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A review by baknata
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I was waiting for this book from the library for so long, and I am so glad I finally got to read it. The story enthralled me, Tracy Deonn did a phenomenal job. She created such unique and intricate characters and the world that they lived in was formed so well. To start, I love a contemporary fantasy that brings magic into the real world, especially when the author does a good job creating a history for the magic. This book created a magic system that was intricate and had a rich history, and it worked in the real-world setting. Not only was there one magic system, but there were multiple unique systems that wove together well (or rather didn't weave together for good reasons). While I'm not generally a fan of a dead parent plot, the way it was written in this book worked well and was integrated into the plot as more than just a character trait.
Speaking of characters, Bree was such a good main character. While I didn't always like her choices, they made sense for her character and were supported by her history and personality. She felt like a real person. Her character and story were well thought out and the growth felt deserved and natural. There was a large host of side characters, which was fun. I should've made a chart for all the characters though because, save for a few, I had a hard time remembering who was who. When the side characters started dying, I wasn't as affected as I could have been. Mainly, I was gutted by Bree's reactions to her friends' deaths. I couldn't remember who some of them even were. In terms of love interests, Nick was a great one. From the start, he's a good guy who treats Bree well. He's kinda vanilla as the story goes on, but that's more of a me problem. Also, he does do some weirdly possessive things, but that's being super nitpicky. Finally, Selwyn Kane. I tried really hard not to fall in love with Sel, but clearly, I love a bad boy with a heart of gold. Sel really did start off as a jerk, but as the story went on I fell in love with his character. What more can I say, I love a brooding guy with dark hair and a heart of gold.
I thought that the way that Tracy Deonn incorporated the history of the south into the story was really powerful. She not only wrote about the way that "high society" is dominated by white people, but she also incorporated the history of black people into the magic system, which was so cool. The contrast between the two types of magic and the cultural differences was so cool. Both had strong ties to tradition and familial lines, but one was all about money, power, and status, while the other was a bond that was passed down from parent to child.
Overall, this book was clearly very well thought out. The intricate world made it a joy to read. The ending does have me anxious for the next book, which is a good thing I guess. I would recommend this book.
Speaking of characters, Bree was such a good main character. While I didn't always like her choices, they made sense for her character and were supported by her history and personality. She felt like a real person. Her character and story were well thought out and the growth felt deserved and natural. There was a large host of side characters, which was fun. I should've made a chart for all the characters though because, save for a few, I had a hard time remembering who was who.
I thought that the way that Tracy Deonn incorporated the history of the south into the story was really powerful. She not only wrote about the way that "high society" is dominated by white people, but she also incorporated the history of black people into the magic system, which was so cool. The contrast between the two types of magic and the cultural differences was so cool. Both had strong ties to tradition and familial lines, but one was all about money, power, and status, while the other was a bond that was passed down from parent to child.
Overall, this book was clearly very well thought out. The intricate world made it a joy to read. The ending does have me anxious for the next book, which is a good thing I guess. I would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence