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joey_estrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I started this book during a reading slump and I prefer 3rd over 1st person narration so it was hard to get into at first. Once I got about 70-80 pages in though, it really hooked me in.
The fighting/action sequences were very captivating and well written.
The POC representation is very refreshing and relatable. I appreciated that this book showed the different ways racism presents itself as well as how racism can affect someone in ways you wouldn't even think of. It's rare to see racism, slavery, and ancestry talked about in the way this book did. It was comforting in a melancholy sort of way.
This book is about magic, but it's also about colonialism. Neither of these aspects felt overshadowed by the other. There was a perfect blend of both.
The subtle LGBTQIA+ representation was also a nice touch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Vomit, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Physical abuse, and War
enchanteddroppings's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was the book club pick for June, that I originally planned to read in May, didn't have time to read in June, but finally read and finish in August.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racism, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual assault
grace_holden1432's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Rape
corsetedfeminist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this is the first American fantasy novel l've ever read that actually takes the racist history of this country into account in a profound way that actually affects the plot. That one plot twist at the end? My brain exploded with some combination of horror and wonder.
The magical world and system itself is probably one of my favorites of all time, just from a magic perspective. I loved the discussions of the differences between the Order's magic and Root magic, and Bree trying to live in both worlds.
Bree. Look, I love many FMCs, but Bree was an instant favorite. She feels so real and raw and strong, and she actually acts in understandable ways in the various situations she ends up in. I love her depth, and her stubbornness, and her fire. I love the way her grief is shown, and how she finally manages to work through it to the other side. I almost literally screamed at That Moment in the last couple of chapters, when she finally comes into her inheritance.
Nick is so sweet, so strong, and somehow I care about a straight relationship. I also love that he's 100% there just to love and support Bree, and he didn't want to be here anyway.
I didn't know what to make of Sel, but, surprising no one, by the end of the book I just loved our angsty, traumatized half-demon baby and I'm looking forward to his relationship with Bree going forward. Cariad? Really? How am I supposed to cope?
I loved so many of the side characters in this book- Alice, William, Sarah, Patricia, Greer... And also hated quite a few. Besides Lord David and Isaac, when I get my hands on Tor......
Also, as someone who is a UNC fan by reason of half my family being alumni, I loved the discussion of the school's troubled history and the repeated appearance of Carolina Blue.
In conclusion- this book rewrote my brain, I'll be reading book 2 today, and then somehow waiting for book 3 to come out. Also, when do we get a movie, because I badly need it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mycarefulcardinal's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Slavery
lisettemarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery
tachad's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Grief, and Death of parent
euyrdice's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I let my gaze draw lines here, too, from building to building, from tree to tree, from buried lives to beaten ones, from blood stolen to blood hidden. I map this terrain's sins, the invisible and the many, and hold them close. Because even if the pain of those sins takes my breath away, that pain feels like belonging, and ignoring it after all I've just witnessed would be loss.
I'm almost in disbelief at how phenomenal this book is. I wouldn't say I'm the biggest fantasy lover, but this book goes far beyond the trope-ification of YA fantasy. Tracy Deonn has a real talent for the written word, and you can feel the love she has for this book on every page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Grief
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault
rainy_day_and_a_book's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Favorite book I've ever read. Every other book has been ruined because it will never live up to this. I had to take a while after finishing the two books that are currently available to drag myself back to the real world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, and Blood
bubblybuttercup's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
an absolutely beautiful read. legendborn is a well thought out portrayal of what magic could look like if placed in modern day america — so racism, nepotism, and role of american chattle slavery and more are directly addressed. legendborn also speaks on grief and generational curses. the pacing, the action, and the care put into Bree Mathews’ story is astounding. no review can do this book justice.
the one “setback” is that the magic system is quite complicated, so i recommend taking notes to help follow along.
legendborn is a MUST READ, esp if you love fantasy, unique black stories and/or european arthurian legend & african folklore.
the one “setback” is that the magic system is quite complicated, so i recommend taking notes to help follow along.
legendborn is a MUST READ, esp if you love fantasy, unique black stories and/or european arthurian legend & african folklore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Car accident