Kingsbane

March 15, 2019
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)

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March 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 As Sun Queen Rielle is seduced to the dark side, her daughter, Eliana, separated from her by centuries, tries to undo the harm caused by Rielle and to best the angels once and for all. Legrand's masterful sequel to Furyborn (2018) demands the background of the first book as it continues the collision course between the mother and daughter's endeavors to defeat dark angels, who are bent on erasing humans. An omniscient narrator alternates chapters between Rielle and Eliana, but occasionally includes other important characters, such as Corien (aka the Emperor, leader of the angels), Ludivine (a human-sympathizing angel), and Audric (Rielle's lover), among a few others. The two women's stories unfold side-by-side, revealing that Rielle's journey is a quest for seven instruments to help heal a gate protecting humankind from angry angels, while Eliana's is that of an apprentice hero learning her powers. Rich descriptions, near-constant action, and full-bodied characters keep readers riveted, although the few sexy scenes seem dropped in for effect and are not fully integrated into the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)