I was so excited to read this from NetGalley, and unfortunately I was way let down while reading. The prologue seemed to have nothing to do with the description of the book I had just read, and I had to check repeatedly that I was reading the right title. I was immediately thrown into a world I knew nothing about and was constantly confused as to what was going on. Then I realized I actually didn't care. The chapters alternate perspectives between Rielle and Eliana, and I found neither one of their characters sympathetic or compelling. I was frequently disgusted by their choices and behavior and found very little to like in either one of them, which ultimately killed any desire I had to continue reading their stories.

4.5 stars

This was an interesting book, with complex characters and a clearly intricate world.

However, a lot of the world building was left murky to promote the mystery aspect of the story.

Also the rigid back and forth between viewpoints and timelines made it a bit difficult to immerse oneself in the story. It was a bit like reading 2 books a once, a chapter of one followed by a chapter of the other.

I am definitely curious to see where the author is going with this and will likely read the sequels.

Cautiously recommended to those who like intricate storylines and morally ambiguous "heroines."

I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yay, this book was so fun! It follows two girls, Rielle (side note, I kept seeing John Edwards' mistress when I read her name) and Eliana, in two different times and worlds. What they have in common is the legends of the Sun Queen and the Blood Queen, and enemies waiting for them. Rielle is the classic YA tempestuous heroine, with a secret love and too much power/magic to make those around her feel comfortable. Eliana is the Dread of Orline, a paid thief and assassin who learned her skills from her mother. Rielle's country tells horror stories of the angels before they were beaten and kept behind a Gate, and Eliana's city is one in the Empire, an unstoppable force with mind-controlled soldiers.

This book kept me up late, and I had a fantastic time losing sleep. While Rielle and Eliana are a little bit cliche (this is YA fantasy after all), the plot and the world-building is original, and the surrounding cast of characters (for the most part) are well-fleshed-out and people I cared about. Definitely would recommend this to fans of Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir.

Claire Legrand has created a magical world full of danger, excitement, and redemption in "Furyborn (The Empirium Trilogy)". When I first started reading, I could not help but compare it to other similar worlds and characters created by Leigh Bardugo, Victoria Aveyard, and Kendare Blake; however, after a few chapters I became thoroughly engrossed in the entwined fates of Rielle and Eliana. Legrand has managed to describe a world that is unique and can stand on its own besides these other great books. The writing style is perfect for the story, filled with exact details that enhance and scaffold the character development and their relationships. The alternating chapters, switching between Rielle and Eliana, make this book impossible to put down. You cannot simply "stop at the next chapter" since each chapter ends in suspense and you have to at least read the next page. Anyone who is a fan of strong female characters, accompanied by handsome and loyal partners, determined to change their fate as they fight against an overpowering evil in a magical kingdom, will find in "Furyborn" a new favorite. I cannot wait to read what happens next in the trilogy!

If you’re a fan of Sarah J Maas, you will be a fan of Furyborn too. This book was two amazing stories in one. I loved the Two strong, independent women that were the main characters of the story.

Two women come to terms with their destinies in this young adult epic fantasy novel. Review time!

So Claire Legrand’s Furyborn completely blew me away. I devoured this book in a 24 hour period. It’s about two powerful young women, Rielle and Eliana, coming to terms with themselves and their circumstances. Each chapter seamlessly alternates between their very different perspectives. Honestly, it should be a hot mess – the constant hopping between time periods, characters, and mythology. And yet, the novel’s charm is the ability to immerse yourself into each story equally. If you enjoy magic, bad ass women, and political intrigue, you will most likely enjoy this story.

The preface took away some of my enjoyment as it reveals the connection between Rielle and Eliana. My hope is the preface is deleted from the final copy. Context clues within the story provides ample foreshadowing to their connection. Additionally, the antagonists needed more development. Despite those minor issues, I just fell in love with the characters and setting. I’m dying to get my hands on the next book in the series!

tl;dr An action-packed epic fantasy with two tenacious female characters.

This was a did not finish for me. It reminded me of Queen of the Tearling, but it wasn't as well executed. I think if we had started without the prologue, it might have been better for me, but going immediately backwards three years and already having a good idea of what's coming, even though you don't know how/why really killed it for me. This book will have many fans, but I will not be one of them.

Fans of Queen of the Tearling will enjoy this dual queen narrative.

I absolutely LOVED Furyborn. Being the first book in the trilogy we had to learn the world and meet the amazing cast of characters.
I really loved two timelines. One, the story never got boring because it kept switching from Rielle to Eliana and back. I did like Eliana and her story more then Rielle. Eliana is a strong character who made a life out of what she got.
I felt like Rielle didn't think about what she was doing most of the time and that what brought so much trouble in to her life.
Simon is my defiantly second favorite after Eliana. He is broken and strong at the same time. He cares the world on his shoulders but still stays strong for the people he cares about.
Overall, this book was amazing and I NEED TO KNOW where the story will take us.
I can't believe I have to wait over a year for the next one!

It has been a while since I came across a powerfully imaginative and intense fantasy story, and Furyborn surely delivered. From the first chapter, I found myself captivated and desperate for answers to all the questions that came to mind as I wove through page after page. Legrand truly does an amazing job in this riveting novel and I was extremely grateful to have had the chance to enjoy this book.

This book was unexpected. I read it in one day because it needed to be read. I was surprised at all turns. A truly unique book, with stories within stories.
Must read.

after my reread:
The book still holds up. The ending is delicious and unexpected and I can’t wait for the movie.

Review *NON SPOILERY REVIEW*

What an epic introduction to this sure-to-be fantastic trilogy.

Words cannot explain my never-ending love for a strong, willful and all around bada** leading lady. Well, lucky for me, we get MULTIPLE leading ladies in this dual POV story about power, fate, and the often blurry line between the definition of good and evil.

The prologue starts off running, throwing us into the story via a very memorable and dramatic opening scene. The action rarely slows from there, as we follow two young women's trials and journeys to save themselves and those around them. This story is incredibly fast paced, with many excellently written action sequences. There were also a LOT of near scrapes with certain characters that I found perhaps a *tiny* bit repetitive toward the end. More than once, I found myself wishing the story would slow down for just a tiny bit to add in some extra exposition and background, but then again, there were quite a few very natural and helpful dialogues between a variety of characters that showed the reader hidden connections and explanations.

When all of the running and battling and escaping and rescuing did slow down for a sec, we got a few pretty steamy sequences, especially between a certain MC and her forbidden handsome prince love, that I was TOTALLY here for. There is no hazy, half disguised description of sexy times that leaves you wondering 'did they just...?' Oh, no. Not in this house. They DID. And it was fantastic.

Even with the sometimes overwhelming pace of this novel, I thoroughly enjoyed this creatively imagined magical world and the complex connections between all of the characters (especially the two MCs). Many of the characters were very compelling, including almost all of the side characters and the plot itself has such fantastic promise for the future. I will absolutely be back for the next installment in the Empirium Trilogy.

I'm quite impressed with this new fantasy novel! I was at first a bit hesitant to go into this book because I had recently finished reading another pretty dense fantasy novel and was unsure if I was in the mood for another intense fantasy. However, I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one.

FURYBORN follows two girls, Eliana and Rielle, who each have their own powers and soon discover the lengths of their magic. What's interesting is that this novel is not only told between these two points of views, but it is also told with a difference of a time period of a century between these two characters. By the end of the novel, it was incredibly satisfying to tie all these timelines together, which I thought was done beautifully. My only reservation is that I was a bit confused in terms of who was who and what was really going on until the end of the novel when there was a bit more light shed on the whole plot.

I really enjoyed Eliana and Rielle as characters - they're both such powerful characters with immense magic, but it's interesting to see the dynamic of right and wrong, control and lack thereof in regards to their powers and the underlying supernatural threats in the coming future. While there were a variety of characters, it was not difficult to keep track of each of them and their importance to the world.

Overall, I'm incredibly impressed with FURYBORN, my first Legrand novel. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series, which I am anxiously anticipating! If you enjoy magic, supernatural elements, strong female characters, amazing romances, and action-packed scenes, be sure to pick this one as soon as possible!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think the last time I was this excited about a fantasy novel, I'd just heard about Queen of the Tearling. Actually, it's not all that surprising that I was immediately drawn to this book the way I was drawn to that one. Magic, conspiracy, rebellions This book is fantastic and both its main characters are engaging, feisty and unique strong female leads. I'd struggle to choose a favourite between the two. The POV switches from chapter to chapter, keeping you on your toes.

The worlds, a thousand years apart, are both so different and well thought out. Rielle's is a world full of magic, with seven different elements. Rielle's secret is that she controls them all and when she is found out, she must undergo seven trials to prove that she is not a threat to the kingdom and the rightful Sun Queen. The trials are brilliant and had my heart in my mouth the whole time. I was excited to see each trial and how Rielle would overcome them. She's stubborn and reckless but you definitely root for her!

Eliana was tricky to love at first, a ruthless, unfeeling bounty hunter who will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of her family. She wields knives and jumps from impossible heights and is known as the 'Dread of Orline.' A name earned, that's for sure. But when women disappear into the night and several events lead to Eliana's whole world changing, she changes too. Her character development in the sequel is something I'm looking forward to and how much she's going to grow as a character.

Definitely five stars. Claire Legrand has made it onto my list of must buy and I cannot wait for more books in this series. Full in-depth review lives on Novel Darlings at Wordpress.

Actual rating: 4.5.

I am flummoxed by the early "too long, couldn't get into it" reviews for this book. Yes, it's long, but my god -- the worldbuilding is unrestrained in its ambition, shit is happening all the damn time, it's dark as hell and, often, is fully of nasty surprises. I can't remember the last time I yelled "... THAT MOTHERFUCKER" (and delightful variations thereof) at a book once, let alone multiple times. By which I mean: it's exciting and gratifying in a delightfully shameless, pulpy way and, overall, pretty damn great. My only real complaint is that the sex scenes seemed a bit cliche and same-y, but I'm starting to realize I react that way to basically all sex scenes, so this could well be a 'it's not you, it's me situation.'

Anyone who digs fantasy stories driven by badass ladies who make their own decisions and don't bow before anyone should read the hell out of this book and get excited for the two more (!!!) that are coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.

The following will be posted on my blog, Keep Reading Forward, on February 3rd, 8AM EST:

In Furyborn, two girls separated by a thousand years are more connected to each other than they know. One girl is suddenly cast into the trials to become the Sun Queen after learning of her mysterious powers while the other is just an everyday bounty hunter. In an adventure filled with magic, action, and everything else, everything will be pieced together as time moves on (sometimes literally).

I have to admit, the author knew exactly what she doing with this story. However, I do believe the beginning was lacking in progress. Through the alternate perspectives, the first couple chapters for Rielle and Eliana was bit slow. I felt like the first couple of characters were the ground work and trying to establish everything, and trying to see how everything worked together. Once that part of the story was done, it started to get better. 

Rielle's story was most interesting of the two. As Rielle's story started to move on and such, Eliana's story was still behind and felt constant. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed all the fight scenes Eliana had as they were written quite well. They were almost the best scenes I have ever scene, but there was no progress to them. Once there was a turn of events, Eliana's story finally jumped into gear and was worth reading for. 

I love it when stories have their unique magic system, I really do. When I heard that the magic in this world dealt with 7 elementals, I was beyond excited. I knew that I wanted to read this story to see how it all played out. I do have my thoughts on it and some critics as well. I have loved the use of the elemental magic throughout each of the trials. However, I really hoped there was more explanations on the magic and thought process during Rielle's scenes. It felt that sometimes her doings just came out of nowhere with just no explanations. 

Along with the magic system, my only other critic is that I wanted to see more history of the magic system and going into the mythology more. Each chapter had a brief excerpt of information from a historical source giving little information. Other than the little excerpts, there were brief parts where the history the elemental magic comes from and the figures involving so. When each elemental was explained, it followed the same format each time. As I kept seeing the magic's prayer, the person who was responsible for, and possibly what they did to be known, I wondered if I would earn anything knew. The mythology was good, but it not really the best. I hope this is certainly improved in the next book. 

Overall, the details in the story were really good. I do believe that, as I mentioned, the author knew exactly she was doing and planned everything down to the exact point. I saw room for improvements but I do know this is going to be a thrilling series. Legrand as a skill for writing really good fighting scenes, making them lifelike. I can definitely see why everyone is raving for this book when it comes out.

While I am a fan of the YA fantasy genre, I found this book incredibly difficult to get in to and as such, did not finish. From the very beginning the story was confusing and I was not invested enough in the characters or plot to try and plow through. There were several plot/character points that reminded me of other novels (the secret markings on the bodies=Cassandra Clare, for example) and that was enough to pull me out of the story. However, I feel that there are readers that would enjoy this, and I would recommend it to my students that enjoy the YA fantasy.

I loved this book. It was so hard to put down. Can't wait until the next one!

Sadly, try as I might, I was just not able to get into this book. I had heard so many good things about it, I guess my expectations were set a little too high. I think what set me off at a bad course was the opening and how it was basically something so far outside what the description was talking about I wasn't sure how to connect the two stories. It became a little clearer as I read on, but it really just didn't do well to draw me into the story since I felt like things already happened and I had to go back to the beginning to actually start the story. I sadly didn't last for much longer after that part.

This book (and the series) revolves around a prophecy that says there’s going to be two queens, the blood queen and the sun queen. Each of these queens will have all seven elemental powers (wind, fire, earth, air, metal, sun, and shadow). It also says the blood queen is essentially a bad omen, the signal of the destruction of the world as everyone knows it, and the sun queen is essentially good, a sign of protection. But this prophecy like most prophecies does not account for the humanity embodied within these queens--how their desperation to survive and their passion for other people will affect their seemingly inescapable futures.

Prophecies do not understand humanity, but you know who does understand it? Legrand. Her characters are not only believable, fully fledged people but also so very human. They aren’t archetypes but people that do some good things and some bad things, proving that the world and the people in it are far more complex than is easily understood or controlled. This aspect of the book, along with a no-pause plot, makes this book an incredibly enjoyable and heartening read. Great for fans of Six of Crows or anyone who enjoys fantasy with complex characters.

Furyborn is a young adult fantasy novel that follows two women a 1000 years apart. I’m not a fan of young adult fantasy, however this premise peaked my interest. I find that young adult fantasy novels aren’t as well developed as their adult fantasy counterparts. Yet, Furyborn stands out as one of the better young adult fantasy novels on the market for multiple reasons, however it does still fall prey to the common young adult fantasy issues.

What makes Furyborn stand out is the complex plot and subtle sexual tension that runs underneath the surface of the entire novel. Furyborn is almost two separate novels in one. As the reader progresses through the story, small hints and references are made that connect both timelines. Furyborn is complex in its storytelling by weaving two very different stories into one connected narrative in ways the reader will not see coming. The subtle sexual tension running through the novel is fantastic. It’s much more mature than what is portrayed in most young adult novels without being overly graphic or crude.

The biggest issue I had with Furyborn was the magic system. The magic system is based in elemental magic. This may seem like a straightforward magic system since it’s almost self-explanatory, however Legrand takes little to now time to explain the intricacies of how the magic works or how to use it. A large part of one of the story lines is the magical trials that test the main character’s abilities. These trials demonstrated to the reader how competent the main character is, however failed to showcase how the power is used or its limitations.

Furyborn focuses on Rielle and Eliana. Rielle is exposed as being able to control each force of elemental magic, so she’s required to endure magical trials to prove her allegiance to the country. Eliana is a bounty hunter working for the Undying Empire after it conquered her kingdom. After her mother vanishes, she’s thrust into a new life and discovers the true horrors of the world around her.

Without giving away too much information about the plot, all I’ll say is that a lot of the world building and bigger picture story telling happens with Rielle’s story line and I found it fascinating. I enjoyed a lot about the happenings around Rielle, but didn’t much enjoy Rielle as a character. I found her to be annoying and naïve despite her upbringing. The best part of Rielle’s story has to do with Legrand’s choice in revealing Rielle’s future in the prologue. The reader then gets to experience what led her to make the choices she made and their eventual consequences.

Eliana is described as a ruthless killer doing what needs to be done for the empire to survive. Her existence revolves around survival. However, she has a weakness when it comes to her family, her mother and brother. Unfortunately, her relationships with them are underdeveloped despite them being a catalyst for her plot.

Overall, Furyborn is an interesting introduction to a fantasy world packed with action and intrigue. I loved that it was more mature than most young adult fantasy novels and I’m excited to see where the story goes.
If you’re a fan of adult fantasy, then Furyborn may not be for you. You may find it underdeveloped.