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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was incredibly bored the whole time. I don’t know why it didn’t grip my attention. It had all the elements that make me go feral, it just didn’t hit. Idk maybe it’s bc the main character wasn’t the level of confident/morally bankrupt that I like. Either way, this was a slog.
DNF for now....this book was good but it wasn’t holding my attention enough to keep pushing through
Two women one thousand years apart, find their fates entwined. One, a queen with a dark connection to the evil invading their lands. The other, a bounty hunter with many secrets worth killing for. The pacing in this book was so well-crafted, keeping me interested throughout.
I genuinely enjoyed both POVs, and I loved seeing female characters struggling with darkness. These were not Mary Sue characters that are too often slapped into YA romantasy. They both struggled and sometimes made morally-grey decisions. Neither of them needed a man to save them, but both had weaknesses that drove them to lean on their friends. The magic system was fairly straight forward. Fans of Throne of Glass will love Eliana’s role as a bounty hunter who despises her king. All in all, this book stood out from lots of the romantasy I’ve read recently, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, Kingsbane.
I genuinely enjoyed both POVs, and I loved seeing female characters struggling with darkness. These were not Mary Sue characters that are too often slapped into YA romantasy. They both struggled and sometimes made morally-grey decisions. Neither of them needed a man to save them, but both had weaknesses that drove them to lean on their friends. The magic system was fairly straight forward. Fans of Throne of Glass will love Eliana’s role as a bounty hunter who despises her king. All in all, this book stood out from lots of the romantasy I’ve read recently, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, Kingsbane.
Quite new to fantasy/world-building at this point. I enjoyed the action without the drone of description. However, I would have liked more character development mixed into the action.
First Thoughts:
This book had been in my kindle library for a loooong time. It was one of those books I picked up when it was on a huge kindle deal (something like .99-2.99 - you know, a steal). This last year I finally picked it up. I know it was a popular series but I believe by the time the book went on sale and I picked it up, the hype was on its last book. Because of this, my expectations and hype was pretty neutral. I didn't really know what I was going into other than it was a fantasy novel. I was not expecting what I got. Very high paced from the beginning.
Writing:4/5
I really enjoyed the two point perspective. Not only was it told from two different characters point of view, but it also took place from two entirely different timelines. This increased the interest. I had no problems with the style of writing. Very descriptive. Pretty cinematic. Interesting and fast paced.
Plot: 4/5
Both perspectives were equally interesting. Their personalities were polar opposites as well as their positions. They were two different faces to the same coin and their lives intersecting point was phenomenally done.
We get past and present. The present being the consequences of the past. Neither was less interesting than the other. Both were incredibly fast and intense. Rarely did we get a break from someone almost dying or being in danger. Best part of this book was definitely that there are nephilim! Again, I wasn't fully knowledged on this book going into it so this came as a very pleasant surprise. I haven't read a nephilim book since they were at their peak around 2011. Super hyped about this. Its such an underrated supernatural trope.
Characters: 3/5
I think this is where the book fell most short for me. None of the characters hooked a line in my heart. None of them didn't keep my interest either though. Our main characters were definitely the most interesting portion of the book.
Rielle's perspective was a slow burning coal, reaching its peak at the end. So seemingly innocent but a war constantly brewing inside. Her story takes place with her undergoing very dangerous tasks to prove she fit part of a long awaited prophecy. Eliana was quite the opposite. All fire with her inner struggle being kinder than she allowed herself to let on. She has such tough exterior that does not entirely meet her core.
Romance: 3/5
The romance was there but was more at a steady boil. There was nothing hot and heavy or anything that had me feeling truly touched. I think Rielle was too selfish at the core for me to be fully invested her romantic life. Eliana is so independent and so snarky that the flirtations that we got seemed more for wit than anything else. That being said, I think this first book was just the spark. I have a feeling we will get more romance here soon.
Overall: 4/5
This book as a whole was a nice, slow burn. It was a majority of world building, time setting, and character building. Normally, this will kind of turn me off but it was well done. There was just enough of all the aspects you expect in an enticing young adult high fantasy series to keep you interested. I feel like this book was the set up to an epic adventure throughout the next two books. I expect a lot more character growth, disaster, romance, and action. Enjoyed this book a lot!
This book had been in my kindle library for a loooong time. It was one of those books I picked up when it was on a huge kindle deal (something like .99-2.99 - you know, a steal). This last year I finally picked it up. I know it was a popular series but I believe by the time the book went on sale and I picked it up, the hype was on its last book. Because of this, my expectations and hype was pretty neutral. I didn't really know what I was going into other than it was a fantasy novel. I was not expecting what I got. Very high paced from the beginning.
Writing:4/5
I really enjoyed the two point perspective. Not only was it told from two different characters point of view, but it also took place from two entirely different timelines. This increased the interest. I had no problems with the style of writing. Very descriptive. Pretty cinematic. Interesting and fast paced.
Plot: 4/5
Both perspectives were equally interesting. Their personalities were polar opposites as well as their positions. They were two different faces to the same coin and their lives intersecting point was phenomenally done.
We get past and present. The present being the consequences of the past. Neither was less interesting than the other. Both were incredibly fast and intense. Rarely did we get a break from someone almost dying or being in danger. Best part of this book was definitely that there are nephilim! Again, I wasn't fully knowledged on this book going into it so this came as a very pleasant surprise. I haven't read a nephilim book since they were at their peak around 2011. Super hyped about this. Its such an underrated supernatural trope.
Characters: 3/5
I think this is where the book fell most short for me. None of the characters hooked a line in my heart. None of them didn't keep my interest either though. Our main characters were definitely the most interesting portion of the book.
Rielle's perspective was a slow burning coal, reaching its peak at the end. So seemingly innocent but a war constantly brewing inside. Her story takes place with her undergoing very dangerous tasks to prove she fit part of a long awaited prophecy. Eliana was quite the opposite. All fire with her inner struggle being kinder than she allowed herself to let on. She has such tough exterior that does not entirely meet her core.
Romance: 3/5
The romance was there but was more at a steady boil. There was nothing hot and heavy or anything that had me feeling truly touched. I think Rielle was too selfish at the core for me to be fully invested her romantic life. Eliana is so independent and so snarky that the flirtations that we got seemed more for wit than anything else. That being said, I think this first book was just the spark. I have a feeling we will get more romance here soon.
Overall: 4/5
This book as a whole was a nice, slow burn. It was a majority of world building, time setting, and character building. Normally, this will kind of turn me off but it was well done. There was just enough of all the aspects you expect in an enticing young adult high fantasy series to keep you interested. I feel like this book was the set up to an epic adventure throughout the next two books. I expect a lot more character growth, disaster, romance, and action. Enjoyed this book a lot!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Empirium Trilogy 1
I was really looking forward to this book as I’ve heard such great things. I listened to it via audiobook and I felt it was enjoyable and a fun and exciting read. However, the audiobook definitely gave me a different vibe than I feel I would have had if I had physically read it. With that being said, the story line was GREAT!! Two powerful, determined, and kickass FMC? Who wouldn’t love that? Following both of their storylines was interesting and encapsulating. The action in this book was also top notch and really kept me hooked! Though I did sense it would end the way it did, which was satisfying, I wish it wasn’t as easy for me to have figured that out. Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the Empirium series!
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Empirium Trilogy 1
I was really looking forward to this book as I’ve heard such great things. I listened to it via audiobook and I felt it was enjoyable and a fun and exciting read. However, the audiobook definitely gave me a different vibe than I feel I would have had if I had physically read it. With that being said, the story line was GREAT!! Two powerful, determined, and kickass FMC? Who wouldn’t love that? Following both of their storylines was interesting and encapsulating. The action in this book was also top notch and really kept me hooked! Though I did sense it would end the way it did, which was satisfying, I wish it wasn’t as easy for me to have figured that out. Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the Empirium series!