Legendborn follows our main character Bree, a 16 year old grieving the death of her mother, who moves away to a prestigious pre-college program with her best friend Alice.

On her first night there, Bree witnesses a magical attack by a demon. A failed attempt to wipe her mind makes Bree realise this is not the first time this has happened to her, memories start to come back from the night her mother died. She will stop at nothing to find out who was responsible for her mom’s death and why they tried to cover it up.

I have to say I’m a little disappointed with this book. Although there were some parts I liked, it has so much potential to be great but it fell short for me..

Things I didn’t like-

-The pacing
It was so off throughout the entire book. Some chapters were painfully slow to get through while others felt rushed.

-All the info-dumping
I feel like the author tried to create an intricate magical world but she didn’t execute it well. I was so lost through most of the countless paragraphs of info-dumping that I ended up skimming through or skipping them completely.

-The lack of world building
I feel like this was such a missed opportunity! Yes we saw lots of various demons and had lots of info-dumping about the secret society/Order, however the actual world building was nonexistent.

-The characters
I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters (except Sel & William). I possibly might have liked Alice but we just didn’t see enough of her, especially considering she was supposed to be the best friend, she was a side character if that.

-The love triangle/romance
Although Nick was a nice guy, he was just bland. I didn’t feel the connection/instalove between them even though it took up more of the book than I expected. I did like Sel though and felt myself rooting for him & Bree to be together.

Things I did like-

-The diversity
It was good to see a book with a black MC, sadly I haven’t read enough books with black main characters. I also feel like there aren’t enough black authors in mainstream YA. I appreciate that the author didn’t shy away from including the micro aggressions & racism that Bree faced (and no doubt she has faced herself throughout her life).

-The action scenes towards the end
I enjoyed this part the most out of the whole story (although I’m still undecided how I feel about the reveal).

-The beautiful cover

Overall, this was a really hard one for me to review. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as fantastic as I expected either. It did give me much to mull over afterwards so that’s got to be a positive.

2.5 stars (rounded to 3)

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely stunning. Right from the get go I was completely captivated and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. A great, well rounded cast of characters. Adventure. Mystery. Peril. This book has everything. I loved the take on the legend of Arthur and am eagerly awaiting book 2!

Legendborn- the Arthur and the knight of the round table retelling we knew we wanted, and knew we needed.

Words cannot express the dexterity displayed by Deonn in her beautiful portrayal of Bree- a grieving daughter who is desperate to find out answers about her mothers death.

Not only does it give us realistic representation of POC teenager in the south of the USA, but it also knocks you to the ground with the kind of magic that love, and the loss of it, can become part of someone, and change them for the better.

Legendborn is finally a modern day retelling of the world of ancient England's greatest hero, and one that won't leave you stumbling in the dirt if you haven't already been aware of its mythos and terms.

Truly a masterpiece, I will be buying myself a physical copy as well to both support the author and her fabulous story! I cannot wait for the sequel because Legendborn leaves you wanting MORE, MORE, MORE!!

A great start for a new fantasy series. I loved everything in this story: the world building, the character development and the excellent storytelling.
i loved how the author did an excellent job in delivering a retelling of the the Arthurian legends and updated it.
I can't wait to read the next story as this one was gripping and highly entertaining.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This YA King Arthur retelling was a complete breath of fresh air for me. I quickly became in love with the characters and was pulled in by the whole concept. I must admit, throughout the story I was finding myself a bit confused and I couldn't really take in what things meant but I think that's my own problem for not delving deeper and researching it to give me a bit more knowledge. I absolutely adored William as a character and I honestly would just love to see more of him! Bree was such a bad-ass queen and I love her! Also, can we just appreciate Sel??? Boooooy, every time he appeared on the page I was so excited to see what was going to happen. I honestly fell in love with him. If you're a fan of Fantasy and King Arthur or are just looking for book with a kick-ass female main character, then please do not hesitate in picking it up! You will not be disappointed.

Legendborn is a must-read YA fantasy of 2020. If this book isn’t already on your radar, I’m telling you that you need to rectify that immediately.

Deonn has crafted such an epic tale, with expansive mythology and scale that combines an expert interrogation of societal issues and a tale of reclaiming your own identity in a world that wants to bury it. The brutal, blood drenched nature of colonialism and slavery forms a key component of the story, reminding us that historically we focus far too much on the white, Western narrative and continue the marginalisation and erasure of people from their own history and stories. Deonn tears apart the Arthurian myth and how it has entered the collective consciousness in a way that few other tales have managed to. She breathes new life into this old tale, giving it a much needed twenty-first century perspective. The group that Bree encounters is fundamentally build on ivory towers and the cloak of privilege that allows them to continue their flawed legacy. Contrasting this wonderfully is the other path that Bree encounters (no spoilers here) that focuses on family and reconnecting with your heritage, often coming from a place where that history has forcibly been ignored and forgotten. A lot of the book centres around history, be that familial or more extensive and I really enjoyed Deonn’s critiques of the whitewashing of history, often to conceal horrendous acts.

Another major theme of the novel is the exploration of grief. Personally, I found this to be such an authentic and emotional portrayal. Bree’s emotional vulnerability really helped me connect to her and overall, she is such a great protagonist. Her internal conflict drives most of her actions, but her tenacity and spirit always shines through. She proves that strength doesn’t always equate to physical characteristics. Her supporting cast of characters was also very interesting and three-dimensional, with plenty of intriguing abilities and stories of their own. They felt like real teenagers caught up in this whole mystical world, facing their own mortality and monsters. This allowed for more emotional impact, which Deonn capitalises on with some exquisite plot twists and moments that left me reeling. She hooks you in immediately and then never really lets you go, leaving you craving more.

Legendborn is an impactful, fantastically creative and relevant YA fantasy that will challenge and enthral you. It's the shake-up YA fantasy needs and is long overdue.

Absolutely fantastic, I couldn’t put this down, it was a completely addictive fast paced read. I love how the author mixes Arthurian myth and African-American , such a wonderful creativity the author has. The characters are amazing and fully developed and three dimensional. This is an enthralling read and I look forward to more in the future

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

'But when your entire world is shattering, a little bit of magic is . . . nothing.'

Oh but it is Bree!

This story is just utterly fab. I'm trying to write the words to justify it but my brain is just blank because I'm not sure I could conjure up the words! (See what I did there, conjure!!)

This was an Arthurian legend retold but with a powerful message, well more than one really. It was fascinating and totally gripped me. You know when you sit there and all these theories run through your head and then you dismiss them by the next paragraph? That was me!

That ending though. I thought my heart was going to rip through my chest, it was beating so fast!

Utterly, utterly brilliant.

I have to give this book an A*! It was amazing from beginning to end! Firstly, the whole magic world was throughly researched and explained throughout the book. I never felt lost and I was learning the rules and history at the same time as Bree. I was immersed into this world and I never wanted to leave.

The wonderful Bree is the epitome of Black girl magic. She is strong, powerful, courageous, intelligent and caring. She wants to find out the truth surrounding her mother’s death and the Order which seems to have a strong connection to her past and present. Her journey towards the truth is mixed with new beginnings, love and friendship from Nick and all of the budding students at UNC and historical events, slavery and the consequences thereafter. We are able to see how the colonisers affected her families bloodline by introducing forbidden magic into their lives through curses. It is an extraordinary tale and I can’t recommend it enough. 5/5

This book was everything I wanted and more. Legendborn is now one of my favourites of 2020 and such an amazing spin on the classic tale of legend of King Arthur. Full of magic, mystery and demons, this story will have you on the edge of your seat and needing more.

I loved Bree so much as a main character. She was strong, fierce and most of all realistic and relatable. Bree closes herself off after the death of her mother and I loved watching as her character developed and opened up more. Her friendship with Alice, whilst rocky at points, was so fun to read and I loved the banter between the two.

I also loved the diversity in this book with Bree being black and Alice being Taiwanese-American and Lesbian. This book tackles racism and inequality, showing us how much discrimination Bree faces just because of the colour of her skin and also touches on the history of slavery which you don’t tend to see in YA fantasy.

My only issue with this book was the insta-love that is featured in this book. I’m not a big fan of this trope and sometimes find it incredibly annoying. However, Tracy Deonn wrote this trope in such a way that it didn’t frustrate me and in the end actually somewhat explained why the two felt so connected in the first place. However, not even this trope could stop me from loving this story and the world that has been created.

Compared to the likes of The Mortal Instruments, this is brilliant modern day fantasy full of intrigue and mystery. I thoroughly recommend this book if you love YA Fantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK Children’s for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

"Everything has two histories. Especially in the South."

I was so excited to get approved for this arc!! I loved the TV show Merlin when I was younger and while I have some Arthurian retellings on my TBR, I have never actually read one. Both the cover and the premise made me want to dive in.

The book follows sixteen-year-old Bree. After her mother was killed in a car accident, Bree accepts a place at UNC - Chapel Hill's Early College Program, the same university that her mother attended as a student. However, Bree's mom didn't want her to go and on her first night, Bree witnesses a demon. When the memory-wiping magic doesn't work on her, Bree unlocks another memory - a magic-user was present at the hospital when her mom died. Could it all be connected? Determined to uncover the truth, Bree infiltrates the Order of the Round Table and discovers the Legendborn.

First of all, Bree was amazing!! She was strong, stubborn and total badass. I loved the way she confronted the transparent and blatant racism which many of the Order exhibited towards her. This book never once shied away from America's colonial past and the sickening undertones which still exist in today's society. There were a number of strong LGBT+ characters and I loved the contrast between Rootcraft and Bloodcraft. Bree's grief never really disappeared and I admired her for agreeing to therapy. I thought the symptoms of PTSD and PCBD were really well explored, and should be touched upon more in YA fantasy.

The worldbuilding was really good as well. Initially, it was a little confusing, with all the squires, scions and pages but slowly, everything comes together and by the end of the book, the titles are easy to grasp. I did groan slightly when I realised there was a love triangle forming, but both Nick and Sel were well-evolved and I have no idea who, if any, Bree will end up with. For me, the romance was a little insta-love, which I am not a fan of. However, the pacing was good and the final battle scene had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the ending and cannot wait until the sequel is released!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the story of Bree Matthews following her mother’s death. Bree is accepted onto a programme at UNC-Chapel Hill for gifted high schoolers. Instead of being a peaceful place to escape her recent tragedy, Bree finds herself entangled with a magical secret society, who are the direct descendants of King Arthur’s Knights. Her dealings with the group help her remember previously forgotten memories surrounding her mother’s death and unlock the truth to so many mysteries.
*
This book transported me back to my teens when all I read was YA Fantasy lit. Would have loved it then and I love it now! Tracy’s fresh take on this medieval lore was so inventive and creative, it was a thing of beauty!💃🏾
*
Representation in the books you read is so important! It was great having a black female protagonist and I loved that it didn’t shy away from the idea that even in a magical world discrimination and racism aren’t suddenly devoid from society. Issues and struggles don’t disappear but are just as entrenched in institutions/organisations magical or otherwise.
*
That ending tho 👀Whatever I thought was going to happen, I was miles off and it’s better than anything I thought it would be!
*
Thanks again to @simonkidsuk and @netgalley for the ARC! Halfway through reading it, the book was published and I decided to get a physical copy for myself because I was enjoying it that much 😍 Excited for the next book in the series and to see how this world is further developed.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

So I received a copy from NetGalley to read, and by page 50 I had ordered my own copy to support the author as I LOVED it! I knew I would be fangirling over this book and want my own copy and with sequel to come I wanted it for my shelf for future rereads! I haven’t read any King Arthur retellings before but I do love the legend and have enjoyed tv and films about it.

This book was just incredible, it has everything I want from a book! Magic, mystery, action, adventure and a love connection! It is so intricately written with some twists I didn’t see coming! I do love Bree’s character, she is strong, clever and just takes no attitude. This book delves into how Bree copes with the grief and trauma of losing her Mother at a young age which in a note at the end of the book from the author (I love these!) she reveals how she drew from her own experiences with losing her Mother. She also explains the inspiration for Rootcraft to be African American history and spiritual traditions.

This author has been added to my ever growing Auto-buy list of authors! All I can say is BUY THIS BOOK! You won’t be disappointed 💜😀

5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅

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A fierce, explosive modern retelling with a twist, LEGENDBORN is a multifaceted, expansive story of mythic proportions.

Wow. This was a book and a half. With a fiercely independent heroine, world-building to make your heart sing, and characters you'll never want to forget, LEGENDBORN is high up there with one of the best debuts I've ever read, ever.

What makes LEGENDBORN stand out is its utterly unique world. Retellings of Arthur aren't new, but Deonn puts her own spin on it that encompasses deep ancestral bonds, racial inequality and intergenerational trauma. Without giving too much away, there are two different methods to the same magic system that is beautifully explained and interwoven. Bree is able to see two sides of the same coin and afforded the nuances to explore them.

The characters never feel like caricatures or plot devices. Bree herself was one of the best protagonists I've ever read; a real, feeling person with a complex personality and set of problems that she deals with over the course of the novel. Her grief is a driving force for the story, but never does it feel overplayed or cliché. It's simply one facet of her. She was so real she could've been standing next to me, narrating her life story in my ears as I read.

There's a love triangle-ish that I didn't hate! We're introduced swiftly to both Nick Davis, son of the LEGENDBORN leader for the North Carolina chapter, and Selwyn Kane, a magical bodyguard to Nick. I say love triangle-ish because nothing really comes to head in the love department; the boys argue over Bree, but it isn't done for her affections, but rather her safety, and she doesn't flakily seesaw between them just for kicks. That said, the chemistry between all three leads was so good, I could barely choose who I preferred the most.

The only thing that had me between four and five stars is the pacing. If you can stomach that this book is 120k already and sags in the middle, you'll also have to swallow the fact that everything takes place within a two, three week time span. It seemed like way too much to happen in so little time, especially considering the instant love that springs up from the ground like a fully-grown tree. Enjoyable? Yes. Realistic? Not so much, you'll have to suspend your disbelief quite a bit.

There's been commentary on the usage of the Chosen One trope as well. My opinion? I love it regardless, but LEGENDBORN utilised it perfectly. I'll never get tired of amazing characters being chosen for a higher purpose, especially when those characters are POC and/ or members of other marginalised communities who historically have not had their chance to be sword-swinging magic-wielding powerful heroes of their own right. Deonn adds enough originality to the trope that it didn't once feel tired or boring.

A definite highly recommend, and much deserving of its bestseller status.

WILL I READ ON? Absolutely!

3.5 stars. This was a really good book, but I'm taking away one whole star for the instalove trope, and the absolutely ridiculous romance that the plot hinged on. Then again, Tracy Deonn gets all those other stars and a half because of the absolutely cracking twist at the end. Plus, the LGBTQ representation in this book was great, without making a song and dance about who was gay, who was enby, who was straight, etc.

To be honest, I wasn't very impressed with the first third or so. There were glimpses of brilliance, but seeing spoilt-brat teens risking life, limb, and the love those they held dear because...ugh...hormones almost made me give up. The complex terminology with the Arthurian part of the book was also tiresome. Then came rootcraft, and I was hooked. I only wish it had a more central role in the plot.

Having a Black character as the main protagonist, of course, added some deep nuances with regard to race, something that has for too been missing from fiction from the West. The only thing that grated on me was Bree and her lusty longings for Nick. The other thing I did not enjoy was the oversimplified representation of rootcraft as pure and good, whereas the Arthurian folk were far more layered and rounded. I hope rootcraft gets more screentime (pagetime?) in the next book (which I will definitely be reading).

Thank you for the review copy, NetGalley!

Tracy Deonn's Legendborn is a fast paced, action packed Urban Fantasy with a modern twist on Arthurian legends, featuring a courageous young black woman searching for answers in a world of magic. It's a more complex and nuanced City of Bones.

The highlight of the book is without a doubt Bree's characterization. She's a fighter. She's whip-smart and compassionate, full of personality and struggling with the daily realities of teenage life while grappling with grief at losing her mother. She embodies the overwhelming feelings of being a teenager figuring out their place in the world without tipping over into melodrama in a way I find a lot of YA characters can. She feels real and authentic.

Racism is a central theme within the book and Deonn tackles it unflinchingly. There's an urgency to Bree's anger and frustration as a young person tackling racism daily and directly from people around her, balanced with a deep bedded sense of exhaustion from carrying the collective weight of racism towards her people stretching back generations. Bree's pride for her people and her heritage are at the core of who she is and what she stands for.

Legendborn features a proud array of representation. Characters of different races, identities and sexualities are prominently featured throughout.

There is also fantastic world building and an awesome magic system to unpack throughout the book. There's a lot of information to take in, which can be a little overwhelming at the start, but it quickly sinks in as Deonn layers it on.

Legendborn carries some important lessons on the realities of grief and racism, but it's wrapped in a package full of action and wonder that is an absolute joy to read. One of the best YA books I've read in quite some time and it deserves all the success

Legendborn tells the story of Bree, a 16 year old college student grieving her mother who died in a car accident. Bree one day witnesses a flying demon and other magical elements. Someone attempts to wipe her memory, however it doesn’t work. This leads Bree to discover powers within herself and starts questioning the world around her. Thinking that this new world may have had something to do with her mother’s death, Bree starts investigating.

This story had a similar feel to other ya fantasy books I’ve read, but it was still fresh. The author took the King Arthur legend and spun it into this incredible work of fantasy. This book was so much more than what I was expecting. The story was so fastpaced and fascinating. I loved the characters and Bree as a main character felt so relatable and fleshed out.

The main thing I loved about this story were the themes woven throughout about racial prejudice. This commentary was so poignant - especially as the protagonist was a person of colour - and I loved the way the author explored the roots of black culture and history throughout the story.

I also loved the various characters from the LGBTQIA+ community. The world in this book had no opinions/ homophobia toward these characters and I adored that. There was a non binary character too, with the correct pronouns used from the beginning. I felt as though the LGBT community was so welcomed and represented in this book, in the way they would want to be, and it was fantastic to see this normalcy with no questions asked. I hope more authors do this.

There was a trope in this book that I wasn’t a huge fan of, but it was done so well that by the end I was all for it. I commend this author for putting this story out into the universe.

The plot and the magic system did get a little confused for me but I did start to understand it a bit more as the story went on. I ended up loving this so much. Every time you think you know where the story was going, it would turn around in a different direction. It was exciting, intriguing and I really can’t wait for the sequel!!!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for granting me the opportunity to read this arc copy.

First off, I'd like to thank Netgalley, Tracy Deonn, and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read and review this book. Even though an egalley was provided to me, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Additionally, I read an advance version of the book, and the text is subject to change in the final version.

This was so good??? Like I'm not necessarily into Arthurian retellings at all (mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the original legend), but damn this book was so good even without that background knowledge.

On that topic, Deonn does a fantastic job introducing readers to lore/stories/history that they might not necessarily know already, whether it be the legend of Arthur or history of Black people in America and their relation to magic in their history. I honestly never felt lost or confused in this book, and that's fantastic considering I don't have a strong background in Arthurian legend or Black history (thanks to the wonderful education system we have in the US :)) ).

On top of that, the story, characters, and world itself are also so well-written and interesting! The story felt so large (in a good way) and impactful, and I felt myself constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens next. So many twists and turns, while I may have guessed them at one point or another, shocked me when they happened anyways, and I sped through the last 40% of this book (which is a feat considering how big this book is AND that I've been having a hard time focusing on reading lately). To make the story even better is a diverse cast of characters that I couldn't help falling in love with. Bree has to be my favorite, from her steady strength throughout the book (in even the face of trouble, grief, and prejudice), though Nick and Sel (a pure sunshine boy and a troubled angry magician) were close seconds. I also loved the support system that Bree had in her father and her best friend, even if she couldn't always be honest and open with them. I seriously cannot wait to see what happens in the later books, even just to see these characters again!

I also really enjoyed the romance! It was much more gripping and intriguing than some of the romances I've read in YA fantasy lately, and I loved how while it was important, it didn't dominate the story or the plot. It was a perfect supporting aspect of the story without becoming the story. I do think we might get a love triangle in later books, though the idea of one doesn't annoy me as much as it usually does in books. Overall, just super curious how this part of the story further develops.

Lastly, the magic system(s) in this book are fantastic. It seems like there's this base of magic running through the world and each culture/group has their own perception of how that magic works, who's allowed to use it, how it should be used, and whether other users of magic are good/bad. It gives the book a bit of learning curve in the sense that readers have to navigate this complex web of magic, filled with different players, concepts, and ideologies, but Deonn explains it in such a manageable way that I didn't struggle with it. Overall, it just made for a fascinating read just based on the system alone, ignoring the characters and actual plot of this book.

Altogether, all these strong aspects only made for even stronger debut, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

I loved the cover for Legendborn, and the premise was intriguing and the execution was fantastic, and I think this is probably one of if not my favourite YA read so far this year.

In particular I loved the nuance that every character had, without breaking that boundary between adult and teen which sometimes throws me out of a YA. Bree in particular was a fantastic character, and she had so many different facets that made her feel alive and real, without leaning into the types you often see. This was reflected across the cast, even in those characters that you dislike have the same depth of character and I would say that the characterization was probably my favourite part of this book.

Legendborn also has a rich, diverse world and cast, and it doesn't shy away from tackling issues from grief, up to racism and inequality, in a way that isn't overwhelming but is an integral part of the world and story. There is a delicacy and a strength to the approach to these topics, which gave the story much greater impact. Especially, when it was combined with imaginative and immersive worldbuilding, that really brought Legendborn to life.

Legendborn took me around the 40% mark to get invested, but once it got me it did not let go. This book takes common YA tropes and subverts them, all while adding elements that we don't usually get in fantasy. We see Bree going to therapy and needing a long time to navigate through her grief. Usually once the plot starts rolling the main character will push start their feelings aside, but this book really takes the effort to dissect through all of Bree's emotions.

Also, the romance! It was so incredibly sweet and I'm soft. Usually when there's a love triangle I only care about one of them, but this book somehow got me down for either. Read it for all the feels.