Furyborn (Empirium Trilogy Series #1)
4.3
94
5
1
NOOK Book(eBook)
USD
7.99
$7.99
Available on Compatible NOOK Devices and the free NOOK Apps.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781492656630 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Sourcebooks |
| Publication date: | 05/22/2018 |
| Series: | Empirium Trilogy Series , #1 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 512 |
| Sales rank: | 11,711 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
| Age Range: | 14 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Furyborn (Empirium Trilogy Series #1)
4.3 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
95 reviews.
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I found everything about Furyborn to be so impressive, from the writing to the characters, the story, the world…everything was so detailed and it blew me away.
From the very first sentence, I knew I would enjoy Claire’s writing. She has such a driving, compelling voice that could also be so poetic at times and I really fell in love with the way she told the story.
I think the worldbuilding was one of the most impressive aspects of this book. I was amazed by the sheer scale of the world and how fleshed out and expansive it was. There were so many kingdoms and though, in this book we only get to see two of them in depth, there was enough detail that you got a feel for the other ones as well.
The pacing of this book was also incredible. Up until the very end, I couldn’t decide whose chapters I liked more (it's told through two points of view), and I would find myself so wrapped up in one storyline that I’d be mad about switching to the next, but then I’d get so invested in that storyline I wouldn’t want to go back to the other one (but then I’d be back to the storyline I was mad about leaving in the first place so it was okay). And this book was nonstop action—it was around 500 pages and I was never bored.
Also, the characters were my absolute FAVORITE. All of them were so Slytherin and dark and the romance aspect of the story was so addicting. Every character has layers and layers to them and I honestly couldn't decide who was my favorite
Overall I can't recommend this book enough--it's perfect for lovers of dark, high fantasy!
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Had me hooked immidiately, can't wait for the next one!
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Ok so one thing to say is this book definitely keeps you turning pages! I really enjoyed Reilles point of view and her world. It's sad to know how it ends up from reading the Prologue but it is interesting to see exactly how she gets to that point. Elliana on the other hand is just awful. She's so unlikeable as a main character and constantly seems to get herself into situations that seem unlikely when you carry around a title such as "The Dread". I do wish there had been some explanation for her powers and a little more backstory on the angels. Like where did they originally come from? Why were they all locked up if some are good and some are bad? Why hadn't anyone realized the gate was breaking down? What's so awful about the marques they were being hunted? Hopefully all these questions will be explained in the next book and we'll be get more explanation to everything that's going on in Ellianas world.
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Unexpected surprise, worth the read. Can’t wait for the next book.
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Multiple Perspectives, but I didn't get bored...
This review is based on an ARC I received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts on this book are my own.
This book jumps from Rielle’s perspective to Eliana’s perspective and back again, bridging a gap of 1,000 years as it goes. As each chapter switches from one character to the next there is always something, a little hook that keeps you on the line and interested and excited to come back to the story. Usually when I read books from multiple perspectives I quickly grow bored of one perspective in favor of the other and find myself slogging through the unwanted story but in this book I found both stories so enthralling that I didn’t feel like it was a slog. There is a point in this book where, I must admit, it starts to slow down a little bit but not too far after that it picks right back up, to say this book is action packed would be an understatement. While I did very much enjoy this book I am knocking it down a star because I feel like there could have been a little more character building and a little more world building, right now it feels like we know basics of both but I would like to know more. Another reason is the bi rep in this book, when Eliana mentions being with a girl in the past it piqued my interest and got me excited that there was going to be some bi rep in this fantasy but I got to the end of the book never hearing mention of this again, so in reality it was just a tease. This is only the first book in a series though, so I have my fingers crossed for more in the sequels because I will definitely keep reading this series.
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Just+absolutely+wow%21
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While it took me just a bit to really get into this book and get an understanding of what was going on, once I read a few chapters I had a very hard time putting it down. The switching back and forth in time was well done and was not confusing at all. It actually kept me reading way past my bedtime. I liked the big twist, although I did figure it out a bit before the reveal. I did feel as though the trials got a little tedious and repetitive, but it did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
The author does a very good job of building a fascinating, complex, and exciting world with characters that it are easy to care about. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy.
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Well+defined+characters+that+pull+you+in+and+keep+you+interested+in+whats+happening+next.
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This book boasts an entertaining premise and creative world-building.
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I will start by saying that despite its flaws, I really enjoyed this book. I loved entering this fantasy world, which was incredibly well-built, and discovering our two main characters, Rielle and Eliana. Their personalities are very distinct and well developed, and I enjoyed following both of their lives, but I must say I found every other character, whether from Rielle's life or Eliana's, to be rather flat and lacking depth. I consider this to be one of the main flaws of this book ; I hope for other characters to be a bit more developed in the next books.
The world-building was amazing, but a bit common for the YA fantasy style. Even though it was well detailed and we could really feel the personal style of the author, I found a lot of clichés and stereotypes very common in recent YA novels. I found that a bit disappointing, but I could really feel the author's effort so I still enjoyed the book.
I can't wait to read the next book !
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An epic start to an exquisite and captivating fantasy series, Furyborn is everything I had hoped it to be and more.
Almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. Which was amazing to read, but also frustrating. Amazing because the plot and writing were captivating and I desperately wanted to keep reading each chapter to get through each of the girl’s stories to find out what happened next. Frustrating because when I was trying to look for a place to stop, it was almost impossible. Plus, most of the chapters are decently short, making the “Just one more chapter” lie I was telling myself even easier to accept.
I loved both of the main characters, Rielle and Eliana. I thought it would be hard to connect to Rielle, because the preface is set before her point of view chapters, and reveals some not so pleasant details about her life two years after her point of view. However, I was immediately drawn in to her voice, and yearned to understand what had affected her so deeply as to cause the outcome that is shown in the preface. (Can you tell I’m trying to make this review as spoiler free as possible?). Rielle’s best friends, Audric and Ludivine, were absolutely lovely as well. The friendship between Rielle and Ludivine was so supportive and loving, and Rielle and Audric…well. Let’s just say I totally approve. Audric reads as such a pure human. So pure, at times he is oblivious, which is frustrating as a reader, because I know he’s intelligent, but he can be so blind to the realities of what is going on around him.
Eliana and Rielle are total opposities. While both of their hearts are in the right place, and both want to prevent their loved ones, they go about it in different ways. Eliana is a killer, and makes no effort to hide that fact. She’s ruthless and focused on survival in the colonized world of the Empire. Her world is nowhere near as peaceful as Rielle’s starts out as. Still, she, like Rielle, is an incredibly dynamic character. She makes awful decisions, but I still found myself rooting for her at every turn. You don’t have to respect the decisions of a character, but their intentions are important and are what makes them a likable character, which is the case with Eliana. Her loyalty to her mother and her younger brother, Remy, is admirable, and everything she does is to help ensure the survival of her family. Don’t even get me started on her best friend and lover, Harkan. If you read the book, you’ll see what I mean. I absolutely adore him.
In a fantastical age where so much of society has gone to ruin, the normalization of same-sex relationships prevails. Eliana has slept with both men and women for information, and other same-sex couples are not questioned at all, as it should be. Unfortunately, this is something that our own “real” society has yet to accomplish.
An interesting aspect of the story is the angels. In most of the fantasy serieses that I have read, angels are good, not bad, such as in Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters novels. Some of the ideas of the story reminded me of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, but Furyborn clearly stands on its own.
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At 500 pages and counting, Furyborn was a novel I'd hoped to draw out over several days and take my time with. After a riveting first chapter, however, those plans evaporated. I finished this in one day. Even with books I love—and I loved Furyborn—I can usually find one or two points that might not appeal to other readers and tuck them into my reviews. In this instance, though, I genuinely struggled trying to pick out any stumbling blocks. Rather than continue nitpicking, instead I'll list out some of the reasons why I hope you'll love Claire Legrand's newest book as much as I did:
TWO BADASS, COMPLEX WOMEN AT ITS CENTER
Rielle and Eliana comprise two perfectly complimentary narratives. Both are firebrands, assertive and fiercely independent with a strong sense of loyalty. Where Rielle struggles to hide an identity painfully obvious to her from a young age, Eliana expends an equal amount of energy masking her true self until she cannot recognize the girl behind the facade. Their personal battles enhance one another as the novel progresses, reinforcing a strong theme of identity as one seeks it out and the other denies what she must to survive. These women are allowed to feel hatred and lust, to behave hypocritically and make mistakes. In short, they're human. At times they felt painfully real, so much simmering beneath the surface of thoughts and actions that they seemed truly unpredictable, which made both Reille and Eliana a delight to read.
LYRICAL WRITING AND WORLD BUILDING
An explosive first chapter sets Furyborn's tone early: bloody and vicious, emotional and grand, from the outset you know you've begun something special. Legrand writes with a lush but accessible style. We only glimpse a bedroom and balcony in the prologue, yet we also meet angels and magical abilities with chilling implications. How these elements intertwine and influence Celdaria is revealed in tantalizing snippets. Legrand avoids the dry lecture of exposition by trusting her readers, introducing them to the history, religion, magic, and mythology of her world organically. Not a single dull moment exists; the timelines interplay with a comfortable ebb and flow, but when both barrel ahead at the same time it's impossible to step away.
THE CONCEPT OF THE EMPIRIUM
The empirium is reminiscent of Dust, in form and mysticism if not its actual purpose. Star Wars fans might liken it to the Force instead: a power coursing through the world that can be sensed, channeled, and manipulated to the user's will. As the first book in a new trilogy, Furyborn doesn't delve too deeply into the arcane details of the empirium. Instead it introduces enough of its scope and power to promise that it will play a significant role in the sequels to come.
I just cannot help but see a lot of positive correlations between Furyborn and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Some are more surificial commonalities, but what really captured my attention was a similarity in spirit. Both concern themselves with identity and freedom, while never shying away from the very personal impacts these pursuits can have on those who choose to follow them to the end. Where His Dark Materials had a certain snowy softness to it, Furyborn replaces it with flame and metallic edges. The expansive scale of time and mythology bestows a grandeur on Furyborn that promises greater—and darker—developments in the sequels to come.
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Furyborn builds a story that spans a thousand years in the form of two Queens who are part of a prophecy - one who is meant to destroy and one who is meant to save. Rielle and Eliana are living in two separate worlds. Rielle is the Celdarian General's daughter and lives in a time where magic exists and the threat of angels is a distant memory but still believed. Also, they have a religion based on the seven saints who were said to have defeated the angels. Eliana is basically a Venteran bounty hunter working for the Undying Empire, the 1000-year later version of Celdaria that has invaded every other kingdom save for one, and is a world where magic isn't believed to be real, and the saints just stories. Now, these two stories are linked first only by the prologue, and Rielle's story is the BEFORE part of the prologue and Eliana's the AFTER.
Because the world-building of the two parts are different in nature, there are some aspects of the book as a whole that are done well, and some not. Rielle's story was the more compelling one for me, as it had a straightforward and defined plot, with her undergoing trials to prove her control over the seven elementary magics, while there are forces trying to undermine her rise; this was surprising more so because her story's ending is already exposed from the start. Also, her story is all about repression of her desires, whether it be for freedom, respect or for the beautiful Crown Prince Audric, who is also her childhood best friend. While not overtly, her story also hints at misogyny being wielded against her in an allegorical fashion. The villain of her story (and also the whole series, but he was her villain first) is interesting, because there is that Darkling vibe to it, and obvious hints that he is going to be her downfall.
Meanwhile, Eliana's story is sort of aimless - her mother is kidnapped and she reluctantly joins the rebels, but then they are just hopping from city to city, instead to heading straight to where they need to go? (It is explained through Simon later, but that still doesn't excuse a directionless plot). She also has a more Celaena Sardothien in Heir of Fire vibe. Also, Eliana's world-building was rudimentary compared to that of Rielle's - and even keeping it for suspense sake was pointless because there are obvious clues and the presence of Simon, so I don't really know what the intent was in the way the former's story was charted out. It also felt more like it was only building her story up for the next book? If they were independent stories, I would say Eliana's arc in this is incomplete. Together, Rielle's story arc only points out the shortcomings of Eliana's, but on the whole there is a nice parallel of two women who are about to have a heck of a burden placed on them.
Lastly, the secondary characters - there are some amazing characters like Ludivine, Corien, Remy but some like Audric, Simon, Navi and Tal who could have done with some more characterization considering their importance to the plot. The romance is underdeveloped on both parts (for one of them, imagine August and Emma from Once Upon A Time hooking up ugh), too, but I am hoping that will be rectified in the next book?
Overall, a well-written fantasy, but the imbalance in the two narratives takes a bit of fun out of it.
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This is what I was made for. The thought arose as naturally as breathing. She flexed her fingers, felt power gathering hot in her palms. No, not hot – vital. Her power was not an intangible thing, a trick of the mind. It was the power of the world itself, and all that lived inside it.”
I’ve had an unfortunate trend happen with my reading lately. For quite a few of my recent reads, the farther I get into a story the more my interest wanes and unfortunately the same thing happened to me while I was reading Furyborn. Furyborn follows the story of two women, Rielle and Eliana, whose stories span centuries. One is destined to become the Sun Queen, a savior and protector, the other the Blood Queen who is destined to bring ruination and destruction. We follow both ladies as they uncover more about themselves and the magic in their world.
Things I Liked
I like when fantasy stories (or any stories really) have little quotes or journal-style entries at the beginning of chapters. I personally love them and I feel like they add to the world and characters. I like getting exposition here because it unfolds as needed and doesn’t take actual story time away to infodump.
The premise of the book is fantastic – it promises elemental powers (which are my fave!), dangerous foes, and 2 storylines following compelling women centuries apart. All of this sounds fantastic and would have made a really amazing story.
The prologue was everything I wanted from the story – action, stakes, intensity. But, unfortunately for me, it wasn’t sustained.
Things I Didn’t Like
I feel like there was absolutely no worldbuilding at all. The magic and powers aren’t established and that was so disappointing because elemental magic is my favorite. There’s a handy little chart in the back of the book that gives more info about each house of magic, but I would have loved to see it built into the story instead of a note in the back of the book. There was also nothing established about the angels, the Gate, or the previous angelic war. I had no idea why the people of Rielle’s time hated the angels, just that they were bad and should be feared. In Eliana’s timeline we’re introduced to a completely different country, with it’s own history that’s glossed over. I just wanted more.
I loved the idea of having 2 leading ladies each fulfilling a role in a prophecy – one being the savior and the other the destroyer. I was expecting to follow 2 morally grey complex character, each showcasing lightness and darkness, and discovering along the way which role each girl filled – or was forced into. But that’s not what happened. We know pretty immediately who’s the sun queen and who’s the blood queen, so all the tension and moral greyness I was looking for wasn’t there. Rielle and Eliana, both started out interesting for me, but I just got more annoyed by them as I read. They made questionable decisions and didn’t feel as fleshed-out as they could have been.
While I loved the prologue, I do feel like it created an unbalanced interest in the story for me. I was immediately hooked into Rielle’s chapters and the cliffhanger ending kept me reading in the beginning. But her trials quickly became repetitive and the action less thrilling. But I still found the characters in that timeline to be interesting. Oppositely, in Eliana’s chapters, I found the majority of the characters to be annoying but her quest kept the plot from being stagnant.
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From the prologue, I was completely hooked by the story. It not only connects the stories of the two protagonists, Rielle and Eliana, but also gives a glimpse to how one of those stories will end up unfolding by the time the series is over. Furyborn is written in alternating chapters narrated by Rielle and Eliana, whose timelines are separated by a thousand years. Each of their POVs were action-packed and thrilling. I rushed through the pages in an effort to know what would happen next to both Rielle and Eliana. I also loved the fact that we’re told from the very beginning who the Blood Queen is. It made reading her chapters all the more fascinating; we follow her growth and become invested in her story, all the while knowing how it will end.
There are a lot of things about Furyborn that I believe will others will enjoy as much as I did: great writing, wonderful characters, intriguing plots and action-packed chapters. The alternating POVs and verging storylines blend together expertly to create a highly entertaining story. I can’t wait to continue with the rest of the series!
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Let me begin by saying that what drew me in was the fantastic cover and title. It sounded right up my ally. And I was not disappointed by the synopsis. It sounded like everything a book addict and fanatic would want.
And lo and behold-it was! This book does encompass all those nitty gritty things I long for in a book. It has beautiful chemistry between the characters, which is a must. I love when there are 2 fantastic heroines who are both strong, capable women on their own, but are even better together.
I gave it 4 stars because it was a little violent, which is to be understood. Kings and queens and mystery and intrigue all add up to have a little gore. I didn't love that part, but it did add necessity to the story.
All in all, a great read. Loved it!
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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.
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I had heard many recommendations for Furyborn, all by avid readers of YA/fantasy who are in constant search of the next series to revolutionize the genre. I'm not entirely sure that this is that book, but it is certainly the stunning opening to what promises to be a thrilling thrilogy. The feminist undertones and action-packed novel maintains interest through a series of subtle and more overt plot twists. The style of writing is magical, and the unique perspective of two women separated by 1,000 years shows flaunts the abilities of a skilled author. I especially enjoyed the quote motif used at the beginning of each chapter; a quote from a relevant character or text was provided to set the tone and provide backstory, further enriching an already excellent plot.
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A story crossing two lifetimes and centuries apart, Furyborn is a thoroughly engrossing read. Claire Legrand creates a world with a rich history that we see playing out simultaneously as the future unfolds. The twists lead you questioning everything you thought you knew to be true. A prophecy binds our two heroines across these centuries that they both struggle against. These two are at once very similar and yet completely different. They have different backgrounds because of how the history of one leads to the future of the other. Yet they are both fighting to protect the ones they love and try to bring about a better future than the one prophesied.
A good story for older teens and young adult types, not so much for the younger set. There is a lot of violence as the title might suggest, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. A very enjoyable read.
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I’m pretty sure “Furyborn” wins the competition for most hyped book this spring. Everywhere I look there are lists including it as most looked forward to, rave reviews, or options to get your hands on it early. So props to the marketing team for getting this one out there. However, as has become a bit of a habit for me with much-hyped books, I had some mixed feelings on this one. Mixed though! I did enjoy this more than “The Cruel Prince” which was my last big letdown from the hype machine.
Most of the things I enjoyed in this story were also directly tied to aspects that I did not. Unlike other books, the problems I had with this story weren’t connected as much to the actual characterizations we’re given or the overall story. Both were mostly strong. But there are writing choices throughout the story that frankly sabotaged the good efforts made elsewhere.
For example, to start out. Both Rielle and Eliana are strong enough characters on their own. They live in very different worlds, and while some of their struggles are similar (trying to find their place in the world & hiding/fighting against perceptions that might set others against them and those they love), they are distinct in their own right. They each have a unique voice, always an important element in shared POV books. I personally found myself a bit more drawn to Eliana. Her story has a bit more mystery (for reasons we’ll discuss later), and as a character, I enjoyed her more morally grey worldview. However, I didn’t dislike Rielle either.
The other side of this coin, though, is the fact that both of these characters feel cut off at the knees by the alternating POVs. It’s not even a complicated problem: each POV is simply too short. The reader is being constantly bounced back and forth between each girl’s story, that one can never really settle into either character or plotline. This results in me kind of just not caring, when all is said and done. Readers need a chance to settle into a character, to really come into their world and understand their motivations and challenges. But when we’re constantly bounced back and forth between two very different stories every few pages, there is never a chance to really get that moment where you become invested. It was a fine read, but it was just that, a read. I never felt like I was really in this world. I was always just reading about it.
This problem extends to the world-building. There’s a lot that needs to happen on this front for a story that is going to try to present two very different worlds, thousands of years apart. The author essentially has to do twice the world-building to successfully pull it off. But, again, because of the quick switches between one character and the other, I never felt like I had a clear understanding of either of these worlds. There are angels in one? But the details are foggy. The other world has a empire that is set on taking over the world, but why and how? These details are all interesting on their own, but it ultimately felt like the author had bit off more than she could chew. Or, at the very least, more than could be reasonably fit in one novel that also has a lot of other things going on.
The action was fun. There is no denying that this book moves, and it was this that got me through some of the failings in my full connection to either character or the world itself. What’s more, I enjoyed that the action was very different between each girl’s storylines. Rielle’s ongoing magical trials wer
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This book was really enjoyable and I really liked it! The plot was really good and the idea of having two point of views spanned over a thousand of years was so unique. There was a couple of things I didn’t like though but lets start with what I did like! (though what I like outweighs what I didn’t)
What I liked:
☾✧ The overall story:
I really enjoyed the plot of this! Sometimes I’d be able to predict some things but they were VERY minor things… most of the time I was shocked by the plot twists…. Like I probably lost 10 years of life by getting as surprised as I did at one point. But it was a really unique story following a prophecy saying two queens will rise, a blood queen & a sun queen. The magic they had was also really cool! I liked the idea of elemental magic because as I come to think of it, I haven’t read one book with that! It’s usually just normal wizardry magic or fae magic so that was a nice change. I also think it was paced really nicely, I just took so long reading it because I have no self control & start 23684 books at a time. Also, in this story angels are bad, which is a really cool twist because they’re usually good & gahhh it was so good… READ IT. Oh & also!!! Men & women in this book were equal & no one would second guess it when they saw a female guarding one of the most prized people in the kingdom, or have to mention that oooh look its a female!
☾✧ The characters/writing:
I thought Rielle & Eliana were really freaking badass & I loved both point of views equally! They both had such unique traits & their stories were honestly just so amazing. Each chapter alternated between Rielle & Eliana’s point of views but IT WAS NOT CONFUSING AT ALL…. Also, sometimes (all the time) one chapter would end with a cliff hanger then you can’T sEE wHAt HAppeNS nEXt *dies* until you read the next chapter to get to where the cliffhanger ended, so I was constantly saying one more chapter all the time… The writing was also really great & I was sucked into this series so quickly.
Okay here a couple things I didn’t like, at first I was like ohhhh cool it’s giving me Throne of Glass vibes, but as you read on, I just kept comparing them together because there was ALOT of things I feel was inspired by ToG, but in the end, it was still unique in its own way I guess! Also, sometimes I just kinda didn’t feel attached to Rielle? You can tell she was conflicted with her thoughts & feelings but like sometimes she’d get hurt & I’m just like “Oh well.” Also, there was a scene I felt was unnecessary & too detailed to be in a YA book…. But overall, I really enjoyed this book & can’t wait for the next installment!
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There are no damsels in distress in ‘Furyborn,’ only badass women.
Though it starts a bit slow, Furyborn is a wild ride that you won’t be able to get enough of. The two “queens” that the book centers upon are women just trying to do their best with what they’re given. Though one is supposed to be the Sun Queen and the other the Blood Queen, each shows promise of being either. Or both at the same time. The women are flawed yet relatable. They make terrible mistakes and suffer the consequences nobly and without excuse. And it’s their love for their one or two loved ones that keeps them grounded and in touch with their humanity.
Though this story is sweeping in terms of how much physical ground it covers and the fact that the two timelines take place 1000 years apart, it’s very personal and introspective in nature. The stakes are set by how they affect the women and their immediate circles. The drama and tension is mostly interpersonal, rather than stemming from a large threat without a face. And the dual timelines really start to complement each other once you get into the book.
While reading this book, I wasn’t actually sure how it was going to be a trilogy because it seemed to be on track to wrap up with one book. But the further it delved into the characters and have a lot of time to interpersonal relationships and interactions, the more drawn out time became (in the best way possible). Though I’m still not quite sure what this trilogy will look like or how it will shake out, I know that I’m incredibly excited to find out and can’t wait to read the next installment.
I have a feeling this book will be one that everyone will be talking about and I can’t wait.
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Furyborn is one of the books that didn’t live up to all the hype it received. I’m torn between liking and hating this book.
My thoughts
Furyborn was good but this was a hard story for me to get into. The story of two young women from different time periods and their connection was interesting but also confusing. Furyborn is a fantasy so there is a lot of details on the world to absorb. I think the alternating POV’s made it difficult for me to fully understand what was going on. Just when it was becoming clear for me the next chapter would switch POV’s and time periods (either to the past or future). The alternating POV’s also made the pace of the story really slow and sometimes boring. I was so tempted to DNF this book but there was still enough of a pull from the story for me to continue. I’m glad I didn’t give up because there were some great action scenes and revelations.
Even though I was frustrated with the story I did like the main characters. Rielle and Eliana are both strong women with incredible powers. I loved how the author gave insight to their doubts, fears and struggles with controlling their powers. I don’t want to spoil the story, but this is a battle between good and evil, and it becomes clear that one of these ladies couldn’t resist the pull from the dark side (definitely a Star Wars feel to this story lol).
Would I read the next book? Despite my issues with Furyborn I do want to read the next book. I’m curious to what happens next and if these two characters will meet.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but with a warning that this is slow paced and requires some patience. Overall it is a good story with action, suspense and interesting plot twists. This is labelled as a Young Adult Fantasy but there are some detailed sex scenes, so this book is more appropriate for readers over 18-years-old.
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The prologue is excellent, but the rest of book is a drag. I was quite surprised by the sexual content within, a lot more graphic than I would expect and along with language used here and there I would suggest this for the older crowd only.
I mainly got interested in this book since I heard it would have bisexual representation. Both main characters are ambiguous and leans toward being morally gray. But, I just couldn’t connect with any of these characters. Elianna reminds me of Celaena Sardothian/Aelin from the 'Throne of Glass series. I didn't really care for Rielle's story. I didn't really care for her and Audric's romance or life. There is a really weird love triangle between Rielle, Audric, and Corien. Isn't he literally A VOICE IN HER HEAD?? How is she attracted to a voice in her head?? Though I did like that the angels are the bad guys in this one. I would definitely recommend this one to any high fantasy lovers. If you like ToG, you will probably love this one.
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There’s been a lot of talk of Furyborn being the book of the year, so of course I’ve heard about it and was naturally tempted to give it a try. Furyborn is the first in the Empirium trilogy, which is a young adult fantasy series. I’ll be honest with you though, the real thing that caught my attention? It was totally the cover. The cover is so pretty that it wiped away any doubt I had about reading this book (I know, I’m such a sucker for nice covers. I can’t help it).
Furyborn is one of those books that you pick it up, feeling a bit curious, only to have the first chapter/prologue be this huge and immersive event. Obviously you need to keep reading to know more, if nothing else than to sate your curiosity. The first scene does start at the conclusion of one character’s plot, so it is a bit of a spoiler (personally I was okay with that; sometimes I’d rather know how things are going to end up for a character).
While some would disagree, I actually felt like things dropped off a bit, after that first moment. Once past the action I couldn’t ignore the fact that I didn’t know any of these characters, and it took me a really long time to start caring about all of them (not going to lie here, pretty sure most of my favorite characters are all secondary characters, and I’m totally okay with that).
Furyborn is the tale of two queens; one with the ability to destroy and one with the ability to create and repair. That description is a bit vague, but it’s all we have to go on for quite some time, so you get pretty used to it after a while.
Rielle is the character’s whose ending we get to see in the beginning, while Elaina lives her life a thousand years later. The chapters switch back and forth between the two, and while they think in strikingly similar manners I didn’t have any trouble keeping the two plots distinct (the different timeline and supporting cast helped quite a bit here).
I’m sure that everyone will have a different queen they liked best, assuming they found themselves attached to either (I’ve seen a decent amount of people hating both characters, so I can’t ignore this fact). I personally found the world that Elaina’s story was set in more interesting, but her personality was too abrasive. Therefore I was fonder of Rielle, even knowing what I did about her and her future.
I want to say it wasn’t until about the halfway mark in this book that I found myself getting really hooked (I actually kept taking breaks in it, since I wasn’t feeling connected to either main character). If you find yourself struggling with it I’d suggest giving it until at least this point before you call quits.
I’m very curious about the world and magical systems that were introduced here, and I think that’s why I ended up liking this novel as much as I did. I’m a sucker for series with unique takes on magic and world building. I feel like there was a lot of teasing going on – lots of magic shown but not explained, and little bits of the world revealed here and there. I would have loved to see more of both, but that may have been intentional. After all, it pretty much guaranteed that I’m going to follow up with the rest of the series.
It was only after I finished Furyborn that I heard it described as a bi fantasy. For the sake of honesty I have to tell you that I found these points to be pretty subtle and not well defined. Most of the information dropped was either done hastily or hinted at. It’s not what I personally would consider a bi fantasy, especi
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