Since I didn't finish reading the book, I don't feel I can give an informed review, so I won't leave one on Amazon or B&N.

Wow, what a fantastic read! This book gives action-packed a new meaning! Every chapter ended on a cliff hanger, keeping the plot at an insane pace :) Needless to say, the pages kept turning late into the night because I HAD to find out what happened! I loved the dual perspectives, and the relationship between the two female leads! I found each story to be very compelling, though I found Rielle's story to be a little more unique which I really enjoyed! Both women have aspects of hero and anti-hero, which made for deep and intriguing characters, and I am super curious to see where the story goes next! I also LOVED that each story took place in a different timeline -- it's something I've never seen before, and I loved how the myths/lore from each period played off one another.

One thing I can't decide is if I liked the use of the prologue or not -- I've heard the prologue is the last chapter in the entire series, but you get it first, obviously. On the one hand, that opening immediately dragged me into the story, far faster than I think any of the early chapters would have. On the other hand, the book lacked an element of surprise because so many of the twists/turns were foreshadowed in the prologue, so there was no real shock or ah-ha moments, which made some of the later reveals seems a little anti-climactic. IDK, tough call! The prologue scene is AWESOME though, so whether it came first or last, I was sucked in!

I can definitely see why this is getting tons of hype! Great story, great characters! Fans of YA fantasy will definitely love it!

**Two quick things to note, just because I was surprised.
1) I had heard a lot of hype before this came out about one of the leads being bisexual. Maybe it plays a larger role later in the series, but if that is what you want in a book, I didn't really see it. There's one sentence about 75% of the way through hinting at that, but for the most part, at the end of this book I had a definite sense that the two romantic interests were both male.
2) This is labeled YA, but it's definitely more NA. There's at least one explicit sex scene, another that gets close, and a very sexual tone throughout that leans a little more mature than the average YA read. Some people like that, some people don't, either way I think it's good to know going in.

I think I’m going to rate this 4/5 or 4.25/5

I did really enjoy this book and the concept of the Angels which was very fascinating. Most of the character were excellent and enjoyable while some of them were horrible to read. I always find anything to do with angels such an interesting story. This did remind me of Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

I think most high fantasy lovers will enjoy this book. It’s full of deceit, lies, war, magic, friendship, family and the chosen one trope.

The book is split into two different timelines from two different points of view. The two POVs are from Rielle and Eliana, Rielles chapters are set in the past while Elianas are set sometime after. I’m not a huge fan of the two timelines however it is extremely important for the story so I’ll deal with it.

The book really started of slow and slightly boring to me it wasn’t until the 30% mark that it started to pick up for me. The first chapter started the book off with a bang but then it petered out and picked back up which made it hard for me to get into the book. However once I was into the story it was great!

I really didn’t like Rielle or Audric and reading Rielle’s chapters I must have rolled my eyes a thousand times. Audric is absolutely blinded by his feelings which leads him to be an extremely irritating character. Rielle is just a giant prat and speaks to The King and her elders like she’s gods gift to mankind and has zero respect. It really bugged me when Rielle had an audience with the king and Audric was there because they would speak to the king like he was just a regular guy which made the king seem like a giant push over. Either way couldn’t stand the Rielle chapters. The part of her chapters I did enjoy were the Corien parts. He might be a new favourite villain!

However I did really enjoy Eliana’s chapters she is a badass woman who does what she needs to to survive. She does make some incredibly stupid decisions but I’ve come to expect that in any YA fantasy.

Oh Simon, Simon, Simon. He is by far my favourite character and I can’t wait to see more of him in the next book. But kinda choked about the end chapter and his interaction with Eliana, why would you do that to us Claire WHY!?

I am looking forward to the next book!

TWO QUEENS, one blessed and one wicked. TWO POVS, one of the past and one of the present. TWO KINGDOMS, one fallen and the other a pit of hell. TWO SCRUMPTIOUS BOYS, one is a prince and one is a wolf. Are you in?

"We live in a world where good kings die and those foolish enough to hope for something better are killed where they stand."

Mark my words, y'all: this series will go down in book history as one of the most epic YA fantasy series of all time.

LE PLOT:

Alrighty, let's start you off with the official synopsis. No, no, I am not being a lazy reviewer you muggles - I am actually doing you a favour. This book isn't meant to be thoroughly researched before diving in--even though that is a very logical thing to do--but you will thank me in the end if you take my advice. Here, I'll even copy and paste the synopsis below for your convenience, cuz I am such a good friend:

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

LE MCs:

Rielle Dardenne: A prophesied queen whose heart aches for her forbidden lover.

Crown Prince: His happiness comes at a high price. How much is he willing to pay?

Corien: A dark, mysterious angel. And guess what? You're going to read this book now. You know how I know this? Cuz imma force you to. Muaha.

A thousand years later...

Eliana Ferracora: AKA "Dread of Orline". She is a bounty hunter for an evil emperer and she kills rebellious citizens in order to financially support her family, mainly her brother.

The Wolf: A rebel captain that is *Damian's voice from Mean Girls* full of secrets.

"Dread," he murmured ... "is only a feeling, easily squashed. But wolves, my dear, bare teeth."

Valentine: Cuz every story needs a douche *cough* I mean bad guy.

LE ATTENTION:

There are a few other important details that I feel I should mention to you all. This is a racially and sexually diverse book -- woohoo! There are scenes of masturbation, sex, killing and the use of profanity. And one more thing, even though this is categorized as YA, I personally feel like this book leans more towards new adult.

As far as the writing style, it definitely had lyrical vibes at times. I was also never once confused by the dual POVs or the jumping back and forth from past to present. I think these factors are what made this such an amazing book because you get two stories in one! Reading the first installment to a fantasy series can be a bit daunting: lots of world-building, character introductions - lots of information that we have to absorb and process. However, Legrand did an exceptional job of juggling all of this for us readers.

LE THOUGHTS:

A part of me hopes that Claire Legrand will George R.R. Martin the crap out of this series because I want more than just three books! I know what you're thinking, "EEEK, Brittney. Georgieee boy's series has taken over 10 years to complete, that would be painful for us readers." Well, this is true. But I honestly think this series will be even more memorable and more enthralling if she "drags" it out if yah know what I mean. Also, how cool would it be to read this as YA, grow with these characters, and flow into an adult fantasy series. Epic, right? You know I'm right.

Overall, this is a book that I will never forget. One that I will take to my grave when the time comes. One that I will tuck into bed and kiss goodnight. It is also one that I will thank the Book Lord for bestowing upon us every day.

Thanks a million to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC. Quotes are subject to change upon publication.

PS. This book comes out on May 22, 2018 - ON MY BIRTHDAY. AND GUESS WHAT! This book is totes going to be my birthday present to myself.

Definitely can’t wait for the next book!!! Epic story telling! Such a great and amazing read!! Immediately put this on your TBR list!! It will be at the top of charts for YA Fantasy no doubt!

Claire Legrand has a hit with Furyborn, the first book in the Empirium trilogy. It hooked me in from the start and was a great read. Both protagonists, Rielle and Eliana, were strong, confident young women learning to navigate their unjust worlds and situations. Their realistic flaws only add to their character and draws the reader into their journeys.
I only had two small problems with the novel. First, I would have liked to seen the author add more background on the world of Avitas and the Empirium. Also, the climax and ending felt a bit flat. I expected more considering the buildup but the ending felt clipped.
I did enjoy this novels and would recommend this book to my older students. Some of the adult situations maybe too graphic for my younger students.
Thank you for the advanced copy.

Furyborn is my favorite book of 2018 so far. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review and here it is. I tough the story was a bit hard to get into at first, The world they describe is a little complicated and it is hard to get into the story with all the different characters ans also with the difference with the two main heroin’s stories : Eliana and Rielle. But once you get used to it…. my god is that story good! I loved but Eliana and Rielle and i cannot decide wich one i prefered...If you love fantasy, legends, romance, action, you will love Furyborn.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I just don't think I'm a huge lover of Fantasy. I saw a lot of hype and decided to give it a try. I'm not sad I read it, but I wasn't really impressed either. It took me a while to read it because it took me a long time to actually get into it and become invested, and even then I wasn't super invested. I was more determined to finish it than anything.

This book definitely lived up to its hype. Even at over 500 pages it was so easy to read. I just kept wanting to read another chapter. A lot of this book reminds me of my favorite series Throne of Glass as well as many other fantasy novels.
I really loved Rielle's POV and story better but the way she connected the two in the end was great. I have never read a book in which the main character is at first revealed to be seen in a villainous way. I love how she shows the struggle Rielle went through and starts to unfold the story of how we got to that first scene.
I felt that the best part about Furyborn was the descriptions of the 7 "trials" and fighting. It was amazing.
I also feel that the love situation is very unique and adds some stress relief from the suspense of the rest of the novel.
Very strong character connections, suspenseful plot, dreamy love interests, and a struggle to save the world, what else could you want? :)
Highly recommend! Follow my bookstagram & blog here
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I enjoyed reading Furyborn overall. It's a "highly anticipated" YA fantasy series, and while it didn't break the genre, like I hoped it would, it was a fun read.

At 512 pages, I got through the book surprisingly fast, especially the first third and the last third. If I had casually picked up this book at the bookstore and sampled the prologue, however, I might not have picked up the book at all. Unlike some other reviewers, I found the prologue to be confusing, and Simon to be annoying, and if I hadn't gotten this from NetGalley, I might have put the book down. I'm glad I continued, however. The story picks up quickly, and I liked Rielle and Eliana (mostly).

It's funny though—I also actually went into the story thinking it was adult fantasy, for some reason, but quickly realized it was YA based on the writing, which was clean, fast-paced, much better than a lot of YA fantasy I've read lately. I might not have picked this up if I knew it was YA; I'm a bit burned out by YA fantasy right now. But there were still aspects of the story that felt more adult to me. That being said, I think I should warn younger readers that there is a sex scene later on in the book that I know not all people might want to read. It felt a bit like ACOTAR to me, which I didn't entirely mind, but others might not like it, so take that as your warning.

The whole of the story was engaging; I wanted to know what was going to happen, and I kept turning the page. Every other chapter switches from Rielle in the past to Eliana in the future, and while this may be confusing or jolting for some, I enjoyed the change in POV. It kept the story moving—for the most part—and allowed me to take a break from each of the characters so that neither of them ever became too infuriating. Rielle and Eliana felt a bit like Aelin and Celaena (from the Throne of Glass series), respectively, with Rielle being a queen with elemental powers and Eliana being an assassin. Sadly, there were times when their clichéd traits (i.e., Special Snowflake Syndrome, and "I'm such a badass assassin, really! Really!") outshone their unique ones (i.e., Rielle's and Eliana's connection, which I won't spoil here), and I found myself rolling my eyes.

The middle of the story dragged at times too. I just wanted Rielle and Eliana to do something, anything about the thorny situations they had gotten themselves into. I also wanted more world building. It was good overall, but I wanted more. I wanted to learn more about Rielle and Eliana's connection. I wanted to learn more about this great battle in the past with the angels. And I wanted to learn more about the religious-magical system, which ruled Rielle's world. Instead we were given an exposé of Rielle's trials—seven in all, one for each element—and a long telling of Eliana's escape. This is fine, overall—the story is about Rielle and Eliana, after all—but at times I wanted something else.

I guess I'll get more. This is a trilogy. I'd love to read more about the past, like the ancient past and the angels, before even Rielle. I guess we'll see what comes next! This book didn't really end on a cliffhanger, but things weren't resolved either. So I look forward to reading more about Rielle and Eliana soon.

I had heard so much about this book and was so happy to have my wish granted on Netgalley! This type of fantasy is right up my alley and I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. I'm going to be honest in this review - this book was great in many ways and fell flat for me in others. The synopsis does a good job of explaining the basis of the book but my biggest question was how was it going to differ from other fantasies like it, and hopefully this review will help those of you with the same question!

The story is told following two different women worlds apart. Rielle grew up in the royal court and is best friends (and has a secret crush) on the Crown Prince. She also has the secret of having a multitude of powers when the rest of the world is gifted with one, if any, and learns that she has a greater part to play. Eliana is living a different life years later as a killer for the tyrannical Emperor, before having to go rogue to protect her family.

I personally found Eliana's story much more interesting than Rielle's. I think this is because of the prologue, which lays out the characters and relationships from the very first pages. The magic is really interesting - the lore takes a really interesting twists on angels, especially in a fantasy/medieval sense, and is done pretty well. I think the prologue does a good job of throwing the reader into the action and conflict right away, and showing that this will be a no holds barred type of adventure. That being said, knowing Rielle's fate made me disinterested in her parts of the story, whereas Eliana's was much more of a mystery. She seemed more complex to me, and her destiny was so up in the air that I wanted to know what was going to happen next, not only to her but to those she loves.

The story isn't incredibly unique, in my opinion, but the writing makes up for a fairly predictable plot. I wanted to see how it was all going to unfold and how all the pieces that we are shown throughout will fit together (if at all) by the end. Fans of Throne of Glass and Red Queen will like Rielle and Eliana for being strong female characters that often give in to their flaws. While I skimmed through a lot of Rielle's parts, I was still engaged with the story as a whole, and can't wait for the next installment (like, REALLY can't wait).

The story has a great balance of mystery, action, and romance, and the movement between the past and the present, or Rielle's narrative and Eliana's, work nicely with one another without being too dependent. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone that reads the synopsis and thinks it may interest them and enjoys fantasies like Throne of Glass and Red Queen.

Another YA must read for fantasy lovers! Claire Legrand is a master of cliffhangers - Every. Single. Chapter. of the alternating stories of Rielle and Eliana!! A lot happens in this first book but you know there is still a lot more to come as Rielle & Eliana's stories start to converge and the missing pieces are revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Furyborn is the first book in Claire Legrand’s Empirium Trilogy – a young adult fantasy series that is more of an additive to the genre than a real treat in itself. I fear the market is more or less saturated at the moment, and nothing revolutionary is on the horizon. I feel like I’m waiting for the next big thing. And even if there is a great new series in the making – this, unfortunately, isn’t it.

Hailed as a must-read of 2018, Furyborn indeed offers an intriguing premise. In Celdaria, one of the nations of Avitas, where magical powers are executed and harnessed through different elements and the all-encompassing empirium, young Rielle is destined for greatness. According to an ancient prophecy, there will come a time when two Queens, a Queen of Blood, and a Queen of Light, will emerge to fight against the retaking of the world by an army of hostile angels. One Queen, however, will doom the world and pave the way for the angels’ invasion. The other, the Sun Queen will be the world’s savior. When the royal court and its church discover that Rielle can command all 7 elements, the question is: will she be the Blood or the Sun Queen? Fast forward 1000 years and meet Eliana, the Dread of Orline. Another young woman who uses her power as a mercenary of the Empire. It’s her job to catch and/or kill anyone that defies the mighty emperor. In her world, all magic is dead, a circumstance brought about by the infamous Blood Queen. When she meets the mysterious rebel leader Simon, she has to decide which side she is on. Will she continue to save her own skin or engage in the fight against the evil Empire?

Is this book a must-read? I’d say no. It certainly has its moments. There is lots of action, strong female protagonists, romance, and the promise of greater things to come. Moreover, Legrand takes time to slowly introduce us to this world. Even though the world-building is not exemplary, it is undoubtedly well done. The author also provided a table of magical powers and their associated symbols, patron saints, and colours, along with a detailed map of Avitas. Her heroines offer possibilities of identification for young women, and the mysterious and handsome male love-interests add some spice to this blend of new ideas and old tropes. These elements certainly make for an entertaining reading experience many readers will enjoy.

On the other hand, the alternating points of view (jumping between Eliana and Rielle and thus 1000 years in the storyline) had the effect that I never really got into this book. Just when I thought I had finally understood this world and their characters, I got thrown either into the past or the future so rapidly that I stopped caring about the character’s development. Also, Rielle has to undergo seven trials set by the church to prove she truly is the Sun Queen. However, this plot device soon gets boring. Some gaps in Eliana’s storyline and wild jumping between scenes impeded a coherent plot here as well. Another aspect I’d criticize is that I personally found it sexually quite explicit for a teenage read. There is also some swearing involved that didn’t bother me in itself, but that seemed out of character. Would lovely, royal Rielle living in this medieval fantasy world really call her potential murderer a “little shit?” I found this oddly disturbing. For Eliana’s, who makes grown men cower in fear, it is fitting, but for Rielle, it just seems inappropriate. On account of these aspects, I would say Furyborn is overall an okay read, but definitely not a must.

At the beginning of the book, I was quite optimistic that it would turn out to be the next big thing and it strongly reminded me of Leigh Bardugo’s writing. However, upon further reading, it turned out to pale in comparison to Bardugo’s intricate world-building, and talent for a fast-paced plot that leaves room for character development, and characters you can’t help but fall for. Instead, Furyborn is a hodgepodge of genres and styles, and the convoluted plot only takes up some pace towards the end, which makes up a little for the stumbling from chapter to chapter that characterizes the first three quarters of the book. In sum, I feel somewhat meh about this book. Usually, I like throwing in some lines that I found intriguing or moving, but this review has to do without them because there is simply nothing memorable to be found in Furyborn. My verdict: an entertaining novel for older teenage girls, but for me, it was too much of the same old same old wrapped in a slightly incongruous story arc.

(Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing me with this free galley in exchange for an honest review.)

I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by Furyborn. Weeks after I've finished reading it, I still think about it when considering what to read next. The writing is incredible, the characters had me at hello, the world-building is masterful. I haven't been so impressed with a YA fantasy book since Seraphina! I highly recommend Furyborn to all my YA reader friends and even to those who love fantasy but don't usually read YA.

I was sent this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
Furyborn follows two different women who live centuries apart. One of those is Rielle Dardenne, who, when assassins ambush her best friend, reveals her ability to perform all of the seven kinds of elemental magic. In this world, the only people who should have these abilities are the prophecised Sun Queen and Blood Queen, one with the power to save the world and one to destroy it. So, to prove to the world that she is the Sun Queen, she has to endure seven trial, each one focused on one particular element.
Then, after several years, we follow Eliana Ferracora, an assassin who works for the Undying Empire that conquered her kingdom. All of that to keep her family alive. When her mother, along with countless other women in her city disappear without a trace, she has no choice to join the rebel group that she herself has hunted down to keep her family alive.
I didn't know anything about this book, I just knew that everybody was getting amazing reviews and that the cover was beautiful, because of those very reasons I requested it on NetGalley. The book already starts with an amazing prologue, and it justs gets better from there on.
Most of the time, it's very hard to get fantasy books because the world and/or the magic system is very complicated, but, with this one, I never had a difficult time trying to figure out what was happening, I still have several questions about the world, but, I'm pretty sure they are going to be resolved in the next books. And I also didn't have to keep turning to the map, which is what happens in most cases when I'm reading high fantasy.
It's incredibly hard not spoiling this one because it was so many amazing plot twists, I would really recommend for everyone to get into the book without knowing much because then, your experience reading it will be even more amazing. If you didn't realize it yet, I really loved Furyborn, I just felt the ending was a little bit rushed, but nevertheless, I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA fantasy.

Is it me or were there were a few elements from Daughter or Smoke and Bone in here? I can’t put my finger on what else this reminded me of, but it felt like a combination of a few other series that I’ve read. I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know how I feel about this story in general.

Despite my middle of the road rating, I’ll probably continue with the series. If only because this one just felt like the setup and I want to see if it pays off down the line. Very little was actually resolved and what was revealed wasn’t altogether surprising (a lot of it is pretty easily guessed). I’m hoping there’s less buildup and more action going forward.

The jumping back and forth every chapter was irritating. I don’t mind two perspectives but it felt like it breaks up the momentum to have it so frequently. I also wish we could have skimmed down Reille’s story a bit, I found all the trials kind of boring, I just wanted to speed things up and get to the point. I wanted the conclusion of her story, at least, so that it felt like we got somewhere.

This book is love at first sight. LOOK AT THAT COVER! It is all fantasy & medieval brilliance & swords! When I saw it, I knew absolutely nothing about it, except that I needed to read it. Imagine how happy I was to get an ARC! How though, do the contents fare under scrutiny?

The book is glorious … as epic fantasy should be. Rielle & Eliana, are two women, separated by centuries but united by the prophecies surrounding the Sun Queen & the Blood Queen. One is a source of light and goodness, the other of death and destruction.

Rielle was my favorite. A young, impetuous woman who has the ability to use magic in all 7 elemental forms. Veneration of the elemental magic is tied so strongly into the world’s political and religious systems that her extraordinary abilities put her at odds with each. She has uncommon talent which leads others to fear her.

Centuries later, Eliana is a streetwise bounty hunter with formidable skills. She finds herself investigating the mysterious disappearance of women and girls from her city. The criminals are taking poor and disadvantaged females, knowing that no one will put up a fuss when they go missing. Eliana, can be hard to like. She has nearly impenetrable walls up around her heart but it’s obvious that there is more to her than meets the eye.

The author does an excellent job of balancing the story between the two main POV characters. It is no small feat to keep two divergent stories going, at different time periods and still maintain a good pace and momentum. Ms. Legrand is a skilled writer who handles the challenge well. The story flows, and the reader is pushed along like a white water rafter without a paddle. Who are these women? Are THEY the Sun/Blood Queen? What will be their fate?

The opening prologue of the book is explosive and the rest of the book lived up to its promise. I know that this is the first book in the series, so I will be following the author’s social media closely so I can be sure not to miss the next installment. Looking forward to seeing more from Rielle and Eliana.

Song for this book: Kolnidur by Jonsi

Furyborn is about two badass women who can either save or doom their world. The author did a good job introducing us to amazing sets of characters and to a new world that needed to be explored.

The world building is fantastic! The magic, kingdoms, adventures, and the prophecy element are wonderfully blended into the story. Also, there are friendships, forbidden love, and deceptions included. The two alternating POV's of the two main characters, with different timelines, weave the story uniquely. The prologue definitely sparked my attention because I am a sucker for a really good backstory. There isn't a dull moment in the plot. Every chapter's ending will leave you to crave for more. This is one of the books that you cannot put down because your curiosity about what will happen next is just too much. I like how there is still a mystery lingering on even some of the secrets and revelations are slowly unfolding as the story goes on.

The characters are all great. There is even a gay couple! Eliana is a courageous, beautiful assassin-for-hire who will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and comfort of the one she loves. As brave and confident as she is, she cannot shake out the feeling that there is something different about her. On the other hand, Rielle is an elegant, powerful woman who hides her abilities because of her dark past. I like how the two women often times have battles within themselves lest their action will lead to a bad end or for the greater good. Also, I am very intrigued by the main antagonist. I just really love charming and cunning villains.

Overall, Furyborn is an enjoyable, fast-paced, action-packed adventure full of magic. It is definitely one of YA fantasy books you need to watch out for.

I give it 5 stars!

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for approving my request to read an advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fantasy series that I believe will become a huge hit, like Red Queen and the Throne of Glass series. It feels a lot like both with the 2 female leads. I'm intrigued to see where this series goes. Sidenote- Eliana is awesome. A hand for hire that feels a lot like Celaena from Throne of Glass? Yes please!

I loved how different this book was. It combined the darkness of Three Dark Crowns and Half Bad! Definitely an amazing read and I loved the two different timelines that converge.