JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Fiona Hardingham returns to narrate the second installment of the Empirium Trilogy. Separated by a thousand years but slowly coming together as the story progresses, queens Eliana and Rielle have come to terms with using their magical abilities. But as the plot darkens, their strengths, and hearts, are tested. Hardingham’s skillful narration connects listeners to the hushed fear and confusion that prevail when each queen must choose a side in the growing conflict. Also well done are Hardingham’s yearning portrayals of the ever growing cast of characters and their romantic interests. The compelling story will pull on listeners’ heartstrings. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"Claire Legrand is one of the most exciting voices in YA fantasy—and in YA as a whole—writing right now." — Mackenzie Van Engelenhoven, The King’s English Bookshop (Salt Lake City, UT)
"I hope everyone is ready to cry a bucket of tears over this victorious and vengeful sequel... Legrand's writing has never been so fierce and frenetic, and Kingsbane moves at a breakneck pace that left me breathless. I wanted to stay in this world forever and I'll be heartbroken when the trilogy ends." — Sami Thomason, Square Books (Oxford, MS)
"Chock-full of action, horror, romance, and twists, Kingsbane is incredible and cunning and unforgettable! You will NOT want to miss this read!" — Alyssa Quinlan, Main Street Books (St. Charles, MO)
"Kingsbane was everything I was expecting from a sequel to Furyborn and more... This is one book I absolutely cannot wait to start selling." — Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)
"Furyborn was incredible, Kingsbane is better! The second novel has even more magic, cliffhangers, and romance... Already excited for the next one in this trilogy. This is a wild ride." — Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books (Wake Forest, NC)
"It's the perfect mix of blood, mystery, and high fantasy that readers of the genre crave and an amazing middle hinge for the trilogy to swing on. I am so anxiously awaiting the third book." — Chaning Green, Square Books (Oxford, MS)
"Above and beyond my expectations!" — Leah Atlee, Changing Hands Bookstore (Phoenix, AZ)
"Masterful." — Booklist
"Fans of the first installment won’t be disappointed, especially if they enjoyed Sarah J. Maas’ lusty romances (A Court of Thorns and Roses, BCCB 7/15, etc.)." — Bulletin of the Center for the Children’s Books
"A spell-binding successor to Furyborn...setting up the series for a truly captivating and heart-racing ending." — Hypable
JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Fiona Hardingham returns to narrate the second installment of the Empirium Trilogy. Separated by a thousand years but slowly coming together as the story progresses, queens Eliana and Rielle have come to terms with using their magical abilities. But as the plot darkens, their strengths, and hearts, are tested. Hardingham’s skillful narration connects listeners to the hushed fear and confusion that prevail when each queen must choose a side in the growing conflict. Also well done are Hardingham’s yearning portrayals of the ever growing cast of characters and their romantic interests. The compelling story will pull on listeners’ heartstrings. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2019-02-20
In the sequel to Furyborn (2018), Rielle and Eliana struggle across time with their powers and prophesied destinies.
Giving readers only brief recaps, this book throws them right into complicated storylines in this large, lovingly detailed fantasy world filled with multiple countries, two different time periods, and hostile angels. Newly ordained Rielle contends with villainous Corien's interest in her, the weakening gate that holds the angels at bay, and distrust from those who don't believe her to be the Sun Queen. A thousand years in the future, Eliana chafes under her unwanted destiny and finds her fear of losing herself to her powers (like the Blood Queen) warring with her need to save those close to her. The rigid alternation between time-separated storylines initially feels overstuffed, undermining tension, but once more characters get point-of-view chapters and parallels start paying off, the pace picks up. The multiethnic cast (human versus angelic is the only divide with weight) includes characters of many sexual orientations, and their romantic storylines include love triangles, casual dalliances, steady couples, and couples willing to invite in a third. While many of the physically intimate scenes are loving, some are rougher, including ones that cross lines of clear consent and introduce a level of violence that many young readers will not be ready for. The ending brings heartbreaking twists to prime readers for the trilogy's conclusion.
A very full mixed bag. (map, list of elements) (Fantasy. 17-adult)
