Legendborn

This four star rating is as close to a five as it possibly could be because Legendborn was brilliant! I loved the characters, especially the protagonist, Bree, who is so tough while being very vulnerable, making her a very realistic character I loved to root for. She is easily the best part of this book for me.
The magic system was also really interesting. I loved the intertwining between magic and culture, aether and root, and how well expanded upon it was in this universe. Colonialism and African American culture was beautifully and realistically depicted through Bree's grief for her ancestors and the memory walks she goes on with them.

The Order's magic system was quite hard to understand however, which wasn't helped by Bree's seemingly immediate understanding of it, and I even when characters like Fitz died I was focused on wondering...what did he do again? By the end of the book I think I understood, but if I'm being honest, I'm still clueless. Deonn clearly has a huge, complex world which is depicted in this book which I don't think is communicated very well through the protagonist's exposure to it.
Other than that, this book is absolutely fantastic and I'm really looking forward to reading the next one (though it better not have a love triangle between Bree, Nick, and Sel - I hate love triangles with a burning passion haha!)