March 4th. 

Don’t make me explain what that date means. I mean it. I’m in a mood right now because Oathbound comes out in less than a month and I DON’T HAVE A COPY YET! So don’t make any sudden movements, alright?!

lol, I’m kidding. But also, I’m really not. 

Here’s the thing: I can’t really describe to you how excited I am to read this book. Not just because I love Bree Mathews. And not just because Legendborn and Bloodmarked were incredible, but because there is a magic that takes place in bookish spaces whenever a book like Oathbound drops. When a story that has resonated with so many of us—you know, Black folk—drops and we see publishers throwing real money and effort into pushing it out to readers, it does something in the book world that helps me find hope again. This industry is so filled with barriers and closed doors that when I see US—especially Black women—pressing through so successfully, it energizes me! Helps me to believe that the fight we are all engaged in is not some fanciful dream, but a goal that we are destined to reach. 

With that said, I already know I have a bone or two to pick with Tracy Deonn. Because the only reason I can think of for why her publisher has decided to not send out any ARCs on one of the biggest releases of the year is because SHE DID SOMETHING TRULY EVIL to us. 

I have my guesses. And let’s just say they… who are we kidding, I’m gonna list them.  So skip this next section if you don’t want me to ruin your favorite author for you. 

Let’s do this!

WHAT CRIMES DO I THINK TRACY DEONN POTENTIALLY COMMITTED 

• Nic is completely overwhelmed by Lancelott and essentially ceases to exist

• She killed one of Bree’s boys (maybe one even kills the other)

• She killed WILL!!! (Bet not be this one, Tracy!!!)

• Nic and Bree become mortal enemies and one of them mortally wounds the other

• Bree ends up falling in love with the big bad (forgive me for even believing she is capable of this. But it’s on the table, folks!)

• Bree kills Alice… don’t piss me off.

• Bree realizes that the only way to save Sel is to turn him over to his mother (and Father--see next point) to embrace his demon side (who is obviously a good guy being misunderstood. Calm down. I can read the room.)

• Sel is fully demon

As you can see, I am in full doomsday prep mode over here. I’ve got jugs of water and canned goods stacked around my bed, just in case I need to hide away from the evil this book is going to release into the world. 

I’m kidding, obviously, but yeah… I’m upset. Which is why I think Tracy Deonn and Simonteen should have mercy on me and send me a copy tonight. Ya know? Maybe even two so I can share with you. Otherwise we are just going to suffer unnecessarily for another…counts calendar…26 days. And that just seems cruel. Amiright?

All jokes aside, I do want to take a few minutes to talk about this series because I hope that those of you enjoying my shenanigans so far will join me in supporting this book. If not to find out if any of my predications are correct, then because of the incredible impact the series has had so far. 

Let me tell you a little bit about my own experience with Bree Matthews. 

I was originally hesitant to read Legendborn. I was in a season of my life where I was only really interested in reading indie books—I know, season?—and Legendborn is not exactly the smallest book. She’s a thick girlie, ya know? But a friend of mine insisted that I give it a chance. She said all the things: It will change your brain chemistry, I felt so seen, this book is a masterpiece. Blah, blah, blah. 

I caved. I read it. And friends… while I may not be the target demographic for this story, I found myself in Bree. And my hope is that maybe some of you will too.

Bree is a young Black woman (girl?) who is on her own for the first time. She is participating in a program at UNC-Chapel Hill for bright high schoolers and ends up in a situation where she witnesses something out of the ordinary. Supernatural, even. Like… a demon. One thing leads to another and the next thing ya know, she is barging ahead and peeling back the veil and finding out exactly what lies under the surface of the world she thought she knew. Demons, a magical—and WHITE—secret society that keeps the world safe from monsters and, well… I will leave the rest for you to discover for yourself. For now, here is what I want to say:

This story resonated so strongly with me because it spoke to a piece of me that was stolen from me at a very young age. I have never been to a college campus—at least as a student. But I have been the “gifted” Black boy in a school that was built for my oppressors. I have been the only Black person at a table where white people sat around and pretended that the capes they wore were real. And I know exactly what it means to be the most exceptional person in the room, not just because of my talents, but because I went in knowing that if I was not, I wouldn’t be allowed to stay.

I have seen so many people question this story because of the overwhelming whiteness of its cast. But it is that overwhelming white crowd that most enabled me to find myself in its Black center. Bree, for me, was not “the only Black character in a white story”. She was every Black kid who was told that they had earned a place at the table, only to sit down and realize that their seat was a bullseye. 

I know this is not every Black person’s story. But it is many of our stories. In fact, it is more of our stories than we may realize. Because Bree is not just the little Black boy at the North Chicago Magnet School. She is also the Black lawyer in a boston Law Firm. She is also the Black teacher in an Indiana Middle School. She is the Black singer in a non-denominational “diverse” church and the Black Drive-Thru worker being treated like she’s lazy for taking her break. Bree is not just the academic break-through. She is every Black person who has had to thrive in a sea of mediocrity, only to be told they had failed simply by virtue of not being born with an aversion to well-seasoned food.

I value differences of opinions and I am not telling you that it is not valid to put this book down because you prefer stories where all of the characters are Black. By all means, if that is what brings you joy and helps you feel seen, those books exist! Enjoy them! I will read them with you. But if, like me, you have always dreamed about not only taking up space where you are unwanted, but claiming that space for your own people…then this is the story for you. I resonated with Bree as she wrestled with the cost of trying to take up space that wasn't meant for her. I resonated with her when that cost became too high and she questioned whether it was worth losing herself. And I resonated with her when, well... she kinda did. And now, I am excited to pick up her story and to see what it looks like as she finds whoever is waiting for her on the other side of this part of her story. Because heres the thing...

Bree is that gworl. If there is one thing you can count on, it is Bree beating back everyone who stands in her way and fighting for a way to create the world she is being robbed of. And I can't wait to see it!

The story may have started with a sea of white faces. But I, for one, am gonna trust Ms Tracy. Because in my opinion, she never lost sight of that little Black girl at the center. And I’m encouraging you to not lose sight of her either.

And Tracy, if you’re reading this, thank you for this story. I am so proud of what you’ve created and I truly believe the world is better because you did. 

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