I think we as society has this kind of romantic idea of a magical secret society. That dying for a cause is nobel and a secret organization protecting us is good. That it would be cool too suddenly discover magic existed all along and you can have a greater purpose. Especially if it has a cool orgin (like a legend we know), we are taught to see the magical fantasy society as an almost wishfurfillment, Royality doesn't get questioned, in fact if the main character somehow belongs that means it's awesome . That despite their flaws, there has to be some goodness and necessity behind it.

Legendborn is not that kind of book. Legendborn takes a part everything you know about the tropes and idea and questions them. Legendborn realizes nothing exist in a vaccuum and it's silly to think that as long as something exists outside of our world, it would be exempt of any bases and white supremecy. Because would magic only belong to one culture? How would it look like for different cultures? How influences white supremecy and colonialism the use of magic? In fact, it points out there is a reason why maybe we see secret society the way we see them, how the darker parts of history would more likely interwine with magic than be isolated from it. This book is really a look how the past effects the present and how it's silly to say racism is a thing of the past. The worldbuilding in this book is complext and long and not easy to understand, but that's for a reason. The details are just amazing and it's worth the intential confusion.,

Bree in this book is the shining star. She is self aware, goaldriven, grieving , lonely and angry, but mostly a teenager. She is smart and sees things it would be easier to ignore, but she can't do that. My favourite part of this book are the breathers inbetween where we remember she has a best friend who worries and a dad who loves her, that she doesn't just exist to drive the plot. Bree's introduction to a magical world isn't filled with wonder, but with wary. Even her sweet romance with gentleman Nick, has this lingering unease with how involved he is in the fucked up Order. It's such a more nuanced look at what you normally get. Between every sweet person willing to help her and cool magic, there is this feeling of wrongness lingering. Especially as she discovers her mom had magic too, but a different kind that was used between Black people and their ancestors that seems to work different from the Orders magic. Everything feels like a red flag made beautiful.

This book was a bit more dense to read, but so clever it deserves every star.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters, the use of King Arthur and Merlin mythology, blended with a modern world was so refreshing and fun.
I loved Bree’s character. She is passionate and fiery, and she strived all the way to the end. She had a brilliant and unique dynamic with every character, making everyone stand out.
The way she navigated through this crazy part of her new world was relatable and enjoyable to read.
The only thing that distracted me from the plot, was how everything seemed to be introduced all at once, and did come across as quite overwhelming. I felt I had to learn the new terminology and the rules of the world immediately and I would have preferred a slightly gentler introduction to everything, only to help the reader grasp the world.
However, I enjoyed this book and I think it is one everyone will enjoy.

This is the best King Arthur retelling I have ever read. I loved it so much.

I don’t know how to describe how much I loved this book and how much this book made me feel about heritage and history and what it means to be a person of colour. I was a mess of emotions by the end of the book and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it.

I loved the fresh twist on the King Arthur legend and I have read a few different retellings but this one is my favourite! I loved that it is set in our world but that is also a hidden world that most people can’t see or know anything about but still has such wonderful world building. Meshing our world and the hidden world together and showing how they are separate and how that is navigated by the characters.

There was a lot of important discussions that were incorporated into the story and I felt them deep in my soul. Discussions of how the history of Black people are erased and changed to suit those who colonised their countries, how it can mean that they don’t always know their own histories and heritage because they might not even have accurate history of their ancestors. But it doesn’t just show how they were oppressed but it also celebrates how despite all this they resisted in every way they could and thrived and were able to keep their culture as much as they could. It’s a celebration of how incredible they are and I loved reading that so much.

There is also discussions of racism and white privilege and how they have a step up and so much more opportunities because the family they were born in. It was often difficult to read the scenes where the racism that Bree had to deal with because it felt so real and how they didn’t even acknowledge their privilege. I am so glad to see these discussions in the book and how Bree had to navigate this on top of everything else but also that by the time she was a teenager she had seen it so often.

Can we also discuss how the world building shows how white people not only colonised and enslaved Black people but also colonised their magic?! Because that was incredible to read about. How they have their own magic system and borrow the magic rather than take like the those of the Order. I really loved how Bree learnt Rootmagic too alongside learning about the magic from the order because that is the magic of her ancestors and a heritage lost to her because for various reasons her mum didn’t teach it to her.

I really loved Bree, she was incredible complex character and I related to her a lot. She has had to deal with so much already and struggling to come to term with the death of the mum. She has an incredible friend who is there for her but also calls her out when she is slipping because she cares so much for Bree. Everyone deserves a friend like Alice and I hope we see more of her in the next book. I loved that Bree made her own choices and didn’t let others dictate her life. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. I also liked that she knew when she needed help too so she was pretty self-aware.

I liked all the characters too and how they all had their own storylines woven into the story so we got to see glimpses of that and how it affected each other. Nick and Selwyn were really interesting characters too though I wish we had gotten to see more of them outside their interactions with Bree and the love triangle I am hoping is not coming.

The end has an epic battle which had me on the edge of my seat and fearing for the life of all my favourite characters and it was just such a great scene. Plus we get some plot twists that left me reeling because while I had some idea of what it could be, I was not expecting what was revealed and I don’t think I’m still over it. By the end I was just dying for the sequel because I absolutely need to know what will happen next. One of my favourite reads this year!

Legendborn, as well as being an exciting new take on Arthurian legend, is an insightful look into grief, trauma, and American history of chattel slavery; tackled delicately but emphasized powerfully throughout the novel. Legendborn is a gift to teen and young adult audiences, and Deonn will be an author whose work I pick up without hesitation.

This book tackled so many important topics such as grief, trauma, colonization, slavery, etc. I just love it especially when a fantasy book talks about important issues because we don't see that often in fantasy. It had amazing world-building and despite it having the stereotypical YA tropes that we commonly see, it was nice to see a black girl experiencing these things. I would definitely recommend this to people!

(4.5/5 stars) Deonn has an amazing writing style that really draws the reader in, making this book easily bingeable - it definitely felt shorter than 500+ pages!

The action sequences were particularly strong, with palpable adrenaline rushes, amazing punchiness and speed. 'Legendborn' seesaws between clunky info-dumps (e.g. when explaining some Arthurian elements) and absolutely incredible exposition, especially near the end. (Good God the last 10% of the book was a rollercoaster!) I got literal chills of revelation from some of the plot twists. I'm also pleased that I'd not anticipated the antagonist at all!

The world-building was rich, with a fascinating magic system - or systems? All I'm going to say is READ THIS BOOK! The Author's Notes are also worth reading for some extra trivia on how Deonn came up with the magic system, though it's easily understandable just within the narrative itself. I especially loved how the magic's logic interwove so seamlessly with cultural history. It was really interesting how lineages and intergenerational transmission were approached and valued in two very different ways, and it left me feeling hopeful.

There was excellent social commentary on explicit and implicit anti-Blackness, USA systems rooted in colonial violence, survival and resistance. The social commentary (also touching upon society's treatment of grief) tied in very well to the plotline and worldbuilding, and the inseparability of these very real issues with the mythical elements really ground the story firmly in our world. 'Legendborn' is probably the most 'real' and utterly believable urban fantasy I've ever read. It obviously helps that the cast is diverse in ethnicity, with several queer characters too.

The romance, while cute, is a tad insta-lovey, and I'm confused if there is or isn't a love triangle. For once though I'm not bothered by the love triangle - shocking, I know - and actually feel a lot of chemistry there. (I mean there's also the whole enemies-to-grudging-neutral element going for it too. Gives it that extra zing.) On the topic of love in general, I also adored seeing another case of helpful, loving parental figures in YA.

Overall, an engrossing, exciting and insightful debut and I'm looking forward to the sequel!

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.

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!