📝 What is Legendborn about?:
After her mother’s death, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews enrolls in a program at UNC-Chapel Hill, hoping to escape her past. On her first night away from home she witnesses a magical attack and discovers a secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt magical creatures. As Bree’s own magical abilities awaken, she learns there is more to her mother’s death and decides to infiltrate the Legendborn to uncover the truth.
📚 Genre: YA Fantasy
🎧 Format: E-Book
💞 Feels: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had to think about this book for a couple days. I’m trying not to judge it too harshly and keep in mind that it’s a book for young adult readers – not me. No matter how much I assert I’m experiencing arrested development.
The book up until the end I found fascinating, and I was fully along for the ride of figuring out the mysteries with Bree. The mysteries of her mother’s death, the secret society, her own family history, her connection to Nick, Sel and the school.
This was a very engrossing reimagined Arthurian legend. I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book…although, I don’t really care about Nick’s “kidnapping”…’cause I kind of think he left on his own. I mean he’s Lancelot’s scion…he’s gotta betray the Arthurian line eventually. Now Sel being oathed to him is an interesting complication.
Also, does Bree need to choose a “boyfriend”? Why can’t they just be a throuple? I know this is always my solution for love triangles, but…Sel loves Nick, Nick loves Bree, Bree loves both of them, it’s perfect!
Getting technical
I think the pace of the story was really well done. There are SO MANY things that happen in this story and I wasn’t overwhelmed by how the plot was unfolding….until the last few chapters. I have some questions about things that were established throughout the book, being thrown out the window. But I think my questions can be resolved as I ponder the ending a bit more.
Questions I have:
- How did Bree never notice Evan acting differently? His turn seemed convenient.
- How is Bree (in the middle of battle) being awakened by 8+ generations of ancestors – without being promptly beheaded?
- How are she and Nick still upright after awakening? I think for this last question…it’s sort of reasoned away with the stronger the Scion the quicker the recovery (using Tor as an example…because she was sort of just ready to go after she was tapped).
- How did Sel figure out where to find them all in the cave? Was it from his connection to Nick? And sensing when he’s in danger? I guess I just answered my own question. So yeah, most of my questions are about the last few chapters.
You’ll like this book, if…
You’ll like this book, if you’re a fan of fantasy series that include self-discovery, magical world building and a love triangle.
✅ Spinoff novella nomination:
Any of Bree’s Root ancestors experiences at UNC-Chapel Hill.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments.