Legendborn
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Legendborn
Legendborn is a young adult contemporary fantasy novel by Tracy Deonn, offering a unique retelling of Arthurian legend fused with Southern Black Girl Magic. The story follows sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews, who, after the tragic death of her mother, uncovers a secret society of demon-hunting descendants of King Arthur's knights at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As Bree delves deeper into this hidden world, she confronts a conspiracy surrounding her mother's death and discovers her own burgeoning magical abilities, rooted in her ancestral heritage. The narrative expertly blends elements of mystery, action, and romance, while critically exploring themes of grief, identity, intergenerational trauma, and systemic racism within the framework of a magical battle for the world.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The book features significant LGBTQ+ representation with multiple named characters who are openly queer. This includes lesbian, bisexual, gay, and non-binary individuals whose identities are woven into the narrative and celebrated as part of the diverse cast. The author herself identifies as pansexual.
Bree's best friend, Alice Chen, is a lesbian and Taiwanese-American. Selwyn Kane is explicitly bisexual, having had past relationships with both men and women, and a crush on Nick. The character William is gay. There are also references to a wlw (women-loving-women) relationship involving Sarah and Alice. Additionally, a non-binary character named Greer uses they/them pronouns.
Violence
Legendborn contains frequent and intense depictions of physical and magical violence, including battles against demons and threats to characters' lives. The narrative describes injuries, blood, and gore, alongside discussions of historical violence and its impact.
Witchcraft & Occult
Magic and occult themes are central to the entire narrative of Legendborn, which is an urban fantasy. It features a secret society of 'Legendborn' individuals, descendants of King Arthur's knights, who wield 'aether' magic to hunt demons. Additionally, Bree discovers 'Rootcraft,' a distinct magic system tied to Southern Black culture and ancestral connections.
Scary & Intense Content
The story features high levels of scary and intense content, driven by supernatural threats, intense battles with demons, and the protagonist's journey through traumatic grief. The stakes involve a magical war and life-threatening situations.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
14+ due to complex themes, moderate to high intensity violence, discussions of mature topics like racial trauma and a past sexual assault, and some romantic/sexual content.
Good to Know
The book deeply explores complex themes such as grief, intergenerational trauma, racism (both systemic and individual microaggressions), and the legacy of slavery, particularly in the American South. These elements are integral to the protagonist's journey and are handled with sensitivity and depth. The series delves into how identity, background, and history shape individual experiences. The book also contains a mention of a female slave being raped years ago, which is part of the historical trauma discussed.
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