nicoleterego's reviews
146 reviews

I have so many thoughts about this book but since this is a late review I cannot remember most of it now. I just remember thinking it was so messy and slow. There were so many scenes that could've been deleted and the story would've been fine. I was also expecting more development with the other legendborns and focus on the urgency of Nick's kidnapping. I guess the author wants to expand the lore but it just felt so dragging most of the time. It has its moments though but not as good as the first book.

Also (nevermind my main complaints are resurfacing from memory), oh god I knew this was bound to happen but I guess I hoped it wouldn't be as bad. SelBree is just plain terrible. If I didn't hate Sel from the first book, now I definitely do. The whole time, I was fuming mad at him. He was a complete asshole. I don't understand how Bree keeps on defending him when he literally manipulated her and also confessed to having the intent of killing her despite knowing how terrible it would be for Nick. I also can't take his confessions to Bree seriously because like few pages after he would yell and take his anger on her again. They were so hot and cold with each other the whole time and you expect me to believe that "Sel cannot leave without her" or whatever the fuck he said in the forest. Furthermore, Sel was also emotionally immature. He  picked a fight for no reason at the bar. 💀 (Sel, you had one job.) I also cannot believe Nick was suddenly "bad" because he killed the man who killed his dad. Like??? He ran away grieving but all Bree and Sel could think of was they were "betrayed"? *scratches head* His life was literally falling apart.

Nick's appearance was honestly the most comforting parts of the book. I just want him back so bad. His moments with Bree was always gentle and still ever consistent (big contrast to whatever the fuck is going on with selbree). Shoutout to William and Alice too cause they are honestly the best of all the characters.

I remember dragging myself to finish the last chapters. The whole thing with the Morgaines and the big bad (i can't even remember the name now) felt so hastily written, idk?

I'm so frustrated because I really loved Legendborn but this was such a messy book. I'm not really looking forward to the next one.

So, I made an impulsive decision to re-read PJO again after 9 years. YAY!  

Rick Riordan created a world so vast and so wonderfully written that even after nine whole years I don't feel like I "aged-out" of it. The best part is while I know the major stuff, I realized I've forgotten most minor details of the story and it feels like actually reading it for the first time.

I still felt excited during the Ares fight. I was still thrilled to go to the underworld and meet Hades for the first time. I still giggled every time Percy and Annabeth bickers knowing full well how much they'll grow to depend on each and have each other's back someday. When Percy was claimed, and we discovered that he has this power to control water? Kid me enjoyed that part very much and adult me still very much loved it. I guess that is the magic of the books Riordan created.

 
I might actually be a little biased in rating this first book so high, but you can't blame for having massive attachment to this book. For one, it literally has the "Look I didn't want to be a half-blood" opening line which will always be iconic.

There are also some tiny details I missed before. Like I know Percy has always been funny, brave, and sassy. But underneath that is also an angry kid who is fed up for getting bullied all his life and being branded the "problematic kid" when he actually has no control over his ADHD and dyslexia. Then he finds out he's a half-blood and has to fix his dad's (who he's never seen before) problems for him. On top of that, he now is apparently a subject of a great prophecy he didn't ask to be part of. Can't really blame him for being angry at everyone, tbh. Also, I kind of understand Luke now. The guy actually has a point. The gods really aren't really that great to begin with. They are obviously selfish, ungrateful, proud, and a lot of negative things I can describe of. He has the right to feel neglected too. But of course, it doesn't mean the titans are any better and I don't think waking them up and wanting to start a war won't actually solve his problems. LOL. That's Luke for you, I guess.

 

Anyway, I can't wait to see the new Disney+ series in development right now. Honestly, re-reading this book again reminded me of how much they screwed the movies. I hope people who haven't read the book but knows the movies are not discouraged to watch the new series. I already imagined the announced cast (Walker, Leah, and Aryan) as their characters while reading the book so I'm sure they're going to do great. I hope this series finally get the proper adaptation it deserves. 

I remember loving this book from when I first read it and now I still do. I was honestly suprised when I find out  it's not as popular as I thought it would be. I get the Last Olympian truthers though, to each their own I guess. 

This book is a solid 5/5 to me from then till now

It's 3AM and I just can't wait to put the rating out here. I love it so much that my heart is still pounding so fast while typing this. Going to edit this review when I've collected my thoughts and I have calmed down. 

EDIT (Spoilers ahead!):
So... it's been almost two weeks after reading Legendborn. I feel like I was floating for days after reading the book. There was so much to unpack. The plot-twist ending was beautifully executed and left me wanting for more (btw, devastated to find out Bloodmarked isn't out yet, like whyyyy). 
First of, I LOVEEE Bree. She's strong. She's fiesty. She knows what she wants and she's smart SMART. The story didn't drag much because our main heroine figures things out fast. She's not dumb to not notice the obvious like so many other stories tend to do. Most importantly, she's not the typical strong female character who shows no emotions and just gets away with everything for no reason. She is well written in a way that we see how she struggles with her grief, her moral compass, and her past. She gets angry. She gets sad. She can be stubborn, funny, brave. She is a lot of things and I love every part of her. I also like that this book tackles grief so well. It shocked me how I relate to Bree instantly when she talked about her "after-bree" and how she dealt with the loss of her mother. Building walls and hating it when people feel sorry for her? That's so relatable. I know people experience grief and loss differently so I willl only speak for myself when I say this book really hits home when it comes to tackling grief.
Second, I love the spin they gave to this whole King Arthur legend thing. It's really unique to me. I have basic understanding of the story from A School for Good and Evil so it's refreshing to encounter it again in a different way.  It was a lot confusing at first, the magic system specially. I didn't know where the plot was going most of the time (in a good way). But once they've put all the expositions out of the way you'll love how rich and incredibly unique the worldbuilding Tracy Deon created. 
Third, I loved the final battle. The build-up to the major reveal? *chef's kiss*  I was so engrossed that I wasn't able to put the book down until I finish it to the last page. The battle was executed so well it got my heart pounding so fast and I found myself actually clapping and punching the air. 
Now, about the romance... (yeah, I'm making a special section for this) I quite agree with people that Nick and Bree's relationship developed fast. BUT, from the moment my boy Nicholas Davis appeared, I can already see the chemistry right off the bat. Furthermore, he's funny, sweet, and consistent from the start. There's really nothing to dislike about him. Bree has been through a lot, and I think an honest and straightforward love is what she deserves the most. She deserves someone who will wholeheartedly love her. Nick also always sees Bree for who she is and believes in her capability. He defends her without hesitation against the racist people around her and recognizes the problem with their organization. Seriously, I can sit here all day and night writing why Nick Davis is the better choice for Bree. I know the author is hinting on a Sel x Bree romance and to be honest I was scared they will suddenly turn Nick into a jerk for no reason. I've seen it before with other books and I can't emphasize enough how I hate character assassinations. Good thing, they didn't because my rating would plummet down so fast. LMAO. Anyway, I understand that Sel is a complex character and that we haven't seen all of him since he's not really the focus of this book. But he has so much going-on with himself. The dude literally tried to kill Bree at the start. LOL. He was also very rude to her. I don't hate him as a character, but I don't like Bree to end up with someone like him. You know, I give a pass on enemies-to-lovers trope only when the guy isn't borderline toxic to the girl. Plus, he's actually done nothing for me to root for him. Point is, Nick is the better choice over Sel any day, so I don't like that the author seems to be going on a different way (I hope not). Still, I'm excited for Bloodmarked and I can't wait to meet her again when I get my hands on the next book.

 pros: world building is great. the plot has so much potential (exploring the veskans and faroans, more lore to why the doors were sealed, etc). author is good at writing the main characters (kell, lila, holland, rhy, and alucard) but not so much for others (see cons section).  Finally, the best thing about this whole series is the romance between Lila and Kell. That was chef's kiss. The build-up? The longing before they actually got together? Perfection. I feel like I am in the minority for liking their chemistry. Rhy and Alucard could've been great too, but I feel that they lack connection.

They kept referencing that one intimate moment in the past but didn't explore why they met or why they liked each other. Their romance was always reduced to just their physical intimacy rather than emotional connection. I personally would love it if the ending ended in a wholesome manner like him confessing his love and everyone just accepting their relationship as it is instead of Alucard just being his what was it again? His bodyguard? companion? friend?

cons: slow paced.  so many side characters that can be utilized better. author writes a side character and forces you to care for them then fail (or if I actually start caring and seeing their importance to the plot, they get killed off).  some parts can be omitted, and it won't affect the plot at all. i feel like this book and the 2nd book should just be combined into one book (delete the dragging parts). So many, and I mean MANY flashbacks that was so boring. I know it's an attempt to flesh out the other characters (which should've been done in book two, hell that book was so pointless) but it failed.

I don't like that I never got the answer about Lila's past. Like, we just all accepted that she's an Antari? Personally, Lila is such an interesting character with flaws (gurl has abandonment issues and stuff) that could've been explored more. Moreover, Lila is the ONLY female character that has actual real character, albeit trope-ish (the typical "not-like-other-girls" female lead ). Other females are either "strong" but gets killed (Kisimyr), written as annoying, flirty for no reason, viewed as weak (submissive), someone's puppet, etc. I don't know if it can be called internalized misogyny on the author's part but the difference between the male and female's writing is so evident. 
The chapters set in grey london is just so dragging and so unnecessary. What was the point of that chapter with the king? Nothing. What about Ned? He's literally just there for I don't know what reason and then suddenly Kell gives him the most dangerous thing in all londons without better explanation except that Kell believes in humanity. *confused noises* Cora, the veskan princess. I really don't get her character at all. I thought the author's trying to give her character (other than being flirty and a minor at that) when she had a chapter with Rhy but then suddenly she goes completely lunatic, again, for no apparent reason. I didn't really care about the Royal Parents's death because they did not have a lot of character prior to this. The author tried to force me into caring for them but failed. Both their deaths are dumb. Also, Holland deserves so much better. The author just loves making him miserable every damn time. Osaron is a meh villain.

Honestly, I feel like I have more to say but that was long already lol. Even though I didn't like this book as much as I want to, I finished it because I grew to like the world and the main characters and I'm honestly just curious overall if it would get better.