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A review by bkreadsitall
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
“There is a cost to being a legend, daughter. But fear not, you will not bear it alone.”
What an extraordinary novel from Tracy Deonn! I loved everything about this - truly, no notes.
Legendborn follows Brianna Matthews, whom has just lost her mother, and entering an early college program at UNC - Chapel Hill. While pushing all of the pain and grief she is experiencing down, she discovers a secret Order on the UNC campus that has a lot of secrets and enemies. As she learns more, she also finds that her mother’s death may not have been what it seems and the very Order on this campus? May be the key to unlocking the truth and gaining closure.
Brianna Matthews was one of the best main characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time. She is stubborn, angry, and impulsive. And yet, she is also fiercely loyal, inquisitive, and grows so much throughout the novel. Her parallels give her a realness and intrigue that cause the reader to get invested in her story!
There was an incredibly complex magic system and intricate world building that required tabs and thorough understanding. At first, the world building for the first 100 pages was daunting, but it was necessary for the rest of the book to fly right by with excitement and action! The Oaths and imminent danger of all of those involved in the Round Table was nuanced and well-explained. I adore the way this was set in an urban fantasy setting but with so many classical elements that pay tribute to the inspiration of the class King Arthur legend.
Every character was unique and purposeful. The narrative was influenced by the author’s own struggle with multigenerational early losses of mothers within her family line. The author studied everything she put into this with such rigor and caution, doing justice to the academic campus, the relationship breakage and bonding surrounding grief, the experiences of therapy (as a counselor - I was so impressed by how great this was to read), as well as the impact of centuries of racism and slavery on the present day. I was so moved by the fantasy and the reality of this novel and I regret letting it sit on my shelf. This will be a top book of the year, without question.
What an extraordinary novel from Tracy Deonn! I loved everything about this - truly, no notes.
Legendborn follows Brianna Matthews, whom has just lost her mother, and entering an early college program at UNC - Chapel Hill. While pushing all of the pain and grief she is experiencing down, she discovers a secret Order on the UNC campus that has a lot of secrets and enemies. As she learns more, she also finds that her mother’s death may not have been what it seems and the very Order on this campus? May be the key to unlocking the truth and gaining closure.
Brianna Matthews was one of the best main characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time. She is stubborn, angry, and impulsive. And yet, she is also fiercely loyal, inquisitive, and grows so much throughout the novel. Her parallels give her a realness and intrigue that cause the reader to get invested in her story!
There was an incredibly complex magic system and intricate world building that required tabs and thorough understanding. At first, the world building for the first 100 pages was daunting, but it was necessary for the rest of the book to fly right by with excitement and action! The Oaths and imminent danger of all of those involved in the Round Table was nuanced and well-explained. I adore the way this was set in an urban fantasy setting but with so many classical elements that pay tribute to the inspiration of the class King Arthur legend.
Every character was unique and purposeful. The narrative was influenced by the author’s own struggle with multigenerational early losses of mothers within her family line. The author studied everything she put into this with such rigor and caution, doing justice to the academic campus, the relationship breakage and bonding surrounding grief, the experiences of therapy (as a counselor - I was so impressed by how great this was to read), as well as the impact of centuries of racism and slavery on the present day. I was so moved by the fantasy and the reality of this novel and I regret letting it sit on my shelf. This will be a top book of the year, without question.