This was so deliciously good. It has all the elements of YA fantasy, with just enough magic to make it exciting, and both of the main characters are likeable for entirely different reasons. I love how the story is split into two moments in time, rather than a series of events, and how these moments and the key characters from each of them manage to somehow come together. I won't say I didn't see it coming, largely because the ending is kind of at the beginning and for those of us who read a lot a plot twist has got to be something truly special for us to not sniff it out. But anyway, it was so good.

Before I go any further, let's just take note of how ridiculous that blurb is. It leaves literally nothing to the imagination - not to mention nothing for me to summarise any different. But essentially, this book is divided into two stories which gradually merge, has two main female leads with varying degrees of coolness (Rielle more so than Eliana because Rielle is some wickedly cruel complex character I just adore to read about), some part human/part angel stuff going on (perhaps akin to Shadowhunters?), magic, and some against the clock adventures to keep you hooked.

Whilst I really enjoyed it, sometimes the story became difficult to follow because it's constantly jumping 1000 or so years forwards and backwards. Equally, some of the excitement of not knowing what might happen is lost almost within the first chapter when you witness a key death, so it's no surprise when it comes to fruition! But you know what, I can forget about that because it was so much fun to read.

Definitely recommend it.

ARC provided free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There were some things I really loved and disliked about this book. I absolutely loved the weaving of the 2 stories. Even though they were told thousands of years apart, Legrand still made it so that you were interested. The differing moral complexities of the protagonists (Eliana and Rielle) was also a job well done. They were distinct, and Rielle was likable.

I thought that Eliana's story dragged a little. I just wasn't interested in it. It's surprising because that is the present perspective, but I just didn't care-- and I kept on forgetting that her mother, brother, etc. even existed...

You have to be a fan of fantasy and really willing to immerse yourself in a different world for this book. For younger readers, the very beginning is a little confusing, but it definitely is worth it to push through. I would recommend this to fantasy loving high schoolers. There's sex, language, etc.

What a great adventure. I generally hate two time periods in a book but Legrand handles this wonderfully and kept me reading at a furious pace. Great YA read.

I liked the book and found the split time frames interesting, although sometimes I think this slowed the story down somewhat. I liked the characters. I know this is the beginning in a trilogy, so it can't give all its secrets away, but I do think more could have been explained in this volume. Overall though I did enjoy it and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I don't know if I would be comfortable recommending this to students as it does get somewhat graphically sexual at one point and has strong sexual themes through out.

This book has absolutely earned its hype, the "most anticipated" title that it's being marketed with it is also well-deserved. It's a rare thing to find a single fantasy story that is original, exciting and full of powerful, intriguing characters, let alone two within one book. Rielle and Eliana's stories are connected, yes, but it's not in an in-your-face obvious way, which serves Furyborn very well. But for a few overlapping elements, they each read as fantastic, nearly standalone stories in their own right, and the way author Claire Legrand deftly weaves them together adds tremendously to the depth and magnitude of the plot. It's so interesting to see both sides of the coin in one story - Rielle's story provides the lead-up to an earthshaking event (which we get tantalizing hints of in the prologue), and Eliana's story is set in the devastatingly brutal Empire left in the aftermath of Rielle's time. In books with multiple POVs, I personally find it nearly impossible to not have a clear favorite, but in Furyborn, both Rielle and Eliana are strong, compelling, and fascinating in their own ways. I truly did not have a favorite, and was only tempted once to skip a chapter and get a peek ahead, and skimming can be a huge problem for me in other books. Fabulous writing, action, character development, worldbuilding, magic...everything. Fabulous everything.

I actually could not finish this, so ingnore my score because I can't send my review without a rating. I felt the writing was very well done. The pace was fast and had a lot going on, so my mind was everywhere. I couldn't connect with the characters, but that's not to say that the book isn't good because maybe it gets incredibly fantastic. It is just such a long book that I can't truck my way through and see. It just wasn't for me.

I enjoyed this fantasy. I did at first find it difficult to orientate myself as we start in one timeframe with a birth and death and then go back two years to find out about the events leading Rielle to this point. The story then alternates between her and Eliana - who lives in the future where Rielle is a legend.

Both characters are feisty females having to fight for their lives. I was a little slow to pick up the link and was therefore surprised by the ending. A satisfying read - well set up for book 2 of the series.

I will pass it on to my more able students as some of the content was more adult in nature and the two voices makes it more challenging to read.

This was a great read! The plot was character driven and well developed. The writing was average but highly imaginative so I could see younger audiences being inclined to read it. I found some similarities to the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and I think people who are a fan on Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series would like this read. I liked the dueling POVs and their timelines being 1000 years apart, it made for a great read.

It’s not for me, however I do know people who will love this book. It’s well written and has an engaging plot.

The story of two strong women. Rielle a young woman that is kept locked away from people because of her powers. Elliana a young woman that is used as a bounty hunter because of her powers. The story takes place is two different eras. Each chapter is alternating between Rielle and Elliana. Rielle must go through a series of trials to prove herself while Elliana must go on a quest. This was a very compelling story about love and betrayal. I would recommend this story to individuals in high school and older that enjoy fantasy with a love story.

I really enjoyed this fantasy. It tied together nicely and I look forward to the follow up books

I'm sitting somewhere between 3.5-4 stars. Maybe closer to 4? It was REALLY fun, especially in the first 50%. I'll definitely pick up the sequel.

Let's start with the prologue because holy crap that was fantastic. Way to suck me in, Claire. Anyway, we're thrust into an intense birth-and-escape scene where Queen Rielle delivers her daughter and shoves her into the arms of a young boy-Simon- telling him he must escape and save her life. Simon basically witnesses this whole horrific scene with the queen and an angel that has come for her before whisking the baby to safety. (Safety meaning years and years later, because Simon has that type of magic.)

The first chapter takes us years previous before Rielle becomes the ever-famous 'Blood Queen'. We follow her story as her life leads up to the inevitable prologue. Additionally, as a dual POV, we watch her daughter years in the future, who has no idea her real heritage. We learn of a prophecy, one that speaks of the coming of a 'Sun Queen' and a 'Blood Queen'. Thanks to the prologue, we know Rielle is the 'Blood Queen'.

Anyway, I was super invested in Rielle's story, especially knowing how it 'ends'. It's almost a villain origin story, except Rielle's heart stays true. I don't want to spoil much, but her story begins when the kingdom discovers she can control all the elements with her magic, not just one like the rest of the population. They assume she is the long-foretold Sun Queen, and to prove she is the Sun Queen and not the Blood queen, she must complete Trials in front of the kingdom. She also has a bit of a forbidden romance with Aldrik, the prince, though there are about a billion things keeping them apart. Anyway, phew her scenes are super riveting, especially at first. While she's completing the Trials (which are cruelly put together), she hears a voice. She grows to know the voice as Corien and discovers he is an angel. (Which again, we know Corien is the one she tries to save her daughter from in the prologue.)

Then we have Elianna, her daughter. In her time, she's known as the "Dread of Orline" - she's something like a bounty hunter. Think Celaena Sardothian from the 'Assasin's Blade' - or something like that. She's a bit of an anti hero--she's fierce and doesn't listen to anyone, but somewhere in there, she has a good heart. We don't know what happened to the boy that saved her as a baby, and she doesn't remember any of that. She was raised by another family and pretty much only cares about them and no one else. BUT her 'mother' goes missing and Elianna gets mixed up with a man called the "Wolf' who makes her a deal to find her mother if Elianna will help him.

So blah blah the story jumps in two different directions.

Anyway, the pacing was batshit crazy. Like, there isn't a single dull moment. I almost wonder if it was *too* fast at times, but I applaud Claire's ability to suck the reader in and keep them turning the page. Expect a ton of action and intrigue. I honestly thought this would be a 5-star book up until the last 70%. I think at that point though, the crazy fast pacing lost me a bit. I felt like everything was a bit lackluster to the build-up, but that's only a personal opinion. I feel like things with Simon + Elianna were a bit rushed <spoiler>they got mushy totally out of the blue </spoiler> - I think Elianna's character arc felt like it came out of left field. As far as Rielle, I still like her a lot, and I loved the whole struggle with Audrik vs Corien. I think at the end, I was just expecting a big blow up with Corien vs Elianna, but nothing really happened. (Soooo I'll be back for a sequel...)

Lastly, the writing struck me as a bit strange at times. I'm not one to talk or anything, but the type of grammar used threw me a bit.

Oh well, whatever. The story was fun! Corien was a fantastic villain - I'm super intrigued by him. If you know me, I'm a sucker for a good villain.

Do I recommend this? Sure, you'll have fun reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “Furyborn” by Claire Legrand. This book is magical. After reading her previous book I was not surprised. This author has a fantastic imagination. The characters are relatable and well developed and the topic is fresh. This book will find a home at my library for sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance. I "wished" for it and had my wish granted very soon after. I was given a copy of this novel on Netgalley for an honest opinion on the novel.
I LOVED this novel.
Let me first say that the writing style and the voice that Legrand has is like no other. I felt myself instantly transported to the world that I was reading. I felt like I was right next to Reille on the Boon Chase as she's riding after Audric and that I was fighting with Eliana as she slipped through the streets and claimed her victims. The level of verisimilitude that is in this novel is breathtaking. Everything felt so real.

This cunning and wit that the main characters have, both Reille and Eliana, is stunning. I found myself quite impressed with both of them. Eliana for being street smart and being able to worm her way out of situations, like charming men and being able to make them think what she wants them to think by how she pretends to act. Reille is also smart in the way that she puts on a show for the people, she knows that she has to win over their hearts and does so with the help of Lu.

These characters have real fears and real challenges that they have to face. I honestly could not have loved this book anymore than I already do. I don't normally give 5/5 stars on books, those are reserved for my ultimate favorites and this is one of those favorites.
Sign me up for the next novel in the series because I cannot wait to get my hands on it!