Furyborn is an exciting tale of two strong females, who despite all odds take control of their own destiny.
LeGrand crafts a plot thick story that follows two different characters, an interesting way to write a book as you know the ending of one of the characters right off, but you do get to realize how they got there. An excellent book with a plot full of twists and strong females. Definitely one I will recommend.

This book is probably my FAVORITE book of 2018 thus far. These beautifully flawed, strong women are everything that I want to read in novels of any genre!

I loved the alternating perspectives from Eliana and Rielle / present and past, and how wonderfully their stories are so intertwined. All these characters live in shades of grey and I freaking love it!

Forbidden love, courtly drama, a Prince and a Wolf, two fierce women trying to figure themselves out and where they stand, magic and mystery, this book has it all. I was sucked in from the very beginning and I ended on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting a sequel!

4.5 STARS!

Set in the medieval times world where war seems to be the answer and magic powers, angels, and other dark forces exist, Furyborn by Claire Legrand is a fantasy romance about two fierce heroines and the connection they share!

The story jumps from the past and flashes into the present, a 1000 years apart. We quickly learn about Rielle Dardenne, she's learning how to hone her elemental powers after being held prisoner for so long by her father. She's a rather powerful magistra who can burn the world down with just her fury alone. Then we meet Eliana Ferracora, she's a lethal assassin for the Undying Empire until her mother mysteriously disappears without a trace and she joins the rebels in order to find her. As the story progresses we come across a lot of twists and turns that leave us railing and wanting more!

Claire's storytelling made me remember how much I love and miss YA fantasy/paranormal books. Its been a long time coming since I've been in a world as imaginative as the one this author has created. Claire Legrand not only wrote two strong and loveable females, but really likeable secondary characters who brought more depth to the story as well. Furyborn captivated me from the very first page and though it ends in a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to embark on this journey once more!

This was an awesome premise but didn't quite follow through. I suspect that the next in the series will clear up the problems I had with this one. Full review found at the link to my blog, [a cup of tea and an armful of books]!

********4.5 Star*****

I didn't know what expect from this book when I picked it up and what I found was a book that surprised me at every corner. This book did not read as a ya book and that is not a bad thing. I enjoyed the adult themes in this story. The themes of survival, morality, loyalty, love (romance, family and friendship) are interwoven into the story of two Queens separated by 1000 years, but who face a similar journey with one outcome, destruction or rebirth.

Furyborn had an interesting storytelling format. each chapter switches back and forth between the two main characters (The Queens), Rielle and Eliana. I thought this was brilliant story telling because you see the past come to life in Rielle story and you see the possible future in Eliana story. The past is needed in order to understand the present situation and to show the reader that the past can be redeemed.

Both Rielle and Eliana stories are heartbreaking. Rielle was a girl with tremendous power and when it was accidentally unleashed, instead of her family trying to understand it and to nurture her power. she was locked away and made to feel unworthy and unlovable. Rielle was so lonely that it allowed her to fall prey to an individual that had ill attention. Rielle was giving everything she wanted by this one person who desired to feed her darkness, that she begans to lose her light and her way.

Eliana is a girl living in a world ruled by a ruthless Empire. Her world suffers from the mistakes of Rielle still felt 1000 years later. Eliana world is one built on survival at all cost. Do anything, be anything in order to protect her family and to live just one more day. It's a life that cost a little bit of her soul on a daily basis. She is a women who is afraid of the darkness that lives inside. She fears that one day this darkness will overtake her and she will be lost forever.

Legrand does a great job of showing that this world isn't black or white. That there are no easy choices or answers. The characters all have to deal with there own darkness and desires that may be less than honorable. Her characters are complex, well developed and they each have their own demons to fight and choices to make that may hurt those around them.

The only minor quibble I have is that it is being marketed as a YA book and it doesn't not read as a YA book, but more as an adult fantasy, due to content in this book. It didn't take away from my enjoyment, but I am women of a certain age.

An amazing new fantasy series that consumed me from page one, had me on batted breath and left me wanting more.

******Publisher provided a review copy via NetGalley********

Many Thanks to Net-Galley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy. This did not affect my rating.
*4.5/5*

<i> “Two Queens will rise. One with the power to save the world. One with the power to destroy it. They carry your fate in their hands.” </i>

Furyborn is the story of two prophesied Queens.. The Blood Queen and the Sun Queen, one with the ability to destroy the world and one to save it. Both hold the power to wield all 7 elemental powers.

Rielle is a girl who is hiding many secrets.. about her powers, who she loves.. and all these come to a world shattering head when the boy she holds dear to her, is threatened by assassins. Rielle exposes her powers when she saves his life but puts her own life in danger as the King does not know what to do with her. To prove she is one of the prophesied Queens, and has control of her powers, she must face trials of all 7 elements. Along with her burgeoning powers, there is a voice that talks to Rielle, who she pushes her to be strong. But what is his agenda?
I love love love stories that have trials and tests in them.. I find them so fascinating. Claire Legrand threw the world at Rielle and it was stunning. The way the elemental magic works is so interesting. I just kept wanting to read on and on about how Rielle was going to survive the next trial.

Eliana is the Dread of Orline. 1000 years after Rielle has died and ridded the world of magic, Eliana believes that Rielle and the angels are stories. There is no magic in her world. Eliana is a skilled assassin, helping the Empire get rid of its enemies. She has a caring mother and brother - she does everything to keep them safe. Until her next mark is The Wolf. A rebel who has been wrecking havoc for the Empire. Spurred by the disappearance of her mother and wanting to keep her brother safe, Eliana strike up a bargain and throws her whole world in to chaos.

The supporting cast are all awesome characters, and I can't wait to see how the grow in the next book.
For Rielle, there is Audric, Ludivine, Corien, and Tal.
For Eliana, there are Remy, Simon, Navi, and Zahra.
All these characters play a big role in this book.

I commend Claire for how she handled grief. It is an ever present feeling, leading both Rielle and Eliana in their journeys.

Now, I didn't realize this book had angels, and as soon as that came up.. I was on high alert. I have only read a handful of books where I enjoyed their portrayal.. Well, rest assured, I actually enjoyed that aspect and the mythology it added to the world and I can't wait to see where it leads.

The prologue alone had me flipping pages to see how the characters ended up there.. what happened! and while this book doesn't get there, I can't wait to find out.

Ahhh Romance. Each girl has their own romantic interest. Yes, there is sex in this book but it is tastefully done and respectful. The narrative emphasized consent throughout the whole scene. Hell yes to consensual sex!

Overall, I loved the mythology, the magic system, both badass women, and their supporting cast. It was a fun, action filled ride with sweet moments of young love but also friendship.

I would like to first note that I generously received an ARC of this book though this review is being posted because I want to share the love of this book and all thoughts are completely my own.

This book has been one of my most anticipated books since first hearing of it and I was so excited to be given a copy because I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Now I can see why I wanted it so badly and I loved this book from beginning to end. I read and finished it in less than four days which is quite a feat for me and I read every moment I could because I needed to know what would happen next!

This is the story of two women (Rielle who is known by history as the Blood Queen and Eliana who is a bounty hunter that heals quickly from wounds) who are one thousand years apart in timelines so it's rather hard to believe there's a connection between these two very different women... and yet... sometimes the most elusive connection can lead to surprising discoveries.

Both of these women are powerful in their own rights and both also have a choice as to whether help save the world or let it burn. Sometimes the most important decisions can be the hardest because there's a slim chance that things will work out because life is always full of surprises.

I loved that both Rielle and Eliana are fiercely protective of those they love and are not afraid to make some hard choices to protect their loved ones though in a variety of different ways.

Rielle has spent much of her life being sheltered with her father being a commander to their King though she's had her fair share of struggles with trying to wrestle with her powers and keep it a secret for fear that she may be led to the slaughter. I liked getting to know Rielle because she's a funny, kind, powerful and protective young woman who will do anything to keep her loved ones safe and is also very smart. She's about to get in over her head but luckily she has at least a couple of people to count on to be there for support.

Eliana is known as the Dread of Orline and has done a number of different jobs to put food on the table and protect her brother as well as Mother. Even though she's an assassin, I really liked her character because she's one tough, loyal person who is loving to those she cares for and will do anything to keep them safe. The jobs are starting to wear on her though and one job gone wrong may very well be the key to her salvation.

Full of magic, intrigue, the power of love, adventure and twists... I still can't quite wrap my head around some parts because it was all so amazing and I highly recommend checking out this book. I can't wait to see what is in store for all the characters in the next book! Also I'd love to have my very own Chavaile and super loyal Ludivine, Simon, Remy and Audric!

I feel like I need more time with this review. I will do a more in depth one on good reads this week. I'm debating between a 4 and a 5 star rating.

The beginning of this book had me on my toes! It was intense and drama filled and I could not believe that it started that way.

I love both Rielle and Eliana. I'm all for these bad ass female leads nowadays. All my favorite books from the last year have a strong female lead.

Dislike: I think dislike is a strong word. There's not much that I dislike about this book, but the jumping back and forth 1000+ years took a little time to adjust to. Also, I almost feel like their stories could have been separated. 2 separate books and it would have been easier to digest.

No matter that though, there was enough drama to keep me going through this and I loved it. I can't wait to get my own physical copy of it. #netgalley #furyborn

Disclaimer: I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
Claire Legrand has created a really exciting fantasy world. She’s really good at writing together this story, but it’s not super complex or different from many others, but it’s still unique in its own way and I like it like that. As soon as i started this book, I was completely hooked. The entire concept drew me in. Sadly, for me some parts at the end were a little slow and made me slightly uninterested at those points, which made me bring my rating down to 4. Also, the trials that Rielle had to go through in order to become the Queen were interesting to read about. The trials kind of reminded me of the Hunger Games, and sort of the Goblet Of Fire from Harry Potter. But when I was reading about the trials, it seemed a little easy, and I never once doubted that she wasn’t going to pull through with nothing wrong, which it would’ve been nice to have some suspense.
Characters
I really loved reading through Rielle and Eliana’s perspectives. To be honest, I didn’t see a ton of difference between them. The author didn’t write a ton of personality depth, and if you were just looking at their traits then it would be easy to mix them up. But the actions they do define them. It was easy to tell Rielle seemed innocent, but we’re also reading it where we can see her slowly become a little darker. Eliana, on the other hand, already had a darkness in her, but she doesn’t seem like the darkness comes naturally to her, she definitely cares deeply for others. Now, onto my thoughts about the romance. At the beginning, I thought Rielle and Audric were kind of sudden, and I didn’t believe they were cute together. Thankfully, Claire Legrand keeps writing them together, and the more I see them together, the more I ship them. For most of the book Eliana doesn’t have a love interest, and I like it like that. I think she’s a great character without a love interest.
Overall
I really liked this book, and I’m super excited for the sequel. I think that so many fantasy lovers would really appreciate this book, so if you like fantasy, then you’ll most likely love this book. The plot is woven together in a way that’s keeps you reading, and the characters keep you immersed in the book, and make you care about what happens.

*4+ stars. Gets off to an exciting, dramatic start and keeps getting better as the story progresses. I'm not quite sure I'd recommend this for YA reading however if that classification means ages 12-18. There is at least one explicit, adult sex scene which might be better suited for 17-18 year-olds. Great strong and courageous female characters though and lots of action, adventure and romance.

The story begins with an ending: Queen Rielle gives birth to a baby girl but knows she herself must die and sends her newborn daughter to safety with a servant named Simon. But something goes wrong along the way...

The story then goes back to two years earlier and begins to tell Rielle's story and what led to this desperate moment.

And in alternating chapters, we jump to over 1000 years later and meet Eliana, the Dread of Orline, who works for the evil Empire as a bounty hunter. She is aware that women are going missing, but can she figure out how and why?

The prophecy: "The Gate will fall. The angels will return and bring ruin to the world. You will know this time by the rise of two human Queens--one of blood, and one of light. One with the power to save the world. One with the power to destroy it. Two Queens will rise. They will carry the power of the Seven. They will carry your fate in their hands. Two Queens will rise."

Can't wait to learn their fate!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an arc of this excellent new fantasy for an honest review.

Whoa! What an amazing start to an incredible series to follow! It is a tale of two women who live 100 years apart, while everything is set in fantastically magical universe. The book is brilliant from start to finish with imaginative world, diverse cast of characters, and most of all the features strong heroines who kick ass!

The story flashes back and forth between 2 women, Rielle Dardenne and Eliana Ferracora, who have been prophesied since dawn of time. One woman is suppose to doom the mankind, while the other will bring mankind peace. Their stories alternate through chapters, slowly weaving together to give us answers we so desire. You might think it's an easy question to answer, but with each chapter and more complex twists and turns of the story that answer gets further and further away from you. I honestly never wanted the story to end.

Both of the heroines are strong characters even of their respective times. They are rule breakers and they are relentless in achieving what they set out to do. Rielle fighting to break free from her demons, restrictions that keep her from exploring her magic capabilities further, proving herself to everyone including herself, all while trying to suffer through some love angst. Eliana is just that scrappy girl who will do everything to survive, even when it means doing the wrong thing. If she was a hashtag she would be #NoRegrets. But even as I'm trying to define them both I am doing them injustice as the author gives so much life and complexity to their characters. Giving each one a difficult situation to navigate through, but no matter what it feels like the luck is never on their side, there is ALWAYS a catch.

There is plenty of action to go around for ALL the characters with magic, killing, angels, powers, power in general, sexual tension and exploration (of all kinds which I found myself clapping for as rarely I see such exploration in YA based books) with some of the truly evil antagonists and minions. Claire Legrand is truly a master at creating the universe that is both modern and ancient.

This book is definitely going into my list of Top 5 Reads for 2018. For now it is  - hello darkness, my old friend... as I wait for the next book.

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 9%

This book should have hit everything on my like list, but we just didn't click. Honestly, I think part of the reason why is because of how the prologue is done. It isn't so much a prologue as an event that will happen in one timeline (therefore has happened in another). I wasn't curious about how things would lead up to that sad point, and unfortunately, it put me at odds with a character.
I've got to be able to like a character or at least connect with them in order to want to read a book... usual. I know this is something not everyone needs in their books though.

The second lead character seemed a bit wishy-washy and I was confused about what was going on -- who is she, who does she work for, etc.-- not a great way to introduce another character when I'm already on the edge with the other one.

So, I probably could have pushed forward more, but I just don't think we were going to work out.

This doesn't mean I won't be recommending this to people. People who like fantasy with alternating timelines and morally questionable characters, this is a book for them.

There’s been a lot of talk of Furyborn being the book of the year, so of course I’ve heard about it and was naturally tempted to give it a try. Furyborn is the first in the Empirium trilogy, which is a young adult fantasy series. I’ll be honest with you though, the real thing that caught my attention? It was totally the cover. The cover is so pretty that it wiped away any doubt I had about reading this book (I know, I’m such a sucker for nice covers. I can’t help it).
Furyborn is one of those books that you pick it up, feeling a bit curious, only to have the first chapter/prologue be this huge and immersive event. Obviously you need to keep reading to know more, if nothing else than to sate your curiosity. The first scene does start at the conclusion of one character’s plot, so it is a bit of a spoiler (personally I was okay with that; sometimes I’d rather know how things are going to end up for a character).
While some would disagree, I actually felt like things dropped off a bit, after that first moment. Once past the action I couldn’t ignore the fact that I didn’t know any of these characters, and it took me a really long time to start caring about all of them (not going to lie here, pretty sure most of my favorite characters are all secondary characters, and I’m totally okay with that).
Furyborn is the tale of two queens; one with the ability to destroy and one with the ability to create and repair. That description is a bit vague, but it’s all we have to go on for quite some time, so you get pretty used to it after a while.
Rielle is the character’s whose ending we get to see in the beginning, while Elaina lives her life a thousand years later. The chapters switch back and forth between the two, and while they think in strikingly similar manners I didn’t have any trouble keeping the two plots distinct (the different timeline and supporting cast helped quite a bit here).
I’m sure that everyone will have a different queen they liked best, assuming they found themselves attached to either (I’ve seen a decent amount of people hating both characters, so I can’t ignore this fact). I personally found the world that Elaina’s story was set in more interesting, but her personality was too abrasive. Therefore I was fonder of Rielle, even knowing what I did about her and her future.
I want to say it wasn’t until about the halfway mark in this book that I found myself getting really hooked (I actually kept taking breaks in it, since I wasn’t feeling connected to either main character). If you find yourself struggling with it I’d suggest giving it until at least this point before you call quits.
I’m very curious about the world and magical systems that were introduced here, and I think that’s why I ended up liking this novel as much as I did. I’m a sucker for series with unique takes on magic and world building. I feel like there was a lot of teasing going on – lots of magic shown but not explained, and little bits of the world revealed here and there. I would have loved to see more of both, but that may have been intentional. After all, it pretty much guaranteed that I’m going to follow up with the rest of the series.
It was only after I finished Furyborn that I heard it described as a bi fantasy. For the sake of honesty I have to tell you that I found these points to be pretty subtle and not well defined. Most of the information dropped was either done hastily or hinted at. It’s not what I personally would consider a bi fantasy, especially considering it was all relatively minor. I actually almost missed the revelation (Spoiler warning) that Elaina may be bi (I say may here because she uses sex as a weapon, so it is difficult to tell at times if she’s attracted to someone or using them). Rielle expresses curiosity towards her sexuality, but really she’s too obsessed with Audric for that to really go anywhere.
While I wouldn’t say that this novel ends on a cliffhanger (the plot is left open but the current peril was wrapped up) it does end somewhat abruptly. I think it was the storytelling style that made it feel that way; both characters really only got half a book to start their story, so there’s still quite a bit left for them to say.
All in all I’m really happy I continued to read this book, instead of giving up on it. I know there are some divided opinions on this book (it seems like most people have either loved it or hated it, with very little room in between). I’m a bit more on the fence, having enjoyed it but not gone over the moon for it. I still don’t find myself especially attached to either queen (though like I said I do have a favorite out of the two) but I am very much curious to see what happens next.

The book's start was a bit confusing. I found myself lost and having to re-read. After that, the characters started growing on me and the plot was definitely something that felt done already but refreshing at the same time. At the end of the day, I would recommend it.

THIS. BOOK. WAS. OUTSTANDING.

I could just leave it there, but where’s the fun in that? No joke, though. Furyborn was an amazing and exhilarating read, and it was so difficult to put this book down when I had to work or clean or do something else. I’d literally be cleaning, and either be staring at the book sitting on the kitchen table or thinking about the characters. That’s how addicting I found this book. Like Lisa Maxwell’s blurb says below, this book was utterly breathtaking and has left me impatiently waiting for the sequel.

Furyborn follows the path of two girls, both centuries apart, but somehow connected. There’s Rielle, who can manipulate all seven types of powers. And there’s Eliana, a girl set on finding her kidnapped mother and protecting her younger brother while getting caught in the middle of a centuries-old war (and did I mention she’s hiding something that could make her a valuable asset in the war?). Both these characters are fierce, strong, and undoubtedly charming. I loved reading both their stories and seeing each character progress as a person. Legrand did an incredible job bringing these two characters to life. I highly enjoyed reading Eliana’s story just slightly more than Rielle’s, mainly because I could relate to Eliana’s fierceness, her snarky and sarcastic replies, and her overall protection toward her family.

The world building was phenomenal. Claire did a wonderful job describing both parts of the world (one for Rielle and one for Eliana). There was not a single moment where I got lost in the world building or got bored; actually, there was never a dull moment in this book, in my opinion. There were tons of satisfying action scenes to keep the pace going and to keep the readers engaged. Though, I will admit, there were times where I secretly wanted to skip a character’s chapter just so I could continue the other character’s story. But I didn’t (now that I think about it, though, I might go back and re-read Furyborn, just to see what it’s like when you read each character’s story separately).

Overall, I was very impressed with Furyborn. I had high hopes and expectations for this book and I am happy to say that Furyborn did not let me down. The book exceeded my expectations in every possible way. I know the sequel does not come out until next year, but that does not mean I will stop wishing I had it in my hands at this very moment. Furyborn was one of my favorite fantasy reads of all time!

If you don’t have Furyborn on pre-order, then you need to march down to your nearest bookstore tomorrow morning and pick this up. You will not be disappointed! My co-blogger, Stacy, loved this book and she’s not a huge fantasy reader. To me, that says something.

Furyborn will be available tomorrow in bookstores across the globe, so remember to get your copy! If you are a hardcore fantasy reader like me or someone looking to pick up a fantastic book, then you need Furyborn in your life!

A solid step out of reality, Furyborn is a triumph for portrayals of females as powerful beings. Rielle and Eliana were strong, compelling characters with interesting stories to tell - both essentially about coming into their own and OWNING who they are. That's a valuable theme worth exploring.

What I wish had been different was the length of the book. It felt bogged down and was kind of tough to get through. Although it could easily be that I was just not 100% invested into the idea of a long book when I started reading Furyborn.

3.5 stars. I'd seen a lot of hype about Furyborn, and I was excited to start it; I'm typically a ya sci-fi fan. And while this book does have engaging characters and a lot of action, I found myself choosing other activities over reading it. At times I found myself confused by the myriad of characters and settings, but instead of doing a little research to set it straight in my mind, I just kept reading, not overly concerned about the details. Maybe I read this at the wrong time, when life was too hectic to give it the attention it deserved. But it is well-written, and I did love the characters. I just wished it had been more focused on the characters and less on the storyline. If that makes sense.

Angels and magicians collide in this epic tale by talented author Claire Legrand, the first in the Empirium Trilogy. A must read for anyone who loves strong, determined female characters, interesting world building concepts and a dramatic story, I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I devoured it in a single sitting, risking serious sunburn in the process.
The two main POV characters in the book are living in the same country separated by a thousand years. Rielle is a hugely powerful magician, proficient in multiple elements who is forced out of hiding when she risks everything to save the crown prince, the man she loves. Magical talent on that scale is unthinkable to most, and immediately reveals Rielle is one of two prophesied Queens, The Sun Queen who will bring light and salvation by keeping the nation safe from the Angels, imprisoned by seven saints generations before, or the Blood Queen who will rule over death and destruction.Seven trials will test not only her magic, but also her devotion to her home, failure will result in her execution.
A thousand years later Rielle's name is a legend, a mere historical trifle to ruthless bounty hunter Eliana, who trades her services for her family's safety under the harsh rule of the Undying Empire. When young girls and women begin to disappear, Eliana teams up with the rebels and discovers a horrifying truth.
Both characters are so vividly drawn and so completely believable, each with many shades of grey and their own flaws and foibles, so while they are sometimes unlikable, it is still difficult not to root for them on their respective quests. While we do learn something about the world the book is set in , it is clear there is much more to be revealed as the series continues, and I for one am eager to learn more, especially about the Angels, who have a decidedly and deliciously malicious vibe.
It did take a little time to adjust to the alternating timelines,but once you get to grips with that, the pacing is really good, with several mini cliff hangers to keep the reader's interest piqued, and plenty of action and drama, particularly in Rielle's trials. The whole book kicks things up another notch towards the end, when the link between the two timelines is revealed.
A dramatic and intriguing beginning to what promises to be an excellent trilogy, I highly recommend this as a must read for fantasy and YA fans.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC copy of this book.

Furyborn is told through the eyes of two fierce young females;- one destined to be The Blood Queen and cause destruction throughout the land, and the other destined to be The Sun Queen!

While each their stories are set over 1200 years apart they are deeply interlinked! Rielle's story kicks off with the birth of her daughter, who is then given to a young boy who must get away and keep her safe from an evil angel. The story back tracks in time to when Rielle was younger and we learn that she is the only one able to wield the seven magical powers and because of the prophecy, she is forced to train in secret and keep these powers hidden. In order to save her best friend (and love) from a deadly attack, she uses (and thus exposes) her powers and is then made to (at the request of the King) undergo a series of trials to prove she is The Sun Queen otherwise death awaits her (but she just might die trying).

While Eliana is hiding a different secret to Rielle's, it is one that she must keep hidden at all costs. Eliana does whatever she needs to do to survive and to feed and look after her younger brother and Mother. This includes some gruesome tasks and she becomes a deadly assassin working for the ruthless Emperor. When her mother gets abducted, and in her quest to find her, Eliana makes a deal with a stranger known as The Wolf. * In Eliana's story, angels have been banished behind a gate but is all hell about to break loose!

The prologue is action packed and the beginning of the book starts of with a bang and throughout there's high fantasy, fighting, adventures, drama, humour, and two fierce female leads! There's a range of other diverse background characters and there's lots of different forms of magic, evil angels and zombies (only in a dead but brain controlling sense) too! Each chapter is engaging and pulls you into wanting to know what's going to happen next! Some of it I predicted, but it didn't spoil any aspect of the story telling. Each chapter switches between the two characters POV and I felt that even though each story is set a millennia apart, it was still easy to follow.

I'm not sure I would call either Rielle or Eliana were likeable necessarily but I also don't feel that they needed to be. They were tough and they could be cruel, and the red queen (who I won't name because of spoilers) was also being pulled by the lust for power. However, they were also complex characters and vulnerable too. They were fiercely loyal to their loved ones and would definitely be someone you would want on your team. In comparison, both Rielle and Eliana's love interests characters felt a bit flat. The rogue angel works well as a villain and The Wolf might prove interesting in the rest of trilogy!

A few more thoughts

I wish there was more world building, especially at the beginning - because this book is so fast-paced and intense, I would have loved to have read more about both Rielle and Eliana's stories were set and their surroundings. There was also very little written about the magical elements aside from when the characters were welding magic, and the seven trials set out for Rielle become a bit repetitive after a while.

*Furyborn is categorised as YA but it does include descriptive sex scenes and sexual content.

This is the first YA fantasy book I've read in a while and overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the trilogy!

This book has a lot of hype surrounding it with very good reason. It is incredibly fast-paced, there are many twists and turns, and the magic is quite a wonder in itself!
I have to say that I was quite surprised at my reaction to the dual-POV. Usually, I tend to care more for one POV and focus on that while trudging reluctantly through another perspective, but with this book I looked forward to both stories. There was never a time where I felt the need to skim just to get back to another character because I *needed* to know about both! I think that had a lot to do with the main characters, Rielle and Eliana. I thought they wonderfully flawed and epically dynamic. They each had their distinct personalities and mind sets that often led them into deep trouble. Their stories were set into two different times settings, but they were connected by a grander legend/prophecy because this is fantasy. One has a redemption arc and the other a fall from grace, which I LOVED reading about!
I enjoyed the plot for the most part. I didn't think the major jump in era was confusing, since both societies were quite distinct. I thought that the magic was excellently done! If you are a fan of the classic elements with a bit of a twist, I think you would enjoy this. As for the twists, they were very twisty, perhaps not as shocking as I had hoped, but they did still have a big impact on the story that are setting up good things for the sequels.
I have to knock off one star, for the sole reason that I'm having a hard time believing this book to be memorable. The story while I was reading was quite good, but I could spot moments when I could put it down and just stop reading. There was no intense need to get back to reading. It had its fair share of dull moments and this was quite a large book.
Overall, I did enjoy this. I am looking forward to the sequel, although I might be in need of a reread when the time comes for the next book!