“The world will fall. Two queens will rise.” These are the chilling words written on the cover of Furyborn. The first of the Empirium trilogy, written by Claire Legrand, this intense book will take your breath away. The words on the back cover perfectly sum it all up. “Two young women, living centuries apart, have the power to either save the world — or doom it.” Rielle, from the past, and Elaina, 1,020 years in the future. The two queens. Each shaping her own world. And separated by the impossible gap of a thousand years. Or are they really? This novel, set in the medieval age, stretches the limit of dual character connections with a narrative that switches perspectives between these two characters. It is impressive how the character developments are separate yet somehow linked in subtle ways. So as the book progresses, more connections are revealed between the characters. And the story ramps up, ending with surprising, climatic cliffhangers, which will lead you to crave more. A thing that I loved about this book is that romance is a huge part of the story, influencing each character, especially Rielle. There is an awkward love triangle between her, the prince of the Kingdom of Celedria, Audric, and the luring presence of the angel Corien, who Rielle doesn’t want to be, but is hopelessly attracted to. Audric and Corien are the two forces who determine which side Rielle is on, which future to believe in. For Elaina, her path is not determined by allegiances of love, but rather her own moral compass. As her perception of the world quickly changes as the story moves on, she finds herself struggling to choose between working for the empire she has served her entire life, or switching over to the resistance group, the Red Crown. As she struggles to decide, switching sides again and again, both sides bear the consequences of her actions. All in all, Furyborn is a book that older readers should enjoy, with the romantic moments making it a little unsuitable for younger readers. However, if you are up for it, you should definitely read it. It is a must read for ages 10 and above. If you like fantasy or realistic fiction, this is the book for you. I know it sounds weird putting both genres together, but its plot and descriptions are undeniably versatile. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and read it! Furyborn by Claire Legrand. Sourcebooks fire, 2019. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
book review
Odder, Reviewed by Madeline Male, 14
Odder always yearns to dive deeper and swim further. She is an otter whose curiosity and playfulness are captured in Odder, a book of free verse poetry by Katherine Applegate. The poems build on each other, telling a story that captivated me. Here is one excerpt from the book that describes Odder’s exuberance: Nobody has her moves. She loves to roughhouse, can be pushy and eager, too unruly for some, but watching her work the water is a joy. This adventurous character makes Odder likable, but it also has a downside: when Odder ventures too far into the waters of Monterey Bay, she encounters a shark. For a portion of the book, Odder is healing at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While this story is fiction, it was inspired by the stories of real life sea otters who have been rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Applegate uses poetry to personify Odder and emphasize an array of emotions that can be strong, subtle, or anywhere in between. Odder’s character is portrayed in a way that caused me to care about and identify with her. She is put in circumstances where she feels the way a human might feel. Sometimes, she even reacts the way a human might react. By the end of the book, I realized that I’d actually ended up exploring human nature, but through otters! Throughout Odder, the medium of poetry is used to capture vivid imagistic details. For example, in this excerpt Applegate highlights Odder’s forepaws and flippers by describing them as: held aloft, soaking up sun like tiny solar panels. Then, the poem goes on to describe what Odder is holding: Tucked in a pocket of skin under her arm is a favorite rock, just right for opening mussels and clams. With the help of these descriptions, I felt like I was with Odder everywhere she went. This book also includes facts, which are incorporated into some of the poems. This makes the facts more memorable and enjoyable. For example, a whole poem is dedicated to explaining that sea otters are a keystone species, which means they are essential for the survival of the ecosystem. Unfortunately, sea otters are also endangered. Applegate spreads awareness about the importance of otters in a way that is inspiring, rather than depressing. Overall, this book gives the reader plenty of opportunities to explore human nature, but through a different species: otters. It joyfully celebrates them, and deepens the reader’s appreciation for these fascinating creatures. Odder by Katherine Applegate. Feiwel & Friends, 2022. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Vampire Academy, Reviewed by Jeremy Lim, 10
Few books have the power to integrate our real world into a magical one successfully. World-renowned authors like J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan or Brandon Mull, to name a few, have successfully and convincingly achieved this. But I want to bring another series, and another author, to the spotlight. You might have heard about it, or you may not, but Vampire Academy is a must-read. It is an internationally bestselling series that I feel is still grossly underrated and under-appreciated, and should receive more attention. This book, set in the crowded vampire genre, still manages to stand out. The book starts out at a slightly confusing yet interesting part of time, so the full picture doesn’t show until all the unknown details of the past are put together. We jump in our seats as the puzzle pieces of the past and new developments fit together. As the story goes on, other problems, such as romance and grudges, pop up, and as gossip and popularity contests ramp up, the characters might just lose sight of the true and common enemy. Relationships actually play a huge role in this book and the way characters react. And no, I don’t just mean romantic ones, I am also referring to enemies or friends in their social life. At one point, it was social hell for Lissa and the main character, Rose, but it quickly switched to their favor and they had to deal with the side effects. However, I am not going to downplay romance because in this story it is one of the major contributing factors. I love how the author can somehow apply pressure at all times, no matter the circumstances, and yet also lay it down thin at varying moments. Mead manages to walk a perfect tightrope in between complete chaos and a boring, predictable plot. Every release of information is well balanced along with some action in the present tense. We are constantly reminded that the situations are balancing on a knife’s point. Vampire Academy is a book that will put you in a new world next to our own, another society working right beneath our noses. This book will leave you begging for more. As you read the first few pages, you will feel an irresistible desire for more information, more action, more explanation. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Razorbill, 2007. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
