Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Helena | Biotechnology High School, Grade 10

Rating: ****

Furyborn by Claire Legrand is the first book in the Empirium trilogy. This is the beginning of a story about two girls, separated by a thousand years but connected by a prophecy. The prophecy says that when the Gate falls, releasing all of the angels that were previously trapped in the Deep, two Queens will rise: the Sun Queen, with the power to save the world, and the Blood Queen, with the power to destroy it. Rielle, the first girl, must pass seven dangerous trials—each testing one of the seven different elements—to prove that she is the Sun Queen. If that wasn’t challenging enough, she must also disentangle herself from a highly forbidden romance and resist the temptations of a mysterious voice in her mind. On the other hand, Eliana, the second girl, must embark on a deadly journey to find her kidnapped mother while simultaneously deciding who to trust and discovering secrets about the past and, ultimately, herself. This is the beginning of a story about discerning the truth from lies and deception, uncovering long-abandoned enigmas, and the deciding the future of the fragile world of Avitas.

Claire Legrand amazed me with the world building. Everything, from the history between angels and humans to the seven different types of elemental magic, was well thought-out and incorporated. The characters also have distinct and dynamic personalities, and I was able to watch them develop and grow through the story. Furyborn was immensely intriguing, engaging, and epic; I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy.