Wow! That introductory chapter was one of the most breathtaking fantasy openings I've read in a long time: magical powers over the elements, angels, dragons, and political intrigue all rolled into a delightfully complicated tangle. We get to meet Rielle at both the very beginning and very end of her journey. A headstrong and articulate young woman, the vast differences between each version of herself captivate you from the start. Her counterpart Eliana, living over 1,000 years later, is equally entrancing. At first blush she seems the darker of the two, bounty hunting for an Empire with a capital "E". Both young women come across as complex and sympathetic characters from the start. What most intrigues me, however, is the millennium that stretches between both ends of the story. So often in these kinds of tales we witness the moment of change, but rarely get to examine the long-reaching consequences of upheaval. Furyborn promises to show a ripple effect of momentous proportions, truly earning the label "epic" and making me desperate to read more!