Furysong

Soft dnf for when I'm back in the mood

A perfunctory close to a series that started with an explosive, creative, and original premise. The first book of this trilogy was a smart, interesting setting in a fantasy version of Kallipolis from Plato's Republic. The characters were various shades of grey, the book was well paced, and the seriousness of the whole thing was refreshing.

This third book is very well written and had some bright spots, but as the series went on it began to lose the smarts and more embrace YA dystopian tropes. The much-heralded Griff and Delo plot line introduced in book 2 was confusing, not really cohesive or convincing, and wasn't integrated too well with the main story, particularly in this last book. I thought Power's character, throughout the series, was a particular standout.

Overall this is definitely a very recommendable series and I think Munda has a bright future ahead as a writer. It's easier to see after reading the trilogy why this isn't more popular, despite the sheer quality of the writing. I've already commented on the relative lack of banter or humor (which I appreciate!), but I think this is also one of those series that has an explosive premise and then has trouble filling in the gaps when that premise runs out.

Setelah Flamefall berakhir dengan cliffhanger, Furysong dimulai dengan Griff yang akan diberi hukuman karena pengkhianatannya, yaitu dijatuhkan dari cakar naga yang sedang terbang.
Sementara itu Annie yang membantu membebaskan negeri Griff justru dihadapkan pada Callipolis yang berada di ujung kehancuran, karena tibanya Ixion Stormscourge bersama pendukungnya untuk memulihkan Triarki Penguasa Naga yang digulingkan Atreus sepuluh tahun yang lalu.
Lee mencoba mencari cara untuk menyelamatkan Callipolis dengan cara diplomasi, baik dengan sepupunya, Ixion, maupun dengan Putri Bassilea dengan naga raksasa Goliath-nya.
Pernahkah ada sebuah seri yang menghancurkan hatimu berkeping-keping, membuatmu menangis, berteriak, sesegukan, tapi kamu tetap bersyukur menemukan seri tersebut? Seperti itulah seri The Aurelian Cycle ini untukku.
Seri ini sungguh mengejutkanku, karena walau karakter-karakternya termasuk YA namun dengan faktor politik yang kuat, tidak terasa seperti YA. Untuk yang sudah mencoba Fourth Wing, baik yang suka maupun yang kurang cocok, aku sangat merekomendasikan kalian untuk mencoba seri ini.

I did not finish this book so much political intrigue and not enough action for me.

Fireborne: 4/5
Flamefall: 3.5/5 (4/5 on a good day)
Furysong 3.5/5


I started Fireborne morning of December 16th, and finished Furysong by noon of December 17th. I came into the series without reading any of the synopsis or reviews - I only knew that it had dragons in it. I think it was the best decision I've ever made. The Aurelian Cycle is such an impressive debut series by Rosaria Munda, and while I don't exactly love it quite yet, I think I will with time. The highlights of the story included the prose and character development. I cried so many times reading the series - certainly, not a comfort read by any means. I came to love the characters that I wasn't fond of in the beginning: Power, in particular - I'll always have a soft spot for him. Lee I've loved from the beginning. I still have mixed feelings for Antigone, but she certainly makes a compelling MC.

There were a few gripes: a lot of lore terms that sort of muddled within the story; other countries, which I wish had been incorporated more seamlessly starting in book 1; Lee and Annie's relationship. In truth, I think it would have been a beautiful friendship. Lovers, however, I'm still not entirely convinced by. I think Power was done dirty, and that Annie and Power together would have been incredibly compelling. I loved the way he lifted her up, made her independent in all the ways Lee couldn't. Similarly, I wish there was more depth in Delos & Griff's relationship, and the exploration of the shift of servitude and power. Pacing also became a significant issue in books 2 and 3. Furysong felt slow, but the ending felt rushed.

In my opinion, I think the fantastical aspect of the story fell flat as well. It felt as if you could replace dragons with any other object or magic system, and it wouldn't change much at all. For me, this series was less fantasy, and more political intrigue. Don't get me wrong, I love political intrigue and The Aurelian Cycle does it splendidly; however, I wish it tapped more into the fantasy as well.

What I found most disappointing: I wish that Ixion posed as a more compelling villain. The questions posed within Fireborne: in the face of two evils, how do you choose the lesser? With the power to choose which regime rises and falls, how do you cope with the choice? How do we break this senseless cycle of violence? All this sort of dissolved as the series went on when the balance clearly tilts to one side where Ixion clearly becomes the extreme.

What an absolute masterpiece.

I never thought I'd give a book in a series 5 stars, but here I am. This book was absolutely incredible from start to finish. From the characters to the plot to the twists, everything hit hard and it ran me through the full gamut of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I was screaming in my head to cheer them on and also envisioning awful deaths for the people who hurt them. This book was so difficult to get through because it just seemed like awful tragedy after awful tragedy but it was so good I just couldn't stop reading.

‘Sweet Mabalena, who fell so hard. Doesn't she know that happiness is something we're not allowed?' Duck and Mabelena?? Unexpected but very much loved. I'm glad Lena wasn't just a one-off character, and that Duck wasn't just seen as an empty shell after losing his dragon. He almost seemed happier for it, like he knew he wasn't meant to be a dragonrider, but we've been getting hints of that for a while.

‘But even knowing my own ignominy, I have a moment watching Griff glory in his bloodlust where all I can think is he was born for this moment, and he's beautiful.' ‘Then his mouth is on my mouth and I am home.' OH poor Griff, he was going through it for most of this book. The way that he stepped up to be King way before he was even actually elected because he knew it was what his people needed? Even after losing his sister, grandfather, and nephew? Even struggling through his feelings for Delo? I'm SO glad they had a happy ending. That Delo gave it all up to be with Griff. They lived happily ever after and I'm so happy for them.

‘The morning of the second day of the Clover Restoration, I attend Ixion Stormscourge's first Privy Council as Protector of Callipolis in Atreus's stead. I rinse my hands of his blood in the washroom on the way. Civil servants dangle by their necks in the courtyards I pass through; they were all high-ranking officials, all Gold, most lowborn. One of them, a straw-haired young highlander named Declan, once danced with Annie at a feast. His face is blotched and bloated in the dawn light.'
‘Letting a servant wash me, bantering with a princess, barely glancing twice at the maid who takes my coat: I feel like I'm succumbing to the decadence of my father like a slowly boiling frog.'

‘Of course I wanted it. Of course I'll always want it. But Annie and I don't get the things we want.'

SO many more quotes but LEE. Lee sur Pallor absolutely went through the ringer. Just tortured in the palace only to escape and lose Pallor. When I say I CRIED I absolutely CRIED. It's very rare that a book gets me to do that. I really liked his ending; deciding to turn the Big House into the home he had lost, the home that was better than the one he had before, not built on the blood of others.

‘I did what I needed to do. I got the Guardians out. I'm done. Please, let me be done.' Antigone sur Aela my absolute HERO. She just kept going, willing to sacrifice everything she is down to her very life for her guardians, for her country. I was so sad for her throughout almost this entire book. She lost so much, but it was her losing Power that really solidified my love of her. I saw it coming and even though it HURT with how he was my favorite character, it's almost like his sacrifice gave her the strength to finish it all. And she did it all WHILE on her period and cramping, which was an absolute queen moment if I ever saw one.

There was a moment in the book where I wanted that perfect future for them; happy together in the Big House, in love with kids. But I think the ending we got was even better. They both have work to do; sitting by isn't an option for them. There's much more hope there than there would be otherwise.

I'm still reeling, my head hurts from crying, and this took me on an absolute ride. Masterpiece.

I can't give it 5 starts because the end was a bit sour for me. I love it. From the start to the end, I've loved it, maybe it's my favourite from all the books I've read this summer. I need to recommend it to everyone.
Now, the part with spoilers>

For a hot second I thought Delos and Griff would end apart and I was ripping my hair about how stupid was being Griff. Seeing them as a family with the children in the very end

4.5/5

Solid ending to the trilogy.
This series has made it to my all time favourites list!

4.75- Of corse this was amazing and it destroyed me!

4.75- Of corse this was amazing and it destroyed me!

Ugh I will read literally anything Rosaria Munda writes.

This was a fabulous, emotional, touching ending to a series that has set the bar to what YA fantasy can and should be. I only regret that it's over.