wrong. Alas, I was not. There will be a love triangle in the next book. *Sigh*

That being said, I thought this was a pretty solid debut. It’s also one of the best YA urban fantasy books I’ve read lately. I feel like there really aren’t that many YA urban fantasy books, which is sad because I adore that genre. This book is perfect for fans of the Legend of King Arthur, urban fantasy, and diverse books! If you fall into one of those categories, then you should pick this book up!

This book was spectacular. The world building in this book was so wonderful and fascinating. I loved all the characters and the plot was fast moving and action packed!

OMG. I could not put this book down and I need book two like right now. I absolutely LOVED this book. I'm a sucker for anything with King Arthur and this took that legend and turned it on its head and I enjoyed every minute. This is such a nice, refreshing take on the King Arthur mythos and would be a great book to pair with a unit on the King Arthur legend in a classroom. I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate it into mine. I cannot rave about this book enough. If you enjoy King Arthur myths, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. And if you don't, pick it up anyways. You won't regret it.

Solid first in a series. Bree is strong and believable. I also really liked the supporting cast. Although they weren’t racially diverse...and that was by design...they were diverse in other ways.

Recommended.

Legendborn is fantastic!! This cover is mind blowing. The story is creative and wonderful! I put this book off for a long time because it was such a long book. I am kicking myself for not reading it immediately! Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing and infuriating! The story, character development, and world building has me waiting for the next installment as I can’t wait to find out what happens. However, I found myself furious as the character was faced with many racist situations that are all too real in today’s society. No one deserves to be treated like this, fictional character or not. I hope people pick this book up and fall in love with the story as I did!