Intricate world-building. Sweet romance. Fast-paced plot. Overall, an engaging read!

The treatment of the generational loss felt by African Americans, tied into the narrative so beautifully, is what truly makes this YA fantasy so absorbing. While not being very familiar with Arthurian legend or African rituals, it still is easy to follow and didn't feel unnatural when used together. I love the characters, the creatures, the societies, the secrets, and so much more!

The book does suffer from one issue, which is how the info-dumping occurs. All the information needed conveniently comes to Bree at exactly the right time, which seems highly unlikely in reality, and that broke the illusion a bit for me.

Other than that, a solid and easy YA read. Would recommend to fantasy lovers worldwide!

This was so much fun and honestly, I wasn’t expecting to be pulled in as deeply as I was. From the very first chapter, the tone is set with grief and a quiet, simmering rage, and it doesn’t let go. It's layered, emotional, and intense. I really enjoyed Bree as a protagonist, one of the better ones I’ve read in a while. Her voice grounds the entire book, and through her, the story never shies away from tough topics like generational trauma, racism, and loss.

I was especially drawn to how Tracy Deonn weaves in Black history and ancestral magic. That was the heart of the book for me. It’s powerful, emotional, and so beautifully done, those moments felt like the soul of the story. I also appreciated how the book explores memory, identity, and how grief can both break and remake you. There’s a lot going on thematically, but it never felt too heavy-handed.

Now, onto the part I didn’t fully connect with: the Arthurian legend aspects. I knew going in that this was a big component of the book, but it’s just never really been my thing, and unfortunately Legendborn didn’t change that for me. I found myself more invested in Bree’s personal journey and the Root magic than the Order, knights, and lineage side of things. I think part of that is just personal taste, but there were moments where the Arthurian stuff felt overly complex or info-dumpy.

The pacing had a few dips here and there, mostly around the heavier world-building moments, but the emotional stakes kept me turning pages. I do think the book is a little dense in spots, and I wouldn’t have minded trimming down a few of the info-heavy scenes, especially when the Order politics got a little tangled.

Overall though, Legendborn is a powerful and ambitious debut that juggles a lot and mostly sticks the landing. Even though I didn’t fully love the Arthurian side of things, Bree’s voice and the story’s emotional core were more than enough to keep me hooked. I’ll definitely be continuing the series, I need to know where Bree’s journey goes next and who she goes on that journey with hehe.

Such a good start to the series! Completely hooked. I absolutely love Bree, the love interests and the themes it explores ❤️

Started Bloodmarked immediately!