ShannonXO's Reviews > Lightbringer

I definitely owe Raincoast Books my soul for this ARC, but they can't have it because Claire Legrand already took it and broke it into a million pieces. Anyone who knows me well is aware that The Empirium Trilogy is my all-time favourite fantasy series. I was scared of how this would come together, but please know that Legrand hit it out of the park. This story is magnificent and has been beautifully crafted from beginning to end.

This picks up almost right after that devastating cliffhanger. *Kingsbane's spoilers ahead, so skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to know.* Rielle has fully embraced her title as Blood Queen and has run off with the avenging angel, Corien. Pregnant and shunned, she is beyond saving now, and unstoppable with her ever growing powers. Meanwhile, Audric is grieving the loss of his new wife and his home to the hands of a usurper cousin. One thousand years into the future, Eliana has been captured and is on her way to the ruthless Emperor Corien—yes, the very same. She does not know what he has planned for her, but she is utterly alone in the world now. And Simon is ... well, f**k, it's been over a year and I'm still not over that betrayal. I chose not to re-read the second book because I wanted to dive straight in. I was delighted to find that aside from a few royals, I remembered who everyone was—or at least was reminded well—and knew what had happened.

Half of the magic of this incredible series is within the equally incredible characters that carry it. Rielle's story arc is what I so desperately needed from Daenerys Targaryen. Legrand has made her descent into power and madness so deliciously perfect. It is so effortless and natural to follow this character as she loses herself to her unspeakable powers and is bolstered by the wrong, manipulative people. Eliana on the other hand is struggling to keep her magic tamped down, thwarting her enemies in the only way she can. She is so strong and brave that I can have nothing but serious respect for this girl. She didn't ask to be who she is, but she handles it so beautifully. This was the first time we properly saw Corien in both timelines, and it was such a conundrum on my feelings. In one timeline he is unhinged with obsession and grief, and in the other he is so charming and cruel that I am at a loss as to why I pity him sometimes. As with Kingsbane, we are treated to new POVs such as Tam, Simon, Audric, Jessamyn, Navi and more. I would have like more Rielle and Eliana chapters, but in hindsight I don't think there's more the author could have done. Best of all, we finally meet the elusive Prophet who has pulled so many strings in Eliana's timeline, and I was reeling from the reveal. It was 110% not what I was expecting at all.

So much happens in this book, but it never feels crammed in or rushed. Every scene is there with a purpose and drives the plot forward towards that ending we've all known was coming from the very beginning of the series. There is an underlying sense of dread as we work through Rielle and Audric's timeline, how her power grows and pushes the boundaries of the Empirium, leaving us to believe she cannot be saved. The way the story unfolds to the point of Rielle and Corien attacking the city with an angelic host and eventually that final battle between husband and wife is devastating and so believable. On Eliana's side, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that when it comes to one of the major plot points in the book, it is something I never once considered. And looking back at the series as a whole, it is so obvious. But it never clicked until Corien planted the seed in my head with a single sentence, and then my entire outlook on Eliana's timeline changed. And with it came a different sense of dread mixed with excitement.

The ending itself is truly perfect. I had terribly high expectations, and I could not have asked for a better ending. It is absolutely bittersweet. I'm happy, but I'm suffering, and I wouldn't want it any other way. And dare I say that there might even be the potential for a spin off? It isn't needed, but there's definitely a few crumbs left to follow elsewhere in this world.

I am in awe. This series has been one of the most consistent, well-crafted, emotional and overall thrilling series I have read in so very long. I recommend it to nearly everyone I know for a very good reason. It is epic fantasy on a scale akin to Game of Thrones that welcomes me body, heart and soul. These women run this story and they run this world. They are heroes and villains and both all at once, and I will forever be grateful to Legrand for sharing this beautiful story with the world.