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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of those books that I think the blurb over sold. I did not love the two split timelines, or the main device of how the main characters were connected.
☆ Two queens will rise. ☆
☆ One with the power to save the world. ☆
☆ One with the power to destroy it. ☆
☆ They carry your fate in their hands. ☆
As readers, we are introduced to this prophecy very early on in the novel and it is really the foundation of the plot. The prologue was perfect--it really captured my attention and provided the first laying of groundwork for the connections between the two story lines in this novel.
I am going to try to break down the two storylines into their basic plot points and characters to give you an overview.
Rielle Dardenne
★ Resides in the royal palace in Celdaria
★ Living in a society where many have elemental magic, with each pertaining to one specific strand of the empirium (their system of magic)-- sunspinner, windsinger, firebrand, shadowcaster, waterworker, metalmaster, earthshaker.
★ Has romantic feelings for her best friend, Audric, who is the crowned prince of Celdaria (and is incidentally betrothed to her other best friend, Ludivine--who is another awesome character)
★ Bi-Sexual Representative
★ Early into the plot, Rielle exposes herself as an individual who is able to control all seven forms of elemental magic--something that even the angels of the past could not do.
★ Given her abilities, the leaders of her country know that she is likely one of the prophesied queens--the Sun Queen (representing light and salvation) or the Blood Queen (representing blood and destruction).
★ Rielle will have to endure seven trials to determine her fate--while also battling with an internal peculiarity (involving hearing voices!).
Elliana Ferracora
★ Takes place in 'present day' of the fictional world.
★ At this point in time, people hardly believe in the legends of Queen Rielle and Audric the Lightbringer--chalking them up to be just that--legends, fairy tales, and stories passed down over a thousand years.
★ Elliana is an assassin, working for the Empire (who overtook her country) in order to help bring in rebels trying to escape their reign
★ Elliana has a unique power that seems to render her invincible
★ Young women are vanishing in her area, her mother has disappeared, and she has been recruited by "The Wolf", a notorious rebel, to accompany him on a mysterious and dangerous mission
We know from the very beginning that these two women are going to be connected and I even speculated exactly what the 'reveals' proved to be true--yet I was still admirably impressed with the way that Legrand woven these two storylines together. I was so invested in both Rielle and Elliana's lives, adored all of the 'side characters', and really appreciated the author's work that went into crafting this world and history.
This was the perfect level of fantasy for me. As I have stated before, I tend to get bogged down with information if there are too many new characters, too many new locations, complicated magic systems, and an abundance of foreign/fantastical vocabulary/language. Furyborn was the perfect combination. Rielle's timeline was very heavy with magic, but did a fantastic job at introducing all of the characters and terminology. Elliana's timeline was more of realistic fiction in the beginning with just small little touches of fantasy--and later leading into some very science-fiction concepts.
I absolutely loved all of the characters in this novel. I have been struggling to find a fantasy series that I truly connect with and strongly desire to remain loyal to, but I have finally met my match. Furyborn left me with a very solid ending, with a clifhanger that left me yearning for more, but also left me satisfied. I cannot wait for the second installment and to see what's next for these characters.
Highly recommended and much loved!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire & Claire Legrand for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Off The Press Reads:
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adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5⭐️
honestly embarrassed it took me this long to read this book. from the prologue, i knew i was about to sign up for some wacky shit and BOY HOWDY did i get it.
seeing rielle and eliana’s timelines inch closer together and intersect kept me on my toes at all times. the amount of connections of characters, magic, etc. had my brain in overdrive.
i’m walking out of furyborn with more questions that i started with and i’m sprinting to get the second book now.
honestly embarrassed it took me this long to read this book. from the prologue, i knew i was about to sign up for some wacky shit and BOY HOWDY did i get it.
seeing rielle and eliana’s timelines inch closer together and intersect kept me on my toes at all times. the amount of connections of characters, magic, etc. had my brain in overdrive.
i’m walking out of furyborn with more questions that i started with and i’m sprinting to get the second book now.
The jumps in time and POV were very interesting. Unfortunately the future section spoiled much of the past, and a lot of the plot ‘twists’ were predictable.
However it was still very compelling.
However it was still very compelling.
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great addition to the world of fantasy, my favourite thing about it being the strong female protagonists. It was fast paced, intricate, and the world building was really well developed. I would recommend to readers who enjoyed books like Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, or anyone who likes an adventurous tale that will keep you guessing.
This was a great addition to the world of fantasy, my favourite thing about it being the strong female protagonists. It was fast paced, intricate, and the world building was really well developed. I would recommend to readers who enjoyed books like Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, or anyone who likes an adventurous tale that will keep you guessing.
Negative part first: I wanted to love this book; I read this book twice, but for some reason, I do not like it. I couldn't care enough about either main character and what they were experiencing. Now for the positive: There are some very beautifully written lines in the book. There is also a considerable amount of world building achieved, both in the ancient and the modern perspectives. I also enjoyed the different plot twists, from a writer's perspective rather than a reader's. Overall, I can see why some like this book, and I admit that I will probably pick up the next installment at some point. Yet, I am not anxiously waiting. I would recommend this book to reads who enjoy fantasy YA lit, and I hope they are able to bridge the disconnect that seemed to keep me from loving this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Was it dense and slow? Yes.
Did I still love it? Yes!!
It’s a bit confusing at times but still a good read! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re in a slump though.
Did I still love it? Yes!!
It’s a bit confusing at times but still a good read! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re in a slump though.