Here we go with another case of Mary Sue and Special Snowflake Syndrome. For main characters always have to be ultra super duper special right?

Rielle, our first main character was the supposed "Sun Queen" who was prophesied to rise and save the world from destruction. Her ability to control all elements not just one was incredibly rare and that she needed no casting object to do it. But there was to be one other queen who would bring destruction and chaos in her wake. Sounds a little too close to Avatar to my taste but the author tried to make it even more special by having people who can control metal, the light of the sun, and shadows. An interesting concept that could have been good if any of the characters were really like-able. I really did not like Rielle from the beginning with her arrogance and how she flaunted it during the seven trials. She also used it to make sure everyone knew she was the future Sun Queen so she had more power over anyone, even the King but she made this more clear to the Archon, the leader of the church. And don't get me started on her devotion and feelings for this manipulative angel that talked to her through telepathy. That was just the icing on the cake. Then there was Odrick, nothing special about him he was the typical nice guy and adored Rielle to pieces. Why she would betray him and kill him is something I can't understand and something we don't learn about in this book. I think the only character I did like was Ludavine (sorry if I spelled it wrong I listened to the audio and don't have the book to look it up). She was so selfless and devoted to her kingdom, a fine match to be the future Queen. She made so many sacrifices and I really felt for her since it didn't seem like she was going to get her own happily ever after. She was just going to go into a marriage for politics not for love while her husband, the King would have a romance behind closed doors with the woman he truly loves. It did not seem fair at all. I still liked her even when she was revealed to be an angel herself since her motives were never for the angels it was for the humans that she loved. I really wish she was the main character instead of Rielle it would have made for a better story.

Then there is Eliana the true "Sun Queen", daughter of the Rielle the "Blood Queen." She had her own arrogance and traits that were grating on the nerves. Her habit of acting irrationally and short tempered all the time was super annoying. I honestly don't know how anyone was able to deal with being around her, not to mention that somehow Simon would grow to love her is beyond me. The only thing I liked about her was her devotion to her brother and family and the fact that she had a conscience. But other than that I could care less about what happened to her. Simon I liked a little better than Odrick since I can't seem to resist the brooding type (you can thank Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester for that) but he was still the love interest to the main character and I wish he wasn't. This book had enough romance as it is we didn't need this messed up version of love between two killers with their own agendas. But whatever that's just my opinion I know readers love romance but I myself are just sick of it in YA.

What really did this in was also the plot. Nothing was really left in suspense. By the first chapter we knew what happened to Rielle and that she turned out to be the "Blood Queen" that everyone feared . We also knew that she killed the man that she loved and that was big chunks of the puzzle revealed right there. So when I went through the chapters of her life I could care less I knew she would survive the trials and would not be the true "Sun queen". I also knew she had some kind of romance to an angel named Kurian so I knew he was bad news from the start. Way too much to reveal to the reader. The only thing that was left in the dark is when Rielle became the "Blood Queen", resurrected Kurian, and killed Odrick to become Queen. I also don't know who Eliana's father was. These little pieces of suspense kept me going and to my dismay it was not revealed so I would have to wait the second book for more. Definitely a waste of time I could have been using on a better book.

What gave this stars at all was the history of this world. It was pretty detailed with it's own saints and everything and I really found that aspect interesting and well plotted out. I also have to give some credit for at least some suspense going on this novel that kept me hooked for some reason to keep going. But that's pretty much it I really don't have many positive things to say about this book.

- I loved the characters—all except maybe Corien the creepy villain who doesn’t have any depth, yet.

- Loved the alternate POVs, which kept me from getting bored, though some might not enjoy constantly being left hanging off a cliff.

- The pace, I loved. I loved the movement of the story, though there were times I had to rewind because it’s definitely not a read you can get distracted from, since a scene won’t continue until the one after the next.

- I really liked the world, and the fact that the series is going to be about dark angels! I can’t wait to see how it all turns out, even though we technically know how one of the heroine’s (anti-heroine’s) storyline ends thanks to that explosive prologue.

- Rielle, I connected with the most, because though she possesses great power, she is so vulnerable--the product of a childhood rife with trauma and isolation.

- Eliana, I also connected with and loved, even though there was a solid chunk of the novel when I wanted to run her through for all the stupid decisions she made. She fights and loves hard, though, and I respect her for that.

- Both the heroines are selfish, bloodthirsty, power hungry, fierce beings and I loved reading their POVs.

- The love stories are on the more mature side, so go in knowing this is more New Adult then Young Adult. Hey, the sex is as detailed as the violence.

- A mix of Susan Ee’s "End of Days", "Once Upon a Time", and other fantasy YAs. Nothing really shocked me about the plot, so for me the pull was character development and seeing the why, also getting to know the world. But I have high hopes for the next installment now that the foundation has been laid for some epic showdowns.

This is an intense, fast-paced read... worth every minute. Legrand brilliantly builds a world so rich and authentic, you will feel it truly does exist. Pay close attention to the dual POV because you will pick up hints along the way that will transform your connection to the characters. Original premise, two fierce heroines, a splash of romance and well-crafted villains! Rielle's trials to prove she is the Sun Queen and NOT the Blood Queen were harsh but really struck a cord with me, as they played a part in Rielle establishing her true character in the face of adversity. At times you will feel overwhelmed by details (royal history and politics), but Legrand is especially adept at bringing the reader back to the truth. The first instalment of the Empirium series is bold and breathtaking, and will leave you desperate for the second book. Due to some sexual encounters, language and grisly deaths (including animals), I would say this is definitely geared more towards high school and adult readers.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance reader copy of #Furyborn. All opinions are my own.

I'm a little torn about this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.

It was a challenge to read at the start, common for me with high fantasy books. Usually, once I get used to the writing style and the world building, I breeze through reading, but it wasn't the same with this book. I didn't understand the lore about the two queens, it didn't captivate me enough to feel that being one or the other meant a crucial difference.

I couldn't get the switch between perspectives, while that was given a good reason at the end of the book, it didn't sit well with me the whole time I was reading. I guess I was hoping for at least some relatabilty in emotions or scenarios, just something to keep me interested between changes but sadly they are entirely different in stories and personalities, no matter what was revealed at the end. The difference in timeline was also confusing and didn't give me enough time to get to know the protagonists as well as I hoped.

The pacing was uneven and there were chapters I felt didn't feel vital to the story but then again, I'm no editor so maybe that's just me.

Whenever I read book, I could either: (a) like a character so much, (b) don't like them but empathise with them, or (c) hate them so much that I like them for that (does that even make sense? LOL). However, I didn't like any of the characters in this book. Now that not usually a problem as long as I find something I can relate to about them or somehow find something in them that I can empathise with. I didn't feel any of that here with any of the characters. Maybe I did with Eliana, but barely.

I do like the action scenes though, they reminded me of Throne of Glass in that perspective. I just wish I could've seen more.

Overall, this was okay. Maybe a bit raw in terms of writing style than I'm used to but I can't deny the potential this story has. The ending was a major cliffhanger but definitely something to look forward to. I'm all about second chances, and like I said, this has potential, so I will be reading book two.

What a cover!!!!! Very much like the YA out at the moment, and sure to be brilliant. This doesn't detract from the fact that the book genuinely is well written with a crazy plot, and please - take a moment to say yes to the BEAUTIFUL cover! I think this is a great novel and sure to be absolute fire!

To be honest, I am not usually a fantasy reader. I decided to give this book a chance as it sounded very interesting. However, I really do not enjoy this genre so cannot give a really fair review. It may appeal to
regular readers of this type of book.

I think Furyborn is one of those books that I enjoyed but also had some minor issues with. During my reading of this novel, I had no idea what I thought about it because at one point in the story it would be a five star for me, and the characters would do something that brought it down to a three. That just kept on happening during the entire duration of my reading experience. I am going to try to keep this spoiler-free but I really enjoyed how Rielle and Elianna's stories were separated throughout the story and then began to weave together towards the end of the story. I think that Claire Legrand is a great writer and that she can create very vivid pictures with her words. Legrand was able to create a compelling cliffhanger that made you wanting more but also satisfyingly concluded the first part of this trilogy. I am very excited for book two and am intrigued to see what happens to Rielle and Elianna.

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The plot was there and could have been awesome, but really stumbled along the way.

The world building was sorely lacking and without much in the way of a back story it was very confusing at times.

The two main characters were also very lacking in, well, character. I just didn't like Rielle. She wasn't one of those characters you love to hate, she was just annoying and not likable. Eliana, I wanted to like but she was just, okay. Here is a woman who is known as "The Dread" because she is supposedly so tough, but loses more fights and battles than she wins.

All that being said, I don't think the book was terrible, just not great. I will most likely read the next one in the series when it comes out to see what happens and I'm really hoping some of the flaws get worked as I think it has a lot of potential.

Furyborn is an interesting novel thanks in part to the lovely world building by LeGrand. The prologue, which features the penultimate moment before everything that has been known shatters, will grip readers into this highly anticipated story. Centered around two women, Rielle and Eliana seemingly born centuries apart, but both destined for the same greatness. The prophecy foretold two queens, one of Blood and one of Light, who would bring about the downfall of the world and help rebuild it. The queens, always seen as bookends to the world’s destruction by the return of the angels and the end of them too. Rielle, who has has spent her entire life trying to suppress the amount of power and her ability to use all seven of the legendary elements, has decided to join a horse race without her father’s knowledge.

Racing with her best friend, Audric, she’s hopeful to win in order to prove that she can control herself around others. Instead, she starts the ball rolling for the prophecy as she unleashes large amounts of power in order to save Audric. Deemed a threat to the monarchy if she’s the Queen of Blood, Rielle accepts the challenge of following through a series of 7 trials, one for each element, to prove otherwise. While following along with Rielle’s trials, readers are also introduced to Eliana. Supposedly born a millenia later, Eliana makes a living by being one of the Empire’s best assassins. It’s not a pleasant job, but it keeps her family fed and a roof over their heads. Even if she has to lie to herself about not caring what happens.

When her mother is taken, Eliana launches into a quest to find her and ends up crossing path with an assassin called the Wolf. Though he seems convinced that she’s something more, Eliana only makes a deal to join him to ensure safety for her younger brother and to find her mother. Instead she’s pulled on a journey across country, to assist into returning a princess to the only free country left. LeGrand entices readers while masterfully bouncing back and forth between each storyline. Each chapter leaves a slight cliffhanger at the end, to pull readers back into the story.

As was the case with Ash Princess, Furyborn has some portrayal of murder and death. While it doesn’t feature rape, it does feature some violence, so readers should be cautious. This book is definitely a mid to higher level YA book, and should probably be offered to teens 15 and up. Readers will have to decide for themselves if Rielle is truly the Blood Queen or if perhaps the prophecy was interpreted wrong.

I look forward to reading the next in the Empirium series, in hopes that it matches the bar that LeGrand has set for herself.

I marked this book as did not finish, as I could not get into it unfortunately. Definitely recommended it to several friends who I know would really enjoy it.

GUYS OMFG THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. Strong female leads, character growth, slow-burn romance, character FLAW… just sign me up.

Characters: Honestly, they’re all my children. Even the secondaries (Ludvine, Aric, Simon, broski (can’t remember bro’s name but it starts with an R), Nevi. All of them have motivation, growth, flaw, and are so incredibly relateable. #SimonDeservesFriends2018 #AricForPresident #NeviForEVERYTHING.

Side note: Ludvine… a self-identifying flighty basic bitch… set to marry Rielle’s greatest love and ohbytheway is R’s bff… is my favorite character. Read the book to find out why.

Plot: Literally not a moment where the book was slow, but not in an exhausting way. Each chapter was crafted to show urgency and plot movement and it was amazing.

Writing Style: I didn’t have a moment where i thought “man this writing is great” but like… how can it not be when i was kept on my toed the whole time?? I was immersed in the story from page one and it was awesome

World Building: I got what i needed to understand the story and i was left wanting more. if that doesn’t speak miles i’m not sure my drunk ass can help you.

Claire Legrand (who, just by the way, is a lovely person, very responsive on social media if you have any book related questions!) penned a remarkable first installment of a high fantasy trilogy that follows two women who, a thousand years apart, have everything and seemingly nothing in common. In this thrilling story we embark upon a journey that is both prophesized and a matter of choice – just what kind will it be for each of the heroines? What allegiances will they pledge and to whom? Is it always easy to make such a decision and stick to it?

I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley but same as you all should get yourself a physical copy of it, I’ll be getting my own, too. It was just that good and your future self WILL hate you if you sleep on it now.

I had an opportunity to discuss this book at length with a friend who is also a bookworm and who, same as me, got an arc of it from NetGalley and we both agreed that what could have been a weak link, Legrand turned into a stellar selling point of Empirium’s first installment. That is: the two POVs, one of Queen Rielle’s, the other of a bounty hunter Eliana’s.
My adjustment period at the beginning of it was fairly brief for it only took me a few intertwined chapters to get into the story, understand it for what it was and most importantly acknowledge how pivotal the arrangement was for what the story represented. The more you read, the better you see how vital the back-and-forth between Eliana and Rielle’s chapters is.

But it wasn’t just that the story was cleverly shifting between the two main characters or that journal entries and bits of poems preluded each chapter as a sort of introduction and hint to what might transpire that had me tapping my Kindle’s screen like crazy! It was the world building, too. Imagine having a cross between ancient mythology with a breath of fresh air and a pinch of royal scheming the kind we meet in Throne of Glass; that’s about the closest I can get to describing what it was exactly. Whatever it was, skillfully done and refreshing it surely was and I cannot wait for more in the two books we’re due in this trilogy!

Can Goodreads please introduce half stars yet? It was a 4.5 star read for me (I’d give it 5 stars but I’m a bit apprehensive about jumping the gun like that so… let’s talk in a year and see then) and it kills me having to give it regular 4 stars.

**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This book is going to have a cult following when it releases. I was a little thrown in the start, but once we started to get to know both girls I was addicted. I didn't know which story I was enjoying more while I read.



I loved the back and fourth of each chapter, rotating between the girls, I felt like it was only giving us pieces, but by the end we had two complete stories and I was ALL OVER IT!

This was a story about fighting for yourself and those you love. Sometimes the bad guys have the best disguises. Sometimes, you have no idea you are playing right into their hands.

Even though you know the answers at the start of this book, by the end of it you are still yelling at the pages.

One of the best YA novels I have read this year!

Fans of Maas and her universe, Roar from Cora Carmack, and The Queen's Rising? Here ya go. You will love it.

This book had me on the edge of my seat for half of it. I read it in about three sittings and I'm dying for the sequel. The action was intense and thrilling, and there were two plot twists caught me off guard, which doesn't often happen. The only complaint I have about this book is that Eliana's POV wasn't as exciting as Rielle's, and the constant interchanging of the two every chapter pulled me out of the book each time.

This type of book was not really something I would normally read. I find fantasy books dull but picked it up on a lark. I was glad I did because this was very enjoyable and look forward to reading the rest of the series

It is with a heavy heart that I rate this book 2 stars. The fact that it took me an extremely long time to get through aside, I just never felt connected to this book. There was no tension, no excitement, no deep emotional ties that made me want to climb into this story and live there. This book felt like a cookie cutter Fantasy story, with nothing new or scintillating to add to the genre. I'm honestly heartbroken. I love Fantasy, I love Claire Legrand, I just don't love this particular book

This was a really fun read! There are a lot of location names that sound vaguely like Game of Thrones names, some almost sci-fi stuff, and a LOT of magic, castles, princes, and adventure. There was even a character who completely reminded me of the Darkling. The story kind of felt like some roller coaster blend of epic elements at times, so I was pretty entertained. The diversity was great to see, too!

Rielle is kind of a special snowflake because "no human who has ever lived has been able to control more than one element. Not even the saints." But she's waaaay past that whole one element limit. Her story is mostly about how she has to go through seven trials to test her powers and prove she can control her abilities so she can serve the crown prince she loves. And then the rest of the story is pretty well explained in the book description. I wasn't super into the romance, but it was fine.

There are 2 stories going at once that take place thousands of years apart, so it did take me a bit to get into everything. I was super into the first half (the second half of the book got a little odd and lost some of my interest, but it's still fun). If you love YA fantasy then you'll probably like this one too!

Oh, and I thought it was hilarious how there were part human/angel characters who had marks on their skin and then the villain was a white-haired guy named Valentine. Just saying...

I thought this book was great any many ways! Great characters, great plot but man, was it too long for my comfort! I think this book will sell well though and many lovers of the genre will enjoy it!😁

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: This was one epic read!
Do I Recommend this book? YES

Notes and Opinions: OMG guys this book was fantastic! I have to say that when you read the beginning of this one make sure you don't get attached! Becuase the story that this one starts out with is NOT the story we get. This story centers around the past of how the evil queen got to where she was at the start of this title. As well as the future set just over 1,000 years. I thought I was going to DNF this one but I have to tell you that I was so sucked in I didn't even use my app I have to time myself (I totally should have thought). I just kept reading it was so amazing.

The characters are all real and even though it took me a while to get a good grasp of the story and who everyone was I was fully invested in the tale. This is one of those epic stories that you finish it and want to start it all over again. It was just that good. If you love epic fantasy you should totally check this one out!!

Go Into This One Knowing: Epic Fantasy!

This was my first read by Claire Legrand. I was intrigued by the synopsis and sucked in by the book's intro! What a way to hook me in! Unfortunately, it went down hill from there. Rielle lost me shortly after the competition that she had to sneak into to participate. I was certain things were cooking, but it was just the horse. I enjoyed the action throughout the book, but it was like watching a game where I didn't care who won because I had no connection to cheer for anyone. I just wanted it over with. I did not connect with either of the main characters. I found myself skimming more and more since it seemed to take a while to progress. I could have done without the adult scenes. They increased my dislike of the lead women. This read was like a waiting for a turtle to cross the road...painfully slow. This may be due to my lack of connection with the characters and thus lack of interest for the outcome. There were times where I thought I was connecting with Eliana, her feelings of duty to protect and provide for her family, but then she would do or say something that caused me to roll my eyes and further solidify my dislike. There was something about her relationship with Simon that was just, weird. In the end, I just did not enjoy this read. Maybe it was my timing of reading it, I don't know. Others may find this book amazing. It just did not suit my tastes like I thought it would.