We are the light against the darkness, and we must continue to burn brightly, so others may find their way out.
― Claire Legrand, Kingsbane
The #1 LibraryReads Pick author of Furyborn is back with the second book in the epic New York Times bestselling Empirium Trilogy!
Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien—but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.
Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity’s long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption—fear of becoming another Rielle—keeps Eliana’s power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted by embracing her mother’s power or rejecting it forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. A native Texan, she is now a writer and librarian living in central New Jersey.
Her first novel is THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012. She is also the author of THE YEAR OF SHADOWS, a ghost story for middle grade readers, WINTERSPELL, a young adult re-telling of The Nutcracker, and SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS, a middle grade story about mental illness, family secrets, and the power of storytelling. SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS is a 2017 Edgar Award nominee and one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2016. Her latest novel, FOXHEART, is a fast-paced fantasy-adventure and a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection. She is also one of the four authors behind THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, an anthology of dark middle grade short fiction that was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street Best Book, and among the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2014. Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. A native Texan, she is now a writer and librarian living in central New Jersey.
Coming up for Claire is FURYBORN, the first book in the Empirium trilogy, due out May 22, 2018, followed by SAWKILL GIRLS in fall 2018, and THORNLIGHT, a companion novel to FOXHEART, coming in winter 2019. Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. A native Texan, she is now a writer and librarian living in central New Jersey.
Visit Claire at claire-legrand.com and at enterthecabinet.com.
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REVIEW
Ok. So I just have to say that I loved loved loved Furyborn, the first book in the Emperium Trilogy. It was where I first met Rielle and Eliana and they were both wondrous women to behold – a Sun Queen in the making and the Dread of Orline. The second book is still good but I think it fell into the curse of second books and just didn’t cut it for me.
Don’t get me wrong. It did step up to what happened in book 1. The word building is still glorious, I would not have expected less from Ms. Legrand. She also provided us with a plot that had its twist and turns it would keep you at the edge of your seat, always wanting to read more of the story.
I like how there were rulers described as the Kings or Queens of a certain kingdom. Being with someone of the same gender was written expertly that it didn’t feel like it was being shoved down my throat.
This book also should have trigger warnings at the beginning as it has child abuse, rape, infidelity, etc.
Ok,so I have a few things to point out that I didn’t really like in the second book:
Eliana. What the heck happened to my Dread of Orleans? Suddenly she’s this weepy girl who could no longer heal herself and there were barely any good fight scenes written with her in it. It’s annoying that most of what she’s done in this book is over think and whine. She’s brave and was almost soulless in book 1, the only time we see a little bit of humanity in her as when she is with her brother Remy, and now she’s reduced to the typical YA heroine. Ugh.
I’m seriously expecting Eliana to get her spine back in the 3rd book.
Too Many Voices. The chapters of book 1 were divided alternately between Rielle and Eliana. Now we even have Harkan, Simon, Corien, Ludiville, etc. I couldn’t keep the viewpoints straight unless I go back a chapter or two and reread what happened.
So many sex scenes. If you were expecting a normal fantasy YA then this book will “shock” you. Just like the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas, this series actually is more New Adult than Young Adult. There were so many sex scenes described this should be labeled “Adult”.
Uh what the heck is going on? This world has angels, marques (half angel half human), elementals, and the queens. No one still knows that they actually are. I didn’t notice how many types of “creatures’ were in this world besides the angels and marques in book 1 so I just thought Rielle and Eliana were something like those too.
Basically this book was one big information dump and it overloaded my brain. There was too much given and so many side plots started and left halfway or not really explored properly so it added to the different things happening at the same time in this book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Am I recommending this book?
I actually want to leave that in your hands. If you’ve read Furyborn and would like to continue then please don’t let me deter you. My opinion might just be that – mine. I also still want to read the last book in the Trilogy so I haven’t lost hope yet.
Have you read Kingsbane? What did you think of it?
Tales Past Midnight 
Sequels not living up to expectations can be a terrible disappointment. Hopefully the third one will be better.
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Still a good read but yeah it felt so noisy to me with most of the main (and one supporting) characters having their own chapter or POV. Also some parts that should have been set in the first book was just casually mentioned in the second so it lost the momentum.
Crossing my fingers for the 3rd book.
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