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yriax's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Blood, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child abuse, and Child death
modernathos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.5
I have to be honest, I almost DNF'd this book multiple times purely because it started out as such a drag. It's a five-hundred-pages-long brick of a book and should have been about three hundred pages shorter, because that's how long it took for the plot to finally pick up properly. I do have to be honest and say that, once the plot did pick up, I was hooked until the end. But on to the actual book now.
I quite liked Eliana as a character. The writing of her perspective at the start of the book showed how indoctrinated into her society she is really well and it was fascinating to read how she justifies some of the things she does, as unacceptable as they may be. It was also a good writer's choice to not have her morality make a 180 when she is literally face to face with the consequences of her actions. However, that is about where the logical character development ended for me. Legrand set up some beautiful storylines and relationships - Navi and Remy's friendship, Eliana and The Wolf's eventual friendship - but those were either thrown away or rushed. Additionally, Eliana's deal with The Wolf felt weird and forced. For someone who was willing to go to horrific lengths and had such faith in her repuation and importance to her society, she was very quick to turn her back on that same society and make a deal with a man who she had absolutely zero reason to trust. To summerize, a lot of the character development in this book felt forced and weird, especially on Eliana's side.
cw/tw: talk of NSFW and non-consent
Every moment that the characters were engaged in sexual activities or anything adjacent to it was, in my opinion, either too graphic or completely unnecessary. I mostly don't have any problem with sex, but it was mostly unnecessary to the plot and a bit too graphic for a book that classifies as Young Adult (12 - 18). Legrand should have especially been more careful with the way she describes certain sections that were either explicitly or assumably non-consensual but were described as fine. Again, Furyborn classifies itself as Young Adult, which means it is aimed primarily at minors, most of which will be just starting to explore their sexuality and comfort/discomfort and so might think that certain sections in the book are okay while they are not. This is just plain dangerous.
Also, except for one, maybe two times, the sex didn't add anything to the plot or characters except to show that 90% percent of the characters are predators, so in YA book it would have been better to just leave those sections out.
Finally, Rielle and Audric having a relationship in which Audric is so loyal to her and risking everything while he is betrothed to Ludivine, while Rielle is horny for Corien is really fucked up . In conclusion, the sexual parts of this book generally made me quite uncomfortable.
end of content/trigger warning
Will I read the rest of the series? Yes, I will, because the worldbuilding and main plot is generally quite good, if fairly poorly executed, and Legrand have a pleasant and enjoyable writing style. I really hope the 1100 pages the next to books take up combined will be worth it.
Rep: gay characters (MLM).
February 7th, 2023 - March 9th, 2023.
I quite liked Eliana as a character. The writing of her perspective at the start of the book showed how indoctrinated into her society she is really well and it was fascinating to read how she justifies some of the things she does, as unacceptable as they may be. It was also a good writer's choice to not have her morality make a 180 when she is literally face to face with the consequences of her actions. However, that is about where the logical character development ended for me. Legrand set up some beautiful storylines and relationships - Navi and Remy's friendship, Eliana and The Wolf's eventual friendship - but those were either thrown away or rushed. Additionally, Eliana's deal with The Wolf felt weird and forced. For someone who was willing to go to horrific lengths and had such faith in her repuation and importance to her society, she was very quick to turn her back on that same society and make a deal with a man who she had absolutely zero reason to trust. To summerize, a lot of the character development in this book felt forced and weird, especially on Eliana's side.
cw/tw: talk of NSFW and non-consent
Every moment that the characters were engaged in sexual activities or anything adjacent to it was, in my opinion, either too graphic or completely unnecessary. I mostly don't have any problem with sex, but it was mostly unnecessary to the plot and a bit too graphic for a book that classifies as Young Adult (12 - 18). Legrand should have especially been more careful with the way she describes certain sections that were either explicitly or assumably non-consensual but were described as fine. Again, Furyborn classifies itself as Young Adult, which means it is aimed primarily at minors, most of which will be just starting to explore their sexuality and comfort/discomfort and so might think that certain sections in the book are okay while they are not. This is just plain dangerous.
Also, except for one, maybe two times, the sex didn't add anything to the plot or characters except to show that 90% percent of the characters are predators, so in YA book it would have been better to just leave those sections out.
Finally,
end of content/trigger warning
Will I read the rest of the series? Yes, I will, because the worldbuilding and main plot is generally quite good, if fairly poorly executed, and Legrand have a pleasant and enjoyable writing style. I really hope the 1100 pages the next to books take up combined will be worth it.
Rep: gay characters (MLM).
February 7th, 2023 - March 9th, 2023.
"Have you always been this unspeakably irritating?"
"Has your face always looked so temptingly carvable?"
"Belief doesn't keep you alive."
"But, given time, it can win wars."
"I have heard rumors of what is done to them, these missing girls, and I hope my daughter is safely dead."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Cursing, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking, Trafficking, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
merenguita's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The setup, magic system and the world building were really good and interesting, it's what pulled me in and what motivates me to read the second part.
Some of the characters I loved others I think weren't fully fleshed out (Simon espacially)He switches personality a lot and his relationship with Eliana kinda just jumps to romance out of nowhere
The pace was slow and there's a while in the middle where not much happens just fights, that got a bit boring, but it didn't bother me that much.
Honestly the book has its flaws but I still enjoyed it throughout so I give it 4☆
Some of the characters I loved others I think weren't fully fleshed out (Simon espacially)
The pace was slow and there's a while in the middle where not much happens just fights, that got a bit boring, but it didn't bother me that much.
Honestly the book has its flaws but I still enjoyed it throughout so I give it 4☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Animal death, War, Sexual content, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture
nada97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I usually don't enjoy dual point of views, but Legrand does it so well. The chapters are relatively short and almost every single one ends on a cliff hanger, so I was completely hooked from start to finish. I truly don't think there was one moment I was bored.
⁕ There is zero info dumping in this book, but it did take me almost 300 pages to get a firm grasp on the important historical and religious context of the world. I really hope the next 2 books in the series further grows upon this knowledge.
⁕ Legrand starts each chapter entry with a journal/text/letter excerpt that is dated with months from the Gregorian calendar. I really wish she had devised her own system for time/date keeping because this was a really small and easy detail that detracted from the world-building.
⁕ SPOILER: The magical kingdom(s) that this story take place in exists largely outside of heteronormative, patriarchal society. LGBTQ+ and women characters are in positions of power without being questioned or explained as "outside of the norm." WHY THEN does Legrand make a point to highlight that the "crawlers" (Frankenstein monsters born from the experiments of the Empire) are made of mutilated women and girls that were stolen?! Without any further exploration or discussion?! I'm still trying to find the words as to why this made me feel so icky but it did.
⁕ To whoever labeled this book as a YA on Goodreads and Storygraph: Why?!?! There are brutal beheadings of children, assault, body horror/experimentation, and at least one sex scene. I'm not complaining (especially since the author expertly used these moments to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and survival), but I think a lot of audiences looking for mature reads might accidentally pass this one over because of false advertising.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ I usually don't enjoy dual point of views, but Legrand does it so well. The chapters are relatively short and almost every single one ends on a cliff hanger, so I was completely hooked from start to finish. I truly don't think there was one moment I was bored.
⁕ There is zero info dumping in this book, but it did take me almost 300 pages to get a firm grasp on the important historical and religious context of the world. I really hope the next 2 books in the series further grows upon this knowledge.
⁕ Legrand starts each chapter entry with a journal/text/letter excerpt that is dated with months from the Gregorian calendar. I really wish she had devised her own system for time/date keeping because this was a really small and easy detail that detracted from the world-building.
⁕ To whoever labeled this book as a YA on Goodreads and Storygraph: Why?!?! There are brutal beheadings of children, assault, body horror/experimentation, and at least one sex scene. I'm not complaining (especially since the author expertly used these moments to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and survival), but I think a lot of audiences looking for mature reads might accidentally pass this one over because of false advertising.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and War
saeruh's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
4.0
I would first like to say that Furyborn is NOT ya. Despite its marketing as such, this is much more of a New Adult fantasy novel. I would not recommend this for pre/younger teen readers because it does not feel appropriate for them, in my opinion. While things are necessarily graphically described, the actions within most/all scenes are still very much geared to an adult audience.
That being said and once I figured that out for myself, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I’ve had Furyborn in my tbr for a while but decided I wanted to read a fantasy for a bit of a change of pace/plot/etc. The first 50 pages were a little rough but once I got past those, I was INVESTED. I LOVED the dichotomy between the two main female characters with one being a prideful but seeming harmless/sweet at the beginning until we learn more about her powers and start her slow decent into her villianhood and one being a confident, seeming heartless killer-for-hire who becomes our story’s hero. I thought the concept of angels and the magic system was interesting and well thought out. I liked all of the lore too.
However, there was somethings I really wasn’t a fan of. I didn’t like the dual timelines, I sometimes wanted to know much more about the one that just ended rather than go into the past/future.I thought it was REALLY easy to guess that Eliana would be Rielle’s daughter but maybe that was the entire point LMAO Most of the time when Rielle’s powers/the empirium stuff was described, my brain glossed over all of it and couldn’t really seemed to catch any details. I was not a fan of the love triangles for both narrators. I’m assuming Harkan will come back in a later book but he was so unnecessary in general. I wish the characters’ ages had been clearly stated - I couldn’t exactly tell if Eliana was supposed to be 17 or 18 which is not that big of a difference but I really would have liked to known she was the basic age of consent before the romance with Simon started since he’s 8 years her senior. . I think some scenes could easily have been taken out/written a different way Ex: the scene in the first 50 or so pages when Eliana and Harkan bring in a family of poor people trying to escape the city to their master and then one of the CHILDREN is brutally DECAPITATED??? you could have shown the rebellion being squashed out in so many, way less horrific ways .
This novel reminded me of a LOT of other similar fantasy series, included but not limited to Shadow and Bone, the Hunger Games, the Lunar Chronicles, Crier’s War, and Throne of Glass. If you like any of those, you’ll probably like this. I think I will try to pick the next few books in this series at the library.
That being said and once I figured that out for myself, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I’ve had Furyborn in my tbr for a while but decided I wanted to read a fantasy for a bit of a change of pace/plot/etc. The first 50 pages were a little rough but once I got past those, I was INVESTED. I LOVED the dichotomy between the two main female characters with one being a prideful but seeming harmless/sweet at the beginning until we learn more about her powers and start her slow decent into her villianhood and one being a confident, seeming heartless killer-for-hire who becomes our story’s hero. I thought the concept of angels and the magic system was interesting and well thought out. I liked all of the lore too.
However, there was somethings I really wasn’t a fan of. I didn’t like the dual timelines, I sometimes wanted to know much more about the one that just ended rather than go into the past/future.
This novel reminded me of a LOT of other similar fantasy series, included but not limited to Shadow and Bone, the Hunger Games, the Lunar Chronicles, Crier’s War, and Throne of Glass. If you like any of those, you’ll probably like this. I think I will try to pick the next few books in this series at the library.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
jojo_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Trafficking
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Child abuse
okays1331's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
"Don't pity me. When I can, I take the blows meant for you. You are my queen and my life is yours. It has been since the day you were born."
Rielle is a very different heroine. She has a lot of darkness in her. She craves the love of the masses and to prove her power. And she is POWERFUL. I think this confidence in her bearing turned some people off these books, but honestly, it's refreshing. Get it girl. That's not to say she doesn't have a lot of self doubt and self hatred, but to the world, she shows only the person she needs to be to get what she wants. Corien was always a creep, her father doesn't deserve a redemption arc, and Taliesin is not her friend. All of these men are abusive in different ways, and she savors every little bit of affection she gets from each of them. In the very first chapter of the book, we see her go supernova as the Blood Queen, and it is not hard to figure out how she got there when we see all the authority figures in her life and the manipulation, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting. She does however, have the best friends.
Audric is perfect. I love him so much. He's mischievious, good to his core, loyal to a fault, blessed with sun magic, sweet and kind, and also gorgeous. He is the knight in shining armor you want on your side. He never falters from Rielle's side for one moment. Girl stop hiding things from you! He won't stop loving you!
Ludivine is a different kind of girl friend. I was waiting for the cringe-y jealousy and competition between women, but it never came. She is supportive through and through. Though of course, she's actually a centuries old angel who isn't actually interested in marrying the prince, and views Rielle and Aldric as her precious charges.
Rielle must complete a series of trials to prove her power and more importantly her control and become the Sun Queen, the long prophesied savior of the world. Or fail, and mark herself the Blood Queen, the downfall of humanity.
Cut to the other half of the story:
Eliana, who should be the heartless one in the story being trained from a young age to be an assassin and all, is actually full of love and loyalty for her family. And, despite how often she denies it and shoves it down, she is also full of love and compassion for the innocent and helpless. She feels no loyalty to home and country and has seen way too much to have much faith in anyone but herself.
Navi is again such a good friend. I hope we get more depth on her, but for now, she's a person to trust for Eliana and a maternal figure for Remmy (who is viewed by Eliana as a child to be protected, but I think he will surprise her with his own capabilities).
Finally, Simon! Gruff, sarcastic, stoic, dangerous, and troubled. Yep he's my favorite. He's constantly getting under Eliana's skin by pretending to flirt with her. Well, maybe not pretending. He's got a cause to fight for, and he will do literally anything for that cause.
Simon and Eliana are assassins/spies operating on opposite sides of the war. Simon working for the rebels and Eliana working for the Empire turning in rebels to be executed. But Eliana agrees to team up with Simon on a secret mission when her mother goes missing along with girls all over the country.
-------------------------------------------------
I had some issues at the beginning because I am so bad with names, so I was not making the connections between the characters that I should have. Hopefully this review will help me keep them straight when I read book two!
Rielle is a very different heroine. She has a lot of darkness in her. She craves the love of the masses and to prove her power. And she is POWERFUL. I think this confidence in her bearing turned some people off these books, but honestly, it's refreshing. Get it girl. That's not to say she doesn't have a lot of self doubt and self hatred, but to the world, she shows only the person she needs to be to get what she wants. Corien was always a creep, her father doesn't deserve a redemption arc, and Taliesin is not her friend. All of these men are abusive in different ways, and she savors every little bit of affection she gets from each of them. In the very first chapter of the book, we see her go supernova as the Blood Queen, and it is not hard to figure out how she got there when we see all the authority figures in her life and the manipulation, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting. She does however, have the best friends.
Audric is perfect. I love him so much. He's mischievious, good to his core, loyal to a fault, blessed with sun magic, sweet and kind, and also gorgeous. He is the knight in shining armor you want on your side. He never falters from Rielle's side for one moment. Girl stop hiding things from you! He won't stop loving you!
Ludivine is a different kind of girl friend. I was waiting for the cringe-y jealousy and competition between women, but it never came. She is supportive through and through. Though of course,
Rielle must complete a series of trials to prove her power and more importantly her control and become the Sun Queen, the long prophesied savior of the world. Or fail, and mark herself the Blood Queen, the downfall of humanity.
Cut to the other half of the story:
Eliana, who should be the heartless one in the story being trained from a young age to be an assassin and all, is actually full of love and loyalty for her family. And, despite how often she denies it and shoves it down, she is also full of love and compassion for the innocent and helpless. She feels no loyalty to home and country and has seen way too much to have much faith in anyone but herself.
Navi is again such a good friend. I hope we get more depth on her, but for now, she's a person to trust for Eliana and a maternal figure for Remmy (who is viewed by Eliana as a child to be protected, but I think he will surprise her with his own capabilities).
Finally, Simon! Gruff, sarcastic, stoic, dangerous, and troubled. Yep he's my favorite. He's constantly getting under Eliana's skin by pretending to flirt with her. Well, maybe not pretending. He's got a cause to fight for, and he will do literally anything for that cause.
Simon and Eliana are assassins/spies operating on opposite sides of the war. Simon working for the rebels and Eliana working for the Empire turning in rebels to be executed. But Eliana agrees to team up with Simon on a secret mission when her mother goes missing along with girls all over the country.
-------------------------------------------------
I had some issues at the beginning because I am so bad with names, so I was not making the connections between the characters that I should have. Hopefully this review will help me keep them straight when I read book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
stormywolf's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
This book is one helluva ride. Switching between the perspectives of two formidable women, it was never easy to put this book down, and I loved it.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
I wouldn't call the ending a major cliffhanger, but there's definitely a lot still left to resolve. Rielle's story hasn't yet caught up to the prologue (and I assume not everything is as it seems), and there's a war on the horizon. And Eliana's story is veering off in a new direction entirely. If I didn't already love this book, I'd be pissed at it pulling me into another incomplete series. I eagerly await Ms. Legrand's next installment.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
I wouldn't call the ending a major cliffhanger, but there's definitely a lot still left to resolve. Rielle's story hasn't yet caught up to the prologue (and I assume not everything is as it seems), and there's a war on the horizon. And Eliana's story is veering off in a new direction entirely. If I didn't already love this book, I'd be pissed at it pulling me into another incomplete series. I eagerly await Ms. Legrand's next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Torture, Child death, and Trafficking
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Grief
There is an arranged marriage set to take place between first-cousins (royalty), but it doesn't happen in this book
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