Fiona Hardingham expertly narrates this thrilling fantasy, giving voice to two remarkable young women. Rielle and Eliana are separated by a thousand years and live worlds apart. Having demonstrated astonishing powers, Rielle must undergo seven deadly trials to determine whether she is destined to save the world or bring forth its destruction. Centuries later, preternaturally strong and swift Eliana teams up with dangerous rebels after her mother is kidnapped. Hardingham’s portrayal of these seemingly disparate but inextricably linked young women strikes exactly the right notes, precisely conveying the girls’ single-minded intensity, which is underscored by sorrow and self-doubt. Impeccable pacing exquisitely ramps up the tension as the story hurtles towards a breathtaking climax that will leave listeners eager for more. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

02/19/2018
This fantasy trilogy opener from Legrand (Foxheart) introduces teenagers Rielle Dardenne, a Celdarian, and Eliana Ferracora, a Venteran. Many Celdarians are able to magically control a single element, but Rielle can secretly manipulate all seven. According to legend, this means she is either the Sun Queen, who can save the world, or the Blood Queen, who can destroy it. When Rielle reveals her talent by single-handedly saving the crown prince from invaders, the king imposes a series of deadly trials designed to test her strength and prove her loyalty. A millennium later and a continent away, assassin Eliana ponders the source of her preternatural healing abilities while hunting insurgents for the Empire. When her mother vanishes, Eliana offers tactical assistance in exchange for information, thus altering the course of her future. Action and steamy romance abound, but character development takes a back seat to worldbuilding and an excessively complicated mythology. Legrand cleverly intertwines her protagonists’ seemingly discrete storylines, which unfold in alternating chapters, but her plot is overstuffed; a conclusion lacking resolution or closure will leave invested readers eager for the next installment. Ages 14–18. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Literary Agency. (May)

"Claire Legrand’s Furyborn is as complex as the angels it depicts—captivating and lovely, volatile and deadly. The contrast of elegant, stately court politics with gritty, blood-soaked war is balanced perfectly alongside shifting timelines, blurred prophecies, and a sprawling cast of characters, each more alluring than the last. Furyborn is a sexy, luscious shiver of a book." — Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes Trilogy

"I tried to stop reading Furyborn and go to bed... then I got up and kept going. Epic in scope, endless in imagination, this book will grab hold of you and refuse to let go." — Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of The Illuminae Files and the Starbound Trilogy

"Furyborn by Claire Legrand is the epic start to a YA fantasy trilogy focused on two very different and fascinating young women, a delicious villain, non-stop action, and heart-pounding romance. A fantastic read!" — Morgan Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series

"Immersive and intricate, Furyborn is a kick-you-in-the-teeth and grab-you-by-the-heart tale of two queens." — Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes

"Beautiful, brutal, heart-stopping, and epic, Furyborn is a world to lose yourself in—just bring weapons. It’s dangerous there." — Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone saga

"From the opening pages, Claire Legrand’s Furyborn plunges the reader into a captivatingly imaginative world filled with intrigue and deception. Beauty wars with violence as the stories of these two fierce women intertwine with stunning results. Furyborn will leave you breathless and aching for more." — Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician

"Furyborn is epic and unforgettable. I was immediately captivated by the story of two powerful young women fighting to survive in this vivid, unique fantasy world. A must-read!" — Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author of the Ruined trilogy

"Legrand has created magic on every page. Flawed, smart, and fierce heroines kept me dazzled and breathless. Furyborn is explosive and stunning." — Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles and The Jenna Fox Chronicles

"In an epic that spans a millennium, Legrand serves up a veritable feast of magic: mystical beings, ruthless power struggles, and gorgeously cinematic writing that will sweep you off your feet." — Traci Chee, New York Times bestselling author of the Sea of Ink and Gold series

"A dark yet rousing adventure story that combines passion and danger at every turn." — Booklist

"A page-turner. Readers will find the complex and flawed characters immensely relatable. The two narratives are deftly interwoven, and plot twists will keep teens on the edge of their seats." — School Library Journal, popular pick

"High stakes, epic scope, intense action, and sweeping mythologies. " — Kirkus Reviews

"This first book of a planned trilogy will not supply all of the answers but will nevertheless enthrall fans of epic fantasy. Highly recommended." — School Library Connection, Highly Recommended

"Strikingly vivid prose…the nearly five hundred pages race by in stunning fashion. This is a must-have for fans of Marchetta’s Lumatere Chronicles (Finnikin of the Rock, or Cashore’s Graceling." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"This is the first in Claire Legrand’s Empirium trilogy and readers will be left waiting with bated breath for the sequel." — Bookish.com

" For a trip into a wholly new universe in which women are furious, dangerous, and capable of making or ending the world, Furyborn is a must-read." — Refinery29

"This massive novel packs a punch. The characters are passionate and well defined. The worldbuilding is immense, colorful, exciting, and unique. The villains are horrible. The author saves a final twist for the last few pages that throws everything into line and will leave readers thirsting for the next book...This series will find a wide audience among teens, especially those who love Sarah Maas’s The Court of Thorns and Roses." — VOYA Magazine

"An electric plot and enticing characters make Furyborn an absolute page-turner. With characters who never fail to deliver the unexpected and surprises around every corner, this novel is sure to capture readers’ interest and possess it. " — VOYA Magazine

"For those looking for some serious girl power in their "Game of Thrones"-style epics." — USA Today

"We’re already excited to see what else is to follow in Claire Legrand’s new series" — TeenVogue.com

02/01/2018
Gr 10 Up—Set in the fantasy world of Aritas, this novel alternates between the stories of two dynamic young women. Rielle is forced to use her elemental magic in order to save her best friend, the Crown Prince, during a disastrous horse race. In response, the King forces her to undergo seven trials to discover if she is the Sun Queen, a long prophesied savior of their people, or the Blood Queen, bringer of destruction. One thousand years in the future, Eliana is a bounty hunter working to keep her family alive in a kingdom long conquered by the Undying Empire. When her mother disappears, she has to decide if joining the rebels or ingratiating herself to the Empire will give her a better chance of bringing her family back together. By the time Eliana is coming of age, the stories of magic, angels, and Saints are thought of as myths, but Eliana will learn that there is still a cosmic battle being waged that she and Rielle have both fought in their own ways. The book gets off to a slow start due to the large amount of world-building devoted to the planned trilogy. However, once the story truly gets underway, it quickly becomes a page-turner. Readers will find the complex and flawed characters immensely relatable. The two narratives are deftly interwoven, and plot twists will keep teens on the edge of their seats. Frank descriptions of masturbation and a graphic sex scene make this appropriate for older teens. VERDICT A good choice where Graceling by Kristin Cashore and Kate Elliott's Court of Fives are popular.—Sunnie Scarpa, Wallingford Public Library, CT

Fiona Hardingham expertly narrates this thrilling fantasy, giving voice to two remarkable young women. Rielle and Eliana are separated by a thousand years and live worlds apart. Having demonstrated astonishing powers, Rielle must undergo seven deadly trials to determine whether she is destined to save the world or bring forth its destruction. Centuries later, preternaturally strong and swift Eliana teams up with dangerous rebels after her mother is kidnapped. Hardingham’s portrayal of these seemingly disparate but inextricably linked young women strikes exactly the right notes, precisely conveying the girls’ single-minded intensity, which is underscored by sorrow and self-doubt. Impeccable pacing exquisitely ramps up the tension as the story hurtles towards a breathtaking climax that will leave listeners eager for more. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

2018-02-20
Two girls separated by a thousand years are connected by a prophecy.In a prologue, readers learn that pale-skinned Queen Rielle has killed her husband, the biracial Audric. She gives birth to their baby while a war between angels and humans rages. To keep the infant safe from the angels' leader, light-skinned Corien, Rielle desperately charges a child with magical abilities to use his gifts to flee with and protect her—with mixed success. Later chapters alternate between telling Rielle's story and flashing forward 1,020 years to focus on olive-skinned Eliana. Following a childhood tragedy, Rielle hid her staggering ability to control all seven elements until a threat against her beloved Audric caused her to reveal her gifts, prompting the Magisterial Council to impose seven trials to determine whether she was the Sun Queen or Blood Queen spoken of in prophecy. While readers start off knowing her story's end, a steamy romance and devious twists along the way pack surprises. Eliana, meanwhile, is a deadly bounty hunter—serving an evil empire in order to protect her own family—who gets mixed up with rebels when her mother is abducted. The rigid, cliffhanger-heavy chapter structure is supported by breakneck pacing and constant action. The ending leaves neither storyline resolved.High stakes, epic scope, intense action, and sweeping mythologies. (element guide) (Fantasy. 15-adult)