I wasn't sure what to think of this book initially and even though the first half I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it. It is hard to create something that feels new and interesting in relation to Arthurian myth, and Tracy Deonn has done a very good job of that. In creating the world of her novel she has utilized the stories of Arthur to both claim and disrupt traditional narratives. There is so much going on in this book in terms of what it deals with and presents to the reader.

Bree, our heroine, has suffered the loss of her mother and has not fully processed it. This was an area that I felt the book shined in particular with how Bree processed this loss. What made this work was the inner thoughts that were given to Bree which weren't always in line with her actions and the way in which she was surrounded by people who cared for her allowed us to see the complexity of processing the early loss of a parent.

The book opens with Bree having newly arrived for an early college program at what is a Southern legacy type of college. We meet her at a pre-semester party where she accidentally gets sucked into events beyond her control. Immediately we are presented with a scene establishing that Bree's presence as a young black woman will be a major component of this book. Representation and inclusivity throughout the book are excellent overall, although occasionally I felt a few things were heavy-handed in the internal monologues making it unclear if these were moments that were really interior or exposition meant to regularly remind the readers that Bree was Black, something that the plot and other characters surrounding her were very much predicated on how Bree sees herself and is seen by others in the places she finds herself, specifically a well-established secret society - that, of course, turns out to be connected to the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table. I greatly appreciated that Bree's experiences as a Black woman encompass and acknowledge a range of both negative and positive moments that consistently feel genuine and real.

Within this secret society, Bree is surrounded by students, just a few years older than her, waiting to be called into service as the descendants of various Knights of the Round Table. There are quite a few characters here and I think a bit more could have been done to make some of them more clearly defined. Bree ends up competing to become a squire in order to solve a mystery surrounding her mother's death. Bree pulls Nick back into this secret society world even though he has (sensibly) tried to leave it behind because of their past actions. Bree falls for Nick, but there are, as in any YA, complications and the prospect of what may be, if not a potential love triangle, then further difficulties based on Nick's protective and somewhat mysterious not-friend/bodyguard. .

The writing here is quite strong, mixing both highly imaginative and very visual action sequences with humor and moments of contemplation. I enjoyed the set up of the way that magic works in this world and it makes the ending reveal work beautifully. In some ways, however, I am more excited for the next book to come as, while fun, a good portion of this did feel like an expository set up for further action.

Whether in the end this will be more of a King Arthur retelling (see above potential love triangle) or simply inspired by these legends remains to be seen, but Deonn has created a unique and fun YA legend inspired fantasy with a lot of further promise.

Advanced reader copy via the publisher and Net Galley.

This action-packed debut holds nothing back as it burst onto the YA scene with an unputdownable retelling of the classic Arthurian legend. Legendborn is an emotional rollercoaster ride as it pulls you through a world full of mystery, swoon-worthy romance, and rage-inducing scenes. Bree is truly the protagonist we’ve needed, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in. She’s powerful, and it’s an honour to follow her at the beginning her journey!

My full review will be out on Geek Declassified on September 14, 2020

Legendborn is a contemporary fantasy about a girl named Bree Matthews discovering a secret society made up of descendants of King Arthur's knights, and she is certain they are connected to her mother's death. A magical war is coming, and Bree will do whatever it takes to discover the truth.
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This book is amazing and I was hooked from page one! Bree is kind, thoughtful, and courageous--if a little headstrong--and I felt her sadness, her anger, and her joy. Following her on her journey made me relive some of my (often hurtful and exhausting) college experiences--I know what it's like to be the only black kid in the room, to have my worth questioned, to wonder if I truly belong in spaces that originally weren't made for me. This book took those recurring insecurities that black people still face to this day, balled them up, and ignited them in mage fire. Bree is here, she is not sorry, and she is ready to make a change!
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Legendborn is full of legends, black girl magic, and blossoming friendships. It has monsters, both human and demonic, acknowledged and unacknowledged blood, and hard truths. It is a beautiful fantasy book by a black author, a book that I wish I could go back and give to 11-year-old Sydney and let her know that in time she will see more of her brown face and big hair in the genre that she loves most. It is a story about grief, about acceptance, and about love.

From the very first words of the Prologue, Deonn grabs you with her poetic and captivating language. There are many moments of heavy, beautifully written, and gripping prose that tugs at your heartstrings. There were multiple instances where I reread passages simply to appreciate the way in which Deonn wrote them. The way in which the Arthurian lore is woven into the story is ingenious. It’s a fresh and exciting take on a well-known legend, and the mix or lore and magic was fascinating and highly engaging. I’ll be doing a full written review on blog, where I will continue to gush (IN DETAIL) about this book, so be on the look out! I’m excited for the sequel!

First of all, I’d like to thank Hear Our Voices Book Tours and the publisher for sending me a finished copy of this book to review!
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I don’t even know how to encapsulate just how amazing this book was. Yes, it’s a King Arthur retelling, but it is also so. much. more!!! The way the author tackled topics such as microaggressions, racism, stolen Black history, grief, generational trauma, and more so seamlessly throughout the book was truly amazing. I found myself wanting to highlight quotes throughout the whole book. Another thing about this book that really resonated with me was Bree’s awareness of taking up space in her predominantly white surroundings while being Black. As someone who currently attends a PWI, I identified with Bree’s acknowledgement of spaces that were not made for her.
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I really enjoyed reading about the magic system(s) in this world. The pacing of the action in the story was amazing and the last few chapters had me at the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to read more about this world and this story in the future! If you’re looking to read a contemporary fantasy story with so much more to offer than magic, I highly recommend Legendborn!

I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up being just an okay read for me. The writing style is lovely and I really liked Bree, but in the end, I just struggled too much to grasp and keep all of the details of the magical system straight in my head. I think it's just a me thing though and that most readers will adore this King Arthur retelling.

This is an incredible work by Tracy Deonn featuring Bree Matthews, a student accepted to college early. As if dealing with the transition to collegiate life, negotiating a white world as a Black person, and flailing in the grief of her mothers death wasn't enough, Arthurian legend is very real and she is a part of it. After a misguided trip to the quarry where every one jumps in to let off steam, Bree is caught up in a battle between otherworldly creatures and otherworldly people except the next day she is the only one who remembers. That trip catapults her into Nick Davis' orbit and the discovery that the legends of King Arthur are very real and very deadly.

Deonn writes a world that carefully balances the alarmingly real pain of being ostracized or worse for being Black and managing grief with fantasy of mythic proportions. This work is a brilliant addition to any collection and should be celebrated.

Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn is a crackling debut novel that will enthral readers with mysterious secret societies, deeply realistic characters, and a twisting plot that will surprise you all the way until the last pages of the book.

After her mother dies in a car accident, Bree Matthews keeps the grief from swallowing her whole by separating from her old self. When she begins attending UNC Chapel Hill, her mother’s former college, as part of an Early College program, Bree suddenly finds herself thrown into a new world beyond anything she knew was real. A world that is somehow tied to her mother’s past and death. With the help of the absolutely charming Nick and the absolutely aggravating Selwyn, Bree uncovers secrets about herself and her heritage that have been hidden for generations. But as it always is with magic, there is a cost.

There are books that will stick in reader’s minds for days and months and years to come, and after finishing Legendborn, I am positive this will be one of those books. Deonn’s writing is nothing short of impactful. Whether she is making a slight dig at a popular vampire story or shining a spotlight on racism Black people face daily, every single word Deonn writes hits an emotion. I cannot think of another book I have ever read that has been so well balanced with fantasy and modern day realities.

Drawing from her time studying at UNC Chapel Hill, Deonn is able to craft an intensely real setting for the reader. And within the worldbuilding, Deonn brings everything that is real about life for Black people in the South. To walk on land where enslaved people built the very buildings you are in is not something any should have to endure, but Deonn brings Bree’s experiences to the page in a way that will strike chords with many readers. The stark realities about the South are woven into the story, not for shock or education, but because they are real and should not be ignored.

Bree Matthews is the kind of main character I want to see more of. She is not defined by any one aspect of herself, but multifaceted and imperfect. Bree is powerful as a human, but begins to find new powers and aspects of herself as she grows throughout the story. She has confidence and doubts and poor reactions and incredibly smart moments and so much more. So often, when we are presented with a female main character in a YA fantasy novel, she is all powerful and knows how to kill a man 17 different ways with a toothpick, and that’s fine, but it’s not real. Bree is real. She is so real that while reading, I found myself tearing up just from feeling her emotions. I can’t even remember the last time a book has done that to me.

The one aspect of the book that may trip some readers up is the secret society structure While it is easy to get lost in the intricacies of The Order’s ways, there is never a moment when it isn’t interesting. There is a lot going on within The Order, and though it can be hard to navigate, Deonn always keeps the line of what we need to know for the story in the forefront. And while the magic within The Order is interesting, the real star in the magic of this story is the Rootcraft. For the sake of spoilers, I won’t go into it in this review, but the way Deonn weaves Rootcraft into the story is so well done and I look forward to watching Bree learn more about it.

There is so much to love in Legendborn and I feel that if I were to lay everything out in a single review, we’d be here for days. Being a constant reader of YA novels, I sometimes feel like I’ve seen and felt it all, but Legendborn rekindled that fire in me that burns for stories that are outside my own experience. Bree and Tracy’s story will stay with me for a long time and I believe I am not the only one who will feel that way.

Simply put, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is one of the best books I have ever read.

I read 90% of this (lengthy) book in one sitting, that's how good it was. I basically couldn't put it down. The cover and description drew me in, though I'm not usually interested in Arthurian retellings. This, though, was so much more than that, though it delivered on the fantasy elements and then some. I can't gush about it the way I'd like to without major spoilers, as it's the twists and climax that really sealed this as a 5-star read for me, but I will say that the novel deals with race, racism against Black folks in particular, Euro-centrism, and the legacy of slavery in the US in very clear, heartbreaking but ingenious, and never didactic ways. I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy when it's out, and I can barely wait for the sequel! [Review based on an e-ARC.]

I enjoyed this book. Legendborn is the epitome of the slogan "Black Girl Magic." Bree is a strong brown skin girl that every black woman can relate to. She's smart, mildly spicy, and clever. She's also a bit of a hothead if crossed with ignorant comments about her sex and race. I so appreciated how Deonn dealt with the topic of racism and prejudice. Do you know the feeling of stepping into a Caucasian-majority room and eyes pinpoint you like pickings on a lineup? lineup? Do you know what it feels like for people to automatically assume you’re angry because of your passionate dialog? Do you know the feeling of people assuming you're poor because you might use social assistance to get closer to where you need to be? Deonn hits all the trigger points of microaggression black women tolerate every single day. I get so sick of hearing that Black females have so much sass and attitude, and I'm just thankful that Deonn didn't express us negatively.

I do have a love/hate relationship with how the story was told. Deonn weaved a very intricate tapestry, in which the final product came out dazzling. Never mind the SAT choice words I had to hurdle through to get there. Each thread represented a missing piece to Bree's investigation. At times I felt it overwhelming, but Deonn was able to tie all the sub-stories together. It was interesting to see how she blended the famous medieval King Arthur Tale with southern generational lore. I wasn't sure how she was going to wrap it all up in the end, but the climax was worth it! I don't care that she left us with a cliffhanger!

WOW! What a great book! I don’t really know if I’m completely out of my slump, but I appreciate books that make you want to read. I’ve noticed a pattern with things I’ve been reading amor watching lately. They all have something to do with King Arthur. Looks like I’m gonna have to read up that again. I love a good YA book & Tracy you did that. Full of demons, magic, and your basic human teenagers. There’s diversity...I love use of pronouns. We have a couple of they/them in there! The book explores ancestry roots & colonizing magic. I highly recommend if you like any of the things I’ve said above.

Legendborn takes all of the tropes we think e know about YA Fantasy and absolutely flips them on their head. A Bold, unflinching powerhouse of a book that brings Black Girl Magic into Arthuriana. Everyone should read this.

Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books & Hear Our Voices Book Tours for this advanced copy in exchange for a review.

“Legends are dangerous, Bree. Don’t underestimate them.”

I love when I go into a story for one thing and leave with much more than I could have ever imagined to ask for - this was definitely one of those stories.

What a beautiful blend of Arthurian legend and Black Girl Magic this was! 😍 I was already drawn to this for my connection to Bree and the setting (wash days, UNC, Bojangles & Bo-Berry biscuits 😋), but I wasn’t prepared for how hard the topic of matrilineal ancestry was going to hit me. I’m extremely close with my mom and know I would be a wreck if I experienced even a fraction of Bree’s grief, so that was a lot. Aside from that, there’s so much going on with all the action and relationships between the characters that I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

I haven’t fully formed my reaction to this adventure yet, but wanted to take time to gush over how much I loved it and appreciated seeing myself in another fantasy setting. I look forward to seeing what happens next with Bree and the rest of the Legendborn.

I never. In my life. Thought I would accidentally stumble across a book. That SEAMLESSLY mixes the legend of King Arthur and the Knight of the Round table (should that be capital?) AND the history of the African American people. WHO DECIDES TO DO THAT? I'll tell you. Tracy Deonn, and thank Buddha for her!!!

Deonn brings us a story about Bree a girl who's recently lost her mother in a car accident right after they had an argument and is haunted by her last actions. When Bree sees something she can't explain the event triggers a memory, and the night of her mothers death wasn't as she remembered. As Bree journeys to learn the truth about her mothers death she finds a secret society, mystery, friendship, love, and because there are always folks trying to crush black girl magic, she find micro-aggression (as if that's going to stop us).

What I love about Bree is that she manages to be strong, immovable, and defiant in a way that I love, while also showing us a vulnerability and pain that was so real and raw and absolutely deserving of her character and situation. Magic knight spirits aside, Bree was a real character. It would have been so easy for her to be too tough or too weepy or too... something, but she was a well rounded, full realized person. And gosh darn it, I liked her.

There was a time when one could read a book about a black character (typically female) immersed in a white space and her blackness was almost erased. But with Bree, we have a girl who address the amount of time it takes to wash, condition, and twist your hair. For those who don't know it take HOURS. It's nice to see someone who calls out their friends when they stick their hands in your hair WITHOUT ASKING. It's also nice to see someone who is so taken aback by a micro (macro) aggression and is frozen in shock because... it happens. Even the sassiest of us (that's me) can be shocked into silence.

I can't say a lot about this book without giving things away but I would like to take a moment to say that I knew a thing was happening, but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but I'm still pretty proud of myself. Also full disclosure, it looks like there's going to be a second book so don't expect a neat ending.

I'll be buying this book. In fact I've pre-ordered it! Folks! We have a new contender for favorite book of 2020.

Wow. Just WOW. It's taken me a while this year to be hooked on fantasies, but Legendborn hooked me fully from start to finish!

This is YA Fantasy excellence!! I loved Bree as a main character, she's smart, clever, and gets MAD mad. I loved so many things about this book!! The mystery, the magic, ZE ROMANCE!!! I was over giggling over a hug (what is wrong with me). I loved the way slavery and Bree's ancestors was weaved into this story. It really made me emotional. I also loved Nick. I am a nick stan. Sel was.....being Sel but I did understand him more towards the end (I still would sell him for a corn chip but that's my business). I don't know really anything know anything about king arthur but I was still able to keep up really easily!! I already preordered the physical book and I can't wait to HOLD IT AND just STARE at this beautiful cover.

Legendborn is exactly what I hope for when I pick up a new book. It was filled with mystery, heartache, hard truths, laughter, friendship, romance and so much more. In this fantastic retelling of the legend of King Arthur I was immersed in a magical world with secret societies that I couldn’t get enough of.

I loved the characters in this book. I could have used a little more of Bree’s best friend Alice in this story and I’m hoping to see a lot more of her in the sequel. Nick and Sel were both compelling characters with so much history that I want to learn more about. The pages, scions and everyone in the Order were well developed and you could tell there was so much effort put into creating their stories, histories, and traits.

Bree is such a fantastic character. She is fiercely loyal, determined, had the best banter and I just loved her. This book embraces a lot of fantasy tropes that you expect in YA fantasy stories but also includes many of the areas where the genre needs to continue to grow with regard to new perspectives and voices. The author created a book that felt inclusive in its representation while taking on issues of racism and sexism in a very direct way through Bree’s story.

Once I picked up this book I couldn’t put it down and found myself sneaking time to read “just a little more” throughout the day so that I could find out what would happen next. I highly recommend Legendborn and I can’t wait to read the sequel!

I avoid King Arthur stories, nothing against the guy but the whole knights of the round table thing has never really appealed to me.

I actually decided to read this when I saw a blurb that described it akin to City of Bones and while I can see the similarities in the beginning it’s A LOT more than that.

The world was hard to wrap my head at first, I had difficult understanding the scions, the pages and all the lore that built this story. It took a little less than half way for it to click for me but when it clicked it was GOOD. As soon as I understand all the rules that needed to be followed I understood everything but we definitely need a family tree in the next book at least because understanding how all these characters connect was mind jumbling.

Bree, Bree was a great character, her grief, her anger was so authentic and how she connected to after-Bree and before-Bree was so deep. Her quest to understand what happened to her mom and her drive to save her new friends was what made the story. How she stood up for herself and her race time and time again. GOING OFF ON TOR at the end! HELL YA!

I totally saw the plot twist because you can’t be a main character and not a main character if you know what I mean but what I didn’t see was the twist of what was really happening with her mother. What ended up being her destiny and how that came to be hurt and was so powerful.

Now the boys, the boys in this... it’s so YA and I love it. We have Nik, the golden boy literally he's the next King Arthur, blonde hair, blue eyes, of course he has a good body and of course he is into Bree because why wouldn’t he she is a badass.
Sel, on the other hand is his opposite (totally YA) he is the dark prince to the golden king, no they aren’t related. Sel is all black, bad boy, no one is allowed in his club because he’s misunderstood and no one understands except... you guessed Bree.

The book itself I have no complaints for, there was the basic YA tropes but that’s what makes books. Legendborn was able to flip all the basic tropes on their and make them good.

It also had really good representation I hope to see more of in the next book.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU @HEAROURVOICESTOURS FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO READ THIS BOOK, AND BE A PART OF THE BOOK TOUR. I got my e-ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via Netgalley.

I'd wanted to read this book since I saw it featured in a Netgalley article. It has SUCH a beautiful cover *BLACK GIRL MAGIC* and the story is everything! It's full of so many amazing elements. It's deeply emotional and touches on so many deeply triggering topics! I love the characterization, world building, storytelling, romance, and every single thing about this book.

BLACK GIRL MAGIC: Bree, the main character, is EVERYTHING! I find myself falling in love with female protagonists in the YA Fantasies I've read this year, and I can see why. They're so well written and so fleshed out. Bree is no exception. I want to wrap Bree up in the warmest hug and give her satin pillows to rest her weary head on. My good sis went through it in this book, and I loved how she dealt with her issues and her resilience. She had her struggles and her guilt and her regrets and her moments of self doubt, but she became so much better for everything she went through! I also love how much of Bree's hair and hair care was talked about in this book. Wash day, the need for satin scarves, a "don't touch my hair" moment, GIVE ME ALL OF THAT!

The World Building: In Legendborn, Tracy Deonn retells the Arthurian legend with a modern (and historic) twist, tying it all the way to slave trade and racism. There's a *very complicated* magic and hierarchy system, and it was hard to get used to the different words and terms for each person, rank, and creature. Once I got into the flow of things, it was smooth sailing from there! There are different forces at war in this book, and different spheres of magical worlds that collide over the course of the book.

The Romance: Ouuuu, the romance in this book was so beautifully written and even though I always roll my eyes at the golden boy - heroine - bad boy triangle, I actually love how subtle it was in this book, and how it was pronounced without really being defined.

Bestie goals: At the beginning of the book, I was majorly side eyeing Bree because it seemed like she totally abandoned her childhood bestie because of her quest. As things played out and she found her way back to Alice, their friendship became one of my favorite things about the book! That one scene where Alice thought Bree had been molested, and she said "I'll believe you". My heart. 💕

Some important issues discussed by the author in this book are racism and sexism, and very often, these two themes intertwined. Bree had to deal with a lot of racist bs from her Dean at uni and even the police, and female Legendborn are often undermined by Shadowborn and fellow members of the order. The entire concept of The Order of the Rose is also a load of sexist bs, and I'm glad that in present day, there are female Scoins being Called by their knights.

Slavery, ownership of slaves, and the maltreatment of these slaves was also explored by Deonn, and some of these parts were really really hard to read - rape, whippings, and mass unmarked graves.

I'm so so glad I got the chance to read this book. I'm gonna take several moments to stew in this book, cause the final chapters took me tf out, but I need book two YESTERDAY. Y'all need to read Legendborn, so you definitely should Pre-order it. It's out on the 15th of September!!!

This book is extraordinary in so many ways. Arthuriana is a well trod mythos, but this really blows it apart. I thought the idea of having Arthurian goings-on crop up in a college secret society was incredibly clever. There's so much else about this book that I thought was so ingeniously conceived, but lots of it's spoilery. What I will say is that this book really takes the idea of chosen one, legacy, lineage, all that stuff and deconstructs it in fascinating ways.

The one thing that knocked it down to four stars for me was the storytelling itself. This is a personal preference thing, but this book has long action scenes, and long exposition sections, and the way that's all portioned out didn't always work for me. And this is a book with a huge cast of characters, very complicated worldbuilding, and a lot of Welsh thrown in. It was a lot!

I also want to say that I enjoy that this book had an element of romance. Some people don't like their tough teen girls to have romance, but you know what, tough teen girls can have it all!

***Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.***