Title:Legendborn (#1)
Author: Tracy Deonn
Specs Spot.
What's it about?
Bree Matthews' life isn't what she thought it would be just a year ago. Now she's a motherless teen struggling with grief on the college campus of UNC-Chapel Hill as part of a residential program for promising high school students. Which, granted, participating in the educational program was in her plans, but not without her mother and not as the student who gets into trouble as she arrives!
It's the very same night that she gets in trouble that she finds the first whispers that somethings are not as they seem. Some people have some pretty unbelievable secrets, secrets she can't help but to be intrigued by! Soon she finds herself pledging to a magical secret society with roots planted firmly in some of the most epic legends in an attempt to infrentate the society and find the answers she needs more then anything, the truth to what happened to her mother and who she is, specifically, why she can do things that shouldn't be possible. But mostly, she has to survive long enough between demonic creatures, untrusting people and those who just plane don't like her, non of her accomplishments will mean much if she dies in search of her answers.
Favorites:
Favorite characters: Sel and, of course Bree.
Bree because I love that she is so strong and determined. She questions everything and doesn't take what she's told at face value which is something I think we need more of in this world. I love that when she's faced with challenges, racism, demonic enemies, frienemies, painful memories, false memories, it doesn't matter, she stands with her head held high and she stands for what she believes is right. Plus, she's just B.A.
Sel was the answer that surprised me. I'm not usually the one to go for the bad boy, but this time, I don't know. I just couldn't help but to love him. I mean, sure, me makes some questionable choices and can be a jerk. He also does some things that are just wrong but I can't help but to wish that somethings were different for/with him.
Least Favorite characters: There were alot of people I didn't particularly like. I don't think Nick was my least favorite, but I never grew to like him as much as I think I should have. I just never could truly trust him or his family. Then there were a number of members of the Legendborn society that were just jerks. I don't know that I can say for sure my absolute least favorite.
Favorite Part: There were so many great moments in this book! So many! But I think I'm going to go with the final battle. I know. That's so predictable but give me a break! I just sat here for about five minutes trying to pinpoint the best part in the book that I was hooked on the second I picked it up!
Other thoughts:
I have a lot of thoughts, but mostly, "it was so goood! Like so, soooooo goooood!" comes to mind. I loved the way they addressed Bree's race, making it part of the story in a number of ways without over shadowing the story. I found it thought provoking, relevant and accurate (from my limited experiences) and I appreciated that.
I also really liked that, while King Author's epic legend is a big part of this story you don't need to have a vast amount of knowledge about the legend to understand and follow the storyline here. Which is good because I, myself, do not have a lot of knowledge about King Author and his round table.
In truth, I loved this book and my biggest complaint is that I don't have the second book in the series in my hand right now for me to devour. It's coming, though, which means I have informed my husband that as the book comes out when we are not allowed to buy ourselves anything because we don't know what will come under the tree, I expect it, in fact, to be under the tree!
Ratings:
I give this book a
8
out of
10 excaliburs
But that's me. What did you think? Did you love it as much as me? Was it not really your thing? Did you love Nick? Let us know in the comments.