From the Bookshelf of Undead & UnRead Book Club - Frisco Public Library…

Furyborn (Empirium, #1)

Claire Legrand

Start date: August 15, 2018

Finish date: September 11, 2018

Discussion: 2018 Meetings

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2018 Meetings

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What Members Thought

May 24, 2019 Amy rated it really liked it

It did take me awhile to finish Furyborn because I tried to rush myself out of a reading slump. Once I got out the reading slump and really got into Furyborn the story really took off for me. The beginning this book is definitely a lot of world building and story set up. Furyborn is a world in which ages ago there was a war between angels and humans. The wall the humans built to keep them trapped is cracking. So, a prophet foretold that there would be two Queens born to save the world from angel ...more

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Aug 24, 2018 Amanda Kratz rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-dead-and-unread-book-club

Read for Frisco Undead & Unread.

So this has been on my TBR since it was announced and luckily it was picked as a book club read so yes two birds with one stone.

I will start by saying I love many many ideas about this book. However I didn’t entirely enjoy the execution of them. There are so many things going on that nothing every gets fully developed. I mean you have angel/human wars, time traveling, elemental magic, a lost god in space, wraiths, possessed people. It has a ton of stuff, but it is Read for Frisco Undead & Unread.

So this has been on my TBR since it was announced and luckily it was picked as a book club read so yes two birds with one stone.

I will start by saying I love many many ideas about this book. However I didn’t entirely enjoy the execution of them. There are so many things going on that nothing every gets fully developed. I mean you have angel/human wars, time traveling, elemental magic, a lost god in space, wraiths, possessed people. It has a ton of stuff, but it is all thrown at you at once versus being built up slowly over time. I will also add that normally I complain that books are all talk no action. This suffers from the opposite problem it is all action action action action and no time to stop and catch a breath and explain anything.

There are two main characters of the Book Rielle and Eliana and their timelines are 1000 years apart. The book alternates their stories every other chapter. I really don’t like this. The worlds, the political climate, magic systems, etc are so different that I felt lost flipping between them. I wish it would have been separated into 2 books Elaina and Rielle. Each chapter ends on its own little mini cliff hanger too so it is just irritating to stop and have to start a completely different story in a different world with different rules.

I have issues with the characters magic/abilities: Rielle was taught to suppress her magic her whole life and all of a sudden when faced with 7 daunting tasks (each a chapter long (you she is gonna pass just gets bit redundant)) all of sudden she rises to every challenge and handles it beautifully. She is so unsure and a bit overwhelmed every time. Elaina on the other hand is supposed to be this invincible bounty hunter but is continually gets captured or beat up (she just heals quickly a la Deadpool) Elaina is cocky and arrogant and I see nothing to back up her “bad assery”

I wanted so much to like this but I found it a chore to keep picking it up. The plot twists felt predictable (well actually in the forward they spoiled the most interesting part so there is that). Meh. I will likely read the rest of the series eventually but I’ll wait until the series is complete before I try it again. I’m hoping things get sorted out better.

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Aug 25, 2018 Amy Gideon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: undead-and-unread, young-adult, fantasy, audiobooks, 2018-reading-list

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Fair warning: I'm probably going to be all over the place with this review because I have a lot of feelings about the book.

First off, I love this book! From the first page I was hooked. I loved the structure, the world building, the magic, and the character development. This is an instant favorite and I already want the second book to be out.

The structure of the story was one of my favorite things about it. While reading Eliana's story, I couldn't help but wonder about Rielle's and mourning fo Fair warning: I'm probably going to be all over the place with this review because I have a lot of feelings about the book.

First off, I love this book! From the first page I was hooked. I loved the structure, the world building, the magic, and the character development. This is an instant favorite and I already want the second book to be out.

The structure of the story was one of my favorite things about it. While reading Eliana's story, I couldn't help but wonder about Rielle's and mourning for her friend group. In the first part of the novel you know her story ends in tragedy and the way the author unfolds her story had me caring about her life and the lives of her friends, even as I know they're doomed. The feelings this part of the story invoked is similar to how I felt reading Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, anxious and melancholy. (Any story that can put me in mind of Jellicoe Road is high praise, because Jellicoe Road is fucking awesome.) Knowing the events had already occurred and that there was nothing that could be done to stop it, added a vein of grief to both stories. The story crafting and character development also reminded me of Kristin Cashore's Graceling Realm and a bit of Garth Nix's Abhorsen series and Lynn Flewelling's Tamir Triad. (All awesome fantasy series that everyone should read.)

I love it when an author is able to create real and imperfect characters. The two female protagonists are not immediately likable, and to be honest I'm still making up my mind on Rielle. I don't know if I'll ever fully like her. That being said, the author is able to make you feel empathy for both of them even when they're at their worst. I cried with Rielle and Eliana and hurt for them. (The last few chapters of the book had me bawling.)

The world building (especially in Rielle's timeline) is fascinating. I loved seeing the magic being used in the trials and experiencing Rielle's inner turmoil. Like Cashore's characters, Eliana and Rielle struggle with what it is to be a monster and what it is to be loved. Both characters have so much feeling and self-loathing. I related to them both in different ways.

I also loved how Rielle's life, and magic in general, became a sort of folktale in Eliana's timeline. Something that most people don't believe in. I also liked how Eliana, one of the most practical minded and apathetic people, turns out to be the chosen one. I will say that's not much of a surprise, but knowing didn't detract from my enjoyment of the unveiling.

The transformation of the angels from Rielle's to Eliana's time is interesting too. I want to see where this goes in the next two books. (I also totally want to see an angelic war.)

Also, I kind have a crush on Simon and the voice in Rielle's head which turns out to be a murderous angel. I unabashedly ship Simon and Eliana. I also kind of want Rielle to start a harem with Audric and Corien. I'm interested to see how these relationships further develop.

Even cooler than the romantic relationships in this story are the friendships, especially with regards to Rielle and Ludvine. I had such a roller coaster of emotions with this friendship. I loved the solidarity, love, and loyalty between the two. And the capacity to forgive was quite beautiful.

TLDR; So lots of gushing and fangirling. Recommend to all. ...more

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