LEGENDBORN chat: NON-SPOILERS & Spoilers [CC]

@Marie45610 3 жыл бұрын

Legendborn pulled me out of a 3-month long reading slump. So upon finishing it I rated it high. I still enjoyed it, but thinking about it afterward, there are some small things that could have been polished more. I'm also not fully convinced that the MC had to be 16, she was already at the college, and I don't remember if it was ever specified how old her two love interests were. But she could have been 18 and it not change a whole lot about the story. It still could have been an early summer admission.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, they should’ve just been college age, 18-22 would’ve been great

@krystalferguson2750 3 жыл бұрын

Except that Bree was supposed to lose her mother at a young age like the other women in her family.

@Marie45610 3 жыл бұрын

@@krystalferguson2750 18 is young.

@krystalferguson2750 3 жыл бұрын

@@Marie45610 Yes. It is, but 16 is closer to 14 which is closer to being more of a child than at 18 which is closer to being an “adult.” So, losing her mother while still being a child at 16 makes it to where her loss effects her development.

@PuffBittle Жыл бұрын

Sel was stated to be 18 in the later half of the book I'm certain, it was only mentioned in one line but I just read it so it's still fresh in my mind

@b2ksflyhoney 2 жыл бұрын

Not every book is for everyone and I completely get that so your opinion is valid. For me as a black girl from the south I LOVED it & never felt so seen. And I was able to relate to the unfortunate events of being thrust into predominately white racist spaces. Definitely one of my fave books of all time.

@freetime2003 Жыл бұрын

I loved this book! I went to college at a PWI and have worked in PWI. I have been in those situations and felt seen reading that.

@aurora-cc6hk Жыл бұрын

Same, I related to this book so much as a black girl from the south.

@Sired2Klaus Жыл бұрын

That’s fair but representation doesn’t completely make a great series, there needs to be more unfortunately in fantasy

@b2ksflyhoney Жыл бұрын

@@Sired2Klaus Relatability or representation was not the only reason I enjoyed Legendborn. I thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters and the plot.

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@MsWOCReader 3 жыл бұрын

You were preaching here! The whiteness of this story was frustrating me. And the secondary magic system just didn't get the same love and effort put into it. Even her dad told her to go find some Black friends! ITA less love triangle and more on her friendship and adapting to the new school setting. And how did she never read Sel's actions as racist?

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Sel’s aggression and actions were sooo racist but she was just oblivious? Why couldn’t Root be the primary magic system 😤

@ABJC94 3 жыл бұрын

I think the lack of represenation for "root" magic is quite accurate. We can think of magic as religions. White colonizers created a hierarchy and intitution which uses what they deem evil when not used by them. Christianity and other monotheist religions destroyed foreign religions, while taking things from them that they deemed "good". When you consider Vaudou, for example, a lot of descendants do not properly know how to use it or they use it but hidden. So the practice is not as fluid as christian's practice.

@sabbathunlimited 2 жыл бұрын

@@ABJC94 I agree with this. As a POC coming from a country with a very long colonial history, this was how I read why Root appeared so marginal in comparison to the Order. Our own "shamans" if you will were demonized and indigenous beliefs about the supernatural were cast as backward/uncivilized, if not downright demonic worship.

@sabbathunlimited 2 жыл бұрын

I'm looking forward to how the author will handle Vera and Arthur inhabiting Bree as medium. I feel like she has more to say about the marginality of Root and the dominance of the Order. I don't know if I'm over-reading but if I recall correctly, Vera has a say in whether Arthur surfaces/manifests or not in Bree.

@mitchierainbow7353 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad to see someone calling Sel out for his actions. I honestly didn't like his character. I was silently hoping he'd disappear😂😂😂

@booksofkell 3 жыл бұрын

Omg the timeline!! I had the same thought! I had to check “when are we?!” like halfway through the book, and it was only like... 5 days?? Or something crazy like that? I was TIRED for Bree 😂😂 and what about her homework?! Hahaha

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

RIGHT!? Did she go to like any classes !?

@Europhik 3 жыл бұрын

I loved Legendborn but watching your video did make me realize that perhaps the society did not need to be that racist or plagued with microaggressions; it hurt to read some of the stuff Bree went through even if it was realistic. I felt like Bree never had a strong support system, especially against the racism she experienced. Her father, for most of the book, is just a phone call away but not there physically and her friend, Alice, sort of gets pushed to the side. I'm not Black but as a Latino, I know how important and comforting having a sense of community with people of my own race and culture can be, especially in a racist environment and the fact that Bree didn't seem to have this type of support made her experiences a tad more frightening. As someone who loves Arthurian mythology, I know that race didn't play a big part in the Arthurian legends until later, when white scholars started whitewashing some of the knights. While most of the knights were white, because the legends do come from Britain, some of the knights were canonically Black or Mixed or of another race that wasn't white. They were called or described as "Saracen" and these knights could be African, Egyptian, Romani, Middle Eastern. I know white-washing is a current problem with the Arthurian medievalist communities nowadays, so perhaps Tracey Deonn was responding to that discourse, since she herself is a part of the medievalist literature community?

@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 2 жыл бұрын

True

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@k.d.r.3980 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with you so much. I really felt like I was alone in my meh feelings about this. I felt the pacing was off. The primary magic system didn't mesh with the second and it felt disconnected. I was annoyed with her best friend and somewhat her dad when they kept saying "why are you acting like this??" Like her mom just died and they're like she's acting odd for no reason. Finally her dad sends her to therapy so that was good. Also it was too insta love for me. I listened to the book and it wasn't the best experience. The narrator is good for other stories but because there were so many white characters and the narrator wasn't good at doing different voices she made all the white ppl "sound" black. I also couldn't believe it was two weeks!!! Like girl you are kissing this boy like yall been together for months. It was just not what I expected at all. And on a petty tip, I'm sick of the name Bree. 😄

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Omg the narrator... some of her voices were good but I thought Nick was Black at first 😂😂😂😂 and the British accent 😒😒

@blackqueen5330 3 жыл бұрын

I feel the same way I recently read this book and I got to say that I didn't connect with it as much as I wanted to.

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@enaira8147 2 жыл бұрын

Same thing! I stop reading it because I was tired of the micro aggressions and the racism all the time. I’m black, deal with it everyday when I open a book I want to change my mind not being mad all over again

@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly it's so annoying

@aliaswired 3 жыл бұрын

I didn’t love this book, but as an ex-high school teacher I rated it 5-stars cause I think it’s the perfect YA. The combo of great writing, fast-paced with each chapter having a new twist, the themes/on-page interactions/internal and external conflicts, and hints of young romance make it excellent for teenagers. Not sure if my 37-year-old self is going to pick up the sequel (probably...one day).

@dianthaadabbles384 3 жыл бұрын

This was one of my absolute favorite reads of last year and I loved it so much I could find no fault. So it was very interesting seeing your criticism, and they make a lot of sense, just not things that I noticed as negatives while reading. I wonder if audiobook is not a great format for it, because I and all the friends that I screamed at until they read it binge read the book in 1 - 2 sittings, but one friend that had listened to it also had some issues with the pacing. So for me it felt a lot shorter than the page count, and I didn't mind the time frame since it was less than 24 hrs realtime. I lost my mom when I was a little bit older than Bree, but how much I related to her and the way she dealt with her grief, and how that affected her relationship with her dad, I'm sure that sold me on the book instantly and made me fall in love that much harder, making it difficult to see faults.

@michaeladimick8795 3 жыл бұрын

This book is a new favorite of mine. The discussion of grief was so well done and relatable. I haven’t lost a parent, but I have lost a lot of family in rapid succession and know the feeling of building walls around yourself. I also appreciated the discussion around micro aggressions because I have struggled with understanding what it is like to experience that because I’m white. I don’t think this book gave me a perfect understanding and there is clearly more research I need to do, but it really helped with understanding just how frustrating interactions can be. I also feel like I haven’t read a book that well written in a while. I love Arthurian legend and have been rewatching the BBC’s Merlin, so this was perfect for feeding that craze. I’m so excited to see what’s coming for the series.

@LordBunnyBone 2 жыл бұрын

About the behavior of Selwyn, I think for me it made more sense because it was such a short timeframe and in addition because of his family history and the pressure that lies on his shoulders. He threatened her a few times and in the challenge he wanted to force her to reveal herself. She forgave him quite fast but it was mostly because of his own sad past that maybe reminded her of her own story. The thing that felt way too fast was Bri's relationship with Nick, in those 2-3 weeks they fell in love strong enough to risk their lifes. But it is a YA novel so it makes sense xD About their ancestors, Lancelot was Arthur's most trusted knight who betrayed his kings trust. I think Bri mentioned that she wonders if her relationship with Nick was influenced by their bloodlines, that she trusted him so fast because of Arthur. I think a big part of the love triangle is going to be if the three of them can fight against the order's rules. Sel has demon blood in his vains while Nick has his own bloodline and it was mentioned that blending the bloodlines of the round table was forbidden I think. And the order isn't going to "allow" that Arthur's blood is mixed with either of them. So this is a big fight I see in the future.

@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 2 жыл бұрын

Some people just don't believe in true love sad not everyone needs months and months to figure out if they love someone or not

@tamarabelizario Жыл бұрын

@@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 oh honey, how old are you?

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@IamnotOkay567n8 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite part was the memory walk! I was halfway into the book for all of the reasons you mentioned, but THAT PART had me head over heels. I had to experience more of it.

@meh5069 Жыл бұрын

Me too!! All of her memory walk/root scenes stole the show completely for me. The rest was ok but these are the parts that hooked me.

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@MsAwesomeSaucey 3 жыл бұрын

Your criticisms of this book are valid and gives me things to re think over. Great review Jess!

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you ! I’m hopeful for the second book tho 🙌🏾

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@audreyjohnson2945 3 жыл бұрын

I had many of the same thoughts. I appreciate the time you took to expound on all this.

@lethallieread8570 3 жыл бұрын

I really did like this book, but I was really confused with how Root magic and the Arthurian magic were related...I know it was answered, but I just really wanted more Root magic. It was really skimmed over.

@brandybee0 3 жыл бұрын

I agree I hope in the second book she dives more into the rootcraft side of bree (more black characters and storylines) to create more balance!

@donnaliu8199 3 жыл бұрын

Just finished this book! I agree with everything you said. I feel like this (loooong) book could've been split into multiple books! It had a strong ending, but there was waaaay too much stuffed into the book as a whole. And yes I was not a fan of Sel or Nick. Why does every book need a love triangle? I know it's Arthurian but still.

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@Emma-sj6wp 3 жыл бұрын

I will never understand people touching anybodys hair. With or without permission, it's weird. I like the sound of this book overall and I saw it on my library catalog! I do find it odd there weren't more people of color in it tho because NC has pretty big black and hispanic communities. At least where I'm from.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

It makes no sense but there are so many people who touch our hair or ask 😒. But yes, there are lots of a Black and brown people in NC

@ashleighmikaelson507 3 жыл бұрын

I LOVED this book so damn much! Kick-ass black female character and it takes place where I live (NC) AND where I went to school at?!!! AWESOME!! losing a parent sucks! losing a parent too early? that is fucking heartbreaking! I lost my daddy when I was 8 years old... and I could FEEL Bree's pain and anger towards her mother! that cliffhanger tho??? I cannot wait until the next book comes out!

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@remedyreads5876 3 жыл бұрын

Okay, so I totally resonate with what you said about her being surrounded by white people in the sense that it was triggering to relive those microaggressions and not be able to force the character to leave and find a safe space like I would do if I was in a situation where I was barraged by microaggressions without relief, by myself. When I finished, I wondered if the stark contrast was the goal (because this very good author obviously made a choice to put her main character in this situation) and also I started wondering how many of these books I can read without losing my mind. I love that there is finally representation and real stories are being told rather than the uncomfortable things being glossed over but if we live it, do we have to read it, too? I don't know... just random triggered thoughts. I did love this book though. The fantasy was well-written with great pacing I think.

@Elslein 3 жыл бұрын

I just finished this book yesterday! In all honesty I would’ve DNF’d it if it weren’t for this video - because I wanted to see what you had to say about the book. I’m glad I persevered, but I basically had the same problems with it as you. I wanted Bree out of that toxic environment and people (I don’t care for Arthurian legends or knights in general), I wanted the root magic to get more spotlight, and I was surprised that there weren’t other POCs around. I believe Alice was Taiwanese American, but - why did everyone else have to be white, and not only that, but also very obviously Anglo-Saxon? Why didn’t Bree leave them and turn to the Root magic? They were so hateful, and also bland and boring...

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

I hated so much that Bree spent all her time around those folks

@tamiam4991 3 жыл бұрын

I’m just gonna say it... I expected more black people. I was so disappointed. 🤦🏾‍♀️

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

SAME😩

@meh5069 Жыл бұрын

Same! It was bothering me and my homegirls. Every time she’s with the legendborn it grated on my nerves. I don’t understand why the author didn’t also give her a group of friends on campus who also do rootwork. It would have been perfect if she had a group of friends on both sides teaching her how to hone her skills, and then they come together to fight the common threat.

@NonameWriter 22 күн бұрын

Me too!!

@isabellascarbrough3594 3 жыл бұрын

I absolutely loved this novel but can definitely see what you’re saying... I love retellings and that love definitely went into my rating/thoughts. I will be reading the sequel though!

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Me too, I’m interested to see where it goes

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@AR-yi4qn 3 жыл бұрын

I pretty much agreed with all of your points - I also gave it 3 stars! Additionally, I think the author managed an original twist on a legend that has been told and re-told to death, so I was impressed by that. I probably will not read the second one just because I really really hate love triangles but I am also glad the books exists :)

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Love triangles are soooo boring 😒

@JeanClaude00 3 жыл бұрын

This was a fun read! There were a lot of interesting moments but there were some things that didn't hit for me or could have been more fleshed out. Overall, still entertaining and I'll probably be picking up the next one. The cover art for this book is so gorgeous, I would love it as a print!

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Oh the art is amazing and I’m hopeful for the second

@mariahlove4405 2 жыл бұрын

I just finished the book last week, im so late. BUT honestly it took me a good minute to actually get into it. I had a problem with ages, i literally just visualized them as true college students and root was just thrown into the book for no reason because all I got was aether magic stuff. I really wanted more root stuff😂 That love triangle threw me off too. It felt unnecessary🥲 would have preferred more magic and character building or just one ML but i get it. With arthur and is bestfriends history being explained, i think I can understand where this may be going. The book itself is good. But it took me a minute to get unto it until towards the end when it really got interesting. I also hate the fact that it took her so long to try and figure out her root🙄

@hoor1717 2 жыл бұрын

i agree i was pretty devastated when i realized the entire legendborn is white (nothing wrong with being white but like cmon) but i do remember something about sarah being a brown latina? idk correct me if im wrong but thats what i remember and i loved it

@MsWOCReader 2 жыл бұрын

No Sarah mentioned having a Venezuelan dad which was supposed to be the author's way of saying she's secretly a POC but Venezuelan is a nationality not a race.

@danielleoliver1734 3 жыл бұрын

I’m a sucker for an Arthurian retelling, I’m even reading the last of Kiersten Whites Camelot Rising trilogy when it comes out and that was so much worse 🤣

@FromJessToYou 3 жыл бұрын

This is a novel I didn't plan to pick up but I loved hearing your take on it.

@sarah.ever.after84 3 жыл бұрын

I 100% agree with your review! I wanted to love this but it fell flat! Like you, there were things I loved but definitely things I did not love!

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@tysbookcorner 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with you all the way even though I made it about a third of the way LOL. The magic system really threw me off and she was being told all this information about it and just accepted it like it was nothing 🙄

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Yesss, I forgot to say there were such large info dumps and I was so confused but Bree was like “ok, makes sense!”

@loodcatnoods 3 жыл бұрын

Haha Jess, you're like me. If the book is long and drawn out I too notice the font size.

@JessPeachee 3 жыл бұрын

With any luck, maybe we’ll see more of the root magic in the sequel. But I was also in it for the Arthurian legend stuff cuz that’s my obsession

@JasonReads 2 жыл бұрын

I just finished it, in like two days, great book. Looking forward to book two later this year!

@SiSi-oi2or 3 жыл бұрын

FINALLY ! A review with spoilersss !! I have absolutely no one to talk to this book about and every video kept saying “spoiler free” 😂 like no ..I actually want someone who has read it and can expose “spoilers” and talk to me about what they did and didnt like ! So thank youuu ! And i am probably one of the few who think this bc of my fantasy ideals but 🙈😖i ..am not gong to lie ..i like Sel as a character very much and ..Part of me hopes she chooses him. Though i will admit i do not like love triangles bc i feel terribly bad for Nick andd i will also admit Sels behavior in the beginning was not okay but i know he had Nicks best interest at heart and seeing all the history behind them...if his personality mixed with being half demon made him go off like that ...😬🤷🏾‍♀️ welp...i still very much enjoyed his contribution to the story. It made things very interesting and played with your emotions. At least for me

@meh5069 Жыл бұрын

I hope she chooses Sel too😂 I’m not gonna lie, I can’t bring myself to care about Nick… like at all!

@hannahwalton5787 3 жыл бұрын

Yes yes and yes all of this. I think 16-year-old me would love this book growing up since there was and still isn’t much else like it but oh well. I especially agree that I wish she had more black friends but I can’t say I would write it differently. My partner and I have compared my school years (with majority black friends) to his (with majority non-black friends). It took a few conversations for him to realize he experienced micro aggressions. You’d think that’d make a person seek out black friends, but it only gave him a limited idea of what a black community looked like. It got drilled into him no one else was black and nerdy like him, I could fill a whole classroom with black nerds 😫. Bree is more self aware but I wonder if that’s just because the author felt she had to more explicitly explain what she was going through for (white) people to get it. It didn’t bother me since its not often you see these things tackled in ya fantasy but it did feel strange

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

I think the author did describe her perspective in detail to really show what Black or POC people experience when at a predominantly white institution

@QandTG 3 жыл бұрын

Yo! This was a great review! We enjoyed this one mostly....I think it hit close to home on some points being NC natives (The bojangles, UNC, and southern references) and having dealt with losing a parent around the similar age as Bree in the novels. I think that was the strongest part of the books her look at dealing with grief at that age. I like King Authorian magic system, but I DEFINITELY wish we got more of the Root Magic system! Hopefully that gets fleshed out more in book two. Haha this book is like the TV show 24 with how much that happens. The Love Triangle...meh lol. Cover is 🔥

@JulieTheReader 3 жыл бұрын

I was so excited when she left the society because I wanted her spend more time with Patricia and Alice and (I feel bad I don’t remember her name) the student who did root work. I listened to it and had to stop myself from saying, “No, don’t do that,” out loud at a Target when it didn’t stick. Didn’t care for the love triangle. I’ll check out the next book for more time with the root and friendship development (Alice, hopefully some root folks, maybe Greer and that healer guy whose name I forgot).

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

YESSS, I wanted her to spend time with them too and do more Root!!

@antoinettegoosby 3 жыл бұрын

I, so, understand what you are saying, but I have to disagree that the white characters of the story were unnecessary. I truly believe that was purposefully placed in the book to mirror many black experiences in the US. I think the purpose of this book was to shed light on that experience and explain that we have a place in a white world and that place is something of power and resilience. I’m still trying to unpack after just finishing it. I will agree that the love triangle was a bit questionable. I feel as though that aspect could have been left out but I guess for the target audience, having a love triangle helps the reader connect more with the characters. Thank you for your review. I definitely needed this to continue unpacking. Blessings.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

That’s a good point. Thanks for sharing with me 💙

@sarahgbadebo9415 2 жыл бұрын

I completely agree! I really resonated with this story. However, I did enjoy the love triangle… but hoping she ends up with Sal in the next book :)

@nicoleweber2456 3 жыл бұрын

I personally found it to start off a bit slow, it was only until the second half of the novel where I found myself not wanting to put it down. It was still great though and I still give it 4/5 since the second half did captivate me. Yeah some parts were a bit annoying like you said, but over all I didn’t mind it.

@sexyric02 2 жыл бұрын

I felt like for the second book we’ll get more about the secondary magic!

@amotleyartwkatherine 2 жыл бұрын

Agree - more root, why 16 instead of 18, why love triangle, and why so long? Great cover! But three star for sure. It could have done all the things in less pages, is my opinion. Plus I don't think I enjoy the angry at the world trope. It is like just a way to justify making the character do stupid things.

@lnp0760 2 жыл бұрын

Like it would be so cool and unique if she ends up choosing neither of the love interest... one falls in love with someone else and the other ends up just being a friend and someone new is introduced but, not til like way into the half-way mark( a poc men at that), very few microaggressions next book and getting some more black joy and her finding a core group of good friends, and at least on her dad side some more family members i would love a family cookout/reunion etc...

@phoneaddict9902 2 жыл бұрын

My gripe with your root take is that Bree’s magic is NOT root magic which is why Patricia and the other girl were shocked when Bree told them that she had blood magic. Root is what Bree and her ancestors would have been able to practice if her oldest ancestor was not forced to use blood work to protect her line. So while root was very interesting it served as another example of history stripped from Bree’s family and also how Bree ends up being Arthur’s scion. But yeah overall great review.

@lnp0760 2 жыл бұрын

Its 2022 and 100! right about what I thought i remember seeing this book back in 2020 on amazon and thinking the cover was beautiful and the fact she was from the south so relatable that said i passed over it as im just not really into the lots and lots of magic stuff at all for fantasy I like more dragons,elfs,fairies, talking animals/trees, village type settings... I just finally remembered this again and decided to buy it for the cover, BW writer and main character, and it being set in the south but, im not really planning on reading it tbh for a lotof the reason you mentioned iv watched enough youtube reviews to understand what/why it is... personally i willing in terms of getting the book passed "though" this book was being worked on and edited before the 2020 event so theres probably some stuff the writer had to compromise on to get it published,now book companies are doing a little better in the proper representation especially when it comes to black love romances/chicklets that are wholesome(by the book,excuse me while i ugly cry,business not as usual, soon fake it till you bake it,the boyfriend project etc...) but, its still a lacking mess in about everything else and that's disappointing just a few little changes and this book could of been higher rated making one of the boys a poc/mixed/racially ambiguous at the least.... given her a few BW friends at her college or in the dorms/a couple black teachers,and given a slightly bigger family( a few cousins, a grandma at least on her dad side,another uncle something to balance it out like someone else mentioned in the comments theres always that one who has to start first im guessing shes that one im hoping next book the author surprises us chile and does some house cleaning!

@heyimsasa 3 жыл бұрын

i'm so looking forward to reading this book! it's still sitting on my shelf LOL

@peachymin1404 Жыл бұрын

OMG YES 🙌 so glad I found your review!!! I also have some feelings that there are just details somehow that made me not love it as I should. This is a very perfect book already, the author is absolutely genius combining histories to fantasy in a way. I LOVE the Root magic system and Loveeeeee Bree's therapist so I also just dont get why she just go back on the Authurian. Also somehow I just can't love N and B like they are really cute at the beginning of the book but then it just feels so rushed and forceful somehow like idk but it feels like the story is being sell short somehow cuz B deserves like way more dealing with all those stuffs. I also LOVE her friendship with Alice, it feels more real than her relationship with N though

@vanessareadsfiction Жыл бұрын

I loved Legendborn but yes you do have some points I agree with the Sel love interest happened in the blink of an eye… and I’m hoping she explores root magic more in book 2

@kimesch9698 2 жыл бұрын

loved loved loved this book!

@beatricebuono9664 3 жыл бұрын

I loved Legendborn, but I still agree with your review 😂

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

😂🙌🏾

@mockingjayfire4687 3 жыл бұрын

Wow I’m so glad to see another black girl who didn’t fall in love with this book. I shared a lot of similar thoughts with you, I gave it three stars. I hated the love triangle and the two white boys. Sel was a horrible person and I can't stand him. The side characters were super forgettable and bland besides William. The plot was okay but predicable. I'm personally tired of tournament/trial plots because of how predictable they are and how the MC always makes it through by pure luck. Like I’m glad this book exists and that it got published, but it’s really not for me and the hype has me scratching my head a little bit.

@chelseawritesbooks8763 3 жыл бұрын

I agree! It was very predictable and I also felt like the characters should have been older.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes, William was the best! I don’t mind tournament plots if they’re done well but you’re right it’s usually predictable and it didn’t feel necessary in this story

@mitchierainbow7353 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad someone here hates Sel with the same passion as I do😌

@LyyraBat 3 жыл бұрын

I'm reading this now, so I only watched the non-spoiler section, but I have mixed feelings about it. I love Bree, I think the heavier topics are handled really well (and a lot of it is really eye-opening for me, a white person), and a couple of the side characters are really great. That said, I'm 250 pages in and still not drawn into the story, I'm questioning almost everyone's motivations, and it's using some tropes that I strongly dislike. I want to love this so bad, but I'm on the verge of DNFing because I am just not clicking with it.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

If I wasn’t doing a buddy read, I’d probably have DNFd bc some of my least favorite tropes

@thenorthwillow1536 3 жыл бұрын

Same here. I was really considering dropping it. But i kept reading and it slaps

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

@bonniestevens4329 3 жыл бұрын

I loved that book! I enjoy a good Arthurian tale and I really enjoyed learning about root magic.

@MsWOCReader 3 жыл бұрын

If you enjoyed the root magic you should check out Daughters of Jubilation, The Conductors, and Root Magic too

@bonniestevens4329 3 жыл бұрын

@@MsWOCReader I have not heard of Daughters of Jubilation, but I have The Conductors and Root Magic on order for my library. I am excited for the 2 on order, I have heard such good things!

@FromJessToYou 3 жыл бұрын

"She sees a lot of shit." LOL! Sounds like it.

@teresarosereads 3 жыл бұрын

Great review!

@AbiofPellinor 3 жыл бұрын

This sounds like a fun book, and I'm so tempted to read it cause the author is an amazing human, but it doesn't really sound up my alley

@hasteyebooks 3 жыл бұрын

Omg the timeline came up in our bookclub discussion and I was like 'wait wait, after like 1 or 2 weeks she'd ready to basically die for a white boy' confusing as hell, but teenagers I guess...Still enjoyed the book generally though!

@chelseawritesbooks8763 3 жыл бұрын

I love me some King Arthur. I'm writing a retelling right now. I loved the premise of this book, I thought it was very unique and loved the merging of the different magic and cultures. However, for me personally, I wasn't as excited as I wanted to be about it. And I think if the characters were older, I would have been more interested? They all seemed way too young to be doing all this. And maybe now that I've hit my 30s?? "These darn kids!" I don't know. I also was underwhelmed with the twist of who the bad guy was. He felt like he was bad just to be bad. It felt predictable as well. I wish I liked it more. I'll probably buy it and add it to my collection of KA books, though. The cover is goregeous. And I absolutely agree with you when she just accepted the magic way too easily. It bothered me so much.

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

I think if they were older, like all college aged, even 21-23 would’ve been better. They didn’t need to be 16!

@KD-CD 3 жыл бұрын

My problems with this book: 1. Bree doesn't acknowledge that she had privilege as a legacy and gaslit Alice. 2. Bree excuses the verbal threats Sel spurred at her the entire book simply bc of his sick mother. Normalizing abuse against Black women. 3. There were more Black people in this book enslaved than not. You would think you wouldn't have to tell other Black people Black people are more than slavery but I guess not. 3. This book was Black trauma porn against Black women. 4. I know there's other poc on campus Bree decided again and again to chose to surround herself with white people. 4. I skipped a 100 pages and didn't miss nothing 5. Bree was rude to the most beautiful Black woman (the therapist) and she didn't have thay energy for the white people. 6. A Black woman was raped and used as a vessel so Bree could access white man's paperwork. 7. The white people are forgettable. 8. If a white person told Bree to jump she would then Bree would turn around and talk about racism. 9. There is no benefit to having King Arthur as Nick explained it just drains you the benefit is only clout. 10. I would've ditched them white people and they shady magic so fast. 11. I understood why her mother didn't want her to go. She fell for peer pressure like nobody's business . She has no real college goals she just there to be with Alice. 12. The racism discussion had no nuance 13. No north Carolina culture except for cheese grits and hot sauce wth 14. The only non black people I liked was Alice and William. 15. Is Sel not a grown ass man??? We know Nick is 17 but even he described as a grown man. 16. Now an old white man living inside a 16 year old Black girl completely normal

@booksnnails 3 жыл бұрын

I don't remember if you've already did it (I'll look after this) but I'm really enjoying Amari and the Night Brothers if you feel like some middle-grade

@ReadingWryly 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely reading the sequel!

@LilyEvans1996 Жыл бұрын

OMG NIGEL IS SO CUTE!! Would you have liked the book more if it was shorter?

@katherinepinnell1218 3 жыл бұрын

“Look at Nigel” BET

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@oatmeallover4302 Жыл бұрын

Maybe I’m not good at predicting plots but I did NOT see that ending coming. I was screaming the whole last quarter of the book. Also a little ashamed to admit but I loved Sel 😩 I just can’t say no to a toxic fictional man. Really hoping we get to see root explored more in the next book and more diverse characters!

@TheBookishMom 3 жыл бұрын

I have had this on my shelf for a bit now and I am very excited to finally get to it.

@Xedotic Жыл бұрын

I love how you are like “I rate this 3, cause I just wish some things could be different, but every book is not for every reader”. I loved this book, but here on BookTok there are surprisingly very harsh views on some of the popular books. Like, people are so rude if you like SJM or if you like Coleen Hoover, etc. There are so many “why did booktok make me read this trash 🙄” posts that’s so disheartening, especially when you enjoyed the book yourself. And I just want to scream “NOT EVERY BOOK IS FOR EVERY READER”. Great review, you had great valid points, great video.

@traberah2671 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, Selwyn’s attitude was NOT foreplay, never did I think, “they should be a thing.” 😒 None of it should be a thing. 😂

@VineVitumEt5 2 жыл бұрын

I loved "Legendborn," as Ms. Deonn took the mythology of King Arthur, and spun a fresh tale with a BIPOC female protagonist who was dealing with unending grief and loss, while balancing school, new love interests, and unyielding racism. As to your question about the suspension of time on page 462, it states: "Time slows. Stops. Freezes. A single second, suspended." I take this to mean literally that all time is frozen in place, at least outwardly, and Bree has to look inward for answers.

@wendyfairfull8967 3 жыл бұрын

I have lived in the South Carolina Lowcountry my whole life, so I was really excited about the Root Magic and was disappointed that it was such a small part of the book. I will read the sequel, and hopefully, Root Work will play a more significant role.

@MsWOCReader 3 жыл бұрын

Check out Daughters of Jubilation. It's a historical Black fantasy set in South Carolina and the magic in that book is similar to root work.

@wendyfairfull8967 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the recommendation! I'll add it to my teetering TBR stack. 🤗

@hoor1717 2 жыл бұрын

OKAY SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!! sooo the 2nd book bloodmarked is coming out this november and here's what i hope happens; in the description of the book it says, the the regents refuse to let bree go save nick. so bree and sel and a few others "run away" and try to save him. solid plot right? BUT what if when they run away they seek shelter or help from rootcrafters that would be great because we'd get to dive into to root magic more they meet some black people and perhaps... a black love interest? IDK MAN I LOVE NICK AND SAL BUT LIKE SPICE IT SUFHSFBDRUI

@lwamh8962 2 жыл бұрын

Am I the only one who acc ended really liking Sel?😅😅

@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 2 жыл бұрын

What is it about these women authors and black authors always making black girls go through extreme unhappiness with racism even in fantasy books?

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

Watching!

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

2:33: Agreed. Seamless.

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

I didn’t mind that she was mostly around white people, because we were able to experience these white characters through a Black female gaze which I haven’t seen in a lot of YA. There is an important distinction to be made between stories with lots of white characters that are written from a white POV and stories with a lot of white characters written from a Black POV. The author chose the latter.

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

Loved the therapist. Her boundaries!

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

12:21: Fair point and agreed. I didn’t find Alice annoying. Didn’t know ppl did!

@ONYXPages 3 жыл бұрын

14:53: I hope it plays a BIG part

@syds8752 Жыл бұрын

For people saying they chose Sel, I get it. Sel was better written with a more compelling story. Nick was very dry.

@Doomslug 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with your thoughts and also gave it three stars. The rootcraft was more interesting than the other powers 😁

@WonderWmnBB 3 жыл бұрын

Finally got around to reading this. I LOVED it. As someone who lost their mom and grief makes you think about life so differently. Then! Having gone to a PWI for high school and college, I could totally relate to Bree. Her actions made sense to me. Her not being around black people much was quite realistic lol!

@emmanuelboakye1124 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍

@SergeantMcClain Жыл бұрын

I agree the whiteness of the book surprised me and at times it felt like she was begging for white acceptance. I honestly didn't see any of the characters at white until it was specifically pointed out but I realize I am slow in that regard. Otherwise as a fan of story's about the knights of the Round Table I really enjoyed this book. Last few chapters really pulled me in and I can't wait to start the next book.

@Mizosoop 2 жыл бұрын

Are they like Batman and Robin? Lol.

@lavonnewalker373 2 жыл бұрын

I hear what you’re saying, but as I read the book it did not bother me at all. I’am looking forward to the next. At the end of the day, it’s a reminder of how we are related in some way despite our color. We are all mutts😁

@thelibrarianofalexandria6200 3 жыл бұрын

I agree SEL is THE WORST. Grr

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

The. Literal. Worst.

@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 2 жыл бұрын

I know it's like the only popular books for black girls and women are ones with heavy racism there are other books with black women just being themselves and going on adventures like any other human being but are never popular and I know why...

@Werasliwa 3 жыл бұрын

I’m on a page 216 on this book and so far I don’t like it there’s so much happening in such a short time (as u said ) and all those magical things feel unreal to me. I’m literally forcing myself to read it and that makes me not like this book even more hhehe

@lorbito155 3 жыл бұрын

You saying “I have nothing against interracial relationships” lmfao when we know that you’re IN one (I get it if you don’t define in that way tho)

@JessOwens 3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I meant to say “bc I’m in one” but I didn’t

@Shardai_smith Жыл бұрын

As someone who is also writing a story on white supremacy, there couldn't be any other Black people in that order. Bree dealt with the racism because she was the first. While I do understand wanting more Black characters, this book tackles Bree's infiltration of a white supremacist institution. If they allow Black people in, then that would have been a different book

@tleeg74 4 ай бұрын

I watched the first 8 minutes of your review and got nothing out of your review, except you ranting and raving about white and black people. Get over it. Nothing wrong with whites and blacks in a story. Maybe Tyler Perry is more to your liking.

@crazyhuman7541 Жыл бұрын

i tried to get into the book but the whole "White people bad" thing got in the way

@crazyhuman7541 Жыл бұрын

i mean slavery is over and somehow people are still giong on about it

@fukray-cistutub3again847 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely NOT!! I have been buying these books for decades and it just hit me after watching the Little mermaid re-make amongst other movies that society has a problem with seeing a happy Black American couple who love and support one another on film and television. If they are placed together there must be tension and instability or the Black American male and/or female has a non-Black American counterpart or they simply leave out the Black American male all together. There’s definitely a racial bias and bigotry toward happy, loving, supportive Black American couples and strong Black American family structures in film, television and apparently literature. The lack of integrity for a dollar has ran rampant in my community!! Not buying another book that where the lead is a Black American male or female with a non-Black American counterpart!!! Is there some hidden rule where Black American men and women are not allowed to be love interest of one another? The hatred, envy and jealousy of a loving Black American couple is real!! We are no longer normalizing this bull$hit!!! Young Black American little boys and girls need to see themselves happy with one another!! MAKE US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER NORMAL OR LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

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