I loved this trilogy but this book was the most difficult to keep up with. There are very similar threads through the main character's journey and so keeping track across 1000 years back and forth between chapters was definitely harder than in the first or last book in the trilogy. I'm very glad I picked up book 3 though and enjoyed it because this book was a struggle. ( )

I’m honestly so confused by this book. It was a bit slow but I was ok with that until some things happened that straight up made no sense whatsoever. Not sure if I’ll read book three for the inevitable explanation. I’m all for twists, but I like them to make sense in the context of the book and to maybe even have some foreshadowing if we’re lucky. ( )

I quite enjoyed the first novel in what is shaping up to be an absolutely epic YA fantasy trilogy, but Legrand really settles into the story in this second novel to cement her readers' attention.

From a storytelling and character perspective, she both broadens and narrow sthe scope of the story by changing up her storytelling technique slightly. The majority of the narrative is still told from the dual perspectives of Rielle and Eliana, but we are also treated to fleetingly rare chapters told from the points of view of other characters, notably our trip of lovers: Audric, Simon, and Corien. We're already highly invested in our dual female protagonists by this point in the storyline, so it's highly practical to keep us interested by changing perspective on some of the major plot points and it ensures that we don't simply view these three men/angels (and the rest of the cast) as supplementary characters. I'm sure I'm not the only reader who is disgusted with Corien's behaviour, but we can alomsot begin to understandhis vengeful nature and manipulations as we momentarily see through his eyes. Obviously I'm still hoping that he gets his just desserts in the form of a swift kick in the arse, but I'm sure deliverance will come with time. Getting into Simon's head was also a treat, considering the finale scenes of the novel (no spoilers!) and how crucial his unique magic is to the story development as well.

In terms of overall plot development we may be at a transtory phase in the story, as we are still building towards the finale, but this book is nothing if not a wild ride. We witness both Rielle and Eliana struggle to come to terms with their power (the former losing control and the later gaining some control), and we see the two plotlines finally intersect in a dramatic, though ultimately failed, climax. I'm not a huge fan of time-travel as a plot device (we know it doesn't fix anything), but Eliana's failure to convince Rielle of her impending doom sets us up niecly for Corien's obsessive quest for Eliana and her power in the more present timeline. What is even more prevalent in the dramatic events of the story is the emphasis on both Rielle's and Eliana's power, and how it has begun to corrupt and subsume any better nature that they have. Both were forced into epic roles that neither really wanted and their continual struggle to find peace through their power doesn't do much but to help drive them into madness and obsession.

It looks like it might be a while until the final book is released next year, but I for one am very much anticipating the conclusion. ( )

This book left me ready to read the sequel, so it definitely deserves plenty of praise. I really enjoy the world of this fantasy novel, which the author has clearly spent considerable time creating and for which a rich history is evident. I did feel like the story lagged a bit in the middle, but overall, this book made for fun reading. ( )

corielle saved my dark soul, but simoneliana bled my heart out.
what do you mean the third book comes out next year? is this a joke? is my life a joke to you claire legrand?
4.5★
i definitely loved it even more than furyborn, the plot twists, the magic. just wow.
eliana definitely became so much interesting in this book - and at times - i even preferred her storyline.

if something happens to remy, i will kill everyone. ( )