Legendborn

Legendborn is a debut young adult fantasy novel by Tracy Deonn. Called "a modern day twist on Arthurian legend"[1] it follows a Black teenage girl who discovers a secret historically white magic society while attending a UNC-Chapel Hill residential pre-college program. The book is the first in the Legendborn series. It was released on September 15, 2020 and published under Simon & Schuster/McElderry. The book was recommended by BuzzFeed, Nerdist, and io9.[2][3][1]

Legendborn
AuthorTracy Deonn
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Legendborn Series
Release number
1
GenreFantasy
PublisherSimon & Schuster/McElderry
Publication date
September 15, 2020
Media typePrint/Digital
Pages512
ISBN9781534441606

Plot

The book centers 16-year-old Bree Matthews, who attempts to infiltrate a historically white magical society to get help hunting the demons that are terrorizing the participants at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pre-college summer program she is attending.[4]

Background

Tracy Deonn was inspired by The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper.[5] She was also influenced by the death of her mother.[5] Having worked in video games, she took that knowledge to help develop the stringent rules that guide the magical system described in the book.[5]

Publication history
  • 2020. First edition hardcover. Publication date September 15, 2020. Simon & Schuster/McElderry, ISBN 9781534441606

Reception

Legendborn received positive critical reception. Publisher's Weekly stated, "Though hazy exposition initially slows the narrative, Deonn adeptly employs the haunting history of the American South [...] to explore themes of ancestral pain, grief, and love, balancing them with stimulating worldbuilding and multiple thrilling plot twists." In a starred review Bookpage stated, "Legendborn establishes Deonn as an important new voice in YA. Its gorgeous prose and heart-splitting honesty compel an eyes-wide-open reading experience."[6]

Syfy.com called the book "a refreshing twist on classic Arthurian legend with a lot of Southern Black girl magic to boot".[7] Natalie Berglind wrote in a review for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, "Deonn brings Arthurian legend to life with originality, a dash of heart-pounding demon-slaying, and a deep and meaningful acknowledgement of the violent roots of slavery in U.S. history."[8] Kirkus Reviews noted "Representation of actualized, strong queer characters is organic, not forced, and so are textual conversations around emotional wellness and intergenerational trauma [...] Well-crafted allusions to established legends and other literary works are delightful easter eggs."[9]

Accolades

References
  1. Ratcliffe, Amy. "Read a Mesmerizing, Intense Excerpt from LEGENDBORN". Nerdist. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  2. "Finally Some Good News: September Is Overflowing With New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books". io9. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  3. Rebolini, Arianna (2020-09-14). "6 New Book Releases We Loved And Why You Should Read Them". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  4. "Legendborn". www.publishersweekly.com. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  5. Rogerson, Karis (2020-09-12). "Tracy Deonn's Legendborn Is a King Arthur Retelling Set at a College". We Need Diverse Books. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  6. "Book Review - Legendborn by Tracy Deonn". BookPage.com. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  7. Lane, Carly (2020-09-15). "Get Rec'd with Tracy Deonn: Five fantasy reimaginings for FANGRRLS readers". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  8. Berglind, Natalie (2020). "Legendborn by Tracy Deonn". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 74 (1): 14–14. doi:10.1353/bcc.2020.0545. ISSN 1558-6766.
  9. "Legendborn". Kirkus. 2020-06-30.
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