1. Blood and Burdens

Bree Matthews, newly Awakened as the Scion of Arthur, is torn between the weight of her ancestors' trauma and the expectations of the Legendborn Order. Her mother's death, the legacy of Vera's Bloodcraft, and the magical inheritance of Arthur's line all converge in her body, making her both a weapon and a target. Bree's journey begins with visions of her foremothers running from the Order, warnings that she is the culmination of their resistance, and the realization that her power is both a gift and a curse. She is not just a king in waiting—she is the living embodiment of centuries of survival, pain, and hope.

2. Ancestors' Warnings

Bree is haunted by ancestral memories—each woman in her line has run from the Order, passing down warnings and trauma. Vera, her foremother, tells Bree that the family ran so she would not have to, but also that there is a cost to being a legend. Bree's Bloodcraft allows her to access root magic, but it is tied to pain, fear, and the threat of being hunted. The message is clear: Bree is the point of the spear, the one who must finally stand and fight, but she is also the product of generations who survived by hiding.

3. The Price of Power

Bree's new status as the Awakened Scion of Arthur isolates her from her friends and allies. The Order's Regents want to keep her hidden, both to protect her and to control her. She is surrounded by bodyguards, wards, and suspicion, unable to act freely. Her attempts to train and control her powers are fraught with pain—her aether burns her, and her root only flares in defense, not offense. Bree's struggle is not just with external enemies, but with the internal cost of wielding power that was never meant to be hers alone.

4. Hunted and Haunted

Bree and her allies are hunted by Shadowborn demons, Morgaines, and even traitors within the Order. The Regents manipulate the narrative, blaming Selwyn Kane for betrayals and demon attacks, while Bree is forced into hiding. The threat is not just physical—Bree is haunted by the possibility of losing control, of being possessed by Arthur or her ancestors, and of endangering those she loves. The lines between friend and foe blur, and Bree must decide whom to trust as the war escalates.

5. The King's Cage

The Regents capture Bree, drugging her to suppress her powers and subjecting her to repeated interrogations and memory wipes. She is isolated, her agency stripped away, and her friends are scattered or imprisoned. The Order's leadership is revealed as self-serving, more interested in maintaining control than in truth or justice. Bree's only hope lies in her ability to resist mesmer, her connection to her ancestors, and the loyalty of a few trusted allies who risk everything to free her.

6. Allies and Betrayals

Bree is rescued by a coalition of Lieges, Rootcrafters, and her closest friends, including Alice, William, and Sel. The escape is fraught with danger, and not all allies are trustworthy—betrayal by Jonas, a Liege, nearly costs Bree her life. The group is forced to go on the run, debating whether to hide or to search for Nick, the missing Scion of Lancelot. Bree's leadership is tested as she must choose between her own safety and the lives of those she loves.

7. The Shadow Court Rises

The threat of the Shadow Court—an ancient demon power—looms over the Legendborn world. Bree learns that the Hunter, the Great Devourer, is not just a story but a real, ancient enemy who has marked her bloodline. The Morgaines, long thought to be enemies, become uneasy allies as the Regents' corruption is exposed. The lines between Legendborn, Rootcrafter, Merlin, and demon blur, and Bree must navigate a world where every alliance is fraught with risk.

8. Root and Resistance

At Volition, a sanctuary reclaimed by Rootcrafters, Bree confronts the legacy of Bloodcraft and the expectations of her ancestors. She learns that true power comes not from following the paths laid out for her, but from forging her own. By burning away the ancestral streams, Bree claims her root as her own, no longer just the vessel of others' hopes and traumas. This act of volition is both liberation and risk, as it severs her from the guidance—and the burdens—of the past.

9. The Hunter's Mark

Bree discovers that her bloodmark is the result of an ancient, unregulated bargain made by Vera with the demon who is now Erebus, the Shadow King. This mark binds Bree to the Hunter, who has been both protector and predator to her line for centuries. The revelation that Erebus is the Hunter, and that he has been waiting for Bree to reach her full power so he can claim it, reframes the entire conflict. Bree must bargain with him directly, using her own agency to protect Sel and herself.

10. Volition's Sanctuary

At Volition, Bree and her friends find temporary safety and a chance to heal. The Rootcrafter community offers a different model of power—one based on choice, community, and honoring the dead. Bree's training here is both magical and emotional, as she learns to set boundaries, claim her desires, and accept that she is worthy of protection and love. The sanctuary is not perfect—her power still draws danger—but it is a place where Bree can finally rest and reflect.

11. Arthur's Dreamworld

When Arthur tricks Bree into switching places, she is trapped in his dreamworld—a shifting, nightmarish Camelot where the rules are set by his subconscious. Here, Bree must navigate illusions, confront the legacy of Arthur's choices, and fight to maintain her sense of self. The dreamworld is both a prison and a crucible, forcing Bree to confront what it means to be a king, a weapon, and a person with her own will.

12. Breaking the Cycle

Bree realizes that the only way to escape Arthur's dream—and the cycle of trauma and expectation—is to reject the Oaths and roles imposed on her. By refusing to serve the Order's mission above all else, she breaks the magical contract that binds her, freeing herself, Nick, and Sel from Arthur's control. This act of rejection is both a personal and magical revolution, opening the possibility of a new future not dictated by the past.

13. The Table Divided

The gathering of the Table at the Northern Chapter becomes a battleground—not just between Scions and Regents, but between Legendborn and Morgaines, between old power and new. The Regents' lies are exposed, alliances shift, and the true cost of the Order's traditions is laid bare. Bree, possessed by Arthur, is put on display as both a warning and a weapon, but the intervention of Morgaine's descendants signals the end of the old ways.

14. The King Unleashed

Arthur, in Bree's body, becomes a force of destruction—fighting the Mageguard, threatening allies, and revealing the danger of unchecked power. The Shadow King, Erebus, emerges as both adversary and would-be mentor, seeking to claim Bree's power for his own ends. The battle for control—of Bree's body, of the Table, of the future—reaches its peak, with the fate of the Legendborn world hanging in the balance.

15. Bargains and Bloodmarks

Bree confronts Erebus, the Hunter, and learns the full truth of her bloodmark and the bargain that binds her. Rather than run or submit, she bargains for Sel's life, trading her own future for the chance to save him. This act of agency is both a sacrifice and a declaration: Bree will not be a passive vessel for others' power, but will choose her own path, even if it means facing death on her own terms.

16. The Cost of Survival

In the aftermath, Bree is left changed—marked by her choices, her power, and her losses. Alice lies in a coma, Sel's fate is uncertain, and Nick is gone. The Order is fractured, the Regents exposed, but the war is far from over. Bree's journey is not one of triumph, but of survival—of claiming the right to exist, to choose, and to love in a world that would rather use her as a weapon or a symbol. The cost of survival is high, but Bree is no longer running. She is forging her own legend.

Characters

Briana "Bree" Matthews

Bree is a Black teenage girl who becomes the Awakened Scion of Arthur, inheriting both the magical power of the Legendborn and the generational trauma of her foremothers. Her journey is one of claiming agency in a world that wants to use, control, or erase her. Bree is fiercely loyal, stubborn, and driven by a desire to protect those she loves, but she is also haunted by grief, anger, and the weight of expectations. Her psychological arc is about moving from being the vessel of others' hopes and traumas to forging her own path, even at great personal cost. Her relationships—with Nick, Sel, Alice, and her ancestors—are complex, marked by love, betrayal, and the struggle for autonomy.

Selwyn Kane

Sel is a Merlin, a half-demon, half-human Kingsmage whose Oath to protect Nick (and later Bree) is both his anchor and his curse. He is brilliant, sarcastic, and deeply wounded by the loss of his mother and the fear of succumbing to his demon blood. Sel's relationship with Bree is fraught with tension, attraction, and guilt—he both loves and fears her, and his descent into demonia is accelerated by his proximity to her power. Sel's arc is about confronting his own darkness, seeking redemption, and learning to accept love and trust, even as he fears he is unworthy of both.

Nicholas "Nick" Davis

Nick is the former presumed Scion of Arthur, now revealed as the Scion of Lancelot. He is noble, kind, and burdened by the expectations of his lineage and the betrayals of his father. Nick's love for Bree is deep and genuine, but he is also driven by a desire to break the cycle of violence and control that defines the Order. His arc is about learning to choose his own path, even if it means leaving those he loves behind, and grappling with the consequences of vengeance and loss.

Alice Chen

Alice is Bree's best friend, a non-magical (Onceborn) girl who becomes entangled in the Legendborn world through loyalty and love. She is sharp, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge authority. Alice's role is both as Bree's anchor to her old life and as a symbol of the costs of the magical war—her injury and coma are a direct result of Bree's choices and the violence of the world they inhabit. Alice's presence is a reminder of what is at stake, and her relationship with Bree is one of unconditional support and hard truths.

William Sitterson

William is the Scion of Gawain, a healer whose power is both a gift and a burden. He is calm, compassionate, and often the voice of reason among the Legendborn. William's relationship with Bree is one of deep friendship and mutual respect—he challenges her to see herself as more than a weapon or a symbol, and his own struggles with loss and responsibility mirror hers. William's arc is about the limits of healing, the costs of war, and the importance of choosing kindness even in the face of violence.

Vera

Vera is the originator of Bree's Bloodcraft, a woman who bargained for the survival of her bloodline at great personal and generational cost. She is both a guide and a cautionary figure, embodying the tension between survival and freedom, legacy and agency. Vera's relationship with Bree is complex—she is both the source of Bree's power and the architect of her burdens, and their interactions are marked by love, disappointment, and the struggle to break free from inherited trauma.

Erebus Varelian / The Hunter / Shadow King

Erebus is both the most powerful Merlin in the world and the ancient demon who bloodmarked Vera's line. As the Hunter, he has been both protector and predator to Bree's ancestors, waiting for the day when he can claim the power of the Bloodcrafted child of Arthur and Vera. Erebus is cunning, patient, and driven by a desire for revenge and restoration of the Shadow Court. His relationship with Bree is adversarial, but also marked by a strange respect—he recognizes her as a worthy opponent and potential successor.

Valec (Valechaz)

Valec is a half-demon, half-human broker who facilitates magical bargains between humans and demons. He is charming, dangerous, and operates by his own code of fairness. Valec's relationship with Bree is flirtatious, competitive, and occasionally supportive—he is both a source of information and a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and desire. Valec's presence blurs the lines between good and evil, ally and enemy.

Lucille

Lucille is a powerful Rootcrafter and leader of the Volition sanctuary. She is wise, stern, and committed to protecting her community and the legacy of the ancestors. Lucille's relationship with Bree is that of mentor and challenger—she pushes Bree to claim her power on her own terms and to understand the costs and responsibilities of leadership.

Mariah

Mariah is a young Rootcrafter who helps Bree navigate the complexities of her magic and her place in the Rootcrafter community. She is supportive, practical, and serves as a bridge between Bree's Legendborn and Rootcrafter identities. Mariah's presence is a reminder that community and choice are as important as power and legacy.

Plot Devices

Dual Inheritance and Bloodcraft

The central plot device is Bree's dual inheritance: the magical legacy of Arthur and the generational trauma and power of Vera's Bloodcraft. This device allows the narrative to explore the intersection of personal agency, ancestral expectation, and the cost of survival. Bloodcraft is both a source of strength and a curse, binding Bree to the past and to the Hunter, and forcing her to confront the ways in which power is always bought with pain.

Possession and Dreamworlds

The use of possession—by Arthur, Vera, and other ancestors—serves as both a literal and metaphorical exploration of agency. Arthur's dreamworld is a narrative structure that traps Bree in the king's mind, forcing her to confront the dangers of inherited roles and the necessity of breaking free. The blood walks and dream sequences blur the lines between past and present, self and other, and are used to reveal hidden truths, test relationships, and catalyze Bree's transformation.

Magical Barriers and Wards

The recurring motif of magical barriers—wards, domes, and the sanctuary of Volition—serves as both protection and prison. These barriers symbolize the ways in which institutions (the Order, the Regents) seek to control and contain power, and the ways in which true safety can only be found in community and self-acceptance. The breaking and restoration of these barriers mark key turning points in the narrative.

Betrayal and Shifting Alliances

The plot is driven by betrayals—by the Regents, by Jonas, by the Order itself—and by the shifting alliances that result. Bree's journey is one of learning whom to trust, when to forgive, and when to walk away. The exposure of the Regents' lies, the alliance with the Morgaines, and the bargains with Erebus and Valec all force Bree to navigate a world where loyalty is both a weapon and a vulnerability.

Agency and Volition

The central thematic device is the concept of volition—of choosing, rather than being chosen. Bree's ultimate act of burning away the ancestral streams and claiming her power as her own is both a magical and narrative climax, symbolizing the rejection of imposed roles and the forging of a new legend. The narrative structure mirrors this journey, moving from inherited trauma to self-determination.

Analysis

is a powerful, genre-bending exploration of legacy, trauma, and agency, using the framework of Arthurian legend to interrogate the costs of survival and the meaning of power for Black girls who are "the first." Tracy Deonn weaves together fantasy, generational history, and contemporary social critique, showing how institutions move the goalposts to keep power out of the hands of those who threaten the status quo. Bree's journey is not just about claiming a magical crown, but about breaking cycles of pain, refusing to be a weapon for others, and choosing her own path—even when that path is lonely, dangerous, and uncertain. The novel's lessons are clear: true strength is not just in survival, but in the courage to demand more than survival; to be cherished, to be protected, and to define oneself beyond the roles handed down by history. In a world that would rather use her as a symbol or a tool, Bree's greatest act of rebellion is to exist, to choose, and to love on her own terms.

Last updated: April 30, 2025