Published: 2019–2021
Series: The Empirium Trilogy, Books 1-3
Author: Claire Legrand
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Friendship/Teen Romance, LGBTQ+
Audience: Grades 9-10, 11-12, YA, New Adult
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: The Empirium Trilogy
Triggers: Abduction, Kidnapping, Child/Partner Abuse, Torture, Slavery, War Violence, Gore, Attempted Sexual Assault, Suicide, Self-harm, Depression, Suicidal Ideation
Review By: Lisa McPherson
Publisher’s Summary:
Across a thousand years, two young women are bound by prophecy, power, and a fate that will determine the survival of their world.
When Rielle Dardenne reveals her extraordinary elemental magic while saving her closest friend, she is declared one of two prophesied queens: the Sun Queen, destined to save the realm, or the Blood Queen, destined to destroy it. Forced to endure deadly trials to prove her identity, Rielle becomes entangled in a growing cosmic conflict and the seductive promises of the immortal Corien. As betrayal, loss, and the overwhelming power of the empirium consume her, she begins a tragic transformation into the very monster the world fears.
A thousand years later, Eliana Ferracora, a feared bounty hunter serving a ruthless empire, is drawn into rebellion after her mother’s disappearance. As she uncovers the empire’s dark secrets, Eliana discovers her own immense powers and a shocking connection to the legendary Queen Rielle. Hunted by enemies, haunted by betrayal, and pursued by Corien’s schemes to reshape time itself, Eliana must confront her destiny while struggling to keep her powers from destroying those she loves.
As past and present collide, the intertwined stories of Rielle and Eliana reveal long-buried truths about prophecy, family, sacrifice, and redemption. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, both queens must decide whether they will become its saviors or its destroyers in a final battle that spans centuries and tests the limits of love, loyalty, and power.
Review:
The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand is a fantasy series that immediately drew me in with its world of elemental magic, godbeasts, angels, mystery, and prophecy. As a lover of fantasy writing, I was captivated from the very first novel. Similar in many ways to Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, the story centers on two strong female protagonists, Rielle and Eliana, whose lives are separated by a thousand years but connected by a prophecy that will determine the fate of their world.
One of the trilogy’s greatest strengths is how deeply invested I became in both women. Throughout the series, I wanted each of them to be the savior queen of the prophecy, even while knowing that only one could ultimately fulfill that role. The mystery of who would become the bringer of light and how one of these remarkable women could descend into darkness kept me turning pages. Claire Legrand allows readers to love and admire both characters, making it difficult to determine who is truly the “good” queen and who is destined to become the “bad” one.
The alternating chapter structure, which switches between Rielle and Eliana, adds both excitement and frustration. Nearly every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, making it difficult to put the books down. At times, however, I found myself needing a moment to remember what had happened previously and reorient myself to the other character’s storyline. Still, the author carefully weaves subtle hints about the connection between the two women, creating a mystery that unfolds gradually across the trilogy.
The second novel successfully builds on the momentum established in Furyborn, deepening both characters’ journeys while maintaining the suspense surrounding their true roles in the prophecy. By the end, I was fully invested in their stories and eager to begin the final installment, *Lightbringer*.
The third and final novel finally reveals the truth behind the connection between Rielle and Eliana. (And for those readers who figured it out before book three, good for you!) I will admit that the opening of Lightbringer felt dense and somewhat difficult to get into. The constant switching between characters, which had been intriguing in the first novel, became harder to follow at times. However, readers should persevere. About one-third of the way through, everything began to click into place, and from that point on the reading flew by, all 592 pages of it.
Ultimately, Lightbringer did not disappoint. It provides a meaningful and understandable culmination to both women’s journeys and brings the trilogy’s central themes of destiny, sacrifice, and redemption to a satisfying conclusion. While the ending may not be the perfectly happy one some readers hope for, it feels true to the story that has been unfolding from the beginning.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Empirium Trilogy and happily recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy complex female protagonists, layered world-building, and prophecies that keep you guessing until the very end.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA: This trilogy provides a phenomenal masterclass in analyzing dual-timeline narrative structures, non-linear storytelling, and the inversion of classical “Chosen One” archetypes. Students can explore how foreshadowing is applied across separate eras.
- Social Studies: The political landscapes of Celdaria and the Undying Empire offer exceptional parallels for analyzing authoritarian regimes, propaganda, colonial expansion, and the ethical gray areas of resistance and rebellion movements.
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): The narrative handles intense themes of coping with generational trauma, processing deep grief, the isolating nature of heavy responsibilities, and maintaining personal identity when external forces attempt to turn you into a monster.
- Extension Activity / Library Application:
- Prophecy Deconstruction Panels: Host a high school library book club workshop where students examine traditional literary prophecies. Have them map out how Legrand uses misdirection, assumptions, and character choices to subvert the expectations of the Sun Queen vs. Blood Queen lore.
- Independent Reading Choice Boards: This complete trilogy is a perfect addition to high school independent reading lists or extended literature modules for advanced readers who enjoy immersive high fantasy and complex, multi-perspective world-building.
- Diversity & Representation: The series takes place in a beautifully realized, intrinsically queernorm fantasy world where LGBTQ+ identities, diverse relationships, and varied cultural backgrounds are seamlessly integrated into the societal fabric without prejudice. Furthermore, it features deeply empowering, highly flawed female protagonists who possess complete agency over their power, bodies, and political destinies.
Readalikes:
- Throne of Glass (Series) by Sarah J. Maas
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
