Legendborn

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, and illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Legendborn reimagines Arthurian legend through the lens of a Black teenage girl in the contemporary American South. How does this approach compare to other fantasy novels that reimagine legends and myths, such as Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief?

2. In the novel’s premise, magic and academia collide in a vivid college setting. What elements of this world-building did you find most compelling, and why?

3. Multiple magical systems operate within the novel’s world. How do the contrasting approaches of Bloodcraft and Rootcraft illustrate the story’s themes about power, heritage, and community?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Bree describes building an emotional “wall” to contain her grief. When have you constructed similar mental or emotional barriers in your life? What lessons did you learn from that experience?

2. Throughout the novel, Bree struggles with being an outsider. Which aspect of her outsider experience resonated most strongly with you, and why?

3. The scent of magic plays an important role in the novel, with different magical signatures having distinct smells. What real-world scents trigger powerful memories or emotions for you?

4. Bree’s relationship with her father changes because she chooses to keep secrets about her magical life. Have you ever decided to keep important parts of yourself hidden from family members? Alternatively, how did you navigate the sharing of difficult truths?

5. The concept of legacy drives much of the plot as Bree discovers her connection to both Rootcraft and Bloodcraft. How have your own family stories shaped your identity and choices, and what aspects of your heritage would you like to explore further?

6. In the novel, Bree must balance her academic responsibilities with her magical training and personal quest. When did you have to find a balance between different aspects of your life? How did you solve this dilemma?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Institutions like universities and secret societies have historically excluded people of color. How does Deonn’s fantasy framework address this real-world issue and initiate a deeper conversation about diversity and inclusion in elite spaces?

2. Deonn incorporates the painful history of enslavement into her fantasy narrative. How does this approach compare to other works that address historical trauma through fiction?

3. The Order’s power structure mirrors the hierarchies of many traditional institutions. What contemporary systems of power could benefit from the kind of disruption that Bree brings to the Order?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.



1. The novel features two contrasting magical systems: Bloodcraft, which is hierarchical, and Rootcraft, which is communal. What comment is the author making about power dynamics in general?

2. Bree believes that she became a different person after her mother’s death. How does the resolution of this split in identity contribute to Bree’s growth?

3. Consider the love triangle between Bree, Nick, and Sel. How does this dynamic both echo and subvert traditional Arthurian love triangles?

4. Various symbols appear throughout Legendborn. Which symbol did you find most effective, and how did its meaning shift and grow throughout the story?

5. The novel’s first-person narration is designed to provide a deeper understanding of Bree and the magical world that she discovers. What insights or limitations does this narrative choice create?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you could design a trial for the Order’s tournament, what skills would you test, and how would you structure the challenge?

2. The novel ends with Bree jumping into the quarry. Write an opening paragraph describing what happens next.

3. Imagine that you have inherited magical abilities from one of your ancestors. Would you choose to wield Bloodcraft or Rootcraft? What specific talents would you hope to possess?

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