Scan barcode
saltylane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It’s rough listening to some scenes, especially because the reader is excellent at inflecting intense emotions in their voice acting. There are heartbreaking moments, as well as moments that will leave you mentally yelling at the very-much-flawed characters when they make questionable decisions.
The author has a good method of fleshing out characters in a way that makes them very three-dimensional and making their interconnected relationships really show in the best and worst ways. The twist endings and plot points are also ones that make sense and aren’t there only to mess with the reader expectations. The end of this book especially makes me want to know the answers to the many questions left by the last words. If there’s not an additional book in the series, the ending still works, even with threads hanging in uncertain directions.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Vomit, and Pregnancy
arobear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
In terms of what was not perfect, I continued to get new characters mixed up, and the ending also left me confused. The action leading up to it was interesting, but the resolution fell a bit fast and flat to me. I'm hoping we'll explore the emotional effects more in the next book.
On a more personal note, as a queer person and leader I connected with Bree's struggle to be the "first" of everything and follow a legacy that she didn't have a hand in creating, but still felt beholden to. The themes explored helped me look at my situation in a new light and reflect on what my goals are not what they "should be" according to others. I think the author does a great job interweaving the complex themes and relationships with a strong narrative when in other books it can easily become disjointed. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Torture, Death of parent, and War
hann_smc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The plot went nowhere, and any character development that happened was backtracked.
The characters made a decision and started down a path, then they changed there minds, started on a new path, and so on and then the book ends.
The tension between Bree and Sel felt so manufactured and nonsensical, just to keep the "who will she choose" alive.
I loved Legendborn enough that I powered through, and will pick up book 3 when it comes out, but I'm nervous about it.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, and Abandonment
jenny_librarian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I was rooting for a triad the whole freaking book, and I gotta say this author had me worrying multiple time this would be yet another cliché love “triangle”. I really hope wherever she decides to go next with the characters breaks that boundary and allows us to get the beautiful triad we deserve (all romantic or romance and QPR, I don’t care. As long as we *get* it!)
If you think book one delved into Black trauma, I got some news for you… Tracy Deonn took what she included in Legendborn and dialed it to 11. It is BRUTAL, so make sure to check the triggers.
I’m excited for the next book, but I’m worried about all the feelings she’ll make us go through 😵💫
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Grief
iamsammie27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Medical trauma
rachelfayreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
scrubsandbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Do I think my powers are worth the cost? The wound of grief from losing my mother sits open in my chest. It feels like it will never truly heal, no matter how much I acknowledge its presence. Then there are wounds my ancestors carried from one generation to the next. All the loss, multiplied and compounded and cumulative. All that running.
Don't be scared. Fight.
This was absolutely phenomenal. There's always this thing with second books in series where things don't live up to the hype of book one and it ends up being a filler between beginning and conclusion. It definitely was not the case here at. All. The stakes were high, much higher than they were at the end of Legendborn and this book surpassed all my expectations. Books where things are happening one right after another tend to be overwhelming for me and leaving me wondering if half of it was necessary and this was an exception. Every event, you learned something new, you met a new person who ended up being pivotal to the main character's story. Tracy Deonn has done an amazing job of bringing the pieces of the puzzle together. There is so much to love about this and nothing to hate (except for the obvious bigots and bad guys, of course). Tracy had even making me feel bad for
The world-building in this book with the Order and the Rootcraft seems to only expand even further, and I absolutely loved that we got to see more characters involved in Rootcraft and learned more about the magic itself. And a former plantation become a safe haven for Rootcrafters called Volition? Chef's kiss, all of it, ESPECIALLY the title. I loved the inclusion of Alice and William in this journey, as well as seeing more of Selwyn outside of the Order, and how his friendship with Bree continued to grow and evolve. And Bree. Bree is the most beloved of all, faced with so much betrayal and pushback, but holds her head up and keeps fighting. I want nothing but the best for her and I cried so much for her in this book because of everything she went through at the hands of the Reagents. Oh, how I wanted to reach into the book so bad to give her a big hug. Or punch some racists. OR BOTH.
"You don't believe history is true. You won't even admit it's possible. That I am Arthur's heir not by choice or honor, but by violence." [...] "You won't say it out loud, but I will," [...] "I am the Scion of Arthur by rape. I am your proof."
This book, this series, is too important to not at least give it a chance. Eagerly awaiting book three!
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and War
Minor: Rape
bootsmom3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Racism, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
binayocheved's review
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
immovabletype's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Note: How this book is classified as medium paced is beyond me. It is the definition of fast paced if I've ever seen one. These poor kids barely get to rest.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape, Abandonment, and War