Legendborn #01: Legendborn

- Blurb -

Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn' s YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic. An explosive fantasy debut that' s perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J. Maas and Cinderella is Dead! After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential programme for bright high-schoolers at UNC - Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called "Legendborn" students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a "Merlin" and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree' s memory of everything she saw. The mage' s failure unlocks Bree' s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there' s more to her mother' s death than what' s on the police report, she' ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates. She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society' s secrets - and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur' s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she' ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down - or join the fight. Praise for Legendborn: "A King Arthur reimagining that adds seats to the roundtable, inviting new readers to find themselves within its lore, Tracy Deonn' s Legendborn braids southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power and self-discovery. " Dhonielle Clayton "Legendborn is an enthralling, standout modern fantasy about history and power, and Deonn is an author to watch. " Kiersten White "Legendborn is intoxicating, electrifying, and resonates with a deep understanding and vulnerable adoration of what it is to be a Black girl searching for the magic of herself. Tracy Deonn captivates you from page one with her perfect pacing, exhilarating plotting, and a command of storytelling that cannot be ignored. This book will hold everything you are hostage until, page by page, you discover how it has actually set you free. " L. L. McKinney "Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Kiersten White, Tracy Deonn' s unique reimagining of Arthurian legend is full of magic and heart. A brilliant debut!" Ashley Poston "It takes a special talent to breathe fresh life into Arthurian legend, but Deonn does it with ease in this fast-paced tale" - i News? "this is the fantasy novel for all once and future fans of suspense-filled storytelling" Kirkus Reviews "A promising series debut perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare' s City of Bones and Maggie Stiefvater' s The Raven Boys. This book underscores the movement for more inclusive versions of traditional Western narratives, and will be a favourite of contemporary fantasy readers. Highly recommended" School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW "explores themes of ancestral pain, grief and love, balancing them with stimulating world-building and multiple thrilling plot twists" Publishers Weekly "An intoxicating mix of Southern Black traditions, the King Arthur mythos and teenage melodrama. " Tor. com