The first thing that I really need to note is that even though I constantly complained about the dual timelines and how the storylines of Rielle and Eliana felt detached from one another, how I couldn’t justify reading a series that took place in both the past and the future, I get it now. I shall try to get through this with the least amount of spoilers, making this a shorter review than usual (maybe), but I make no promises. And it made every character, every storyline, every POV matter in the end and the further I got in the book, the more I kept thinking “yes, this is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.” That is why it gets 5 stars from me and why this particular book managed to save my 2020 reading year.

I do want to note that while I don’t think this book was absolutely perfect, and that’s specifically why it earned 5 stars from me, it was a conclusion that made the entire series worth it. I always say that while I might not know how to explain why a book is worthy of 5 stars, but I’ll be able to feel it. In the moment, I awarded this final book in the Empirium trilogy 5 stars, something I rarely ever do, and to be honest I still stand by it. In this epic finale to the Empirium Trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claire Legrand, two queens, separated by a thousand years must face their ultimate destinies.I’ve been sitting on my thoughts for this review for a few days now and I think I finally know what to say. The incredible conclusion to the trilogy that started with the instant New York Times bestsellers Furyborn and Kingsbane! Betrayed and abandoned, she fights to keep her power at bay-and away from Corien, who will stop at nothing to travel back in time to Rielle, even if that means destroying her daughter.īut when the mysterious Prophet reveals themselves at last, everything changes, giving Rielle and Eliana a second chance for salvation-or the destruction their world has been dreading. In the future, Eliana arrives in the Empire’s capital as a broken shell of herself. Separated from Audric and Ludivine, she embraces the role of Blood Queen and her place by Corien’s side, determined to become the monster the world believes her to be.

Meanwhile, whispers from the empirium slowly drive her mad, urging her to open the Gate. Queen Rielle, pushed away from everything she loves, turns to Corien and his promises of glory.

Lightbringer claire legrand