christina_chen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Bullying, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Torture
kathrynleereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Across time and space, they both find themselves being manipulated and coerced by Corien, leader of the angels and the Undying Empire.
•
Spoiler
I will say, however, that I found her ending to be quite fitting. It was a perfect balance of demonstrating that she made the right choice, while also acknowledging that she was still too deeply connected to the Empirium to live a normal human life anymore.Spoiler
My favorite hat on Audric was definitely fatherhood at the end of the book. Seeing him moving on from the events of the prior years and really just embracing his role as Eliana’s dad was wonderful to read.Spoiler
The other main inconsistency with Ludivine was the fact that she left.This was so out-of-character for her that I actually went back and reread a bit to make sure I hadn’t missed something.
Evyline - Honestly, Rielle didn’t deserve Evyline. She was loyal to Rielle without a single doubt.
Even when Rielle sided with the angels, Evyline shifted her loyalty to Audric, knowing that he was Rielle’s best chance to come back to herself and the right side.
Spoiler
Her trust in Rielle as they walked to Rielle’s death was so complete and incredible after everything Rielle had put her through.Garver - I love this man. Right in the Furyborn prologue, he had reminded Simon to not judge Rielle too harshly because she had once been just a girl.
He seemed to understand better than most of the characters that what Rielle was going through was not her fault (at least entirely).
Tal - At no point in this series was I a fan of Tal. His whole relationship with Rielle was so weird and bordered on the line of an obsession.
Spoiler
I wasn’t sad when she killed him.Obritsa - For such a young girl, Obritsa really had herself together.
Atheria - I love Atheria with my whole heart. Her presence acted as a sort of moral compass.
I also appreciated that Atheria’s role as a moral compass extended past Rielle to Audric as well. She was by his side the whole time he fought, helping when she could, but being a constant supporting presence.
•
ELIANA'S TIMELINE
Eliana - I’ve been trying for days to put down all my feelings about Eliana and the ending that she got, but I just can’t seem to fin the right words.
Spoiler
And all that growth, all the strength that this beautiful girl held, all the trials and hardships she went through were erased, just like that.I’m so grateful for Zahra and the fact that, through her, a spark of the person that Eliana was still lives on.
I’m happy that she now gets to grow up properly, with Audric and Zahra and Simon there, but the hardships that she went through made her the person she was.
Simon - Simon’s story simultaneously aggrevated me and made me so deeply sad.
The idea that he underwent such incredible torture starting at the age of eight is horrible.
And for that revelation to happen only hours before he is then killed by Corien? Brutal.
He deserved so much more than that ending, and I hope that little Simon eventually gets the ending he deserves with little Eliana.
The Prophet - After a book and a half of guessing who The Prophet was, Lightbringer finally confirmed my hunch.
Spoiler
Ludivine always tried to be so respectful when entering someone’s mind, and I found it difficult to believe that she would ravage Simon’s mind like she did.He followed in his sister's footsteps but stayed true to the person he was, studying and loving stories more than anything else.
Spoiler
I also think it was fitting for him to go with Eliana and be with her on the terrace that night. For Eliana's sake, I think that was the only way for Remy's story to end.Spoiler
She had the opportunity to see the life that Eliana lived in the future before it was erased and therefore was able to see how she had loved and died for Eliana."May I tell you the rest?" she asked. "May I tell you the story of your daughter?"
Tears in his eyes, completely undone, Audric nodded, and then he listened through the night as Zahra spoke of a future that would never be.
Those were the words that broke me and finally drew out all the tears I’d been holding in.
Suffice it to say, Lightbringer broke me.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Animal death
eve_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
⁕ Rielle is one of the most complex heroines in the New Adult Fantasy genre and no one can convince me otherwise. Thank you, Claire Legrand, for writing a woman who has depth, makes morally flawed decisions and is not guided solely by her relationships with men. While I absolutely don't agree with or support many of Rielle's decisions, it means so much to see a woman truly put herself first.
⁕ Without giving anything away, this is a series you want to read if you're looking for something to make you FEEL. I'm talking Song of Achilles/Clockwork Princess levels of emotion in the last several chapters.
Spoiler
⁕ SPOILER: A huge plot point of this book is that Eliana will change her present by going back and altering her past (which she does achieve by the end of the novel). We find out what happens to her but none of the other important secondary characters from her future timeline! Characters I became attached to! And there wasn't even a meaningful goodbye! Ugh!To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gore, Death, Child death, Child abuse, War, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Body horror
allisonisabel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As for the other characters, I think they all showed great development, and while some could’ve come earlier (Audric), or given more more explanation (Ludivine), what they were given did them justice. I didn’t know the scope of what I was getting into when I started this, and I said multiple times that at no point did I know where it was going. And for that I am somewhat grateful. It is refreshing to follow an epic fantasy series that continually keeps you on your toes. That attempts something so ambitious that it could easily fall flat. I remember a piece of writing advice I read somewhere that whatever you do in your story you have to believe it if you want your readers to, you cannot question yourself. And while so much of the story hinges on the unbelievable it is written in a way that makes it palatable and comprehensible for readers.
I found myself falling in love with character relationships characters, and feeling so much dread that the prologue of the first book had given away the ending. Even though I knew something would change. Although I did take some issues with some of the ways things were written, in particular the ending of the last book. I both love and hate it. Because it comes full circle, it allows closure in name for everyone, and yet get something feels incomplete.
Spoiler
We never learn what happened to those of the future that was erased, and while I do not know how that could’ve been rectified, and I feel that maybe it could not have been, it does not stop me from wishing I could know. Eliana and Simon said their last goodbyes as adults and then he was gone and we did not see that version of him ever again, but I suppose neither did Eliana. We never saw Remy again, or Navi, or Ysabet, or Harkan—characters we had grown to love over the course of 1500+ pages fizzled out. (I take particular grievance with Harlan’s off screen death between books.)I think the only character that I was iffy about was Ludivine because she was a bit too hard to reach, and I could not quite understand her. But that paled in comparison to everything else I was reading, and so it does not affect my rating much.
I have so many more thoughts, but many are restatements of what I have already said. The Empirium Trilogy is epic fantasy at its best, and I am glad for the time I spent reading it. I do not find myself yearning for changes to what was done, but rather wishing for things that weren’t, and if anything, that is a compliment to the author. Because she was able to weave a story so compelling, I cannot stop asking questions.
I think my final thought is similar to what I opened with: While we may not like the path a character is on, or the actions they may commit, or the atrocities that they usher in, when they are true to how they are written, when they are not forced into the palatable happy ending simply for the sake of it, the story becomes so much richer.
Graphic: War, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child death and Suicidal thoughts
angstifies's review against another edition
the pacing is REALLY REALLY SLOW and things aren’t going in the direction them to go and there are a few useless POVs that just feel thrown there and i don’t enjoy reading them at all.
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Grief, War, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Blood, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
taryn_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
orphic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, War, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Torture, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
Minor: Body horror and Pregnancy
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, and Pregnancy
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Honestly, this book was a bit tough to get through. I still enjoyed it and the story kept me engaged enough, but it was pretty depressing and had more violence than I really wanted to read.
Spoiler
The ending was...unexpected for me, which may be silly because it was essentially what they had been planning the whole time, with the whole traveling-back-in-time-to-change-Rielle's-mind plan. Somehow I still thought they were going to find a way to save everyone's lives in the "present" (Eliana's time period). I know that Corien and the Empire were really bad for a thousand years, but erasing all of those lives (including half of the characters we, as readers, have come to love!) felt wrong too. Though it was sad, I thought Rielle's ending was also fitting—a normal happy ending would feel forced and unrealistic after the extreme upheavals of her life. It reminded me both of Enna Burning, and how the elements almost overwhelm and kill Enna and Isi, and also how in The Lord of the Rings Frodo is too scarred after carrying the ring to have a happy ending. I did appreciate how the threads of the two stories came together, with both Ludivine and Zahra showing up in both times, as well as the scene with Simon at the end.Happy ending meter (no spoilers, just the general vibe of the ending):
Spoiler
I guess it's happy? Sort of? But not really? This is a tough one.Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Vomit
stormywolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Lightbringer had some dark turns, but as a certain Prophet once said, "To rise, first one must burn," and this definitely turned up the heat. I didn't talk too much about the nitty gritty of the plot or the twists of this book, but honestly I didn't want to spoil more than I did. Just know that I was gripped at every step of the way, and had this not been a 12-hour read, I would have tried to devour it all in one go. I don't know that I'll be returning to dark fantasy soon, but for anyone who is a fan or is looking to dip their toes into the dark waters, I'd definitely recommend this trilogy. If you were as disheartened as I was after the second book, I can't promise it'll get easier to deal with the loss, but just as the title suggests, light is on the horizon if you can hang in there through the dark. And if nothing else, you can always let your hunger to see Corien suffer drive you forward.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Torture, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Infidelity