Goodreads Summary: In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...
The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
Series: Falling Kingdoms #1
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin Books Australia
Release Date: 11th December 2012
Source: NetGalley
Falling Kingdoms is a fantastic fantasy that allows the
reader to discover new lands, royalty and squalor and above all else the very
real possibility that magic exists. The world that has been created is unique and
the characters are so vast, but the reader can imagine their lives so vividly.
It is an excellent start to the series and the beginning of a wonderful journey
for Lucia, Magnus, Jonas and Cleo.
There is royalty in each of the three Kingdoms, Paelsia,
Limeros and Auranos. Each has their own unique belief and way of life, but all
together they make Mytica.
Auranos – Princess Cleoina (Cleo) is the younger of two sisters.
With Emilia the heir, Cleo believes she can get away with everything and take
no responsibilities. Until one trip to Paelsia, when the young Lord Aron wants
to buy some wine that he heard was the best in the lands. There Aron tries to
offer an unfair price to the vendor and an altercation arises. This is the
beginning of the battles between all three lands, but nobody realises at the
time.
Limeros – Magnus is the heir to the throne and has an
attitude of arrogance and indifference. Lucia, his younger sister is adored by
him, but his feelings start to seem more inappropriate for that of a sister.
Lucia is going along with daily life, turns sixteen and is starting to discover
strange things are happening to her. Family secrets start to come out and the
two siblings are at odds.
Paelsia – Jonas isn’t royalty, he is the son of a wine
vendor, just living each day to survive. It is the very same wine vendor that
has the altercation with Lord Aron. Jonas is determined to avenge his brother
and to make sure his dying land and people get what they deserve.
Magic has been forgotten and there has been a peaceful
treaty between the kingdoms. Until the prophecy of the powerful sorceress that
was born and stolen from her mother. She was hidden away waiting for her powers
to arise. Now each Kingdom is unsettled and preparing to do go to war; but
nobody knows of this secret sorceress and her unlimited power.
Falling Kingdoms is the story of all four teenagers and how
they all intertwine. There is betrayal, so much betrayal, secrets and romance
and heartache. This is a story where love and family loyalty is the strongest
weapon and how you must reign supreme in order to survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait until book 2
comes out next year. There is so much going on with the characters and each
Kingdom that is seems to chop and change from one to the other a little, but
all the backstory and the characters elements are needed to get the whole
picture. It is a unique story and so well told that I found myself gasping with
horror at the twists and rolling my eyes at the turns. With all the romance and
heartache that follows, the tears started rolling along with the characters and
you can’t help but try to egg on your favourite to win their battles. I do
recommend this to fantasy readers, it is a fantastic story.
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I'm not huge on fantasy but when I do love them it's because there is a lot going on and a lot of great characters and action so I'm thinking this one would be more for me! :)
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't sound like my usual kind of read, but it sounds as though you really enjoyed it for the most part, which has made me put it straight on my to-read list. Fantastic review!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I can't wait to read it :)
ReplyDeleteJesse @ Pretty in Fiction
I really need this, like now! Great review!
ReplyDelete