Legendborn: TikTok made me buy it! (The Legendborn Cycle, #1)

by Tracy Deonn

Joniece Abbott-Pratt (Narrator)

SOME LEGACIES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN.

"I love the feeling of a magical world existing just beneath the surface of our own and this story gave me everything I wanted: incredible characters, ancient lore and secret societies – all grounded in our very real, very flawed world . . ." –Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone

An explosive fantasy debut that is taking TikTok by storm. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J. Maas and Cinderella is Dead!

Filled with mystery and Southern Black Girl Magic, Tracy Deonn’s New York Times bestselling Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend . . .

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants to escape. A residential programme for bright high-schoolers seems like the perfect opportunity – until she witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus . . .

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so-called “Legendborn” that hunt the creatures down.

A mysterious mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts – and fails – to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory about her mother. Now Bree will do whatever it takes to discover the truth, even infiltrate the Legendborn. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and foretell a magical war, Bree must decide how far she’ll go for the truth. Should she use her magic to take the society down – or join the fight?

Winner of the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award, and a New York Times bestseller!

• ISBN10: 1398501891
• ISBN13: 9781398501898
• Publish Date: 15 September 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Edition: Unabridged
• Format: Audiobook
• Duration: 18 hours and 55 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ailyn Henbane]

I went in with high hopes and I wasn't disappointed. This is the sort of novel I live and breathe for. The intersectionality of myth and staring the repercussions of the past in the face are things that I love beyond reason. It helps I see a lot of my younger self in Bree the before and after especially.

This is over all enchanting and slowly lifts the feeling of grief and being displaced into something like cautious purpose. I can happily say that not once did the prose serve to kick me out of the story, there was no sudden change or jolting wording that made me question what I'd read, taking me out of the world. I was immersed from the first page, and read it in a single day.

[lessthelonely]

This book will become for me what Joker is for straight men and I would say I'm sorry about it but then again, I'd be lying.

Let me see how I can put my thoughts of this book and expectations for what's to come in simple terms and while keeping my composure. First of all, I decided to read this book because BookTok wouldn't shut up about it. I now understand why. Secondly, this book is absolutely filled to the cup's edge with magic, amazing character interactions between amazing characters, character development so sharp and astute I can't even put it into more words and, finally, it's eventful as all hell, with entertaining and enthralling happenings.

A few of these are also absolutely brutal, I'd even say earth-shattering.

Other than that, the book's writing is extremely raw and I cannot stress how good it manages to be sometimes, even in times where you'd think it doesn't need to? Yeah, it goes that far to put the nail in the coffin, and I'm glad it does exactly that. But let's start talking about more palpable things and in more specific terms.

This book knows how to keep you entertained. It's action-packed but it also knows how to slow down without making it feel like you're going slower - in fact, it manages to make even emotional scenes extremely fast-paced, in my opinion. You'll find yourself just going and going, which is something I really enjoyed when I realize this book has chapters with a longer length than I usually pivot for, though the length isn't really set in stone and varies a bit if my memory doesn't deceive me.

On another note, the characters in this book? Holy shit. Obviously, the main characters are clear highlights but even the side characters are brimming with personality and realism. You will feel for Bree, for Nick, and for Sel, sometimes all at the same time. But you will also love William's remarks, the way all antagonists make your blood B O I L. It's top-notch writing and storytelling, my hes, shes, and theys.

Along with this, you'll find some amazing themes entwined in this story: Arthurian lore? Incapacitating grief and cope with said grief? Magic framed not as a blessing but as a curse or as something that comes with a price? And two portrayals of magic, at that? Racial issues and very present tension? A search of an outcome and, to be honest, purpose? Love (platonic, romantic, and family)? This book's got all that and probably more I can't remember right now.

Now... The romance? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH. I had never found a book that made me this in love with a straight relationship. I usually never look forward to a straight relationship in a book I'm reading... But Miss Tracy Deonn said Nah, you're going to root for these two and YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT. And like the two lovebirds I did. I will, however, say, that there's a lot of potential for a polyamorous trio here. And Miss Tracy Deonn? If you give that to me I shall have children for the sole purpose of making my kids read this series - assuming I won't do that already. You have made Bree a character who I feel for and root for with all my being in her moments I can't fathom as a white guy doused in privilege, but you've made her so utterly relatable, raw, and real that I felt everything she felt. I fell in love with the guy she fell in love with. I felt her internal strife, I felt it all.

So, Miss Tracy Deonn... You've sold me on everything you write from now on and got me dying for the continuation of this absolute masterpiece. And notice I did not stutter, nor did I use that word lightly.

As for any unconvinced readers? I don't know what to tell you other than that if none of what I said convinces you, all I ask you is to give it a try.

[Angie]

Proceed with Caution:

This book contains death of a parent and grief, slavery, rape, and a post-whipping scene.

The Basics:

Legendborn is narrated in first person by Bree, a sixteen-year-old Black girl who is discovering the magic within her.

The book is set at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where Bree and her best friend Alice have been accepted into the Early College program.

Bree knows something was weird about her mother's death and she believes an Arthurian secret society on campus holds the answers. She manages to get sponsored as a page, and tries to find the answers. Instead she discovers her mother's secrets and their family history, while fighting demons and preparing for an upcoming war.

My Thoughts:

Legendborn is definitely unique! It combines Arthurian legend with folkmagic, which is something I've never read before. Bree is also a no nonsense type of heroine and isn't shy to go after what she wants. And what she wants is answers and revenge!

My one complaint about Legendborn was the worldbuilding. Whenever Bree is learning something new about the secret society and their mission, it comes in the form of page long info-dumps. A bunch of names and definitions are thrown at us and it's not very interesting. In fact, that whole thing is quite convoluted and confusing. I like what the author was doing, but it just wasn't presented in a way that worked for me.

However, whenever Bree was learning about her Rootcraft and family history it was done in a more showing rather than telling way. She's actually shown what their magic can do while it's being explained. This mainly takes place in the form of a type of time travel and possession! It was really cool. I enjoyed how Rootcraft was firmly rooted in African American history. It wasn't just a Black version of the white character's magic. It was its own system passed down through families.

The last quarter of Legendborn was much better than the middle section. The tension and action finally ramp up. We know what's going on and it's time to just do it! There was a super fun plot twist that I didn't see coming, and it has me excited to read more.

[writehollydavis]

Incredibly strong world building based on the legend of King Arthur, Legendborn is a story that will suck you in and make you forget you're reading. The romance is believable and sweet, I rooted for the heroes and loved to hate the monsters and villains. Great way to end the year!

[Quirky Cat]

Legendborn, written by Tracy Doenn, is a combination of epic fantasy, YA contemporary fantasy, and so much more. I can now understand why people have been talking nonstop about this novel.

Bree Matthews had a plan. She was to apply to UNC, as part of their high school program, and attend alongside her best friend. While the plan didn't change, her entire world did. The death of her mother split her life into two halves; the before, and the after.

As if that wasn't enough to deal with, there is more going on at UNC than meets the eye. Something that Bree is forced to acknowledge and handle, as her heritage and power comes to the forefront in response to all the magic and danger lingering in the air.

“Power taken and not returned incurs a debt. And the universe, and the debt, will always come to collect, one way or another.”

Legendborn is an amazing read, simply put. It captivated me from that very first paragraph, as refused to let go of my mind. Even having finished reading it, it still feels like I'm a captive audience. And I likely will be, until Bree's story comes to its proper conclusion.

There is just so much to love about Legendborn. From the way it is written, to all of the different elements woven into Bree's story. It's breathtaking, and absolutely full to the brim of surprises. Seriously, it felt like each chapter sent me reeling – but in a good way.

“Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”

The story weaves in Arthurian legend in a way that I have never seen before. It's fascinating and brilliant, and opened the world (and lore) to a whole new level. Not all of it was kind (to the legend, that is), and honestly, that made it feel even more at home here.

Bree's story is enchanting, and I cannot get enough of it. While this novel may actually be over five hundred pages, it passed in what felt like a blink of an eye for me. This is an imaginative and creative world, and I cannot thank Tracy Deonn enough for having created it.

Please, please, please, tell me that I'm not the only one out there eagerly awaiting any and all news about the sequel. I cannot wait to see how Legendborn continues after that seriously intense conclusion. I'm waiting on baited breathe.

Check out more reviews from Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[moraa]

Some truths only tragedy can teach.

glowing 5 stars!!! (and all the other gazillion stars GR won’t let me give this)

LIKES:
-fantastic rep (racial & queer)
-the plot (fast-paced, tightly-woven, so good)
-world building (unique)
-characterisation (on point, though some of the secondary characters blurred together in my mind)
-writing (very accessible & enjoyable, no info dumps!)
-honorary mention: kinky hair rep! (somewhere around 3c-4c from the cover art) – it’s refreshing to see an author have a Black girl wash her hair on-page. And yes, Bree, impromptu wash days are hell on earth! (I wept during that scene lol

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
[Buddy read with my bby Darceeeee !]

This is a novel of Arthurian legends retold & re-vamped, and amazing as hell Southern Black Girl Magic.
(It kinda gave off some hunger games vibes at times, or maybe more HP-ish ones, actually? Maybe. Maybe a mix of both?
Or more Shadowhunters?