The Legendborn Cycle - Tracy Deonn

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What would happen if you blended black, southern traditions and Arthurian legends? The Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn. 


Sixteen year old Bree Matthews is starting the early college program at UNC Chapel Hill with her best friend, dealing with the memories of her deceased mother who was a student here years ago, dealing with being home sick, and ALSO being a hormonal teenager. It's enough to destroy anyone. She begins to see things that can't really be there. 

The weird things she sees brings her into the world of the Legendborn and a secret society of students that track down and keep the weird creatures at bay. Also, the heads of the secret society are the descendants of KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. So... yeah, that's a thing.

Along the way Bree begins to get in touch with her own ancestors, her history, and the mystical force known as 'root' which is a mystical-life-force-energy that the Legendborn also call 'ether.' 

Bree also gets close to fellow student Nick who is a Legendborn who is self exiled from the secret society and a magical 'Merlin' by the name of Selwyn. 

Lemme say, Given that these characters are between 16 and 20 years old I have never rooted for a throuple more I am here. Selwyn hasn't come out and said specifically but has alluded to romantic entanglements with both men and women and Nick hasn't said much either way and the chemistry among the three of them amazing and I don't want another new adult love triangle. Let them just enjoy each other happily all together. 

This book mixes the fantastical with the horrific in a truly beautiful way. Not much is spared when looking at the ghosts of slavery and the horrors enacted upon enslaved people as Bree magically communes with her ancestors. Yet when it looks to the fanciful with the Arthurian legends the book is sometimes idyllic and sometimes barbaric but the prose is always beautiful. 

When the third book comes out March 4, 2025 I will be taking release day off to binge it so hard. I can't wait to see where the story goes. What happens to Bree and Nick and Selwyn and the rest of the gang! 


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