Lightbringer: Empirium, Book 3
Common Sense says
- Claire Legrand
- Fantasy
- 2021
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Lightbringer is the final book in Claire Legrand's best-selling fantasy trilogy that began with 2018's Furyborn, followed by 2019's Kingsbane. With the continuation of its supernatural time-traveling, epic cast of characters, and elaborate world-building (not to mention its nearly 600 pages), this installment is a must-read for those already invested in the series about two warrior queens who could just as easily destroy the world as save it. There's slightly less sex in this book than the previous ones, although there are still several references and a few love scenes. The violence can be disturbing and ranges from up-close-and-personal decapitation, disintegration, and torture to massive battles between angels and humans. Several prominent characters are injured or die. Mature teen readers who've already read the first books will want to finish the epic series.
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What's the story?
Lightbringer is the third and final installment in author Claire Legrand's epic Empirium trilogy, and it continues where Kingsbane left off: with a grieving and heartbroken Rielle turning to the manipulative arms of the tyrannical angel Corien, while a thousand years in the future Eliana is kidnapped, betrayed, and presented to the Emperor (also Corien). Reeling from the fact that Simon betrayed her, Eliana refuses to unlesh his power to travel through time as the Emperor wishes, so the Emperor has her continuously tortured. In the past, Corien convinces Eliana to open the Gate keeping angels out of the mortal realm and to resurrect them through the bodies of fallen humans. Meanwhile, both queens are helped by those who still love them, even if they don't realize it.
Is it any good?
Longer than it needed to be, this trilogy finale reveals all the truths, twists, and turns between the Sun Queen and the Blood Queen that readers have been waiting for since Furyborn. Even though it has only been a year since the previous book was released, it was difficult to remember all of the details and characters that pop up, so the passages that work best concentrate on the main characters from each timeline: Rielle, Audric, Ludivine and Corien in the past and Eliana, Simon, Remy (and the Emperor) in the future/present. Plenty of secondary characters make appearances and have their storylines resolved, but readers are tuning in to see if/when Eliana will confront her out-of-control mother, Rielle. That, and to figure out which of the various couples will be left standing (and in love) when all the magical dust (and blood, so much blood) settles.
Final books of beloved series are usually unputdownable, but this one is occasionally a slog to read, particularly in Rielle's timeline. She doesn't do much more than burn/ache/rage, and it gets tiresome. Even Audric's and Ludivine's pining for her starts to feel repetitive. It's Eliana's story and character arc that really saves the day in this book, as she rises to meet the challenge set before her, with (and without) help she neither imagines nor fully understands (until the end). Despite getting bogged down in side stories that makes one wonder if author Claire Legrand will return to this fantasy universe via another character or kingdom in the future, the final quarter of the book is terrifically paced and plotted. The stories converge and the queens (and their loved ones) have their glorious moment together. The author knows how to end a book, full of precious, if bittersweet, hope and love.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the violence in Lightbringer and the entire Empirium series. Why is it necessary to the story? Does fantasy violence impact readers different than realistic violence?
Do you consider anyone a role model in this installment? What character strengths do they display? Why are courage, perseverance, and self-control important?
Which romantic relationship do you most "ship"? Which couple do you think has the best and healthiest relationship?
What do you think will happen in the altered future? What do you think of the ending?
Book details
- Author: Claire Legrand
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
- Publication date: January 4, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 592
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 4, 2021
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