I had really high hopes for this book. The summary was intriguing and I love the cover. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. I never could get invested in any of the characters and I struggled with the writing. It was very off putting and some of the dialogue/descriptions were cringy.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Brittaney Barfield for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book wasn't my cup of tea unfortunately, I had to dnf it @45%. It was cringy most of the times, and also I couldn't connect and like any of the characters.

It's hard for me to even give this book a review because there were so many things wrong with it. The narrative was always changing from one scene to the next and sometimes the characterization didn't make sense. It would often cut off parts of the dialogue which made conversations really awkward. However, some scenes near the end were really well written so maybe they fixed whatever issues they had going on before?

Although overall this book was just 'okay', there were some notable parts that left me wanting more. The plot and development of the characters could have had more focus, but it seemed like everything took place really quickly so I never had time to sink into the story before it was over.

Though the pace of this book was largely acceptable, there were some points where the writing slowed down and lost its steam. There are also so many questions left unanswered. It felt a little rushed as well - like we weren't given enough time to explore both the relationships between people or learn about them properly. I'm glad we found out what happened at least though!

i don’t have a lot to say about this one. i enjoyed the rep, and the writing style was all right, but it didn’t really manage to grab my attention. it was just an okay read, i guess.

(Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I was really looking forward to this as the plot sounded so good, but by the end, I was left bored and underwhelmed.

The plot had so much potential with all the secret society stuff but everything happened so quickly and felt super rushed. All the evidence/secrets were found too conveniently which made things seem unrealistic. The characters were very surface-level with no depth and I wasn’t really attached to any of them. This meant that when tense things were happening, I wasn’t rooting for anyone. As for the writing, it felt very Wattpad-y. It was rough and awkward and none of the conversations between the characters flowed well.

I did really want to like this book but I think it tried to fit too much in (especially as the book is just over 200 pages) which left the plot and characters feeling very flat and with no depth.

This book is fast-paced, fun, and spooky. I liked the author’s descriptions of the campus and students, which felt like a look into an exclusive college life few will get to experience. The mysteries kept on coming, and the way the characters bonded, while rushed, felt true to college life where friendships are so important when you’re far away from family. The ending left me wanting more, and I can’t wait to keep on reading about Brielle and her adventures.

When Brielle starts attending Arceneaux Way University, a prestigious HBCU, she’s hoping to find connections to her past. Her mother, who died when Brielle was just a baby, attended the university, and when Brielle starts looking for those connections, she gets way more than she bargained for. Along with her high energy, fun-loving roommate, Brielle explores campus life, starts her classes (she is a science prodigy!), and starts making friends.

But any comfort in routine Brielle starts to feel is rocked when she is tapped for a mega-exclusive secret order, the W.X. Society. Along with her pledge class, she’ll have to push herself mentally and physically, figure out who she can trust, and keep it all a secret from anyone outside of the organization. When Brielle discovers her mom was also part of the W.X. Society, strange things start to happen – shadows lurking, gaps in her memory, and a possible lead on her father’s identity.

3.5/5 stars

I would suggest this book for anyone who loved Tracy Deon's Legendborn series, but are more interested in science fiction than fantasy.

Tapped By Legacy is set in the modern day world at a Historical Black College/University (HBCU) that has pioneered futuristic scientific advancements. The main character, Brielle, is a legacy student. Her mother attended ACW before her mysterious and untimely death during her senior year. The story follows Brielle's adventure at her first year at her mother's alma mater as she tries to uncover why her mother died. She slowly learns about a secret society run at the university and goes through the initiation after she discovers her mom was a high ranking member. I can tell you one thing, you truly will not see the end coming.

Although I liked the book on a whole, I don't really think it ranks that high on my list of recommendations. I thought that the book was just too short. There is a long background of Brielle and her mother, and the initiation into the secret society. When the action starts to unfold, the twists were exciting don't get me wrong, but not as fully explained as I think the author good have done. The main antagonist in the book goes from "eh that's suspicious" to full on psychopath to suddenly for my enjoyment. I think there was a lost opportunity to expand on the villain.

The absolute PRO of the book which make it definitely worth reading is the representation for young black femme-aligned people. It is a great showcase of black excellence, without gentrifying or policing how the characters speak. I'm not qualified to comment much further on this as I'm not in the BIPOC community, so I suggest searching reviews from people who are if you're interested in a different take.

Thank you to the publisher for approving my request for an e-arc, in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the synopsis I was intrigued, and I really like the cover. Then when I started reading it, I wanted to DNF it a few times, unfortunately.

Positives:
✦ The plot was interesting. I like reading about secret societies and books that sets in universities. Although, this book focuses mainly on the mc initiation process for the secret society. Less on the university life- except for attending parties. I can't remember a single part where the mc went to class.
✦ HBCU setting.

Negatives:
✦ The writing was very disappointing. The over describing was awkward, and the dialogues were cringey. Reminded me of something I'd read on Wattpad. The writing was what made it hard to read this book.
✦ I dislike the mc- Brielle, for someone who supposed to be smart, she wasn't very...smart. Also, Rylee, Brielle's roommate was so annoying! Brielle lowkey disliked her too.

I lost a full day to this book , I was so engrossed that I did not realise how long I had been reading. We ended up having pasta for tea as it got too late to make a more elaborate meal. Very enjoyable book.

I loved this book, I devoured it in one night. I loved the atmospheres present, the places but above all the characters of this story. it is a story that has good potential, perfect for those who are struggling with their first readings in English and who especially need something that flows very much. this story strangely managed to capture me and managed not to be distracted in any way. thank you Natgalley for this ARC and I look forward to reading the rest of this book as well.

This was such a twisty and turny read and I loved every minute of it! It was such an interesting concept that was expertly executed.

I love reading about secret societies, but this book unfortunately just didn't do it for me. Loads of potential, but I found the characters were actually pretty flat and I got a bit lost with parts of the plot. Overall, not a book I particularly enjoyed!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Genuinely hate to be so negative about this book in the review to come, but i could sense from the first page the writing was very clunky and awkward and even conversation didn't seem natural at all. I almost DNFed several times throughout this book but persevered till about halfway so that i could actually say i gave it a go.

Let's start with things i actually liked
- there was a lot of potential with this plot (it reminded me a bit of ninth house but based in an HBCU which really intrigued me bc all black cast >>)
- HBCU setting

Now, things i didn't like so much
- the writing; i am no professional but it felt super clumsy and generally bad with 'or something' and other phrases continuously repeated throughout. words like 'dope' and phrase like 'the exit and i face each other'
- worldbuilding; she mentioned the idea of holograms but all other tech was basic stuff, so i have no idea if this was set in the modern world, the future or if it was meant to be smth else?
- did she hate her friend? i honestly don't know. there was tension between them the whole time with really snarky jabs like 'she always needs attention' and the mini-argument about wearing makeup
- that scene in the beginning where there was just a chunky description of her doing an experiment? felt like i was in a chem lesson lmao and we were being given instructions, also it doesn't seem realistic at all? that she just steals a sample of some unknown substance and discovers what it is within 2 tests and can just access labs to conduct her mini study - like what?
- general descriptions made me feel like i was on wattpad and conversation v. cringey i.e."let's call it a truce, little ms. boxer"
- overall ridiculous ideas; the fact that experiments her MOTHER was involved in like 20 years prior are still occurring in the exact same way? also the random bursting into tears with no buildup
- no emotional attachment to any characters and did not care at all about anything that was happening

Ahhhh I really, really enjoyed this book! It was so unique and it kept me engrossed the entire time!

Keeps you on edge! Couldn’t put this down. Each time I thought I knew what lies at the center of this thriller, I found out there was so much more to the mystery. Read this now

This book is really good! It is unpredictable and there are so many twists. I can't wait for the sequel

I found this a really enjoyable read. The characters were well developed and I found myself rooting for them and in particular Brielle. The atmosphere of this book was so goo dand there were lots of twists and unpredictability. I can't wait to read the next one.

(Rating: 2.5 stars) Tapped By Legacy seemed really interesting; I’m always up for delving into secret societies within elite universities, rigorous initiation processes, and darkness lurking beneath a carefully curated facade. However, I personally felt that this book was rather underwhelming. A lot of strange things happened but hardly any questions are answered by the end of the book, although I do recognise that this is the first book in a series so I’m sure more will be revealed in the later books. Regardless, I still felt that I was given too little to work with, even with the promise of more to come. I wasn’t really a fan of the romance either because it involved a love triangle, something I’m not crazy about. Furthermore, I couldn’t bring myself to feel much for any of the characters or relationships in the book. Again, maybe I’m being too quick to judge since this is the first in a series and things are bound to be underdeveloped—if you’re looking for a story about a mysterious secret society and want something quick and easy to sink your teeth into, this might be for you!

College freshman Brielle attends the illustrious Arceneaux Way University. On a date with her crush, she witness a hospital patient vomits out sticky black gloo. Brielle sets out to learn about the substance . She is invited to join the W.X Society—a secret organization for Black elite somehow connected to hermother . She joins them to discover the truth. This book has a lot of twist and turns . Brielle is a character that is easy to root for . I'm excited for what comes next.

Okay first off. You can’t just leave me hanging. I NEED THE SEQUEL.

This story is so good. I have so many questions now lol but I loved Brielle and how fiercely loyal she is to her family and friends, a lot of the twists I did not see coming and I can’t wait to read the sequel.