I think I let myself buy a little too much into the hype on FURYBORN, which led to disappointment with the actual book. A fine first effort, but comes off as fairly standard YA fantasy. No huge stumbles in execution, but nothing that has me thrilled to pick up the next book in the series.

Furyborn is the opposite of Meet the Sky—this one is a very dark YA, perfect for those readers who enjoy a bit of edginess to their fantasy. It reads a lot like epic fantasy, with extremely complex worldbuilding and a story that spans a century.

Something about this book captured me, despite the fact that I was sometimes lost when it came to the details of the worldbuilding. It took me a long time to figure out that Eliana’s POV takes place 1000 years after Rielle’s—it says it right in the synopsis, but I hadn’t read it recently, and listening via audiobook meant that tracking specifics like dates (in a fantasy world where the dates were foreign-sounding) was difficult. Still, I’m very glad I listened to the audiobook instead of trying to read this one because I tend to have a better attention span for complicated (and long) fantasies via audio than when I read.

Eliana’s POV was definitely my favorite. I was captivated by this very morally gray character and her struggle to keep those she loved safe in a world that was anything but. I found myself less interested in Rielle’s chapters, which I think could be attributed to the fact that we find out right at the beginning of the book that Rielle marries (and kills) Audric, and I thought we’d be seeing everything leading up to that, but we really just get a snippet—her overcoming some magical trials. Still it’s Rielle’s POV that puts the magic of the book on full display—and it’s quite a spectacle!

If you’re a fan of epic, complicated fantasies and you love it when you’re not sure who to root for, this is the series for you. (How does Rielle become the eventual villain? Is Eliana a villain too? She’d certainly be seen that way by many of the characters in the book. Who are the angels and why do they seem to want to destroy humanity?) This is one of those books that some people will love and others won’t have the patience for—I think I was somewhere in between.

One note: This book seems to be labeled as YA, but the characters feel older than they are (especially Eliana, but Rielle too since we start the book seeing her married and having a child). They’re sexually active and empowered and they make no bones about it, and there’s some pretty strong violence in the book. Plus, it’s longer and more complicated than a lot of YA fantasy out there. I know there are teens out there who love this type of book, but it’s good to note that this is a story that sort of straddles YA and NA or adult.

NARRATION: I’m a sucker for a British accent, and I thought Fiona Hardingham did a wonderful job with the narration. This is the type of book that I personally prefer in audio, but readers who have a hard time following complex fantasy in audio format might want to read the book instead.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley (and then also listened to the audiobook via my library) in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I love a good YA series, but sadly, I won't be reading any more of these. I liked the action elements and there was a lot of suspense built throughout the book. However, here's what I didn't like: there were several graphic scenes that didn't seem to vibe with a YA feel, there were way too many villains to keep track of, and I ended up not really caring what happened to any of the characters. The true reason this book didn't work for me is that I just couldn't keep they mythology straight. I wasn't sure who the bad guys were or how the characters fit into the larger narrative. I always go back to series like Harry Potter and Hunger Games as A-level - they're completely new worlds but it's easy to follow along with what's happening.

This book wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but overall it was very enjoyable. Loved the split POVs and dual timelines very well done and the writing was superb

Furyborn, the first book in the Empirium trilogy, is set in the fantasy world of Aritas and alternates between two stories set a thousand years apart. A prophecy suggests that two women will be born, the savior Sun Queen and the destructive Blood Queen, who will impact the ultimate fate of the Empire. Rielle, who wields elemental magic, is forced to undergo seven trials to discover her true identity and ascend the throne. A thousand years later Eliana, a bounty hunter, joins the rebels who are fighting the Empire. The stories of magic, angels and saints in Rielle's era are thought to be myths in Eliana's. However, when her mother disappears, Eliana attempts to rescue her and gets embroiled in a cosmic battle that has been ongoing since Rielle's reign. There is a great deal of world building in this introduction to the trilogy, but the two stories are cleverly interwoven and fast-paced once each heroine begins her quest.

I didn’t get time to finish this before its publication, but it was amazing! Rielle’s backstory is so interesting, the trials by element were super original! And trying to link both point of views was kind of challenging for me, but all of the references to the blood queen were fun to find.

I absolutely loved this book! It had non stop action, fantasy, drama, and a touch of steam here and there. The characters were well developed, the pacing of the story line kept me wanting to read more. The only bad thing is the wait for the next book. Thank you NetGally for the early review copy. 5 stars from me!

Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Furyborn. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Rielle Dardenne, in an effort to save her best friend from assassins, exposes herself as one of the prophesied queens. But is she the Queen of Light or the Queen of Blood? Forced to endure a series of elemental magic trials, will Rielle prove herself worthy of the title of Sun Queen?

Living in a time one thousand years after Queen Rielle, Eliana Ferracora is a bounty hunter whose personal quest may impact the health and wellness of her fellow citizens. When it becomes apparent that Eliana has a secret that may help her world, will she discover that her existence has importance beyond measure?

Furyborn is a novel about two women who are headstrong, determined, and willing to do what it takes to survive. As the author bounces back and forth between the two perspectives with their separate story lines, it becomes readily apparent that the two women have some connection to each other. I found Furyborn to be overly dramatic at times and, as is often the case with YA fantasy, had too much teenage angst to make it believable. These young women are supposed to be struggling with their identities, their lives, and their purpose, but the author spends a great deal of time on their personal relationships instead. Rielle's story is much stronger than Eliana's and this lopsidedness took away from the balance of the book. The novel was largely repetitive and, although the author does a good job of building the worlds in which the characters live, she did not do enough to hold my interest. There was just too much going on and not enough to anchor the characters to their story lines. As Furyborn is the beginning of a series, perhaps the author will be able to settle into the characters in future books. Readers who like YA fantasy and romance may like this book, but I thought it was not in the same caliber as standouts such as The Young Elites.

I was so excited to get this ebook! I had the book on preorder as soon as I read the description. The thing that drew me in was not that there two main characters but the fact that these two POV’s were centuries apart. A book with the intrigue and world building of two entirely different time periods. The cliffhanger was a bit predictable but how I wished for the story to good so no complaints. One drawback for me was I didn’t particularly like Rielle. The character to me was pretty whiny and unlikable even though I preferred the story in her time period. Eliana on the other hand I enjoyed and can’t wait to see where here story goes in the next book!

DNF @ 55%

I'm not sure what I thought this book was when I originally requested it, but I didn't like quite a bit about what I did read.

Full disclosure, I rarely, if ever, DNF a book. Furyborn started out with odd pacing, proceeded with the slowest plot buildup of ever, and just felt dragged out. On top of that, the whole subject matter made me confused and uncomfortable. I could not, for the life of me, figure out what was going on. TBH, I started this book WAY back before it was released and then put it down...never to even open it again. I just realized that I never submitted my reivew for NetGalley, so here it is. In all it's non-existing glory.

The rating is entirely my opinion, having not finished the book. If you love this book, please know that I'm not trying to come in and rip your favorite to shreds. That's never my intention. It just wasn't for me.

Claire Legrand excels at character dynamics -- especially the dynamic between her protagonist and their designated antagonist. 'Furyborn' is no exception, and, in fact, I'd argue that it greatly surpasses the dynamics she first showed an affinity for in 'Winterspell.'

The characters are this novel's strength. While the plot may lag at times in terms of pacing and interest, the characters are always engaging. Without question, they are what kept me turning page after page, even when I found my mind wandering with regards to the plot.

All in all: I really enjoyed this book and am ready for the sequel.

Furyborn by Claire LeGrand is such an exciting tale. This story is written in the point of view of two different people. One point of view is set two years prior to the prologue and the other point of view is set one thousand years in the future. Every chapter keeps you on your toes. This book is so intense. I feel like every chapter just through the reader into more action.

Rielle is part of the court of Celdaria. Rielle has always been powerful. She is able to manipulate the elments and has grown up trying to stifle her power due to the fact that people are afraid of what she is able to do. Rielle ends up in the seven trials to test her powers.

Eliana is an assassin who has the gift of being able to heal herself. She tries to protect her family by making sure she is in the King's good graces. Her way of doing that is by doing the King's bidding. The readers follows Eliana on a mission with another assassin that says he will be willing to help her as long as she helps him first.

I really enjoyed Furyborn. I had a such a great time reading this book. I felt like it was written so well. LeGrand did such a great job with keeping these two storylines straight. One of the things that happen with really long books with multiple povs, you can sometimes become confused or get things mixed up and I didn't feel this way at all with Furyborn. LeGrand is an excellent writer that brought us a fantastic high fantasy novel. I am really looking forward to book two.

I just couldn't get into this one. I thought the word building was really slow and I just couldn't connect with anyone in the book. I was really excited about the premise for this one.

Furyborn is the beginning of an epic tale, a tale of magic and destiny. It's the intertwined stories of two young women who want to live, who want to be themselves, to do what they want and be with who they want to be with. But there is always a prophecy waiting, there's always fate and destiny standing by, ready for them to come into their own. Ready to show them how they will change the world.

Rielle is tired of hiding so many things. Her feelings, her thoughts, her abilities. But revealing them, any of them, would mean disaster. It would mean ruin. It would mean she'd never have the chance at something resembling happiness. But when her hand is forced, when her powers are revealed, so begins something deceptive and deadly, so begins plans and plots. So begins her mission to survive while waking something dangerous. Eliana is certain she's only good at one thing, certain that being good at this one thing will keep her and her family safe. Keep them fed and cared for. But then her mother vanishes, pushing her to take a job in particular, a job that will lead her towards rebels and spies. And so Eliana becomes involved in a rebellion, a fight she never wanted to be anywhere near. But it's too late now, and someone is rather interested in her.

It's a deeply layered and epic story. There's Rielle's mission to hid herself and then reveal herself to those around her in order to keep everything safe, and there's Eliana's job that keeps her in the darkness, keeps her hidden, until she's pushed to search for someone important. There certainly was a lot of world-building to establish in the beginning, for both points of view. Over time certain secrets are revealed, certain connections are made, and when the link between them was made, I knew the rest of the trilogy was sure to be even more complicated. Even more about these two young women and their determination, their strength, their power.

I really liked this book. I was like Hunger games but with magic included into the story. This book took a little time to get started and I had to keep pushing myself the keep reading. I’m glad I did because once the book got going it was a very intriguing read. The book kept my attention with so much action I was entertained until the book ended. There are 2 time periods covered where we find three powerful teens that grew up together in the palace. The crown prince, his fiancée and cousin, and Rielle, the daughter of a cabinet minister. Rielle is in love with the prince but has to keep her emotions and powers in together. Rielle has the unique ability to channel magic and her power can overwhelm and kill. While Rielle is struggling to control her ability, we find out that her love for the prince is slowly endangering them both. This was a wonderful read that I think any adventure and action fan would love.

What do I say about Furyborn? The magic system, the dual storylines, the world building between past and present is flawless. I knew how the two protagonists were related quite early on (maybe it was obvious to other people from the beginning!), but I felt that it somewhat spoiled the story to know that secret. I loved the two main characters, but I truly adored the supporting characters, as well. The story would have been incomplete without them. Can't wait for the sequel!

I've had this book for a year. I'm not going to read it. Something about it turns me off each time I see it. I don't think it's the words of the book. It's the cover.

I'm a little all over the place on this book.

There were lots of good things. There was a ton of action. The pacing was excellent. The world building was solid but I would like more. This is a Good Premise. It has SO MUCH potential, and starts off with all these grand promises of angelic wars and political intrigue and time travel. There’s a lot going on, and a lot of character-driven, action-filled plot that I really did enjoy.

But there were things I struggled with. I needed more plot. Action is awesome but only if there is plot motivation behind. Rielle’s story gets bogged down by a predictable series of trials and Eliana is mission that has no point. So it was long and I got bored and had a very hard time caring about if either character had anything at stake. Which they didin't. I also got a bit confuzzeld at places with the hoping back and forth. I also felt that the end just dropped it. I didn't get a sense of conclusion, it just ended and I was going 'what is happening''. I don't like feeling dropped.

Overall it had so much potential that I'm curious about what will happen in the next book.

Rielle Dardenne - is she the promised Sun Queen or someone who will destroy the world. Elliana Ferraora - an assassin who wants to escape and find her mother who has been kidnapped. Their stories are separated by a thousand years but yet are joined together and they learn who they are and what they need to do to survive.

This was a difficult read at first. Opening with what appears to be the end of Rielle's story as she sends her daughter to safety, she hopes. She has supposedly just killed her husband and is seen as a murderer in the eyes of Simon, the young boy she trusts her newborn daughter to. We then go back in time to when Rielle reveals the power that she has in order to save her best friend and the trials she must endure to prove that she is not a threat to the kingdom. Shifting between her story is that of Elliana - the Dread of Orline - who acts as an assassin in order to keep her mom and brother alive. When her mother goes missing, Elliana joins with a rebel leader who promises to help her find her mother.

It took some time to figure out what was happening in the story (and why). The world building for this was often hard to follow and not always clear. The story ends with a bang though and it will be interesting how the next book continues the tale.

This posts to VBPL Recommends on 10/4/18, 6:00 am.

Furyborn is what happens when magic is added to Hunger Games, turning it into a fantasy, and a female version of Anakin Skywalker takes the lead.

Furyborn drops readers into a world gone wrong: A young Queen Rielle has allied with angels to destroy the human race, and her former angel ally, Coren, has come to destroy her at the birth of her child. Then, the story goes back to the beginning of Rielle’s rise and presumably fall later in the sequels. During Rielle’s time, humans have magic, separated into seven different elements, and they defeated and locked away the angels a long time ago. The angels threaten to come back and get revenge. There is a prophecy that there are two queens, a Sun Queen and Blood Queen, who will rise to either save or doom mankind. Those prophesied figures will be known by their ability to wield all seven elements (when a person can only specialize in one). Guess what? Rielle reveals her ability to handle the elements to save her best friend, Prince Audric, when he is in danger, so she must undergo a trial for each element to prove her abilities and claim the role of Sun Queen. The trials become a public Hunger Games spectacle, with costumes and drama to appeal to the masses and endear her to them because, if she is to be their savior, they must know and trust her.

Skip one thousand years into the future where Rielle is a cautionary fairy tale, the infamous Blood Queen who destroyed magic and ushered in the Undying Empire ruled by a tyrant with a vast army of undead soldiers. Eliana lives in this world, scraping by as a bounty hunter and assassin who mostly avoids politics and the rising rebellion to take down the Undying Empire. She has an exceptional ability to heal, making her near invincible. Her reputation and ability get attention, and, when her mother is kidnapped, she finds herself allying with the rebellion. Somehow, the stories of these young women separated by a thousand years are connected, and they can somehow save their own worlds.

Being a projected trilogy, Furyborn is just getting started and will leave readers with a lot of questions, especially how and why? Legrand entices readers to stay, with Rielle and Eliana’s stories being told in alternating chapters, so clues and pieces of information are parceled out a little at a time to intrigue. Both Rielle and Eliana, as well as the other characters around them, are well-developed. Both leads are strong women, though no goody-goody and quite flawed, so readers can still relate to them. They have power and are conflicted in how to use it. Rielle, the purported Sun Queen, cares about protecting her people, yet she will one day ally with the angels as the Blood Queen. Eliana, the supposedly heartless killer, cares deeply about her family and will do anything to protect them. Parts of the story do get dark and graphic. Legrand’s story plays with opposites—past and present, hope and despair, good and evil-- and reverses them, defying expectations. The alternating stories give readers a 2-for-1: Rielle’s story has the Hunger Games-esque trials and theatricality while Eliana’s story is the dystopian adventure story of the rebellion bringing the big bad down.

Look for Furyborn in the VBPL Catalog. The sequel, Kingsbane, comes out May 2019. Try Claire Legrand’s other works. For more teen fantasy featuring queens, try Marissa Meyer’s Heartless, Cinda William’s Chima’s Seven Realms and Shattered Realms series (see review). For more queens in fantasy, try Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (see review).

Review by Tracy V.