Then, once the action or interesting aspects of these chapters start gaining momentum, the chapter ends and the reader is forced into the pattern all over again (although Eliana’s are much easier to get into).īut perhaps Claire Legrand knew just how much Rielle’s chapters would stall and irritate the reader because she includes additional perspectives in Kingsbane that weren’t in Furyborn. Given Rielle’s frustrating character arc in this novel, the chapters from her point of view slow down the novel’s pacing as they’re just so hard to get into. Speaking of, Kingsbane continues the Empirium series tradition of alternating chapters with different characters’ perspectives, although to a slightly lesser degree of effectiveness.
The only time I enjoyed her chapters was when she was being called out on being awful and self-serving. She treats everyone around her incredibly poorly (including Audric who is truly far too good for her), using them to her own advantage. It’s one thing to present a misunderstood character, but it’s another to present that character without making her side of the story at all sympathetic.Įmpirically, we’re given enough to understand where Rielle is coming from and why she keeps the secrets that she does (as well as harbor all of the ill will she has toward others), but it rarely ever rings true. I get that hers is a sort of villain origin story, but it’s difficult to feel for Rielle when her logic and thought processes are so skewed. But in Kingsbane, she’s incredibly irritating to follow. While Rielle tested my patience a bit in Furyborn, she was still an interesting character to watch. Her frustrations and fears are easy to relate to and understand, thanks in great part to the fact that she’s being built up as the “hero” of the series. As a result of her discovering her abilities, Eliana undergoes some fascinating and difficult trials in this novel not only to understand the power coursing through her veins but also to accept it and learn how to harness it.Įliana is also definitely the more sympathetic of the two queens. She may get the same amount of chapters as Rielle, but her story is much more compelling in this novel and is a definite improvement from her story in the previous installment. Though it may be titled more after Rielle, Kingsbane is definitely Eliana’s book, hands down. Identity is a huge issue and driver in this novel because neither queen feels able to live up to what’s expected of them.
These are not titles either takes lightly.
Rielle still believes herself to be the Sun Queen and tests the boundaries of that title, while Eliana starts to feel the inkling that she herself may be the Sun Queen (and has come to terms with the fact that she’s Queen Rielle and King Audric’s daughter). Rielle and Eliana both know that they’re the prophesied queens.
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