Furyborn started off very slow for me but it managed to capture my interest and I couldn't put it down. Loved it!!

A missing princess. A fierce female assassin. A world stripped of its magic with an evil emperor and possessed soldiers. Sound a little familiar?

But even with all its similarities, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an enjoyable read. The story switches POV from Rielle, who discovers that her unique powers means she’s one of two prophesied queens: the Sun Queen or the Blood Queen. Flash forward to years and years later, and we meet Eliana – famed assassin – who finds herself on a mission that challenges her entire way of thinking.

I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but the prologue was actually my favorite part of the book. It sets up the rest of the story SO well and creates a high level of tension and mystery that kept me reading. Without it, I don’t think I would have been so invested in the story.

All in all, I enjoyed Rielle’s chapters much more (mainly because Eliana’s just felt so familiar). Rielle also felt much more balanced as a character although both are strong, badass women. Eliana just felt a little like she was trying too hard – waffling back and forth between cruel and compassionate like a rubber band.

The world building also needed a little more work. In itself, the premise is intriguing. Sorcerer’s who can control different elements is nothing really new, but they’re also at war with the angels (a force that’s usually portrayed as good). Why are they at war? Not really sure. It’s one of the many things that needed a bit more explanation (maybe instead of one of the multiple fight scenes).

One last thing… This book is being hyped up as a fantasy with bi-representation. I honestly don’t understand why. There were maybe two passing comments, and if I hadn’t been looking, I would have missed them.

Overall, it was an enjoyable but average read. If it wasn’t for the prologue, I would have ranked it lower, and it’s the one thing that has me holding out for book 2.

This started out confusing as it's two peoples story that crosses over. You learn the past with the present. If rather had them separated so that I get to know each character better. But over all the book sweeps you in and before you know it your at the end wanting more.

A super solid start to what I can only imagine will be a STELLAR series. The author does great world building work and while this can sometimes feel tedious and slows the story down a tad, it's all clearly important for the overall arc and will (likely) pay off in the long run. I was really impressed by how complex all of the characters were - no one was being used simply to move the story along or as an absent minded aside. Because of this, you become truly invested in the book. It was so freaking refreshing to read a female protagonist who contained so many sides, which we got to explore with her as she figures them out for herself, felt reminiscent of V.E. Schwab's work - nothing inside the box.

I also thought the author did a really great job pivoting the story in unexpected directions. There were a few times where some of the added detail felt forced but, for the most part, plot pivots were fun and drove intrigue. 

Going back-and-forth in time between characters is a really heavy skill lift and the use of it here didn't totally work for me. The pacing started to feel more natural/fluid towards the end of the book and I would love to see that continue with the progression of the story.

Overall though would definitely recommend and am eager for the next installment!

Furyborn by Claire Legrand starts with a bang. The reader is thrown immediately into Celdaria where Queen Rielle is in the midst of giving birth. I was really impressed with all the excitement and how Legrand was able to capture my attention. Unfortunately, the rest of the story was quite underwhelming. 

Furyborn follows Rielle and Eliana on their separate journeys, hundreds of years apart. Both girls possess powers, and are slowly discovering what she is truly capable of. Furyborn is told from the point of view of each girl.  I found the shifting from Rielle and Eliana incredibly annoying. One moment I’m actually engaged with Rielle’s story and the next I’m shifted into Eliana’s. The shifts right in the middle of an important plot point really did not work for me. 

Legrand tries to build a complex world, characters and plot. Tries being the operative word. Everything in this book feels forced and rushed. This is only book 1 in the Empirium series, I feel like Furyborn could have been a lot better if Legrand had slowed down and focused more so on one character. Had I spent more time with Rielle and less with Eliana in book 1, I could be more inclined to read book 2. Just getting a taste of Eliana in this book versus the two characters having equal share would have improved my rating immensely. 

My expectations were high after I read the blurb for the book. I can actually look past the similarities between this book and a multitude of YA books out right now. But, it just was not very good, despite how much I wanted it to be.

The Librarian Liz Review

Furyborn captivated my attention. Immediately I was invested in the main question of the story, how did Rielle kill her beloved Audric? How did she turn into a villain? Each chapter switches back and forth between Rielle and Eliana's point of view, split by a thousand years. Sometimes I felt frustrated with Eliana's part because I was so into Rielle's storyline, but I grew to enjoy Eliana, the assassin, the bad girl with a buried heart of gold. Each chapter begins with a quote that lightens the mood or sets the stage. 

Let’s Talk About:
how Eliana is so desensitized it seems nothing gets to her, and implies the reader should feel that way too. Eliana is only slightly sympathetic to the crawlers, and that bothered me the most. Do powerful people always have to be desensitized? Is Eliana’s background really explaining how much she isn’t reacting or how cruelly she behaves? How is she so desensitized with such a sensitive little brother? If you see sympathy as a weakness, does that mean her little brother is her weakness, and as such, shouldn’t he have more power over her choices? Also, the killing of the prisoners in cages/survivors. Why does she let them kill the survivors? Why does Simon blame it all on her? Why is this dark terrible thing glossed over? What is likeable about Eliana?

Don't Make My Mistake:
My mistake with this book is that for some reason I thought it was a self-contained novel- it is not at all. It is clearly the first in the series, and it raises a lot of questions without resolving much of anything. It was super unsatisfying to reach the end of this book.

I'm going to be buying a physical copy of this book when it's released, because the online version was tough to get through...but not because it wasn't interesting. This book hooks you from the first page and doesn't let go. However, reading a dual perspective novel in e-book format is a little tough to say the least, and I like to go back and re-read because I have a tendency to run the stories together. This was an issue I had while reading this book. That said, the story of Queen Rielle and Eliana was  amazing. It's a story of power, magic, romance, angels, assassins, and a prophecy that will alter their worlds forever. Claire Legrand has written a beautiful fantasy novel, with beautiful characters and doesn't shy away from the darkness within each character. The women in this story are kick-ass, and fight for what they believe, even if it means losing those that they love. They make some heavy sacrifices and I can honestly say that the character development in this is serious. There will be times that you want to scream at them, there will be times you want to protect them from the world, but honestly, Rielle and Eliana will make you love them. I really loved reading through, despite having a hard time with the dual perspectives. I cannot wait to get my hands on a paper copy. However, I feel that this book is definitely more of a New Adult title, rather than for teens. It is definitely in line with Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard.

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book. 
Even though we were thrown into 3 different time periods within the prologue and first 2 chapters, which was a little disorienting, I was hooked from the very beginning. There were so many things I desperately wanted to know from the first page about what happened in the thousand years between Rielle and Eliana's stories, as well as their current stories.
At first, I really disliked Eliana. I just wanted her to become who I hoped she would become and she just kept being a little jerk. But that's who she was and I'm glad her personality wasn't easily swayed now that I've finished the book. I was much more invested in Rielle's story at the beginning. It was much more exciting to me. There were so many things we already knew that Eliana didn't (who Simon was, that Rielle is the blood queen and that she dies) that Rielle's story pulled me in so much more because we were finding out how all those things happened.
About halfway through I got more invested in Eliana's story because she started to turn herself around and the things happening in that story were more exciting. I found all the trials Rielle went through a little repetitive, even though they were important. Then, about 3/4 of the way through, I got pulled right back into Rielle's story because of certain things we had found out in Eliana's story that started to bring everything together.
I loved the relationship between Rielle, Audric and Ludevine. I also loved the relationship between Eliana and Remy and then the forming relationship between Eliana and Navi. They were all so believable. 
The only things that knocked this down half a star for me were that at the beginning, it was hard for me to remember what happened in which story and to switch between a thousand years every chapter. I would be thinking some small detail happened in one story, but it happened in the other. It was helpful that the stories only intertwined a small amount and that there was an entire different cast of characters in each story. It just took me a while to get my brain in the habit of switching POVs I think. 
The other thing was that there were quotes or excerpts at the beginning of every chapter and I felt like it was something important or something that foreshadowed something in the coming chapter, but I could never remember it long enough to figure out if it did or not. I still am not sure if the beginning part of every chapter was important, or if it was just another thing to link the stories together, or show a different perspective.
Something I really liked was that not all the questions I had at the beginning of the book were answered. I thought that everything would be resolved in this book and there would be a whole new set of problems in the second book, because that's how a lot of books are. Literally nothing got resolved in the book and only a few questions got answered, but it didn't feel unfinished. It had a satisfying ending with questions leading into more questions for the second book. Speaking of the second book, is it out yet?

This book was brilliant, and it hit like a sucker-punch to the chest. It was evocative and painfully REAL, and gut-wrenchingly sad but so so good! I devoured this book and read it in a day.

If you like epic fantasy reads- this book is for you. In fact, if you like to read- this book is for you! I highly recommend! Two thumbs up!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book. I will happily recommend it to all who ask for a great read.

If you liked Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, you will probably love the first book of the new Empirium trilogy by Claire Legrand. The story bounces between two main characters: Rielle and Eliana. At first there’s no real connection between the two characters, which makes the story a bit hard to get into; however, as the world and the characters are fleshed out it adds an element of depth.  

There are familiar elements of other teen novels of this genre: people wielding magical and/or elemental powers, romance, oppression, and strong female characters. However, the author blends these elements into a new universe with unique twists and conflicts that leave you wishing the rest of the series was complete.

One hundred pages in, this began to stall, and I stalled with it. Probably will return at some point to continue, but would warn readers it's a lot slower than you expect.

An absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking series starter with realistic, flawed characters, incredible world building and a stellar plot. My only complaint is now I have to wait for ages for the sequel!

I am beyond grateful to @sourcebooksfire for giving me the opportunity to read and review this AMAZING book! Without a doubt the Empirium Trilogy is going to take to fantasy world by storm and become a modern classic! You MUST READ THIS if you loved, Throne of Glass, Grishaverse and/or Three Dark Crowns. It's totally different but fans of this book will love this!😍😍😍

 We're taken on a journey in parallel times, many many years apart with two extremely powerful, endearing and complex females that hold the power to either destroy or save their worlds. You will be in for a roller coaster of action, emotion, twists and fantastical world building! 

It is a beautifully paced book that is just as ruthless and it is touching. Legrand has completely blown me away and I'm in love with the world, the creatures, the characters, the lore, the religion even the history of this world! Nothing is left untouched and everything is masterfully explored and shown to you. 

I loved this e-arc so much as soon as I finished I pre-ordered the hard copy! Which brings me to their marketing! The pre-order campaign for Furyborn is AMAZING! If you pre-order you get a signed book plate and book mark, you can also get a STUNNING map of the Empirium world and potentially get the  GORGEOUS Limited Edition character cards! I am so hoping I get lucky with these cause I NEEEED them! I'm telling you! This is going to blow up and become the next huge series so get your Limited Edition gear while you can! All pre-orders also go in the running to win a signed and fully annotated arc of the book.

You can also do a quiz to determine if you are the Blood Queen (destroyer) or Sun Queen (Savior)  via their website empiriumtrilogy.com. I'm a Sun Queen in case anyone is wondering 👌🌞 

TLDR: GET THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. IF YOU LOVE EPIC FANTASY WITH STRONG FEMALES YOU WILL LOVE THIS💞

When I first began reading this, it took me awhile to really get into the story. I had loved the cover, the title, and the plot, but I felt lost up until about chapter six, more or less. Another part that prevented me from completely diving into the story was that with the two POVs this book divides itself between, I felt bored with one of them. That being said, I powered through and eventually became more invested in both characters, especially as the plot really began to take off and more details fell into place. A great aspect of this novel is that all of the female characters always felt strong and independent, and all of the characters felt fully fleshed out; there was never a character I would confuse with another because they were all so different from each other. While one story arc held more interest for me than the other, the more the story arcs melded together, the better the story became. This novel is chockfull of magic, action, strength, and pain that will eventually drag you to the edge of your seat and leave you dying for the sequel.

Utterly page turner. From the world-building to the nuances of the characters, FURYBORN was able to hold me tight. Upon turning the last page and my mind filled with revelations and magic, I keep wishing that there's more. More. Moooore. Legrand is a rising fantasy author no one should miss; her debut is not (only) for fans of other authors because this book IS AMAZING ON ITS OWN.

I really loved this! Having 2 POVs from hundreds of years about was cool. I loved reading both storylines. The characters were interesting and the plot exciting in both stories, entwining together as the book went on. I look forward to the next! It was up there with Sarah J Maas and Cassandra Clare.

At the first sentence I got excited. The first chapter made me jump online and see what other books that the author had written. Chapter two onward was..... more difficult. I struggled a bit with the differing pov's/ timelines. It took a bit of effort to persevere, but I'm glad that I did. 
It's written in two time periods with two different narrators. I found it difficult with the twin narratives, knowing that the beginning of one narrative (the future one) was the literal end of the other. It was also difficult following the past narrative, knowing who she was going to become, and what she was going to do. And how she was going to end. I guess it was as if you cut Star Wars so that you were watching Luke and Anakin at the same time. I really really wanted it to all be okay. Spoiler, it won't be.
I also struggled a bit with the morally grey, kind of almost unlikable characters. I know that they are big in fantasy at the moment. The success of Sarah J Maas is all you need to know. It's harder for me to connect to them though.

A clever book, with a healthy attitude towards it's characters sexuality (No slut-shaming! Yay!). It won't be my favourite, but it will definitely find an audience.
And, yes, I will be reading more.

Holy hell, where do I begin with this one? Furyborn has been on my TBR for a while, but when I able to get my hands on a copy, it kept taunting me from my bookshelf. I have a pretty structured TBR, but I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to read it ASAP. 

And I'm so glad that I did. I stayed up every night until 1am to read roughly 100 pages, and stayed up even later to finish the last bit. I was so hooked into this book, and now I'm sad that the next book won't be out for a while. I guess that just gives me an opportunity to reread it. 

The Plot
I can't remember the last time I got sucked into a book about angels, let alone a fantasy about angels. I love books dealing with evil, narcissistic angels. I just love the idea of taking the traditional view of them and turning it upside down. But to be quite honest, I can't recall ever reading a fantasy about angels (with the exception of maybe Daughter of Smoke and Bone.) I'm so used to them being in urban paranormal books. But then again, I'm sure I have and I just cant recall. 

I really enjoyed the fact that this book was told from the perspective of two characters. It is quite a hefty book at almost 500 pages, and having the two points of view made the book feel like I was reading two stories. I appreciated this because it allowed the story to avoid that middle-of-the-book drag that can sometimes happen when you have long books. Every moment felt important, and in no way did I feel like the book ever dragged or felt too slow. 

What truly amazed me about this book was the way that the timelines themselves were written. You alternated each timeline every time a new chapter arrived. What was brilliant and fantastic was the fact that each timeline revealed something about the other timeline. You'd hear a tidbit of info from Elianna's pov, only to have it reveal something in Rielle's pov. It was this twisty, never ending path that had me utterly and completely hooked. I was just amazed at how plot twists were revealed, and sometimes I thought I had things figured out, and it would turn out that I was completely wrong-in the best of ways! 

The Characters
Each character in Furyborn had so many layers. I kept thinking that maybe I had them figured out, or I could figure out their fates. But each time a layer was revealed, my opinion on them changed completely. These characters were so complex and multi-faceted, especially when it came to Rielle and Elianna. It was also interesting to see how the story progressed as Rielle and Elianna developed and changed. It truly made a rich story. 

Let the Waiting Begin
The downside with reading a book so early before publication, is the fact that I have to wait even longer for the sequel to come out. The end of Furyborn left me wanting so much more. I felt like there was so much left to explore, and that can only mean that the sequel will deliver something even more explosive. But it is what it is!

What an original fantasy centered around strong female characters! The plot is intricate and the characters are original, believable  and multifaceted. I truly enjoyed reading this book. The plot moved quickly and I didn’t know how the story was going to progress. Very enjoyable read. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

This book was written from two POVs and the two protagonists live hundreds of years apart. Although the fantasy element means there are some crossover characters in the series. What is great about this is that the two protagonists' stories are in some ways intertwined, but the more modern setting doesn't Give away the outcome of the earlier.

The two characters are Rielle, and Eliana; a queen and a bounty hunter respectively. I liked that their stories were told simultaneously rather than from a flashback perspective as it meant we were able to get to know both characters equally.

I also liked that the stories me whilst both had action, were quite different in nature. Rielle's status meant her battle was for her, to prove to all that she is the Sun Queen; significant to all the empire. Eliana's was also significant to the empire, but was as part of a larger rebel group.

Initially, due to the jumping between characters it was easy to sometimes mix up who was telling what, but once you got into the storylines it was easy enough to distinguish.

I really enjoyed the fantasy element too; initially I was a little confused with what was going on, but the development was so great as the story went on it was like being transported between two whole new worlds. The idea itself is super original and the descriptions were perfect in allowing the reader to develop a picture in their mind's eye.

The balance between plot detail and action was perfect, keeping the reader engaged and attentive. In one story or another, there was always something happening! The two stories running in such different times, yet so similar in format - neither out-shadowed the other and the pace and plot were perfectly balanced. When the storylines begin to emerge, it is clear they are both destined for something more than they every imagined; as they fight in a cosmic war that has lasted a millennia.

Overall I'm awarding this book 4.5*/5. I'm so intrigued as to what happens next - I need the next book now! It had great character development of both primary and secondary characters, and not only that, but left enough mystery around them to continue unraveling their back stories continually. I really enjoyed the storyline of this book, as it was captivating and well paced.