This was a reread of Furyborn for me, and I’m left stumped as to why I didn’t continue this series immediately upon Kingsbane’s release. You can bet I’ll be remedying that as soon as possible. I loved this book even more than I remembered, and I can’t wait to continue! Furyborn is told in alternating points of view and timelines as Rielle and Eliana battle their ‘modern day’ foes in an attempt to save their cities. It was prophesied that a queen of light and a queen of blood would rise; one to save a kingdom, the other to contribute in its fall. And while it may seem pretty obvious who is who, I’m not so convinced. I love how Rielle was seduced with her wildest dreams - the love of the kingdom when she’s seemingly never received much love at all. And Eliana’s story ARC - from the hard-hearted assassin to the thawing (but only when no one’s looking) ice ‘queen’ was so enthralling. I loved how hard she was struggling with the good vs. evil parts of not only herself but of her country as well. The pacing of this story was met in each storyline beat for beat. As things heat up for Rielle, they ramp up for Eliana as well, and I loved how in sync they were. It made me equally excited for each ‘next’ chapter.

I found both points of view equally gripping this read, and I enjoyed the secondary characters very much, though I am hoping for more prominent parts for the male leads in both timelines in subsequent books. More agency for both could really flesh out these characters, and I’ve no doubt in my mind I’m going to see them come into their own. Particularly with all these secrets just waiting to be revealed! While I am undoubtedly a fan of fantasy, the romance lover in me really thrived with this read. Eliana’s POV was my favorite at first, but as soon as angst ensues with Rielle and Audric, they’re neck and neck as my favorites. And what I loved about their angst was that it didn’t overwhelm the characters so much that it weakened them, but just enough to make me feel their longing and their loyalty. One secondary character from Eliana’s timeline that really stood out to me was Navi. Theoretically, her character should be living a cushy lifestyle, but I love the gritty story arc the author chose for her. I loved the world building and magic in this world. The descriptions were lush and vivid; I had no problems visualizing everything as it was happening. I will say - the steam in this one, for a YA, took me by surprise. But, as I mentioned before, I’m a romance reader at heart, and this was something I enjoyed.

Overall, Furyborn was an excellent start to a series. I’m so invested in these characters that, at this point, I have no choice but to see the trilogy through. And I’m excited for every single second of it!